What Every Parent Needs to Know About College Admissions , livre ebook

The Truth About Career Planning and the College Search Process

“…the go-to guide for students to find the right path, at the right time, for the right tuition amount to lead to their best career outcome.” ―Anna Costaras and Gail Liss, authors of The College Bound Organizer

#1 New Release in Education Research

Society's guiding “truths” about higher education are now incorrect. In What Every Parent Needs to Know About College Admissions, Christie Barnes helps parents and students alike cut through the noise and find the best school, which might not always be the most prestigious or expensive one.

College planning re-examined. All economic levels are getting vastly incorrect information for college and career planning, leading to anxiety-ridden youth and crippling student debt. Less affluent students are being led to more expensive options and high achievers feel compelled to apply for college at the most prestigious institutions. But, whether it’s a state school, safety school, or public school―there are other options beside an overpriced private school. It could be, but it might not be.

A guidance counselor for parents. Learn that it’s not just about the “right” college, it’s about the “right fit” college. Using statistics, experts, and multi-factor analysis to clarify what should and should not be a worry in college planning, Barnes helps parents identify better, and often overlooked, options. In this guide, she dissects the top ten parental worries about  how to get into college, including college applications, college admissions, college requirements, and college acceptance.

Inside find:

• The first comprehensive individualized career and academic planning guide available to parents and teens
• Details on new innovative programs endorsed by schools, colleges, and HR departments
• A bonus “Academic Planning Guide”

If you enjoyed books like Launch, Prepared, or Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be, you’ll love What Every Parent Needs to Know About College Admissions.

The Desperate Quest for the Golden Ticket to a High-Paying, Secure Job

It may start from the belief that college is the golden ticket to a high paying job, as it has always been, and the added truth that the more selective the college the better—that it is the platinum ticket to a happy life, wealth and security.  This has been true for generations.

It may start when a teacher tells the parent how amazing his or her student is and advises that the parents to do all they can to help the student get into a prestigious college.  It is unbelievably flattering. How could a parent not sign on for developing their child to the highest levels he or she can attain!

It may start from listening to the media portrayal of elite and selective colleges (or even just preaching the necessity of college) for the place for superior beings or the exclusive creator of superior beings.

It may start from trying to keep up with what friends are doing for their children.

It may come with the belief that your child is amazing.

“It” is the stress and worry, and in some cases, desperation, that it is vitally important for your teen to get into the best college possible, whatever that means for the student and parent. 

Parents will pay $6 million to lie, cheat and bribe their teens into great colleges leaving parents wondering how they can help their teens compete against illegal acts and money that can buy an edge in admissions. 

Many parents react to the admissions competition as if not getting into a selective college means their child is destined to become a derelict living in a tent down by the river.

Many high schools have what local mental health hospitals call the “Depression Olympics”  where even Mr. Frank’s English Honors second period will compete against Mr. Frank’s English Honors 2 fifth period class over which has the most anxiety, depression, and suicide issues—as if it proved they were working the hardest, to the point of mental breakdown, to get into the best college. There are ”individual” competitions, too. College is ‘awesome’ but not worth this—especially for the poor results we are getting.

A sense of failure accompanies the explanation that the teen is going to a perceived ‘lesser’ college.  “I didn’t get into the Ivy, I only got into a top 25.”  “I’m only going to Metro…I am only going to North *** State University…I’m going to work and go to the community college first, but then I will transfer to a great school”  speak to the inferiority that is felt, whatever the level. Condolences are offered for not attending college or choosing a different path. “She is taking time off…” sparks pity, “She was such a bright girl.  I am so sorry.”  She didn’t die. She got an apprenticeship and is entering the exec level of JP Morgan. Or he is starting a food truck business. Or, a high school certificate led to a drone entry level at Lockheed Martin.  Or the seventeen with the $85K aviation job.

But if it isn’t straight to college, then something is wrong somewhere, which is why over 70 percent of high school graduates head to college, with the rest thinking that they should go to college. (Just a constant reminder from me,  yes, this is a book about ‘best college’!!!!)

For twenty years, ‘College-for-All’ has been sold as the Golden Ticket to a high-paying secure job. Politicians promise free ‘College-for-All’ as a right and as an election promise. Going to college, being able to learn, to indulge the love of learning is a wonderful experience!  We are training all kids to go to college. 3.76 million high school graduates get accepted every year. They can do the college work.  Although some strive for elite colleges and others not, America teens who deserve and qualify to go to college.

Introduction

Part One:  The Root of Our Worry:  Wanting the Best for our Children

Part Two: The Dream College--Defining the “best college”

Part Three: Our Current Approach to Higher Education, College and Career Planning Usually Ends in Failure

Part Four: High School, Academic and Career Planner

Afterword

About the Author