Madhuram Musings - Parenting Podcast in Tamil

Planning for college funds is a crucial aspect of College Prep.

It starts from understanding how much college education costs in the US. Costs vary based on:

Financial assistance is something which we need to explore too.

Assistance based on financial status are called Grants. Please check the below link for further details:

FAFSA

CSS

TEACH

Assistance based on merit are scholarships. There are many scholarships available and we do not have to only focus on the large ones. Applying to a smaller scholarships can add up to a large enough sum towards college funds. There are also way more scholarships available compared to Grants. However,  some scholarships can be restrictive. So be sure to read the complete information about the scholarship before applying to one. Scholarships are also given based on other traits like leadership, sports, music and other extra curricular activities.

We have also spoken about the  various saving options to save for the children including, 529, Roth IRA, taxable regular brokerage and Real estate options. We also have discussed the types of student loans available.

Resources:

www.whitecoatinvestor.com

www.thefinancebuff.com

https://www.savingforcollege.com/questions-answers/

www.MorningStar.com

https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/loans/student-loans/understanding-student-loans

https://www.unigo.com/scholarships/merit-based

https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/fee-waivers

Podcast Weblink: Madhuram Musings - Episode 24

In this episode we take a deep dive into what all entails in a college application process.

GPA calculations is based on the scores / grades you get in your high school. There are many calculators available to help you calculate your GPA. Depending on the stream you choose in your high school, your weighted GPA is calculated.

Some of the GPA calculators which help you convert these grades to your composite / weighted GPA are:

 GPA Calculator

Omni Calculator

Some of the competitive exams like SAT and ACT. There are multiple paid and free resources available to help you prepare for these exams. Some of the top rated free resources are:

Khan Academy

Kaplan

Princeton Review

College Board

These tests are conducted 7 times a year, and we recommend taking it at least twice, once in your Junior year and once at the start of your senior year. The fee is between $50 to $90 per test. Based on certain criteria, you can have your SAT/ACT fees waived.

For community colleges, you can also take ACCUPLACER.

In the episode, we explain the current approach colleges are taking towards these competitive exams.

We also talk about the types of colleges you can apply to, apart from the public & private universities, like, community colleges, vocational / technical institutes, Service academies, online colleges and international colleges.

We also touch upon other things required for the application like essays, recommendation letters, interviews, college tours etc.,

The application can be submitted on platforms like Common app, Coalition App, Common Black College Application, apart from the college specific portals.

Podcast Weblink: Madhuram Musings - Episode 23

High school is when all the real action starts. While, the sooner we start prepping towards college, the better, it is never too late to start. And High school is the best place to start. It offers a plethora of options and resources in the form of electives, clubs, counsellors, college credit courses, volunteer opportunities, scholarships and more.In this episode, we have attempted to give a structure to the process and categorized activities to be done in each of the buckets. We have tried to find the balance between keeping it detailed, but not too specific to certain colleges or careers.We will be following up this episode with a more detailed episode on competitive exams, resume building, and the college application process.

Resources:

Categorizing Colleges

GPA Calculation

Dual Enrollment

Preparing for Essays

Podcast Weblink: Madhuram Musings - Episode 22

Some people think it is too early to start thinking about college in Middle school, while some think it is the right time if not a bit late to start prepping for college. We believe, that it completely depends on the child’s position. Some children are very clear and determined on what they want to do in college and the career they want to choose. But parents have to ask themselves, have they been exposed to all options possible?

Middle school is the perfect place where children can explore and make a more informed decision on what they want to do in their future. It will help them pick a path in high school and college, which will take them closer to their dreams. Let your child explore and experience different things during their middle school years. Let them enjoy the journey and adventure it holds.

Podcast Weblink: Madhuram Musings - Episode 21

This is a light and breezy episode where we discuss and rant about the anxiety we have about our kid’s education. As our kids are entering middle school and high school, we have been researching on the various options available in the US school system. We are sharing our learnings and perspective from other high school and college going kids, in this mini series about College Prep.

Podcast Weblink: Madhuram Musings - Episode 20

Raising a child is an adventure by itself and raising an autistic child has a flavor of it’s own. Patient and mindful parenting is required for raising any child, and when it comes to raising an autistic child, the understanding, patience, empathy required is amplified.

Today’s guest for our Parenting பேட்டி, is a wonderful dad who shares his experiences and journey so far in parenting his son who is within the Autistic spectrum. We hope you find this episode useful and comforting.

Resources:

Gemini.org

Brain Balance

Podcast Weblink: Madhuram Musings - Episode 019

It would not be an exaggeration to say we can no longer imagine a world without social media. Tweens and teens spend a lot of time on social media. When we chatted with a few teenage kids the answers that came out were surprising and startling.

Kids think of social media as a connection platform, which of course it is. But the line becomes blurry when kids use only social media to connect and define their lives. Social media platform provides a lot of opportunities for being anonymous which encourages bullying and

Social media has a many positive impacts too in terms of creating content, boosting self confidence and staying in touch.

Here we try to see both sides of the coin of social media. Listen and share your comments !!

Resources:

Impact of  social media on children

How social media has changed the way we parent

Why I won’t let you use Social Media – An open letter

Podcast Weblink: Madhuram Musings - Episode 018

Books are a window to the world. But the internet has taken that privilege over for most of us, especially the new generation. But can it truly replace a book? How can we help build our child’s imagination and curiosity, while keeping screen-time at bay? Reading a book, transports the child into a world they can create themselves, rather than someone else imagining it for them.

Parents play a critical role in inculcating a reading habit at the right age. In this episode we talk about how we helped our children build the habit. We also talk about the tips and tricks we used to convert our children who were reluctant readers and how it’s never too late to help our children build one.

Resources:

Encouraging a reading habit – Oxford Learning

How to raise a reader – NY Times

10 Ways to Cultivate Reading habit – Moms.com

How to develop Reading habit in kids – PlanetSpark.in

Encouraging your child to read – ReadingRockets.org 

Podcast Weblink: Madhuram Musings - Episode 017

The greatest legacy we can leave our children is happy memories.” – Og Mandino

Travelling over the summer break is one of the most enriching experiences which we can give our kids. It improves their curiosity, feeds their wonder, brings them closer to family, but above all creates memories. Memories, which money cannot buy.

Plan an impromptu visit to the park, build sandcastles in a beach, hike in the woods, play a game of cards on a train trip or an RV trip, or maybe wait in a long queue for a rollercoaster ride. This is the time when each and every moment we spend with them, makes a strong impression and creates memories which last a life time. These memories help build their character and perspective of life, well into their adulthood.

In this episode, two dads chat about the sweet memories they made, travelling with just one of their children. They share their experiences, challenges in planning this trip and what they took away from it.

Listen to this episode and share your comments and feedback.

Resources :

Earth Trekkers

My dirty shoes

Rough Rides

Family Travel Magazine

Podcast Weblink: Madhuram Musings - Episode 016

In this episode, we share some resources on all available Summer classes and Camps.

Summer Camps:

Camp Wonderopolis is one of the most highly regarded digital summer camps on the planet that is entirely free. Parents and children will find a wide variety of fun and engaging summer camp activities to take part in.

Camp Supernow is one of the top virtual summer adventure camps for kids ages 4-10. ‍Kids interact live with their magical counselors and peers from around the world during immersive classes in arts & crafts, theater, STEM, movement, music, mindfulness, and beyond.

Maker summer camp Makers : Summer Camp focuses on hands-on learning for children. It’s a project focused camp where your child builds things based on their interests. With a focus on science, technology, and art, it brings multiple disciplines together. 

Outschool : Has an array of summer camp options to choose from. You can choose based on the reviews, cost, and the timing of the camps.

 Language:

Coding

Elementary School

 Middle School

 High School

 Best Coding Website For All Ages

Finding a Tutor 

Other resources:

Podcast Weblink: Madhuram Musings - Episode 015