Monday, December 31, 2018
Saturday, December 29, 2018
Top Tips on the Road to Free College Blog 2018
The final post for the year will be a wrap up of the
most popular articles from this Road to Free College blog. It’s exciting to see which posts draw the
most attention during the year. The most popular post of 2018 was about trading
free time at home for free money for college. The most popular titles of
the year were about improving the odds of winning scholarships. Since this
is the theme of my blog, it’s gratifying to see people are interested.
There have been three changes in this blog during the
year. The most exciting by far was the publication of my book, Free College. It shows families how
graduates earn the most scholarship money. This book is central to my goal of
helping families avoid needing college loans. I find it inequitable that
students in my generation were able to pay for a semester of college for the
same amount as a week’s worth of groceries, yet today’s student must suffer a
lifetime of debt to receive the same education.
The second change to the blog was the addition of a
clickable image of my book, Free College, in
the upper right hand corner of the landing page. This way, anyone who wants the step-by-step guide in my book doesn’t have to search
for a way to buy it. Just click the image, and you’ll be taken directly to my
page on Amazon. You can buy the book for your immediate family or for loved
ones. It makes a great gift, since it shows how much you care.
The third change was designed to make looking for
popular posts easier for the reader. They're now listed on the right hand side
of the landing page, under my biography. It’s interesting to see that both the
articles and the motivational posters on the site are enjoyed by readers. I
found this a bit of a surprise. But good things do often come in small
packages.
Most popular posts of 2018:
Trade Free Time for Free Money for College This post
suggests parents and students use “found time”, when schools and businesses are
closed due to bad weather, to apply for college scholarships. Trading free time
for free money for college is a wise use of this gift. Sure, making snowmen
and watching movies are fun activities, but their enjoyment is fleeting.
Assuring financial freedom after college graduation is priceless. The blog
post also explains where to find scholarships.
Thanksgiving Holiday Scholarship Challenge This is the second most popular blog post
of the year. It too shows families and students how to leverage time in order
to pay for college. All students and many parents are gifted days off from school
and work over holidays such as Thanksgiving. I challenge them all to apply for
at least one scholarship for each day they have off. The article also gives
some tips on how to do this.
How to Become the Ideal Scholarship and/or Grant Applicant is the third most popular post. It gives the
reader a brief description of my book, Free College. It explains what’s in it,
and where to find it. It’s almost an ad for the book, and yet it has been
viewed by thousands of people. This is gratifying, but viewing isn’t buying,
and buying isn’t reading. I hope families realize that purchasing Free College and following the steps it contains
could save them tens of thousands of dollars in college tuition and
fees. It has for the students interviewed while researching the book.
Why Dinnertime Is Important to Student Success The fourth most popular blog post of the
year is a motivational poster. The topic is dinnertime, and its importance to
student success. During my research, I found students who have dinner with
their families at least five times each week do far better in school, life and
win more scholarships for college. The photo was taken by me in 2017, while
cruising off the coast of Basque Country. The quote is from President Ronald Reagan.
How to Win the College Scholarship Lottery This article compares qualifying for college scholarships to winning the lottery.
Both are a game of chance. Both have qualifications in order to win. Everyone
knows winning the lottery takes luck. While qualifying for college scholarships seem
mysterious to most families, luck has little to do with winning. The article
introduces the reader to twenty steps students take who win the most
scholarship money.
If you’re interested in learning more about any of
these topics, you can follow me on Twitter, @ElizaWallace27 or click to buy Free College, where you’ll find the step-by-step guide to winning more free money
for college, based on numerous students who have done so already.
Friday, December 28, 2018
Monday, December 24, 2018
Friday, December 21, 2018
Monday, December 17, 2018
Friday, December 14, 2018
Why Should High School Students Apply for College Scholarships Today?
Wednesday, December 12, 2018
You Don’t Need a GPS to Find the Road to Free College
You can use your computer, tablet or smartphone
instead. There are several onramps to this road. If you prefer watching videos over reading, you can find the Road to Free College channel on YouTube. Just go to YouTube.com, and type Channel Road to Free College in the search bar. This onramp is new, and more videos will
be added weekly. Each will contain a tip to help you and your child learn how
to earn more free cash for college.
If you prefer Facebook, then visit the Road to Free College
there. This onramp leads to motivational posters families can use as wallpaper,
or just enjoy as they're posted. Teachers can use them in the classroom
for free too. There are also interchanges (links) to articles rich in
information necessary for raising the ideal college scholarship applicant. Just type Road to Free College in the search bar on your own Facebook page to merge.
The third choice is a major highway,
RoadToFreeCollege.com. This blog is updated a few times each week. There’s lots
of traffic here, but picking your lane is easy. One contains lesson plans and
teacher tips. Another will help students learn how to maneuver. A third includes news about education to enjoy while en route. There are plenty of
motivational quotes to use in the classroom as posters or writing prompts. The
most popular lane on this thoroughfare is Free Money for College. This is the
fast lane on the Road to Free College. It will lead you to your destination the
quickest. The easiest way to reach this onramp, is to Click Here.
All of these onramps to the Road to Free College
include helpful tips for parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and others in the
lives of preschool through high school students. The most efficient tool of all is my book, Free College. It contains the sixteen defining habits of successful scholarship winners. You can
find it by taking any of the onramps above, or use the toll road,
(Amazon). You can go directly to the book and take a peek inside, Click Here, then buy a copy for your family.
I hope you enjoy the ride, no matter which onramp you
select.
You are reading from the blog: http://www.roadtofreecollege.com
Photo credit: Google Images
Monday, December 10, 2018
Why Should Parents of Elementary Students Apply for College Scholarships?
Sunday, December 9, 2018
Simple Tips to Encourage Your Child to Love Reading
Kids who love to read are happier, do better in school
and win more college scholarships. If this sounds good to you, then fill your
home with books. Start with yourself, because you’re your child’s first role
model. It’s pretty simple. Find an author you enjoy. See if he or she wrote a series.
I love the Harry Bosch novels by Michael Connelly. I found a list of these books
online, and started reading from the top. I’ve done the same for
several other authors too. You can buy books online or in a book store, pick
them up at the public library or do as I do, download them from the library for
free. Your children will see you enjoying yourself as you read through your
list of books.
Next determine which books your child might like. This
will depend upon age, of course. When my daughter was little, I read to her
daily. She loved Peter Rabbit, so I bought her a set of Beatrix Potter books. I
continued giving her books as gifts and reading to and later with her as she
grew. Our home was full of books. She’s a mother of teenagers now, and they’re
readers too. If you don’t know where to start, ask your child’s teacher for a
suggestion. Look online for popular titles by age, or ask for a recommendation
from an employee at your local bookstore, or the librarian in your neighborhood
library.
I continue this book giving tradition with my
grandsons. Each birthday and Christmas, I give them a book on a subject I know
they enjoy. My oldest loves science fiction, so I give him books from classic
science fiction authors starting with Jules Verne. He loves them all. The
younger boy enjoyed the Wimpy Kid series of books. As he grew older, he joined his
school track team, so I gave him an autobiography of Louis Zamparini, track
star and WWII hero, for his birthday. He told me it was fantastic, so I bought
him an autobiography of Jesse Owens for Christmas this year. You get my point?
Feed your kids and grandkids books in subjects they love, and they’ll learn to
appreciate reading.
Readers do well in English, History and Foreign
Language classes in school. They’re at an advantage, since the act of reading
is one they relish. You have time to start this tradition in your house. You’re
already online, just slip over to your favorite search engine and type in “Most
popular books for ____ year old children”. Order a few books, and when they
arrive, write a sweet message inside. My daughter told me my grandkids love the
little notes I write in the books I give them. Yours will love them too.
For information on college planning and scholarships, you’ll want
my new book, Free College. It’s for families of Pre-K through
High School students. Scroll to the top of this page, click on the image of my book on the right, and buy it now from Amazon.
You are reading from the blog: http://www.roadtofreecollege.com
Photo credit: Google Images
Friday, December 7, 2018
Monday, December 3, 2018
Friday, November 30, 2018
Thursday, November 29, 2018
How Students Can Be Happy for the Rest of Their Lives
Parents and school counselors often encourage students to take
advanced classes in every subject. This might look like good on a transcript,
but how does it make students feel? Are they overwhelmed, or inspired? Be
careful to avoid the first emotion while boosting the second.
I’m a perfect example. In my case, I have loved words and grammar
since I was little. Numbers, however, seem to slip through the cracks in my
mind, especially zeroes. I don’t know why, perhaps it's cultural. When I grew
up, girls were told they were bad in math and good in storytelling. I guess I
fulfilled this prophesy.
In the ninth grade we were told to pick a foreign language class.
I chose French and continued studying it through college. In the tenth grade I
was instructed to select an advanced math class, since I had completed the
required courses already. My reply was, “Can I take another language instead?”
Lucky for me, the answer was yes. I added German to my schedule and continued
studying it happily through college.
I kept adding languages and avoiding courses I did not enjoy. The
result was happiness. I liked my classes, even when they became complex, and
competition from foreign students grew intense. I graduated college with a
degree in German, French and English, and taught them for over 40 years. If I
had been forced to take advanced math instead of the extra languages, what
would have been the result? I’m sure it wouldn’t have been a successful career
teaching languages. There were times where my abilities in multiple languages even
granted me a job over someone with fewer language skills.
Apply my example to any student. Take the required classes in
every subject, but push harder in courses you enjoy. Go to summer school or the
local community college to eliminate required subjects of lower interest. Then,
there will be room for more classes in your strength. Not everyone is into
words. Some students love music, math or science. Whatever the strength, talent
or interest, feed it, and watch it grow. Imagine having a career in something
you love. As they say, it won’t feel like work.
Picking the right courses will help students be happier and more
successful in secondary school and earn far more scholarship money for college. For more
information on college planning and scholarships, you’ll want my new
book, Free College. It’s for families of Pre-K through High School
students. Buy it now from Amazon, http://ow.ly/y7hx30k0JvQ.
You are reading from the blog: http://www.roadtofreecollege.com
Photo credit: Google Images
Monday, November 26, 2018
Friday, November 23, 2018
Wednesday, November 21, 2018
Gift Ideas to Help Students Be Successful and Win More Scholarships
Often when meeting parents at Back to School Night, they asked me
what books they could give their children for Christmas, Hanukkah or on their birthdays
to help them be more successful. I loved this question, and created a list of
gift ideas. Here’s the list and the appropriate age for each book:
1. Seven Habits of Highly
Effective Teens by Sean Covey – Age 13
2. Personality Plus by
Florence Littauer – Age 14
3. The Magic of Thinking Big
by David J. Schwartz – Age 15
4. Free $ for College for
Dummies by David Rosen and Caryn Mladen – Age 16
5. The Blue Zones of Happiness
by Dan Buettner – Age 17
6. The Millionaire Next Door
by Thomas J. Stanley – Age 18
Of course, it would be unethical to suggest
families buy my own book, Free College, if I was still in the classroom,
but I’m not. You should buy a copy if you are a parent, grandparent, aunt or
uncle of a Pre-K through high school student (college bound or not). It contains a proven step-by-step guide to help your kids earn more scholarships and grants. Buy it now from Amazon, http://ow.ly/y7hx30k0JvQ.
You are reading from the blog: http://www.roadtofreecollege.com
Photo credit: Google Images
Monday, November 19, 2018
Friday, November 16, 2018
Wednesday, November 14, 2018
Thanksgiving Holiday Scholarship Challenge
Although many students want to go to college, few have the
financial resources to do so without scholarships, grants or loans. I’m
completely against loans, since they have a tendency to destroy a graduate’s
future. That leaves grants and scholarships, but they don’t magically appear.
Someone has to apply for them.
When writing my book, Free College, I realized I
didn’t complete many chapters without having a specific goal, with a time
limit. Once I set this up, the chapters almost seemed to write themselves. This
could be true for scholarship and grant applications too. I suggest setting up
a routine for finding, filling out, and submitting college scholarship and
grant forms.
To this end, I propose a challenge over the upcoming Thanksgiving
holiday. For most students, this means four days. For others, it may be five
days. Whichever is the case for you, pick the number of applications you wish
to submit during this time. They will all be completed online, of course, so
you don’t have to worry about offices being closed. My suggestion is a minimum
of one per day, better yet would be to double or triple that number.
You’ll still have time for visiting with family and friends,
watching football or the Twilight Zone Marathon, and eating lots of turkey or
ham. Discuss your family’s travel plans with your parents in advance. Block
this time out on a calendar (you can print templates online for free). Then
block out your sleep schedule. You’ll do a terrible job if you’re sleep
deprived.
You now know when you have free time for meeting this
scholarship/grant application challenge. Use a red pen to outline the times you
are allotting to find, complete and submit your applications. If you have
already filed at least one, you know how much time you’ll need for each. The
average student takes about an hour, after the first one.
Sure, vacations should be fun, but wouldn’t you dedicate ten hours
of the 120 over the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday if doing so might result in
being awarded thousands of dollars for college? Go ahead and do it. I dare
you.
For more helpful scholarship information, you’ll
want my new book, Free College. Buy it now on Amazon, http://ow.ly/y7hx30k0JvQ. Great for families of Preschool through High School students.
You are reading from the blog: http://www.roadtofreecollege.com
Photo credit: Google Images
Monday, November 12, 2018
Friday, November 9, 2018
Wednesday, November 7, 2018
How to Improve Your Child's Scholarship Chances
I've created a short video to explain how you can help your children earn more free cash for college.
If you'd like to buy a copy of my book, Free College , it's on Amazon.
Click HERE.
Monday, November 5, 2018
Friday, November 2, 2018
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
When Is the Best Time to Apply for College Scholarships?
The short answer to this question is, right now. That
assumes, however, that you have children, and they are five to twenty-five
years old. There might be college scholarships for children still in diapers,
but I haven’t seen any so far. If you have, please let me know. Most people
think they should wait until their kids are juniors in high school. Waiting
increases anxiety and stress. Neither of these will lead to quality
applications or interviews.
Beginning the college application process when children
are in elementary school means there’s plenty of time to accumulate free money
for college. Doing so has the added benefit of allowing parents to save for
retirement. This is a win-win situation. If families put themselves on a
schedule, there should be enough scholarship money collected to cover college
without needing to take out student loans. Parents will need to find, and fill
out the scholarship applications for their elementary school aged children, of
course. Using the lined pages following each chapter in my book, Free College, to record data will make the process easier.
As children grow, and collect letters of
recommendations from teachers, coaches, and others, be sure to file them away
safely. You’ll need to reference them to fill out applications. Later you may
need to send copies. When children are in middle school, have them sit with you
when you search and apply for scholarships for them. They will benefit from the
experience, and will understand school is important to the entire family. At
this age, you will want to apply for more scholarships than before. Up your schedule to
twice a month, and apply for two scholarships during each session.
When children enter high school, they should be ready
to take on the task themselves. You might want to set up their system, and sit
with them the first few times. High school students will have easy access to
scholarship information. Their school counselor, college advisor or career
advisor will be able to suggest scholarships. Freshmen and sophomores should
apply for at least two scholarships each week. Juniors and seniors should apply
for at least three scholarships each week. Don’t forget to look into grants.
About $2.9 billion in federal grants for college went unclaimed in 2017. This
is tragic. Most people don’t think they will qualify, so they don’t apply. This
is a mistake.
Some high school seniors stop looking for financial aid
once they've been accepted to college. This is another error in judgment.
There’s still free money to be found. Look for it, and apply. The worst that
could happen is you don’t get it. So what? You might win the scholarship. It
would be a pity to pass up free money. Once in college, even if you have earned
a full-ride, keep looking. There are fees, books, plus room and board to be paid. If
you keep looking, you might not need a job or any loans at all. This is also
true for grad school. If you’re interested in an advanced degree, find some of
the billions of dollars of free money to help pay for your higher education.
Don’t join the tens of thousands of Americans with crippling college loan debt.
Be among the wise who graduate from college debt free.
If you have Pre-K through
High School students in your family, you want my new book, Free College,
on Amazon (Click Here to Buy). It can help them get accepted to college and win more
scholarships, so they can avoid taking out dangerous college loans.
You are reading from the blog: http://www.roadtofreecollege.com
Photo Credit: Google Images
Monday, October 29, 2018
Friday, October 26, 2018
Wednesday, October 24, 2018
What You Don’t Know Could Hurt Your Child’s Scholarship Chances
Most people are aware of several requirements for entering college and winning scholarships. High school students must
take “hard” subjects (Honors, AP, IB), maintain a high GPA (grade point
average), score well on the ACT and/or SAT, and satisfy the A – G graduation requirements.
Nearly all parents and many students believe succeeding in these four areas
will guarantee acceptance to the college of their choice and lots of free
cash for college. They're wrong.
These are only the basics. The vast majority of
college, scholarship and grant applicants satisfy them. Their applications make
the first cut. They will not end up in the circular file (wastebasket) on the
first pass. But how does a student make sure his application stands out from
the tens of thousands colleges receive each year? What are the defining habits
of successful college scholarship winners? Do you know them?
If not, you’re not alone. The majority of
parents and students don’t know them either. They guess. Some families
guess correctly, most do not. It’s frustrating to want the best for your child,
and not know how to make it happen. When I saw this occur over and over in my high
school classes, I did the research necessary to discover the secrets employed
by successful scholarship winners. There are sixteen of them. Students who
adopt all of these habits, in addition to meeting the four requirements listed
in the first paragraph, earn the most scholarship money. Those who practice
fewer earn less free money. What you do to help your children
avoid a lifetime of soul crushing student loan debt is your choice.
You could use your retirement money, so your children
don’t need to take out loans, but why? There are no grants or scholarships for retirement
and a massive supply for college students. More than $46 billion in grants and
scholarships are available each year. Almost $3 billion was not claimed in 2017.
This is because students didn’t qualify, or didn’t apply. Why not learn the
sixteen defining habits of successful scholarship winners and use them to help
your child? They’re included in my book, Free College, which is available on Amazon. Here’s the link http://ow.ly/y7hx30k0JvQ, so you can buy it
now.
No, the book isn’t free. But it costs far less than a
college textbook. You may have seen other books about college scholarships. Most
of them recount the experiences of one student or parent. My book includes a
much larger sampling and was thoroughly researched. I learned in college that a
random survey of 1,500 people has a confidence factor of +/- 3%. I
interviewed and surveyed many more in order to be sure the information I included
is valid.
There are other books available which are aimed at the
last year of high school. They contain a great deal of information about
filling out forms and how to apply for college, grants and scholarships, but little
about what to do in advance to qualify for them. You want to start preparing long before high school, so
there is less stress, anxiety or fear. Students whose parents helped them prepare
years in advance are ready. They’re not rushed, and do far better on tests as
well as on application compositions and during interviews.
My book contains a step-by-step guide to help families
raise children who have a better chance of going to college without needing
college loans. You can pay a little now (for my book), pay a great deal later
(tuition, fees, textbooks, etc.), or saddle your children with mounds of student loan
debt, crippling their future. I did the work in order for you to have the information
you need, so your children won’t add to the $1.2 trillion Americans owe in student
loans. Now it’s up to you.
If you have Pre-K through High School students in your family, you want my new book, Free College, on Amazon (Click Here to Buy). It can help them get accepted to college and win more scholarships, so they can avoid taking out dangerous college loans.
You are reading from the blog: http://www.roadtofreecollege.com
Photo Credit: Google Images
Monday, October 22, 2018
Friday, October 19, 2018
Thursday, October 18, 2018
How to Teach Kids the Organizational Skills They’ll Need to Win Scholarships
While doing research to determine why some students
receive far more free money for college than others, I found one difference was
their level of organizational skills. This is one of the sixteen defining
habits of successful scholarship winners that appears in my book, Free College . But students are not born
organized, nor do they wake up one day and know how to keep things in an orderly
fashion. They learn from the examples of others.
The best way to teach this habit is to model it in a systematic
manner. Teach both short term and long term organizational skills. Your
examples don’t have to be wildly complicated, just create simple routines into
your everyday life. Put a shopping list on the fridge. When you see you are
running low on something, add the item to your list. Use the list later when
you go to the store. Children see you doing this, and they adopt the same
habit.
When you’re at the dentist, hair salon, or other service
business you visit on a routine basis, make your next appointment before you
leave. Open your daily planner, or the calendar app on your phone, and record
your next visit. It’s easier for you, but more importantly, will make an
impression on your child.
These are good habits for short term responsibilities,
but children also need to learn how to make both mid and long range plans. There
are several household chores that need to be tackled during the year. I’ve
found changing the filter on my HVAC, replacing my toothbrush, and several
other tasks can be scheduled on the third, sixth, ninth and twelfth months of
the year. By doing so, and showing children how much easier they are to
accomplish by making a plan in advance, they will learn to be more organized.
Long range family plans should be discussed with
children. Going over your plans for a future vacation when they are young can
teach organizational skills. Putting money away for a long term goal,
like visiting the San Diego Zoo, or Disneyland, will give them the skills they will need later to
make plans for school projects or how to apply for college scholarships. The
short and long term planning skills they acquire when in elementary school will
pay off when they are older and looking ahead to college.
Chapters six and sixteen of my book, Free College, go into more detail in how being organized pays off when
applying for college and scholarships. Students who learn how to be systematic have
more “luck” when applying for both. They are less stressed in their senior year
of high school and enjoy themselves far more than their disorganized friends.
If you have Pre-K through
High School students in your family, you'll want my new book, Free
College, on Amazon (Click Here to Buy). It can help them be accepted to college and win more
scholarships, so they can avoid taking out dangerous college loans.
You are reading from the blog: http://www.roadtofreecollege.com
Photo Credit: Google Images
Monday, October 15, 2018
Wednesday, October 10, 2018
How You Can Help Families in Your Community Avoid College Loan Debt
More than forty million Americans have student loan
debt. They are currently trying to pay off the $1.2 trillion dollars they owe.
There is no alternative for the vast majority. Even if they declare bankruptcy,
they will still be on the hook for their student loans, plus interest. But it
doesn’t have to be this way. There are more than $46 billion dollars available
in college scholarships and grants each year. The problem is, students don’t
apply, or they don’t qualify. You can help change this.
After about ten years of teaching, I learned how to
help all of my foreign language students get into college. When they were
confused, I helped them figure out which classes to take to stand out from
other applicants. Years later, not only were all of my students going to
college after graduating from high school, they were going with scholarships
and grants. Many even received full-ride scholarships. I decided to figure out
why some received more free money than others.
While researching the best practices of families of
successful scholarship winners, I realized there was a pattern. I created a questionnaire,
conducted many interviews and made sure what I had discerned was accurate.
After finding what I had learned was backed by research, I started teaching
these tips to hundreds of students during our lunch break. I told my sister
what I was doing. Instead of being happy for me, she was a little angry. “So
you mean you’re only going to help students who happen to attend your school?
What about all the others?” She encouraged me to write Free College, which is available now on Amazon.
What
does this have to do with you? If you are a member of your local school district, PTA, church
or parent group, then it might mean a great deal. Here’s what I suggest. Read my biography on my blog, RoadToFreeCollege.com and read some of the articles. Read my bio on Amazon (link
below). Read my Twitter feed, @ElizaWallace27. You’ll see who I am, and some of
what I know. You’ll find I share information to help families raise their kids
so they will be happy, healthy and so successful, they’ll earn lots of free
money for college. I don’t believe in college debt. I don’t think college
should be so expensive. But it is, so learn enough about me that you trust what
I say. Then read the book reviews for Free College on Amazon and “Peek Inside” to read even more.
Next
buy a copy of my book. Here’s the link, http://ow.ly/y7hx30k0JvQ. I wrote it to help students go to college without needing to take out soul crushing
student loans. Read the book, and you’ll see how successful students earn massive
amounts of free cash for college. The tips are for families who have preschool
through high school students. Students who adopt all the strategies listed in
the book, earn the most. Those who don’t put in as much effort, earn less. Such
is life.
If you
want to make a positive difference in your community, help everyone in your local school district, PTA, church or parent group obtain a copy of the book. Email me at, freecollegeinfo@earthlink.net.
If you have a large group, we can set up a discounted bulk rate.
You are
reading from the blog: http://www.roadtofreecollege.com
Photo
Credit: Google Images
Monday, October 8, 2018
Friday, October 5, 2018
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
College and Scholarship Readiness Part III
Last month I was invited
to participate in an online chat run by Jodi Okun, author and founder of
College Financial Aid. The chat, #CollegeCash, took place on Twitter. The title
of the chat that night was similar to the title of this article. I expanded on my
answers on my blog with two articles, College and Scholarship Readiness Parts I
and II. This is the third installment. Where you see bold print below, these
are the questions and answers which appeared on the chat. The rest is what I have
added for this article.
Q6
@ElizaWallace27 What tips do you have when it comes to testing?
A6
The most successful and least stressed students start studying for tests the
first week classes begin. Years ago while handing back a graded
chapter test to my students I overheard a boy mention the girl next to him
always did well because she was smart. Loud enough for him to hear, I asked her
what she did to prepare for the test. She said she made flash cards of the new
information, and studied them each night. I followed up by asking if she did
this the day before the test or earlier. She told us she did this since the
first day we started the new chapter. So, yes, she was smart.
A6
Many practice tests for the SAT and ACT are available online for free; use them
to become comfortable with their formats. Go to whatever search
engine you use and type in “free SAT practice tests” and “free ACT practice
tests”. Practice them beginning months before taking the test. You’ll become
used to the format, and feel less anxiety.
A6
Get enough sleep the night before and eat a complete, healthy breakfast (with
no added sugar) the morning of a test. Students who make sure
they have 9-10 hours of sleep each night are able to process more new
information, understand it and retain it better. Students who eat a complete,
nutritious breakfast (without added sugar) do even better. There have been
dozens of recognized studies that prove both of these facts are true.
Q7
@ElizaWallace27 How do students win scholarships?
A7
The most successful start getting ready at a very young age. In
my book, Free College, I list the
four behaviors most students and parents know about already. Students take rigorous
classes (Honors, AP and IB). They earn a high GPA. They receive high scores on
the ACT and/or SAT, and they fulfill the A-G requirement. There are many
additional strategies, which are covered in detail in my book.
A7 They fulfill
all Standard A – G requirements, but go over and above them, so they stand out
from the crowd; example: take more foreign languages than required, and longer.
There are three areas in which students can take more advanced courses to
fulfill the “G” requirement. They are math, science and/or foreign languages. Pick
the subject in which you excel, and take more than the required amount of
courses.
A7
To win scholarships, students must apply, over and over. Don’t stop until the
last year of college. Parents can apply for college
scholarships for their children while they are in elementary school. Keep doing
so until the child is old enough to take over. Set up a schedule, and stick to
it. By high school, students should apply for a minimum of three scholarships
each week.
Q8
@ElizaWallace27 Should parents (or grandparents) use retirement funds to pay
for their children’s college education?
A8
No. Never. Not for any reason. Okay, maybe if you’re in the top 1% of earners
in the nation. Enough said.
A8
There are many grants and scholarships for college, but none for retirement. There
are billions of dollars in college grants and scholarships given away each
year, but not one for retirement.
A8
Learn how to help students win scholarships and grants. I
did the research for you. I handed out numerous questionnaires, conducted countless
surveys and interviews, and did copious amounts of research into various
subjects in order to discover the secrets of successful scholarship and grant
winners. Don’t try to reinvent the wheel. Learn what works and follow the same
road to free college.
Q9
@ElizaWallace27 Tell us more about your book “Free College How Graduates Earn The Most Scholarship Money”
A9
I researched graduates who earn lots of scholarship money and found a pattern
of behaviors. The most successful scholarship winners in
my study adopted all of the habits contained in my book. Students who did only
some of them received less free money for college.
A9
I included a step-by-step guide to the strategies and habits of the most
successful scholarship winners in Free
College. I explain what students did, how they did
it, and their results. I end each chapter with an action plan for each behavior
and a few blank, lined pages so families may keep track of what they have
accomplished. This will be helpful when applying to college and for grants and
scholarships.
A9
Students of families who adopt these habits, and apply for many scholarships,
should be among the highest scholarship winners. Based
on what I have seen, for those who are serious about going to college without
accumulating debt, like students in my study, and who continue to apply for
scholarships from elementary school through high school, success in amassing
more free cash for college is likely.
Q10
@ElizaWallace27 What are three things you want to leave us with tonight?
A10
Earning more free cash for college is possible by practicing a few disciplines
every day. It’s not who you are. It isn’t magic. It’s adopting
the habits of effective scholarship winners.
A10
Student loan debt cannot be eliminated by bankruptcy, but it can be avoided by
earning enough scholarships. Don’t let your children
join the 40 million students who graduate from college with student loan debt.
A10
I don’t have the power to eliminate college tuition, but I have exposed the
secrets of successful scholarship winners for families of preschool through
high school students. When I went to college the cost was easily
covered by taking on a part-time job. Until this is possible again, or until
tuition is eliminated, you have to cover all expenses with grants, scholarships,
savings or debt. I believe you can do what other families have done, and
collect enough free money for college, so debt should not be needed.
If you have Pre-K through
High School students in your family, you'll want my new book, Free
College, on Amazon (Click Here to Buy). It can help you avoid taking out dangerous college
loans.
You are reading from the blog: http://www.roadtofreecollege.com
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