FOR FALL 2013 FRESHMAN

Going off to college can be very exciting and scary all at the same time.  For the first time you are getting to act like and be responsible for yourself as an adult.  No longer are you a child!

You will arrive at the campus, learn how to enroll for classes, 

I am going to post an article by John Ulzheimer, a credit expert and senior columnist at Credit Card Insider, an educational resource about credit. 

While I think it is best to work with a debit card in college and learn how to manage money, there is something to be said in having a credit card at some point in school.

My advice to all of my students is to do what feels comfortable and right for you.  Check out this article!

http://www.creditcardinsider.com/credit-cards/student/college-and-your-credit/

OUR CLASS OF 2013 ADMISSIONS RESULTS

Well, the class of 2013 now has a month to determine which college or university they are going to attend.  We want to congratulate our Class of 2013 because EVERYONE got into at least ONE of their top three choices.  In our group of students this year,  one received 3 merit awards,  One got into 11 out of 16 schools, and one got not only his first choice, but his second choice schools as well.

On the other hand, in the past week, school counselors are frantic and have been telling us that many students have been very disappointed because they did not get into any school they applied to.  That is heart breaking, but it is not the end of the world.  We can help salvage this situation!

We know it catches the attention of a lot of students, and it catches the attention of a lot of parents.  BUT, what students and parents do not clearly understand s that  the first issue is in how to prepare for those applications.  It takes years!

What actually happens when the applications finally arrives,  and what occurs in the admissions process between students and  parents are completely different trains of thought.  Parents think if a student has a 4.0 they can get into UCLA or Harvard.  NO TRUE!!!

 It requires many hours of additional preparation to get the right result.   Many think you wait till the night before and then fill out an application that should do it.  You can do this, but the college admissions reps know you did do that! They see it first hand.

The College Admissions Consultant not only prepares you, but guides you through at a pace that is comfortable to you so you are not stressing out.  We offer a student portal where students can work on their applications at any time of day or night, and where parents can see first hand what is going on in their student's life.

Here is a rough sample of a student who is 70% done with the process.  Think of it as you want to drive and you have to first pass a written test, and then an actual driving test.  It takes you many hours to learn how to drive. The does not come in a matter of a couple of minutes.


Sample Billing Report

				.		Unpaid Invoiced Paid
				.		Unpaid Invoiced Paid
				.		Unpaid Invoiced Paid
				.		Unpaid Invoiced Paid
				.		Unpaid Invoiced Paid
				.		Unpaid Invoiced Paid
				.		Unpaid Invoiced Paid
				.		Unpaid Invoiced Paid
				.		Unpaid Invoiced Paid
				.		Unpaid Invoiced Paid
				.		Unpaid Invoiced Paid
				.		Unpaid Invoiced Paid
				.		Unpaid Invoiced Paid
			Total	31.8 hours

When we work with a student we have them signed into a student portal that is safe and secure, and is designed specifically to them.  We work with students from their starting point, not one pre-conceived idea, and a place where they can see their billable hours, the conversations between the counselor and student, the essays, the transcripts, the school choices and the students choice on which ones to apply to.  The average student requires between 30-32 hours of assistance on straight forward applications,   More  time is required when other admissions factors are present.

All of the work is done by highly trained counselors ( not tutors) which requires a lot of work and time ---  all which goes into this process.  In this example, the student will demand about 40 hours by the time we finish because the unique circumstances involved. The program can last up to 18 months depending on when a student begins their program.

In the example shown here, we are just preparing to submit the first application, and an additional 10-12 hours may be required.  So if you have a junior preparing for college, now is the time to start.  The earlier you start the less mistakes you make and the less stress you encounter.


NOW A  NOTE TO OUR SENIOR CLASS OF 2013 !!!!    IF you did not get into a college, and you are looking for one,  NACAC has notified us that 200 schools who participate in the common app process currently have openings for fall 2013.  If you did not get into a college, not all is not lost here.  If you want to go to a school and are serious about it,  talk to us on how we can help you reach your goals and get to the next step!

Go to www.thecollegeadmissionsconsultant.com

What Parents Need To Keep In Mind About The College Admissions Process

Every year, parents ask:   “How can I help my teen with college applications?”

Every year, the answer is the same: “Stand back and let your teen take responsibility.”

As parents, it’s only natural to want to jump in and help our children, but when it comes to college applications, it is decidedly not a parent’s job to complete applications; it is the teen’s job. 

In reality, the college admissions process is the most important test of your child’s college readiness, regardless of whether or not your teen has an intellect equal to Albert Einstein.  If  a student habitually misses deadlines, can’t string together a few coherent sentences for an application essay, or is too forgetful to remember to ask a teacher to write a recommendation, that may be a sign that the student is not yet ready for prime time college.

That may sound somewhat harsh, but it comes from years of experience watching teens try to navigate the college admissions maze while their parents push, prod, nag and meddle from the sidelines.  In addition to denying students an important developmental milestone, parental interference also runs the risk of damaging the parent-child relationship by sending the message that you don’t think your child is capable.

That said, parents can – and should – play a support role as their child applies to college.  Here are some things that parents can do to support their child:

Help your child organize.  In the spring of junior year, suggest to your child that you work together to develop a “To Do” list of the tasks they’ll need to complete for college applications.  Review the list together and agree, in advance, how you can help support the process. (Hint: Do not offer to fill out applications, and do not write any essays!).  Provide the materials your teen is likely to need for college applications, such as envelopes and stamps, a calendar to track deadlines, and a place to keep application materials organized. 

Arrange college visits.  If your family budget allows, offer to take your teen to visit colleges, and make travel arrangements such as hotel and air reservations. However, your teen should have final say about which colleges you will and will not visit, and he or she should also be expected to have done some preliminary research on the colleges you’ll visit before the trip.  To prevent college visit burnout, try to never tour more than two schools per day, and save going to the formal admissions information sessions only for those schools at the top of your teen’s list.

Provide the numbers.  Your teen will need his or her Social Security Number and a credit card to register for standardized tests and pay for application fees, test score reports, and transcripts. I recommend furnishing both the Social Security Number and credit card information to your teen, as both are needed frequently during the application process.  This is a great opportunity to discuss identity theft and responsible credit card use with your teen, both issues he or she needs to be familiar with before heading off to college.  If your family will be applying for financial aid, gather all of  your family financial data necessary in a timely manner so that you and your child are ready to complete financial aid applications well before deadlines.  Parents should make a concerted effort to file their income taxes as early as possible in the year the student will start college so that you have accurate numbers for financial aid applications.

Mum’s the word. Restrain yourself from offering free advice to your teen on any college matters.  Keep dinnertime your family time without ever mentioning the “C” (for college) word.  No threats or sarcastic comments allowed.  Try not to talk to other parents, family or friends about college when you’re within earshot of your teen – you will be astounded how this can set a teen off into a tirade.

Finally, remind your child that you love and care about them, but you don’t want to get in the way of their college planning.  This gives them the freedom to explore options and make choices on their own.  After all, you want to raise a child who is independent and ready for college success; this is really the first step towards letting go as your child moves into adulthood.

FINALLY...  Consider hiring a consultant!  Make sure the consultant you hire is a trained professionally, and is a member of one of the three national organizations.

 THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS CONSULTANT, Inc is a member of NACAC and HECA

SIGN UP FOR OUR APPLICA-PHOBIA BOOT CAMP -- SPACE IS LIMITED

Our  Applica-Phobia Boot Camp® is a 4-day boot camp that is being offered to current junior students and will be seniors in the fall.  Space is  limited, so it is on a first come, first serve basis and a deposit is required to hold your space. We will be offering these programs twice, August 8-11 and again from August 15-18 in the Santa Monica, California.

Students who participate in this program will put themselves well a head of the college admissions game by having the majority of their applications completed prior to the start of their senior year and allowing them to minimize their stress levels.

What students will receive in this program will be:

• Completing their Activity/Brag Sheet which will sum up their high school awards, activities, and achievements.
• Prepare essays that can be used for specific colleges of their choice using the Application Boot Camp® strategy.
• The ability to work  one-on-one and in small groups to complete both the Common  and UC Application months weeks their peers have even begun! 
• Develop an application strategy to increase their college acceptance possibilities.
• Get advice on colleges choices within their range.

SIGN UP NOW..  SPACE IS LIMITED AND A DEPOSIT WILL HOLD YOUR SPOT!

THINKING ABOUT ATTENDING A COLLEGE FAIR? WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO....

Before the Fair...

Answer the following questions to help determine what kind of school would be best for you:

• Do you want to attend a two- or four-year institution?  Co-ed or single sex?
• What size school do you want to attend?
• What programs of study are you considering?
• How far from home do you want to go?
• Do you wish to participate in any specific extra-curricular activities or athletics?
• Do you want to attend a school in an urban, suburban or rural environment?
• Do you require any special services (i.e. tutoring, note takers, readers, TDD or interpreters)?

1. Discuss your college plans with your guidance counselor, family, teachers and friends. 
2. Research your colleges of interest on the Internet and in your guidance office/library. 
3. Check dates and registration deadlines for college entrance examinations.
4. Register before heading to the fair! Watch the video about student registration. 
5. Watch this video for more information about what happens at a NACAC College Fair! 
6. Download and print the checklist to take with you to the Fair.  

At the Fair...

1. Pick up a bag and a fair directory.
2. Visit with colleges and universities which you feel meet your criteria.
3. Talk with a college counselor at the Counseling Center if you have any questions or need help with yourcollege search. 
4. Attend a workshop. 

See this video..... a must!!!

HOW TO PREPARE FOR A COLLEGE FAIR

Students and Their Families Should Look To College Admissions Consultants ..

The Associated Press released a poll a couple of years ago as they  sought to get feedback from high school graduates about the help and support provided to them by their school-based counselors as they began exploring colleges, trade schools, or work. A majority in that poll said  that their school wasn’t good at helping them choose a field of study, aiding them in finding the right college or vocational school, or assisting them with ways to pay for continuing education. All the more frustrating was that the vast majority came to the process excited about the idea of college, but felt unprepared to go about the search and application process.

The fact is most high school counselors are among the most over-worked and under-appreciated members of the school community  is not surprising.   These professionals continue to struggle with caseloads two to three times the suggested average,  sometimes working as many as 10-12 hours per day for a few months each year. They are rarely afforded the opportunity to attend professional training, even as the issues they struggle with become more complex. Many high school counselors are also responsible for not only academic advising, discipline, and crisis intervention,but also college planning, in addition to the required paperwork for the school boards, lunchroom or bus duties, and what schools end up with is a staff that has been stretched much too thin with little professional support. In California, there is roughly one counselor for every 810 students.  That number is smaller, but still high in large cities like Los Angeles.

Even as those with the “luxury” of handling college advising often have responsibility for 300 – 500 students, the students who don't speak up get lost in the cracks. No one should ever wonder why the profession of independent educational consulting has been taking off with students and their families. Even though the fees can appear costly, when you see the amount of hours that are invested on each student and the cost of a 4 year college educations ranges from $ 150,000 - $ 275,000 for a four year education.  

Students deserve better than what cash-strapped schools can provide, and they should have hours of face time with a counselor.  Students should be guided in how to explore careers and majors; and be able to think through what they desire in a school. Students should understand their own learning style and how this plays into school choice, and to have someone they can e-mail, call, text, or meet with to examine questions about interviews, financial aid, campus visits,  and more.

A well trained College Admissions Consultant can give a family the expertise of the inns and outs of the college admissions process and serves as a buffer of the stress between stressed out students and parents.  As Jeffrey Brenzel, the Former Dean of Admissions at Yale University said . . . . .  “ College Admissions Consultants can often help students gain admissions to highly selective colleges and universities ".  It is something students and families should keep in the back of their mind.

As Jeffrey Brenzel, Former Dean of Admissions of Yale University said before he left the school..