Tag Archives: admissions

How Can Educational Consultants Take The Stress Out Of College Admissions?

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High school counselors spend an average of 23 minutes working with their college-bound students on the college search and planning process. Most high school counselors work with more than 350 students. Few high school counselors are able to visit colleges or attend national conferences because their schools do not have the budget for them to do so.

Applying to college can be a very stressful experience. The whole process has changed dramatically in the last twenty years. Most parents do not have the time or knowledge to serve as an effective college guide for their teenager. What’s a family to do? Many are turning to educational consultants for help. They have the expertise to assist college-bound students with the college search and application process. They also have the passion and the time.

Here are nine reasons why an educational consultant can make a difference for your college-bound student.

1. They are experts in the college admission process and visit colleges and universities extensively every year to determine the unique qualities in each school. They are not relying on what a book or college representative might say, but have a good look at a school from their own objective viewpoint.

2. They help students with the college search and are not just interested in brand name schools, but want to find colleges that fit your student’s academic and personal needs. Students need to look beyond the school names they are familiar with and consider colleges that may be less known “hidden gems.”

3. They do not have an emotional attachment to your child and this allows them to provide unbiased, professional advice. It is often difficult to be objective when you are working with your own child and this can lead to family frustration.

4. They get to know students on a personal basis which enables them to help students become stronger college applicants. They take the time to find out what is important to a student and what they are looking for in a college experience. This helps in the college search and throughout the application process.

5. They provide direction for students on their applications and essays. They read and review the applications and essays and offer suggestions to improve them if necessary. They set up a schedule so that students are adhering to application and scholarship deadlines set by both their high school and colleges.

6. They assist students and families in finding schools that are affordable. They also provide information on financial aid and scholarships. They know the colleges that are more generous with financial aid and scholarships and encourage students to include a few of these on their college list if they are the right fit.

7. They are not limited in the number of hours they can work with students. This allows them to be available when students need them, with the answers they need. College counseling is their job and they are not distracted by other responsibilities.

8. They want to help students find colleges that are committed to seeing their students graduate in four years, rather than the usual five, six or more. This can save parents a considerable amount of money. Most parents would be surprised to see the low four year graduation rate at many schools.

9. They are members of professional organizations like the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA) and attend state and national conferences to continue their professional development.

A college education is one of the most expensive investments a family will make. It should be obvious that more time and thought needs to go into the college search and admission process. Most educational consultants charge affordable fees and are very generous with their time. Many families believe that hiring an educational consultant is the best investment they have made. To find a list of qualified educational consultants in your state, go to http://www.hecaonline.org.

College Planning And College Admissions Trends That May Affect Your High School Student

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By now, most students have made up their minds about where they are going to college in the fall, although a few are still on waitlists. In recent years, some interesting trends have become apparent in college planning and college admissions. Here are some observations that may affect your high school student:

1. High school counselors are being cut at many public schools causing the counseling loads to increase. The average high school counselor works with 450 students and spends 28% of his or her time on college planning. More families are turning to educational consultants because of the individual attention they can provide.

2. Public universities have become more expensive due to budget cuts and rising tuition. In addition to rising tuition, many state universities are saving money by cutting faculty and limiting classes. Some feel this is why students are taking an average of 6.2 years to graduate. For parents, this means an additional 2 years of college expenses. Many students are including some private schools in their college search that are committed to seeing their students graduate in 4 years.

3. The Ivy League schools are now accepting less than 10% of their applicants. This means that students who aim for these schools cannot expect to get in with only top grades and test scores. A niche is almost always a necessity. Guiding students in their extracurricular activities can make a difference.

4. International students are being sought after by colleges in the U.S, This is increasing the competition in college admissions for all students. Many colleges are actively recruiting international students who come from wealthy families who can pay the full tuition.

5. Students whose families can pay the full amount are having more success with college admissions than those who require financial aid. Most schools are no longer able to be need-blind in in their college admissions decisions. Paying for college has become a problem for a much larger segment of the population. Many parents, however, are turning to college planners who are providing some very valuable college planning to help make college more affordable.

6. Applications have continued to rise at almost every school in the U.S. It has become quite common for students to apply to a large number of schools. Applying to as many as 15 or 20 schools is not out of the question for some. As students go through the college planning process, many feel they need the additional colleges because of the competition.

7. More students are applying Early Decision even though they are not always sure it is the school they want to attend. Since Early Decision is binding, this is a problem for both students and colleges. Early Decision and Early Action continue to be debated as to whom they benefit the most.

8. Some students are considering a gap year to give the economy a chance to rebound before they enter college. A gap year can be beneficial to students who may not be quite ready for college. It is also an opportunity for students to participate in a unique experience that they might not have otherwise.

9. Women continue to have a bigger struggle in college admissions than men. Many schools today have a ratio of 60:40 women to men. Therefore, more men seem to be accepted at schools with lower grades and test scores than women.

While these are observations from the 2010 college admissions period, it is important for parents to know about these trends in order to guide their high school students as they begin to think about college and start their college planning.

5 Reasons Why College Visits Are Important For College Admissions

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College visits are one of the most important steps in the college search and selection process. They are the only way to get a true feel for a campus and find out whether it is the right fit for your student. College visits help students to find out about the admissions policies, programs, and campus culture.

Here are 5 reasons why college visits are important for college admissions:

1. College visits are a great way to check out potential schools and light a motivational fire under prospective applicants. College visits can get students initially excited about going to college. They will also help students understand what the college admissions process is all about and what is required of them in order to be successful. There is also no substitute for a personal visit to help students gain a better focus for their applications.

2. The more colleges students see, the easier it will be for them to know what they like and don’t like about different kinds of schools. College visits are a critical part of coming up with a balanced list of schools to apply to. They also make it easier for students to make informed college decisions based on what they have personally observed.

3. A college visit demonstrates to a school that students are interested enough to come and find out whether the college is right for them. This is something that schools consider when they are making college admissions decisions. They want to know what kind of contact students have had with their school. Have they met with a college representative, had an off campus interview, visited with someone at a college fair or most importantly, come for a college visit?

4. Students should not believe everything they see in a view book or on a college website. Colleges are pros at marketing themselves with glossy photos and flashy DVDs. A college visit helps students find out about any unexpected surprises that might not be obvious without a college tour. Sometimes the surrounding area is not what students thought it would be or safety is a real concern. These issues are only evident when you take time to tour the campus.

5. College visits help students to make up their mind when it is time to make a final college decision. Hopefully, students have written down the pros and cons of the schools they have seen and are able to weigh these up as they finalize their college choice. It is most important that students choose a school that is the right fit for them. It is not the name of the school, but the experience you have as an undergraduate that will contribute the most to a successful future.

On a college visit, students should take the time to stand in the middle of a campus and look around and ask, “Could I see myself as a student here? Is this where I would like to spend the next four years of my life?” Your answers will be very revealing and hopefully lead you to the school that is right for you.

The Social Networking Age Meets College Admissions

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College Admissions Meets The Social Networking Age

Welcome to the social networking age. Now, Facebook and Myspace are as much a part of a person’s social circle as friends at school and around the neighborhood. Social networking provides a way for people to connect with classmates, work associates, family members and friends as well as exchange news and ideas, post work, meet people, blog, post photos and videos and do just about anything. As far as education is concerned, this provides a new, wonderful way for a scholarship committee to get to know the people that are the prospective winners of college scholarships a little better.

Recently, univeristies began using some of the different social networking tools and the Internet for college promotion and recruiting. Students are already able to do a university and college search on the internet to get more information about schools and read through their web pages. College admissions requirements and recruiting information is posted online on school sites and others as well. A number of universities and colleges now offer and ask that admissions applications and test scores be submitted on the internet to simplify the process of applying. Social networking is also easing the process for college admissions screening and recruiting through electronic submittal.

Not long ago, students had to primarily lean on good test scores and GPAs in order to get noticed by admissions boards. Athletes relied a great deal on college recruitment efforts, but those who lived in urban areas had a much better chance of being noticed than those in rural areas. Athletes now can send highlight videos using the web to coaches and college recruiting officers anywhere in the world. Athletes in places that aren’t recruited much or don’t receive a lot of attention from admissions officers can make themselves noticeable through the Internet and social networking.

New online services are getting prospective students and universities in a way that in the past wasn’t really an option. The pinnacle of graduation for almost any high school senior is getting accepted into college. Students and prospective students have more resources and tools than ever before via social networking so they can create connections with and promote themselves to universities and colleges. While SAT/ACT test scores and GPAs still remain the primary criteria, students that have lower grades and test scores have the opportunity to feature other things are talented in. College admissions requirements and criteria is being slowly broadened to include students’ creativity, talents, work experience, jobs, special interests, experiences, activities as well as additional determining factors. These factors have been an influence in college recruitment, but internet services make it easier than ever for students to showcase thier aptitude and colleges and universities have the opportunity to distinguish and appreciate them easily. Athletes that participate in baseball, soccer, softball, hockey, volleyball, football, cheer, basketball, track, swimming and others can send in highlight videos with the internet that can be easily issued to recruiting offices, coaches and admissions offices. Recruiting tools and resources can be accessed and used using the internet.

Potential students benefit from social networking by developing peer networks and relationships. Students can share information and passions with others that have common expertise and pursuits and then improve and develop them. Several clubs, organizations, and groups exist in social network groups that bring students and prospective students together from all over. Prospective students and previous students are able to make inquiries and give advice to help students facing college admissions.

Students can now connect themselves with colleges and universities around the country through their entire experience in high school. No longer do college searches require visiting college campuses, but students and prospective students can access information and college admissions from the comfort of their own home. Students get the opportunity to present to admissions officers the type of person they are, the things they have accomplished and what their goals and aspirations are.

Author’s Bio:Mr. Richard Lorence is an free lance writer. Zinch is one of the first sites on the internet that’s really pushing to connect potential students in high school directly with admissions officers and recruitment officers in a way that’s never previoulsy been done before, with social networking. The new targeted college search should transform the whole college admissions process.

How to Improve Your College Admissions Essay

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How to Improve Your College Admissions Essay

The college admissions essay can be quite a daunting and intimidating task for many aspiring college students. However, the college admissions essay does not have to be so bad. In all actuality though, it seems many colleges do favor an application essay which knocks them off their feet, but in that case, a book on writing essays may help with that task along with a LOT of practice. On the other hand, many colleges and universities just want to know more about YOU…while seeing how well you write.

Colleges and universities WANT you to succeed. They want you to do well on the college admissions essay so they can accept you and make them look great! In order to help you along with this task, I have put together some tips to help all students along with their university admissions essays.

First thing I wanted to point out is that focusing and staying on a topic that you know about very well is key. This will show, through your writing, that you are very sincere and do not appear to be misleading anyone. Write what you now about.

Put a little bit of humor in your writing. Of course, the college application essay is not a stand up comedy routing, but a little humor helps show a more modest side to your self. Remember to stay on topic while modestly making light humor out of some of the subject matter in your college admissions essay topic.

In reference to the last tip, remember that you don’t need to impress the reader with something you don’t really have. Try to avoid using really big words that you normally would never ever use in real life. This will only come across as inflated and a little odd to them. But don’t worry, they read enough of this type of thins in many college admissions essays all the time from others. Be original.

Even though there may be an option to hand write your college application essay, try to type your essay out completely. If you cannot gain access to a computer or simply must write your essay out, then be sure to write as legibly as you can. A messy-looking essay may not show your writing in its best light and may even potentially hurt the reader’s impression of your writing skills overall. So it is just safer to type the essay when applying for college.

Start out with a rough draft of your essay and make improvements as you go along rather than simply writing from the heart and letting destiny do the rest. This will give you an opportunity to look over your grammar and be sure that it is clear, concise and legible (if writing by hand). You are trying to make the best impression possible for this admissions essay so make this shot count.

After you have written the essay and have made corrections on it, have family and friends look at it with a critical eye. Ask friends or family members who have already written a college application essay to take a look at it to see if it does any justice based on their past essay experience.

As I mentioned earlier, different colleges have different requirements for their admissions essays and it would be very wise to read over all of the guidelines the college or university sets forth in regards to your college admissions essay. It is very important to follow directions, especially when you want them to educate you. So be sure that the essay is no longer or shorter than what they require.

These tips and referring to other essay-writing resources can help you, as a student, to really achieve your college goals and getting into that college you really wanted to attend. In many cases, seemingly smaller things such as the college essay for admissions makes such a big difference as it is the only real statement you are able to make in reference to the consideration of your admission to the college. So give it your best shot and show those essay readers the best side of you.

Is the College Admissions Process Changing?

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What college will be a good match for me? Are you currently or did you ever ask yourself that question? Deciding on a college is a decision that can’t be taken lightly and a college search requires a lot of dedication and time. What makes a college a good match? There are many factors that should be accounted for when deciding on a good fit for each student. For example, academic programs, sports programs, the social scene, extra-curricular activities, and school credentials may be very important for a student. Every student should evaluate where and how far they want to go in life in order to be sure to choose a college that will allow them to fulfill all of their most wildest dreams.

With this being said, it is important that every student takes a close look at each school they are wanting to attend. If a student is planning on furthering their education by going to a graduate school or a medical school, the student should find information on the undergraduate programs at the college they are wanting to attend. If the student is planning on attending medical school, he/she should find out if the chemistry department and biology department at the college of their choice is prestigious enough for him/her to get accepted into medical school. Even so, whether or not the student is planning on attending graduate school, he/she should find out information on the undergraduate program that he/she will be attending.

What students seem to forget is that they aren’t the only ones trying to impress someone. Colleges too are constantly trying to impress their prospective students. Therefore, if students are serious about getting the best education, they should do their own research on each college they are considering. Many students forget that the process goes both ways are happy to be accepted anywhere.

Even though I have done very well academically, I don’t consider my academic performance to be a complete measure of my current or future success. Colleges realize that academics aren’t the only way to find the most motivated students who will have success in the real world. Therefore, they are always looking for better ways to learn about future prospects and the kind of character that will be added to their campus through the students they recruit.

It wasn’t too long ago when I myself went through the whole painstaking ordeal of being accepted into the college of my choice. What I enjoyed about my ordeal however, is that the college admissions officers took a look at more than just my test scores and grades. There were many of us prospective students who spent a weekend doing various activities on that college campus while college admissions officers watched us closely and interviewed many of us. By doing so, there were able to see more of who I was and not just that I had awesome test scores. (I don’t mean to brag, but, they were pretty good.) Nevertheless, I was happy with how the entire ordeal was run and that I was considered to be more than just a test score.

College admissions processes are still a work in progress. Many schools nationwide are looking for new ideas to improve the way they deal with college admissions, trying to find a way to make prospective students more than just grades and test scores. With so many applicants, it makes it very difficult for college admissions offices to look at each student in depth. A quicker way to filter through student applications would be an ideal way to better the process.

Advancements in science and technology has helped to lessen the headache of the process of admission to college for the colleges and students. Online applications have made the process much easier for students. There are also new and exciting ways for college admission officers to recruit students. College recruiting is going to be taken to the next level soon with new programs that allow students to showcase themselves to any college of their choice. For example, the Yale Admissions Officers or Harvard Admissions Officials can now recruit using online services in order to find potential students.

A Commendable College Vision for College Admissions Assistance

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College admissions have never been so easy before. Well for the first time college admission requirements have become customized and college admission information is available like never before. College Admission planning and college admission advice/assistance, college admissions deadlines the most sought after services are now available through mycollegevision.com, a platform that grooms young minds and helps them to prosper o their career front. College planning services have in fact never been such systematic and easy. This is a haven for students wishing to rise from the ashes of a broken career or groom a competitive career for themselves.

Mycollegevision.com started as a team of experienced experts with a vision to help students to make them-selves competitive and contribute to the growth of the economy and country. Students here are taught to realize their inner potential and analyze their strengths and weaknesses. Students learn hoe to get an edge over their competitors at the time of college admissions. With superior college admissions advice and college planning services several success stories have been scripted here. There has been an amazing response from student takers.

Moreover apart from the financial aid information and college planning services cum assistance, college admissions deadlines are catered to and students are seen with smiling faces. Special resources like financial aids, scholarship information, SAT preparation, grooming, improvement of specific skills there is an excellent student athlete marketing package aimed at improvising the skills of special talents, Music, arts, sports are the chief amongst these talents. The student athlete marketing package aims at networking with top people in the respective industry and providing a platform for the young minds to realize their potential, get a scholarship, attend a summer camp and cultivate an all round development. All this will in turn help the student to get selected in the best of colleges that nurture potential.

Moreover all the college planning, college admission advice, College Admission Assistance comes with individualized services. The parents have special resources that help them to decide if the child needs this program. They can look at the statistics of college enrollments and increasingly competitive scenario and can prepare their child in accordance with the job market. Parents and students can request for special phone consultation for personalized services. One on one attention comes easily here and students are helped with college planning services, college admission deadlines, college admission requirements and college selection process.

It all starts with the college admission requirement analysis. After this the student is made to get prepared for the challenging process with his hand help by the experts. If parents are still worried about the fact that all this may not work, Mycollegevision has special networking links that help the students to get satisfactory and competitive college admissions. Special blogs, testimonials pages and chat rooms are available for all the students who have registered them-selves here.

Need Admissions and Financial Aid Help? Here's How To Hire a Private College Counselor

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In a recent college admission industry journal a brave admissions Vice President commented that “Sadly, in the last 20 years we have lost our way in admissions. Colleges are no longer centered on counseling students; we are focused more on recruiting and competing for them. The students are just a way of keeping score. Furthermore, we charge different prices to students whom we value more or less because of our internal institutional priorities…Private counselors who strike a balance between helping students find the right match for their abilities, interests, and personality and assisting families in locating affordable choices are valuable.”

We couldn’t agree more. So who is looking out for your student in the admissions and financial aid process? Not the colleges anymore. Independent counselors, however, have no agenda other than what is best for their students. College is big business, first and foremost. You may not need a CPA to do your basic taxes and you may not need legal help for routine matters. But if you’re facing an IRS audit or having to go to court you want a professional in your corner. The same can be said of college admission and financial aid. The stakes are high, to say the least. Given that a bachelors degree from a public institution will cost ,000 to ,000 and a degree from a private institution can cost upwards of 5,000 or more the dollars alone beg for a professional’s expertise. Consider also that the difference in average lifetime earnings between a high school graduate and a college graduate is .2 million and climbing.

So where can you find help? And how do you know that you’ve found a professional?

In an ideal world, the first place to seek assistance would be from your high school counseling office. But in reality, too many high school counselors are not ‘college’ counselors per se; only a small amount of their time and resources are dedicated to college admission and only very rarely do counselors understand the intricacies of the financial aid process. Too many counselors are simply overworked and lack the time and resources to offer meaningful personal attention and guidance.

There are also no widely-known and recognized certifications for independent counselors such as the CFP or CPA designations, although such certifications do exist. And it is all too easy to find ‘independent counselors’ with little or no experience other than their own children’s admissions and financial aid processes. A disgruntled parent can make a bad counselor.

However, armed with the right questions, you can find true experienced professionals. When interviewing an independent college counselor be sure to have these questions answered to your satisfaction:

1. Professional Credentials/Experience

Do not ask if they have college admission and college counseling experience – ask them to tell you specifically how many years in admissions, how many years in financial aid, how many years in college counseling, how many years in private practice, and which institutions they served. The ideal is to find someone – or a team – who has direct experience in all of these areas and knows the tips, tricks, ins, outs, politics, processes, calendars, expectations, and language of college admission and financial aid.

2. Professional Associations

Ask if your independent counselor is a current member of professional associations. Professional associations, such as regional chapters of the National Association of College Admission Counseling, keep counselors up to speed with developments, issues, ethics, and news within the college admission and financial aid industries, not to mention that such associations foster collegial relationships between professionals. It would be nice to have your counselor personally know the deans and directors at the colleges your student will apply to.

3. Number of students

You want to know that your counselor is a full time professional and will work with your student appropriately. However, you also want your counselor to have a reasonable case load. You do not want your student to be that counselor’s fourth (why so few – does she know what she’s doing?) nor his 400th (will he be able to spend any time with my student?).

4. College & Campus Familiarity

You want to know that your counselor has personal experience with many different campuses and that they visit different colleges whenever possible. Matching the student to the right college is crucial. Colleges have personalities. Students have personalities. If your counselor has not visited the campus they do not have a good understanding of the college, period. It would be like finding a mate through an old-fashioned classified ad (nice college with leafy trees and okay professors seeks student with 1200 SAT score…). The better the counselor knows the colleges and knows the students the more successful the matching. 45% of students who start college do not finish; often this is because the it’s just not the right place for them and, frustrated and demoralized, they drop out.

5. Money Matters

No, we’re not talking about counselor fees here (although these vary wildly – we’ve seen everything between 0 and ,000). You need to know to what extent your counselor understands the financial aid process. Ask if they fill out or help you with the FAFSA and CSS Profile applications for need-based financial aid. Ask them if they think you need to fill out the forms even if you don’t think you will qualify for need-based aid (the answer is yes, of course, so you can be eligible for merit awards and loan packages). Ask if they will be able to provide you with a college funding plan with a breakdown of estimated family contribution numbers, line-by-line estimated financial aid packages, and if they work with a financial planner or college funding specialist to suggest ways to improve the family’s bottom line. Most independent college counselors do little to none of this, so you may want to cut them some slack; just know that such help is out there for those who want and need it.

The stakes are high, but there is excellent help available. Just be sure you find a pro, someone you trust, respect, and whom you know will work well with your student.

Your First Job Out of College – Make it Count!

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Finding your first job out of college is an exciting and sometimes intimidating process. On the one hand, your future depends on it! You may be faced with new expenses such as rent, food, and student loan payments, and feeling the pressure to find the “perfect” job. On the other hand, today’s workplace is much different from that of your parents’ generation. The average person changes careers multiple times during his or her work history. Does this mean you should take your first job out of college lightly? Not at all—it simply means that you can stop worrying, and focus your energies on finding the best possible job for you at this time.

Know What You’re Looking For

If you haven’t yet identified your job target, now is the time to do so! Take advantage of your school’s career services and job placement opportunities. These services exist for one reason: to help you in your career. Most career services offices offer a variety of assessment tools to help you determine your best career option. For some college students, this may mean a career outside of your major. For other students, this may mean identifying a specific career within the larger field of study.

Do Your Research

Finding your ideal job takes effort. It’s not enough to simply post your resume, job application, and cover letter on the Internet and wait for employers to come calling. If you want to find the best job, you need to engage all your resources. Research the types of companies you want to work for and find out as much about them as possible. Use your network of friends and associates and a variety of job-search tools, including the Internet, classifieds, state and government postings, job fairs, cold calling, and placement agencies and recruiters (although be wary of any agencies or recruiters that charge a fee).

Choose Carefully

When you take advantage of all the options available in your job search, multiple offers are more likely. This method allows you to practice job interviewing and company research skills, and ideally, it will put you in a position of choosing a job rather than accepting one out of fear or desperation.

While it’s tempting to accept the first offer you receive, consider it carefully. You don’t want to be stuck in a job you hate. If possible, stay in your first job out of college for at least a couple of years to demonstrate your dependability and to gain useful skills. Whether you move up in the company or change is up to you and your options; however, the first job is important for college students and new graduates.

When You’ve Accepted a Position

Once you have the job, first congratulate yourself! Then, do the best work you can. When done well, your first job out of college can be the foundation upon which you build a successful and enjoyable career.