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How are your kids doing about preparing for college?  If you haven’t decided yet and your child is a senior, sorry but your are very close to being too late for getting scholarships and grants.  For all the other parents out there who have a child who next year will be going to college, this article is for you.   First thing, know the grades of the perspective schools requirements.  I can tell you for most state schools it is at least 3.35-3.5.  This can be overcome, however with a high SAT score.  A critical point that my wife and I missed with our first son was the need for significant community service work.  If you read my previous blogs about the value for doing community service for your child’s growth, you need to know the value is equally high in how much scholarship and grant money you can get for your child.  All colleges we applied for had community service as a requirement to get the maximum money.  Let me tell you, you won’t believe how much you can get.  Our first son got everything paid except $5000 and books, room and board included.  We have 4 teens and let me tell you that was huge.  If we had got him doing community service he would have gotten a minimum of another $2000 or possibly a free ride.  We won’t make that mistake again.  Our #2 son has been working at the local hospital and Hope lodge.  I must tell you its amazing how much he has grown since doing this work.  He literally has become warm and fuzzy.  Never underestimate what doing great stuff can do for the youth.  Second point is definitely apply early for early acceptance.  Grant and scholarship money seem to be doled out first come first serve so if you’re late it could cost you thousands of dollars.  Get your tax return done early so you can put in your financial data early with your early application.  Find ways to make your income as low as possible.  It seems corrupt, don’t break any laws but the lower the income the higher the money you will get.  Apply to several schools.  Different schools have different money they have access to.

Ok, so here’s the basics.  1) Community service is a “get on the internet and find every hospital phone # concept”. If they can take your child great, if not, they tend to be a wealth of knowledge for other places to go.  You can also apply to the local library.  You can do shelters but need to decide if it is safe for your child.

2) The whole grade issue is about strategy and motivation.  At take back the home foundation we can teach how to accomplish getting your child to where they need to be.  Because we don’t have the huge overhead many places have our fees are very affordable.  Read our blogs on our site for some insight on how to move forward.  If your children’s grades aren’t what they should be, 90% of the time it is a family issue.  It doesn’t mean you are bad parents.  Getting your kids to perform at a level that will allow them to succeed is a skill.  It is a skill that can be taught and learned.  Like anything you have successfully learned in your life, you need to study enough to get competent.  The only thing holding students back is strategy, not intelligence.

3) Teach your children how to learn.  The first step is creating roles in the family so that your child will understand that getting good grades is part of who they are and how they fit into the family.  No different than the parents going to work or cooking.  Children need to understand that they are an integral part of the family and needed for the success of the family.  Once they  understand this they will begin to reorganize in their mind who they are.  What you will find as a parent, if you define roles in the home and follow through with them your child will become a child who will make you proud and one who will be very proud of themselves.  At take back the home foundation we teach these steps and literally change lives.

4) Enjoy the process.  Although getting your child into college is very stressful you can take great pride in your accomplishment.  Sharing with your children your stress will give them great appreciation of the gift you are giving them.  It will also help them to see the responsibility that they have to achieve.  During these times acknowledge your child for doing their part in getting into school. Please let this be one of the cornerstones of your family’s growth and memory.  It is the next step in the their growth in reachng their potential and one of the last major hurdles of your life.

Good luck, Cheers Dr. Robert