Parenting Pointers: The Keys to College

Monica Betson-Montgomery knows exactly what it takes to give kids a competitive 'edge' when preparing them for college – during her career she has personally read and scored more than 20,000 freshman applications for the University of California at Berkeley! Combining her vast experience and knowledge, Montgomery came up with a comprehensive, successful strategy for better preparing children to be competitive college applicants. 

The Keys to College: A Road Map for Parents to Guide Their Children (MM & Associates) by Monica Betson-Montgomery is a resourceful handbook that takes the mystery out of what's needed to prepare parents and their children for college. The book is easy to understand, and a great resource, especially for parents who didn't go to college themselves or have little experience with today's college entrance requirements.

A few broad tips from the book for any parent with college-bound teens:
- Reach out and get help. Don't try to do it alone.
- Establish good study habits. The skills you start in high school will serve you well in college.
- Know your entrance requirements. Be sure you know what required courses are, and try to take as many of the recommendations as possible as well.
- Be aware of your options to pay for college. Grants, loans, scholarships, work-study - and more! There is a lot of money out there for college, you just have to be willing to look for it.
- Know your options. There are many avenues for higher education, including community, public, and private. Not every option is right for every person.

The book goes more in-depth, and comes highly recommended. The Honorable Myrtle V. Walker, President of Drew Health Foundation. Inc, said: "As a mother, grandmother, and now a great grandmother, I truly wish The Keys to College had been written during my early years as a parent. My children attended public schools and I spent a great deal of time on campus with very few resources at my disposal to guide me. ”

Plus, you can find Sample Student Profiles, where the author not only gives essay examples but goes on to analyze the essay's that include assessments. Her examples and explanations are well thought out and easy to follow and the assessments are extremely enlightening.

About the author:
Monica Betson Montgomery completed her undergraduate studies in Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley, and later completed her MBA at St. Mary's College of Moraga. The Keys to College is her second book. Her first work, You Too Can Prepare Your Child for College, was inspired by the ongoing need to increase parent awareness of the education process and the importance of their role therein.  She also subsequently designed a series of interactive workshops for parents and students that complement the book. Monica and her husband commit a great deal of time and resources to impoverished communities to help ensure that information and opportunities are provided where the need is greatest. For more information, please visit: www.universitykeys.com.