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Valerie Pierce, Author

Countdown to College: 21 'To Do' Lists for High School

As an experienced college parent, Valerie Pierce offers ready-to-use, step-by-step “to-do's” for parents and their college-bound students in 9-12 grades. Prior to this publication, Ms. Pierce developed industry training programs and authored corporate manuals for operations, acquisitions and computer conversions. She brings 17 years of management and training experience and 10 years of school volunteering insight together to help students prepare early for their future educational opportunities.

Sample questions: Where should my child begin to look for scholarships? What summer activities will help build my son's resume? What web sites will help my daughter choose a college?

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Steve Goodman, Independent Educational Consultant

Steve Goodman is an international authority on college and graduate school admissions, specializing in analyzing and advancing the academic, social and professional needs and aspirations of students and families. A former Wharton faculty member, Steve earned his master's degree in higher education at the University of Pennsylvania, his bachelor's degree in public policy at Duke University and his law degree from the University of Southern California.

Sample questions: How has the admissions process changed in the past 20 years? What are the benefits of attending schools outside the U.S.? Is it harder to get into grad school than into undergrad programs?

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Pamela T. Horne, Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management and Dean of Admissions at Purdue University

The Assistant Vice President for Enrollment Management and Dean of Admissions at Purdue University, Pamela Horne's career in education spans nearly 30 years at six educational institutions and includes sending her own children to college. A presenter at educational gatherings nationwide, Ms. Horne often speaks on topics such as parental involvement in – and demystifying – the college admissions process.

Sample questions: What should the parent role be in the college search and application process? How can parents get the most out of Parent Orientation Programs? What are the special challenges for parents of commuter students?

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Helen Johnson, Author

Don't Tell Me What to Do, Just Send Money

Founder of Cornell University's first Parents' Program and consultant to colleges in the area of parent relations, Helen Johnson, the "Dr. Spock" for college parents, advises parents on how to navigate their changing relationship with an emerging-adult child during the college years.

Sample questions: How can I help my child prepare for college? What kind of social pressures do kids face in college? How can I support my daughter's emotional and intellectual growth while she's away?

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Bill O'Connell, Campus Security Consultant

A former president of the Northeast Colleges and Universities Security Association, Bill O'Connell is a 22-year veteran of campus security and law enforcement and holds a BS in Criminal Justice and a Master of Public Administration degree. Having served as the Director of Campus Safety at four institutions and as a consultant to another, Mr. O'Connell is an authority on public safety issues that concern students and their parents.

Sample questions: How do I interpret the crime statistics in colleges' annual reports and how can I get objective information about their relative security? During campus visits, is there anything parents should specifically ask to see relative to security? What are the dormitory security policies?

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Bill Coplin, Author

10 Things Employers Want You to Learn in College

Based on extensive interviews with employers and recruiters, and 30+ years of experience advising more than 1,000 college students, professor and student adviser Bill Coplin goes beyond test scores and GPAs to teach college grads how to develop real-world know-how to impress employers and to land dream jobs right after college.

Sample questions: Why is the choice of major not the critical decision it appears to be? What extracurricular and off-campus activities can build skills that employers want? How can my child, as a freshman, begin building a resume that will get him good job interviews upon graduation?

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Chip Winston, Certified Financial Planner

Chip Winston is a Registered Investment Advisor, Certified Financial Planner (CFP), and graduate of Stetson University. With over twenty years of experience in the investment business, his practice, located in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, specializes in financial planning and investing for individuals.

Sample questions: Who can open a 529 Plan? How much can I contribute to a 529 Plan? How are my 529 contributions invested? What is the difference between a Coverdell Education Savings Account and a 529 Plan?

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Clifford A. Ramirez, Higher Education Consultant and Author

"Understanding the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act"

An expert on the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), Mr. Ramirez is the president of Cliff Ramirez & Associates, a training and consulting firm serving institutions of higher education. Mr. Ramirez is the author of numerous training publications and has produced an audiocassette and video on FERPA and student privacy. A 14-year veteran of student services administration at UCLA, he recently served as president of the distinguished Pacific Association of Collegiate Registrars & Admissions Officers.

Sample Questions: What are student privacy policies? Am I entitled to any information from the college about my child? How do I correspond with a college if I'm concerned about my child's academic progress?

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Mindy Dalgarn, Author

"Smart Start" CD

Campus life authority Mindy Dalgarn draws from 25 years of on-campus experience at Vanderbilt and Mercer Universities in her highly acclaimed instructional CD, Smart Start. Instrumental in the establishment of programs and services aimed at engaging parents in life on campus, Mindy is an advocate for parental involvement that promotes student growth and development.

Sample Questions: How can I help my child adjust to life on campus? Are there any leadership opportunities for my child in college? How do campus judicial systems work?

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Susan Jennings Lantz, Parent Advocate

Since 1999, Susan Jennings Lantz has been the parent advocate at West Virginia University, answering 3,000-4,000 calls a year through a Mountaineer Parents Club toll-free parent helpline, writing the Parent Electronic News, representing the interests of parents on university committees, and training faculty and staff to best meet the needs of the 25,000 students at WVU. She has nearly 14 years of higher education experience in student and academic affairs, including a stint as an adviser to general studies and professional education students.

Sample Questions: My daughter seems to be having problems with her roommate -- should we interfere? My son isn't doing as well in school as we had hoped -- how do we get him to apply himself? My daughter keeps changing her major -- is this going to be a problem?

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Jim Grizzell, Health Consultant

A Fellow in the American College Health Association and Co-Chair of the National College Health Objectives Committee which developed Healthy Campus 2010, Jim Grizzell's career covers over 25 years in college and corporate health. Work has been in the areas of substance abuse prevention, weight loss program, health and fitness education, including 15 years administering nationally recognized comprehensive college health programs at Cal Poly Pomona. He is a consultant to colleges on programs, staffing, financing and facilities for health programs.

Sample Questions: Should my student get vaccinated for meningococcal disease? What should I expect with regard to health care for my student? Should I buy supplemental health insurance for my student?

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Deborah Schneider, Author

"Should You Really be a Lawyer?"

Author, attorney and legal career counselor Deborah Schneider is a former Associate Director for Career Development at the University of California Hastings College of Law and a career counselor at the University of San Francisco School of Laws. She is currently a lecturer and consultant to colleges, law schools and bar associations advising members on how to make smart career choices.

Sample Questions: How can I help my college student decide what to do after college? Does it make sense for my child to go to graduate/professional school straight after college or is taking time off a good idea? What should my child do in order to make wise decisons about what type of graduate/professional school, or career path, is right for them?

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Sarah Lennon, Academic Advisor

Sarah Lennon serves as a full time academic advisor for students at Eastern Kentucky University who are undecided about a major, who have developmental course needs, or who are on probation. She also teaches a 3-credit "transition to college" course for first semester students. She earned her MS degree in Higher Education Administration from Syracuse University along with a BA in Communication from Berea College.

Sample Questions: What kind of questions can I ask my child about college to show my support? Are there strategies my child can use to help choose a major? How can I best help my child transition from high school to college?