U.S. News college rankings: how to prepare your kids for college
Pick up this book to learn your role in preparing your kids for college.
By Aimee Heckel
Every year for more than 25 years, U.S. News ranks the top national universities. This year, because of a tie, 11 schools made the top 10.
Bringing up the first place: Princeton University, in New Jersey.
Want to set up your kids for the chance to attend one of the nation’s top schools? Here are some ways that you can start preparing your kids for college right away.
1. Know your direction — and know what that college is looking for.
Enlist the help of a career counselor to help your child decide what kind of career they want to go into, which will determine the kind of school they need to get into. Different kinds of schools have different requirements, expectations and desires. For example, top culinary schools care a lot about your work experience and activities. Have a solid culinary experience before you apply for cooking school can give you a leg up, according to Offtocollege.com.
2. Don’t just emphasize the books; prepare life skills.
Succeeding at college will also mean juggling and mastering life skills — and this is a lifelong lesson of healthy habits. Assign chores and responsibilities, and teach them about budgeting from an early age. Even good students can have a terrible college experience, when the reality of the responsibilities in the “real world” hits.
3. Know your role and how you can help (and hurt).
This means educating yourself, too. Check out the book “Sending Your Child To College: Prepared Parent’s Operational Manual,” by Katharine Marie Carr, starting for just pennies at Valorebooks.com, plus shipping. Check out Valorebooks.com coupons online here, and read more articles about Valore Books here.
Also pick up “Moving form Ordinary to Extraordinary: Strategies for Preparing for College and Scholarships,” by Sharnnia Artis, starting at $6.95 at Valorebooks.com.
Another great book is the “Parent and Student Guide to College Admissions,” $18.30 at Barnesandnoble.com.
Looking to save money on other purchases for your kids? Check out these kids coupons here.
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