Why Hire a Private College Counselor to Help with College Planning?

Many families believe that high school counselors provide their students with the college planning they need in order to choose the appropriate schools and create the strongest college applications and essays.  They often don’t realize that high school counselors work with 450 students. Most have an average of 38 minutes to provide individual assistance to college-bound students.  Tight school budgets make it difficult for high school counselors to visit colleges and participate in professional development

As a private college counselor, I just returned from a HECA (Higher Education Consultants Association) conference on the East coast.  Not only did more than 200 of us hear inspiring speakers discuss the college admissions changes taking place, but we participated in discussions about helping students find the best colleges for their academic and social needs, understanding how college admission decisions are made, and helping learning disabled students transition to college.

Many of us took the opportunity to visit colleges and universities in the area and attended information sessions in order to find out about changes at these schools and what they are looking for in prospective applications. 

This is one of a number of conferences we attend every year to make sure as private college counselors we have the expertise to help families make the best college decisions.

http://www.collegedirection.org

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College Admissions: Does Community Service and Volunteering Help?

I always encourage students to get involved in community service projects or participate in volunteering because it helps with college admissions. More importantly, it makes you feel good about yourself and how your efforts are making a difference in the lives of others. Summer is a good time to look for volunteer opportunities where you can get involved in something about which you care.  See if you can’t fit in a few hours every week for an important cause.  Colleges want to accept students who will contribute on the campus and community as well.  Check out this article for some great suggestions.

http://www.education.com/magazine/article/teenage-volunteering/

Should Athletic Scholarships Be Given to Students who Can Pay the Full Amount?

Paying for college is an overwhelming concern for many families.  Most hope to put together a combination of financial aid and scholarships to make a college education affordable for their child. Should high school student athletes whose families have more than enough money to pay for college be given a full athletic scholarship when schools are facing budget cuts every year?  Justin Combs, son of entertainer Sean Diddy Combs, feels he is justified to receive the scholarships because he worked hard for it.  What are your thoughts?

http://www.insidehighered.com/quicktakes/2012/06/01/debate-over-athletic-scholarship-wealthy-student