Destination YOUniversity

There are over 30K high schools, which means there are 30+ valedictorians, class presidents, team captains, etc. While the average acceptance rate to colleges across the country is over 60%, if your child has a "dream college" on their mind, you won't want to miss this episode. How will s/he stand out among a pool of thousands?

Be Present. Be Open. Be Uncomfortable. 

Today, our guest, Ross Mankuta, offers his tips, tales, and lessons on how teaching your child to be present, be open-minded, and be willing to explore and be uncomfortable is the best preparation for the college admission process. And if YOU, as the Parent, can find a way to teach your child to do all of that, well, my friends, you are raising  a courageous doer and college-bound teen!

As the Director of College Counseling, Ross discusses Early Action, Early Decision, and the reality of applying to highly competitive institutions. Ross also offers surprising tales of two of his most memorable students and applicants, and explains what made each one so compelling in the admission process. Ross truly puts the Community in his school, Milken Community School.

HIGHLIGHTS from this episode:

IF YOU DO NOTHING ELSE, JUMP TO MINUTE 30 AND LISTEN FOR 15 MINUTES. I asked Ross to share a tale about a student that stands out from his entire career. Ross gives a detail description about two students who stood out in the application with their PQs. They found their "coolness" factor and leverage that in the application process. One is a C/B average student in school, but wins a top award while in the middle of application season. The other becomes known in the admission office as "Train Boy" because of application to USC's Policy, Planning, and Development School. Both applicants use their passions to guide their journey to college. They didn't do what they thought they "should" do, but rather, what they wanted to do.

You are in for a treat. Take the 15 minutes!! I promise you, it will be worth it.

Bio:

Originally from Long Island, NY, Ross D. Mankuta earned his Bachelors and Master’s degrees from the George Washington University (GW).  After spending time working in politics in both the House of Representatives and The White House, Ross made the transition to the world of higher education by working in the Undergraduate Admission Office at GW.

After two years at GW and two more at the University of Southern California (USC), Ross came to Milken Community Schools to join its College Counseling & Academic Planning office.  During his time at Milken Ross also served as an assistant coach to the baseball team as well as worked to assist the admission office by conducting interviews and sitting on the admission committee.  In 2018 Ross was on the steering committee for Milken’s CAIS/WASC accreditation process.

This past summer, Ross took on added responsibility and was named Milken’s Director of College Counseling, Alumni Relations, & Strategic Partnerships.

ORIGINAL AIRDATE AND TITLE: December 18, 2019, Be Present. Be Open. Be Uncomfortable.

The Word Every Parent Should Remove

Be a good listener. I hear parents pass this advice along generation after generation. But my question is, “Whose voice are we listening to?” The messages we hear become the messages we believe. And the beliefs children internalize shape who they are and who they become. If you want your child to truly believe she/he can achieve anything, there is ONE WORD all parents must remove from their vocabulary.

After a recent conversation with my own mother, I learned of her decision to change this one word in our home. That one word changed the trajectory of my life and I’ve invited my mom to share this practice with you.

Lydia Franco is one of twelve siblings and as a child she shared one bedroom with her sisters. The cramped space and constant traffic of people made her dream of a way out. When she was admitted to college, she was shocked by the reaction of her mother and regretfully altered her plans. Long before her own daughter was at the doorstep of college, Lydia had already carved a path for a different choice for her first born.

Every success story begins with a childhood. Listen to how the voices in Lydia’s childhood made her determined to give her own children a new beginning.

Every success story begins with a childhood. Hear the one word that changed her first born's destination to YOUniversity.

HIGHLIGHTS:

10 minutes: What was it like growing up in Compton, CA as an immigrant from Mexico?

21 minutes: How Lydia got the idea to go to college.

26 minutes: What her mother said once she was actually admitted to college.

29 minutes: The ONE word you need to remove as a parent.

32 minutes: Mom finally goes to college at the age of 58. What happens when she turns in her first assignment. 

41 minutes: Who is Mr. Vargas and how he helped us navigate college admissions.

49 minutes: 5 Best Tips form Dr. C and Mom! 

Lydia M. Franco earned her doctorate and is a tenured professor at “Can-Do YOUniversity”

Her Resume: Daughter. Immigrant. Sister. Mother. Wife. Banker. Beach Lover. Single Mom. Hair Dresser. Ice Cream Connoisseur. Entrepreneur. Chef. Honor student. Grandmother. Artist. Dreamer. Believer.

Episode #48

Paying For College: Earn A Debt Free Degree.

My mother screamed on the other end of the phone and I ran around the house like a kid on Christmas. The pure joy is indescribable. When I look back now, I understand there is no other satisfaction than seeing your child happy.

I cannot imagine where I would be if Mom had said, “Ladybug, we can’t afford to send you to your dream college.”

Parents, the best gift you can give your child is a debt free college diploma. If you have a child in elementary school, this episode is for you. If you have a middle schooler, this episode is for you, if you have a college-bound teen headed for college in the next 4 years, this show is especially for you.

Our guest today, Jocelyn Paonita, earned over 120K in scholarships to pay for college. Instead of debt, Jocelyn left college with savings and bought her first investment property shortly after graduation. Jocelyn founded The Scholarship System so she could teach YOU what to do and how to do it!! You’ll want to listen to this entire episode.

Highlights:

Learn Jocelyn's road to earning a completely debt free degree AND even having extra in the bank when she left college. 

You will learn the 4 Cs to closing that gap of what it costs and what you will pay. Credits, College, Cost, and Cash. What you need to know in order to leverage each of these before choosing a dream college for your teen. 

So much to learn, my head was spinning. Be sure to take notes!  

BIO:

Jocelyn Paonita Pearson founded The Scholarship System to share her own experience of graduating from college with ZERO student loans. When college looked unaffordable for Jocelyn, she sprang into action and secured over $126,000 in college scholarships, even receiving an overage check for expenses. It wasn't an easy process, however. It took her years to figure out exactly what to do to be selected for scholarships. Now she helps families learn how they can do the same by teaching them her 6-step System. Families have secured over $2.3M in scholarships to date and growing! Jocelyn is from Charleston, South Carolina and is married to her husband, Donny.

The Scholarship System LINKS

Register for Jocelyn’s Free Webinar:

Learn More about The Scholarship System

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When Should Students Apply For Scholarships?

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Best Scholarship Websites:

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List of Scholarships:

https://scholarship.samcart.com/referral/scholarshiplist/otxdUK2PcEuC6BBN