As most of my regular readers know, my daughter Angeline just began high school…Her classes include things like French, Honors Biology, AP World Geography and a bunch of other classes that will probably require me to have to consult with Professor Google for if she needs any help with her their homework!
While I am happy that my daughter did well enough in middle school to be able to get into these advanced courses, I am also worried because let’s face it: she is preparing for college.
I know it seems like light years away, but in all reality, it’s only 2 years until she begins filing out those college applications. I didn’t go to college, and I am a loss as how to help her prepare! We know that she needs to get good grades but that is the extent of my knowledge!
So when I was presented with the opportunity to review The College Success Plan by Annette Bosley-Boyce, I was ecstatic! The book was said to have all of the tools we needed to plan for college – and for life!
Before we began reading it, I expected to learn a few things in particular:
- Discover career personality, values and skills
- Research potential majors and careers
- Find the college of your dreams
- Get your college application noticed
- Outsmart the rising cost of tuition and student loan debt
- Develop a plan for success
Well, I finished reading The College Success Plan by Annette Bosley-Boyce last week and I have to say, I was pretty impressed. Angeline has read most of it but she has so much homework that she’s having a hard time finding the time to finish it.
Week 1
Week 1 is Self Discovery, which begins with a pretty simple concept: the more you learn, the more you earn. There is a simple example of how much one can expect with various levels of education, ranging from a high school drop out to a college graduate with a Master’s degree. Then there is the “Take time to daydream” section, which asks students to think about the things that matter to them and what accomplishments they are proud of. There is a recommended website where the student can take a personality test as well, which comes in handy! This leads to the next part of the chapter, assessing values and skills – all leading up to trying to determine what kind of career you should pursue!
Week 2
Week 2 is Career Smarts, and revolves around trying to narrow down what is important to the student. Questions combined with the personality tests allow the student to begin thinking about their future career and how much schooling they will need to work in that field. After Angeline finished answering the questions, she realized that she is going to have to at least get her master’s degree if she wants a quality of life comparable to what she has now. My favorite part of this section was day 8 when it is recommended that the student find a mentor in the career field they think they want to work in. Finding someone who actually does what a child thinks that they want to do can help them decide if the job is what they think it is!
There are also tips on how to find a mentor, finding summer jobs and volunteer opportunities to become more acquainted with your desired career and step by step instructions on how to write a resume!
Week 3
Week 3 is College Smarts, which has exercises for your child to complete in order to determine which college would be best for them. Angeline particularly enjoyed this chapter because she is getting excited about leaving the nest and moving away to college. Ha ha!
There is also a worksheet for creating a short list of the colleges your child may want to visit and find out more information about. While we have not actually written down the list yet, Angeline has already visited two colleges: Full Sail University in Orlando, and Florida International University here in Miami. While she liked Full Sail, she is determined to leave the state of Florida for college…apparently, 4 hours away isn’t far enough!
This chapter is quite extensive and leads you through creating that short list to how to visit campuses and what to do on those visits. There is even a section on how to find an angle that makes your student stand out in their college application!
Week 4
Week 4 is Applying with Confidence, and is all about preparing yourself throughout high school for that college application process. Taking a varied course load, taking honors and AP classes (which Angeline is already doing) as well as doing well in the ACT and SATs – these are all things that have a tremendous impact on your desirability to a college or university.
This chapter also has a lot of great information on preparing for the college application and essay, understanding financial aid and there is even a checklist to help you or your children!
Overall, I thought that The College Success Plan by Annette Bosley-Boyce really did have all of the tools Angeline needs to plan for college. There was also a lot of excellent advice that will help my husband and I as we help her plan.
I know that she won’t be applying to colleges for two more school years BUT this is actually the time for her to begin planning if she wants to get into a good school.
Are you also preparing you child for college? Would you like a copy of The College Success Plan?
While I received a promotion item, all opinions are my own.
Mary Happymommy
This would be great for my niece who is a high school senior this year.
Tabathia B
To my twin daughters who are both attending college
Elena
I want to win this for my son
Jessie C.
I'd like this for DD.
Jenny Sims
I'd like to win this for my cousin!
Jessica H.
My good friends son is in H.S. and starting to think about college, this would be perfect for him.
Kim
This would be great for my sister who is starting college. She will be moving in with me. Yay?
Amanda Sakovitz
id love to win for my sister!
Alicia K
for myself! i am a student!
Thomas Murphy
for myself!
shelby brigham
my cousin
Mary Walker
For my grandson.
Katy M
I would love to give this book to my niece in high school!
Thanks!
Melissa
My younger sister! She is a junior in high school.
amy v
my cousin
Sara Phillips
For my nephew!
janine
myself =)
jennifer horn
this would be great for my daughter, who's a junior in high school this year.
Julie
My Daughter Abby
Melissa Valencia
My brother-in-law needs this book.. lol
Crystal Guidroz
I would like to win this for my daughter and me!!
Mya Murphy
me I'm going back to college!
Realia M
i would win this for my brother
Abby
I want to win the book for my sister, who is also a high school freshman, and for my brother, who just graduated from high school.
gail
my nephew
Jennifer
I would keep this for myself and pass it on to a friend!
Niko O.
I would love to win it for my youngest sister, who will be entering college in a year! 🙂
Patty White
I'd like to win this for my son!!
Kasey Longley
For myself
Daiva
I'd love it for my niece
jamie tucker
this book would be for both my husband and I
tuckersaver at hotmail dot com
Stacey B
For my friend who has 2 teenagers
Angie tim baldridge
My niece
Theresa Shafer
Girl-friend's daughter is graduating, so she needs it. Thank you.
Amy
I would love to win this for my younger brother who is getting ready to graduate from High School in 2013.
Blessie Nelson
For my cousin!
Jemima P
For my niece!
Jerri Davis
For my son. Thank you. Jerri Davis
Jennifer Peaslee
I have a few cousins who are heading to college soon...I want to win this for them!
laurie brown
for my daughter
brandi hawn
my younger brother 🙂
steph
my little brother in law!
Stephanie Linza
My cousin Joey, heading into college this fall!
Dagmara Hawkins
For myself
amy williams
My little sister
Melissa
My daughter.
Holly S.
For my son. Thanks!
Jenne
i want to win for my niece
Dan Hartmanstorfer
For daughter
Beckee
I want to win this book for my younger sister!
Laura Lane
me
Sue H.
A friend's daughter. Thanks for the Awesome giveaway! 🙂
Miranda M
My little sister! She's in high school and I think this book would be helpful for her.
monique
My cousin.
Kim Keelor
I had no idea how complex this process is and unfortunately the counselor my son is assigned to at his high school is geared toward helping kids finished high school, not preparing them for college. This mom needs this help for her son! Thanks.
Gregory
I want to win this for my niece. She's the only part of my brother that I have left and she graduates high school this year.
Angela C.
My son, who does very well in school.
Leslie S.
I want to win for my nephew now and then my daughter will need it in a couple years.
Vanessa
I'd give it to my brother. He's only 13 but he's already making plans!
Thabal
My sister-in-law. She will be entering college in a year. Thanks for the giveaway.
Colleen Fekete
My husband!
Debra Pauley
for my son
Harold D
For my daughter.
kathy f
My sons who will be going to college soon.
Emily
Our local high school.
Sandra Jensen
I have a niece whos a senior in high school, this would be great for her.
janina
My niece who is in highschool. I think it would be very useful.
Amy W.
I want to win this for my husband.
Krista
My neighbor's son he is going off to college soon
Marianna
I'd like to win it for my niece
Karla T
my daughter
Ally
One of the little girls at our church (who's not so little anymore, I suppose!) was like a niece to me. I'd love to give it to her to give her a boost and a head start!
Julia
For myself! Is that too selfish?
Kerrie Mayans
I want to win it for my oldest daughter.
Lisa M
My niece and she would have to let me borrow it lol!
Leanne m
my kids
Isis Sample
For myself to learn!!!
Debra L. Guillen
or my son
mell
I want to win this book for my nephew.
Chris B.
My niece!!
Amber Rist
i'd love to give this book to my brother in law
Ann
My sister
Deb Anderson
My nephew. He'll be starting college soon and I'm sure this would be a great learning tool for him.
Yona
Id like to win this book for my brother.
Jessica
It would be for my nephew who is a junior in high school
Christy Maurer
My daughter is a senior this year, so I'd love to win it for her! Thanks!
Terri Moore
I want to win this for my youngest son. My daughter has already graduated from college and the time does go by fast. thank you so much!
Shannon
For my younger cousin
Emily baldridge
I need it
Andi S
I would love it for my niece. I might just have to pick up a copy for her and my sister-in-law too. They both are seniors this year.
Maria B.
I would win it for my godson.
Alycia M
My little sister who is graduating from high school next year!
Rebecca Shockley
My momma!
Randi S.
For me! I home school and want to make sure I'm on the right track.
Austin Baroudi
I'd like to win it for myself!
Pat
I'd like to win this for my granddaughter.
Connie Gruning
This would be for my daughter.
Jennifer Marie
I want to win this for my friend!
bell
Myself!
Jessica
I'd like to win it for my sister.
Sarah Zaengle
My niece just started college this fall!
Kate F.
I'd like to win it for myself. I'm a student.
sandra
fo my niece
Lauren
I would like to win this for a family friend's daughter.
Stephanie Phelps
I would love to win for me
veronica cummings
My daughter is a senior this year and I would love to win this for her!
Bonny
Sounds perfect for my little sis
Marie Howard
my daughter recently started college- i'd like it for her!
Lois M.
Hi! 🙂 That would be for me... arguably never too late, right? 🙂
colleen boudreau
For myself!
Katie Rose
My little brother
Kristie Betts
Myself
Tabatha Carlson
I would want it for my niece
Sonya
I would get this for my daughter
Tiffiny Duke
For my daughters!
laurie brown
My daughter
mildred m
For my daughter!
dee spell
i actually want it for myself because i plan to go back to school for culinary arts and it would be very helpful
Francine Anchondo
for my nephew
Tara O.
I want to win this for my daughter!
Stacey Cockrell
For my son.
soha molina
I want to win it for myself to see what's in store for me later on.
Tara Brooks
I'm working on my B.A. degree in accounting right now. I have 9 classes left but I've been feeling really blah about it. I'd love to win this book so I can get pointers and maybe get excited to be in school again.
Amy S.
I'd like to win this for my niece. She will be able to use it for sure!
Nevaeh Cullen
For me I go to college
deanna hanson
i want to win this for my nephew
Amy Orvin
I'd like to win for a friend of mine.
Colleen Fowler
I want to win this for ME! I am trying for my degree now.
kim lazor
My 19 yr old son. thanks!
Holly C
I would like this for a young man I am mentoring
Ricki L
for a good friend of mine.
rickireviews at gmail dot com
Laura
My brother, who is a senior this year and will be going off to college next August!
Danielle Williams
my brother who is going soon!
Jennifer Rote
I'd like to win this for my daughter.
Robin Blankenship
my cousin
Nataly Carbonell
My daughter she will really appreciate this 🙂
Tami Vollenweider
This would be great for my Son!
mia mcgregor
I want to win this for myself because I plan on going back to college soon & this would help me succeed. Thanks for the chance. 🙂
Rachel Robertson (Azrael)
I would love to win this for my cousin who is about to enroll in college 🙂
shirley fin
for my grandma
Teresa
I'd like this for both my children.
T.
Candace
I want to win this book for my niece.
Kim Kihega
for myself!
kelly tillotson
my younger brother
thanks!
*kelly
[email protected]
Renee G
I want to win this for my son Justin
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com
Martha
My dear nephew.
michelle colon
i want to win this for my little sister who just went to college and is having a hard time being one of the few miniorites on campus
Amy Lee
Myself! I'm still in school!
Allisha Gold
I'd like to win this for my younger brother who is now a sophomore in high school 🙂 Thank you!
Wendy Franklin
My daughter she is 16 and a junior in high school.
Nancy
I'd like to win this for our family.
Carmen Q.
For a friend's child
Chelsea
I would love this book for some of my co-teachers who are trying to complete college right now 🙂
Kathleen
I would like to win this for my son.
Kathleen
I read your Travel Bucket List. Your last entry is Napa Valley. I live near Napa and it is a beautiful place. I go there often. I hope you make this your next trip. Very pretty in the fall. Green in the Spring. Go for it.
Cathe
Our son is 9.5 and already has a plan in place! I would love to have this book on hand to help us help him reach his goals. Loved Travel Bucket List!!!
Heidi Schuster
I would give it to my friend at work as her oldest daughter has just started college!
amy beth marantino
i want to win for my cousin
Megan
I'd give it to my cousin.
Rhea Stogsdill Chladek
I would like to win this for me. (I may pass it on when I'm done though! 😉
-Rhea Stogsdill Chladek
stacy hancock
my sister!!
James
I want to win it for my myself and my wife, we're thinking of going back to school. My child could also use it down the road.
Sunnie
Id win it for my neighbor boy who is about this age.
Kelsi
For my niece
Denise Taylor-Dennis
I would like to win this for my daughter.
Ellen C.
I'd like to win this book for my niece. Thanks for the chance.
Laurie Harrison
I would love o win this for myself!!! College at 52 years old? Why not? I have been seriously thinking about it. I need this!
abbi
My son is a senior so I would like this for him
andrea
I would give this to my niece
kyona
I want to win for my son.
Daniel M
for my cousin who wants to goto college
S Carter
I want it for my BFF's son. He will be heading to school next year.
Barrie
I want to win this for my teenage daughter!
Roechelle
I would be for my little sister
Billie
My son, he's a sophomore this year.
Janice Cooper
For my niece
tiffany courtright(facebook-missy boss)
myself
Ella Bryant
My niece who's a junior in high school.
Cory
For my cousin.
Amy Peschel
My youngest daughter who will be starting college in Aug 2013.
Teresa Thompson
For my son.
Kelley Roach
for myself
Christy Ann
This book would be for me! I plan on going to school in about a year!
Heidi Araujo
This book would be great for my son. He graduates this year.