Homeschoolers are excited about distance learning options that earn students college credit while they are still in high school.  But not all distance learning programs are created equal. Recently, Wanda Burdick agreed to chat with me about her excellent CollegeWorks program – a distance learning option that really does go the distance. CollegeWorks aims to assist parents as a yoke-fellow rather than as a replacement, providing options and tools to families to make the high school years both challenging and productive for motivated students. CollegeWorks provides great flexibility in preparing students for CLEP exams across the curriculum.  CollegeWorks helps students negotiate non-traditional degree paths with hundreds of colleges, not simply with the few colleges which have whole-heartedly embraced the credit-by-examination phenomenon. Families can begin by taking a consultation with Wanda to lay out a multi-year agenda for maximizing the impact of credits by examination on the degree programs at the top three colleges of the student's choice.  Alternatively, students can simply take one of the 2-week CLEP preparation courses to see if it actually suits their learning style and schedule. In any case, the courses are offered on a pay-as-you-go basis, so they are supremely affordable compared to other distance learning ...

Are your curriculum texts sending your students directly to yawnsville (do not pass GO; do not collect $200)? Do your community college professors lack that certain spark? Maybe you want your CLEP studies to be more than filling in the checkboxes. Meet i-Tunes U, a fabulous collection of (mostly) free lecture series from famous universities from Cambridge to Stanford!  Some are audio only, but some are enhanced by video tracks as well. Search the database by subject or by university. They download to your computer or i-pod for maximum transportability. This amazing resource is found by opening i-Tunes on your computer.  On the lefthand sidebar, click on "i-Tunes Store". When the store loads, look in the lefthand menu column for i-Tunes U. When you click there, several featured lecture series will be displayed, and you can search as you like.  It is easy to see which lectures are free - most are. You can download a whole series with a single click or select just the ones that impact your study. I will never have a dull drive alone in the car again.  And, of course, you will list those universities as resources on your course descriptions!

New from Countdown to College! Instant access to the extensive information in the print Guide at a fraction of the cost! Download only the chapter you need or the whole guide.  Each segment just $6.50! All five segments only $25.00 Choose from: Countdown to College part 1: 5! Assess Your Starting Point Explore God’s workmanship in crafting your student for a specific calling.  Consider the different vocations of men and women.  Learn to help your student find a vision for his or her life. Try the world’s oldest personality assessment. Countdown to College part 2: 4! Aim for Success The future is a moving target.  Plan to be where you want to be when it arrives.  Evaluate various post-high school destinations and the most advantageous paths to them.  Discuss how to position your school and to describe your educational aims to best display your high school work. Countdown to College part 3: 3! Acquire Credentials Do you know when to say "No"? Learn how to invest your limited time in achievements in four areas critical for winning scholarships, job opportunities, internships and more. Countdown to College part 4: 2! Account Assets Learn to create a complete school counselor's pack that educational professionals will envy.  Structure transcripts and resumes to showcase ...

Folks at my Idaho Countdown workshop wanted more information about federal financial aid than we had time to discuss.  So here is  a more detailed look at what's out there from Uncle Sam. First, you should know that many private schools won't accept federal funds of any kind, including grants and loans awarded to students.  Their reasoning is that with federal funds comes federal regulation of school policies and curriculum.  Their fears are increasingly likely to be realized as the Obama administration begins to tie college funding to service in federally-run community service organizations like AmeriCorps - a move that will also negatively impact private charity as true volunteers are replaced by paid government workers on the AmeriCorps payroll.  So as you put together your college funding basket, be sure to check with the colleges you want to attend to see whether they accept federal funds. Federal funds can include both grants (gift money which does not have to be repaid) and loans (which do have to be repaid).  Most of these are need-based options. Let's specifically look at federal loans, because these are the instruments which could get you in the most hot water. Stafford Loans These are the most common federal loans, ...

The jury is still out on how well received  creatively structured college degrees will be in the future business climate. Many homeschoolers opt to have their students work on some kind of online or distance degree program while they are still in high school or as an alternative to college after graduation.  While it is smart to use those later high school years to give your student a leg up to a college degree or even to rack up professional certifications in the fields that interest them, taking a degree totally online is still a risk from the perspective of validating achievement to a prospective employer or customer. According to Dawn Boyer, director of marketing, sales and public relations for government contracts and human resources director for MonsterClean Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning,  the keys to business acceptance of an online degree are: 1) Are the exams given in a proctored setting or totally online without standards? "if the degree is high level and testing is done at proctoring centers or within a cooperative (nearby) universities, where the students must report to a controlled testing room or site, then the college/university degree is valid and there should be no question to it's credentials." ...

Many of you have asked how to find scholarships - especially privately-funded ones, which can be used at any college in the country.  So here is the answer to your prayers: my top three picks for scholarship search engines. A search engine isn't just a list of scholarships.  A search engine will ask you to complete a profile, and then will scan the web or its own databases for scholarships that fit your profile.  So happy hunting! www.fastweb.com – free search; enter data on your academics, career interests, hobbies, etc. Fastweb emails you scholarships you can apply for based on that information! Our TOP PICK for scholarship search engines! www.fastaid.com - The world's largest and oldest private sector scholarship database. You will find scholarships here that you won't find anyplace else. www.collegeanswer.com – Voted Forbes’ best web site for college information, this site will give you knowledge on types of scholarships, requirements, tips, and scams in addition to a scholarship search. Find out more about how to find and land scholarships in the Idaho Countdown to College Live Workshop on May 16th in Coeur d'Alene! Register today!

Your family can still attend the Countdown to College Live Worshop in Coeur d'Alene, ID at the Early Registration price, if you sign up this weekend! The updated Countdown Workshop has all the hands-on workspace for families to strategize for high school from dreaming to sealing the graduation paperwork.  Plus the new workshop includes a preview of the post-high school family survival seminar, Quests & Homecomings, and opportunities to interact with recent grads, one-stop resume builder providers and teens blazing a trail to their own post-high school destinations. Hear what parents are saying about the workshop: Special pricing ends 7am MDT on Monday morning!

Countdown to College has gone coast to coast.  See what people are saying about it! The Live workshop is coming to Idaho in May.  The NEW Virtual workshop is coming to a computer near YOU!  Watch for new DVDs of the workshop in the catalog over the next few weeks.

In addition to the wealth of information about preparing for college and business, this year's Countdown to College includes an extended lunch hour for shopping and one-on-one discussion, as well as the opportunity to network with One-Stop Resume Builder organizations, students in the thick of college application, and representatives from a unique Great-Books college. Community organizations which have been invited to participate in the after-lunch round table and networking times are: Congressional Award Council of Idaho Boy Scouts of America Communicators for Christ New St. Andrews College The deepest discounts for the workshop expire April 30th, so be sure to reserve your place by registering here.  And don't forget that you can earn even greater discounts by inviting your friends to come as well.  Families who invite 5 or more other families by April 30th can win a free personal consultation with Kim!

Nominate an Extraordinary Teen Countdown to College will recognize teens, who either become business innovators or who provide significant service to their communities as members of the Carpe Diem Cadre. “Carpe Diem” is Latin for “Seize the Day”, and we would like to honor those young people who don’t wait for some magic age to begin taking up their places as contributors to their world. Prizes & Recognition We will tell their stories on this blog, and award a graphic for them to post on their own websites, digital signatures, Facebook Flair boards, etc. They will receive a FREE copy of the new audio CD, Resume Development for the Real World, and when Countdown to College comes to their areas, the Carpe Diem Cadre will be invited to attend the workshop for free and to speak about their service during the seminar! Want to Nominate an Extraordinary Teen? If you know a teen who engages in extraordinary entrepreneurial interests or public service, nominate him or her for the Carpe Diem Cadre. Copy the form below to your word processor, fill it out and email it to kim@countdown2college.net Carpe Diem Cadre Nomination Form Teen Name Teen Email Teen Phone Nominator Name Nominator Email Nominator Phone Briefly describe this teen's extraordinary ...