8 Rules for Selecting a College

 By Dr. Stephen Jones

During the senior year parents engage in the annual ritual and conversation about selecting a college. Today college cost is frequently at the top of the list of issues that parent’s must confront. Even today money should not be the only reason that you select a college. Your student’s ability to live within the philosophy of a college can make a big difference in their success. Sure colleges can put up an advertisement and send you a mailing every week but there is nothing like visiting a campus and talking to the faculty and students who’ve made a commitment to a particular college. The truth is there are over 6,000 colleges that a student can select from and all change in size and mission. Some colleges are owned by their state, some private and others are community colleges.

There are eight rules that will help you to select a college that fits your needs. These are some simple rules that you can follow to reduce your stress. These practices will help you to make a reasonable decision about the top colleges that your student selects Here are the 8 rules:

1. When you go on a college tour always arrange a meeting with a faculty member and student.

2. Always talk to the financial aid office after you've received their financial aid package.

3. Attend a classroom lecture to get a sense of the class sizes.

4. Check out what students are saying about the college on the internet.

5. Ask if advising is mandatory or voluntary. Advisors can be a critical part of a student’s success.

6. Ask if their professors teach classes or mostly teaching assistants.

7. Ask how many students from your high school have attended the college. It could be a sign that your former classmates really liked the college.

8. Take several friends with you and go on a campus tour together. Sometimes it is good to get more than one perspective on the college you are visiting.

It is never too early to start your college search process. Colleges are putting out all kinds of information every day. You can go on some college websites and download videos and podcasts about the college. Some colleges also offer website recordings of several aspects of their college. Some colleges even offer a virtual tour of their campus.

You should find ways to creatively engage in conversations with their students and alumni. You want to know how happy they are about their college experience. It’s even better when you can talk with students who are in a particular major. They can share their success and also talk about their challenges with their major. The beauty of a campus is not the only thing to consider. You want your son/daughter to have an enjoyable experience. Take the time to compare the colleges you have selected and what they offer.

Another thing that you can do is pick up a few books that the faculty has written. These writings will reveal their opinions and thoughts. It is a great way to know if the faculty is keeping up with current trends. Get started to day and you will have an easier time making a college decision that you won’t regret.

Dr. Stephen Jones is a nationally recognized author who has written the “Seven Secrets of How to Study, the Ultimate Scholarship Guide and the “Parent’s Ultimate Education Guide.”  Get these books for your home right away.  You can contact him at 610-842-3843 and at stephenjoness@rcn.com or visit http://www.DrJonesbooks.com

 

 

 

 

Back to School Shopping Savings on a Shoe String Budget

Dr. Stephen Jones

Are you worried about your back-to-school shopping bill?  Shopping for back-to-school items can be a very costly adventure for most families. Some parents rush out to the store and purchase back to school items without a list. Unfortunately, a shopper can pay 20 to 30 percent more by not having a list and considering the cost of the items you are purchasing. You should have a shopping plan that starts early during the summer. The sales that you see at the end of the summer may not be the best cheapest price.

It is better to purchase back to school items when you can shop with patience.  When you’re in a rush to make a purchase and there is no planning involved you pay more.  One of my major recommendations is to plan your shopping dates.  If you have a plan you can avoid making unnecessary purchases and tips in your car or on public transportation. It’s amazing how many items you can add to your shopping cart that you did not intend to purchase. It's better to do your shopping before you go on vacation during August.  It seems that when most families return from a late summer vacation, classes are not far away.  If you do not have an inventory of the things you already have you will make costly purchases.   

Some shoppers stay away from the dollar store because they believe that these items are inferior.  There are tremendous savings right in the dollar store.  You can purchase binders, composition books, pencils, pens, crayons for a dollar each. Some of these items are perfectly good but other stores have sold them to the dollar store.  Start shopping at the dollar store and you will find some great savings. There are some other valuable back-to-school shopping tips to consider. Here are my top five:

(1)  Ask retailers about special back to school discounts.

(2) Shop in bulk and share with a group of friends (BJs, Cosco etc).

(3) Search for a good laptop on websites like Dell and Apple.

(4) Ask your local bookstore about their next sales day and check on Amazon.

(5) Check of items you have on your shopping as you purchase them.  

(6) Ask your friends where they are getting the best sales

(7) Use the App on your cell phone to catch sales, Staples, Office Depot or Walmart stores

Each year the number of parents who are shopping online is growing.  If you shop online many retailers offer discounts and free shipping. If you are disciplined, you will save money and purchase just the item you need from each website.  Some schools require certain clothes like Kaki pants and a green shirt.  These items can be found on clothing websites too.  The websites for Target and Walmart offer many of these clothing items.  If you do your research early you can find a lot of savings.     

These tips all work when you apply them.  Try something new and you will find that your savings ideas will explode.  The best way to enjoy your back-to-school experience is organizing a plan that you will follow.  Involve your children by getting them to make lists and look for discounts. You can give them points toward the purchase of something they want.  Getting a child’s participation will be a great way to make their new school year exciting.  You can look on the school website to determine the items that your child needs.  Every student wants to feel like they are prepared for the new school year.  Let your back-to-school purchases be catalyst for an exceptional new year. There is no time like today to get the best sales of the shopping season.

Dr Stephen Jones is a speaker education advocate and author of several college preparation books The Parent’s Ultimate Education Guide and the Ultimate scholarship Guide and the Ultimate Scholarship G Guide. Add these books to your shopping list at http://www.DrJonesBooks.com

 

Dr. Stephen Jones Books

1.     Seven Secrets of How to Study 

2.     Ultimate Scholarship Guide

3.     Ultimate Parents Guide

4.     http://www.DrJonesbooks.com

 Dr. Jones Parenting Online Course

Parents course:  https://teachit.bz/parents

 Dr. Stephen Jones Podcast App

Join my podcast on the Anchor App which is titled Education Central 

https://anchor.fm/stephen-jones91

 

 

     

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

 

 

10 Back to School Study Tips

By Dr. Stephen Jones

The journey back to school is a time when students meet new friends and get adjusted to a new school environment.  The adjustment is not limited to K12 students there are changes for college bound students too.  Often after the first week students realize that they do not know how to study and they easily get behind on assignments. Going back to school becomes a burden when students realize how much work that they need to complete.  Students don’t realize that learning how to study is one of the best ways to succeed during the new school year.

For most students it is easy to discover how much they do not remember from the prior year. The first test score or quiz can reveal a lot.   It takes devotion to get back into the habit of studying.  Students who want the best grade realize that they need to hit the ground running.  They are ready for the challenge of a new school year and they are organized.  There are ten study tips that they have learned to use: (1) Manage your time with a written schedule, (2) get a tutor right away if you need one, (3) meet with your teacher/professor to get help (4). Start reading your chapters right away, (5) Read the chapter more than once when possible (6). Pick up other books at the library, (7)prepare for tests and quizzes five days before your test (8) research your course topics over the internet, (9) form a study group and (10) sit in the first two rows and ask questions.  Go into each school year prepared to learn.  The studying that you do prior to the beginning of school will help you to achieve better grades.  The best students focus on having a great awareness of all of the requirements for each course.

Take advantage of the technology that is all around you.  There are all types of gadgets that are essential for 21st century students.  Every student should have a laptop that connects to the internet and prints documents.  Some school systems are saving money by using laptop computers. They are reducing their paper consumption.  Consider purchasing an IPOD which can be used to download educational information.  There are programmable calculators that help with complex math problems.   There is also the new IPAD that stores books and provides access to the internet.  All of these technologies are converging to provide a wealth of knowledge for everyone.

The potential for independent learning opportunities is growing each year.  You can be successful when you go back to school by pursuing knowledge with other friends.  Make a commitment to forming a study group.  You can meet in person or over the telephone.  Hand out assignments by way of email.  Each person must answer the assignment questions.  Then set a time to meet in person or over the telephone.   A group that starts out with a strong effort by everyone will have a greater chance of lasting until the end of the course.

Students who want to have success on every test must be prepared.  Too many students who are in high school have a habit of waiting until the last minute to study.  Students need better organization and a time management schedule to plan study time for every test.     If you have a schedule you can study two or three days prior to your examination.  You can surprise your instructor when your grades jump from a “B” to an “A+.”    Improving your grades will give you greater confidence on other tests that you encounter.  It’s time to get ready for an inspiring school year full of outstanding accomplishments.

 Dr. Stephen Jones is an educator and national speaker who has written the Seven Secrets of How to Study, the Parent's Ultimate Education Guide and the Ultimate Scholarship Guide at http://www.DrStephenJones.net/books

Success Strategies for Principals and Other School Leaders

Principals and leaders who spend time working on self growth are frequently rewarded. Students and staff need a principal who will take time to invest in themselves and their school. Leadership work can be  be very stressful. Here are some things you can do to  be an inspired leader.

1. Never give up 

2. Come to work prepared to learn 

3. Be a servant leader 

4. Care about all the students, teachers and staff 

5. Teachers are your partners not servants 

6. Pray every day for wisdom 

7. Work life balance works 

8. If you are married, happy wife long life 

9. Stay humble it works 

10. Create a culture of success by continually acknowledging the accomplishments of students, staff and faculty. 

There needs to be a change in the way that schools are designed. 

Dr. Stephen Jones is a consultant, speaker and author at http://www.DrStephenJones.net or call 610-842-3843. hashtag

10 Things High School Students Must do During Freshman Year of College

For many high school seniors the final year can be a stressful time. High school students often struggle to manage their time. College will be an awakening for some high school students in terms of time spent studying. The best thing that a high school student can do is develop an academic study plan and follow it. Their freshman year will require 20-30 hours of studying each week. Here are ten tips to for freshman year of college:

1. Get a time management daily planner and increase your study time in your daily schedule. Study at least 4 hours each day.

2. Don’t procrastinate and study for examinations at the last minute. (Study 5 days before each examination)

3. Purchase books for all classes and begin reading them right away. If time allows read each chapter twice. Follow your syllabus and stay ahead.

4. Meet every professor in their office throughout the semester. Go to their office with prepared questions.

5. Get tutoring where appropriate

6. Get involved in study groups where students are earning A+ grades.

7. Focus on maintaining a positive attitude by reading motivational books or listening to recordings.

8. Organize and review your notes daily.

9. Ask your instructor questions right after class.

10. Go to the library to study and avoid friends who area distraction.

Get ready for college while you are in high school. Attend your colleges’ summer program before you attend. College will be the stepping stone to your future.

Dr. Stephen Jones is a college coaching and study skills expert. You can get a copy of his book the “Seven Secrets of How to Study” at http://www.DrStephenJones.net or to obtain college coaching for your son or daughter call 610-842-3843.

How Principals Reinvent their Schools

One of the critical aspects of transforming a school is innovative leadership.  The expectation that new and innovative ideas will be accepted will result in a successful school.  Why do some schools turn around while others flounder?  It is because some principals and teachers continue to lead the same way they did last year. They expect different results but they keep doing the same things that caused the school to have difficulties. Successful principals and teachers see change as a good aspect of their schools success. An effective leader must have a positive vision and measurable outcomes that inspire students to be successful. There must be a commitment to moving forward with new ideas and actions throughout the school year. Today is the day to get started by making the school a welcoming place where every student can thrive.

     The principal, staff and teachers in a school that’s progressing has very good communication and cooperation among the entire professionals who are running the school. The principal must refuse to let communication breakdown. When there is an expectation that all communication has a purpose it motivates everyone to raise the level of energy that is invested in student instruction. An improved school will come from everyone knowing how to carry out the vision of the principal and his/her team.  Teachers in this school should feel free to talk to each other and to develop some of their own strategies to improve each student’s academic success. This includes discussing the way that each teacher communicates their lessons to students.  The teachers must also feel confident that the principal understands them and takes time to teach students too. A principal who takes time to teach will have a better sense of what students are learning in their classrooms.

     The students must understand that everyone at the school expects them to do well.  There must be a strategy to totally abolish the culture of low expectation.  Students must be applauded and recognized for their accomplishments in the classroom.  A whole school culture can change if the students who maintain a “C” average are challenged and acknowledged for raising their performance to a “B” average or higher. Success is evident in a school when the principal and teachers make learning fun and engaging.  The school not only celebrates the success of its athletes but has a bigger celebration over students who excel in the classroom.  A school atmosphere can change so that athletes want to become a scholar athlete.  Better grades and academic performance will get all students excited about coming to school.

     There must be a level of compassion by the principal, teachers and everyone on staff.  A school must be a welcoming place that is aware of the neighborhoods and cultures that influence the students.  Schools administrators that ignore the child’s problems are ignoring that they are affected by a number of struggles at home.  The challenges that a student can face when there is one parent in the home are tremendous.  Even if the student has two parents it does not guarantee that they will focus their energy on the student’s academic success. The principal and teachers must understand these challenges and work on some solutions that help each student to position themselves to learn when they are in school.  There are some very bright students whose home situation is not good.  It is better to meet the challenge head on than to hope that it will go away.

    It is important to lead from the front and not from the back. What is meant by this statement? It is better to have a plan that the school is following than to constantly respond to conflict and problems that were never fixed.  When the principals, staff and teachers lead from the front schools become better.  The teachers are excited to come to school because they feel supported. The students get the benefit of the teacher’s enthusiasm.  The principals and teachers can be role models of what good leadership looks like.  They also inspire students to become leaders at the school and in their community. 

     Positive changes can come from principals, staff and teachers who know how to get parents involved in the daily life of the school.  Parents often do not know how they play a positive role because their own parents were not involved in their school.  The school staff and several parents should come together to discuss how other parents can be involved.  These meetings can be held in the school, at a community center or at a church.   An effective parent involvement program includes meeting the parents where they live.  It’s great when a principal can find a pre-existing group of parents that meet and find a way to get on their agenda.  This saves the parent’s time but the principal can share important information with them. Persistence and a significant improvement in the students success is the key to improving parent involvement.

    Finally an inspired principal and staff can change a failing school by promoting career awareness to all at all K12 levels. Too many students are drifting in schools where they have no idea what their future could look like.  I firmly believe that career exploration should occur all year.  The K12 students need to explore careers to sustain their enthusiasm for learning. When they hear from visitors they can visualize themselves working in professions such as medicine, engineering, government, business and other professions.  The principals and teachers are the catalyst that motivates students can educate students about some of to pursue the top careers.  It is time to try something different at the all schools. It is time to take action and to fight for successful schools.

Dr. Stephen Jones is an education expert who you should consider for your school.  He is the author of the Seven Secrets of How to Study, the Parent’s Ultimate Education Guide and the Ultimate scholarship guide at http://www.DrStephenJones.net. Contact him right away at 610-842-3843.

Back to School on a Shoe String Budget

According to Dr. Stephen Jones, parents can save thousands of dollars by mapping out a back to school shoe string budget.   Annually the cost of going back to school continues to rise.  Supplying one child for a k12 school or college can cost between $300 and $1000.  In fact one student recently said a book he purchased cost $200.  While this may not be the norm it is cause for alarm for parents who have several children. Parents must make difficult choices regarding the quality of materials their children will use to present term papers and projects that are due during the school year.  Often parents get so busy during the summer that they fail to plan a school supply budget and they end up running around from store to store trying to reduce the cost of book bags, calculators, text books, computers and etc. 

It is clear that the retail stores are doing their research and they know that parents will flood the stores around the third week of August.  Most parents would prefer to go to one store to get all of their supplies but they look in the papers and discover that the prices vary from store to store.  Dr. Jones says that parents can save hundreds of dollars by making wise purchases.  Here’s how parents can save hundreds of dollars:

1.         Don’t shop at the last minute right before school is about to start.

2.         Identify a discount school supply store so that you don’t end up shopping at the local corner store.

3.         Check the internet for sales at websites such as overstock.com.  Get together with friends and buy some things in bulk.

4.         Don’t be afraid to buy some clothing at a thrift store. You can save hundreds of dollars.

5.         Check your supplies from last year before you go out to buy new supplies.  You will reduce the chances that you are purchasing items that you have stored from last year.

6.         Ask your local school where they order their supplies from and contact the store for a catalogue or website.

7.         Consider purchasing certain items at the Dollar Store near you.

8.         Purchase books at discount websites that are on the internet

It’s amazing that some parents are willing to spend more money because they are unwilling to invest time to uncover savings.  The hundreds of dollars that are saved can help with the purchase of a new computer and printer. Don’t cave in to the temptation to putting your purchases on a credit card.  The credit card debts that parents obtain at the beginning of the school year can last until the next summer if a parent is not cautious.  Parents who are shopping on a shoe string budget recognize that credit cards are potholes that will take you thousands of dollars off track. 

Mobilize family and friends who can keep an eye out for special school supply sales.  Parents can use a number of methods to stay in touch.  First consider using the cell phone to create a list of people who will be looking out for certain supplies that you have identified.  Also, friends and family can contact you immediately when they discover a good sale.  Parents can give friends and family money in advance or ask them to pay for it and agree to pay them back.   Using e-mail can also be a good method to share websites that offer the products at prices that are not available at the stores.  The links to website can be put right within the text of the e-mail, which makes it easy fro a parent to make a purchase right away.

You can save thousands of dollars by shopping on shoe string budget.  Get started right away and you will not regret it.   Dr Stephen Jones is education consultant author of three books the Seven Secrets of How to Study, the Parent's Ultimate Education Guide and the Ultimate Scholarship Guide available at http://www.sevenbooks.net

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Google Helpouts a Fantastic Way to Learn

Google has created another fantastic tool that just may be a wonderful tool for principals, teachers, parents and students.  The Google Helpout will help you to access professionals who are skilled and available to answer your questions.  The fantastic thing about Google Helpouts is that you are live by way of video and in real time.  You can also schedule a meeting where you can get your questions answered or access the coaching that you require.  This tool became available on November 5, 2013. The Helpout is a great way to get the solution that you need or to hear a different perspective on a problem that you are trying to solve.

What is Helpout about?

Google helpout offers live video that will give the user a one on one expert to help and offer advice anytime of the day. The expert can be an educator, businessperson, consultant or electrician.  That fact that this person is live is a relief for the person who needs help right away. This is a service that is not provided by other social media websites.  Google staff believe that people from all walks of life will appreciate the opportunity to get help any time of the day.

The Google Helpout can reach people who are too busy to attend a conference to get a unique perspective on their problem.  A principal or teacher could get advice on how to improve student learning or to discuss a professional development opportunities.  School districts that have a limited number of college counselors could get help for students.  A school could get information about ideas to improve parent participation. 

How can it benefit schools and colleges?

There are several unique ways that schools can benefit from the one-on-one support that a Google Helpout expert can offer. Here are some of the benefits

1.  Superintendents can get advice on how to manage multiple problems at a school district

2.  Principals will benefit from an adviser who can help with teacher training ideas

3.  Teachers can learn how to help students to learn students with

4.  Parents can learn how to help their student to earn better grades

5.  Students will learn how to get better grades and to prepare for college/trade school.

If you think Google Helpouts could help your school, Dr. Stephen Jones is honored to be one of the experts who were selected. You can get the help you need.  If you are interested in giving it a try go to http://bit.ly/16ZISPe. Don’t miss out on this great chance to get your critical questions answered.

How to Apply to College