Digital Backpack Resources For YOU!
It’s that time of year again. You know, when your student gets a new backpack which you load with fresh school supplies. Oops- we aren’t doing normal in 2020, are we? Regardless of how you are doing “school” this fall, you still need ideas, options, and a nudge or two towards a better future!
Here are some Resources starting with those of you who have middle school students-
Middle School- In her book, LAUNCH, Jeannie Burlowski, academic strategist and speaker, makes two surprising suggestions for students and parents.
Pick a Service To Others (STO) project now to consistently BUILD out through high school graduation. Your student can leverage this growing project and write about it when she/he starts applying for college scholarships. It could be worth thousands of dollars! Jeannie asks parents to work with their young teen on one, or at the most, two “causes”. The key is to consistently donate time and develop this project for impact. This then becomes the subject of what they have learned in their scholarship essays.
Start applying for those scholarships, now, in Middle School. Yes, there is such a thing! Google scholarships for 6th graders, 7th graders, 8th graders. SCROLL DOWN through the page numbers at the bottom of the Google page and work your way back up, snagging the ones others overlook. Your chances improve immensely if your student is actively working their STO when you apply.
I am providing the link below for you to check out her website. If you subscribe, you can get in on her free webinars.
Moving on to the next level, here are other grade specific ideas.
High School- If you skipped the middle school Service To Others projects, go back and read it again.. Make a plan and start it NOW. Your high schooler needs quality STO’s!. Even if they are a Senior, a pandemic-inspired service project can help as you apply for scholarships!
Here are two other things to do at the start of EVERY SCHOOL YEAR!.
1. Check out your student’s academic CLASS RANK. If your school doesn’t provide it, get it from the Counselor’s office. If your student is not in the top 30% of their class, academic scholarships will be harder to come by. HOWEVER, they can apply for Service To Others, athletic, and specialty scholarships every year until they graduate!
2. Make sure your student has all the tools for academic success- up to date glasses, a laptop or standard computer, a place they can study, and time management and study skills. Study skills are just that- a trainable skill. Invest in that training if you see the need. It is WELL worth it!
3. FRESHMAN YEAR This is the year to focus on the basics- orientation to the work, time management, study skills, and staying on top of the work. High School is a new level and more involved. If your student does not have their Service To Others project going, get on it now.
3, SOPHOMORE YEAR You should be talking with your student about areas of special interest. Have them take an Enneagram or Myers-Briggs career aptitude test. Your community college may have a career aptitude test available for low or no cost. Don’t wait until they are Seniors. You need to know sooner to help them with their academic pathway. And keep working on that STO!
4. JUNIOR YEAR Here’s where I would check out my FAFSA, or Free Application For Student Aid projected share of college costs. Remember, it is just an estimate, but everyone tells me it is quite accurate. Go to FAFSA4caster on the Dept of Education website and take the quiz. This will give you a guesstimate of what they think you will pay towards college. Trust me, it won’t be pretty. Don’t panic. There are OPTIONS! After all, that is what my book, ENOUGH! The College Cost Crisis is all about!
3. SENIOR YEAR -The college application timeline, Common Application, and the myriad of deadlines are impossible to manage! Consider signing up for a free Senior Year timeline by Sara Harberson, a former Admissions Dean and Counselor in Pennsylvania. This free and important resource can keep your Senior on track. Check it out www.saraharberson.com
Back to School is so hard in 2020, no matter how you need to approach it. However, let’s find a sliver of light in all this. Your student can explore ways to serve, can take coding courses for free online, build their website, or offer services in the neighborhood. Many students will have more time on their hands. Let’s channel that wisely!
Next week, I’ve got a real eye-opener about the Other Side of College Student/Parent Loans Debacle- Let the families who are already “there” share their stories and their gut-wrenching impacts. Don’t miss it!
Until next time,
All my best,
Bonnie Burkett
