Negotiating with Colleges to get the Best Financial Aid Offfer

College is very expensive in the United States. 

   While a lot of schools offer needs based financial aid which means schools provide you more grants and loans based on your income.  The less you earn the more aid you get.  If you make a lot of money the less assistance you get.  Sounds fair?  If your like many Americans who have survived the downturn in the economy your savings have evaporated.  The college may provide you more assistance if your earning less the amount of money your expected to contribute may no longer be possible.  And doesn't it feel like the more aid is available the more expensive schools become?  Many countries value education so highly that their governments contribute enough to make education either free or very affordable.  Parents do not have to sacrifice their children's education because they can't afford it.  Access to a college education is based on your academic ability.

   Colleges are in competition for students.  Colleges are investing millions to build better and better dorms, school buildings and recreational space to attract students.  Of course that has a cost.  Schools take out loans to build these facilities and pay those loans by raising tuition.  Since there is no law to stop schools from raising their tuitions, most schools raise tuition in the hope that financial aid will help students get into schools with these fancy new buildings. 

   How does the average parent pay for college living at a time where getting a job is more and more dependent on a college education and is getting more and more impossible to pay for it?  While we all wish for free or low cost college education, until that day comes in the United States you can either 1) study in Europe and avoid these outrageous tuitions or 2) negotiate between schools to get the best financial aid packages. 

Talk to Your Children

The more parents talk to their children the better. Especially from birth to preschool, talking will help their brains develop faster. Scientist have found that the amount of words a baby hears by the age of three is related to how well the child does academically by age nine.

While many people agree sending your child to preschool at age four is important, parents can help their children to succeed academically by talking to them as often as possible. Children even at the age of 18 months old can be many months behind in their brain's development if parents don't make a habit is speaking to their children directly.  

So what can you do? Putting your baby in front of the TV is not going to work. You have to speak with your baby, show them an object and then speak the word. You can read to them out loud. All these things help you baby increase their vocabulary.  

Read more: http://www.economist.com/news/science-and-technology/21596923-how-babbling-babies-can-boost-their-brains-beginning-was-word?fsrc=scn/fb/wl/pe/inthebeginningwastheword

How can Parents and Teachers work together?

The experts all say that parents and teachers need to work together to improve the education of the children.  No one would publically speak out against this idea.  It makes a lot of sense for parents to be on the same page with teachers about what their child needs to do outside of the classroom.  Is it enough for parents to know what Johnny or Sally homework is that night?  Is it enough to reduce TV watching and making sure their child reads every night?

Certainly this would be a great start for all parents.  Most parents do not have time for more than that.  A lot of parents don't know how the education process even works and don't know how they can participate.  Education is both a science and an art.  The science of teaching children is complex and important.  In one classroom each student is different, every student learns differently and are at different educational levels.  Factor in if your student does not speak English.  Pretty complicated stuff.  

Should parents leave the education of their children just in the hands of the teachers?  The most effective way to improve the education of your child is to somehow work in partnership with the teacher.  But how?  

1. Talk with the teacher about your child's educational needs.  Every parent has the ability to make a big difference in their child's education.  Doing the basics like reducing TV watching, making sure homework gets done, getting enough sleep is a big help.   

2. Get educated about education.  There are a lot of new ideas about education.  Some ideas are good, others are just fads.  Learn what works and what is not proven. 

3. Get active. There is a big push to do something to improve the education system locally and nationally.  Often parents don't speak out in support or against these ideas.  The problem is these ideas are not being questioned by parents in general.  Politicians , school systems, unions, business leaders are all debating what needs to be done to prepare children for the future.  Parents need to be a part of the discussion . 

The future is bright, help shape it by letting yourself be heard. 

After School Activities Can Help

Parents who are looking for activities after school for their children have a lot of options. Research shows that spending time with your children helps your child in many ways including academic.  You can garden together, jog while they ride their bike or do arts and crafts at home.  Anything that can take them away from video games and the television is always a good thing.  

Some parents can't spend time with their children after school.  So the next next best thing is after school programs operated by community organizations, schools, or city services like the parks.  See the list below for some ideas: 

After school programs for CHA residents:

http://www.thecha.org/pages/youth_opportunities/114.php

After School Matters - free programs for teens:

http://www.afterschoolmatters.org/#

Chicago Public School After school programs:

http://www.cps.edu/Programs/Before_and_after_school/Pages/Beforeandafterschool.aspx

Boys and Girls Clubs

http://www.bgca.org/Pages/index.aspx

YMCA

Find your local YMCA (on the right side) for fun and educational after school programs. 

http://www.ymca.net/

Parent Involvement - Secret to Education Success

Parent involvement is important in your child's education no matter what level of education you may have.  Parents that are involved shows their children that education is important.  The bottom line is to remove as many obstacles from your child doing well in school. Here are some examples on how you can get involved:

At Home Basics:

• Make sure they do their homework;
• Make sure they go to sleep early every night;
• Create a routine where the entire family reads every night (link);
• Control the amount of TV and video games they play during the school week;
• Remove the TV from their bedrooms;
• Eat dinner together as a family and discuss current events; 

Homework Help:
Never do your child's homework, instead help them understand the homework assignment. Also focus on what your child is doing and learning instead of being only focused on performance.  There’s a big difference between a parent who’s focused on what the child is doing — that is, on the learning itself — and a parent who’s focused on how well the child is doing.  To ask “So, what’s your theory about why World War One started?” or “If you had written that story, would you have left the character wondering what happened, the way the author did?” represents a kind of engagement that promotes critical thinking and enthusiasm about learning.  To ask “Why only a B+ is a kind of engagement that undermines both of these things.

• Help them understand the homework;
• Get them a tutor to catch up and get ahead;

At school:
Many parents work so it is not possible to volunteer at the local school.  Parents should go to the school for meetings and get information.  No question is stupid.  Ask as many questions as you can until you understand.  Here are some examples:

• Attend parent teacher conferences;
• Pick up report cards;
• Meet with a counselor;
• Get help for your child;
• Sign up for free breakfast and lunch (must be income qualified);
• Attend workshops like "how to get into college.";
• Help your child enroll into a community college or university (especially if its your first child);

Why Education Real Simple?

As a parent,  understanding how education works can be confusing and stressful. There is no guidebook for parents that explains education in plain English. Education professionals use technical words and the choices make it hard for new parents, immigrant parents or even seasoned parents know what is the right thing to do. 

Education Real Simple is a place where complex education issues are explained in plain English and provide a place for parents and teachers to share ideas.