Making Futures Blog

What you need to know about coaching for college searches

kschwarm — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 15:30:00 +0000

According to National Public Radio , parents are paying “executive function coaches” up to $6,000 to help their high school students get organized and become more successful in school and ready for college. Isn't this something parents should be doing? There are four areas of focus you can encourage your child to take to prepare for college-level course work and the higher education search process. Organization – A key skill in school, work and life is being organized. Keeping track of necessary documents, tasks and tools will help your child succeed in college and in the workplace. Create a...Read more

Many fortunate students receive Fund for Wisconsin Scholars grants

susan — Mon, 15 Feb 2016 17:46:00 +0000

College Promise programs are creating a lot of buzz throughout the country. President Obama has proposed to make two years of community college free for responsible adults and several Wisconsin technical colleges are offering Promise programs to meet students’ unmet financial needs. However, many Wisconsin students have benefitted from another source of financial aid since 2007. In 2014-15 the Fund for Wisconsin Scholars (FFWS) distributed $8,564,804 to 2,631 qualified students at University of Wisconsin (UW) System and Wisconsin technical colleges throughout the state. Founders John P. and...Read more

Consider return on investment before taking out student loans

susan — Tue, 26 Jan 2016 16:53:00 +0000

Are you among the 79 percent of parents of prospective college students who are questioning the return on investment of a college education? According to a survey by Kaplan Test Prep and Money magazine, only one in five parents surveyed think the cost of a four-year college degree is worth “the value it delivers.” Sixty percent of parents surveyed indicated they think more about the expense of college education than about their own retirements. Average student borrowing in the U.S. is $35,051 for 2015 graduates, according to an analysis by Mark Kantrowitz of Edvisors.com. Considering that...Read more

3 Ways to get a significant “discount” to any Wisconsin college

susan — Thu, 14 Jan 2016 17:37:00 +0000

If you or your child received an email offering a 25 percent discount to any Wisconsin college, I’m guessing a majority of you would assume the email was a scam. However, a 25 percent off discount to a Wisconsin college is within reach of almost every high school student in Wisconsin. Despite the rising cost of college tuition at 4-year (which often become 6-year) universities around the nation, the Wisconsin education system provides a multitude of ways for students to significantly reduce the cost of attendance. For consistency purposes, I will use credit counts and tuition costs from the...Read more

How to explain your family situation for financial aid application

susan — Wed, 06 Jan 2016 15:33:00 +0000

If your family is more like Modern Family than Home Improvement be prepared to explain the complex relationships to the federal government when your student applies for college financial aid. For first time filers, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can be daunting. When your child is filling out the FAFSA you must answer questions about parental status and give your financial information. If you and your spouse are divorced or separated and do not live together, the student should answer questions about the parent they lived with most in the last 12 months. In cases where...Read more

IT education offers job security for the future

susan — Tue, 22 Dec 2015 16:52:00 +0000

ComputerEngineeringTech.jpg Computer Engineering Technology is one of many IT programs offered at Wisconsin's technical colleges. If you and your child are looking for careers with a bright future, consider the many occupations in Information Technology, or IT. As parents, our job is to prepare our children for the future. To help them learn the skills necessary to live their lives independently. We want them to be able to support themselves by gainful employment. So, what are the careers that will be around for our children in the next 20 to 30 years? Since the early 1980s, computers have...Read more

Wisconsin's online tool reduces complications of credit transfer

susan — Wed, 16 Dec 2015 17:01:00 +0000

Your child wants to get a degree from a University of Wisconsin campus, but you want him or her to stay home for a few years to save money. So what are the options for students who start out at a Wisconsin Technical College System (WTCS) school and transfer to a UW System school? Good news! There’s a wizard for that! Well, not like Gandalf or Harry Potter. The Credit Transfer Wizards at Wisconsin.edu/transfer will show you what courses from Wisconsin technical colleges will transfer to various UW campuses. You simply type in the college you plan to attend first and the college you will...Read more

Dual enrollment contributes to college success

susan — Mon, 30 Nov 2015 17:34:00 +0000

What if there was a way to increase the probability that your child would enroll in college, make a smooth transition and graduate? Would you take advantage of it? Researchers have found that students who take college-level courses while in high school enroll in college without delay, take more credits and get better grades in their first year. That success gives students the confidence and momentum to continue their education and complete their college programs. A recent study by University of Wisconsin-Madison researchers tracked more than 15,000 Wisconsin technical college students who...Read more

Why 4-year college may not be the best fit for your child

susan — Wed, 25 Nov 2015 15:30:00 +0000

As a young person, I always assumed I would go to college. Both my parents went to private 4-year colleges and I just thought that’s what you do after high school. I didn’t really question it. What about your child? Is your teen following the same assumption? Or is he or she questioning 4-year college? Are you questioning the 4-year option? Maybe you should. According to the Wisconsin Information System for Education , 59.3 percent of Wisconsin high school graduates in 2014 enrolled in postsecondary education immediately after high school. Of those individuals, 64.9 percent enrolled in 4-year...Read more

4 Reasons to consider class size in college decision

susan — Thu, 22 Oct 2015 15:54:00 +0000

Anatamyclass.jpg Smaller college class sizes result in higher achievement, retention and satisfaction. What comes to mind when you think of college classes? Large lecture halls filled with students nodding off? Looking down on an instructor standing in front of a projected presentation? For many of us, this is not the most desirable way to learn. Most of us want the Cheers atmosphere—“Where everybody knows your name and you’re always glad you came.” Not only are small classes comfortable and more personal, they can lead to higher student achievement, better oral and written communication...Read more