Mom Knows College

A Parent's Survival Guide to College Planning

3 Myths about SAT and ACT Exams

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The SAT and ACT exams are a fact of your high schooler’s life.

And so, of course, lots of parents are talking about them right about now.

I know you’ve been hearing some things about the exams from friends whose kids have taken them already. And maybe some of your teen’s friends. And maybe from the faculty at your teen’s school.

What you need to know, though, is that myths and legends abound when it comes to SAT and ACT exams.

I’m here to help reveal some of truths about them. I hope you’ll find this helpful and, in some cases, even find a little comfort in having a deeper understanding of these beastly exams.

Let’s dispel a few myths, now, shall we?

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7 Ways to Develop a Great Relationship with the Guidance Counselor

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As you know, the high school guidance counselor can be one of your teen’s best allies in college admissions support. Counselors help choose courses, advocate for students and in many cases write recommendation letters for college admissions.

This is an important relationship to foster.

BUT… Did you know that U.S. guidance counselors have an average of more than 400 students?!

Given that ridiculous number, it can be difficult for any teen to stand out and garner attention and all of the support needed for admissions. But, there are ways to build a good relationship to prevent your kid from being lost in the shuffle.

Ensure your teen is a “squeaky wheel” from the very beginning in just the right way, and I promise a great relationship will develop over time.

Pass these tips on to your teen to help stay top-of-mind with the school counselor to get the guidance needed for college admissions.

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Before Registering for the SAT or ACT – What Parents Need to Know

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If you’ve got a junior, chances are your teen will be taking the SAT or ACT during the school year.

And I’m guessing that, unless you just went through this with an older kid, you haven’t thought of these exams since you were in high school.

Things. Have. Changed.

Before registering your teenager for an SAT or ACT exam this year, read through these tips to make sure you’re taking the right action to set your teen up for success.

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What to Do BEFORE the College Search

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Thousands of articles have been written about helping your teen find the best college match.

(Heck, I probably wrote most of them.)

But there’s one thing that I’ve found missing from the whole “college search” conversation:

Mindset.

Rarely do we give our teens a proper, basic understanding of what they’re actually trying to do here…. of what finding the right college match actually means. And of what they need to wrap their minds around.

Teenagers should have the right foundation for thinking before doing the technical work of searching for the right college fit.

So before you dig into those college search engines or research graduation rates and admissions stats, help your teen lay some basic mental groundwork to really grasp the process.

Share these important ideas with your teen.

(I’ll bet they’ll help you restructure your thinking, too.)

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3 Ways to Get More Financial Aid from the FAFSA

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College tuition. Two words that can send shivers down the spine of even a kindergartner’s mom.

And if you have a senior at home, you’re probably turning gray thinking about the expenses.

There are ways to mitigate the cost of college, of course, and that starts with completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). That’s the form that the federal government uses to determine eligibility for students to receive financial aid.

Grants, loans, work study…they’re all out there.

Learn how to ensure that your teen has the best chances of earning more of this free money.

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