College Prep 101 Second Edition

College Prep 101 Second Edition

College Prep 101 is a handbook for those involved in the process of selecting, applying to and enrolling in college. It's an excellent resource for students, parents, and educators alike, and no high school library or counseling office should be without a copy. Readers are walked through each step of the college application and selection process, from planning for college to college visits, and choosing a college to college entrance exams. Checklists are provided for each year of high school, listing the important steps to take each year, and there's even a list of items to pack and take to college when the time comes. Finances feature prominently within the pages, as the chapter entitled College and Money provides direction through both applying for scholarships and the financial aid process. In addition, decision making and prioritizing are discussed as bases for spending decisions while the student is actually in college. Millis' second title, "How to Go to College Cheaper" goes into great detail on this topic. The transition from high school to college is also discussed, including extensive coverage of study skills and time management. Students are encouraged to find their own system or style of studying through answering six simple questions and using whichever of the suggested strategies are most effective for them. Organization, prioritization, and decision making are discussed as the basis for effective time management - a skill many college students struggle with. Parents too will find information written specifically for them inside, with their own list of 'must-do' items, a chapter detailing how they can help their student through this process (and deal with it themselves), and specific suggestions hi-lighted throughout the book. The book's thirteen chapters cover all the bases without boring the reader with unnecessary text. It is written in a straight-forward, conversational style that is easy to read, and the numerous lists provide excellent resources you'll refer to again and again.

College Prep 101

Mood Prep 101

Our teenagers are suffering more than ever. College counseling centers are overwhelmed, parents are worried, and mental health issues are increasingly common in young people between the ages of 12 and 20. Parents are particularly concerned about how to help their kids achieve a safe, healthy, and fulfilling college experience in light of soaring rates of depression and anxiety in young people. Mood Prep 101: A Parent's Guide to Preventing Depression and Anxiety in College-Bound Teens answers the question most parents have - "What can we do?" - when it comes to college-bound teens who may be vulnerable to anxiety and depression. Written with humor and compassion by award-winning psychologist and psychotherapist Carol Landau, this timely book empowers parents by providing strategies for helping their children psychologically prepare for college and adulthood, as well as by addressing and alleviating the anxiety parents themselves may feel about kids leaving home for the first time. Young people need a solid foundation of parental support in order to succeed at college; as such, Landau shows parents how they can promote healthy communication and problem-solving skills, and how they can help young people learn to better regulate emotions and tolerate distress. Landau also describes stressors typical amongst college students, and explains how to identify vulnerabilities to anxiety and depression, including perfectionism, social isolation, and the feeling of being "different". The book outlines how a parent can help students find a therapist and suggests such evidence- based treatments as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT). Finally, the book sheds light on some of the risky behaviors commonly found on today's college campuses, such as substance use and unsafe sexual relationships, and how they can exacerbate or even trigger anxiety and depression in young people. Landau concludes by calling on parents and educators to back away from the stressful, competitive focus of the college admissions process and turn instead to the values of curiosity, collaboration and empathy.