How Do We Build A College List?

Building a college list can be a challenging and complex process, but there are several steps that students can take to make it more manageable. The first step is to identify what factors are most important in selecting a college. This could include factors like location, size, academic programs, campus culture, cost, and career opportunities. By understanding what matters most to them, students can begin to research and evaluate colleges that fit their criteria. They can use resources like college search websites, guidebooks, and college fairs to gather information about different colleges and compare them based on their preferences.

Once students have identified several colleges of interest, they should conduct further research and evaluate each college based on additional factors like admission requirements, financial aid and scholarships, retention rates and students graduating in four years. Creating a Google spreadsheet will help students evaluate and compare each school according to the factors they consider important. They can also seek advice and guidance from their high school counselors, teachers, parents and college consultants to gain further insights and perspectives on different colleges. Ultimately, the goal is to build a balanced list of colleges that includes a mix of reach, match, and probable schools that reflect the student’s academic and personal profile, as well as their goals and aspirations for the future. By taking a systematic and thoughtful approach to building a college list, students can increase their chances of finding the right fit for their college experience and achieving their academic and personal goals.

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What College Planning Activities Should High School Juniors Be Doing Now?

High school juniors should be actively preparing for college and taking the following steps:

1. Research colleges: Start researching colleges to determine which ones are a good fit and align with their academic and career interests. Students should consider what factors are important to them in a college experience.
2. Take standardized tests: Consider taking the SAT and ACT, and research college admission test requirements for colleges they are interested in attending. Even though many school are test-optional, students gain a bonus when they submit test scores.
3. Visit colleges: Plan campus visits to get a better understanding of the college atmosphere and culture. Students can only take virtual tours and attend virtual information sessions.
4. Get involved in extracurricular activities: Get involved in extracurricular activities, such as sports, clubs, and community service, to build a well-rounded college application. Colleges also want to see leadership displayed in the activities students pursue out of school.
5. Meet with a school counselor: Meet with a school counselor to discuss academic performance and future plans, and to receive advice on the college application process.
6. Prepare for the college application process: Start preparing for the college application process by organizing transcripts, test scores, and recommendations, and researching application requirements and deadlines.
7. Explore scholarship opportunities: Research scholarships and other forms of financial aid to help pay for college. Keep in mind that colleges are going to be the best source of scholarships. Look for local scholarships because there is less competition than national ones.
8. Consider summer programs: Consider attending summer programs or camps to gain additional experience in their area of interest and improve their college application. Colleges always like to see students get a job in the summer.
9. Take challenging courses: Continue to take challenging courses in high school to demonstrate academic preparedness for college.
10. Stay organized: Keep track of college-related information and deadlines using a planner or online tool to stay organized and on track throughout the college planning process.

5 Tips to Improve Your ACT Score

As a test prep coach, students frequently ask me how they can improve their score on the ACT. Since I have been providing test prep for high school students for more than twenty years, I have a few tips that will help students succeed on this important test.

1. FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE ACT 
The ACT consists of four sections: English, math, reading, and science reasoning. Each section requires its own individual approach. Take time to understand the format of each section and the best way to tackle it. Read and make sure you understand the directions so you do not need to waste time on them when you take the actual ACT. The more comfortable you are with the test, the easier it will be to improve your score on the ACT.

2. USE GUESSING TO YOUR ADVANTAGE 
There is no penalty foe guessing on the ACT so I suggest you waste no time on questions if you don’t have a clue what the question is asking. See if you can eliminate some answers and then make a guess between what is left. You can always circle the number of the question and come back to it later if you have a minute or two at the end of the section.

3. MAKE THE BEST USE OF YOUR TIME 
Most students find the time constraints on the ACT a problem. You need to decide what questions can be answered more quickly and which you should leave until later. The science section seems to be the most difficult to finish on time. I suggest students skip one passage on the science test and try to be more accurate on their answers on the other six passages. When practicing on the ACT, it is important to time yourself on each test and figure out how to pace yourself.

4. WORK ON BOTH YOUR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES 
Most colleges are interested in the ACT composite score. Your goal is to do what you can to improve that score. If you are strong in English, try to become even stronger. If math is your weakness, don’t try to learn new math at this time. Make sure you do the math questions you know how to do and don’t make stupid mistakes.

5. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE 
There is no substitute for practice if you want to improve your score on the ACT. Practice on real tests and go over every question you miss. Make sure you understand the reasoning behind the correct answer. On the reading section, check any questions you miss and return to the passage to find the supporting information for the right answer. If you are motivated enough to be successful on your ACT practice at home, then do it. If you need a class or some individual test prep, Google “test prep” and the city you live in and find out what is available.

Free Webinar: My College Direction, a New, Innovative College Planning Program

My College Direction is a new, innovative college counseling program that is for families who want the best advice and most up-to-date information for their student.

Susie Watts is a college consultant in Denver who has 30 years experience helping students create a college list and assist them as they go through the college application and admissions process.

She has felt for a long time that college counseling should be more available to many students who need the guidance, but found it unaffordable. As a result, she has started My College Direction.

Students often do not receive the assistance they need from high school counselors, not because counselors would not like to provide it, but they simply have too many students to work with and too many other responsibilities.

Susie always felt that she enjoyed and was more effective when she worked with students individually in her office. It wasn’t until the Coronavirus struck that she began to move some of her college counseling and test prep online. Much to her surprise, it has worked out quite well, and her students love the fact that they don’t need to travel to an office, but still get the same kind of college planning help they need.

My College Direction will be very similar to the comprehensive college planning program that Susie has offered for the last 30 years. The only difference will be that it is online. Some sessions will be for a group of 20 students (maximum) and others will be individual. The main benefit to you as a family is the cost.

Susie will be doing a free webinar to provide details on the My College Direction program which she has just launched. It will be on Tuesday, June 30 at 7:00 MDT. You can register on the link below.

https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/free-webinar-my-college-direction-an-new-approach-to-college-planning-tickets-110359883382?utm-medium=discovery&utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-source=strongmail&utm-term=listing

 

Who Cares about College Rankings?

Quite frankly, I am sick of college rankings. If it isn’t U.S. News, it’s Forbes, Money or endless other publications ranking what they consider the best colleges and universities.  The college rankings can tell us anything from the most connected schools to the best value universities. These college rankings measure different attributes that may or may not be important to a family when they are considering schools for their child. Often they are more confusing than helpful.

Many college rankings are oversimplified and downright unfair. They can be the result of professors, students, or even the universities themselves answering questionnaires that have been sent to them by a magazine or newspaper.  Many times college administrators are asked to evaluate colleges with which they have no knowledge, not just their own school.

Rankings often lead to misleading conclusions. Some colleges will spend money to improve something that will help their ranking, but may not benefit the students at all. Many use college rankings in their marketing materials.  These rankings often ignore factors that are of concern to prospective students.  Too frequently, they contain the same schools over and over.

As a private college counselor, I pay very little attention to these rankings because I want my students to consider colleges that are right for them. The highest ranked schools may not be the best fit or a college where they will have a successful academic and social experience. That to me is what is far more important than any ranking.

 

What Can A College Admissions Consultant Do For You?

Most families would agree that the college application and admissions process is both stressful and overwhelming. There are so many questions parents and students face when trying to find the right colleges. They can be equally confused with the different applications, deadlines and required information for financial aid and scholarships. Unfortunately, most high school counselors do not have the time to devote to these matters. Some families think that a college admission consultant is out of their budget, but many don’t realize that in the end, they usually save money because they have received the guidance and correct information to make the right decisions. This is what a college admissions consultant can do for your student and family.

1.   Individual help most students do not receive in high school

2.   Availability for your child and family when you need it

3.   Expertise in the college admission process 

4.   Decreased family stress and more peace of mind. Try to eliminate parental nagging about college applications.

5.   Specific knowledge of colleges, their admission requirements and SAT and ACT testing updates

6.   Get help from an objective third party to brainstorm and read applications and college essays

7.   Gain a competitive edge in the college admission process

8.   College visits that provide first-hand knowledge of schools and their suitability for different students

9.   Save money ​by helping your child enroll in one college, stay there, and graduate in four years.

10. Increased financial aid and scholarship opportunities

Look for the College Fit, Not the Ranking

For many high school juniors, college planning has begun. This, of course, includes the college search. College Direction suggests that students put rankings at the bottom of their considerations and concentrate on researching schools that are a good fit for them. This fit should includes academic, financial and social as well. Rankings just add to the hype surrounding college admissions and rarely have little to do with the educational experience a student will receive. When College Direction is researching schools for a student, we are much more concerned with the undergraduate experience and the four-year graduation rates at different schools. To find colleges with the best fit, students should do some self-reflection and write down a list of qualities they consider important when choosing a school. The colleges they choose to explore more completely should have as many of these qualities as possible.

 

 

 

Do I Need an Educational Consultant?

The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) recommends that high school counselors work with no more than 100 students.  Most public high school counselors have a student load of at least 350 students.  On average, high school counselors spend 38 minutes helping students with the college search, applications, and admissions process.

Educational consultants are also referred to a college consultants or college admissions counselors. They are not associated with a high school or college. They have the time, training, and expertise to provide individual attention to students with their college search, applications and essays, financial aid and scholarships, and the college admissions process.

Here are five reasons why hiring an educational consultant to work with your high school student might be the best investment you ever made:

 

1. Educational consultants understand the college admissions process and visit colleges and universities regularly to discover what makes one school different from another. They meet with college admissions officers at each school so they know about the continuous changes that take place on individual campuses.

 

2. Educational consultants help your student find colleges that are a good fit, not just a big name. They want your student to be successful in the college admissions process and to have a variety of schools from which to choose. They know that students have been bombarded with all kinds of information from schools. After a while, each college begins to look and sound alike.  They help families separate the hype from the facts.

 

3. Educational consultants are able to work successfully with your student because they do not have the emotional investment that parents do. They provide reliable college information and objective advice. They give your family another opinion and try to make the college admissions process as stress-free as possible.

 

4. Educational consultants know that applying to college and college admissions can be a time for students to discover themselves. Students learn to assess their strengths and weaknesses. They determine what it is they want out of a college experience.  This helps them with the college search and encourages students to make better college decisions.

 

5. Educational consultants assist students with their applications and essays. They brainstorm topics that will enable your student to write the most compelling essays that will strengthen their applications. They encourage students to consider topics that have real meaning for them and will convey their personality to an admissions committee.

 

Many parents feel that turning to an educational consultant has been the best investment they could make.

 

 

 

Why Hire a College Admissions Consultant?

Here are nine reasons why your family could benefit from using a college admissions consultant:

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.
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, personal and financial needs.
3. They do not have an emotional attachment to your child and this allows them to provide unbiased, professional advice.
4. They get to know students on a personal basis which enables them to help students become stronger college applicants.
5. They help provide direction for students on their applications and essays. This assures students that they are adhering to deadlines set by 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.
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.
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.
9. They are members of professional organizations like the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA) and Independent Educational Consultants (IECA). College admission consultants attend state and national conferences to continue their professional development.

Most college admission consultants charge affordable fees and are very generous with their time. Many families believe that hiring an independent educational consultant is the best investment they have made.

What Are My Chances on the Wait-List?

I have been amazed at the number of high school seniors who have been wait-listed from colleges and universities and get their hopes up that they will eventually get in. Sometimes wait-lists have more than 3,000 students on them. Sometimes colleges never even go to their wait-list. Believe me, these are students with the grades, test scores and other credentials to make them very competitive for admissions at these schools.  The biggest issue for many kids is that it puts them in limbo and unable to emotionally commit to a school. My advice to most students is to send an email to the college if you are still interested and convey this to them. Let them know that if you are accepted, you will come.  If you receive any awards, improved test scores, or anything else to support your application, email or fax it to the college admissions officials.  But keep your other options open because you do  need to make a final college decision, with a deposit, by May 1st.