Recent College Planning Testimonials

Before knowing Bay Area College Planning  Specialists, I was feeling very overwhelmed with the complexities surrounding college planning. I was so stressed to thinking about it and I didn’t know how to start the process. Anyway, I forgot how I got the initial contact info for their company, but I called to take advantage of their free consultation. And since I am a working mother, the more I realized it I needed their expertise.

I consider Gerna and Dan to be like family members who care much about my children’s college education. They have provided guidance to my children as far as choosing the right university for their major. They helped my girls apply for private scholarships and now both of them are attending Dominican University of San Rafael with generous scholarships and grants. 

I have been worry-free since I made them my partners in my girls’ college planning. Thank you guys and God bless.

Amor S, Martella and Mickaela - Pinole, California

December 2009

Free East Bay Area Workshops 

Alameda Free Library Workshop
1550 Oak Street,
Alameda, CA 94501
Date: Tues Dec 8th
Time: 6:30pm-8pm
 
Redwood Christian High School Workshop
1000 Paseo Grande, 
San Lorenzo, CA 94580
Date: Tues Dec 8th
Time: 7pm-8:15pm
 
Webinar: “Learn the Insider Secrets to Get Free Financial Aid for College!”
Click on the link to register:

Date: Wed Dec 9th - Time: 6:30pm-8pm PST

 
Moraga Library Workshop
1500 St. Mary’s Road,
Moraga, CA 94556
Date: Sat Dec 12th
Time: 11am-12pm

Filed under: Bay Area, College Debt, College Financing, College Planning, Consultants, High School, Mothers, Parental Guidance, single mothers, single parent families , Decisions, Choosing Universities, Parental Guidance, self improvement, self help, college funding, College Planning

A Parent’s Guide to Financial Aid

By Dorian Ramsey

Many believe that being a parent is the happiest moment in the life of a human being. Probably you still remember the excitement that you felt when your wife gave birth to your first child. There are times that you will not sleep because you want to take care of your child even in the midst of the evening. You want to ensure that he/she will sleep soundly through the night.

It is true that happiness comes with children in the family. However, such happiness could be achieved if you are responsible enough with your children. You need to provide all of their needs, starting from their infancy until the time that they are studying. Although it will really cost you a lot, you have the responsibility to your children, especially in giving them the education that they need.

If you have children who are now going to college, you have to think of their financial needs. Probably you still remember your own collegiate years and you are aware of the financial needs of an ordinary college student. However, the difference is that you are now the parent-you will now be the one to think of the different payments that you need to settle for your children’s college education, such as college application, scholastic
assessment test expenditures, transcript of records, and others. Add to it the lodging and food allowance of your children if the college or university is far away from your own residence.

Thinking all of these college-related expenses could be overwhelming and bothering as well, especially if your salary is not enough to support such expenses and your family’s financial needs at the same time. But if you know how to get a college financial aid for your children, you will find out that everything will work out smoothly.

How you will start your search for the college financial aid for your children? Here are some tips that you can start with:

* When your children are still on their high school years, you should start searching for potential universities that offer college scholarships for deserving freshman students as well as financial aid programs funded by different organizations. You
may start your search on the Internet to look for possible college financial aid options for your children.

* Once you find a prospective university, visit their main office and inquire for any college scholarship or financial aid offers.

* Always ask for the cut-off dates of filing and submission of college financial aid application forms.

* Tell your children about the importance of a scholarship to their college education. Make them aware that they have plenty of options to consider as long as they have good high school scholastic records. In this way, you will be able to motivate them to study harder and make good grades, thus increasing your chances of a good financial aid.

* You may also consider filing an application for financial aid programs funded by the Federal government. State-owned colleges and universities offer this kind of financial assistance to qualified and deserving students who want to pursue their college studies despite of financial difficulties. You may submit the FAFSA (Free Application Form Student Aid) personally.

* Make certain that you have completed all the FAFSA requirements (such as present statement of bank accounts, monthly income records, present mortgage information, and others) and understand the rights or specialadvantages before accepting the financial aid for your children. You may also check if the financial aid is renewable.

With different financial aid programs such as college scholarships and federal grants, you are assured of a bright future for your children despite of the financial difficulties
that you are currently experiencing.

About the author:
To read about lying and body language, why do men lie, why people lie, baby strength, worlds strongest baby , toddler health and other information, visit the Knowledge Galaxy site.

Filed under: Admissions, Applications, College Debt, College Financing, College Planning, Grants, High School, Mothers, Parental Guidance, Pell Grants, Scholarship, Students, Tuition, single mothers, single parent families , Admissions, Choosing Universities, College Applications, college expenses, College Financing, college funding, College Planning, financial aid, Grants, money, parents, Scholarships, student financial aid, student loans, Students, Tuition, Universities

Approval Requirements for Home Schooling

By Hong Kirby

There is more or less a general consensus on the inherent value of education. However, people may often disagree about the right method toward achieving that education. The majority of the population would rather opt for institutionalized formal education, referring to education offered in public or private education institutions like primary and secondary schools. However, as has been the recent trend, many parents in
particular have begun considering or even going on ahead with home schooling their children. Home schooling, prevalent prior the inception of formalized school systems, is making a return to the mainstream because some parents either do not approve of the curriculum of school systems or are even against the idea of formalized school systems, or find themselves holding greater capacity to educate their children in the best possible manner.

Perhaps you are interested in home schooling your child, and conceded, you have your own reasons for doing it. But just like picking a school for your child, the decision to home school is a very big one. This would most obviously translate to you taking your child out of a previous social learning environment and into the home to educate him or her; moreover this also means that from then on, you are going to be fully responsible for the intellectual rearing of your child.

It is perhaps for this reason that certain guidelines are set by the state or local education offices before you can actually home school your child. It is best to consider these guidelines first because your state can help you through the process, and moreover, may enlighten you on relevant issues on home schooling. I’ll expound further.

Majority of states in the United States would require a legal minimum of state notification of your intention to home school your child. In a rare few (including Texas, Alaska, Missouri, Illinois, and Oklahoma, among others), you may go on ahead with home schooling your child without informing the state.

Other states however, would require you first to notify the state and afterwards acquire your child’s grade records should he or she have attended a public school. After this, some states may require you to create a curriculum you intend to follow for your home schooling program, be accredited as a parent-teacher, and to host a home visit by your local education officials. Later on, during the period when your child is already being
home schooled, some states may require for you to submit to them evaluation scores, attendance records (states may require a minimum number of ’school’ days for home school too) and even test scores.

It is very important for you to find out the different requirements for home schooling in your state. For one, it will help you make sure that once you home school your child, your child’s education is actually being recognized by the state. Without state approval, your home schooling may not be regarded, which may increase the difficulty for your child to move on to a university or college. Second, the state may provide you with
various forms and guidebooks as you home school your child. This assistance may prove valuable to you, especially if you are home schooling for the first time. Third, by finding out these requirements, you will be able to submit to the state all the required documents that you must submit periodically. In this way, you are also assured that your child is at par level with any other child enrolled in a regular school setting. In the
same manner, by approaching your local education authority you may actually inquire about the college application process of home schoolers.

Home schooled children may be required a marginal number of steps that regular applicants are not required to take in order to qualify for their chosen university. Some universities may require your child to take the G.E.D., an exam that will help test the sufficiency of their knowledge from home school to be considered as qualified college applicants, while others may require state accreditation. Moreover, by visiting your local education authority you will also find out the various state and local government scholarships for which your child may or may not qualify.

While home schooling may pose some added burden once you are ready to return your child to a regular school system, it has proven beneficial to many in the past. Visit your state or local government education office in order to make an educated decision, and in order to get the approval you’d need to push through with home schooling your child.

About the author:
To learn about geraniums, geranium magnificum, geranium care, honeysuckle plants, goldflame honeysuckle , honeysuckle flowers and other information, visit the Gardening Central website.

Filed under: College Planning, Home Schooling, Mothers, Parental Guidance, Public Service, Students, single mothers, single parent families , college planning tips, Home Schooling, Parental Guidance, parents

College Tours – Thinking About it Yet…..

Student Tours Offer Memories Too Be Made

By Tegan Dawn

One of the most memorable times in a child’s life is going on adventures to different locations to learn and experience a new environment with their friends and classmates. If your school is planning for student tours throughout the year or a senior trip, professional assistance is probably not only necessary, but will be much appreciated by the students and the volunteers. If you know your budget and have a destination in mind but don’t know how to execute if from there, Peak Performance can take it from conception to completion.

Peak Performance has been providing professional assistance to schools, corporations and adults for tours since 1994 and has built a solid reputation on their quality of service and thoroughness. Knowing where to go for your student tour is only the beginning, planning what to do while you are there and where you are going to stay once you are there, as well as figuring out how you are going to get back and forth with your students and where everyone is going to eat their meals is overwhelming at best.

There are music and dance tours to major symphony halls and performance stages or even to nationally recognized Jazz clubs featuring Jazz bands, you can choose to see shows in concert halls, or visit museums and libraries, as well as tours that allow students to take part in clinics with professional musicians and college professors and participate in music and dance festivals worldwide.

Class tours can be taken all over America and even internationally, and you
will be provided with a tour coordinator that will make sure that your student tours are educational as well as fun and full of activities.. Your tour coordinator is there to act as your contact from beginning to end, and in some cases, if timing is right, your tour coordinator will also join the tour along with your class. Each tour has escorts to assist with all aspects of student travel, lodging, and transportation to help make the trip as stress free as possible. The professionals at Peak Performance know great planning is all in the details.

Student travel can be hard for their parents as well. That is why all  transportation that is required is done through reputable businesses for travel by air, land, or water. If travel is done by bus all motor coach operators must carry $5,000,000.00 in insurance, the driver has to have a CDL and medical certificates, and the company must have a program in place for driver drug and alcohol testing. Security at night is also supplied each and every night to make sure that the students on tour are safe in their rooms, allowing the chaperones a night of rest to be ready and alert for the following days activities. If you would like to find out more about Peak Performance and their tours, what they offer, and pricing, please call 800-220-0165 or visit PeakPerformanceTours.com to request more information.

About the author:
Hi I am Tegan Dawn and growing up I didn’t have the opportunity to travel like kids do today. If you are a teacher or administrator and you are planning this year’s upcoming student tours or student travel you should have a professional company handle all the details.

Filed under: Admissions, Applications, Campus Lifestyle, College Planning, High School, Parental Guidance, Students, Universities, college Tours , Choosing Universities, College Planning, college Tours, Parental Guidance, parents, self improvement, Students, Universities

Which Loans for College Students?

By Owen Jones

Let’s suppose that you have a teenager who will shortly be graduating from high school. You will feel happy naturally, the same as any other parent. whose child is passing out high school. It is one of those milestones in life that you have successfully circumnavigated, in spite of all the financial obstacles that you have probably experienced. It is time to be happy, for you have fulfilled your role of giving your child a brighter future.

But as most would say, a high school graduation is not the be all and end all. In deed, it is only the beginning of tougher challenges that await you and your child in the following years of college education.

At this moment, you need to begin thinking about how you will finance the courses of your college-bound teenager. With the increasing cost of tuition fees, you need to plan ahead well of time to avoid any problems, especially if you not well-off. I should imagine you already know how hard it is to have to cope with the increasing costs of your child’s high school education before. The earlier you start thinking about your child’s college education, the less you will have financial problems afterwards.

If you think you will ever be faced with financial issues again, it is vital that you know the different financial aid programs available for your college-bound child. Just keep reading to learn the financial aids that can help you:

A Grant: it is the first type of college financial aid that you should apply for. It only requires you to complete a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) application form. Once the form has been sent, it will be checked and if
your child qualifies, he/she will get the full amount of what he/she has applied for. At this moment, you need not do anything much further except provide the name of the college or university that your teen wants to enrol into.

Scholarships: Although a scholarship is mostly intended for students who have the ‘brains’ but do not have the ‘money’, not all college scholarships are intended for academics. Students who do not have the best academic record can still qualify for many other college scholarships. There are college sports scholarships, community service work scholarships, social involvement scholarships and many others. These are only a few of the different types of scholarships for your child if he / she is not that academically talented.

‘Student Loans’: these kinds of loan have rather lower interest rates compared with other sorts of loan. Some loans are off-set, which means that the interest does not accumulate until a student finishes college. Moreover, these loans do not require collateral, and therefore, you do not have to worry about putting your own home up as collateral against the student loan for your child. Most of these loans are available on various repayment plans at low interest rates and low monthly installment payments.

If you haven’t yet started looking for any of the various financial aid programs available, it is advisable that you start now. These financial aids are there to help you and will provide the funds needed for your child’s college education. You can be free from worries about the cost of your teen’s education, if you begin early enough.

About the author:
If you want information on gettingcollege education funding then you really
should visit our website on applying for scholarships and grants

Filed under: Admissions, College Debt, College Financing, College Planning, FAFSA, Grants, Parental Guidance, Pell Grants, Scholarship, School supplies, Students, Tuition, single mothers, single parent families , Students, College Applications, College Financing, Scholarships, college expenses, student financial aid, planning, parents, student loans, financial aid, college funding, Admissions, college planning tips, Grants

Understanding College Rolling Admissions Policies

By John McDonald

Traditionally, most colleges have had specific deadline dates for admissions applications. Recently though, many schools have begun to accept applications on an open or rolling basis, and this can be confusing for students who are used to more concrete requirements.

Basically, a college utilizing rolling admissions will continue to accept applications for enrollment until space fills up in the class. The advantage is that they can continue to accept students later in to the year, but this doesn’t mean that you should still wait until the last minute to get your paperwork turned in.

While students can get accepted right up until registration for classes begins, there are still usually advantages to applying earlier. Many colleges provide institutional aid in the form of scholarships and grants, and these financial aid opportunities usually have a deadline date that comes long before the final day applications will be considered on a rolling basis. Federal financial aid is also distributed by the college or university, and those funds are typically exhausted in early spring.

If you know which college you would like to attend, it is a good idea to apply as early as possible – regardless of the stated deadlines or the possibility that your admission form will be considered later in the year. Of course, if your plans change at the last minute or you weren’t able to get accepted to a first choice school, you can still take advantage of rolling
admissions to get enrolled in another degree program.

About the author:
John is a writer and web publisher helping students find the right degree and money to pay for college. Education is more important than ever when it comes to employment and income, so consider a new degree today!

Filed under: Admissions, Applications, Classes, College Counselors, College Planning, Grants, Scholarship , Admissions, Choosing Universities, Classes, College Applications, college planning tips, self help, Students

Photography Schools – Which One To Choose?

By James Hunaban

There is a lot of choice when it comes to places where you can learn photography, but which would be the best for you? For sure there are plenty of online learning resources, but you will not get that practical experience you need. You will learn a lot more being with other students and a good teacher. Having said that, online information is good at getting the basics down, and is a good place to start.

What exactly you require from a photography class will help you decide which one to go for. For example, a college which is not just for photography will only offer basic levels. If you only intend taking up photography as a hobby then the basic levels of instruction will probably suffice.

If you really want to take your photography seriously you should go for a school or college which specializes in it. These specialized schools will probably employ a professional which should really help you learn the specifics and expand your know-how.

You must decide what it is you exactly want from your photography, once you have decided that you can choose your school or college and set about applying for a course. Do your online research and try to find any local courses or even courses further afield.

You may need to take specialized classes in basic disciplines such as lighting, composition and various other basic routines. Portrait photography, for example requires an understanding of light, angles, balances, and will teach you how to get the reactions you want from your subject. The digital photography world requires the understanding of several different techniques that were not required when using the older type of film camera.

As you get into it and really start learning all the ins and outs you may decide that you would like a career in photography. There is a lot of help both online and off-line if this is the path you choose.

One specialized area of photography is taking photographs under water. Most normal schools and colleges do not cater for this and you may have to do a bit of searching to find one which specializes in it. Underwater photography would make for a fascinating hobby or even better, a profession. To me, the underwater world is more interesting than the world above it.

About the author:
For an abundance of Digital SLR Camera user reviews please visit - http://dslrreviews.net/

Filed under: Campus Lifestyle, Career Path, Career Search, Classes, Major, Photography Schools, Students , academic quality, Career, Career Path, Choosing Universities, Classes, college planning tips, job search, Photography, self improvement

Scholarships for Moms: Why Obama Is Behind It

Scholarships for Moms: Why Obama Is Behind It

Author: Marlon Jackson

Article:

President Barack Obama has provided government funding for

mothers to go back to school. It will be an enriching experience

for the mothers to get involved in a professional environment

after dealing with their children most of the time, but there is

a more important reason – to fuel the workforce with valuable

employees. There are many jobs out there that need filled but

there is a lack of workers that have the necessary skills to do

these jobs.

A lot of these moms have likely thought about going back to

school and entering a career in a field they have always dreamed

about working in, but this is merely a dream to them. Well Obama

thinks it can become a reality if they are willing to do the

work necessary to receive their college degree. The funding is

awarded is a gift, not a loan, meaning that it does not have to

be paid back.

Interested moms need to first decide what their course of study

will be, and then pick the school where they will go. It is

important to make sure the right school has the program you are

interested in. Make sure to do thorough research so that you are

making the right choices as far as your education. Some colleges

let you do the studying at home, using an online degree program,

which is convenient for moms with busy schedules. They still

will have to set aside enough time to take the online classes

and study to ensure a successful experience.

It might seem too challenging to go back to school, but just

think about the rewards you will experience once the degree is

earned. You will be able to find a valuable career and earn more

income to support the family, and your children will be excited

about the achievement you have accomplished.

About the author:

So what’s holding you back? Take advantage of a $10,000

scholarship drawing. Registration is free if you visit <a

href=”http://www.scholarshipsformomsfinder.info/”>http://www.scho

larshipsformomsfinder.info/</a>Scholarships for Moms: Why Obama Is Behind It

Author: Marlon Jackson

Article:

President Barack Obama has provided government funding for

mothers to go back to school. It will be an enriching experience

for the mothers to get involved in a professional environment

after dealing with their children most of the time, but there is

a more important reason – to fuel the workforce with valuable

employees. There are many jobs out there that need filled but

there is a lack of workers that have the necessary skills to do

these jobs.

A lot of these moms have likely thought about going back to

school and entering a career in a field they have always dreamed

about working in, but this is merely a dream to them. Well Obama

thinks it can become a reality if they are willing to do the

work necessary to receive their college degree. The funding is

awarded is a gift, not a loan, meaning that it does not have to

be paid back.

Interested moms need to first decide what their course of study

will be, and then pick the school where they will go. It is

important to make sure the right school has the program you are

interested in. Make sure to do thorough research so that you are

making the right choices as far as your education. Some colleges

let you do the studying at home, using an online degree program,

which is convenient for moms with busy schedules. They still

will have to set aside enough time to take the online classes

and study to ensure a successful experience.

It might seem too challenging to go back to school, but just

think about the rewards you will experience once the degree is

earned. You will be able to find a valuable career and earn more

income to support the family, and your children will be excited

about the achievement you have accomplished.

About the author:

So what’s holding you back? Take advantage of a $10,000

scholarship drawing. Registration is free if you visit <a

href=”http://www.scholarshipsformomsfinder.info/”>http://www.scho

larshipsformomsfinder.info/</a>

By Marlon Jackson

President Barack Obama has provided government funding for mothers to go back to school. It will be an enriching experience for the mothers to get involved in a professional environment after dealing with their children most of the time, but there is a more important reason – to fuel the workforce with valuable employees. There are many jobs out there that need filled but there is a lack of workers that have the necessary skills to do these jobs.

A lot of these moms have likely thought about going back to school and entering a career in a field they have always dreamed about working in, but this is merely a dream to them. Well Obama thinks it can become a reality if they are willing to do the work necessary to receive their college degree. The funding is awarded is a gift, not a loan, meaning that it does not have to be paid back.

Interested moms need to first decide what their course of study will be, and then pick the school where they will go. It is important to make sure the right school has the program you are interested in. Make sure to do thorough research so that you are making the right choices as far as your education. Some colleges let you do the studying at home, using an online degree program, which is convenient for moms with busy schedules. They still will have to set aside enough time to take the online classes and study to ensure a successful experience.

It might seem too challenging to go back to school, but just think about the rewards you will experience once the degree is earned. You will be able to find a valuable career and earn more income to support the family, and your children will be excited about the achievement you have accomplished.

About the author:

So what’s holding you back? Take advantage of a $10,000 scholarship drawing. Registration is free if you visit <a href=”http://www.scholarshipsformomsfinder.info/”>http://

www.scholarshipsformomsfinder.info/</a>

Filed under: Admissions, Applications, Career Path, Career Search, College Financing, College Planning, Mothers, single mothers, single parent families , academic quality, Career, Career Path, Career Search, College Financing, college funding, College Planning, financial aid, money, Mothers, Obama, self help, student financial aid