Carolina Pad 17 College Planner Review and Giveaway!

Do you or someone you know have a child heading off to college next year?   Or do you want to get a head start on planning for your younger high school child?    I have a child currently in college and a high school senior, so I consider myself an experienced member of the college planning crew.    I remember with my oldest how incredibly stressful it was on both her and me.   There would be days we were both on edge and feeling overwhelmed and trying frantically to stay on top of everything that had to be done.

It's been easier this time around for me.   We're looking at many of the same colleges we did a few years ago, and we've learned the hard way what not to do.    Plus I have been given a planner by Carolina Pad to try out and review that has made the process so much simpler.   It helps keep my notes organized in one place (instead of the dozen college folders each school gave us last time!) and I can easily keep track of deadlines, contact names, website addresses, etc.

Planning Calendar and Test Scores Record

• Included in the binder at the front is a timeline that offers lots of helpful tips for those that are overwhelmed by the process.   There are hints for things to do from getting letters of recommendation (early!), making sure transcripts are complete and accurate, attending college fairs, and planning college visits.

• The next section is a personal profile where the student can think about what they want to major in, what size school they would like, if they are interested in athletics or extracurriculars, etc.

• Next is 12 months of calendars for keeping track of appointments, deadlines and then the text score page (shown above)

• A page to list schools by "reach", "target" and "safety" and another for chance of acceptance at those schools based on GPA and test scores. 

• Many pages for essay brainstorming including some prompts/ideas to get you started.   I wish we had this when my daughter applied.    Every time she had to write an essay she'd stress so much and it was like she'd never written one before. 

• A master application checklist (have you sent application, transcript, etc) and letter or recommendation record.

• Comparison chart of basic info on the colleges you're considering.   This is important.   You're not always comparing apples to apples.   Sometimes it's apples to oranges.   One school may offer more scholarship money, but the tuition is so high it still costs more.   Or in my daughter's case, she wanted to continue orchestra in college, was an honors student, and wanted to major in biology or biochemistry; so we looked at music programs in addition to honors programs/honors housing, and her major. 

• Financial aid, scholarships, loans info.

•  And my FAVORITE part......The individual college breakdowns.    When we'd visit colleges we'd frantically take notes and scribble on pieces of paper that were scattered all over our house.  Here each college has pages of information from their average tuition/housing costs, to thoughts on the dorms, the food, the community, and their own deadlines and websites and contact people.    VERY helpful having all the schools in one place and in such an organized fashion.   

Sample Pages From Individual College Visit

•  There are also 8 tab dividers to separate colleges, labels, and an accordion file at the back for loose papers.

• 

Expandable File for Loose Papers




So if you're looking for a wonderful tool to make all your college planning easier and more organized, then check out the Carolina Pad 17 College Planner.   As someone who has been there/done that, and is now doing that again, trust me when I say that it will make your search process much easier.    

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Buy It:    If you think you'd like the 17 College Planner you can purchase it from Amazon or Carolina Pad online. 

Win It:    Sara from Carolina Pad has been generous and offered ONE of my readers a copy of the College Planner

Mandatory Entry:    Tell me who you know that is planning for college.

Extra Entries:   
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4)   Blog about this on your own blog with a link here.   (5 entries so leave 5 comments)

5)   Enter any other open giveaway.
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7)   Read my post about swagbucks HERE and leave a comment on it.   Come back to let me know on this post

8)  Join swagbucks through the referral link on this post and get 5 extra entries.  You must be an active member of swagbucks by the end of the giveaway for these entries to count.  Make sure to leave 5 separate entries

RULES:

Giveaway begins now and ends Monday Nov. 22th  at 10 PM EST.   Must be 18 or older to enter and must reside in the US. Winner will be selected with random.org and will be notified by email.   Winner must respond by within 48 hours  or a new winner will be selected.    Prize will be mailed from Carolina Pad

 
Disclosure:   I have not been compensated in any way for this review except receiving a sample of the planner to review.     My review is my own and my honest opinion.