Communication and relationships. It’s hard to have one without the other. As a matter of fact, bad communication habits can sour even the best of relationships, especially parent/child relationships. Find out how to brush up on your communication style and say what you need to say in this class.

In this session you will learn:

• How to identify the 4 main behavioral styles.
• Three essentials of Active Listening.
• How to implement effective communication skills.

Price $19

Register Here

If you are even thinking about going to college in the next few years, visiting your potential colleges is one of the most important steps that you can take. Just like you wouldn’t buy a car without going for a test drive, you would be amazed at what you can learn about a school in just a few hours. So, to help you get started, here are some tips to make the most of your visits:

1.  Start by visiting one type of each college you are considering.

For instance, if you are not sure whether you would like a smaller or larger college, visit a couple of schools that are close by that represent each type, like a large public school and then a smaller private school. At least now, you’ll have something to compare.

2.  Do your homework before you go, and narrow your choices by using a good school selection program.

You can find some good ones online or contact my office at the address below for our suggestions. Also, make sure that the schools you are considering actually have the major you are interested in. I know it sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised at how often people skip this step.

3.  Schedule your visit when school is in session.

I can’t stress this one enough, but it is very important to see not only what the campus looks like, but what the students and faculty are like as well. We want to make sure that you will feel like you ‘belong’ once you are there, so we want you to see the student body and not just a bunch of buildings.

4.  Make an appointment to take a tour.

Schools will have certain times of the day or week set aside to give new people tours. This is always a great place to start. However, don’t be afraid to go with your instincts. If you pull up to the school and realize you just don’t like it, there’s no point sticking around. Also, staying overnight in a dorm, if the school offers it, is a great way to get to really get the college experience.

5.  Ditch the tour guide.

Once you’ve learned some of the main features of the school, the best way to see the campus is by wandering around on your own for awhile. This will give you a chance to see what everything is really like. Be sure to sit in on a class or two, or at least poke your head in the door.

6.  Get a soda or coffee in one of the student lounges.

While you’re at it, get something to eat as well. You might as well find out now what the food is like now. Some schools are known for having 5 star cuisine, while others have food that is barely edible. You’re going to be there for four to five years, so this is an important step. We don’t want you to starve!

7.  Check out the library, computer lab, gym, and laundry.

Even though this isn’t directly related to what you’ll be studying and your major, you’ll be spending plenty of time at all of these areas, so be sure to take a look at them as well.

While this list isn’t comprehensive, hopefully it will give you a real good feel for what each campus is like. You will do much better at a school that you are happy at and enjoy attending, so don’t assume that all schools are the same and that this step isn’t necessary. Or, worse, don’t make the mistake of waiting until you hear if you’re in or not before arranging a visit. We want to make sure the schools that you apply to are schools that you actually want to attend. Most of all, be sure to have fun.

The College Money Guys are the nation’s leading expert on all things related to college and careers. For more information please call 281 822 6200.

We have 200 tickets to give away! Register to win below.

The College Money Guys are proud to partner with the Houston Aeros to sponsor “College Money Night” at the Toyota Center on March 16, 2012.

What is College Money Night?

It is a night where we have the opportunity, in conjunction with the Houston Aeros, to give back to the community and support our students.  We will be awarding one lucky winner picked at random with $500 to spend toward their college education.  Not only that, we are also giving away our full service college planning package to the student and their family.

What You Can Win

49 winners will receive 4 tickets to the March 16, 2012 Aero’s game

One lucky winner will receive, in addition to the 4 tickets, $500 dollars and the college planning package:

• Support for your student in completing the admissions forms including tips and tricks for their essays (we don’t write it for you but we critique, proof, and help you ‘find your groove” with the topic).
• Financial review and help determining your best path to pay for college
• Preparation of your college financial aid forms FAFSA and a profile if needed
• Help with negotiating your financial aid or scholarship package.  Clients have saved thousands of dollars alone with these techniques and tools.

Bottom line, you’ll have someone in your corner to help you through what is the greatest investment you will make in your child’s future.

Today, college admission is competitive and you have no guarantee of success.

Enter below to win tickets and a chance to win $500 and our full service college planning package. Don’t leave your child’s college education to chance!

In need of Financial Aid but don’t qualify?

You may have participated in or over-heard parents discussing the high cost of college. These conversations typically end up with everyone agreeing that they make too much money for financial aid or that they are not from the ‘right’ ethnic group to qualify for free money. In reality these thoughts are actually myths. There are several myths circulating out there; so I wanted to offer some clarity on the five we hear about the most. 

Myth 1

People think that they make way too much money to get aid so they don’t try for it. Or if they do fill out the forms they do so without reading the instructions or taking much care, because they are convinced they will not qualify. Don’t let this self-fulfilling prophesy catch you! Many of the families that do apply have six figure incomes and still get aid. So don’t assume you don’t qualify.

Myth 2

People think that only student athletes or academically gifted students will receive financial aid, or that they automatically get money. On the contrary, financial aid is based solely on the financial need of the student, not their position or education level. Every student has to go through the same application process and get evaluated based on financial need. 

Myth 3

People think that because their student is a minority, they won’t qualify for money. Or, if their student is not a minority, they will later lose the money they are entitled to. Just as with myth 2, the same applies to myth 3. Minorities have to go through the same process and fill out the application. Their determination is based solely on financial need. The college goes by a formula of COA (Cost of Attendance) – FC (Family Contribution) to arrive at the student’s financial aid need or FN. There are exceptions to this rule. For example, if a Caucasian student was thinking about attending Howard University, a predominantly African American school, they may be offered additional money from the school that is looking to diversify their student body. Another example would be an engineering department giving precedence to a female over a male. Other than this, the process of filing for college and financial aid still has to be followed.

Myth 4

Guidance counselors are trained to help your student get into college. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Their job is to help your child graduate high school – period! Most of them don’t even know the process of applying to colleges, and often give damaging advice. Unfortunately they are often assigned to far more students than they are able to serve effectively, which simply compounds the problem.

Myth 5

Colleges and Universities can help. Again, this is not true. They may not be the enemy, but asking them how you can get more money for college is like asking the IRS how you can lower your taxes.

By being aware of the myths you can make informed decisions about the college admission and application process. Feel free to explore our blog where you will find additional information to help you navigate this journey. In addition, you are welcome to register for one of our workshops where you will learn how to pay for college without going broke!

Becoming Successful

Successful people do things in a repeatable manner. You can watch, listen, and learn their habits, traits, and methodologies. Once you have observed their actions you can start to implement the same strategies. No one has a monopoly on success! According to Napoleon Hill, “truly successful people are those that have a definite purpose and a plan for attaining it”.

Purposeful Living

People who act with a purpose and a plan attract opportunity. How can life give you what you want if you don’t know what you need? Others can’t help you on the road to success if you are not crystal clear in your expectations and how you intend to proceed. Only with definiteness of purpose can you get over, under, and around any obstacle that gets in your way.

Offer Your Help To Others

If you will help enough people get what they want you will absolutely get what you need. Make it a habit to ask others how you can be of assistance. Take time to listen to their ideas and start to understand their business. Equipped with an appreciation of their business you are in a better position to offer help. Your help may come in a variety of forms. Perhaps you refer people to them, help to spread the word about their products or services, again by helping them get what they want you will get what you need.

Plan To Achieve

If you want to achieve success make the decision today to define your purpose and commit it to memory. Write down your goals and decide specifically how you plan to achieve them. Be sure to outline your plan with care. Follow through on the actions necessary for attaining what you desire. Pay attention to what others are doing. Determine how you can help them grow their business. Study successful people and emulate what they do. Start today to put your plan into action; you can determine your future!

No successful business person would ever dream of stepping into a meeting without an agenda; yet these same people return home each evening only to parent on a “moment by moment” basis. I want to challenge you to take a few minutes now and think about what kind of person you want walking out your door to college. When I had my daughters, I really spent a lot of time developing a very proactive parenting approach. I discovered exactly what I was looking for and then I designed a plan to achieve just that!

Where Will You Like To See Your Teen At?

There are specific skills your teen is going to need to be productive successful leaders of their community. With that in mind, we need to be willing to use and capture all the teachable moments we are offered in this short amount of time we have left. One of the most important things I learned from going through this process with my own family is that, once the big decisions are made, the little ones are very easy. I wanted my daughters to be self-discipline, self-directed, self-taught, self-confident leaders. So, as things came up in our lives, I was able to refer to my list and ask whether this activity or decision would get my girls to where I want them to go. If it didn’t lead me to the overall goal and desire I had for my girls, it was not the route for us! This technique allowed me to stay much grounded and to remember what was important to me so that I could raise my daughters to be the women I wanted them to be.

You Are An Important Influence

Keep in mind your role in this process. You are a very important influence in the molding of your children. Ask yourself: What values are important? What are the goals/desires? What is the plan? Without a plan, you are like a leaf in the wind that gets blown in any and every direction. Imagine getting on a plane and the pilot came on and said: “Welcome. We’re so glad you are traveling with us this afternoon. Now, just sit back and enjoy the wonderful in-flight service. We have a wonderful movie planned for you and, well, we are not really sure where we are going to be landing this evening, but I know it’s going to be a great flight.” Would you stay on the plane? I know I wouldn’t! So just like flying, parenting requires a destination and a clear plan to arrive at that place. Just like a plane that may get off course, it is very easy to self-correct when the destination is clear. You don’t have to go back to the start and begin the trip again. You simply adjust the route.