Top 10 Reasons to Read This Book

(And Why Maya Wrote It)

Feeling stressed about the college admissions game? 

Relax.

You need to know how a bold new approach to education is helping savvy students leap right over their test-crazed classmates.  The new global students are laughing at the lunacy of the current college-prep mindset, diving into higher education early, and

gliding into the global economy at 20 with: 

a red-hot U.S. or Canadian college diploma

sizzling 21st-century skills

fluency in a foreign language (or two or three)

outrageously relevant experience

a blazing sense of direction

big-grin enthusiasm

and no debt

Good-bye, Old School. Hello, Bold School!

Not sure if you're likely to benefit from the information in this book?  Well, this might help.

Take a look at the following statements and pay attention to how often you find yourself nodding your head in agreement.

#1 I am ready to ditch the college-prep drama and get calm, clear and creative in order to discover the best education options available. 

#2 I am excited to focus on learning (not just achievement) and I'm looking forward to less stress and much more inspiration along the way. 

#3 I need to learn about ways to save thousands of dollars on college expenses without sacrificing the quality of education or the opportunities for personal development.

#4 I am questioning the current SAT/GPA/AP approach to getting into college and I can't wait to find out how to avoid standardized measures.

#5 I know how important it is to learn more about the world, and need solid information about the most inexpensive and beneficial language learning and study abroad options out there.

#6 I've already read enough books by admissions advisers about the college application process.  I want to get the inside scoop from no-bull experts, barrier-busting students and shrewd parents that I won't find anywhere else.

#7 I need to hear from students who have managed to finish high school early in order to dive into higher education (especially the global variety)-and how this has helped them move forward in numerous ways.

#8 I am excited about looking beyond math and science to discover more creative ways to prepare for the global workplace.

#9 I want to spend time abroad with my family and I need honest advice from those who have done it successfully and can offer tips about handling the kids' education.  

#10  It's time for a change and I'm looking for inspiring stories and  practical tips to help me get fired up in order to make bolder (and more personal) life choices.  

Nodding?  Cheering?  Great!

If this list roused even a little bit of rah-rah in you, The New Global Student is sure to expand your view of the world of learning and get you grinning about the possibilities for you and your family.  

So, what are you waiting for?  Go ahead and get started by ordering the book here

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Want to learn more?  Take a look at Maya's answers to

a few questions about the book:

 

Why did you write The New Global Student?

In 2005, my husband and I sold everything we owned in order to leave our suburban American lifestyle behind and head for a new life abroad.  Now, maybe that's not such a big deal if you're single or a couple, but try doing it when you've got four teenage daughters!  

We had to figure out how to shepherd our girls through high school and into college while living outside the traditional system.  It was quite an adventure, and way more fun than it sounds.   The book was inspired by the lessons we learned and the loopholes we discovered along the way. It seemed almost criminal not to share them with other parents and students!

Besides, people kept asking us how our girls could spend time abroad in numerous places, skip the SAT, graduate from college at 19 and get cool jobs they love. Now we can be lazy and just say, “It’s in the book!”

 

What's The New Global Student about? 

Well, first let me tell you what it's not about: 

It's not about earning a college diploma abroad--though that can be a wonderful (and very inexpensive) choice. All of the students profiled in the book are American, and the tips are geared toward U.S. students who want to earn a college degree in their own country. (But there's a hat tip to Canada, where two of my daughters graduated!)

It's not about online learning.  I believe that all students--and in fact, all adults--should experience learning online. It's mentioned a few times in the book, but I treat online learning as an excellent but pretty obvious option and part of a balanced education.

It's not about homeschooling--though this is also an outstanding education option. There are some  great stories from homeschooled students in the book! 

It's not about education reform.  Instead, it's a look at how parents and students can engage in an exciting education revolution rather than simply waiting for things to change.

It's not about international high schools or language immersion elementary schools--though it does focus on global education and foreign language fluency.

It's not about school choice or charter schools--but it gives parents and students a reason to cheer about the freedom they have to pick their own best options.

It's not about using your connections to get into a top-tier college.  In fact, the Bold School approach works best for those with zero contacts and is most helpful for students who can see the fantastic possibilities beyond the Ivy League. (But I've thrown in an Ivy League story for good measure.)

It's not about paying for expensive coaching or consulting.  This book encourages parents and students to avoid learned helplessness and fear-based choices and empowers them to dive into the fun and creative process of designing a great global education.

It's not about gaming the system.  However, there are definitely some perfectly ethical and legal tricks in the book that can save you thousands of dollars and are easy to implement.

The New Global Student shows how to creatively use the already-available and very affordable options that allow any U.S. student to zoom ahead. It reveals the myth-busting facts you need to know in order to recognize the advantages of doing things differently, and then offers astonishing success stories that show exactly how students are able to blast forward by making bold choices.

 

Who should read The New Global Student?

 

I wrote this book especially for parents of high school students, but parents of kids from preschool to college will find plenty of encouragement and valuable tips here.  The optimum time to read this is when your student is in the eighth grade—that is, before you get sucked into the college-prep vortex.  But even if your head is already spinning  from staring at college websites and financial aid forms, there’s some valuable advice in this book that can save you thousands of dollars, hours of sleep and fistfuls of hair.

But it’s not just for parents!  The New Global Student is packed with all kinds of great information and inspiring stories for students, educators, business leaders, community activists and others interested in how students across the U.S. are getting bold and creating their own show-stopping global education combos. You might be surprised to learn that there’s a lot to celebrate, and anyone interested in reading some happy news about education is sure to love this book!

 

What makes you such an expert?  I mean, let’s face it—you don’t have a PhD after your name and frankly, I’ve never even heard of you. 

 

Good point.  But see, having a graduate degree in education and knowing how to get four kids through high school and college—quickly, atypically, inexpensively, internationally and simultaneously—are two very different things.  As a parent, I’m more interested in hearing advice from other parents and students who have actually been there and done that rather than someone who can offer a lecture on the importance of global education—and something tells me others might feel the same way.

Besides, this book isn’t about theories—it’s a helpful and (I hope) humorous how-to guide for off-the-charts student success.  And for you skeptics, I’ve provided plenty of examples and some real experts (with PhDs and everything!) to back up my claims.

Think of this book as the anti college-prep handbook.  There are no tips on getting high SAT scores, no pointers on writing killer college essays, and no glowing reviews of international school programs. That’s Old School stuff.  Bold Schoolers are discovering exciting new ways to get the education they want and the experiences they love. 

Are you a happy homeschool mom, a charter school cheerleader, a proud public school parent, or what? 

I'm simply pro-education and I promote learning in all its forms.  The point is that there's no need to pick a favorite--and there's nothing to be gained by drawing lines in the sand.  In fact, those who design their own education and create  a customized blend of options are gaining critical skills that will serve them well in the future. And remember, I'm not talking about sweeping reforms or policy issues here--I'm helping parents clearly see their role as mentors and understand the full range of options available to their kids. 

Our girls were enrolled in a total of ten public schools in the U.S. and a dozen universities around the world.  They studied online and worked with tutors.  They lived and studied abroad in both high school and college, and speak at least one foreign language fluently.  They never submitted an SAT score, never took an AP or IB class, and completely avoided the traditional college application process. Total cost to us for each daughter’s preschool-through-bachelor’s-degree education:  about $35,000 including all travel, study abroad, tutors, and college costs.  (We could have chosen cheaper options or grabbed a bigger slice of the financial aid pie, but we stuck to the budget we set and we’re happy with that.)

You talk a lot about the global economy.  What do you know about that?

I'm coming at it from a very Real World perspective--and I think that might be kind of refreshing at a time when a lot of experts are getting mired in theory rather than embracing practicality.  I have a degree in psychology and Asian Studies, but more importantly, I spent my senior year of college studying in nine different Asian countries.  I graduated while abroad (had my own ceremony on Sigmund Freud’s couch in Vienna!) and returned to the U.S. in the middle of a recession in 1982.  The only decent job I could get was teaching English in Japan, so I grabbed it and spent the next five years in the rural north, where I met my future husband, a fellow Oregonian who grew up in a small town only ten miles from me!  That was back in the eighties when Japan was on top. We got married and had our first two daughters in Japan, then we returned to the U.S., where I taught ESL courses at a private college and filled our home with exchange students from around the world. 

For several years, my husband and I owned a company that exported American goods to Japan and sold imported Japanese goods in a retail setting in Oregon.   When the Japanese economy tanked, we decided to take a three-month sabbatical to Nepal and India, where Tom had spent a year as a high school exchange student.  Our kids were 7, 8, 10 and 11 at the time and it was a fantastic experience for our family. 

Later, we imported Chinese products to the United States and distributed them to over 600 retail outlets across the country. When we left the U.S. in 2005, we spent the first year in Mexico (during which we figured out how to run our business virtually) and we’ve lived in Argentina for the last three years.  Argentina went through the worst economic crisis in history just a few years ago, and it’s been fascinating to witness the ways in which the people and the government are recovering.  So, our knowledge of the global economy comes from practical experience:  we’ve been a part of booms and busts and we’ve learned a tremendous amount about who thrives when the chips are down—and which skills are essential in a topsy-turvy world!   

You've got a whole chapter on the merits of high school exchanges.  What makes you such a believer? 

My husband and his three siblings were all high school exchange students who spent their junior year abroad.  In fact, my husband's older brother married the Japanese exchange student who had lived with their family!  And we sent our three oldest daughters on a year-long exchange when they were in high school.  We'd already moved abroad by the time our youngest reached exchange age, so we let her pick the country we moved to!  She returned to the U.S. for college when she was 17 after living abroad for three years, and getting used to her culture again required quite an adjustment!

I have seen how a high school exchange can transform a student's life, how it enriches the families involved and how it can launch students on a lifelong path of meaningful international experiences and wonderful relationships with people in many countries.

What did you do prior to writing this book?

For the last ten years, I've been teaching people how to pay attention to what matters most, so I guess you could say that making our big move was a way to practice what I preached.  (You can learn more about my work at http://www.MassageYourMind.com) We had always wanted to live abroad as a family--it's what mattered most to us--and we made it happen.

 

Do I have to move abroad in order to help my kids go global? 

Absolutely not—though it is really fun and I highly recommend it.  You can stay right where you are and still help your kids go global in surprisingly affordable ways. I've focused on the options that parents living in Hometown, U.S.A. can use to give their kids an extraordinary international education that fits the family budget. 

 

How did you write a book about U.S. education options while living in Argentina? 

 

Easy!  I just connected with key people using the Internet.  I love Google.  Oh, and Skype.  And Facebook.  And VoIP.  And Twitter.  In fact, it was easier writing the book while living abroad because:

•I couldn’t go into a Barnes & Noble and freak out about the competition, and

•I knew that if anyone got peeved about what I wrote, I could always hide from the hoopla in Argentina and laugh about it while enjoying a nice glass of malbec.

Seems pretty ideal, don't you think?

.

Besides, you’re more likely to meet Americans who are making global education a priority outside the U.S.  (Funny how that works.) I’ve been able to meet so many interesting American college students, those who choose to live in Buenos Aires after graduation, U.S. expats of all ages who are making a life for themselves here, and families traveling around the world.  I've met global employers and listened to what they look for in applicants. It turns out that people who are actively developing and leveraging their global skills have extremely valuable tips to share that you'd never hear from those who haven't spent time studying, living and working abroad!

 

What do you offer parents besides the book? 

Make sure to sign up for the free seven-day series on Unlocking Your Student’s potential.

And read my blog (it includes all kinds of relevant education news to help you understand more about how things are changing)

Still want more?  Read our special message to parents here

 

Wait.  I’m not a parent—I’m a student.  Don’t you offer anything for students?

Sure!  First of all, make sure you sign up for my Top 10 Tips freebie!

Then, drop by the Student Lounge and read updates from some of the students who are profiled in the book.  You’ll get a sense of the different directions they’ve headed—and how things are working out for them.  Of course, life isn’t always predictable or smooth—that’s what makes it so interesting!  They’ll share their crazy misadventures or occasional frustrations as well as their big-grin moments.

Once you’re on the Student Lounge page, scroll down and click on the link for my special message just for students. It’ll tell you how you can get your parents on board—and that’s a pretty important thing.

You can join our New Globals group on Facebook and get connected with other students—even the ones profiled in the book!

And don’t forget the blog.  If you read it regularly, you’ll get some great ideas.

 

You live in Argentina, so how are you planning to promote this book?  U.S. book tour?  Virtual tour?  Osmosis? 

All of the above. I plan to build some serious buzz through blogs and websites and social media--and your support, of course!

Tom and I will be coming to New York in May for the kick-off (great excuse for a party) and I will be doing numerous gigs in the area through mid-June. In mid-July, we'll head to the Pacific Northwest to visit friends and family (read:  stay for free) and have as many conversations as we possibly can.

Wherever we go, we’ll be meeting parents, students, educators, innovators and others who’ve got stories to share—and we’ll include them in our book talks, blog posts, Tweets and anywhere else they might inspire others.

 

Will you be coming to my city on your tour?  Are you giving any parent trainings or student workshops or anything I can attend?

We're focusing on two zones during the first tour:  the New York/Boston/Washington, D.C. zone, (mid-May through mid-June) and the Pacific Northwest (mid-July through mid-August). Tom and I are looking at this as a fantastic learning opportunity and we're excited to meet all kinds of people and really listen to their concerns and successes.   We'll do a second tour in October/November, during which we will offer parent trainings based on what we've learned in Tour One.

 

I'm concerned that some people I know might criticize me for making different choices.  Any advice?

 

Yes!  And you’re right—the hardest part is dealing with the naysayers.  But please don't worry--I have a whole chapter in my book on that, including the Snappy Comeback Cheat Sheet to help you respond (without being too snarky) and even have fun helping people understand what you’re choosing to do—and why.

The thing to keep in mind is that those who criticize you are likely to feel threatened—they ’re worried that their own choices might not be the best, and so they cast doubt upon yours.  It makes them feel more secure.  You can’t blame them, really.  It’s human nature to defend yourself and your choices.  Remember that you have the right to do the same thing.

Need some support and fun times with like-minded folks? I encourage you to start your own Bold School Club.  Once the book comes out, there will be more and more people considering doing school differently, and I’ve put together a list of ideas to help you connect with them.  Having a tribe of others who are excited about blasting forward in bold ways can make all the difference!  Check out my tips for starting your own Bold School Club here.

 

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Thank you so much for your interest in this book!  I am delighted to have this chance to chat and I look forward to connecting with you in interesting ways in the future.  Life's like that.

 

Hugs and High Fives,

 

 Maya  

Questions?  I'd love to hear from you!

Contact me at Maya@MayaFrost.com

Oh, and don't forget to order the book here

I promise you'll find it full of great tips and inspiring stories.

 

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