Colleges and Universities

Some services will charge you and your family $14,000 for a 4-day seminar which teaches how to apply to college or more than $30,000 for nine months of college admission “consulting.” Some college-bound students and their families pay this just so someone can hold their hand while spouting the same information and guidance available free of charge on MyCollegeCalendar.org. Pretty expensive handholding . . .

MyCollegeCalendar.org is the ONLY online system that successfully takes students through the college admission and financial aid process AND prepares students for moving to college and enrolling.

No other online system or website can make this claim . . . NO ONE! No one offers such complete and up-to-date information. No one provides an innovative calendar system for high school juniors and seniors with reminders and student-specific schedules. And NO ONE does this free of charge. Only MyCollegeCalendar.org.

So let other families make the embarrassing decision to spend a year’s tuition to have someone tell them all about all the free information and instructions on MyCollegeCalendar.org. You be the smart one to get a head start on the admission process, to put together outstanding applications and essays, and to get into college with the maximum amount to scholarships and grants without spending a dime of your own money for “how-to” instructions.

Be the one saving for college, not spending for college.

Use MyCollegeCalendar.org and get results.

Common Application

The Common Application – friend or foe?

Many students think the cure-all for the complex college application process is the Common Application. The Common Application is accepted by 346 colleges and universities and one application can be submitted to as many of these schools as a student desires. So, yes, the Common Application can make the process much easier.

HOWEVER, approximately 70% of the colleges and universities that accept the Common Application require Common Application Supplements. Supplements are additional school-specific forms, many of which require additional essays. This means the application process for some schools require additional essays and listed information beyond the essays and information required on the Common Application itself . . . some consider this “double-duty” to apply to such colleges.

So students, beware of the amount of work necessary to apply to the colleges and universities of your choice. There are no shortcuts and no quick fixes; it takes planning and hard work. Start early to avoid last minute stress and in the end, it will be soooo worth the effort. College can be the greatest experience of your life; do everything you can to get there.

MyCollegeCalendar.org guides you through the entire application and financial aid process – the guidelines show you how to create outstanding applications and meet all deadlines.

For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org.

Living On Campus

Living on campus is a rights of passage that no student (or parent) should be denied. How many of us, talk about the horrors of living on campus and what a great time we actually had? How many of us learned valuable relationship lessons, living with a roommate from hell?

When I look back on the first move in day for my college freshman, I cannot help but smile although at the time, it was one of the toughest days of my life! I had already been through 2 years of boarding school with my son, since I lived overseas, so I thought I would be prepared for this day... Nothing prepares you for this day unless you have an older child that has survived a freshman move in day.

As I sat in the lobby of his dorm, waiting for the 5pm distribution of the dorm room keys, the parents were as interesting to watch as the students. It was the parents that were in horror of the small rooms and shared baths. The kids were just excited to get that day behind them and get on with the college experience.

The college campus is the safest place for your student. The crime rates on college campuses are way below the national average. Yes, we have seen an increase of violence but the statistics still support that college campuses are safe. I firmly believe that students should be on campus where they need to be involved.

I also believe that students do not need a car at least for the first 2 years. A car takes the student off campus. If your student does have a car, I guarantee you there are many students that will not. Your student will often find themselves being the chauffeur.

Remember all students pay an activity fee. Encourage your student to take full advantage of what is offered on campus. Free time can be filled with a part time job (on campus), recreational sports, volunteer opportunities and there is always the fall back, using the time to study!

Dr. Debi Yohn
Counseling Psychologist
President/Founder of CollegeWorks101.com

Posted on MyCollegeCalendar.org – 9/19/08

The Homesick College Student

One of the worse things a parent can do is encourage their student to come home during the first semester, ESPECIALLY if they are homesick. During the times they are making plans to come home and then when they are actually home, the students on campus are getting to know each other and making friends.

If a parent is constantly on the phone with their student or chatting with them on instant messenger, they are taking time away from the student bonding with their peers. I caution parents not to allow their needs (empty nest) get in the way of the student's needs. The student needs to be learning independence from the parent.

College is much more than academics. A college student learns to live on their own, establish and practice their values and find their success. This is as important as book knowledge. This is life knowledge.

I often cite the example of a child going to camp for the first time. They are initially miserable but then, they hit their groove and have such a good time that they are in tears when camp is over. Sure, this is an adjustment but this is a necessary life experience. A parent communicates to their child through their actions that they believe in them.

A parent needs to be encouraging their student to get involved in a campus activity. They need to be getting out of the dorm and onto the campus. There are recreational sports, clubs, student activities, and volunteer opportunities. This is where they will meet that friend that will make the difference.

If a student has a real issue with being at college on their own, my recommendation is that they complete the semester. Then make a decision about the next semester after they complete their first semester. Don't be surprised if your student decides "Well... maybe one more semester is okay!" Next thing you know, you are going to graduation.

Dr. Debi Yohn
Counseling Psychologist
President/Founder of CollegeWorks101.com

Posted on MyCollegeCalendar.org – 9/16/08

Essays, essays, essays . . .

College admission essays hold the key to meeting deadlines for early applications.

Essays are the most difficult part of applications. Students must brainstorm topics, compose rough drafts for parents and teachers to proof read, make corrections to the rough drafts, re-read and make final edits to make final versions of essays as perfect as possible.

However, once student applicants complete an application essay for a particular college, they become inspired to finish the rest of the college application materials for that school. This is because the remaining application requirements are much easier than the essay itself (other requirements include submitting applications and application supplements, mailing official grade transcripts, requesting recommendations from teachers and counselors, and other tasks).

So students, get serious about composing your essays NOW. Parents – support your student so they have adequate time to write and complete their essays in the next few weeks. Students should work to complete essays and to become “inspired” to finish all required application materials. Doing so will lead to greater success and less stress and anxiety for everyone.

For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org.

Get It Together . . .

Seniors, get it together.

By now the vast majority of college-bound seniors have begun to realize the difficult road ahead for completing college admission applications. The fact is there is a lot more to do than students realize; fill out and submit multi-page applications with multiple essays, completion of application supplements to the Common Application, requesting recommendation letters, requesting and receiving official copies of grade transcripts, finalizing student résumés, and writing cover letters.

There’s a lot to applying to college, but students must realize hesitating to work on applications NOW could prove to be very expensive. This fall, students will discover many high school responsibilities and events will interfere with the completion of college applications, such as preparing for classroom tests, finishing term papers and group projects, completing senior projects, and participating in numerous social events.

Allowing high school “interferences” to delay completion of early action applications (or forcing students to wait to apply using Regular Applications with February 2009 deadlines), will not only reduce student chances for admission, but will reduce the opportunities to receive AVAILABLE SCHOLARSHIP AND GRANT MONEY.

Historically, the percentage of early applicants accepted to college is much higher than the percentage of regular applicants and, moreover, the clear majority of financial aid is awarded to early applicants. While many regular admission student applicants get accepted to colleges of their choice, far fewer receive significant scholarships and grants. By the time regular admission applicants are accepted, the majority of financial aid has been awarded to early student applicants. Scholarship and grant money may be gone by the time regular applications are received.

So students, get it together and work through your high school responsibilities to start working on college applications NOW. Don’t reduce your chances to receive substantial scholarships and grants by waiting too long. For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org.

Dottie Sterling
MyCollegeCalendar.org Advisor

Use Your Student Resume To Gain College Admission and Win Scholarships.

Students - seize every possible advantage to put yourself ahead of other college applicants. It is common knowledge that competition for college admission and scholarships is tough and one way to take the lead to earn both is to create a professional student résumé.

Writing a student résumé shows you are willing to go beyond the required application materials to demonstrate the initiative that college admission officers like to see. Your résumé will allow you to present yourself in the best possible manner; you can emphasize your strengths, highlight your accomplishments and present your information in the order that best shows your college potential and overall personality. On college applications, you are forced to complete information as it is displayed on the application form, while résumés give you the freedom to best present your accomplishments and to shine in the eyes of college admission officers.

Use your student résumé to the greatest extent possible. How? Here are some examples:

- Provide a copy of your student résumé to each adult writing recommendations on your behalf. This way they can write outstanding recommendations by using some important details shown on your résumé.

- Include a copy of your résumé in the packet of application materials you mail to each college. It gives your application packet an extra “punch” to show you are a serious college applicant.

- Provide a copy to each college representative with whom you interview. It gives you a “Wow!” factor in the eyes of representatives.

- Include a copy with each scholarship application you submit. Competition is high for available free money; including a résumé puts you ahead of other scholarship applicants.

- Keep extra copies in your filing systems so on a moment’s notice you can pull a copy or print an updated copy. You never know when an opportunity will arise to share your accomplishments with someone who can help you get accepted to your top choice college or influence scholarship sponsors.

In summary, writing a outstanding student résumé demonstrates your drive and enthusiasm to college representatives and scholarship sponsors. A well-written résumé creates the advantage you may need to gain admission to your college of choice and to win significant scholarships. For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org .

Is Your Student A Procrastinator?

A student does not start procrastination in college; this has been a life style that has been reinforced through out their life. This could be a family culture, role modeling of parents, or a personality type. If a child has been allowed to procrastinate with no consequences, there has never been a reason for them to work on this issue. Procrastination has worked for them although I guarantee you, it has caused them aggravation.

Usually helicopter parenting reinforces this type of behavior. If the student doesn’t do it, the parent swoops in at the last minutes and saves the day. They may give the kid a hard time but the kid is prepared to accept the grief because they know it will be done and probably done well by the parent. They have never felt any consequence to their actions. Very simply, this is how we learn to do things different.

How can you have one child that is focused and organized, and another that is a procrastinator? There are personality types that are more prone to procrastination. This is no excuse. Procrastination takes a lot of energy; it affects relationships, and the procrastinator often feels bad about themselves.

Can procrastination be improved? Yes, but it takes effort. Systems need to be put in place and there are many systems out there. Mycollegecalendar.org is just that sort of tool. The worse thing to do is just accept it. This is rewarding bad behavior. Don’t buy your student another day planner, keep it simple and uncluttered.

Dr. Debi Yohn
Counseling Psychologist
President/Founder of CollegeWorks101.com

Parents. Do The Simple Application Tasks.

Parents – if your son or daughter is a high school senior applying to college this fall, plan to help them by doing the simple, time consuming application tasks.

Senior year students will be so busy this year that their time MUST be spent on the important parts of college applications. You, the parent, should help your student by assisting with what I call the “tedious but necessary” tasks. These tasks include writing required information on paper draft copy college applications (i.e., personal data, address information, family household data, name and address of current high school, etc.), typing student name and address on the top portion of recommendation forms, mailing application materials via U.S. registered mail, and much, much more.

By far, the most important part of applications on which students should focus their efforts is the essays (both the long- and short-length application essays). Essays must be the original, creative, captivate reader’s interest, and (ideally) support the student theme; all of this takes time, lots of time.

Parents alleviating their son/daughter from the burden of completing the “tedious but necessary” tasks provide their student the advantage of extra time to write superior essays and complete all application tasks in a timely manner with less personal stress.

Parents should help their son or daughter and watch their success in taking action to plan and apply for their dream of attending their favorite four year college or university. For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org

College Applications . . . Apply Early Or Else!

This fall, apply to colleges and universities using one of three types of early applications or else you may lose some real significant advantages. But BEWARE, there are some pitfalls.

The main advantages for applying early are increased chances for admission and increased odds for receiving substantial financial aid awards (deadlines for early applications typically are between October 15 and November 30). There are other advantages, too.

1. The best type of early application for students in need of financial aid is Early Application (often called Multiple-Choice Early Action):

a. Under Early Application, student applicants are more likely to be accepted because colleges have higher admission rates for early applicants. A side benefit of applying Early Application is if students are not accepted to the colleges they applied to, they still have adequate time to apply to other colleges and universities under the Regular Application process.

b. Colleges and universities award scholarships and grants from “pools” of financial aid on a first-come, first-served basis. Applying early substantially increases students’ eligibility to receive merit-based scholarships, and to a lesser extent, increases the odds of receiving need-based scholarships and grants.

c. Students receive decisions from colleges about their admission status early (before the December holidays), but do not have to commit to attend college before May 1. This gives students plenty of time to compare college characteristics and financial aid offers before committing to attend a particular college. In effect, this allows students to “shop” for colleges.

d. Under Early Application, even when students apply to a college (or are accepted to a college), they remain free to apply to any other college and university using any admission processes (Early, Regular, Rolling or Late).

e. As mentioned above, under Early Application, applications typically are due October 15 – November 30, but students are not required to commit to attending a specific college until May 1.


2. Single-Choice Early Action has the same advantages as Early Application BUT students are allowed to apply to only one school using early applications. In other words, students are prevented from applying to other schools using any type of early application, either Early Application, Single-Choice Early Action, or Early Decision. Because students are forbidden to submit early applications to more than one school under Single-Choice Early Action, the chances for acceptance to other schools is reduced because they can only apply to other schools using Regular, Rolling or Late applications.


3. Early Decision is the last type of early application process. The advantages of Early Decision are students are more likely to be accepted because colleges have higher admission rates for Early Decision applicants. An additional advantage is students find out early if they’re accepted (college decision letters/e-mails are sent to students between December 1 and 15). HOWEVER, students are permitted to apply to one and only one college or university and if accepted, they are legally bound to attend that school BEFORE ANY FINANCIAL AID IS AWARDED (students may receive financial aid, but they must accept admission before any aid is awarded). Again, students are forbidden to apply to all other schools. Early Decision applications are recommended only for student applicants with incredibly strong qualifications who possess a very strong desire to attend their top choice college and have only a slight or non-existent need for financial aid.

All colleges and universities offer one of these three options for applying early. The advantages and main disadvantages of each type are presented here; make sure your colleges offer the application option best for you.

But whatever you do, APPLY EARLY! For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org