This is great for children of parents who have gone to college. And I strongly believe that we should start talking to children about going to college in elementary school. But with students of parents who haven't gone to college, where does the conversation start? Some parents can't talk to their kids about their alma mater because they don't have one. Other things need to be done to talk to these kids about college. If it is only the parents talking to the kids about going to college at an early age then in a sense it perpetuates a hierarchy of who goes to a higher ed institution because the people who went to college will talk their kids about going to college who will talk to their kids about going to college while the people who didn't go to college get left out of the conversation.
Kat of CO3:25PM May 15, 2013
I agree completely! I have taken my 2nd grader to my alma mater, and to activities on several local campuses. He knows college is not an option, but what you do after high school. Because our campus visits have always been fun and enjoyable, he has a positive view of university life. He knows he has the potential to become a statistician (like his mom), a computer guy, a teacher, engineer, doctor... I love this article! Thank you!
Rebecca Eof VA10:49PM May 03, 2012
Parents who begin the college conversations early with their children will be thankful in the long-run! I work with many families, with a strong focus on education, who wait until the junior or senior year to really begin the prep work for going to college. There is a night and day difference between children who have been brought up thinking about college and how to get there, versus those who have not. College preparation and conversations are essential to our children's successful futures.
Calli Christenson
CLC College Prep Services
Calli Christensonof TX3:53PM May 01, 2012
It's never too early to start thinking about college, especially how to pay for it. Scholarships and grants are a great source of money to pay for college. When my son was a high school senior, I spent the entire year searching for scholarships to pay for college, and it definitely paid off -- he graduated from Columbia University last May, completely debt free! However, most parents and students don’t have the time or energy to look for scholarships, or they don't know how to find the most promising and unique opportunities for them. And even if they do, there’s so much information out there that it can be totally overwhelming!! As a result of all my hard work and the experience I gained, I founded a company called Scholar Dollars. We provide personalized scholarship searches for students and focus on locating more obscure scholarships that are harder to find, which means that our clients have a better chance of winning. On average, we provide high school seniors and undergraduate students with over 250 scholarship opportunities throughout an entire year. Of course, the ultimate result and money won depends on the student’s motivation, determination, and commitment, but the money is there if you are willing to work for it!
Tracie Joyner, Owner & Founder of Scholar Dollars
www.Scholar-Dollars.com
Tracie Joyner, Owner & Founder of Scholar Dollarsof GA8:55AM April 29, 2012
As a private college counselor, I am always amazed when parents call about college counseling in their child's junior year of high school and feel they are already behind the eight ball. I agree that some earlier college conversations are important, but I also want parents to know that there is still plenty of time to accomplish our goal of helping their child find some good college choices and put together the applications and essays that are part of the process. I think conversations about the importance of grades for college admissions and scholarships, extracurricular activities, and volunteering and community service can all take place when students are in middle school. I hate to push college conversations on kids any earlier unless they are the ones who bring it up.
College Direction
Denver, Colorado
Susie Wattsof CO10:33PM April 25, 2012
No Excuses University schools have begun this conversation! Children are excited about college and furthering their educations. Learn more about it!
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Kat of CO 3:25PM May 15, 2013
Rebecca E of VA 10:49PM May 03, 2012
Calli Christenson of TX 3:53PM May 01, 2012
Tracie Joyner, Owner & Founder of Scholar Dollars of GA 8:55AM April 29, 2012
Susie Watts of CO 10:33PM April 25, 2012
Haidi Appel of TX 6:08PM April 25, 2012