Just like with anything in life, when you do something long enough, you start to notice trends. With Fairchild into its 13th year, we know where the cracks tend to be in a student’s education, no matter how fantastic their schools are! Those cracks are even more apparent in a year like the one we’ve had. The big pieces of the puzzle are of course reading, writing, and arithmetic, followed closely by foreign languages. Math and language skills are “use ‘em or lose ‘em” type skills. If your student has a lengthy break between those subjects, like this year when some of our students may go most of a full year between them, those skills will be fading fast by the time the next textbook is opened. Reading and writing go hand in hand. Our students are encouraged to read as much as possible, on any subject they’re interested in. We find that it not only helps their regular schoolwork, but it gives them a huge boost when it comes to the SAT and ACT. Writing is a hard concept f
Applications are in, acceptances are starting to arrive. Now, the question becomes how to pay for it all: books, room & board, food, and tuition plus all the extras. It can feel overwhelming. It’s not a secret that a college education is costly. The conversation regarding student debt is one that is constantly in the news, and while a degree is going to be important for almost every career path, there is no reason to take on more debt than you actually need to. Here are a few of our favorite tips: Get that FAFSA done. It’s frustrating because it’s really only one view of your family’s finances, but it is absolutely necessary to qualify for aid. Don’t be afraid to make a phone call. Colleges give you financial aid packages based on the information in front of them. If your situation is a little different, or if there’s something that the FAFSA isn’t presenting well, don’t be afraid to call your top school’s financial aid office and ask to discuss things further. Find out if work-st