You are celebrating your high school students' graduation, it is so exciting. Congratulations. Now they are out with friends celebrating and there is a car accident. Your child is 18 and unconscious. What now? Well if you do not put these 3 important Legal Documents into play, you will have no rights as parents to get information or help your child in a medical setting.  When your child turns 18, there are 3 very important legal documents you need to put into play. Two of them will need to be notarized. I suggest that you make 2 copies. One copy keep home in case of emergency. The other copy send in a manila envelope with your child to college and have them tell their roommate or a friend where it is in case of emergency. Additionally, if your child is male and 18, he will have to register for the Army. I also encourage all of my students to register to Vote at 18. This is an important part of adulting as well. This article does a good job of explaining the why's and what's of what needs to be done. Do not delay. Even if your child is not going away to college and is living at home or in another location, you still need these forms ready to go in case of an emergency.


Read more here: https://positivelysquaredaway.com/3-important-to-dos-when-your-child-turns-18/

College Board Changes the SAT Format

By Wendy Harley • February 23, 2022
The College Board has announced that both the SAT and the PSAT exams will be moving from pencil and paper to digital exams beginning in 2023. The announcement comes as the number of colleges and universities declaring test optional futures continues to rise. Some highlights of this news include: · The digital SAT will be rolled out at international test centers in March of 2023 and at U.S. schools and test centers in spring of 2024. · The digital PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10, and PSAT/NMSQT will be administered internationally and domestically beginning in fall 2023. · The 1600 scoring scale will remain the same. · Students will take the test on a personal or a school-issued laptop or tablet. · The testing time for the SAT will be shorter at just two hours versus three. · Students will be permitted to use calculators on all parts of the math section. · Students receiving accommodations on test day will continue to do so. Read More Here: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/20/us/big-changes-to-the-sat.html

Are you an overachiever? Are you feeling stressed out?

By Wendy Harley • February 27, 2021
Getting to know the students I work with, understanding their strengths and weaknesses, will always be my top priority.
College Planning

College is not all that it is cracked up to be!

September 17, 2019
College is nothing like high school. The unknown is vast especially during freshman year when your student is trying to figure things out. Making friends, deciding how much time is needed to study for a test, managing professors expectations, trying to adjust a new environment and independence, all take time. Having the ability to rebound from disappointment and failure and being able to self-advocate are very important skills to have before your student walks onto a college campus. This article is spot on and discusses all the obstacles that your student will experience in college. Are they ready for it? https://grownandflown.com/truths-about-college/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=socialflow&fbclid=IwAR08aMH0HXZMENCgLclXFWjnGJysZfzUjiouV65i1OQWz6fY5qVHODytkxU
Preparing For College

How Important is College Readiness? Very!

August 12, 2019
As the Director of High Five College Prep, it is my belief that I need to be forthcoming when I feel a high school student may NOT be ready for college. Not all rising high school seniors have the maturity, responsibility or self-confidence to advocate on their own. And guess what? That is OK. There is no shame in not being College Ready. When high school seniors are going through the college application process it is important for parents to recognize their student's strengths and weaknesses and talk to them about their concerns. Students need to be able to self-advocate, be able to fail and pick themselves up, rebound from disappointment, be inclusive and friendly and open to making new friends. They need good study habits and time-management skills, need to be able to talk to their professors and TA's about their academic concerns and be able to balance academics and social life away from home. Additionally, students need to be able to communicate to others if they are struggling with any mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression. Freshman year at college is difficult and there are a multitude of changes in the student's life that for many will be their first time away from home. Every experience will be a first. It is our jobs as parents to make sure our kids are ready to "leave the nest" and be able to adult on their own. Sure, we will be there to guide them and help pick them up when they fall, but it is the student's job, not the parents, to be successful on a college campus and for that, they need to have skills to manage life on their own. The following article talks about College Readiness. It is excellent and I highly recommend you read it! https://www.linkedin.com/content-guest/article/beyond-storage-bins-shower-shoes-your-real-packing-list-riegel?fbclid=IwAR2FRRREADhusb6cn4F8Wi2HDsMXu89jb2Y7EOOfK-X9btsURVmL5mB-t6A