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College

2 posts from Susan Merrill.

College

Why Your Child’s Education is at Risk

A few months ago, I got a raise of sorts. My fourth child graduated from college and got a job. I have just one child left on my payroll! So I got a raise, and he got a gift — a college degree debt-free. There are many things that go into the training up of a child, and one of them is education. Many parents are putting that education at risk because they aren’t planning for it. When you hold a little one in your arms, college seems so distant. But it is not. And when there are 2, 3 or 4 children to educate, it is amazing how much it can cost and how quickly 18 years fly by. We were shocked at the dent it made in our budget when we ended up with three of our five kids in school at the same time. Two things saved our family from having to borrow money for college — Florida Prepaid College Plans, and scholarships. Watching our kids graduate, get jobs, and plan their own budgets to pay for cars, apartments, clothes, and food was amusing for Mark and me (they just had no idea how much everything costs), …

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College

6 Mistakes College Freshmen Make

Graduating from high school can be one of the most exciting times in a young child’s life, but it can also be one of the scariest! All of a sudden, your teenager is thrust into the world. They have to make decisions with potentially life-altering consequences. So how do you make sure your child does it right? The first step is avoiding some of the most common mistakes college freshmen make. Go over the different 6 points on this list as you talk or visit with your teen during their freshman year. 1. Over-committing. Enthusiastic freshmen can easily bite off more than they can chew if they don’t choose their activities carefully. College offers incredible experiences, and it is difficult to turn down opportunities to make friends and do things you love. Participation in student organizations, intramural sports, piled on top of course loads can quickly add up. Add that to never-ending opportunities to socialize and even the most capable of students end up overwhelmed and stressed out. Encourage your student to take the time to enjoy their college experiences rather than just surviving them. 2. Under-committing. Your child’s chances of making long-lasting relationships when they spend all their free time watching Netflix …

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