Don’t Be One Of The People Who Just Won’t Listen.

Last year I wrote about how parents of college-bound students are reacting to tough economic times by allowing their son/daughter to only apply to public colleges and universities (with lower tuition costs). My reaction to this was, “What a mistake.”

It was (and still is) a mistake because parents and students fail to recognize that college-bound students with excellent grades and decent SAT/ACT scores often earn enough money in scholarships and grants from private colleges and universities that it turns out to be cheaper to attend a private institution. This is because private colleges and universities give generous amounts of “free money” (scholarships and grants), while public State universities give very little.

This mistake of only considering the cost of tuition when applying to college continued into this academic year. On May 24, 2010, The Chronicle of Higher Education wrote about a 2009-2010 survey which uncovered how, “A majority of students and their parents have ruled out colleges based solely on published sticker prices without considering how much financial aid they might receive . . . “ and how “. . . many families make college choices without accurate or sufficient information. Fifty-nine percent of students said they had looked only at the sticker prices (for college tuition).”

High school students who will be filling out college applications this fall should avoid this mistake by following an appropriate strategy to prepare for next fall’s admission process. This includes applying to seven to ten colleges/universities, both private and public institutions.

Regardless of a family’s financial situation, students, and especially parents, should LISTEN to the words of wisdom given by this writing and the writings of college admission experts everywhere: No one should rule out applying to private schools based on their “sticker price.” The best strategy is to apply to several schools, including both public and private.

For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org.

RSVP For College Letters of Recommendation

Before leaving high school for the summer, college-bound juniors should approach teachers and counselor(s) regarding letters of recommendation for college applications. Students should talk with their teachers and counselor(s) to ask if they are able to write STRONG letters of recommendation next fall; asking now is the courteous thing to do and shows a student’s maturity and the ability to plan ahead.

Furthermore, asking for recommendations now impresses adult recommenders and helps to ensure the letters they write will be superior.

Students should ask teachers and counselor(s) who know them and their excellent academic work. These adult recommenders should know students well enough to write about their best qualities, achievements, talents, and abilities.

While most college application packets don’t include a “standard” letter of recommendation and use either a school-specific paper recommendation form or electronic submittal of a recommendation letter, giving teachers and counselor(s) the option to compose a letter of recommendation over summer will be appreciated. Recommenders can compose a letter over the next three months that can be attached easily to paper recommendation forms or copied and pasted into electronic forms used by the Common Application and Universal Application.

My advice for juniors is to demonstrate courtesy, maturity, and ability to plan ahead by asking for letters of recommendation before leaving school for the summer.

For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org.

Save Your Best Papers and Reports From This Year

High school juniors should save their best papers, essays, and reports from this year. This is because some colleges and universities REQUIRE submittal of graded writing samples from high school junior or senior years with college applications. It is strongly recommended students apply for college early, in October and November of their senior year, and there may not be ample opportunity to write an outstanding paper next fall before applying to college. Therefore, it is best for high school juniors to play it safe and save samples of their best work from this academic year.

An example of this graded writing sample requirement is taken from Scripps College in southern California. Scripps requires submittal of a graded, analytical writing assignment from student’s junior or senior year, preferably 3-to-7 pages in length. This paper is must be “analytical”; it should make an argument or analyze an issue or work of literature and is not creative, nor is it primarily descriptive.

In summary, juniors should save all “A” graded writing assignments (essays, term papers, laboratory projects, and any other top graded paper) from this year just in case one of their colleges requires submittal of a particular type of writing assignment with the college application.

For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org.

The Importance of Staying On Schedule When Preparing For College

A study recently completed by a Stanford University doctoral student stresses the importance of timely completion of key steps in the college preparation and application processes and how timeliness is crucial to the success of college-bound students. In addition, the study emphasizes the importance of how, “. . . students need to stick to a fairly rigid timetable in doing what is necessary to enroll in a four-year college. The importance of their staying on schedule . . . is not given enough attention . . ."

The study, summarized in The Chronicle of Higher Education on May 3, 2010, is authored by Daniel Klasik, a doctoral student in education at Stanford University and an employee at Stanford’s Institute for Research on Educational Policy and Practice.

While there may not be “enough attention” given to students staying on schedule to complete college preparation and application tasks, one resource stands out as the provider of comprehensive schedules for all college-admission-related tasks for high school freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors and their parents. That resource is MyCollegeCalendar.org.

MyCollegeCalendar.org not only provides comprehensive schedules, but also “how-to” instructions, internet links, example documents, and a search engine dedicated to college admission and financial aid topics. Junior and senior year high school students are provided with a detailed 30-day calendar showing all pertinent tasks and deadlines, as well as a Task Manager application that allows students and parents to easily see upcoming tasks (both recommended and personal tasks) that can be marked as “complete” and removed from the “Today”, “This Week”, “Next Week” or “MyTasks” list of action items.

Users can toggle between any high school year, and juniors and seniors can switch between early, regular and late application schedules depending on their progress and time of year.

While nothing can replace the hands-on personal guidance and care of dedicated counselors, parents and able professionals to keep college-bound students on schedule, MyCollegeCalendar allows EVERYONE involved in the college admission and financial aid processes to work together to ensure student success.

For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org.

The Student Résumé – Why It’s Important To Have One

High school freshmen, sophomores and juniors should be their planning activities for this summer and next academic year with the intent to build their student résumé for college admission. The competition for college admission is incredibly tough and college-bound students should seize every possible opportunity to put themselves ahead of other student applicants. One way to get noticed by college admission officers and to take the lead for available admission slots is to create a professional student résumé.

Students who create a résumé show they are willing to go beyond the required application materials to demonstrate the initiative that college admission officers like to see. Résumés allow students to present themselves in the best possible manner; they can emphasize their strengths, highlight accomplishments, and present information in the order that best shows their college potential and overall personality. On college applications, students are forced to complete information as it is displayed on the application form, while résumés give the freedom to present accomplishments as best suits the student and to better shine in the eyes of college admission officers.

Students - there are numerous ways to effectively use your student résumé beyond simply including it with college applications. For example, during campus visits when you meet with college professors who teach classes in your major, provide a copy of your résumé for their consideration of you as a prospective student entering their department next year. This typically creates a tremendous, “Wow factor”, which usually results in professors becoming advocates for your admission. In addition, scholarship applications are greatly enhanced by including a profession-looking résumé and doing so will increase your odds of winning the award.

In addition, 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.

Creating a great 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.

Take the time to create a detailed student résumé this summer; it will be worth the effort.

For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org.

College-Bound Seniors: Don’t’ Get Kicked Out Of College Before You Get There

High school graduation is only a month away and seniors are gearing up for a great time of celebration. This will include unsupervised parties, ditching class to join carefree (or care-less) activities, pulling jokes and pranks on one another, and other “fun” acts. While this is a time of high spirits, there’s a lot to lose if you’re not careful . . . especially if you’re going to college.

According to the latest issue of the State of College Admission (National Association for College Admission Counseling, September 2009, p.30), 21 percent of colleges reported they revoked offers of admission in fall 2008. A drop in final grades is the most common reason for retractions, followed by student disciplinary issues.

A word of warning for college-bound seniors: Those of you who have accepted admission to college could have your admission revoked if your college receives final grade transcripts showing a significant drop in grades or hears word of behavior problems. Decision letters from colleges are “conditional” contracts in which colleges can change their mind from “accept” to “reject” at any time. Furthermore, a developing trend in college admissions is to closely evaluate indications of trouble with students’ academics or behavior (and to take appropriate action).

College-bound students ending their high school career with poor grades or discipline problems may receive a letter from their college this summer that begins with the greeting, “We regret to inform you . . .” This would be a life-altering situation because by the time such a letter is received, it’s too late to apply for admission to other colleges. Receiving a letter revoking college admission means you’re NOT going to college this year.

My advice? Continue to study and maintain your grades; avoid any and all “questionable” social activities. Don’t get crazy with excitement and celebration and make a wrong decision that may ruin your chance for going to college.

You have worked too hard and have too much to lose.

For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org.

Still Want To Apply For College? Late Applications Are Being Accepted By Hundreds Of Colleges and Universities.

Today, the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) published their “Space Availability” list of colleges and universities who are still accepting applications for admission. As of May 1, 2010, these schools are reported to still have enrollment space available for freshmen and transfer students for the fall 2010 semester; many schools also offer institutional financial aid and housing. The list includes hundreds of schools, however, only NACAC member four-year colleges and universities are shown.

You can search the list of colleges and universities by State; contact information for each school is provided.

For information regarding the college admission process visit MyCollegeCalendar.org.

I’m Going To College! Now What Do I Have To Do?

The May 1 deadline for students to accept admission to their college of choice has come and gone. By now, students have sent enrollment and housing deposits to secure their place in class of 2014 and feel the joy of freedom from the grueling college application process. But as high school graduation approaches, college-bound seniors and their parents will begin to wonder about the steps necessary to prepare for college enrollment and moving onto campus this fall.

As the sense of bewilderment grows on what to do next, families of college-bound seniors should rest assured that MyCollegeCalendar is ready to help with the pre-college enrollment tasks as outlined on the Post-High School/Pre-College Checklist. Steps with how-to instructions can be found instantly by using the MyCollegeCalendar website search engine.

Some of the more important pre-college enrollment tasks include:

- Scheduling and attending freshman orientation and parent orientation this summer.

- Taking required college math and foreign language placement tests.

- Pre-registering for fall 2010 classes.

- Ordering textbooks online after class pre-registration is approved.

- Completing on-campus housing forms.

- Completing roommate questionnaires.

- Selecting a health insurance plan and considering other insurance needs.

- Analyzing and selecting a dining meal plan.

- Analyzing college campus transportation options.

- Finding and preparing to apply for on-campus jobs.

- Arranging personal banking needs.

- Purchasing all items to take to college.

Families should follow the MyCollegeCalendar online guidance in the months ahead to prepare for the eventful day of leaving home and moving into college.

For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org.