Parent Workshops hosted by the Tech Parent Association
February 4th, 2017 - 9:00-12:30

The PA is proud to offer its Fifth Annual Spring Parent Workshops. This is a great opportunity to learn about a range of topics to help you support your children’s educational experience.

Come early for a continental breakfast or to grab a coffee. Doors open at 8:15am. Each workshop is 60 minutes long, and most are offered three times to allow you to participate in a variety of sessions.

PLEASE CHOOSE ONE (1) SESSION PER TIME SLOT.

Date: Saturday, February 4th, 2017
Time: 9:00-10:00 am, 10:15-11:15 am, 11:30 to 12:30 - simultaneous sections of each lecture.
Continental Breakfast at 8:30

!!!!PLEASE ONLY SIGN UP FOR 1 EVENT DURING THE 10:15 AM TIME SLOT!!!!

If you are unable to attend a workshop that you have already registered for, please cancel to make space for the next parent on the wait-list.

SUCCESS IN COLLEGE AND LIFE: A PROFESSOR’S PERSPECTIVE
Dr. Jonathan Plucker, Johns Hopkins University
Even talented students often struggle in the transition to college, and many students do not make the best of the opportunities at the university level. What distinguishes a “good” college experience from a “bad” one? What are some strategies for making the most of a college education? How can college be used as a springboard to success in graduate school and life? We’ll tackle all of these questions. A frequent speaker to aspiring college students and their parents, Professor Plucker has given talks to thousands of families with college-bound students over the past 20 years on these important topics.

TESTING TIMELINE: SUBJECT TESTS, AP TESTS, AND ACT/SAT
The Princeton Review
What Subject Tests and AP tests should my student take? When do they need to focus on the SAT/ACT? This workshop goes through a timeline for all of the major tests students will take at Brooklyn Tech and how to prepare for them.

COLLEGE FINANCES
Bernard Pau, CPA/PFS (Mandarin and Cantonese) and Kal Chany (English) of Campus Consultants
This workshop provides an overview of college costs, scholarships, and financial aid, and the best ways for getting what you need to be able to afford college.

APPLYING TO COLLEGE: AN OVERVIEW
Chano Laboy, Options Center, College Access Counselor and DOE counselor trainer
This workshop will focus on creating an ideal application timeline. The conversation will include tips for effective college research and building a balanced list, prepping for standardized tests-or not, ways to highlight student strengths, and helping students put the summer time to good use.

TEENS 101 AND PARENTING TEENS 101
Elyssa Ackerman, LCSW, The Strategic Parent
Does parenting your teen feel like a daily battle? Do you wish your family lived in a bit more harmony? Come to this workshop and learn the basics: Teens 101 and Parenting Teens 101. The bulk of this workshop involves looking at your own and common issues facing the parent raising teens, understanding how we react in the moment and then breaking down those patterns and committing to practicing alternatives. This workshop will educate you, inspire you and help you to recognize that you are not alone. Be prepared to listen but also engage with fellow parents to learn from one another. The valuable tools you will learn in this workshop will make a positive impact on your family’s dynamic.

FINDING AFFORDABLE COLLEGES
Rachel Coates, EduCoates
Thinking about the costs of college can be overwhelming to many families. In this workshop, parents will learn about the range of costs in colleges and how to find colleges that offer great value—lower prices and great educational experience. The discussion will also include special opportunities for funding at many colleges, and the difference between “need-based financial aid” and “merit aid.”

UNDERSTANDING AND EVALUATING FINANCIAL AID OFFERS FROM COLLEGES
Sandy Jimenez, Options Center, College Access Counselor and DOE Counselor Trainer, Options
Financial aid award letters from colleges are notoriously hard to decipher. Learn how to dissect financial offers from colleges and to compare and contrast different schools’ offers. Topics included will be options for closing gaps in financial aid and how to appeal to a college for a better package.

ESSAYS, INTERVIEWS AND MORE! HOW TO APPROACH THE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS OF A COLLEGE APPLICATION
Cassie Magesis, NYS Association for College Admission Counseling
Learn about the importance and relevance of the different college application components, with a special focus on interviews and essays and how students can take control of these opportunities to shine.

PA Parent Workshop 10:15 am Sign-up Feb 2017