Parents! Don’t Make The Mistake Of Having Your Child Face The College Admission Process Alone.

Good advice is worth repeating, great advice worth writing about. One of the recent topics of discussion in the MyCollegeCalendar message board has been about parent involvement and support with the college admission and financial aid processes. This blog posting is written to highlight and “drive home” the importance of parental support and encouragement to the success of virtually all college-bound students.

The bottom line in this discussion is the clear majority of students have too many responsibilities to effectively and efficiently complete the college admission and application processes by themselves. Parents need to help.

Examples of typical student responsibilities include:

- High school (preparing for exams, writing term papers, working on group term projects, homework, participating in leadership and other school activities, working on their senior year/graduation project, etc.).

- Commitment to extracurricular activities (continuing with community service and service clubs, working a part-time job, participating in theater, sports, school clubs, yearbook, school newspaper, etc.).

- Home duties (helping with household chores and assisting with care for younger siblings).

- Completing outstanding college application packets to optimize chances for college admission and substantial amounts of financial aid.

- Oh, and least we not forget, these students are still children trying to enjoy their youth and high school experience.

Parents can help reduce the stress and anxiety associated with the college admission and application processes and increase their child’s potential for college admission in dozens of ways. Besides providing encouragement, parents can help with scheduling events (campus visits, SAT/ACT testing, college fairs) and provide transportation to those events, help research colleges to apply to, download college application materials, drive to the post office to mail college application materials, proof read application essays, search for scholarships, monitor completion of college application requirements, be timely with parental financial aid and tax information, etc., etc., etc.

So, students ask your parent(s) for help and parents be ready and willing to help your student. A collaborative effort between college-bound students and parents is a win-win situation for everyone. For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org

No “Gobbledygook” Here. Just Clear Direction On How To Get Into College.

Yesterday’s story published in the Richmond Times Dispatch shares insights on the confusion and complexity of the college admission process. This news article shares how, “Many students and their families are not informed about the application process and the opportunities for grants and scholarships to attend college . . .” and as a result, “many do not apply.”

Further, Michael L. Lomax, president and CEO of the United Negro College Fund, agrees that the college application system is tough to navigate. As reported by the Times Dispatch, Mr. Lomax states, “It's tough to be low-income. It's tough to get a competitive education in the public school system in this country. It's a challenge to figure out the maze of higher education. It is gobbledygook."

MyCollegeCalendar’s dedicated team of professionals has recognized this situation, as well as many other inequities in the college admission process, and now provides the solution to this unrelenting problem. The solution is our free-of-charge online college admission system for 2008-2009; a system for success that truly levels the playing field for all students regardless of their personal and financial situation. Using the MyCollegeCalendar system gives extraordinary results; it provides students with edge needed to maximize the opportunity for admission to college and to earn substantial scholarships. It shows college-bound students what to do, how to do it, and when to do it, through a step-by-step easy-to-follow online system

For senior year students, using the early application schedule and associated tasks gives significant advantages over other student applicants, but regular application and critical application schedules are also provide for late-deciding students. For junior year students, the MyCollegeCalendar college planning guidance is crucial to student success.

Historically, college-bound students who have active parental and educator support successfully attain admission to their college of choice. For parents and educators, the goal should be to motivate interested students to apply to colleges and universities as well as encourage them to submit superior applications. Superior applications can be submitted by any student, regardless of their qualifications and academic achievements. Such applications are well written, clearly illustrate a consistent student theme, show a demonstrated interest in each college receiving an application, and are personalized to weave a story so college admission officers get to know the student from reading their applications. Free guidance for building superior applications is one of the key components of MyCollegeCalendar.

Students have commented on the many optional tasks presented in MyCollegeCalendar. Yes, many tasks are optional. However, optional tasks such as placing a professional cover letter on top of mailed application documents, writing an attractive student résumé and adding it to submitted application materials, securing adult advocates who will help students achieve admission to colleges of their choice, and other admission and financial aid “optional” activities, make college-bound students exceptional in the eyes of college admission officers. MyCollegeCalendar provides example documents and guidance for all of these optional tasks.

MyCollegeCalendar puts college-bound students in control of their future. It gives parents and educators a complete guidance system that is available to all students online, both at home and at school, 24/7. There’s nothing to purchase and everything to gain. We hope college-bound students and their adult advocates take advantage of this free resource.

For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org

Connect With College Professors To Increase Your Chances For Admission.

One of the goals of campus visits is to connect with college professors who will actively support your admission. If you know your college major, or have an idea of the subject you intend to focus on, schedule a meeting with professors who teach a class in that major or subject. Holding intelligent, informed conversations with college professors will show your interest and enthusiasm and will make those professors advocates for your admission.

Collect information about your major department. Go to the department’s home page and conduct research about the faculty, department course specialties and emphases, number of students studying in that department, ongoing student research projects, etc. When you visit with professors, try to demonstrate knowledge of a few key items. Sharing knowledge about the professor’s department demonstrates great initiative and seriousness on your part. The more informed you are the more knowledgeable and “intelligent” your conversations will be. Try to understand the direction, strengths and weaknesses of the department.

Also, read professors’ résumés if they are posted online. Learn if professors you meet have specialty courses or labs they teach and if there are topics they are actively researching. You’ll leave a lasting impression if you share some facts about their specific teaching and research activities.

When visiting with professors, be confident, poised, and well spoken. Read about appropriate manners and etiquette to use.

Making a positive connection with a professor may create the influence you need to get accepted to your college of choice and to receive department scholarships. It’s the smart thing to do. For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org

The “Summer Melt” could mean more college money for you.

During summer months, some students change their mind about attending the college to which they have been accepted. This phenomena commonly is referred to as the “summer melt.” Whether a student’s change of mind is due to the realization that their family truly cannot afford the expenses of college or if they simply get “cold feet”, this late decision causes their scholarship and grant money to be released and potentially available to other students . . . students like you.

This is a good time to contact your college’s financial aid office to politely ask if any additional scholarship money has become available and that you are interested in all opportunities to help pay college expenses. It is recommended to send an e-mail or letter thanking the financial aid office for the financial aid awards they have already provided you and to ask politely about additional financial aid awards becoming available now that other students have made their decision on which school they will attend.

Be sure to mention any change in your family’s financial situation, such as a parent’s loss of employment, which may help sway your college to award you additional scholarship money.

Also, now is a good time to contact the department of your major to see about available departmental scholarships.

Contacting your college using these guidelines will take a minimum of time and effort, but could result in additional financial aid awards worth thousands of dollars. For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org