Barbara H
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Posts posted by Barbara H
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You've gotten a lot of good advice. My big concern would be that in addition to meeting the requirements for graduation (so she can qualify for financial aid) is that she's also got the foundation she needs to be successful in the next step of her education. So, one idea may be to see if she could set up an informational interview (preferably with you coming along) with an advisor at the cosmetology school. It might be really helpful to hear what skills they most often see students struggle with so you know what areas that are most important to work on. Also, they could advise you on the requirements they have in place for students to qualify for financial aid. For profit schools are under a different level of scrutiny and it would be good to make sure you've got your bases covered.
Also, whether it is required or not, I would strongly encourage you to incorporate a personal finance course with a math focus. It is something all kids need and if she's struggled with math is is particularly important.
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My favorite is the Ocupational Outlook Handbook from the U.S. Department of Labor. Also here's a great collection of video resources about careers.
If you are a Pinterest person, I have many additional suggestions on my careers board in Pinterest
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Sending good thoughts your way. It sounds like you've done some really good thinking about this situation. Great idea to try to just get done what is absolutely necessary and to let some stuff go.
To think about it positively, often there are good growth opportunities in challenging situations. You may both find out he has capabilities you didn't know about. One thing that might be helpful is to try to carve out some little period of time every day to do something you enjoy together, even if it is just something simple like fifteen minutes of an ongoing Scrabble game or shooting baskets or whatever. Keeping some positive time where you are not the task master and you are not talking about school - can go a a long way in keeping a positive relationship going.
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As parents I think we need to help our kids find their way in the world. Perhaps construction jobs are hot again in your area. Perhaps your 18 year old son or daughter can make a good living doing construction. But they need to keep in mind that this sort of work is hard on a person's body. Have a Plan B. All of us, degreed or not, need a Plan B. Post-secondary training of some sort can open the door for promotion or alternate plans.
One of the things that really makes this hit home for me is to think back on our friends from the preschool and early homeschool days. We all thought we'd homeschool forever but then there were so many changes for so many people - disabling health conditions, divorce, special needs kids, jobs that no longer exist due to changes in the economy, etc. Not to say that life is all gloom and doom, not at all, but yes we all need a plan B and probably a plan C. Life can bring so many unexpected changes.
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I took a quick look at the websites of some of the authors you mentioned and I am concerned with the information you may be getting. $80,000 a month in passive income with a totally hands off business that requires no management. Trust me if that's how it worked we'd ALL be doing it. Maybe it would be a good idea to try to identify some adults locally who have the sort of businesses you are interested in and see if you can set up an informational interview to get a little reality check on what you've been reading.
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My strong suggestion is that you meet with an adviser on campus. Tell them where you are and what you are considering. If you are a senior you are nearly there. Try to break down exactly how many credits you have to finish and figure out what it will take to make it happen. Within your current situation there may be more options than it appears right now. Often times there can be some wiggle room. One thing I've seen some students in your situation do is opt for a self designed major - some eclectic combination of work they've already completed rolled into a major with a senior project. Maybe you could take courses pass-fail, some independent study or online courses. Colleges want to graduate students - especially when they've come as far as you have - go to the people who have the power to help you. If you don't get good help from the first person, see another. If you want to make it in business you need to be able to persist and this is a good time to work on that.
Two articles that you may find interesting. http://www.theatlant...oorer/273628/��
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These two came recommended:
http://www.amazon.co...y/dp/1935274058
http://www.amazon.co.../ref=pd_sim_b_1
These are both good books, but they are really different books with different purposes.The Carol Gray social stories idea is something you can read about more online so it is maybe less essential to own that book. http://www.thegraycenter.org/ You can find quite a bit of information on the author's site also with googling with search terms like social stories autism
As a resource for kids I really like the second book - Jed Baker social skills book. I would suggest checking the library for it first though because many libraries have it and it is expensive.
I would also suggest looking at the Michelle Garcia Winner resources http://www.socialthinking.com/
One thing I'd would encourage you to be careful about. There are a lot "be nice" "don't tell lies" "share" sort of character books out there. These may be great reminders for kids who really understand how to do all of those things but are just kids who maybe impulsive or forget why it is important to pay attention to it. If on the other hand, your child just really doesn't pick up on social information very easily these books can be frustrating. They reinforce they are doing something wrong, but "be nice" may not really be telling them anything they can act on. Even if they really want to "be nice" they maybe didn't understand how to do that. So, whether the child is on the autism spectrum or not, using curriculum that is designed to teach social skills to kids who haven't picked it up naturally may be really helpful. One thing that's great with homeschooling is that you can make this a regular subject in the school day so it makes it more normal for the kid to work on it.
Good luck!
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I keep saying .... in each state they need one site (maybe the flagship university) where every exam is offered and you can register to sit for it online. It really isn't just homeschoolers hit by the finding a site issues, kids in urban ap blight areas, kids in rural areas, kids in low pop states.
I like this idea. Also, I think it would be good to consider compelling some of the larger districts to, at a minimum, offer the regular APs tests that don't require listening or additional equipment. So, maybe the district only teaches a world history course. But, if macroeconomics test is scheduled for the same morning it is really not more work to offer that exam as well. We were able to test at a small private school and it was really not a big deal for them to order the macroeconomics test too.
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Public speaking is such an important skill and it is great you are including it in your homeschool. I agree 4H can be a great option. Here's an article about public speaking for homeschoolers from my site that may have some other ideas you may find useful.
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Barbara, your entire post was helpful, but I want to ask you about this part specifically. My dd who is a rising hs freshman typically scores above average on standardized tests, but not top scores. She is not aiming for the Ivies or even a very selective Tier 1 school.
Hi,
Thanks - glad it helped.
Unfortunately, for many students the out of state public university is the most expensive option out there. Just a few thoughts off the top of my head.
1. Residency - look at the policies carefully. Some states it is basically impossible to ever get to be an instate resident for tuition ever as long as your parents are living out of state. Others are more flexible. So, look at the policy. Could she sit out for a year and qualify? Could she live with relatives for a year and qualify? Could she live with relatives, start at community college, and then qualify?
2. Out of state tuition waivers - Some state universities will waive the out of state portion of tuition for children of alumni. It might be worth making an inquiry to admissions now to see. Let them know it is your family tradition and you wonder if the college has any options that might open this school as a possibility for your out of state daughter.
3. Targeted work on test prep. Her scores may move more than you expect.
4. Build on areas of strength (see below)
5. Cast a wider net by looking at more schools - Be honest about what you can afford and what you can't. It is early in this process and she's got a lot of room to change and grow in her interests. Don't make it a big deal but when you can visit other campuses, maybe go to a camp at another college, etc. I understand the desire to stick with the tradition, but you also have to be financially realistic and at the end of the day, you have to do what is affordable. There are a lot of places to get a great education and by the time she's 17 she may be eager to start a new family tradition.
Without more personal details I'm just guessing at it but those are a few ideas. It is really a very individual thing, so just giving you a list of general strategies may not help because they may not apply to your child. The best illustration may be an example. I have a "case study of a poor tester" that I have been meaning to write up though so this is a good time. It is from a former client who is now a freshman at a private liberal arts college. In order to protect his privacy I've changed his name to Jim (because nobody is named Jim now!)
Case Study of Jim: Jim had an ACT score in the 20th percentile - so below average by a good bit. He didn't want to go to community college and his parents could not pay for a $50,000 a year option. So, here's what we did:
Test Prep: We knew that Jim was not a strong tester. No matter the prep he wasn't going to get National Merit and we weren't aiming for anything like that. We wanted to get his scores closer to the 50th percentile. The goal was to get him in the zone where nobody was going to think he needed remedial work and where it wasn't going to keep him out of colleges that might otherwise be a good fit. The first thing we did was changed his choice of test (the ACT was not a great fit for him). We carefully analyzed his previous tests and figured out strategies that would help boost his score. He had to put a bit of work in. It didn't have to rule his life, but he put in on average a couple of hours a week for most of a school year. I'd estimate more than half of what he did had a purpose beyond the SAT. In other words, it was learning geometry he should know and test taking skills that he needed to bring to college. It also improved his confidence with testing which he needed. He ended up just below the 50th percentile which helped him get into the kinds of schools that offered merit and financial aid that he needed. He had to put in the time, but it wasn't too much, and it paid off.
(I absolutely agree it is nuts in NCLB that third graders are taking tests when they should be out on the playground - but there is a way to work on some test prep in high school without letting it run a kid's education. The key is to set realistic goals and do effective prep. Try to focus as much as possible on skills that transfer from the ACT/SAT to the college classroom. That way even if scores don't move that much you've still accomplished something important.)
Build on Strengths: Jim had a good record with volunteering. I encouraged him to build on that and to apply for a couple of awards that helped verify his accomplishment. He used volunteering as a topic for one of his essays. He came across as who he is - a caring and capable kid with leadership potential. I believe this volunteering is what made the difference for him and it was mentioned in a couple of his merit aid letters.
Academics: Jim added a couple of unusual core social science courses which helped him stand out and he took a dual enrollment courses as well. That gave him a lot of depth in one area that nicely complimented his volunteering.
College List: We put together the college list really carefully encouraging him to consider some schools beyond the big names. We included options with geographic advantage (and three schools that were tipping to way too many women - and they know they need guys for balance!) At his state university he would have been a below average candidate. They are big, they don't do holistic evaluation so the community service would not register, and they are lousy at meeting financial need. At more mid-tier private colleges he was someone they wanted - an out of state student who would be a community leader.
Every student is different, so I know that many of those strategies won't apply to your situation, but hopefully there is some value there. For most students there aren't going to be magic answers that gives them everything they want. Most kids can't pull top 1%tile scores that are the golden ticket to a free education, but many students in the middle can benefit from careful planning and they will find a path to a good education.
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Wow, this mom really has some energy!
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Great topic for discussion! Sometimes I see homeschool parents writing off colleges that have additional requirements on the assumption that these colleges don't like homeschoolers and their kids won't get in. Often, but not always, this is a mistake. Sometimes colleges just lack a clue about homeschoolers but it doesn't mean it is a bad college or that it won't be a great place for your child to go. Here are a few thoughts:
1. Homeschoolers who don't test well are at a disadvantage. That's just a reality. Most admissions officers do not take a homeschool GPA seriously. Even though we all know there is rampant grade inflation - GPAs still matter a lot. In surveys of college admissions officers GPA (GPA overall and GPA in challenging courses) are still two of the very top factors considered. So if your kid doesn't have a GPA, that means admissions is looking for other information to consider which the majority of the times means a greater weight on testing (and a greater weight on the GPA in dual college courses if the student has taken any). Some kids test great and it is to their advantage that testing matters so much, but that is not all homeschoolers. Earlier in the thread someone made a reference to SAT subject tests being easy and not a big deal - that's certainly not the case for all kids. Those tests tend to be taken by the best students and it can be really tough to pull top scores on them. If you know your child doesn't test well, start as early in high school - there's a lot that can be done earlier to help compensate for this even if their scores can't be raised.
2. Sometimes the assumption that homeschoolers are being asked for more information isn't entirely accurate. Rather, it is the case that schools have already provided this information elsewhere as part of their accreditation and requirements for the state.
3. Homeschoolers aren't the worst off! (this may not be a popular sentiment). There seems to sometimes be some buzz among homeschoolers that we have it so bad compared to public and private school applicants. and this is just not true. As college planner I work with a diverse mix of students - primarily homeschooled, but also some private and public. The teens who have it easiest are those who go to really good elite public and private programs that have a good reputation with colleges and have well put together curriculum and school profile. The group that is at the biggest disadvantage are students who go to less well developed private and public programs that aren't known and don't understand what it takes to get into a selective college. This includes some private school accrediting programs that some homeschoolers use. Homeschoolers who are totally independent have a lot more responsibility and work to do - but they also have more freedom and opportunity to help their student really shine. Yes, it is work, but there are also some distinct advantages.
4. Many college homeschool policies need serious revision: As I explained above there are reasons why colleges will ask for some different or additional information from homeschoolers. What I'd like to see are more colleges adopting really flexible policies that provide many options for verifying and supporting the student's record. This requires an understanding of the diversity of approaches to homeschooling and not everyone has that. Here's an example from Duke of a quality selective college homeschool policy that recognizes that diversity.
Unfortunately many policies are not so flexible. Here are examples of a couple of more ridiculous policies:
Washington and Lee wants five SAT subject tests from homeschoolers and only two from other applicants.
U Mass Amherst doesn't seem to understand how homeschooling works and wants a GED, letter from the school district or homeschool association.
As I said earlier, I would not entirely write off all schools with undesirable policies without further investigation because sometimes these policies are bad just because somebody didn't understand homeschooling, not because they really don't want to accept homeschoolers. There may be more "wiggle room" that it first appears or there may not, but you can't really tell that just from reading the policies.
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It is the norm for the public schools in our area. It is a very individual thing and it does depend on the quality of the book. Reading digital texts does not work well for the learners at my house. We've sometimes had the option of saving money on college texts by getting the digital version, but it is too frustrating.
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I wish I could remember where, but I read a year or two ago about ACT securing contracts with several states that made the ACT and the precursor tests it offers mandatory for students in public schools. They were huge contracts, big $ and put ACT over the top in terms of number of students taking. It had something to do with Race to the Top applications ....I just can't remember where it was.
Yes, that's exactly the motivation. The ACT has been successful in gaining market share by getting contracts from states to use is as a mandatory test. Keep in it isn't just that states purchase the ACT but that also trickles down into buying the other ACT products - the PLAN and EXPLORE and that's big, big business. Some colleges see the ACT more as a reflection of what students have learned and the trend has been for more and more colleges to take the ACT with writing as a substitute for taking SAT subject tests.
Some aspects of the SAT including the guessing penalty and emphasis on vocabulary are not appealing to many students. It has been expected for a while now that the SAT would shift to try to gain more market share back from the ACT. I would not expect the changes for at least another year and I don't think they will be as radical as people many anticipate. The current version of the SAT is already closer to the ACT than it was before the last revision.
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Here's the list from the College Board: http://sat.collegeboard.org/register/sat-test-day-checklist
Some test centers will send home a note that says no water or food, but in practice most will allow students to have them at break times (as the College Board says they can). I would encourage her to bring water and a easy to eat snack with good balance or carbs and protein such as power bar or dried nuts and fruit.
They will have breaks, both bathroom breaks and stretch breaks (basically you can stand up for a minute or two). I encourage students to stand up during those stretch breaks and actual stretch. It is good for your brain. Far too many students stay seated during the stretch breaks.
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It is a good thing to be a careful and thoughtful person and it is frustrating that the tests don't reward this kind of learner.
What is he using for ACT prep? If he has not already done so, it is important that he learns to not get stuck on a problem that will take more time - he can mark it and come back to it if he has time. Timed practice tests tend to be the most effective way to work on problems with pacing. Practice one section at a time. It is important the he understands where he needs to be at the 10 minute mark, at the 15 minute mark, etc. etc.
For many students time is less of an issue on the SAT.
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Nan, I feel rather idiotic for asking this, but is it that difficult for kids to make friends on campus? If you are a freshman, you live in a dorm. You meet your dorm mate and hopefully make friends. Then you run into all the people on your floor in the bathroom and in the lounge and you chat. Everybody is in the same boat. You eat together, no?
It really depends a lot on the school and the culture of the school. What you are describing is very much like my experience at a small school but at some big state universities the culture can be very different. Just due to the size of campus you can meet people and never run into them again. At some schools the culture is kind of reserved or unfriendly and students may not speak that much to people they don't already know. Or it may be the case that people tend to clear out on the weekends. Also, I really notice how the culture of cellphones/ipods has really changed the way a lot of people interact. It is common to see students waiting in the hall for classes and many have earphones in or are texting to people who aren't there rather than making connections with the people who are there.
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Thanks for the support :) I'm thinking 6 to 7 years total with prereqs and actual school. Looking at going to Delta college for the prereqs and Ferris for actual Pharmacy school :)
Good for you! One thing I would suggest if you are able to is try to set up time to talk with someone from the pharmacy school at Ferris before you start on your two year school. They may be able to tell you some pitfalls to avoid and give you an idea what you need to shoot for as far as GPA. I advised a pharmacy student to do this last year and she found out some of the advice she'd been given by well meaning community college advisers was totally wrong - so getting the right advice saved her some time and money.
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We really liked Thinkwell AP biology. If your son is a fast learner, it seems to me that it would be doable. Normally I would advise against the idea if he was taking a traditional course with a set schedule with an instructor or if you had no way to help him with chemistry. But you are determining the pace with Thinkwell and you have a good in house resource to help. One option might be to start early or to allow a little extra time and you can adapt as needed. The chemistry section is chapter 2 so your husband could take a look at see what's covered. http://www.thinkwell.com/student/product/biology#tableOfContents Maybe you can supplement this section a bit and work with him to make sure he's really got it down before moving on and also make sure he's got a good chemistry textbook available to supplement as well.
Hope that helps.
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I know students who have participated in the program and they found it to be well organized and they enjoyed it. It can be a good educational experience. However, I would put it in the category of going to a high priced camp or paying for a vacation. It is not a meaningful honor and it won't build the child's college resume, but it might be an experience your student enjoys.
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I often have students who are as Barbara describes: eager to learn, asking questions, being prepared - I like them very much - but frequently they do not have sufficient grasp of the material to warrant a grade of A. I feel bad, because I truly like these students, but, ultimately, trying hard and being engaged is necessary, but not sufficient.
Whether they get the A or not... Their positive attitude and good work habits will likely mean they learn more. So many students really underestimate the value of asking questions before they take the test or turn in the paper.
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We had cup issues so we got 4 cups in different colors from Target. Melody's is green, Wil's is orange, Adric's is blue, and Rory's is red. They always use those cups and only those cups. Best idea my mother ever had.
Great idea for sure. We also had our color of bath towels and wash cloths as well.
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How large are these classes? Did it improve as they got further along into upper division courses?
Yes, a bump is going to be less likely in a really huge sections particularly in STEM disciplines or "weeder" type courses. They are going to be less likely professors aren't doing the grading. When assistants are doing the grading students do need to check more carefully to make sure they are being awarded full points (and no I don't at all think that means your kid is a grade grubber). It is really hard to get to know your professor when it is a huge class, but I would still encourage students to make some contact through office hours to ask some question of substance. If you are known by the professor individually it makes it easier if you do have a grade dispute. It is also really important to focus on the big picture of building relationships so you have access to opportunities and good letters later.
Not in a STEM field, but I have certainly given better students in my classes (large state university about 80 students in a section and at a small college with 20 or 30 students a class) the bump up. I'm sure most had no idea they had gotten the bump because it is really just an issue of students who are right on the line between grades.
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Professors have a lot of "soft power", beyond just giving out grades. Staying on a good relationship with professors can be key to being recommended for internships, jobs, and graduate schools.
Yes. This is really important. Especially when people have had negative K-12 school experiences it can be easy to get into an adversarial mindset. Stuff like trying to get every single point and fussing a month into the semester about the syllabus being a contract... it will is a great way to alienate your professors. Too many students focus exclusively on the short term goal of getting the grade and miss the bigger picture of building the relationships that lead to research opportunities, internships, recommendations, etc. And, even if you think exclusively about grades, it is important to remember professors usually have quite a bit of discretion at the end of the semester. The student who has always come to class participated, asked good questions and seems eager to learn - if they are on the line between A and B they may get the bump up.
Read this if you were considering TESC...
in The College Board
Posted
I've wondered for some time if Thomas Edison was going to get into trouble with their accrediting agency. The program they have right now is very atypical for a regionally accredited university, particularly a public one. To give such a huge portion of a degree based on CLEP and other credit by examination is unusual for a reason. To have such very light majors (based primarily on very introductory courses) is again unusual for a reason. Families who are upset about this change may want to consider that it may be a positive step if they beef up the requirements for the degree a bit because it may improve the odds that TESC will remain regionally accredited. If parents are primarily concerned that their kids get a degree and don't care about accreditation, there are other CBE Christian degree options.
Also, of course,all of our kids need to be prepared for the reality that we live in a global world. It is impossible to understand fundamental aspects of our world such as economics and environment without being able to think from a global perspective.