Scholarships for Non Traditional Students

 

California Certified College Planning Specialists

 

By Ben Liles

In times of economic hardship scholarships for non traditional students are more important than ever as conventional financing options for college become increasingly scarce.

Logically, when economic prosperity is abundant there is a surplus of cash into general scholarship funds as well as a greater likelihood that parents of college aged children will be able to comfortably afford to send their kids to institutions of
higher education. Non traditional students are generally defined as adults (22+ years old) entering college for the first time. Needless to say an overwhelming majority of scholarships are geared towards recent high school graduates with far less money being earmarked for the slightly older students. This article will outline some of the options available for non traditional students seeking scholarships.

Undergraduate transfer programs

While the vast majority of scholarship money is funneled directly to students attending four year colleges directly out of high school there is still a significant amount of money being awarded for students of all ages that are transferring
from two year community college to four year universities. As more universities have grown to directly align themselves with local community colleges the funds for these scholarships have become increasingly accessible. Although in many cases initially intended for students only a couple of years removed from high
school these scholarship opportunities are almost always open to anyone showing merit worthy of the financial incentive to continue their education.

One popular source (among many) for these transfer program scholarships can be found through the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation. While complete information is available at the website of the foundation (jkcf.org) the basic parameters are
that students progressing from a two year college program (junior college) to a four year college or university can be awarded as much as $30,000 for their continued educational pursuits. The complete process involved with applying for this financial aid can be found at the aforementioned website that is overseen by the foundation.

Continuing education for adults scholarships

Most people are not aware that while a small minority of total scholarship money goes towards continuing education for adults there is a still a significant amount available that is readily accessible when searched for in the right places. Far too many adults considering beginning their college careers are quick to use the excuse that “there is not any scholarship money for someone my age” when in fact that simply is not true. It would behoove those adults considering going to college to contact the local schools that they are considering attending and inquiring about the scholarship opportunities. Many schools around the country are embracing the positive impact they can have on their communities by instituting money specifically set aside for non traditional students. A short list of the many schools on this list includes Providence College, North Iowa Community College, and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Consider sports scholarships

For many adults reading this article the very idea of being awarded sports scholarship money may initially sound completely ridiculous. The truth of the matter though is that the majority of sports scholarships are far less competitive and require less athletic prowess than the young athletes playing football on
Saturdays that most people associate with full ride scholarships. Collegian athletes encompass a very wide range of sports that range from swimming, to tennis, to fencing, and golf. A little known fact is that every year hundreds of girls golf college scholarships go unused because primarily second tier universities can not find enough women interested in the sport to fill the available scholarships. Whether a non traditional student is shooting for an archery, handball, or bowling scholarship there is a realistic chance any student can find a sports scholarship in their area that they have a realistic chance of earning.

Conclusion

Someone that is proactive in their search for scholarship money will undoubtedly be pleasantly surprised with the opportunities they find. Active research, continued persistence, and thinking outside the box are the keys for non traditional students to find scholarships.

About the author:
Ben and his wife are the happy end products of finding scholarships for non
traditional students. Now a golf coach and father of two beautiful daughters Ben shares his knowledge on his blog: www.GirlsGolfCollegeScholaships.blogspot.com.

Filed under: Admissions, California Colleges, Campus Lifestyle, College Financing, College Planning, High School, Scholarship, Students, Universities, athletics, ncaa , academic quality, Admissions, Choosing Universities, College Financing, college funding, college planning tips, Grants, money, Scholarships, student financial aid, Universities

Recent College Planning Testimonials

Before knowing Bay Area College Planning  Specialists, I was feeling very overwhelmed with the complexities surrounding college planning and the future of my girls. I was  stressed 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 Bay College Planners to take advantage of their free workshops and consultation.

And since I am a working mother, the more I realized it I needed their expertise.

I now 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 majors. 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’ future and 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!”
Register NOW

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 , Choosing Universities, college funding, College Planning, Decisions, Parental Guidance, self help, self improvement, Testimonials

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

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

Simple Guide For College Students

By Tom Tessin

College is one of the best actions that people can take in order improve the quality of their lives. By going to college people not only increase their earning potential and employment opportunities; they also learn how to become more productive members of our society. The process for turning college students into high quality citizens begins in school. Here is a simple guide for students so that they can get the most out of their experience.

Go to Your Classes

Students pay money to attend a university and this means that they should go to their classes. The college experience is ultimately about the education process over anything else. It’s through this education process that a student is being prepared for the profession that they want to be involved in. So the best thing that any student can do is to show up for their class, be on time, and make sure they absolutely learn something.

Pay your Tuition

You can’t go to school without paying your tuition, well if we don’t take scholarships and grants into consideration. Students who have to work to attend school should make it a point to pay for their expenses while attending. Again, this is because the education for your profession is the most important reason why you’re there.

Have a Social Life

Being social in college is okay as long as it doesn’t interfere with your education. Many people get sidetracked in college because they allow the other aspects of the college life to get in the way of their main purpose for being there. Have a social life in college because it’s a part of the process for you becoming a productive member of our society but don’t allow this social life to get out of control.

Stay out of Debt

Many college students have charge cards and loans that they blow on things they more than likely didn’t need. Spending extra tuition money on foolish pleasures or things is not the best thing to do. Don’t get it wrong, it’s okay to spend some of the money on getting some of the things you want, but remember that you’re going to have to pay that money back one day. Also, charge cards are a college student’s enemy. The laws are
changing because credit card debt is out of control in this country and one part of these changes has to do with college students and credit. The bottom line is students under the age of 21 won’t be able to get a credit card unless they can prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that they can pay it off or if they have parents who can.

There are plenty more areas that can be covered for this simple college guide for students but the main thing to remember is that college is about your education and that education is what you will need in order to help you make a better life for your family and yourself.

About the author:
Find great student articles like this, and more of Tom’s work all on his student blog.

Filed under: Bay Area, California Colleges, Campus Lifestyle, Career Path, Classes, College Debt, College Planning, High School, Junior College, Public Service, Social Networking, Students, athletics , academic quality, Career Path, Classes, college expenses, college planning tips, college students, Freshman, self help, self improvement, Social Networks, Students

Myths about College Applications

Myths about College Applications

Author: K James

Article:

Myths about College Applications

The college application is an integral part of the college

admission process. The admission departments at colleges require

prospective students to complete an application that usually

comprises of general to specific details like their academic

records, letters of recommendation, personal essays and a list

of extracurricular activities. In all this hullaballoo there are

certain myths that follow college application process. I thought

like talking to you guys about the same in today’s post. Check

my list of top 5 common college myths prevailing among students.

Myth #1: Using a Common Application Can Result In Rejection of

Your Application

There will be no negative impact on your admission when you use

a common application. A common application is a single

application form that you can submit to wide variety of

participating schools. Most schools accept the common

application because it makes the admission procedure relatively

straightforward. When a school receives a large number of

applications, they get more talented students. The common

application is very useful for students as they do not need

search for university-specific applications.

Myth #2: Acceptance Is Based On Your Admission Interview

Your admission is not dependent on the interview. Therefore,

even if your interview has not gone well, it does not mean that

you are going to be rejected by the college of your choice. The

main function of interview is to bring prospective students to

campus and give them more details about the school and give the

school personal contact with the students.

Myth #3: You Have Better Chances of Acceptance If You Attended A

Prep School

Your chances of admission do not increase when you attend a prep

school. Colleges are interested in a diverse class of students

so they want to give admission to students coming from a wide

range of schools. Irrespective of the school you have studied,

admissions officers give preference to students who are ready to

accept challenges and take admission in a tough courses.

Myth #4: A High Sat Score Guarantees Acceptance

If your SAT score is high, it does not mean you are guaranteed

admission into a top college. While proper preparation for SAT

tests is an absolute necessity, they are not classified as

entrance exams. Standardized tests are just one piece of the

admissions puzzle. The majority of top colleges look for good

SAT scores but their main focus is on the kind of courses you

have taken, your performance and extracurricular activities.

Myth #5: Your Application May Be Rejected If You Apply For

Financial Aid

Applying for financial aid does not have a negative impact on

your admission. As you need to apply for financial aid in line

with the college application, make sure that there is no error

in either of your forms. To improve your chances of getting

admission unto a top college, it is advisable that you study

daily and try to get good grades. When applying for grants &

scholarships, talk to an admissions officer as they will help

you in filling out the application form properly.

About the author:

The admission departments at colleges require prospective

students to complete an application that usually comprises of

general to specific details l

By K James

The college application is an integral part of the college admission process. The admission departments at colleges require prospective students to complete an application that usually comprises of general to specific details like their academic records, letters of recommendation, personal essays and a list of extracurricular activities. In all this hullaballoo there are certain myths that follow college application process. I thought like talking to you guys about the same in today’s post. Check my list of top 5 common college myths prevailing among students.

Myth #1:

Using a Common Application Can Result In Rejection of Your Application

There will be no negative impact on your admission when you use a common application. A common application is a single application form that you can submit to wide variety of participating schools. Most schools accept the common application because it makes the admission procedure relatively straightforward. When a school receives a large number of applications, they get more talented students. The common application is very useful for students as they do not need search for university-specific applications.

Myth #2:

Acceptance Is Based On Your Admission Interview

Your admission is not dependent on the interview. Therefore, even if your interview has not gone well, it does not mean that you are going to be rejected by the college of your choice. The main function of interview is to bring prospective students to campus and give them more details about the school and give the school personal contact with the students.

Myth #3:

You Have Better Chances of Acceptance If You Attended A Prep School

Your chances of admission do not increase when you attend a prep school. Colleges are interested in a diverse class of students so they want to give admission to students coming from a wide range of schools. Irrespective of the school you have studied, admissions officers give preference to students who are ready to accept challenges and take admission in a tough courses.

Myth #4:

A High Sat Score Guarantees Acceptance

If your SAT score is high, it does not mean you are guaranteed admission into a top college. While proper preparation for SAT tests is an absolute necessity, they are not classified as entrance exams. Standardized tests are just one piece of the admissions puzzle. The majority of top colleges look for good SAT scores but their main focus is on the kind of courses you have taken, your performance and extracurricular activities.

Myth #5:

Your Application May Be Rejected If You Apply For Financial Aid

Applying for financial aid does not have a negative impact on your admission. As you need to apply for financial aid in line with the college application, make sure that there is no error in either of your forms. To improve your chances of getting admission unto a top college, it is advisable that you study daily and try to get good grades. When applying for grants & scholarships, talk to an admissions officer as they will help you in filling out the application form properly.

About the author:

The admission departments at colleges require prospective students to complete an application that usually comprises of general to specific details like their academic records.

Filed under: Admissions, Applications, College Financing, College Planning, Essays, Grants, High School, PSAT, SAT, Scholarship, Students, Tuition, Universities , Admissions, Choosing Universities, College Applications, College Financing, college funding, College Planning, financial aid, Grants, PSAT, SAT, Scholarships, student financial aid, Students, Universities

Plan Ahead to Help Your High School Students Benefit from CLEP

CLEP Exams Help Students and Parents Save Thousands of Dollars in College Tuition…

College Planners

College is more expensive than ever. Common solutions to saving money for college include sending high school graduates to less expensive, community colleges. Parents also enroll their kids in AP courses in high school, in hopes that passing the AP exam at the end of the year will exempt their child from having to take mandatory general education courses their freshman year, thereby saving a lot of money. Other students vie for competitive scholarships. However, unless grades are impeccable and extra-curricular activities are impressive and noteworthy, a good scholarship can be hard to come by.

The most overlooked way to save thousands of dollars in college tuition is the CLEP exam. CLEP, or College Level Examination Program, which allows your child to earn college credits by studying for and taking an exam that demonstrates their knowledge about any one of 34 different subjects. CLEP exams, which only cost around $70 to take, are actually less expensive to take than AP exam and don’t require high school students to enroll in the more vigorous and time-consuming AP courses. Parents will benefit the most from CLEP if they figure out an early course of action and plan accordingly. Some crucial questions parents should know about CLEP follow:

How Many CLEP Exams Can My Child Take?

Different colleges accept up to 3 to twelve credit hours for each exam taken. You must contact the college of your choice to see if there is a cap on how many credit hours can be transferred from the successful completion of a CLEP or an AP exam. Students serious about saving money with CLEP should apply to the colleges of their choice before deciding which and how many CLEP exams they will study for. Some students can save a year’s worth of tuition by utilizing CLEP. To find out which colleges give credit for CLEP, visit the above link.

What Classes Should my Child Take to Prepare for the CLEP exams?

The beauty of the CLEP exams is that your child doesn’t have to take specific classes in order to pass. Often, general knowledge gleaned from experience, reading, and mandatory high school classes is a good basis for passing the CLEP exams. However, be sure to study these tips to pass CLEP. It may be best for your child to study for exams that have content she feels most familiar with. If she ends up taking the CLEP exam before she knows what college she is attending, be sure to get a copy of the CLEP transcript form. You can request a transcript through www.collegeboard.com or by calling 1-800-257-9558. Be sure to have your child’s social security number and test information on hand.

Navigating the CLEP Process with Outside Help

Students who plan to go on to college should have contact with their guidance counselors. Make sure the guidance counselor is informed of your desire to use CLEP to your child’s benefit. Your guidance counselor should help you find testing sites, plan a course of action, be in contact with potential colleges’ admissions counselors, and should help your child find study resources and facilitate communication with his teachers to help gain study support.

CLEP is a great way to ensure your child has a successful and affordable college career. Whether your child wishes to transfer to a local community college or wants to move to a large university in another state, CLEP will help make the transition a smooth one.

About the author: Students who must take an introductory psychology course as part of their undergraduate degree requirements may be interested in taking the CLEPtest instead of attending the actual course. College academic counselors can be excellent resources for students who are interested in learning how they, too, can use CLEP tests…

Filed under: AP Courses, Admissions, Applications, CLEP's, Classes, College Planning, High School, Mothers, PSAT, Parental Guidance, SAT, Students, single parent families , Admissions, Classes, CLEP, College Applications, college planning tips, Parental Guidance, parents, PSAT, SAT, Students

Parliament Tutors Ranked Best SAT Prep Company; Kaplan Takes Second Place

By Aaron Goldstein

 Parliament Tutors was recently named the best SAT Prep program in the nation by BestTestPrep.Blogspot .This comes just weeks after Parliament

College Planning

Tutors revealed their custom-designed prep materials and diagnostic grading module.

 

While, the best test prep method is often diligent, independent study, new technology and advanced testing strategies have given students an upper-hand in standardized test-taking. Boutique private tutoring services are doing their best to compete with test-prep giants like Kaplan and Princeton Review that can afford luxuries like real ScanTron tests to grade students immediately after practice exams.

Parliament Tutors, a New York City-based private tutoring and test prep company, recently invested in state-of-the-art software to better diagnose students SAT strengths and weaknesses. “We want to be ahead of the SAT Prep curve,” explains Parliament Tutors President, David Greenberg. “We consider ourselves the most forward-thinking private-tutoring service in the nation. Our software engineers have developed a grading program to assess students’ strengths and weaknesses based on their correct and incorrect answers immediately upon submission. Our specialized math and verbal tutors are trained to respond to these evaluations.”

Last year over 1.5 million students took the SAT. As the importance of SAT scores in the college admissions process continues to grow, so does the demand for private tutoring and test-prep services. More and more students are applying to college today than ever before. “With fewer job opportunities, students that may not have considered school in the past are turning to secondary education as an alternative,” explains test-prep tutor and educator Uri Carni. “Never have we seen such a high number of standardized test-takers for secondary education.” Students have responded to this increased demand in education by stepping up their preparation strategies as college application season approaches. The SAT and ACT, complimented by SAT II Subject Tests and Advanced Placement (AP) Exams, may be the most important components in the college application process. The most important key for success is identifying your strengths and weaknesses, and building lessons accordingly to maximize your potential. Take as many practice tests as possible and focus on your areas that require extra attention and improvement.

“As important as these tests are, college admissions officers are putting increased emphasis on candidates’ profiles and less emphasis on their scores,” explains Lawrence Beer, Parliament Tutors California regional director. “Students are going to have to work hard to find and develop their niches to get admission officers’ attention today. A 700 around the board isn’t what it used to be. Schools want to see leadership, involvement, and expertise.” This education boom will precipitate an even more competitive college admissions process. Much more attention will be given to students personal statements. It is important to grab your readers’ attention from the outset of your essay. Anecdotal essays that can relate to everyone typically work best. Increased attention and focus is being given to subject tests and AP results, as well. These exams give students a chance to show off their abilities to complete college-level coursework and to demonstrate proficiency in a particular field. Choose only the most passionate and well-trained tutor when making your selection. See that their approaches make sense to you and that their teaching strategies work. Take advantage of every minute and never stop listening, learning and improving.

Parliament donates a percentage of its profits to sponsor free private tutoring sessions for students in need. “This campaign is special because is provides those in need with the same advantages as those who can afford first-class tutoring services,” explains Ari Smith, Parliament’s Cleveland regional director. “Students that can’t afford group courses, let alone a private SAT tutor, are at a serious disadvantage when it comes to competitive standardized-testing. I am proud to be a part of this effort and to give back to the community and provide these needy students with the same state-of-the-art software and top-notch tutors available to the wealthy.”

About the author: Aaron Goldstein is an NYU Graduate with degrees in accounting and finance. He is currently doing an education fellowship in the Middle East, while pursuing a masters in education.

Filed under: AP Courses, Admissions, Applications, College Planning, High School, PSAT, Parental Guidance, SAT, Students, single parent families , Students, College Applications, Parental Guidance, parents, self improvement, self help, College Planning, Admissions, PSAT, SAT