Preparing a student for college can be overwhelming, especially if you have never been to college or it has been a long time since you were in a classroom. The rules for getting into college seem to change every year. Join Margo Thomas, as she shares her responses to questions from parents who are not sure how to help their students navigate the transition from high school to college. In this simple, easy-to-read guide parents will learn the steps their high school student needs to take to prepare for college, how their student can earn college credits while in high school, and how to find money to pay for college to avoid taking out massive amounts of student loans.
Name of Book: Help! What I Tell Parents about Preparing Their Kids for College
Genre: Nonfiction / self-help
Book Link: https://bit.ly/college-prepforparents
Pages: 115
Tell us about your book, Help! What I Tell Parents about Preparing Their Kids for College.
The purpose of this book is to help parents prepare their kids for college. This book is for a parent who has never graduated from college or one who graduated a long time ago and isn’t sure about today’s college admissions process. It is a simple, easy-to-read guide, that answers some of the basic questions I have been asked by some parents over the years.
Why did you decide to write it?
For eight years, I worked for a program that prepares students for the transition between high school and college. We also gave the students who completed the program a two-year tuition scholarship. Since we were paying for college, we had a vested interest in making sure that our students were prepared. Within a couple of years in my position, I realized that I was getting the same types of questions from parents each year, and those questions were often asked during the student’s senior year of high school or just after they graduated. At that point, it was already too late. I wanted to save myself from having to answer the same questions over and over, so I decided to write those responses down. Those responses later became the basis of this book.
What’s the best part of being an author?
When I was a little girl, my grandmother worked for an author. Back then, my sister thought being an author was pretty cool. Later, as an adult, I realize that being an author allows me to create a legacy that I can leave for my grandchildren. I now have the ability to write books that will speak to them at some point in their lives.
What’s the worst part of being an author?
I imagine that having someone trash your books could be a traumatic experience, but so far, I haven’t had any negative experiences with my books.
What was the hardest part of writing the story?
For this book, writing the content wasn’t difficult. Overanalyzing it afterward held me, hostage, for a while though.
If you were to write a book about your life, what would the title be and why?
Grateful – My life has had a few twists and turns over the years. I got pregnant at 19 while I was in college and had a beautiful baby girl when I turned 20. When she was five, we left The Bahamas so that I could attend college in Valdosta Georgia. It took me ten years to complete a four-year degree. I am grateful that I didn’t give up, but stayed in the race until I got to the finish line. Because of that experience, I believe I was better equipped to guide the students I’ve worked with for over 8 years through their own struggles with life decisions, which ultimately made me a better coach. Getting married to my husband 15 years ago was a great chapter in my life because I met my soulmate, which changed the trajectory of life as I knew it. We later experienced the joys of being grandparents, which opened another chapter. Now, with the death of my husband, another chapter begins. I didn’t expect our chapter to end so soon, and I am trying to navigate new twists and turns in my life. Through it all, I still remain grateful.
What are you currently working on right now?
I am working on another grief journal, a Christmas book for my grandson that chronicles some of the adventures he had with his Pop Pop before he died, and a budgeting workbook.
Do you have anything else you would like to add?
Parents often say that we cannot expect 18-year-olds to make a decision about the type of career they want to have, but those same parents are allowing their 18-year-olds to make a significant financial decision about the schools they choose to attend. Those same 18-year-olds are signing loan agreements without understanding that.
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