My College Admissions Blog - MyCollegeCalendar.org

Better Business Bureau Complaint Affecting College-Bound Students

2010-08-27T12:49:00.002-04:00

In the past few days, several college-bound students in my local community have been contacted about a free seminar offered by Edifi. This company is in the business of providing services to help students and families for prepare for college, conduct college searches, and find funding for a college education.

Subsequently, these students have contacted me about the validity of the Edifi free seminar; I have directed them to the Better Business Bureau Complaint which includes the statement,

“Edifi has an unsatisfactory report with the BBB due to a pattern of complaints from consumers who report misleading sales practices and dissatisfaction with the service. The company responds to most complaints by offering an explanation of their services. Many consumers remain dissatisfied because the company will not, in most cases, cancel the contract after the company’s five day cooling-off period, leaving their complaint unresolved.”

You can read the entire Better Business Bureau complaint here.

In addition, many scathing personal reviews concerning Edifi can be found on various college admission-related websites.

For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org.

College-Bound Students Should Demonstrate Leadership

2010-08-26T23:06:00.001-04:00

This blog posting was originally published on March 29, 2010; it is more important than ever for college-bound student to follow this advice.

Leadership is the most sought after student qualification. Let me repeat,"Leadership is the most sought after student qualification."

For years I’ve advised college-bound students of the value of leadership for increasing their chances for admission to colleges of their choice – lead a team, be an officer in a club, start your own project, be on student council, run for class office, etc. College admission officers love students with leadership skills and determination; listing such activities on college applications is very impressive and will increase odds for admission to college and for receiving scholarships.

On March 26, 2010, Psychology Today published the article, Advice for College Applicants: Why Leadership is a Big Deal. This article explains the value of leadership beautifully; leadership helps college admission officers identify students who are motivated, socially engaged, and “good citizens.” Students with these traits are very desirable to college admission officers.

The author of the Psychology Today article, Ronald E. Riggio, Ph.D., explains it skillfully in the following three paragraphs:

“In the College admissions officers can't accurately measure motivation, so instead they look at accomplishments that go beyond mere academics. An easy way to get some sense of that is to see how active (and motivated) students have been in extracurricular activities. In other words, have they held key positions - leadership positions - in clubs, sports teams, community groups, etc.?”

“Another reason why leadership is a big deal is that colleges and universities want students to be actively engaged in campus life. They invest in the students they admit, and they want them to succeed. Research on college student success shows that students need to be both academically engaged (i.e., do well in and enjoy classes), but also socially engaged (be active in and enjoy the college scene). Students who have been active in leadership positions in high school are socially engaged.”

“But why is it focused on leadership? Our definition of the term leadership has changed in the past few decades. It used to be reserved for only those in the highest-level positions of power and authority. But as organizations (and society) become "flatter," with less emphasis on authority, we look for leadership at all levels. Leadership is a term that is used as a substitute for "good citizenship" or to indicate people who are motivated, actively engaged in groups and organizations, and accomplishing things.”

College-bound students should take this advice to heart and strive for leadership positions in their activities. Ideally, students with long-term commitment to their activities will progress from simple participation to leadership. It doesn’t matter which activities students demonstrate leadership; colleges need leaders in every field of interest.

For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org.

College Applicants: Include Private Colleges and Universities On Your List of Schools

2010-08-24T14:09:00.002-04:00

Last year, I blogged how important it is for families to consider private colleges and universities as an option for their college-bound student. Data supporting my view on this issue included some of the actions taken by State colleges and universities in response to the economic downturn, such as increasing tuition, cutting spending, eliminating academic programs, and rejecting greater percentages of student applicants. This alarming trend continues into this year.

I also emphasized how numerous students who apply to private schools receive significant scholarships and grants which, in effect, make the cost of attendance less than the expense of attending public colleges and universities. Regardless of a family’s financial situation, no one should rule out applying to private schools. The best strategy is to apply to several schools, including both public and private.

Since last year’s blog post, additional data supporting my position has been released. In June 2009, the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) published, “Diplomas and Dropouts, Which Colleges Actually Graduate Their Students (and Which Don’t)." The AEI used official graduation rates submitted to the U.S. Department of Education to determine that, on average, the student graduation rates at private universities are 62 percent greater than the rates at state universities.

Attending a private college or university, receiving campus-based grants and scholarships, and having a better chance of graduating in four years, can end up being the most affordable option for many students.

Additionally, the super-competitive environment surrounding admission to some public universities further supports the argument families should consider private colleges and universities. On April 15, 2010, a news article in the Sacramento Bee (“UC puts 10,000 applicants on waiting list”) states, “seven of the nine (University of California) undergraduate campuses” reported the “lowest admission rates on record” and “At all but three UC campuses, the mean grade-point-average of admitted students is above 4.0.”

While there are no guarantees with the college admission process, the financial challenges associated with public colleges and universities, as well as the competitive admissions situation and potentially longer graduation times (not to mention the certainties of huge class sizes and reduced contact with professors), should force college-bound students to seriously think about applying to private colleges and universities. Students applying to college this coming fall need to hedge their bets by applying to several schools, including both lower-tuition public State schools as well as higher-scholarship/grant awarding private college and universities.

For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org.

The Freshman Perspective: The Start of a Freshman

2010-08-20T20:33:00.005-04:00

My summer finally ended. The day I was dreading all summer came and I was not ready. Last week I got my schedule on Thursday and I was super excited forgetting that I was about to go back to school. My schedule was, for the most part, what I wanted. For the first term I got P.E. first period, Life Science second period, Spanish 1 third period, and Algebra 2 fourth period. The only class I’m not looking forward to is P.E. because it’s the first thing in the morning. I’m not too happy about being sweaty and gross all day long.

The first day of school was the day before yesterday. I had a hard time waking up at 6 o’clock instead of 10 o’clock, but later on I was fine. It was so weird getting to school and seeing so many people. There are so many different types and varieties of kids that it’s hard not to stare.

When we first arrived at school, kids were herded inside the gym so we could get our final schedule that would admit us to class. I went to P.E. and we listened to the teacher talk about the rules. After the rules, we took an easy test on them and the bell rang…that was fast.

In Life Science, I didn't know anybody, except for maybe 3 people, and I’m hoping I can meet and make friends with some of them. During science class, we observed a stick bug and immediately got assigned a project . . . now that was something I was not expecting. While in Spanish, we started to learn the alphabet. I really enjoy that class because I have a couple of friends I know and I have met a lot of new people, in addition my teacher is really funny.

We ate lunch at school, even though we have an open campus and are free to go out to eat. A journalist from the local paper interviewed me and a couple friends for the paper during our lunch break. As it turns out, my picture made it into the paper. By the time Algebra 2 came I was tired, but we took a test anyway to see how much we remember. That night we also got a math lesson. Overall, it was an O.K. day just because I was unprepared.

The second day of school, was a lot better and I had so much fun. I kind of got used to where I was supposed to go and the teachers didn’t lecture about what you have to do to keep up in their class. I got more homework, but after the day before yesterday, it all seems normal again. I am really excited to start getting involved with my school, meeting people, and gradually building my student résumé for college . . . but I’m also really excited for the weekend.

Meghan T.

PHS Class of 2014

It’s “Showtime” for Seniors!

2010-08-17T15:33:00.002-04:00

I publish this blog posting each year because of the importance of the topic. High school seniors should pay heed to the words below and act accordingly.

Every year, I ask recent high school graduates what advice they have for college-bound high school seniors. Almost universally, the single-most valuable piece of advice they give is, “Start the application process EARLY!”

Why do students who have been through the process give such advice? The answer is: Because every aspect of the college and financial aid application process will take longer than you can imagine . . . much longer. There’s a lot more to do than students realize; filling out and submitting multi-page applications with multiple essays, completion of application supplements to the Common Application, requesting recommendation letters, requesting grade transcripts, finalizing student résumés, writing cover letters, mailing required paper documents, and more.

Typically, students tend to procrastinate with the process. However, they MUST realize procrastination could cost them dearly in terms of success with getting accepted to the college of choice and for receiving scholarships and grants. To complicate matters, seniors will discover this fall that many high school responsibilities and events will interfere with the completion of college applications, such as studying for class exams, working on term papers and group projects, completing senior projects, participating in numerous social events, etc.

Starting this week, it truly is “Showtime” for seniors. Summer is over, high school is underway, and college application deadlines are approaching. In the next week, I advise college-bound seniors to set aside several hours to begin planning what needs to be done. Don’t be one of the students who panics and throws together last-minute, low-quality applications and poorly written essays in October or November.

MyCollegeCalendar.org has a great “Get Started” page and an Early Application Process Flowchart. These guidance documents provide invaluable instructions in both text and in graphics on how to start the process and what tasks are required to successfully complete the process.

Seniors, you’ve been put on notice. No excuses. Gear up, get started, and achieve success.

For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org.

College Already?

2010-08-12T02:48:00.003-04:00

I just graduated from middle school and I’m finally going into high school. I took advanced classes in sixth through eighth grade and, for the most part, maintained a 4.0 GPA in all three years. Tomorrow, I get my schedule for high school. My high school just recently transferred to a 4-by-4 or block system, meaning that there are four classes instead of eight per day. So basically I have to cram a year's full of work into a half of a year. It’s going to be a huge transition from eight 45-minute classes to four 90-minute classes. Despite the long and possibly boring classes, I’m still super excited.

When I signed up for classes at the end of the eighth grade, I didn’t sign up for any electives. Some classes were mandatory, like Multimedia/Health, P.E., English, and Life Science. The other four classes I chose to take were Spanish 1, Spanish 2, Biology, and Algebra 2. I figure that if I take all the hard classes now and get it over with, the rest of high school will be that much easier. I am also a little worried about keeping my grades up in hard classes like this. I know I can pull it off, I’m just not looking forward to the stress and staying up until 2 o’clock at night or for sporting events that end up going a few hours later than planned.

I’m determined to get good grades because now freshman year counts for most colleges. Even though I wasn’t planning on slacking off anyway, it just adds to the pressure. Since colleges are so competitive, at fourteen years old, I am already thinking about which colleges I should apply to. I am also thinking about what classes I am going to take sophomore, junior, and senior year. For example, AP classes can boost my GPA. Usually, I wouldn’t be thinking any further ahead than the first day of school, but getting into college now requires far more planning. I’m just keeping my fingers crossed that my schedule is what I signed up for!

Meghan T.
PHS Class of 2014

Five Traits That Matter in College Admissions

2010-08-10T15:29:00.002-04:00

Students have one shot to personally impress admissions officers - the essays. A strong essay that harnesses your voice and shows the ”true you” often can make a difference in your evaluation. When writing your application essay, consider five traits that admissions officers usually look for:

Vulnerability
Don’t pretend you are a superhero! Through your essay, you need to address the admissions officer who reads it- an adult with their own life experiences, who does not know you but wants to get to know you better. Colleges want students who know they are human and who have developed through challenging themselves.

Reflectiveness/Insight
Have you grown with your experiences? Do you look inward and learn from both your successes and failures? Admissions officers look for students who take every opportunity to mature. It is one thing to simply write about what has happened to you, and another to show how you have changed because of these events.

Brevity
Admissions officers have long days. They might be reading your application at 9am over a cup of coffee or at 11PM before going to sleep. The phones might be ringing in the background. It should not take 110% of their focus to get through your essays. Be succinct and clear. Is that string of 10-letter adjectives really necessary to express yourself, or are you just trying to show off your vocabulary?

Likeability
A college is a community, and admissions officers want to know how you interact with others. When writing an essay, try to work in an example of a time in which you brought people together. Perhaps its was with humor, or good-will, or sincerity. The person reading your essay should want to be your friend and not just on facebook.

Intellectuality
If your transcript shows you know how to take a test, you may be tempted to think you don’t need to write about academics. More than grades, however, admissions officers want to know how ideas move you. Will you go to class because you have to, or will you go because you truly love learning? Try to illustrate a time when you were motivated by learning itself, and not just by a high grade.

More tipsheets and on-demand webinars by Dr. Jon Reider, former Senior Associate Director of Admission for Stanford University, are available at www.iAdmissions.com.

Submitted by Kate Balingit and Dr. Jon Reider, former Senior Associate Director of Admission for Stanford University, and curriculum developer for www.iAdmissions.com.

iAdmissions.com is a unique network of former college admissions officers that uses on-line technology to provide personalized and affordable guidance on the college admissions process. Visit www.iAdmissions.com or call (800) 957-9620 for more information.

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

2010-08-04T11:51:00.002-04:00

The college admission process is grueling. Besides the multiple-page applications, numerous essays, obtaining letters of recommendation, and collecting all required documents for each of 10 (+ or -) colleges, senior year students also have their high school responsibilities. Least I not forget the additional burden of apply for financial aid; the multiple financial aid forms, scholarship applications and essays, and making sure parents complete the FAFSA and file their tax returns as soon as possible after January 1.

College-bound students need help from parents. The parental assistance I’m talking about doesn’t include parents completing their child’s college application, rather, parents should help with associated simple, time-consuming tasks; tasks I like to call “tedious but necessary.” These tasks include helping to drive to campus visits, assisting with college research, downloading college application materials, writing required information on draft paper copies of college applications (i.e., student address information, family household data, name and address of current high school, etc.), driving to the post office to mail paper college application materials, proof reading application essays, being timely with submitting parental financial aid forms and tax information, etc., etc., etc.

Parents who assist their son or daughter with the college application and financial aid processes give their student the advantage of extra time; the extra time needed to complete superior applications, write great essays, create outstanding student résumés, and secure excellent letters of recommendation. Students who attempt the application process on their own face the potential of “throwing together” their applications, writing average essays, and missing crucial deadlines . . . all of which can lead to rejection by colleges.

Parents MUST keep in mind their child is going to college, not them; they should be supportive but not overbearing. Parents must avoid becoming a “helicopter” parent who is constantly hovering over their child to manage them and give instructions.

Senior year students will be so busy this fall with high school responsibilities that the time they spend working on college applications should be focused on the important parts of college applications only they can do. By far, the most important part of applications is the essays, and students should concentrate on these (both long- and short-answer application essays). Essays must be the original, creative, captivate reader’s interest, and (ideally) support student themes; all of this takes time, lots of time.

The clear majority of students have too many responsibilities to effectively and efficiently complete the college admission process by themselves. A collaborative effort between college-bound students and parents is a win-win situation for everyone.

For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org.

Parents: Complete a Health Care Proxy For Your College-Bound Son or Daughter

2010-07-26T14:00:00.005-04:00

Parents: You and your college-bound student should complete a Health Care Proxy (or Advance Health Care Directive) if your student is 18 years of age or older. A Health Care Proxy is a medical power of attorney that allows the person appointed by the student (presumably the parents) to be their health care agent. The appointed agent is authorized to make medical decisions on the student's behalf if the student is severely injured or rendered unconscious.

On June 23, 2010, New York State Senator Kemp Hannon (Ranking Member of the Senate Health Committee) encouraged all parents and guardians of students going away to college to obtain a health care proxy before the student leaves. “As parents, the last thing we want to think about is the possibility of our children ending up in the hospital while away at school, but we need to always be prepared for the worst,” said Senator Hannon.

“As a concerned parent whose child is in the hospital, the last thing you want to hear from the hospital staff is that you cannot receive any information on your child’s status or make any decisions,” said Hannon. “However, without a health care proxy, that’s exactly what will happen.”

For years MyCollegeCalendar.org has advised parents to complete and notarize an Advance Health Care Directive or Health Care Proxy. With an Advance Health Care Directive, parents can be assured that if a medical problem arises while their child is away at college, the child’s privacy rights as set forth in federal law (the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) Privacy and Security Rules) will not prevent them from accessing medical information and making appropriate health care decisions.

To obtain an Advance Health Care Directive, click here, scroll to the page bottom and select the appropriate State, print the form and fill it out. Have it signed and notarized. It is advisable to complete an Advance Health Care Directive in both the student’s home state, as well as in the state he/she attends college.

For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org.

Be Sure to Clean-Up Language and Photographs on Facebook.com

2010-07-23T11:11:00.003-04:00

High School Seniors: An important task to complete before the college application process gets into full swing next month is to clean-up all personal information you and your friends have posted on internet social network websites that involve you. Also, you should set privacy settings so NO ONE you don’t want to view your social networking accounts is able to see them.

Many colleges and universities review social networking (i.e., Facebook.com and MySpace.com) sites on which student applicants have posted information. If you have profanity, pornography, or immoral, disgusting or vulgar language and photographs on your internet social network accounts, YOU MAY BE REJECTED BY COLLEGES YOU APPLY TO. Remove all questionable language or photos you have posted.

In addition, scan your friends’ pages. Photographs and text that are posted by your friends may be “tagged” with your name and can be found just as easily as if you posted the information yourself. Don’t be afraid to ask your friends to remove potentially damaging material that involves you.

As a college-bound student, consider posting information on your Facebook or MySpace accounts that will impress college admission officers. You can do this using your “main” social networking account or set up a separate account whose sole purpose is to highlight your accomplishments to show college representatives what a great prospective college student you are.

You don’t know which college admission officers have the time to conduct internet searches to find information about you, but it’s smart to play it safe and protect yourself.

OnlineCollege.org posted an excellent article on the 25 Common Facebook Faux Pas That College Students Make.

For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org.

A Practical List Of Items To Take To College

2010-07-20T01:38:00.002-04:00

If you’re an incoming college freshman, it may seem a little early to start thinking about the things you need to take with you to college. However, there are numerous things to consider and inventorying items you need sooner than later is a really good idea.

To help you with this process, MyCollegeCalendar provides a checklist of suggested items for college. The list is very complete and will serve you well. It is recommended to print the list and mark the items you pack them.

For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org.

Get Your Personal Finances In Order For College

2010-07-13T11:14:00.002-04:00

Students leaving for college this fall need to do more than secure money to pay college tuition and fees; they also need to organize their personal finances in preparation for living away from home. Students and parents – NOW is the time to set up accounts for banking at college. Below are some valuable banking tips for college-bound students.

1. Obtain an ATM Card from the bank that owns the on-campus ATM at your college.

This will allow you to use the ATM free of charge.

Call your college’s admissions office to make sure the ATM Card you obtain will work in the on-campus ATM without charging a $1.00 or $2.00 service fee. ATM Cards are convenient and give you freedom from worry of not having cash for last minute necessities and fun activities. There will be many times when you need quick cash and it’s much easier to go to the on-campus ATM rather than run to an off-campus ATM (especially if you don’t have a car). ATM Cards are a valuable tool to help you survive college life.

2. Set up a checking account. The most convenient thing to do is set up a checking account with the same bank as described above, and link use of the ATM Card to that checking account.

A checking account will allow you to deposit money earned from your job and money sent from parents; you can also transfer funds so you can pay bills, purchase textbooks, etc.

Both you and your parents should be listed on the checking account and have ATM Cards and PINs. Having your parents on the account will allow them to conveniently deposit money directly into your account when needed. Be sure to ask for a “student checking account”; this type of checking account usually has no monthly fees.

Features your student account should have include the following:
- No minimum balance requirement
- Free checking (no monthly service fees)
- Free checks
- Free check guarantee card or ATM Card / Debit Card
- Free online banking services
- Overdraft protection

3. Apply for a credit card in your name; credit cards are a must for emergencies and convenient for occasional miscellaneous purchases.

A credit card is handy for covering some expenses while waiting for money from your job or from your parents and makes it easy to purchase online items such as airline tickets. However, be careful not to use your credit excessively and build up loan balances that are difficult to repay.

Most banking institutions will offer students a major credit card when setting up a checking account. Make sure this card is separate from your bank ATM card. A credit card should have a minimum charge limit of $1000.

Features you should look for in a student credit card:
- No annual fee.
- Low introductory interest rates.
- Available online banking service.
- Overdraft protection is an optional feature.

NOTE: In the past, students could easily obtain credit cards, but with the passage of the recent Credit Card Act, students must have a parent or other adult co-sign the credit card application if they are under the age of 21.

For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org.

Top Ten Strengths and Experiences Colleges Look for in High School Students

2010-06-28T15:40:00.003-04:00

On June 16, 2010, the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), a nonprofit professional association of educational consultants located in Fairfax, Virginia, released the results of a member survey which asked what colleges want to see from high school students applying for admission. The survey results provide insights from many of the most skilled and knowledgeable college admission consultants.

Listed below, in order of decreasing importance, are the ten most important characteristics and experiences college admission officers look for in student applicants (as express by the IECA 2010 survey).

1. A rigorous high school curriculum that challenges the student and may include AP or IB classes.

2. Grades that represent strong effort and an upward trend. Slightly lower grades in a rigorous program are preferred to all A’s in less challenging coursework.

3. Solid SAT and ACT test scores. These should be consistent with high school performance.

4. Passionate involvement in a few activities, demonstrating leadership and initiative. With extracurricular activities, it’s depth, not breadth, of experience that is most important.

5. Letters of recommendation from teachers and guidance counselor that give evidence of integrity, special skills, positive character traits, and an interest in learning.

6. A well-written essay that provides insight into the student’s unique personality, values, and goals. The application essay should be thoughtful and highly personal. It should demonstrate careful and well-constructed writing.

7. Special talents or experiences that will contribute to an interesting and well-rounded student body.

8. Demonstrated leadership in activities. Colleges want people who will arrive prepared and willing to take leadership of student activities and events.

9. Demonstrated intellectual curiosity through reading, school, leisure pursuits, and more.

10. Demonstrated enthusiasm to attend, often exhibited by campus visits and an interview, showing an interest toward attending the college.

For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org.

Students: Volunteer and Earn Thousands of Dollars

2010-06-21T11:57:00.001-04:00

The current lack-luster economy and scarcity of jobs make it extremely difficult for many high school students to find employment this summer. However, students who want to work but are unable to find a job should think long-term toward their senior year and focus on their potential to earn money from local and regional scholarships. Local and regional scholarships traditional use the quality of student’s volunteer service as the main criteria for selecting winners. This differs from merit-based and need-based scholarships whose criteria for selecting winners include academic achievement and financial need, respectively.

Local and regional scholarship applicants are evaluated on the quality of their submitted essays, interview performance in front of scholarship selection committees, grade point average and other factors. However, it’s the quality of community service that usually determines the winner of the scholarship.

A real-life example I like to use to show how a student got “paid” for volunteering is the case of a high school student who volunteered at a hospital during her senior year for two hours per week for 40 weeks. In the spring of her senior year, she applied for the Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship and won a $2,000 scholarship. In effect, she earned an untaxed wage of $25 per hour ($2,000 / 80 hours) as well as excellent credentials that helped her get accepted to several universities.

Ideally, volunteer activities should support a student’s “theme” as part of the Junior Year Admission Strategy or Senior Year Application Strategy, but commitment to any type of volunteer work is beneficial to all college-bound students.

Students should not miss the opportunity to volunteer this summer; they may end up earning thousands of dollars for doing so.

For more information visit MyCollegeCalendar.org.

It's Possible To Get Extra Scholarship Money . . . Even Now

2010-06-14T10:41:00.002-04:00

On May 1st students had to commit to attend their college of choice. By committing to attend their college of choice, students decline admission to all other colleges as well as all other offers of financial aid. As a result, scholarship and grant awards offered by the “other” colleges are left on the table and may become available to students who accept admission . . . students like you.

In addition, during summer months, many students change their mind about enrolling at the college they committed to on May 1st. In college financial aid circles, this phenomena is known as the “summer melt”. The decision to not enroll this fall causes students’ scholarship and grant money to return to the college’s pool of financial resources and the money becomes available for students who know to ask for it.

Consequently, students interested in receiving extra scholarship and grant money should call the office of financial aid at their college and inquire about receiving additional financial aid. When you call, be sure to thank the financial aid administrator for the financial aid you have already received and then proceed to ask about any scholarship or grant money that may become available over the next few months.

Express how you would really appreciate being considered for additional financial aid awards now that accepted students have made their final decision on which school they will attend and how receiving any additional money would relieve some of the financial stress your family will experience.

Making a phone call 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.

Education Is More Than Book Knowledge. It’s Life Knowledge. Allow Your Student To Learn The Life Lessons.

2010-06-07T14:08:00.004-04:00

The college experience is so much more than the academics. In the college environment, there are unique study opportunities, discussion groups, study groups, student activities, and sporting events.

Students can explore politics, the arts, sports, and religions…

The social aspect of college teaches students how to get along with their peers. They learn how to get along with difficult people, professors, dorm supervisors and unusual personalities…

The student no longer has a parent to run interference for them. But they have learned from you. You were their role model. Now it’s time for them to become their own advocate.

All of this prepares them for the next steps in life. Bosses, supervisors, demanding careers, families of their own…

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

This entry was originally posted on CollegeWorks101.com on June 4, 2010.

Posted with permission on MyCollegeCalendar.org – June 7, 2010

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

2010-05-31T11:48:00.002-04:00

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

2010-05-25T02:24:00.001-04:00

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

2010-05-17T11:25:00.002-04:00

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

2010-05-13T17:08:00.003-04:00

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

2010-05-10T15:28:00.002-04:00

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

2010-05-07T01:45:00.002-04:00

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.

2010-05-05T10:44:00.004-04:00

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?

2010-05-04T17:03:00.002-04:00

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.

Non-Acceptance Letters: An Important Task To Complete

2010-04-30T02:44:00.002-04:00

National Decision Day (May 1) is tomorrow and many college-bound students are still struggling with the final decision on which college to attend. Seniors who already have selected their college and submitted enrollment confirmation are rejoicing in the aftermath of completing the college application process and are experiencing a sense of relief words cannot describe. Over the past several months, all college-bound students have been overpowered by the importance of making the best decision for their future and sending confirmation of their enrollment by the May 1 deadline.

However, students are not completely finished with their acceptance of admission until they send letters of non-acceptance. Letters of non-acceptance are letters addressed to the colleges and universities that accepted them for admission, but they have chosen not to attend.

Many students reading this blog will have the same reaction: “Who cares about the schools I’m NOT going to attend?” The answer is: YOU just might . . . and here’s why.

Many colleges that receive courteous letters of non-acceptance from students keep those students’ records on file for one year, INCLUDING STUDENTS’ ADMISSION STATUS AND OFFERS OF FINANCIAL AID. Students - this means if you discover next fall you don’t care for the college you’re attending (and wish you had enrolled with another school that accepted you), the admission doors to those other schools may still be open without having to submit any application materials. Upon request, the other colleges may automatically admit you as a transfer student in the spring or fall of 2011. Furthermore, as a transfer student many schools will honor the financial aid offered to you in spring 2010 and apply that aid to your sophomore, junior and senior years.

Letters of non-acceptance provide smart insurance for college-bound students. Sending these letters not only is professional and courteous, but also may hold open offers of admission and financial aid at all colleges that accepted you.

My advice to students is to leave nothing to chance. After submitting an enrollment confirmation form to your college of choice, send letters of non-acceptance to your other colleges and universities. You may be very glad you did.

For more information visit MyCollgeCalendar.org.