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Although it may be intimidating, the college admissions interview is your chance to bring your application to life.  These interviews often take place with the very person that will be advocating for you in the admissions review process, and provide you the chance to present yourself to the school (as well as learn more about the college from an expert).

It’s important to prepare well for this opportunity.  Working with an experienced College Admissions Coach to prep for your interviews can help you perform at your best – and as a Zinch user, you work with an InsideTrack Coach for FREE for one month.  Get started today!

Here are a few tips from InsideTrack’s team of College Admissions Coaches to get you started:

Do your homework – You don’t need to be an authority on a college, but you should know the basics before you meet with the admissions representative or alumnae.   Use websites and guidebooks to learn the key facts.

Know how to talk about your high school – Don’t assume that your interviewer knows a great deal about your school.  Be prepared to describe it in detail – size, courses, level of competition, commentary on students, diversity.  Give the interviewer a clear picture of your academic and social community.

Be prepared to ask questions – Always have 2-4 questions prepared to ask at each interview.  But make sure not to ask questions that can be easily answered by visiting the school’s website.  Choose questions on topics that you are truly interested in and use the interview as a chance to get answers.

Keep your answers conversational – You don’t need to speak in a very formal way, but you do need to use strong vocabulary and grammar.  This is not the time to utter one word answers.  Your interviewer wants to get to know you, so answer as naturally and clearly as you can.  In preparation, think about questions that you may be asked, but don’t memorize the answers.

Be yourself – This is not the time to pretend you are a literary critic, budding scientist, or avid reader of the New York Times, if you’re not.  Don’t worry about what you think the interviewer wants to hear.  They want to get to know who you are and what makes you tick, so answer the questions honestly and thoughtfully.

After the interview is over, make sure to send a personal hand-written thank you note (not email).  Thank your interviewer for their time and reiterate your interest in their school.  This will likely end up in your application file, so double check for typos and grammar before sealing the envelope.

Ready to get started on your interview prep or want an experienced professional to support you through this high-stakes process and decision? As a Zinch user, you’ll receive your first month of InsideTrack College Admissions Coaching (with no minimum purchase required) – get more information and register today!

Is your college student coming home for the Holidays?  If so, we’re sure you’re very excited.  Some parents, though, may be concerned how your student’s new found freedoms away from home will translate to your home life.  It’s a valid concern, so here are some tips for navigating this special occasion.

1. Be careful not to overdo it.  Sure, it’s fine to prepare a magnificent meal occasionally and pack a few leftovers to send back to campus, but be careful not to suffocate your child with attention.

2. Make your child mindful of family visits. Remind her that visiting with extended family is an important part of the holiday and you want the whole family to be together if possible. Establish plans early and set the expectation that your child’s social activities may need to be scheduled at other times.

3. Discuss new ideas.  There’s a chance that with your child’s new found independence, his worldview may be changing.  Understand that considering ideas outside those of the family is a step in your child’s development.  If he brings up a thought or idea, consider it an opportunity for conversation. Hear him out, and explain why you hold certain beliefs dear.

4. Establish Responsibilities. If sleeping late every morning is not an option, make it known ahead of time.  If household chores are required, set the right expectations now. If your child will be asked to help with younger siblings or the family business, establish schedules as soon as possible and leave time for those activities he’s planned with friends.

Yes, things will be different this holiday season.  Your hope has been that your student will become a responsible and self-sufficient adult.  With those changes can come some stress and anxiety for both of you, but these can be kept at a minimum by maintaining a atmosphere of mutual consideration, and a focus on enjoying the holiday season as a family.

“I have been surfing Lake Michigan since I was three years old.”

“While traveling through the daily path of life, have you ever stumbled upon a hidden pocket of the universe?”

“I almost didn’t live through September 11th, 2001.”

Intrigued? So was the Stanford University admissions staff who read these opening personal statement lines (later published by Stanford Magazine). Unique, personal and engaging, these opening lines made the admissions committee want to learn more about the applicant.

If you’re one of many parents unsure of how to leverage the college application essays as the writers above did, you’re not alone. What many families don’t realize, however, is that the application essays and personal statement are in fact a student’s biggest opportunity to shine on the college application. This is the one element of the application where your student takes the driver’s seat and is able to sell themselves.

Help your student write a standout essay with these tips from InsideTrack’s team of College Admissions Coaches. Then, sign your student up for a FREE month of College Admissions Coaching to support them in developing their essays and applications as a whole (a $94 value!)

1. Topic matters. An interesting, unique essay topic will make a reader want to learn more about the writer.  Have your student quickly brainstorm 3 personal interests, 3 interesting/unique facts about them, and 3 things they might want to do or accomplish one day.  The key here is to not get hung up on whether something is “worthy” of being written about – almost any topic that is true to your student can be an effective topic.
2. But, topic will only get you so far. An interesting topic will hook a reader’s interest, but ultimately admissions committees aren’t evaluating your student on what topic they select. Admissions committees are looking for an essay to illustrate the way a student thinks and the level of enthusiasm and curiosity they will bring to their campus.  A topic should be used as a device to introduce who a student is and what he or she will contribute to the university’s student body.
3. Open strong. Encourage your student to be creative, especially in selecting the essay’s opening lines.  An interesting essay very rarely begins with the words “I want to go to your college because,” but instead opens with a personal anecdote or intriguing statement that will introduce the topic.  The essay openings above showcase how a single line can set the tone for a coming essay and make the reader instantly want to learn more.

InsideTrack’s team of College Admissions Coaches help students craft stellar college applications, from developing a standout personal statement to acing the in-person interview.  As a Zinch newsletter subscriber, you’ll receive a free month of College Admissions Coaching to prepare your student for the application process – a $94 value!

Many parents of new college students may wonder how their child’s new social life will affect academics.  Horror stories of over-partying and getting kicked out of school crop up around the country, often leaving parents anxious.  Here are 6 tips to ease your mind.

1. If you haven’t broached the subject of social responsibility with him yet, go ahead.  Let him know what’s acceptable and what will disappoint you. Set the boundaries and tell him you expect him to meet your expectations.

2. If you have stories about your own college experiences, now is the time to share. The lessons you learned at her age can begin great conversations and may be a good way to open communication channels.  (The phone call home may begin, “Dad, remember when you told me about the time you planned a road trip with your roommate…?”)

3. Remind your child that academics and good decisions are paramount.  The college experience may well be over should she not be able to meet the expectations of the institution, or for that matter, your expectations.  It’s also serious business when scholarships may be lost.

4. Stress the cost of a college education and the results of not completing it, including money for student loans that must be repaid and the potential difference in your child’s career options.  Too much fun now may mean less desirable circumstances later.

5. Visit occasionally. Send email. Call. Be careful not to be excessive in contacting your child, but it will ease your mind if he is doing well, and you can get involved if he is not.

6.If your child is doing well, let him handle it. (Hang in there, the point is coming.) College is about learning, about becoming responsible, about creating a solid foundation for the future. A good bit of it is also about fun and socialization.

While she may test some boundaries, chances are good that she will remember your standards, and may very well someday appreciate that you cared enough to check up on her and how well she maintained that school-life balance.

If you’re like me, you’ve got several older pieces of technology sitting around your house that you don’t need or would really like to upgrade.  But since you remember paying big bucks for them, you won’t just throw them away.  Fear not fellow collectors of old equipment. There is a wealth of companies eager to pay you for your used equipment, if you know where to look.

I recently checked three web sites that arrange for you to ship the devices, regardless of the manufacturer, to them and pay you a pre-negotiated price. I checked HP’s own trade-in program (www.com/go/tradein) as well as TradeUps (www.tradeups.com) and Gazelle (www.gazelle.com).

Dell does not offer a trade-in program, and Apple offers a limited program where you receive an Apple gift card vs. cash. For example, Apple accepts older iPods for free recycling (and they will give you a 10% discount if you buy a new one), but sites like Gazelle will pay you cash for your older iPods.

So if the idea of emptying out older equipment and cashing a nice check for your troubles sounds interesting to you, here are my tips for a successful trade in.

Pick the Best Site Based on What Devices You’re Selling – HP and TradeUps both focused heavily on computer technology, where Gazelle appears to emphasize home audio and video and other personal devices. If you want to sell a printer, only HP and TradeUps offered pricing. Gazelle does offer to buy select video games, GPS devices, mp3 players and Blu-Ray players…all of which HP and TradeUps do not.

Competitively Shop for Your Best Deal – Make a list of all of the items you want to sell and see what is offered at several sites. I checked three items an older Tablet PC, a multifunction laserjet and a Gateway Notebook. Here’s what I was offered at each of the sites. HP and TradeUps offered the most for computer trade-ins, but TradeUps deducts estimated shipping charges. HP assumes the cost of shipping, making HP often the best value for your dollar.

It’s an age-old debate: dorm or apartment?  While many think apartment life means freedom and fun, there are a lot of good reasons to consider dorm life.   Here are a few to consider with your student:

1. Cost. Dorms rooms are typically much less expensive than apartments off campus.

2. Safety. Dorms provide security that off-campus living may not.  In addition to officers and many closely-quartered neighbors, it’s also a relief to know that help is available at any hour.

3. Social Life. Living in a dorm means instant social connections from the day your child moves in.  Roommates and neighbors from the dorm often become lifelong friends.

4. Activities. Chances are that his or her resident assistant will organize events for the hall or wing.  Not only are these good networking opportunities, but they’re generally a lot of fun.

5. Academics. Living in a dorm provides some structure, especially for new students.  It tends to be easier to focus on classes when you’re student is surrounded by others with same goals.

6 . Less Responsibility. Dorms are a sort of middle ground of independence.  In a dorm, there are people to help with maintenance problems, roommate problems, and other issues, leaving much less for your child to worry about.  Yes, apartment life can be exciting, but don’t discount the dorms.  It’s an essential part of the college experience that you may want to encourage.

As a parent, sending your child away to college comes with a number of questions and concerns. One of your concerns may be regarding campus safety. While this is a legitimate issue, it shouldn’t be a constant worry. Here are some tips to help you feel more secure about your student’s college experience:

1. Talk to your student. Remind your child that there is safety in numbers, and that instincts are to be trusted. Tell your student that it’s never a bad idea to leave an uncomfortable social situation.

2. Take a walk through your student’s day. Start at the dorms, go to class, the cafeteria, athletic practice, and so on. Make your student aware of any potentially risky situations that you might anticipate or locations where you would be on guard.

3. Talk to campus security about their services. Many colleges provide escorts to the dorms from night classes and posts around campus for emergency help. Ask about these and other possible services.

4. Encourage self-defense education. Chances are good that the school or the surrounding community offers a self-defense course. Completion of the course will make you both more confident.

5. Caution online activity and sharing. Advise against posting class or work schedules, addresses, planned events, or other personal information online.

While no campus is always completely safe, proper awareness and preparation will go along way to help in many situations.

If there’s one thing that parents and their kids can agree on, it’s that preparing to go away to college can be an anxious time.  As the tail end of the baby boom generation send their kids away to college, increased academic competition and a faltering economy have led to even greater stress for entering college freshmen.  Fortunately, there are many things that you can do as a parent that’s mutually beneficial.

The modern American couple is having children later in life, and the size of the average family is declining.  While this can lead to parents who have the time and resources to prepare their children for academic success, it can also lead to anxiety from parents about “doing it right.”  Make sure that you don’t stifle your children with your expectations about what they’ll get out of their first year of college.  Even though you may be footing some (or all) of the bill, it’s still their life to lead.

According to Karen Levin Coburn, an assistant vice chancellor at Washington University in St. Louis, “Parents want their children to get into the most selective colleges … and are concerned that they get good grades and develop resumes of the perfect combination of extracurricular activities and summer internships.”  As a parent, finding the right balance can be a fantastic way to remain an integral part of your child’s lives while allowing them to flourish in their new environment.

College can be a time of changed expectations and greater self-reliance.  Prepare your student by discussing  the issues they may run into during their first term on campus.  The greater freedom that college affords can wreak havoc on those who are unprepared.  Whether it is budgeting or academic goals and expectations, any positive input can help put your student ahead of the curve.

As a parent, perhaps the biggest challenge that you will face is learning how to let go.  Though it may be difficult, you should understand that college students will often call their friends to share exciting news, while using their parents for reassurance in the face of disappointing news.  As college can serve as a transition from the sheltered world of living at home to the new challenges of the “real world,” you can help your child become independent by referring him or her to the appropriate campus resources, rather than being the all-purpose “problem solver” you’ve been in the past.

Rest assured, you will remain an integral part of your child’s life if you find the appropriate balance between “coaching” them and giving them more independence.  Just remember that they’re on an emotional roller coaster.   It won’t always be easy, but the challenges will help your college-bound student transition into a self-sufficient adult.

You may have recently invested in a new PC for your college-bound son or daughter, but it’s also a good time to refresh your own computer at back-to-school prices.  Think your current computer is good enough for what you do?  You don’t know what you’re missing:

The Phone Just Isn’t Enough – Sure, you can text, email or talk to your children while they’re living on campus, but you could also be taking advantage of FREE video conferencing technology such as Skype, Oovoo and Vsee.  Your student’s laptop probably includes a webcam and microphone, so they’re already set on their end. By refreshing your computer to one with a webcam and microphone, you’ll be equipped with everything you need to see and speak with your loved ones virtually.

Ready to Retire Your Old Stereo? – If you can’t remember the last time you purchased a physical CD, welcome to the club.  Many people download music on their PC and mp3 devices making them the new stereo.  And with free online services like Pandora, which stream a custom music selection based on your personal preference, your new PC could be your replacement stereo.   You can easily connect to your existing amp and speakers and HP’s new Beats Audio system on select PC’s like the Envy (pictured to the right) brings studio quality sound.

What About All Those Photos and Videos? – So you have a digital camera, but what are you doing with all of those photos you’ve taken?  How about your camcorder…do you still record to tape or have you also made the switch to digital videos?  Snapfish and other online photo sites offer the ability to do some minor editing and unique printing projects.  But if you want to store all of those pictures and videos securely at home or edit them using powerful software like Adobe Photoshop or Premiere, you’ll want a computer with much more storage, more processing power as well as a large screen.

Windows 7….It’s Time – If you’re still running Windows XP at home, consider that you’re running an operating system first launched in 2001.  Windows 7 has been proven as a strong and reliable operating system and there are many advantages for the casual computer user.   Speed, performance and boot-up time are greatly improved.  Plus, the overall design is much more user-friendly making it easier to create and manage a home network, find and organize files on your computer, and even use touch integration that’s available on HP Tablet PCs and touch-screen desktops such as the TM2T (pictured to the left) and TouchSmart 300z.

As a parent, you can take advantage of the education discount offered by HP Academy.   We offer most of the products mentioned in this article at a special discounted price for you! Visit our website or call (800) 632-8251 to get expert advice on the best solution for your needs!

As a parent, seeing your son or daughter happy and successful is paramount. You spent the last 18 years imparting your wisdom, nurturing their talents, and fostering their independence. Now they are off to college, where even the most accomplished high school student will encounter new challenges.  In fact, studies show that college is challenging for almost all students:

• 85% feel stressed on a daily basis, mostly about school work and grades
• 87% don’t get enough sleep to feel rested
• 60% take 4.5 to 7 years to graduate, costing tens of thousands of dollars

The good news is that there are steps you can take to help your student adjust to college life and make sure they get the most out of the experience.

Figure out what matters most: Ask your student what they hope to get out of college and you’ll likely be met with a shoulder shrug. Freshmen lack the perspective you have, so encourage them to ask the tough questions.  Getting clarity on what they want out of college will help them focus on what matters most. Is international experience, and thus study abroad, important? Are varsity sports and club leadership top priority? Clarity can be hard for students to achieve, but conversations that focus on your student’s core strengths, values and vision for the future are a good starting point.

Develop a plan for success: Your student wants to do it all and will be tempted to overload their calendar with exciting new activities. Help your student develop a plan that maps out their goals – even at a high level - the paths to achieve them and milestones along the way.  If they do bite off too much, the plan can serve as a guide to prioritize efforts. You can jump start this process with them before school starts, but may need to hand-off the planning to another trusted resource.

Find someone to be a sounding board: You will continue to be an important outlet for your student, but most freshmen also need someone they can turn to for unbiased advice and support. Help identify this sounding board in your student’s life – it could be a friend, coach, mentor or other relative. Encourage them to reach out for support frequently.

You want the best for your student but guiding them from afar can be a challenge.  Consider organizations with expertise in student coaching, such as InsideTrack.  InsideTrack has worked with over 250,000 college students nationwide and is the nation’s most comprehensive program for ensuring student happiness and success in college and beyond. Their staff of College Experts will work with your student one-on-one to develop a tailor-made plan for success, identify what matters most and find balance in the first year.  Learn more and get a free session with a College Expert.