The College Planner by Carolina Pad & a GIVEAWAY

I love school supplies!  Don’t think that just because we homeschool, we don’t still go shopping for school supplies, because we do.  And, since they are a weakness of mine, I don’t usually say “no” when the girls ask for things like pencils and notebooks, etc.  We find that, over and over again, we end up with products from Carolina Pad (because their products are oh! so trendy and fun!)

Recently, Ashley and I were introduced to a new product by Carolina Pad – their 17 Essentials College Planner.  Ashley hasn’t yet decided what she wants to do after high school, which means that we’re not 100% sure about college yet.  However, is not being sure an excuse for not making plans?  I think not!  I’m a major planner, so I’d rather make the plans and then not need them, rather than the other way around.

Carolina Pad teamed up with Seventeen Magazine to create a “stylish and functional all-in-one filing system to keep your application process in order and on track.”  Here’s the planner that we received to review ===>

Cute, huh?  The other style available is also black & white, but with hot pink.  Both are great options for girls, but I’m wondering if they’re planning to creating some more masculine styles (as I can’t see many boys flocking to these 2). 

In any case, when you open the binder, you have an expandable file on the left-hand side.  This picture doesn’t really do it justice, but imagine if I were to lift up that lime green flap – under it are 4 separate pockets, with clear tabbed dividers.  This section would be great for holding all those extra, loose papers that you collect.

On the right-hand side, you see the cover page.  Carolina Pad has designed this planner JUST FOR YOU.  As a planner creator myself, this is important to me.  I love that they have put this planner in a 3-ring binder.  That way, if there are forms that you absolutely don’t need, you can remove them.  Likewise, if there’s something they’ve forgotten to include (I doubt it, but you never know), you can add forms and papers to it as well. 

There are 8 tabbed dividers in the back.  It is recommended that you use these to file applications BY COLLEGE.  Another use would be to label the various sections in the planner and tab those sections.  There is an included page of 42 color-coordinated labels to use with these tabs.  See?  They thought of everything!

The front few pages of the planner contain a “college planning  timeline” which suggests what you need to do during your Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, and Senior years of high school.  This section is followed up by personal information and a blank college planning calendar (you fill in the months and dates).  There are forms for recording test scores, scholarships, grants, and loans, etc.  There are even blank pages for essay brainstorming! 

In the back, there are repeated pages, to use for the various colleges you apply to.  These page are for general information, estimated costs, visit notes, and interview notes.   Oh, and don’t forget deadlines!

Both Ashley and I would recommend this planner to anyone who is college bound (again, it will probably appeal much more to girls). 

Would you like to win one?

Carolina Pad has graciously offered an additional copy of the 17 Essentials College Planner for me to give away to one of my readers. 

If you would like to win, please leave a comment telling me what appeals to you (or your student) about this planner. 

For additional entries, you may do any/all of the following (please be sure to leave the required number of comments for each entry):

• Visit Carolina Pad on Facebook (1 entry)
• Visit the NEW Studio C by Carolina Pad Facebook page (1 entry)
• Follow Carolina Pad on Twitter (1 entry)
• Follow my blog via Google Friend Connect (1 entry)
• Follow ME on Twitter (1 entry)
• Share about this contest on your blog, with a link back to this post (3 entries)
• Tweet about this contest with a link back (be sure to use hashtag @carolinapad) (2 entries)
• Post about this contest on your Facebook page with a link back (2 entries)

And a few more, just for fun:

• Share a funny college memory of your own (1 entry)
• Tell me what college you/your child is most interested in attending and why (1 entry)

This contest will be open until noon (est) on Monday, November 15th (Ashley’s birthday!)  At that time, we’ll do a random drawing to select our winner.  This contest is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada ONLY.  (Individuals who have won a prize package from Carolina Pad in the last 90 days are not eligible to win.)

NOTE: I received a free copy of the 17 Essentials College Planner from Carolina Pad in order for me to write this post.  The thoughts and photographs included above are my own.  I was not compensated in any other way.