Tutoring

 

Information For Parents

CCH Gives Your Child the Edge

College entrance is becoming more competitive. No matter where your child is, in private or public school, they can use every advantage they can get. Today, getting into just the right college takes more than just a high school diploma.

College Connections specializes in the kind of extra academic help that will separate your child from the pack. Our expert tutors and counselors put average students on the honor roll and can turn high school seniors into college freshmen.

Is Your Child On Track

Many parents ask us, "Are we on track?" or, "What should we be doing now?" Preparing for college is a multi-step process that can start in kindergarten or even earlier. There is so much to do, it can be both confusing and daunting.

While there is no single pre-determined path to college, our College Prep Timeline (at the Right) can show at a glance, whether your child is on track. Organized by age, the Timeline shows what you and your child should be doing to maximize your college options.

College Is An Investment

College is usually a family's second largest expense ever, and the cost of higher education is rising faster than inflation. Before long, four years at a private university will top $200,000.

College Connections Hawaii helps families in several ways, including saving for college, learning about financial aid, and finding and applying for scholarships.

Information Is Opportunity

College Connections Hawaii helps you identify opportunities for your child early with the latest education news, research and programs. We will be updating our Education News page to keep you informed of issues affecting your child's education.

 

Tips for finding the right college match

Characteristics Your Child Should Consider

How can your child find colleges that match his needs? First, he should identify his priorities. Next, he should carefully research the characteristics of a range of schools. Finally, match the two. Here are some college characteristics to consider.

Size of the Student Body

Size will affect many of your child's opportunities and experiences, including:

• Range of academic majors offered

• Extracurricular possibilities

• Amount of personal attention your child will receive

• Number of books in the library

In considering size, your child should be very sure to look beyond the raw number of students attending. For example, perhaps she's considering a small department within a large school. She should investigate not just the number of faculty, but also how accessible faculty members are to students.

Location

Does your child want to visit home frequently, or does he see this as a time to experience a new part of the country? Perhaps he would like an urban environment with access to museums, ethnic food, or major league ball games. Or maybe he hopes for easy access to the outdoors or the serenity of a small town.

Academic Programs

If your child knows what she wants to study, she can research reputations of academic departments by talking to people in the fields that interest her. If your child is undecided, as many students are, she may want to relax and pick an academically balanced institution that offers a range of majors and programs.

Students normally don't pick a major until their sophomore year, and those students that know their major before they go to college are very likely to change their mind. Most colleges offer counseling to help students find a focus. In considering academic programs, your child should look for special opportunities and pick a school that offers many possibilities.

Campus Life

Your child should consider what college life will be like beyond the classroom. It's important for students to maintain a balance between academics, activities, and social life. Before choosing a college, he should learn the answers to these questions:

• What extracurricular activities, athletics, and special interest groups are available?

• Does the community around the college offer interesting outlets for students?

• Are students welcomed by the community?

• Is there an ethnic or religious group in which to take part?

• How do fraternities and sororities influence campus life?

• Is housing guaranteed?

• How are dorms assigned?

Cost and Value

Today's college price tag makes cost an important consideration for most students. At the same time, virtually all colleges work to ensure that academically qualified students from every economic circumstance can find financial aid that allows them to attend. In considering cost, look beyond the price tag to the assistance available.

Diversity

Your child should explore what she might gain from a diverse student body. The geographic, ethnic, racial, and religious diversity of the students can be a means of learning more about the world. Investigate what kinds of student organizations or other groups with ethnic or religious foundations are active and visible on campus.

Retention and Graduation Rates

One of the best ways to measure a school's quality and the satisfaction of its students is to learn the percentage of students who return after the first year and the percentage of entering students who remain to graduate. Comparatively good retention and graduation rates are indicators that responsible academic, social, and financial support systems exist for most students.