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

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

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

How Single Moms Can Find Grants – Two Easy Steps

By Felicia Ramone

One of the most ignored ways of finding a financial education is through grants. Grants are sums of money that are given by federal or private institutions to help individuals pay for a variety of things. One of the things that grants are used for is to pay for college. Single moms can have their entire college education paid for through federal grants. Here are two easy steps to do this.

Grants are not simply given to people because they request them or because they need them. People must qualify for them in order to receive this federal or private funding. It is applied for over the Internet or forms can be filled out and sent in by mail.

The grant process, one shoe have filled out and submitted to paperwork can take several weeks for the application to go through. Depending upon your financial situation, you may or may not be approved. If you’re in a financial bind, and you have very little money or assets, you may find that your application process is much more quickly.

The Obama administration has a two-step process for applying for  grants.

The first step is to fill out the FAFSA. This is the federal grant paperwork that you need to get your financial aid process going. This required paperwork is necessary in order to get you into the federal system that you can qualify for grants such as the Pell Grant.

The second step is to submit this paperwork as quickly as possible. Most people recommend submitting it by February 2 if you’re going to go to college in the fall of the same year. This gives the federal processors time to process your application and to make sure that you get the funding issue are entitled to.

Following these two steps, you will be able to move forward toward earning a college degree. Most students take out loans and end up paying them back nine months after leaving college. Many students, including single mothers can apply for the Pell Grant and receive thousands of extra dollars for their education. Do this today.

About the author:
Visit our sites for more information on finding free grants for students or obtaining financial aid and federal funding through the Obama administrations stimulus package.

Filed under: College Financing, College Planning, Grants, Mothers, Pell Grants, single mothers, single parent families , financial aid, Grants, Pell Grants, Single Parent Mothers

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

Home School Requirements

By A J Adams

 

Home school requirements can be quite different depending on your location. Every State has its own set of regulations regarding homeschooling as does each County and school district. They can vary from States like Arizona where you just have notify the County that you’re going to homeschool and get on with it, to States like Missouri where they tell you what you have to teach, how many hours to teach it and the student must undergo regular testing to verify it was taught.

 

With this said, if you’re considering homeschooling, the first step in your research should be to find out the requirements in your State and school district. You can probably find out the State requirements over the Internet. Instead of contacting your local school district office, I would try and find a local support group or forum for homeschooling in your area. Some

school districts aren’t very happy about the whole idea of homeschooling and might not be very forthcoming with good information. The forums and support groups will have the correct information you need. Once you have it, you can decide if you want to go further in the process.

 

A good source to know about is the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA). They too have information on every State regarding homeschooling. They also have a page for used homeschool books and supplies.

 

After you have satisfied the local school board or County office regarding home school requirements, there’s a couple of other things to keep in mind before your start teaching. It’s a good idea to keep good records of the classes you teach and the performance of your student. You may be asked to present them at some point as proof of your teaching. In grades K-8, a portfolio of each subject would be a good idea. In grades 9-12, an actual

transcript should be put together.

 

The grade school portfolios can be a somewhat informal record of your student’s work for each year. It could be in the form of a collection of his work bound into 3-ring binders with one for each subject and new ones being purchased for each new year of classes. 

 

You can go onto the Internet to see what types of high school transcript forms are available and it might be good to check with your support group to see what they suggest. If you already know what college your child might attend, it would also be a good idea to check with their admissions department to understand what proof of education they need and in what form. Generally a high school transcript is a list of classes you have taught and the grade earned in each one.

 

You’ll need to know before you begin teaching high school what your local school board’s requirements are for graduation. It will normally be a list of subject areas with the minimum number of credits required for each. Traditionally 1 credit in high school equals 120 hours of class work. Typically 20 credits of various subjects are required for graduation. But if the student plans to attend college, others suggest additional study to the

tune of 22-29 credits. The extra credits would be earned in subject areas relating to your student’s probable major or area of interest in college.

 

Meeting your local area’s requirements for homeschooling is usually achievable, but before you spend any more time thinking or planning for one, be sure and check out exactly what your local home school requirements are. 

 

About the author:

Mr.Adams comes from a family with many teachers. Discussions about homeschooling led to a lot of research, which led to a series of articles being written. He and his wife also own and maintain a website at

http:www.elementary-home-schools.com/home-school-requirements.htm

l where you can download a 10-part mini-course on homeschooling.

Filed under: College Planning, Home Schooling, Mothers, Parental Guidance , College Applications, Choosing Universities, parents, Admissions, college planning tips, HomeSchooling

How To Find About Online Scholarship Programs

By John Goldman

With college costs skyrocketing uniformly, scholarships prove to be an effective measure to make your education more economical. But you can’t get scholarships if you don’t apply under defined parameters. You need to be smart while applying for scholarships.

Online scholarship websites are an immense source of information. Some websites supply databases and you can hunt for the most suitable scholarship. Some accumulate lists according to fields such as scholarships for Law, Nursing, Teaching and Military studies.

Some of the popular websites who provide exclusive information about getting online scholarships are Fastweb, CollegeNet; a scholarship acts as a benefit or a fiscal aid to support the candidate to carry his or her studies.

One source of acquiring scholarships that is unnoticed are online colleges and universities. As these institutions are not considerably established, many people are under the wrong notion that they don’t have any scholarships available. Even though
some colleges may not offer, they should never be neglected.

Nowadays, all the signs indicate that the internet will play a very crucial role in education; it becomes important for students to ensure they put some efforts in browsing the internet for online scholarships. The internet has been the most advanced modus operandi to get any information. It has numerous advantages.

More scholarship information can be stored via internet as compared to any physical library. To get scholarship online, the foremost thing is to use a scholarship search engine. This facilitates to filter scholarships which are not suitable to the individual. This would enhance to make research easier, accurate and much faster. In addition, several colleges and universities are allowing students to gain their degree online. The internet has played a pivotal role in getting scholarships easily and allow you to obtain degree without borrowing a great deal of money.

As an example we can see how feasible it would be to get an online scholarship for a Law school. One of the easy ways to obtain a Law scholarship is via internet. First, visit relevant website. Then scroll down until you find “apply for a law scholarship”
and then click on it. Once you have clicked on it you will be taken to a page that says – download the school reference scholarship kit and you will get to see the next available dates for law school admissions.

Once you click the download button the second page will open in Adobe Reader. Now, fill the application carefully and print once you are done with it. Then mail the application. Ensure that you keep phone numbers and address of the school in case you need to get in touch with them.

Scholarship can be obtained via any one of these source too:-

Guidance counsellors: Before starting to explore possible scholarship available one must consult guidance counsellors. They can be a rich source of information for local scholarships.

Non-profit organizations: Many non profit organizations facilitate meritorious students by taking responsibility of their education funds. Community foundations: They have a provision of giving fiscal aid in the form of grants and scholarships to people in the area.

Labor unions: Labor unions play crucial role by pumping funds for education for their members and dependent children.

Houses of worship: Members of local house worship can be benefited. But religious organizations may have some available.

Chamber of commerce: This is a boon for students who wish to pursue their career in business and public service. Sometimes you can get small scholarships to local students.

About the author:
John Goldman is one of the foremost advisors in matters relating to Government Grants,Scholarships and Financial Aid.For more information on how to locate scholarships, view our CollegeScholarship Guide

Filed under: Admissions, Applications, College Debt, College Financing, Grants, Law Schools, Med School, Mothers, Nursing, Nursing schools, Online Universities, Scholarship, Tuition, Universities, single parent families , College Applications, Choosing Universities, College Financing, Scholarships, College Planning, Grants