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5 Ways to Make Your College Summer Break Productive

MovingInsider — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 11:02:43 +0000

After a full academic year of intense study, and one last push through final exams, most college students can’t wait for summer break. Thoughts of days that don’t require study, fun with family and friends, and perhaps, plans for travel fill the minds of those ready for a few months of relaxation. Of course, there is nothing wrong with a college student spending the summer months idle; however, it’s possible to make a college summer break an industrious time—full of productivity. Here are five great ways you can maximize the value of your summer break:

Land a solid internship that is worth its weight in gold.

With the economy continuing in "recovery" mode and persistently high unemployment rates, recent college graduates have encountered difficulties in getting hired due to a lack of experience. Landing an internship in a field related to your major or career aspiration may separate you from the pack. In some cases, after graduation, the company may even offer you a full-time position.

Donate your time to enhance the lives of others.

Charitable organizations are always looking for positive and energetic individuals to contribute their time and talents. Giving your time to a charity will likely be a part-time commitment where you can still make a noteworthy impact in the lives of others, and gain experience working with an organization. Further, it can be a place where you can develop useful contacts; most non-profit advisory boards are full of individuals who are well-connected in the business world.

Earn some extra cash while gaining work experience.

Search for seasonal job options that can provide a respectable source of income for the summer months. You will gain valuable work experience that may benefit you when it comes time for your post-graduation job search; plus, saving these earnings can provide you with cash reserves that could be used as a recreational fund for the next academic year.

Conduct research now to make your life better later.

Many college graduates will be responsible for paying back varying amounts of student loans. According to a report from the Institute for College Access & Success' Project on Student Debt, the average college senior will graduate with nearly $27,000 in debt. By reaching out to your school’s financial aid office and embarking on a thorough research quest, you might be able to lower the expected amount owed. Each year, new grants, programs and scholarship opportunities are being offered. It’s very possible that you could lower your student loan amounts with research and diligence.

Take on the project you’ve been putting off.

The school year likely keeps your schedule full, leaving you little time to focus on the activities, projects, and hobbies that enrich you as a person. The focus of your college experience is to grow academically, but also flourish personally. Use the break from full schedules and studying to put in some hours with your favorite activity or overdue task. Maybe this means spending the time on your bicycle checking out some new trails, or getting your dorm room organized (with a system in place to keep it that way). Make a list of all of the things you put off when school is in session and select a few that will improve your life. However you choose to spend your college summer break, make it something that is meaningful and beneficial to you. Once you move back to campus in the fall, you’ll be refreshed and ready for the semester. As you graduate and enter the job market, the chance that you will have such a significant span of time to focus may become slimmer. Take full advantage of your final years of college by seeking treasured experiences that you will never forget. What is your favorite productive way to spend college break? Have you done any of these activities over your summer break? Let us know below in the comments section. This post comes from the editors at Movinginsider.com; your resource for everything related to moving, storage and organization. Recommended by the editors:

3 Tips for Making the Most Out of a College Visit

MovingInsider — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 12:30:32 +0000

College is a big deal. All the years of academic study, from grade school through high school, will culminate with your acceptance into college. It’s a place where you’ll live and become educated at the highest level for four years, totaling nearly $90,000 (for the average in-state public college), according to a College Board report out last October. The goal, of course, is for you to leave fully equipped with everything you need to pursue a successful career in your area of study. If you really take a moment to contemplate the magnitude of this commitment—four years, $90k in college savings, preparation for the rest of your life— then it’s clear why selecting the right college likely will be the most significant decision of your young life. At this point, you’ve probably carefully reviewed the program and campus information online, and read all the informational pieces sent to your home. Now, you are ready to enter the final stage—the campus visit. Here are three tips that can help you make the most out of your college visit.

Schedule Your Visit Like a Pro.

Advance planning is important. Why? Well, in addition to reserving a campus tour, you also should arrange for several other engagements. For instance, it is recommended that you meet with an admissions officer and professor in your area of interest, attend a lecture, participate in a student club activity and perhaps even spend the night in campus housing. The best time to schedule your visit is when classes are in session, and the campus is bustling with activity. This will give you the most authentic taste of the daily university profile.

Don’t Be Shy. Go Explore.

Standard campus tours are great for learning about the basics. But if you really want to peel back the layers and tap into true student experiences, you must venture out on your own. Hang out in a campus gathering area and ask students questions you might have about programs, campus life, extracurricular activities, facilities, housing, summer storage, etc. Their responses will be genuine and non-scripted, providing you with great insider information. After speaking with students, continue to explore your surroundings: Eat in the dining hall, visit facilities/buildings you weren't shown during the general tour, read bulletin boards and the school newspaper, attend an on-campus event and also make sure to check out the area just outside the campus perimeter.

Create a Campus Portrait.

It’s also a good idea to create a record of your trip. The easiest way to do this, of course, is by taking pictures. Snap photos of anything and everything that interests you. This will help you recall the sights and activities of your trip with complete accuracy. Also, carry a small notepad (or use the note application in your phone) so you can write down your thoughts during your tour, the responses of students, or any lingering questions you would like answered before you leave. After visiting several campuses, you will have a nice collection of photos and recorded thoughts, allowing you to effectively compare your college visits. Attending college is a cherished opportunity, valued privilege and a worthy responsibility. Many people say their college years were some of the best of their lives, a time when they experienced fundamental self-discovery, made lifelong friends, and built the beginnings of what would become their future careers. You should now be prepared to make the most out of your college visits. Before you know it, you will be packing for college and setting out to have the time of your life. This post is brought to you by the editors of MovingInsider blog, the DIY Experts in moving, storage and organization. Recommended by the editors:

How to Go to College for Less

Sue — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 12:00:07 +0000

Outside-the-box strategies for saving money on college.

As the mother of two teenagers, news of rapidly increasing college tuition and the threat of high interest rates on student loans have me thinking about how to afford to pay for their education. Juggling the costs of a mortgage, a car payment, the needs of two growing children and various other expenses makes it hard to save for college, too. I don’t want my kids to start their young adult lives with a large burden of debt, and I also don’t want them to have to pay more than they have to as they strive for that all-important university diploma. After doing some research, here are some outside-the-box ideas on how to go to college for less:

Keep an open mind about private vs. state schools

Private schools seem synonymous with expensive tuition, so I thought they may be out of the question – but that’s not necessarily the case. Kevin Campbell, president of College Planning Authority, a college planning company based inTexas, says shying away from private schools because of the sticker price could be a mistake. “If you have a high-performing student who can get into the higher-end schools, they often have excellent financial aid,” he says. “We often send students to private schools for the same or less than a state school.” In comparing financial aid packages, be sure to ask if the aid is renewable or has any grade-point average requirements so you won’t be caught off guard later on. On the other hand, Zac Bissonnette, author of “Debt-Free U: How I Paid for an Outstanding College Education Without Loans, Scholarships, or Mooching off My Parents,” says students are most likely to get merit-based aid at schools where they’re in the top 10 percent of the incoming class, which some students wouldn’t want to attend. “If you get into a school that’s sort of a reach for you academically, you’re not going to get much merit aid,” he says. “For most families, the best thing to do will be to pick an affordable, in-state college.”

Consider studying outside of the United States

As tough as it might be to consider being an ocean away from one of my kids for four years, it could be a good way to reduce college expenses. Since college tuition in this country has risen faster than in other parts of the world, some students now choose to attend college in places likeEngland,ScotlandorCanada. “Particularly for students looking at international business, I think it starts to make a lot of sense,” saysCampbell. But, he adds, it might not be the best option if your student’s chosen career requires professional certification in theUnited States. “For instance, if you’re an engineering student, make sure the licensing agency will accept your education from out of the country.” Plus, if you want to be able to visit often or fly home for Christmas, Bissonnette cautions that travel costs back and forth could also add up quickly while attending school in another country.

Lower your expected family contribution (EFC)

Your EFC is calculated based on your answers to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, and deducted from the cost of attendance at a given school. If the COA exceeds your EFC, then your student is considered to have financial need, which could boost eligibility for grants, loans and scholarships. Campbell suggests using an online EFC calculator or working with a college planner who can explain “what assets count against you and which ones don’t.” For instance, investing in a qualified retirement account such as an IRA or 401(k) could lower your EFC, as could having more than one student in college at the same time.

Graduate Early

Spending less time in college can reduce the cost – so it may be worth encouraging your kids to do what they can to earn university credits before they even graduate high school. According to theNationalCenterfor Education Statistics, the median time it took for 2008 bachelor’s degree recipients to graduate was just over four years. Almost a third of first-time bachelor’s degree recipients took 49 to 72 months to complete their degrees, so graduating early (or at least on time) could help save money. “One of the ways to graduate early is to take summer classes through your local community college and transfer those credits,” suggests Bissonnette. Earning Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate credits during high school can also help, depending on the college’s policies. Taking fewer credits each semester might allow your student to work his or her way through school and spread out the tuition burden, but unless they’re living at home, room and board could still account for a large portion of college costs. So, while heading off to college will undoubtedly come with a large price tag, taking a unique approach to funding your kids’ college education could reduce the debt load they have to pay back once they’ve got their diplomas in hand. Are you planning for your child’s education – or your own? Visit myallstatefinancial.com for information on starting a college savings account.

Recommended by the Editor:

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5 Tips to Manage Student Loan Debt

Lindsey — Wed, 26 Dec 2012 12:00:27 +0000

College was a great time in my life – but as the excitement of graduation neared, my student loan debt loomed. I owed tens of thousands of dollars for my education; would I be able to afford to pay a monthly bill of hundreds of dollars each month? Would I ever be able to pay it all back? Lots of young adults are in the same boat. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 2011 graduates with student loans owed an average of $23,300—quite a significant sum, especially at such a young age. For many young people, that debt causes a lot of stress, which can affect their physical and psychological health, too. “Money is one of the biggest sources of stress for Americans. And when you’re young, it’s really easy to want to spend your money on pleasurable things and not commit to the things that aren’t as fun, like paying back student loans,” says Eve Adamson, author of 365 Ways to Reduce Stress. Luckily, I was able to find a good job after graduation, but even with a steady income, juggling living expenses and student loan debt can be tricky. When my younger sister graduates from college next year, I will be able to pass on some advice.

Budget

The first step you need to take is to put yourself on a budget. The more money you can sock away each month, the more you’ll have to pay off your student loan debt. Here are some other steps from The Project on Student Debt that helped me manage my student loan debt:

Organize

Keep track of your loans. Be aware of how much money you owe. It’s important to keep track of the lender, balance and repayment status for each of your student loans. That way, you can stay on top of your debt and follow the repayment schedule you established for each loan. You can keep track of your federal loans with the National Student Loan Data System for Students. For your private loans, keep a copy of all the paperwork you receive. Also be aware of the grace period on each of your student loans, so that you can make payments on time. To get an idea of how long it’s going to take to pay off your student loans, use a student loan calculator.

Communicate

Communicate with your lender. It’s important to maintain a dialogue with each of your lenders about your student loans. Part of the lender’s role is to help you establish an executable plan to pay off your loan. That means you should be working with your lender—not against—to pay off the debt. Be upfront about issues that you encounter, and your lender should help you reach a solution and avoid defaulting on your loan. Defaulting, which occurs after you fail to make payments for nine months, can ding your credit score and cause the total amount of money you owe to increase dramatically.

Adjust

Adjust your repayment plan, if needed. Most student loans come with a standard 10-year repayment plan. If you don’t think you’ll be able to pay off the loan in that time frame, discuss alternative options with your lender. One potential solution for federal loans is adopting an Income-Based Repayment plan, which takes your income into consideration and can help make sure your loan payments will cost less than 10 percent of your income. Enrolling in an IBR plan can also mean that any remaining debt, after 25 years of qualifying payments, is forgiven. Talk to your lender to see if this is an option for you.

Prioritize

Start with the most expensive loans. Prioritize and pay off your most expensive loans first. That means starting with the loan that carries the highest interest rate (most likely, it’ll be one of your private student loans). Paying off this loan first will enable you to minimize the total interest you’ll have to pay off over time. So, while the process of paying off your student loans can seem endless, making a plan can make it seem more manageable. How are you handling paying off your student loans? Share your ideas in the comments below. Recommended by the Editor: 3 Ways to Get More from a College Education Saving for College: Where Do You Start? 11 Easy Ways to Get Poor 7 Ways to Stay Motivated As You Get Out of Debt

Concerned About Paying for College? Take Action!

Brendan — Mon, 26 Nov 2012 19:42:52 +0000

Many Chicago parents share a dream of seeing their children attend college and receive a quality education that can help set the foundation for a successful career. But some fear that paying for college will be difficult. "The important part is that parents do something," says Sedrik Newbern, a Libertyville-based Allstate Insurance agent. There are many college savings programs available from various sources that can help develop a savings plan tailored specifically to your situation. There are Illinois-specific 529 savings plans, as well as all sorts of grants, financial aid plans and even life insurance packages that provide college-funding options. The issue for many parents is choosing a strategy and taking action. “I recommend to just do something. Sometimes there's this 'analysis by paralysis'," Newbern says. "[Have] a conversation with your insurance agent or financial specialist to figure out ways that you can accumulate money in a way that doesn't put much of a tax burden on you and allows you to grow your money, so when your child is of college age, you’ll have money to pay for it.” Newbern admits that while having a plan in place and taking action is important, the dramatic increases in the cost of college may be exceeding the amount of assistance available through traditional financial aid vehicles. Costs Are on the Rise Last October, The Washington Post reported that financial aid is not keeping pace with the rising cost of college, citing a study by the College Board Advocacy and Policy Center. According to the story, the cost of college has risen faster than inflation for some time, and “Many states have slashed funding for higher education. The [College Board] report found state appropriations per student dropped 10 percent in 2011-12, a fourth straight year of decline.” According to a Wall Street Journal report on the same topic, The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's 2012 tuition and fees were $14,522 for residents in 2012, which amounts to a 47 percent increase since 2006. That said, parents must still find ways to pay for their child’s education, because as Newbern says, “Not all kids are scholars or athletes and they won’t be eligible for scholarships. Who knows what options will be available or what those options will look like in 10 years.” Quotes for Education Which is precisely where companies like Allstate can--and do--step in. Since 2008, Allstate has offered its Quotes for Education program that is designed to help students of historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) finance their education. Working with partners such as the Tom Joyner Foundation, the UNCF (United Negro College Fund) and the Thurgood Marshall Foundation, the program has provided consumers a quick and easy way to support HBCU students. This year, the Quotes for Education program raised $141,120 for The Tom Joyner Foundation to support HBCU students. These donations help form the Allstate/Tom Joyner Foundation Scholarship, which is awarded to financially in-need HBCU students each year. [CTA: agent for college savings plan]

3 Must-Know Dorm Room Security and Fire Safety Tips

Frank Rivera, ADT — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 11:00:09 +0000

Safety in the dorm room may not be the first thought on a new college student’s mind, but as a parent it should be your main concern. While dormitories are a great place to meet new friends and socialize, they can also be dangerous if the proper precautions aren’t taken. With a solid security plan and some safeguards in place, you can prepare your child to stay safe in their home away from home.

Have a Personal Security Plan

Every college has campus security and you should make sure your child knows exactly how to get in touch with them. Most schools offer orientation and guided tours of the campus. With a personal security plan in mind, make this a perfect opportunity to discover the fastest routes to the security office and to make sure you get the correct emergency numbers to dial. Once your child knows their schedule, it’s very important that they share that information with you and someone they really trust as part of the security plan. Planning different walking routes between classes and their dorm is a great way to protect your child from being followed. Security awareness is crucial. Dorm rooms have a lot of visitor traffic. Explain to your child that if they feel unsafe or see anything suspicious happening, it is better for them to contact campus security immediately rather than let the issue go on.

Doom Room Security Products

Freshmen don’t always have the luxury of knowing who they will be rooming with. In order to protect against this uncertainty you may need some dorm room security products such as room safes, insurance, and laptop locks to keep your things safe. Room safes can be as inconspicuous as a book or can blend in to a drawer without notice. Locking up jewelry, checkbooks, and other valuables when not around can deter would-be snatch and grab thieves. If your student is a musician or has expensive jewelry or sporting equipment, insurance can help recover the value of stolen or destroyed items and costs much less than replacing them yourself. Valuables that don’t fit in a safe or are uninsurable could benefit from something as simple as labeling. Labeled items help solve ownership disputes and act as a simple but effective theft deterrent.

Fire Safety

Accidents in crowded dorms can often lead to fire mishaps. Smoke alarms should be working and checked regularly. Hairdryers, curling irons and straighteners should be unplugged when not in use and should never be left unattended. In some older buildings, replacing high wattage light bulbs with energy efficient or lower wattage light bulbs can prevent overheating and fire. Candles can be the most dangerous item in a dorm room. A lot of colleges do not allow the use of candles in dorm rooms but for those that do, watch and wait for an extra second or two to ensure that the blown out candle doesn’t reignite. Extinguish all flames when not in the room or before going to bed. Some simple, common-sense fire safety precautions can keep everyone safe from common accidents. We can never be 100 percent certain that our kids will be safe in the dorm room, but with proper planning and the right conversations, we can ensure they will have the tools for basic safety when away at school.

Frank Rivera is the director of digital marketing for ADT Security Systems.

Photo courtesy of collegelifestyles.org

How Safe Are School Buses?

Melissa — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 11:00:05 +0000

Just how safe is your child’s school bus? In mid-March, a Pennsylvania school bus and tractor-trailer collided, killing the truck driver and injuring more than a dozen students. The accident happened the same day that a school bus overturned on a highway in Washington, sending three students to the hospital in critical condition while injuring dozens more. Now, many parents across the country are questioning school bus safety rules – and asking, "Where are the seat belts?" According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), school buses are the "safest method" for transporting children to school. But what exactly does that superlative really mean? NHTSA cites accident statistics that show school buses have a fatality rate of 0.2 per every 100 million miles traveled, compared with 1.5 for passenger cars. In fact, out of the 24 million children that rode school buses in 2002, there were only four fatalities. In comparison, 800 children die each year in a passenger vehicle during normal school transportation hours. What makes these buses so safe?

Out of the 24 million children that rode school buses in 2002, there were only four fatalities.

School buses are designed like an egg carton. Seats are placed closely together, solidly anchored to the bus floor and well-padded. In the event of a front-impact accident, the seat absorbs the impact, evenly distributing the impact over a child’s upper torso. One would think adding seat belts could only increase the safety of school buses, right? Michael Martin, the executive director of the National Association for Pupil Transportation, says that seat belts may actually pose a threat to children’s safety on a school bus. Martin has said that children wearing seat belts during a school bus crash suffer from "lap belt syndrome" injuries. "If the child is wearing a lap belt, the child is hinged at the waist (and) the upper torso gets whipped forward and the vast majority of the impact is absorbed by the head," says Martin. Younger children are especially vulnerable, since a disproportionate amount of their weight is carried in their heads and upper bodies. But school bus safety advocates argue that NHTSA's statistics are outdated and only half the story. According to the National Coalition for School Bus Safety, most crashes are side-impact or rollover accidents, when a seat belt restraint could potentially save a child’s life. Martin disagrees. Citing lap belt syndrome, Martin argues, "The federal government has done research that a student is probably at greater risk wearing a belt in a side-impact crash than if not wearing one." Martin contends that many children are likely to wear a seat belt incorrectly – such as a child who purposely slips off the shoulder strap – which could do more harm than good. So, who decides whether seat belts are required on school buses? Like many educational issues, the federal government leaves this one to the states and individual school districts. Adding seat belts to buses is expensive, and for school districts that are already strapped for cash, spending money on seat belts rather than hiring teachers or purchasing new classroom resources just doesn’t make financial sense.

School Carpool Lanes Can Be a Danger Zone

Kristin Varela, Cars.com — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:07:30 +0000

Doing the math, I’m surprised by how many times I’ve driven through my kids’ school carpool lane: two to three times per day for the past nine years. And, in that time, the amount of disregard that I’ve seen parents have for the safety of their child passengers while under the perceived safety net of the school zone is shocking. I regularly see parents allowing their kids to unbuckle from their child-safety seats, hang their bodies out of the car window and wave to their friends or stand out of the sunroof to greet their buddies. I’ve even seen one child sitting on mom’s lap “helping” her steer through the school’s parking lot. Can you imagine what would happen if that mom were rear-ended, causing the airbag to deploy while her daughter was on her lap? I would hope that common sense tells most of us that if the car is moving — even at a stop-and-go rate — there’s a danger of getting into a collision. All the safety rules that we follow while going 70 mph down the highway should also apply to the school zone or carpool lane. Unfortunately, that common sense is escaping many of us. A distracted driving study by SafeKids USA observed drivers in 20 active school zones across 15 states, including my own state of Colorado.

School zones with a lowered speed limit showed a higher percentage of distracted drivers compared with school zones without a lowered speed limit.

The study found that one in six drivers was distracted, and by a variety of activities:

Using cell phones and electronics
Eating, drinking and smoking
Reaching or looking behind
Grooming
Reading

In the study, school zones with a lowered speed limit showed a higher percentage of distracted drivers compared with school zones without a lowered speed limit. This supports my experience: the idea that some parents think pulling through the carpool lane slowly is a license to loosen up usually sharp judgment.

This school zone safety study didn’t account for other distraction factors, such as our emotional and mental state (flustered after your hubby just called to tell you he’s running late and will miss the science fair this year … again?) or cognitive distractions, such as listening to the radio, or trying to ignore an irrational toddler in the backseat.

According to an Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study in 1995, 18 percent of crashes in urban areas occurred when a vehicle that was stopped, or in the process of stopping, was struck from the rear. Unfortunately, school zones and carpool lanes are not immune to this statistic.

For parents to think their kids are invincible while pulling through carpool lane — and slacking off on all the normal safety rules we'd implement in the car any other time — is a potentially deadly oversight.

Kristin Varela is the senior family editor at Cars.com.

Be Safe: Get to Know Your Crossing Guard

Brendan — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:15:00 +0000

Pedestrian accident fatalities are on the rise, and school crossing guards play a critical role in ensuring child safety. Stationed at busy intersections, crossing guards are the ultimate public safety multitaskers, juggling oncoming traffic and pedestrians with ease. Many crossing guards also keep an eye out for strangers loitering around the school, and help ensure a general safe environment for students.

Crossing guards come from all walks of life, although many are retirees who enjoy the excitement of serving as a part-time guard. If you’re a grandparent, there’s no better way to spend time with your grandkids and get to know their friends than safely guiding them to and from school each day. Spending time outside in the fresh air also makes part-time work as a crossing guard a popular choice, especially in a sunshine state like Florida.

The Duties

Most crossing guards serve two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon, depending on the school district’s hours. Guards typically receive compensation for their hard work ($25 to $35 per day, on average), and some may even receive retirement benefits depending on the number of years served. Crossing guard assignments vary based on the state, but assignments are normally busy intersections. These intersections see at least 40 school pedestrians or more in a two-hour period. Guards need to be in good physical shape, and be capable of standing for up to two hours at a time. Guards wear a reflective vest, carry a stop sign, stand in the middle of the intersection, and safely escort children across the street. The biggest challenge faced by a crossing guard is the inclement weather. From thunderstorms to snowstorms, crossing guards work in all weather conditions to protect children’s safety. Some even give a hand to stranded motorists, helping to push stalled cars to the nearest gas station. As any crossing guard will tell you, there’s never a dull day on the job.

Making the Grade

Think you’re up for the challenge of serving as a crossing guard? Becoming a crossing guard may require a background investigation, pre-employment drug screening, and the successful completion of a polygraph test, depending on state regulations. Candidates will also likely need to complete a crossing guard training course, depending on state requirements. For example, Florida residents will need to complete an eight-hour crossing guard and child safety course from the Florida Department of Transportation. This course includes six hours of classroom instruction and two hours of field training. The course is designed to help crossing guards become familiar with standard safety protocol and gain real-world experience. Other states, such as California, provide training through the local police department. What is the best part of the job? According to Anne, a crossing guard in Palm Beach, it’s receiving a big hug from students at the end of the day. Nothing beats a heartwarming hug as a “thank you” for a job well done.

Carpooling 101

P. Reyhan — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 21:48:37 +0000

Being a mother, the dangers of driving are much more real to me. When I put that kind of responsibility in someone else's hands, my worries multiply tenfold. Following these tips helps to settle the butterflies in my stomach when I see someone drive off with my children in their care.

In the Beginning

Meet the Moms - If you don't already know the other childrens' parent(s), organize a playdate where the kids can have fun while you and the other potential carpooling parents can get to know one another.
Calendar is King - In order to maintain your role as carpool mom, everything should be written on the family calendar. In addition, there are online tools for actually setting up a carpool in the first place.

Carpool Etiquette

Be respectful of other people's time - Your kids, other kids and other parents are counting on you. Make sure you’re on time.
Accept differing parenting styles - Every individual has his or her own view on what it means to be a good parent. As long as the kids are safe, chances are you'll have to make some adjustments to keep the peace.
Let your kids be their own diplomats - You can (and should) establish ground rules for your car, but it's not always easy to enforce them. Children can learn valuable skills about negotiating their own quarrels if you give them the chance.

Master the Details

Information - Maintain an emergency contact sheet with names and phone numbers, but also include things like food allergies and any other quirks for each kid.
Work with the system - Schools have elevated transportation management to an art form. Check out your school's website or contact school administrators for rules regarding speed limits and pick-up locations.
Maintain your vehicle - This can involve more than just getting your oil changed. For example, you might not know that parents who volunteer to drive for school functions often need to meet specific insurance requirements.

Simple Safety

Seats - Booster seats are a must, and it's important that you make sure they're sized and installed correctly.
Seatbelts - Invoke the buckle-up brigade. There's nothing more important to car safety than buckling your seatbelt. As a parent, I know the rules, such as not sharing seatbelts and not letting kids ride in cargo areas. Make sure all the kids in your car know them as well.
Minimize distractions - Whether you're scanning the street to ensure no children are in the way, or you're making sure that all of the kids make it safely to their houses, your full attention should be on the job of carpooling every time you get behind the wheel.
No parenting while driving - Refrain from arguing, persuading or in any way trying to affect behavior unless your foot is firmly on the brake. Pull over if you need to intervene.

Have your own tips? Share them below!