THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS RECEIVES HONORS FROM SANTA MONICA!

SANTA MONICA August 11, 2012 -- THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS CONSULTANT has been selected for the 2012 Best of Santa Monica Award in the Tutoring Instructors category by the Santa Monica Award Program

1. Each year, the Santa Monica Award Program identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Santa Monica area a great place to live, work and play.
   
   Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2012 Santa Monica Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the Santa Monica Award Program and data provided by third parties.
   
   
   About Santa Monica Award Program
   
   The Santa Monica Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Santa Monica area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.
   
   The Santa Monica Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community’s contributions to the U.S. economy.
   
   SOURCE: Santa Monica Award Program

THE JOB MARKET MAY NOT BE AS IT APPEARS

 In a recent study completed by the MANPOWER GROUP,  it appears that the job market may not be as it seems, in fact you might be surprised to learn of something called the “Job Paradox.”

 The paradox refers to the fact that even though unemployment rates remain high (8.1% in the US and 11% in California),  a very large number of jobs that are available,  remain unfilled.

As the chart next to us illustrates , there is a dynamic that  is contining into 2012-2013 for a payroll when the number of jobs available are going unfilled.  During the recession  it is no surprise that we had fewer job openings and people were left  unemployed. However,  the right hand side of the graph acknowledges that as we are  moving further and further away from the recession many jobs remain unfilled, dispite that so many continue to look for work.  So, what accounts for this?

When the Manpower Group questioned employers about the applicants that they were interviewing,  many employers said that they were not finding the right kind of applicants; and they needed to find individuals who possessed the right knowledge and skills required by their job openings.  On the other side of the coin,  many of the individuals who they did find to be suitable were/are not able to just up and relocate for new positions as quickly and easily as they might have been able to in the past.   Employers felt that  they had to take into account the tough housing and tight credit markets. There was also no doubt that in a this tough economy, many companies were/are choosing to leave positions unfilled rather than to hire and train someone without the right knowledge and skills.  Companies want to wait till the markets are stronger.

So what can a high school or college student, or job seeker do?  Well,  a series of focus groups were held by a research company consisting of hiring managers and directors from a variety of industries in the Los Angeles area. What they learned was that employers do recognize the value of a college education, additional training, and additional certifications.

In these focus groups, hiring managers and HR personnel stated that when they saw or see  certificates in a concentrated area, it demonstrates to them that the individual applying for the position is showing the companies that have continued to be productive and to keep themselves continually up to date in the latest ideas and practices by going through a robust, rigorous, relevant, and focused education.

The individuals in the focus group expressed that "an individual who completes a certificate is seen as someone who is prepared, motivated, engaged, and “willing to go the extra mile.” To these people,  these are elements that will fill the gap between what an employer is seeking and what an applicant can bring to an organization. 

If you are looking for your jobs or internships to do when in High School, College, or you are considering going back to school to retrain for a new profession,  consider what you want your next employment opportunity to be and keep the job paradox in mind, particularly how you can fill gaps in your own knowledge.

CHECK OUT THE HIGHLY COMPETITIVE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN THE U.S.

Are you considering an application to  a top tier school?

We would like to share with you a list of top tier schools, and how they market their school to you.   This list shows you how many students attend each school and how much advertizing they do to get YOU!

Unfortunately, what these numbers do not tell you is weather or not the school is right for YOU!  They may not offer the best program for you, or meet what you think is the best college to attend.

We do not want to see you just get into college...  we want to see you graduate and come out with the least amount of debt possible.

If you need help... we are here!

Top Tier School Marketing Statistics

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITIES (CSU) ARE CHANGING THEIR POLICIES

Today. The Board of Trustees of the California State University announced that there will be a change in admissions in the system.   First and foremost, there is a FREEZE on college transfers at this time.   As of 2013,  students who choose to transfer to a Cal State Campus will find transferring will be a little more difficult, particularly at the Northridge, Long Beach and Dominguez Hills campuses.


No longer will college transfers be allowed to transfer mid term.  Additionally, the Board says that college transfers will only be allow to transfer if they have an AA degree.


What does this mean for students?  A lot.


Most students want to get into and out of college.  There is no better time that in that 18-23 year old period of transition.  However, this change means that students must be very focus if they choose to attend a CSU campus.  It may take a student longer to get through college, and students should consider looking at a 5-6 years.    




If you are looking to go to a CSU school, see the school map below showing where the campuses are located and contact the admissions office to get your questions answered.

If you are looking to go these colleges or have other questions, talk to your  school counselor.  If you feel uncomfortable with that idea,  look to a college admissions consultant who can help you through the process.  They have a little more time than a high school counselor and can work with you from the point of where you are.



We offer a FREE 1/2 hour consultation about how we can help you through the process. Consultants can help students through the "FEAR" of college applications.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE ACADEMIC INDEX IS?

Have you ever wondered what your Academic Index is?   Well, the  AI is a formula which is what is commonly called combines the averages of student test scores (both SAT I’s and SAT II’s) and the  high school GPA and divides by the class ranking.

Although the Top Tier schools have spent many years denying they used any kind of formula for their calculations on how to admit students,, the fact is that they have been using a ranking formula since the 1950’s called the Academic Index.  This formula, often called AI for short, has been around a long time and is used predominantly to make sure that athletes recruited to the school meet the minimum academic criteria that is ultimately reviewed by the NACC.


Most student never hear about this term unless they are applying to Division I or Division II Schools.  While this calculation has traditionally been used for sports purposes; maintaining some kind of academic standard on the various athletic teams, every school still calculates an AI for every student in order to assess their athletes for the NACC.

Why? Because the average AI of each member on an athletic team cannot be more than one standard deviation away from the average AI of the entire class  The only way a college or university  to know and show if questioned is to calculate an AI for every student.

The AI is represented on a scale of 1-240, with 240 being the highest.  There is a high level of correlation between the AI rank and acceptance rates. Applicants with 8 and 9 rankings were accepted at over 90% of the time. Half of the 6-ranked applicants were accepted, while a mere 11% of the 4-ranked were could still place in the acceptance poo. Virtually no students with a 1 ranking are admitted,  and these numbers do not include any outside achievements, awards, or any other positive information, the system is only used as it relates to grades. 

Since the number was so easy to produce, many schools begun to print the number right on the front of every student’s folder and used it to help them rank the student academically. It also creates a ranking to show that the athlete is capable of playing his or her sport.

REMEMBER:  The AI is just a statistical tool that is used for a specific purpose. The majority of students do not need to be concerned with the AI.   It does not take into account a student’s essay(s), teacher recommendations, or letters of recommendation.

If you must, you can find on line AI calculators to see where you fall,  but be careful--  it is only an informational tool used, and hold no merit to you the student  UNLESS you are going to be an athlete.

Important Note: the Academic Index is not used by all elite colleges and even those that may consider other factors, like extracurricular achievements, recommendations, and essays, equally or even more important as pure academics. Use with caution!

HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS AND SENIORS, START PREPARING NOW

For those taking September or October ACT or SAT – register soon for those tests even if you’re not sure you’re going to take any – give yourself the option if you don’t like your spring scores!
SAT: Registration for fall will be out shortly
ACT: http://www.actstudent.org/regist/dates.html
Start your college research by going to www.CollegeProwler.com and each school’s web site to find out specifics. Research the departments in which you have a specific interest! Also, go to the school’s website and sign up on the admissions office page so you are in their data base. Go to the department page for the academic area you are interested in and note specific professors, collections, etc.

COLLEGE VISITS

We are receiving a lot of information from companies who are sponsoring tours for high school and college transfer students.  These tours can be very valuable experiences, and so we want to share some of this information with you.  Some students are comfortable to go off on their own and experience the tour by themself..  Others fee that they would prefer to have their families tour with them as a family mini vacation,  and begin heading off in the summer months to visit colleges nationawide. 

Before you hit the road,   we recommend that you do some research if you are opting to not do a pre-programed tour.   Be willing to spend some time on each of the school’s website that you are planning to visit and/or read about the different schools on College Prowler’s web site (www.collegeprowler.com). 

If you are considering a pre-planned tour, Educational Unlimited has a tour going out July 14- July 20th to the East Coast Schools.  They still have room available and you can contact them at:

Education Unlimited
1700 Shattuck Ave. #305
Berkeley, CA 94709
(510) 548-6612

This is a great time to also look into research opportunities, strong departments, well-known professors, and undergraduate research conferences held on campus, as you might also find some part time work or other opportunity you might miss.

 

Here are some ideas that you might want to consider as you prepare for your college visits--  and your time schedule.   

1) visit a class (some institutions have summer classes and seminars), talk to students, head to the campus center, vist the dorms,  dining halls, and fitness center.  You might also want to tour the Sororities and Fraternities, student store, and any other areas of interest.

2) visit the library and see if you feel comfortable there. See a dorm, talk to a professor or administrator about your interests and find out information about specific departments, 

3) visit any special places that correspond to your interests (music studios, art museums, local coffeehouses, etc...) This is a good time to check out special department like Art, Architecture, Music, etc. that will require supplemental applications and interviews.

4) take notes! Your mind will become scrambled, and have notes to go back to will help you.   

These visits will help you later when you write about why you are choosing a particular school.

 

Also, check out the tips we have recently found from the following online resources which we recommend using while planning your summer college visit trips:

 

U.S. News and World Report:  http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/twice-the-college-advice/2012/05/22/plan-college-visits-this-summer

 

NY Times: http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/30/planning-a-college-visit-readers-suggest-questions-to-ask/

 

Virtual College Visits (take advantage of the opportunity to visit a college virtually and then in person, when you can): http://www.youvisit.com/collegesList.php

 

Make your college visits work for you! Don't just take the tour/info session route  –venture out!   Talk to students, locals, stop by your favorite academic department and speak to a professor, see a dorm, do an overnight visit, stop by a local park. 

Don't tour more than two schools a day -- by taking your time,  it will give you a better feel for the school and the local community to help you figure out where to apply.  You might learn that a school your thought was perfect , isn't.   Knowing what the school has to offer may offer you some useful information in writing your application. 

Each evening after you tour a school, think about and jot down WHY you are considering applying to that school and WHY you consider yourself a good match for the school. It will help you decide your final destination down the road.

Take the time to prepare for your college tours!  It will help you make an informed decision about which school is best for you!