One former client asked me to give seniors some key advice for their falls.
1.Dedicate one afternoon per weekend to college application work. He said he spent his week doing homework and his many activities and saved one afternoon per weekend for his college application work and that made his fall schedule work. College applications take time. View them as a regular class and use Sunday afternoons, for example, to fill out applications, draft essays, and put together teacher recommendation information.
2. Develop key essay writing strategy. Go online now and checkout all the applications and supplements. By September 1, each college will have posted its application or supplement. Remember, the UC application is not available online until October 1, but it is available as a PDF online to see what you need to write. See my previous post for essay writing strategies. Coordinate your essay writing and focus on those core qualities you need to let colleges know you possess. Don't repeat. Don't complain. Tell and show.
3. Plan now for teacher recommendations. Teacher dance cards fill early so you need to determine whom you plan to ask now. Remember, most colleges prefer 11th or 12th grade teachers (or a 1oth grade teacher you have now or who knows you in multiple capacities). They want core content--English, History, Science, and Math. If you're multi-talented, choose across math/science and English/Social Studies. If you're specialized, you can go within. But don't choose two in the same content area unless you are sending in a third recommendation. Don't overkill with too many recommendations. Choose those teachers who know you the best and who can say the most about you. Don't fear Brag Sheets...Brag, brag, brag. Makes weaknesses into strengths.
4. Colleges will look at fall semester grades. Keep up the good work. This is not the time to stop major activities or to change your work ethic. Colleges count 11th and 12th grade grades the most. Those grades are most indicative of who you are now as a student. If you dropped last semester, you need to focus intensely on doing great work this fall.
5. Take another round of tests. Seniors do better on standardized tests. So don't think it's too late to improve your scores. You matured over the summer. But don't go in unprepared. Get a test prep book, find a free online program, or ask your parents for tutoring. I know you can't relax but just know that you can beat these tests. If you're worried, send colleges your scores now. Then if you like your later scores, you can send them. If you don't, you don't have to.
Good luck. Please feel free to email me with questions.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Those late summer senior questions
I have been working with a group of 15 rising seniors and 2 rising juniors for a college essay writing class I designed and offer for UCLA Extension Summer Programs for 7th-12th Grade Students. Each student attends a different public or private school, including LACES, Pacific Palisades Charter, H-W, Windward, New Roads, Flintridge, Hoover High School, Wildwood, YULA, and more. Each student is unique. Each student has great assets, qualities, and personalities to offer colleges.
What stuns me is how few have met actively with their college counselors at schools. So I offered to answer basic questions they raised. Here are some of their questions. Maybe they will help you. Please feel free to ask questions. I can't guarantee I can answer them, but I can certainly find answers.
Question 1: How should my different essays connect?
Answer 1: What a great question. I believe they should connect in ways that show as much about your personality and key characteristics as possible. It is ideal if they complement each other. If one is about something specific you have accomplished on your own, it would be nice to have one that shows how you've accomplished something with others. If one is about how something external lyshaped you, then another should be about your iniatiative, an internal quest. If one is about a struggle, the other can be about recovery and joy. Additional essays should focus on core qualities you want to continue sharing but significantly overlapping essays are not highly recommended. Now, there are caveats. Someone who has had an extraordinary circumstance or experience can definitely have two pieces that explain the process and the outcomes or the inside and the outside. Email me and I'll tell you more.
Question 2. I need financial aid and don't know where to start?
Answser 2. http://www.fastweb.com/ is where I would start. I took a great class on financial aid and this website taught me more than anything I could imagine. It provides great information along with access to resources. I also have a great powerpoint my instructor gave us which I can email you.
Question 3. What is early decision? What is early action?
Answer 3: Early decision and early action are two ways to gain access to a college by mid-December. These applications are due the beginning of November and mean that you need to have great grades already, a strong academic and testing record, and school support.
Early Decision is legally binding. If you get in, you go. (Unless some extraordinary financial situation occurs. You can only apply to one Early Decision school. So this needs to be a match made in heaven.
Early Action is NOT binding. If you get in, you do not have to go. Some colleges have Restrictive Early Action which means you can only apply to that one school but acceptance is not binding.
Be aware that some Early Decision schools do not defer. They accept or reject.
To check whether a school you are interested in has Early Decision or Early Action, check this great website: http://www.nacac.com/college-search/search.cfm
Question 4: Is it too late to start an activity?
Answer 4: Of course, not. Just remember, however, a few things.
1. Colleges look for consistency and develoment. So if this activity is an extension of an interest such as an internship or job, great.
2. Don't do anything to sacrific your testing, academic, and application preparation process.
3. Dont' STOP anything senior year. You need to keep doing what you're doing.
4. Do what you need to show a pattern...If you're on a steady increase, then adding an activity makes perfect sense.
Question 5: What schools don't require test scores?
Answer 5: Ah, a great website exists to help you determine this: http://www.fairtest.org/univ/optional.htm
Question 6: What schools have great xxx programs?
Answer 6: I don't know off the top of my head. But there are many ways to find out.
1. Ask your friends. Ask teachers.
2. Do web searches. The College Board has a great site that helps you find schools based on majors. http://www.collegeboard.com/
Some other sites with great college finders are
Xap Student Center http://www.xap.com/
NACAC's Internet Road Map for the College Bound Student has great links and info on it as well.
http://www.nacacnet.org/MemberPortal/News/StepsNewsletter/An+Internet+Road+Map+for+the+College-Bound+Student.htm
That is all for now. I welcome more questions and desperately seek feedback and comments.
What stuns me is how few have met actively with their college counselors at schools. So I offered to answer basic questions they raised. Here are some of their questions. Maybe they will help you. Please feel free to ask questions. I can't guarantee I can answer them, but I can certainly find answers.
Question 1: How should my different essays connect?
Answer 1: What a great question. I believe they should connect in ways that show as much about your personality and key characteristics as possible. It is ideal if they complement each other. If one is about something specific you have accomplished on your own, it would be nice to have one that shows how you've accomplished something with others. If one is about how something external lyshaped you, then another should be about your iniatiative, an internal quest. If one is about a struggle, the other can be about recovery and joy. Additional essays should focus on core qualities you want to continue sharing but significantly overlapping essays are not highly recommended. Now, there are caveats. Someone who has had an extraordinary circumstance or experience can definitely have two pieces that explain the process and the outcomes or the inside and the outside. Email me and I'll tell you more.
Question 2. I need financial aid and don't know where to start?
Answser 2. http://www.fastweb.com/ is where I would start. I took a great class on financial aid and this website taught me more than anything I could imagine. It provides great information along with access to resources. I also have a great powerpoint my instructor gave us which I can email you.
Question 3. What is early decision? What is early action?
Answer 3: Early decision and early action are two ways to gain access to a college by mid-December. These applications are due the beginning of November and mean that you need to have great grades already, a strong academic and testing record, and school support.
Early Decision is legally binding. If you get in, you go. (Unless some extraordinary financial situation occurs. You can only apply to one Early Decision school. So this needs to be a match made in heaven.
Early Action is NOT binding. If you get in, you do not have to go. Some colleges have Restrictive Early Action which means you can only apply to that one school but acceptance is not binding.
Be aware that some Early Decision schools do not defer. They accept or reject.
To check whether a school you are interested in has Early Decision or Early Action, check this great website: http://www.nacac.com/college-search/search.cfm
Question 4: Is it too late to start an activity?
Answer 4: Of course, not. Just remember, however, a few things.
1. Colleges look for consistency and develoment. So if this activity is an extension of an interest such as an internship or job, great.
2. Don't do anything to sacrific your testing, academic, and application preparation process.
3. Dont' STOP anything senior year. You need to keep doing what you're doing.
4. Do what you need to show a pattern...If you're on a steady increase, then adding an activity makes perfect sense.
Question 5: What schools don't require test scores?
Answer 5: Ah, a great website exists to help you determine this: http://www.fairtest.org/univ/optional.htm
Question 6: What schools have great xxx programs?
Answer 6: I don't know off the top of my head. But there are many ways to find out.
1. Ask your friends. Ask teachers.
2. Do web searches. The College Board has a great site that helps you find schools based on majors. http://www.collegeboard.com/
Some other sites with great college finders are
Xap Student Center http://www.xap.com/
NACAC's Internet Road Map for the College Bound Student has great links and info on it as well.
http://www.nacacnet.org/MemberPortal/News/StepsNewsletter/An+Internet+Road+Map+for+the+College-Bound+Student.htm
That is all for now. I welcome more questions and desperately seek feedback and comments.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Planning the end of your pre-senior year summer
There is so much you can still do to empower yourself and improve your college admissions process.
1. Set up your final testing schedule.
a. Will you take more standardized tests? You should consider this if your scores do not match the median scores of your top colleges.
b. Which tests will you take? At this point in your life, you can still take both the ACT and SAT. Yet that requires double studying and preparing. Do not take these tests again without some kind of prepping. Those with limited time, should choose the test that all colleges on your list accept.
c. SAT Subject Tests. Some colleges require both the SATI/ACT and SAT IIs. So you should try to prepare for these tests as well. Choose ones in the fall that you can easily freshen up on. Don't take one from a course you took two years ago unless you have plenty of prep time.
d. Sign up now for tests.
2. Refine your senior year schedule. Remember...
a. If you're taking more rigorous classes, great. But make sure you have all the time and supports in place.
b. You need lots of time for your activities and work.
c. Colleges like rigour and they like improvement in grades. Don't take the hardest courses now, if you can't keep your grades up.
d. College applications take time. Build in time for really strong submissions.
3. Develop a resume.
a. It's time to collect all your 9th grade-present information. Do not go back before then except for math and foreign language and long term sports and artistic development.
b. You need to sort it into categories and create a resume with these sections.
i. education
ii. activities--you can create categories...in school, sports, community service.
iii. jobs
iv. if you want, and you like your test scores, you can include them
c. I can provide samples.
4. Start working on college applications.
a. The common application is up. www. commonapp.org
b. Start working on the basics of that great application.
c. Hints...with activities...go in order of importance...start with those activities you have done the longest and achieved the highest levels.
d. Draft your short and long essays. I will provide advice on these later.
e. Develop a master chart of key deadlines, requirements, and passwords. I can provide a master chart if you'd like.
f. Look at other colleges and their requirements. Add them to your master list.
5. Choose your teacher recommenders
a. Think of core teachers who know you best from 11th and 12th grade. English, SS, Science, Math, and Foreign Language.
b. A teacher in 10th grade is okay, especially if you have had this teacher more than once.
c. If you're well-rounded, chose one from humanities/social sciences and one from math/science
d. Do not choose two from same content area, unless one is a third recommender.
e. Contact your college counselor. Begin thinking of ways to build a stronger relationship with this core person
f. If a teacher you want to use has left your school, track him or her down now.
6. Plan late summer, early fall trips to colleges
a. It's best to visit colleges when they are in session. I know that's ideal but it's a better indication of what college life is like.
b. Plan visits to schools that highly recommend visits.
c. Plan visits to more realistic schools.
d. Plan visits to schools to which you may consider applying as early action or early decision candidates.
e. Prepare. Do research on each school. Keep notes of your core findings.
f. Arrange for tours, group information sessions, class visits, and interviews.
7. Prepare for interviews
a. Many colleges have onsite interviews. Some have local interviews. Some use admissions officers. Some use alumni. Find out what for each college. Go to admissions website, and look for interviews.
b. Some interviews are informational...They're great but don't count. They mainly focus on student questions.
c. Some interviews are evaluative. They count!!!!! They are great opportunity to share information that doesn't appear on application. Tell stories. Give powerful examples. Do not complain. Do not get off track.
d. You can bring notes.
e. You should prepare. You should know enough about the college to have a high level conversation.
f. You can take notes.
g. Bring your resume to leave with interviewer.
h. Get interviewer's card.
i. Write a hand-written thank you note with specifics in it and with one more piece of key information about you.
1. Set up your final testing schedule.
a. Will you take more standardized tests? You should consider this if your scores do not match the median scores of your top colleges.
b. Which tests will you take? At this point in your life, you can still take both the ACT and SAT. Yet that requires double studying and preparing. Do not take these tests again without some kind of prepping. Those with limited time, should choose the test that all colleges on your list accept.
c. SAT Subject Tests. Some colleges require both the SATI/ACT and SAT IIs. So you should try to prepare for these tests as well. Choose ones in the fall that you can easily freshen up on. Don't take one from a course you took two years ago unless you have plenty of prep time.
d. Sign up now for tests.
2. Refine your senior year schedule. Remember...
a. If you're taking more rigorous classes, great. But make sure you have all the time and supports in place.
b. You need lots of time for your activities and work.
c. Colleges like rigour and they like improvement in grades. Don't take the hardest courses now, if you can't keep your grades up.
d. College applications take time. Build in time for really strong submissions.
3. Develop a resume.
a. It's time to collect all your 9th grade-present information. Do not go back before then except for math and foreign language and long term sports and artistic development.
b. You need to sort it into categories and create a resume with these sections.
i. education
ii. activities--you can create categories...in school, sports, community service.
iii. jobs
iv. if you want, and you like your test scores, you can include them
c. I can provide samples.
4. Start working on college applications.
a. The common application is up. www. commonapp.org
b. Start working on the basics of that great application.
c. Hints...with activities...go in order of importance...start with those activities you have done the longest and achieved the highest levels.
d. Draft your short and long essays. I will provide advice on these later.
e. Develop a master chart of key deadlines, requirements, and passwords. I can provide a master chart if you'd like.
f. Look at other colleges and their requirements. Add them to your master list.
5. Choose your teacher recommenders
a. Think of core teachers who know you best from 11th and 12th grade. English, SS, Science, Math, and Foreign Language.
b. A teacher in 10th grade is okay, especially if you have had this teacher more than once.
c. If you're well-rounded, chose one from humanities/social sciences and one from math/science
d. Do not choose two from same content area, unless one is a third recommender.
e. Contact your college counselor. Begin thinking of ways to build a stronger relationship with this core person
f. If a teacher you want to use has left your school, track him or her down now.
6. Plan late summer, early fall trips to colleges
a. It's best to visit colleges when they are in session. I know that's ideal but it's a better indication of what college life is like.
b. Plan visits to schools that highly recommend visits.
c. Plan visits to more realistic schools.
d. Plan visits to schools to which you may consider applying as early action or early decision candidates.
e. Prepare. Do research on each school. Keep notes of your core findings.
f. Arrange for tours, group information sessions, class visits, and interviews.
7. Prepare for interviews
a. Many colleges have onsite interviews. Some have local interviews. Some use admissions officers. Some use alumni. Find out what for each college. Go to admissions website, and look for interviews.
b. Some interviews are informational...They're great but don't count. They mainly focus on student questions.
c. Some interviews are evaluative. They count!!!!! They are great opportunity to share information that doesn't appear on application. Tell stories. Give powerful examples. Do not complain. Do not get off track.
d. You can bring notes.
e. You should prepare. You should know enough about the college to have a high level conversation.
f. You can take notes.
g. Bring your resume to leave with interviewer.
h. Get interviewer's card.
i. Write a hand-written thank you note with specifics in it and with one more piece of key information about you.
First blog
In this first blog, I share my current thought process on the college admissions process. I welcome feedback.
As students and families finish the seminal summer before twelfth grade, they hold such dreams and hopes for their futures. I do all I can to help demystify the college admissions process.
Yet, I can only do so much. I give the analogy of a basketball game. Some players can shoot so well they swish or dunk the ball in. Some players require a tip in from another player...their shot must be close enough but just need a little push. Others completely miss the basket.
What can I--Rebecca--do this late in the game. I can help the students who clearly chose great match schools and those who need a little tip in help. I cannot help those who have no hope of making the basket or in this case meeting the requirements of competitive colleges. That would be wrong of me. But I do not think it's wrong to hope. I just think it right to try to find the right schools for your children...and that means colleges that will want your children.
What everyone must remember, however, that with the competitive nature of college admissions, everyone is affected. There are no longer clear admits at the top colleges. There are so many top students that colleges cannot take often 90% of their admissions candidates. The trickle down effect impacts second and third tier schools and thousands and thousands of students.
So ultimately, students and families need to think really hard about multiple college pathways. They must choose a nice range of schools...all of which the student can imagine attending.
They must plan Option A and Option A and Option A...Not just Options A, B, and C.
Most importantly, families must look for what is best for the student and try the best they can to pull out their notions of the past...College admissions is not the same as 20 or 25 years ago. They must look at what is best for their child as it matches what colleges look for. This is so difficult and so hard to do. Yet it is possible.
Let me help you go through this process. I am honest, clear, and powerful. I do not shade the truth, yet I make this process powerful and possible. It's all in how we make students feel and how they experience the process of finding schools that match their talents, experiences, and goals.
What are your thoughts? Your hopes?
As students and families finish the seminal summer before twelfth grade, they hold such dreams and hopes for their futures. I do all I can to help demystify the college admissions process.
Yet, I can only do so much. I give the analogy of a basketball game. Some players can shoot so well they swish or dunk the ball in. Some players require a tip in from another player...their shot must be close enough but just need a little push. Others completely miss the basket.
What can I--Rebecca--do this late in the game. I can help the students who clearly chose great match schools and those who need a little tip in help. I cannot help those who have no hope of making the basket or in this case meeting the requirements of competitive colleges. That would be wrong of me. But I do not think it's wrong to hope. I just think it right to try to find the right schools for your children...and that means colleges that will want your children.
What everyone must remember, however, that with the competitive nature of college admissions, everyone is affected. There are no longer clear admits at the top colleges. There are so many top students that colleges cannot take often 90% of their admissions candidates. The trickle down effect impacts second and third tier schools and thousands and thousands of students.
So ultimately, students and families need to think really hard about multiple college pathways. They must choose a nice range of schools...all of which the student can imagine attending.
They must plan Option A and Option A and Option A...Not just Options A, B, and C.
Most importantly, families must look for what is best for the student and try the best they can to pull out their notions of the past...College admissions is not the same as 20 or 25 years ago. They must look at what is best for their child as it matches what colleges look for. This is so difficult and so hard to do. Yet it is possible.
Let me help you go through this process. I am honest, clear, and powerful. I do not shade the truth, yet I make this process powerful and possible. It's all in how we make students feel and how they experience the process of finding schools that match their talents, experiences, and goals.
What are your thoughts? Your hopes?
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