Woman's system keeps college prep on course
Union-Tribune 5/3/07
The 56-year-old Escondido resident said she realized a few years ago that high school students need a tool to equip them for more effective college planning. In January, Staley launched a product called College Filer to give teens and their parents the means to streamline the process.
College Filer is a system of information tabs, timelines, templates and worksheets that illuminate the actions students must take throughout high school to get into college. The system also provides teens with checklists of materials students should retain, such as awards and essays, starting in the ninth grade.
“It gives students proactive steps to stay on task to have optimal college choices by their senior year,” Staley said.
Although Staley doesn't have kids, she said she realized there was a need for her product while working as a community service coordinator at a nonprofit agency in Escondido.
Staley learned that students had to volunteer to meet college application requirements, as well as complete a number of tasks by their senior year to qualify to apply.
“I found that parents were always asking if there was something they should be doing to help their children succeed to get into college,” she said. “Parents have told me that (College Filer) just demystifies the whole college planning process for them.”
Escondido resident Bunmi Peters said her daughter has used College Filer since the beginning of the school year and both of her sons will use it in the future.
“It's a good product because it gives you deadlines. When kids are going to college, you've got all of these things to do and you're going every which way,” Peters said. “Moms and dads should consider investing in it because it makes the college process less stressful.”
Diane Morgan of Escondido bought College Filer for her son Tyler, who is a sophomore. She, too, praised the product.
Morgan said it not only keeps Tyler organized but also provides a visual example of things he needs to work on more. She explained that if one folder, such as community service accomplishments, doesn't look as full as the others, then Tyler can see that he is lacking in that area.
College Filer is a simple guide that parents and their kids can use instead of researching online or buying books about college preperation, Morgan said.
“It's like having a tax planner when you're doing your taxes,” she said. “I've recommended it to a host of people.”
College Filer costs $49.95 and is available only by calling Staley, but a Web site is under construction. Staley said she hopes College Filer eventually will be available in stores across the nation.
This is the first product that Staley has created. She never thought she would invent anything.
“That is the beauty of it. The excitement of taking the seed of an idea to a drawing on a piece of paper to finally the finished product. It's really just a blessing,” Staley said.