Welcome to the Outsmart College Blog!

About the College Decision

I am Blogging to empower you, the parent to:

• Make rational decisions about your children’s college funding;
• Help you establish a contract with your expectations;
• Give you power and talking points when talking with your children;
• Level the playing field between you and the School-to-College Establishment;
• Liberate you from throwing away guilt-ridden “blank checks"; and
• You will be clear why you would (or would NOT) pay for college.

About Norm Gustafson 

I am a retired high school teacher. While teaching, my “brand” was getting students ready for the REAL WORLD. I mostly taught business, technology, and economics; including courses with a Regional Occupational Program in Central California.

This is my second blog. (I also write a travel blog called “The Mindful Traveller” (https://travel-mindful.blogspot.com/). As a teacher, I have had the opportunity to not only counsel thousands of students about careers. I've also heard the “horror stories” of angry parents who feel used (and poorer) after sending their kid to college. I have written and published training articles and “learning experience” designs. I've also done peer editorial reviews of business training books and a Ph.D. dissertation.

Editorial Schedule

I will be posting throughout the year with a mix of seasonal college and school topics as well as hot topics in the News. The posts will be original posts, guest posts, curated or topical news, articles, and polls.

Offerings
Occasionally I will feature helpful articles, products, books, or workshops.

Feedback
I welcome ALL comments and feedback. Unlike many in the education establishment, I don't fear challenges to my own ideas. Challenges test my thinking and how I express it, but not my experience or values. Challenges can strengthen one's arguments. They can also cause discussion in new and productive areas.   I also encourage guest postings by readers, career teachers, advisors, educators, and other bloggers.

Here are some prompts to get you thinking:

• What is the maximum you expect to spend on your children’s college?
• What conditions MUST you have before agreeing to college funding?
• Do you have a “horror story” about wasted college, dubious degrees, no job in the degree, failure to obtain a degree, etc.?
• What college situation or outcome would make you feel used?

Please post a comment, or email me your story. (Is your story lengthy? Email me and we can
set up a call.) My email is normgus@gmail.com.