Posted on Saturday, January 14, 2017

Want More College Money? Avoid These Costly FAFSA Mistakes

FAFSA Is Live as of October 1st

by Jeannie Burlowski

Today I’m featuring a list of 30+ mistakes that parents make when filling out the FAFSA form. These mistakes cost U.S. families millions in lost college financial aid money each year.

To make sure your kids get every penny they have coming to them, download and print my list of common FAFSA mistakes here: 30+ Common FAFSA Mistakes and How to Avoid Them.

Share this post with everyone you know who cares about kids who’ll be in college next year, and then have the printout handy on your desk when you’re filling out your own FAFSA form.

You’ll get instant answers to questions such as:

Posted on Monday, September 18, 2017

1-Minute Trick Helps Overcome Laziness

You’ve got a mountain of work in front of you, but no energy to tackle it. You’ve already slept well and eaten energy-producing food, so exhaustion’s not the problem. You’re just feeling lethargic, avoidant, and lazy. We’ve all been there. Some of our kids seem to live there. Want change? A simple Japanese principle can help anyone overcome laziness in just one minute.

Posted on Monday, September 11, 2017

How College Loans Got So Evil (5-Minute Video)

This Adam Conover Video is Hilarious and Frightening

by Jeannie Burlowski

Today I’m featuring a 5-minute video clip from the popular TV show Adam Ruins Everything. This 5-minute clip is titled, “How College Loans Got So Evil.” It’s funny! But then again, it’s not funny at all — because it’s true.

Please share this post with every parent, teacher, guidance counselor, school staff person, government official, and college staff person you know.

Because we all need to know the truth — so we can take evasive action for the kids we love.

*Viewer discretion is advised

For clear, step-by-step help getting your kids through college debt-free, read on.

Posted on Saturday, August 26, 2017

5 Questions to Ask Every Kid Every September

by Jeannie Burlowski

This article was originally published on September 12th, 2016. It was updated and republished here on August 26th, 2017.

There’s one thing parents long for far more than straight A report cards.

Parents want kids to do their own homework in a quality manner without the parent needing to prod, nag, oversee, or push.

Want to increase your chances of having academically independent children and teens at your house?

Ask each of your children these 5 questions every September.

Before you have this conversation, be sure your teen has a calendar, planner, or special notebook for recording assignments and due dates. Then — keeping this particular student’s personality in mind — provide some individualized teaching on the subject of workflow process management.

5 Questions:

Posted on Wednesday, August 23, 2017

How to Inspire Underperforming Students

by Jeannie Burlowski

This article was originally published on September 21st, 2015. It was updated and republished here on August 23rd, 2017.

Your middle schooler or high schooler tends to underperform in school — and it drives you crazy.

What’s a caring, involved parent to do? You know how high the stakes are. Is it your duty to strictly supervise and control homework so that your son or daughter gets higher grades and has a happier life ?

Dr. Charles Fay of loveandlogic.com says no.

In a newsletter article published here, Charles gives parents a far better idea. “When your children get resistant,” he says, “allow them to learn through their refusal. Refusing to do a homework assignment can serve as a more important life lesson than the content of the assignment.”

Here are three additional strategies Charles recommends:

Posted on Monday, August 21, 2017

What If This 12-Year-Old Ventriloquist Had Never Practiced?

by Jeannie Burlowski

I recently watched Darci Lynne Farmer, the 12-year-old singing ventriloquist from Oklahoma City, wow the audience and the judges on America’s Got Talent. Before the 7-minute video was over I laughed, and I cried. Real tears. I am not kidding.

And then I thought…

What if Darci Lynne had never practiced ventriloquism on her own at home? What if she’d just waited until age 18, signed up for ventriloquism classes, and then expected those classes to give her everything she needed to perform like a superstar?

Would Darci Lynne have ever gotten anywhere?

Posted on Thursday, August 17, 2017

Key Difference Between Teens Who Succeed in School and Teens Who Don’t

by Jeannie Burlowski

This article was originally published on February 1st, 2016. It was updated and republished here on August 17th, 2017.

You desperately want your teens to succeed in school, but cajoling and hovering and pushing them is just so exhausting.

Here’s fantastic help that will take you under two minutes to implement.

Posted on Monday, August 14, 2017

How to Care for Extroverts / How to Care for Introverts

by Jeannie Burlowski

Do you know whether your son or daughter is an extrovert (who gets energy from being with people), or an introvert (who gets energy from quiet time spent alone)?

In my book, I make a strong case that figuring out the delicate nuances of personality type is critically important for future career success and satisfaction.

(If you already own LAUNCH, you can see what I’ve written on this subject in chapter 13, which starts on page 133.)

Once you know your child’s natural introvert/extrovert tendency, here are some great ways to give him or her extra care, love, and nurturing during the growing up years.

(This will also work on your spouse–and on your employees and co-workers!)

Posted on Monday, August 7, 2017

Is “Advanced Placement” the Best Way to Earn College Credit In High School?

by Jeannie Burlowski

Every year, millions of high school students are fed this line: “Hey, you should take Advanced Placement (AP) classes! They’re way harder, but if you do well on the test at the end, you’ll get free college credit!”

It sounds like a great deal. But is it actually true?

Actually, Advanced Placement (AP) classes are the least dependable way for students to earn college credit in high school.

Shockingly, fewer than half the students who take AP classes actually end up getting the low-cost college credit they were promised.

This Atlantic article goes so far as to tell parents bluntly, “AP classes are a scam” and “AP students are being suckered.”

The well-respected Atlantic said that? Wow.

To learn which early college option tends to be far better than AP, read on.

Posted on Monday, July 31, 2017

Divorced? Perhaps Do This by Sept 30 and Save a Bundle on College

by Jeannie Burlowski

Are you divorced from your child’s other parent?

If so, there are specialized strategies you can use to reduce your kids’ future college costs.

Here’s just one.

1. Figure out which of your child’s parents has the lower household income.

Is it you, or is it your ex-spouse? (Be sure to include the income of any new spouses when you calculate this income amount.)

2. Ask yourself, “Could my daughter possibly go to live with her lower-income parent, starting on September 30th of her 11th grade year?”

Think, would it be safe and healthy for your daughter to sleep 183 nights (or more) at her lower-income parent’s house between September 30th of her 11th grade year and September 30th of her 12th grade year?

Could she keep up this living arrangement until she goes away to college?

There are dramatic financial aid benefits for divorced parents who do this.