Is Your Student A Procrastinator?

A student does not start procrastination in college; this has been a life style that has been reinforced through out their life. This could be a family culture, role modeling of parents, or a personality type. If a child has been allowed to procrastinate with no consequences, there has never been a reason for them to work on this issue. Procrastination has worked for them although I guarantee you, it has caused them aggravation.

Usually helicopter parenting reinforces this type of behavior. If the student doesn’t do it, the parent swoops in at the last minutes and saves the day. They may give the kid a hard time but the kid is prepared to accept the grief because they know it will be done and probably done well by the parent. They have never felt any consequence to their actions. Very simply, this is how we learn to do things different.

How can you have one child that is focused and organized, and another that is a procrastinator? There are personality types that are more prone to procrastination. This is no excuse. Procrastination takes a lot of energy; it affects relationships, and the procrastinator often feels bad about themselves.

Can procrastination be improved? Yes, but it takes effort. Systems need to be put in place and there are many systems out there. Mycollegecalendar.org is just that sort of tool. The worse thing to do is just accept it. This is rewarding bad behavior. Don’t buy your student another day planner, keep it simple and uncluttered.

Dr. Debi Yohn
Counseling Psychologist
President/Founder of CollegeWorks101.com

Parents. Do The Simple Application Tasks.

Parents – if your son or daughter is a high school senior applying to college this fall, plan to help them by doing the simple, time consuming application tasks.

Senior year students will be so busy this year that their time MUST be spent on the important parts of college applications. You, the parent, should help your student by assisting with what I call the “tedious but necessary” tasks. These tasks include writing required information on paper draft copy college applications (i.e., personal data, address information, family household data, name and address of current high school, etc.), typing student name and address on the top portion of recommendation forms, mailing application materials via U.S. registered mail, and much, much more.

By far, the most important part of applications on which students should focus their efforts is the essays (both the long- and short-length application essays). Essays must be the original, creative, captivate reader’s interest, and (ideally) support the student theme; all of this takes time, lots of time.

Parents alleviating their son/daughter from the burden of completing the “tedious but necessary” tasks provide their student the advantage of extra time to write superior essays and complete all application tasks in a timely manner with less personal stress.

Parents should help their son or daughter and watch their success in taking action to plan and apply for their dream of attending their favorite four year college or university. For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org

College Applications . . . Apply Early Or Else!

This fall, apply to colleges and universities using one of three types of early applications or else you may lose some real significant advantages. But BEWARE, there are some pitfalls.

The main advantages for applying early are increased chances for admission and increased odds for receiving substantial financial aid awards (deadlines for early applications typically are between October 15 and November 30). There are other advantages, too.

1. The best type of early application for students in need of financial aid is Early Application (often called Multiple-Choice Early Action):

a. Under Early Application, student applicants are more likely to be accepted because colleges have higher admission rates for early applicants. A side benefit of applying Early Application is if students are not accepted to the colleges they applied to, they still have adequate time to apply to other colleges and universities under the Regular Application process.

b. Colleges and universities award scholarships and grants from “pools” of financial aid on a first-come, first-served basis. Applying early substantially increases students’ eligibility to receive merit-based scholarships, and to a lesser extent, increases the odds of receiving need-based scholarships and grants.

c. Students receive decisions from colleges about their admission status early (before the December holidays), but do not have to commit to attend college before May 1. This gives students plenty of time to compare college characteristics and financial aid offers before committing to attend a particular college. In effect, this allows students to “shop” for colleges.

d. Under Early Application, even when students apply to a college (or are accepted to a college), they remain free to apply to any other college and university using any admission processes (Early, Regular, Rolling or Late).

e. As mentioned above, under Early Application, applications typically are due October 15 – November 30, but students are not required to commit to attending a specific college until May 1.


2. Single-Choice Early Action has the same advantages as Early Application BUT students are allowed to apply to only one school using early applications. In other words, students are prevented from applying to other schools using any type of early application, either Early Application, Single-Choice Early Action, or Early Decision. Because students are forbidden to submit early applications to more than one school under Single-Choice Early Action, the chances for acceptance to other schools is reduced because they can only apply to other schools using Regular, Rolling or Late applications.


3. Early Decision is the last type of early application process. The advantages of Early Decision are students are more likely to be accepted because colleges have higher admission rates for Early Decision applicants. An additional advantage is students find out early if they’re accepted (college decision letters/e-mails are sent to students between December 1 and 15). HOWEVER, students are permitted to apply to one and only one college or university and if accepted, they are legally bound to attend that school BEFORE ANY FINANCIAL AID IS AWARDED (students may receive financial aid, but they must accept admission before any aid is awarded). Again, students are forbidden to apply to all other schools. Early Decision applications are recommended only for student applicants with incredibly strong qualifications who possess a very strong desire to attend their top choice college and have only a slight or non-existent need for financial aid.

All colleges and universities offer one of these three options for applying early. The advantages and main disadvantages of each type are presented here; make sure your colleges offer the application option best for you.

But whatever you do, APPLY EARLY! For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org

Use Scholarships To Pay For Studying Abroad.

I just got back from a 5-week studying abroad program in Europe (Salzburg, Paris and London) through the University of Portland and it was awesome! I got 6 credits and got to see the greatest sights . . . it was incredible! I saved money from some of my private scholarships and on-campus job to pay for the trip, but what’s coming next is what I’m really excited about.

Students – you should know you can use your scholarships to pay for studying abroad so it doesn’t cost you anything. I’m going to spend this fall semester in Rome and all my scholarships are paying for it. How? The Rome program is “sponsored” by my university so it’s the same as if I was studying on the main campus in Portland. All my scholarships and grants will apply to my college tuition and housing expenses while studying in Rome, I just have to pay for plane fare and miscellaneous things I want to buy in Italy.

The keys to using scholarships to pay for study abroad programs is (1) work hard in high school to earn large scholarships and grants and (2) study abroad through a program sponsored by your college. When study abroad programs are sponsored by your college, the school allows all your financial aid to be used to pay for it.

I like telling people that I will be living in Rome for almost four months for the cost of an airline ticket! Any college student can do this, you just have to talk with people in the Study Aboard office at your college and ask if your scholarships will apply to studying abroad program you’re interested in.

High school students – take advantage of this great opportunity. Work hard now while you’re in high school to earn scholarships to pay your way to Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, or South America as a college sophomore or junior. Renewable scholarships you win for your college freshman year can be used to pay for a truly great semester studying in another country. Work NOW to earn the scholarship and grant money you will need. You’ll be glad you did.

Jocelyn
University of Portland, Class of 2010
Portland, Oregon