http://collegeapps.about.com/b/2012/01/16/10-ways-to-improve-your-chances.htm

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Seniors have now completed their college applications and are beginning the waiting period for finding out if they have been accepted into college. What is the next step?  There are actually      several things seniors should be doing while waiting for the results of their hard work:

1.  Use your individual college ID to check the status of your application online.  If any information is missing, quickly send it to the school.  Check it weekly for updates.

2.  Make certain the FAFSA application is completed by mid-January for your best chance of receiving financial aid.   Parents and students should each get an ID number and sign the form electronically.

3.  Research and complete scholarship and grant applications.

4.  Prepare for college interviews.  Research the school and come to the interview prepared with a list of questions for the interviewer that shows your true interest in attending that school. 

5.  Continue to do well in your last semester of senior year, do not allow senioritis to get in the way of entering college in the fall.  Remember, your high school transcript will be sent after graduation, and your college has the right to refuse admittance if you don't maintain good grades.

6.  Do not drop courses Spring semester.  You listed all the courses you were taking on your college application and the college expects to see grades for that course.  If you feel you must drop a course, check with the colleges to which you applied prior to doing so to determine if dropping the course will alter their interest in you as a candidate for their school.

7.  Visit colleges on your school breaks.  Getting a feel for campus life will help you choose the college that best fits you from those to which you were accepted.

If you have any other questions about selecting a college, or the admissions process, feel free to contact me through my website at www.Prep4collegeNow.com  or call me at 760.877.7200.  I'd love to answer your questions!

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We are officially in the midst of the college admissions season! Millions of students across the world have been and will be submitting applications. And while technology is making submitting easier, there is still room for human error.

Below are the 6 worst college application mistakes that you want to avoid before you actually hit SEND!

1. Misspelling your own name.

Make sure that your name is spelled correctly on all your applications and official documents Simple typos and misspellings – Daneil versus Daniel, Cathy versus Kathy, or Smith versus Smiht – can cause colleges to think that two different people exist. Problems can also arise when you alternate between your full name and nickname. My advice, pick one name and use it consistently throughout the application.  As a result, colleges will have a harder time completing your files.  Incomplete files don’t get read. So triple check even the basic information – name, address, social security number and birth date. In the same vein, make sure that your email address is correct and while we are at it – appropriate.

2. Ignoring application deadlines.

There is absolutely no reason for a student to say that he does not know when an application is due. These deadlines are plastered across the Admissions Office websites. If you miss a deadline, forget about that school. In fact some applications will close down and it will be impossible to submit. It is not urban legend that websites slow down and servers crash. This happens every year with multiple colleges. Submit early to avoid the stress of seeing your application timeout each time you try to submit.

Storms can and have knocked down Internet and power lines for days at a time. While many schools on the East Coast extended their early application deadlines because of storms, don’t expect that this will always happen. And if you live in an area unaffected by these extreme weather conditions – do NOT take advantage of the extended deadlines. Also remember that deadlines for scholarship, interviews, and special programs might be earlier than the general admissions due dates.

3. Not previewing your application before submission.

Many applications will allow you to type as much as you want into different fields – especially essay boxes. However, you should do a PDF view to make sure that your complete answer shows up. If you don’t see it there, the admissions officer will also not see it. Also keep essay lengths to the guidelines specified by individual colleges. If you are unsure, contact the admissions office. Common Application caused a stir this year when they listed that the personal statement should be 250-500 words. Many colleges, however, are okay with essays that are one page.

4. Copy and paste disasters.

You may have written several essays about why you want to attend a particular school or study a particular major. And some of those essays may be similar. But do not accidentally tell Santa Clara University that you are really excited by the opportunities available at Boston University. Or tell Cornell about the amazing programs at Carnegie Mellon.

Admissions officers understand that you are applying to more than their college. They, however, don’t need to know the details and that another school is your number one choice. This is a mistake that is made repeatedly and one that annoys admissions officers the most. If you don’t take the ten minutes to check your application, you are sending the signal that you don’t care about the school to which you are applying.

5. Not submitting all parts of the application.

If you are applying through the Universal College Application or Common Application and do not submit the supplement, your application is incomplete. And if you miss the deadline, you may never have the chance to send it in. And don’t forget to send official test scores, transcripts from all schools you have attended, and recommendation letters as required by individual schools.

6. Sending in additional materials.

I know it is tempting to send in copies of the certificates you have received since elementary school or the 20-page research paper you wrote in your history class, but refrain unless a school specifically will accept it. This also refers to letters of recommendation. I know you might have ten people that can write you great letters, but colleges simply do not want to read letters that all say the same thing. Follow the guidelines on how many letters you can send.

The most important rule is to follow directions. Not doing so sends the wrong message to the admissions office. And since your application is the first formal interaction you will most likely have with any school, it's better to start things off on the right foot.

Good Luck!

If you have any other questions about selecting a college, or the admissions process, feel free to contact me through my website at www.Prep4CollegeNow.com  or call me at 760.877.7200.  I'd love to answer your questions!

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Excerpted  from For StudentAdvisor.com by Purvi S. Mody

http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/08/counselors/

Colleges don't expect your teen to know exactly what he wants to do with his life by the time he is a high school senior.  They do, however, expect that he has a general sense of direction when he applies.  The purpose of college is to get exposure to a wide range of fields and to also develop a set of skills that your teen will be able to use in the working world. Many students agonize over which intended major to select on the application itself; some hoping that this will make a difference between an acceptance and a denial. 

What does your teen's major choice tell the admissions office?

Colleges want to know about your teen's interests and aspirations for a few reasons.  The first is somewhat selfish, they want to be certain they are able to provide the right resources to students across interests.  Most schools want a well-balanced incoming class with a diversity of goals. 

Secondly, admissions officers are trying to get to know your teen better and do this by getting a sense of what he has so far accomplished in life and what he hopes to accomplish in the future.  This does not mean every activity in high school needs to revolve around his intended major. However, your teen should show an interest through extra scholarly study, clubs and extra-curricular activities.

For certain universities, the college your teen chooses can impact his chances of admissions. 

Within a large university, there are several colleges, Colleges of Arts and Sciences, College of Engineering, College of Performing Arts, College of Business are examples.  And each college will then house more specific majors.  If your teen applies to a specific college within the university, the university will simple review his application in the context of that college.  If he is not admitted to that college, he will not be admitted to the university. 

This is true for many, but not all, business programs and a few engineering programs.  If your teen is applying to these type of majors, he has to decide what is his priority - the school or the major.  If he is having a tough time deciding, reading college reviews from current students will help.  Go online to the school's website and begin a correspondence with matriculating students.

Picking a less popular major does not improve your chances of getting in.

This where it also gets tricky.  Many students have asked if putting down some random, less popular and less rigorous major will help gain admittance into the university with the plan of switching into a more difficult major once enrolled.  The chances of being able to do so is slim to none in some cases.  Also remember, the application has to make sense. 

If there is no indication of an interest in the major chosen on the application, admission officials are going to wonder if your teen is trying to pull the wool over their eyes.  If your teen truly wants to study business, engineering or other selective subjects, make certain the application supports that interest and that your teen has the experiences to back it up.

Remember, your teen isn't stuck in the major picked on the applications.

Colleges are well aware that your teen might change his major once he is there, but with a strong application they will have faith that he will continue to create and achieve his goals successfully.  Some universities may even ask your teen for his intended major but will also consider him for an alternate major or an undecided option because they believe he is a strong fit for the  university.

Sometimes there just isn't enough space to admit your teen initially into the first choice major.  At many of these schools, your teen should be able to get into his desired major but after the first semester/quarter or year there.  And other universities will ask him about his interests without tying him down to a specific major until he is nearing the end of sophomore year in college.  This is the point where colleges will ask  him to select a major.

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Excerpted from Purvi S. Mody, co-owner of Insight Education, blog post on Student Advisor.com

All college applications require teacher and counselor recommendations.  It is important to ask a teacher and counselor who knows you well to write this letter. When asking a teacher or counselor for a recommendation,  always ask IN PERSON and well in advance of the deadline.    It is also important to meet with these recommenders a second time, making a formal request, and providing documents needed for them to write outstanding recommendations.

After meeting with teachers and counselors, students should provide each recommender with an organized packet of documents with instructions for completing recommendations. These document packets should include:

1. A cover letter with details of the request.  Each teacher and counselor should be given their own customized cover letter. Covers letters should detail what students would like each recommender to include in their letter of recommendation and provide deadlines for submitting recommendations.

2. A copy of the student résumé - this is a MUST. The student résumé gives important details teachers and counselors need to know about student activities, accomplishments, and honors earned during high school.

3. An unofficial copy of student grade transcripts.

After creating a packet of documents for each recommender as described above, students should meet with each teacher and counselor IN PERSON. Students should give each teacher and counselor their packet of documents, express appreciation for their help, and explain how they (teachers and counselors) are being given a packet of documents to help them complete their letters of recommendation.

Also, students should share how they are available to answer questions or to help at anytime; students should point out that their phone number and e-mail address are included on the cover letter.

Requesting letters of recommendation in this manner shows professionalism and courtesy. Teachers and counselors appreciate being asked to write letters in this way and may show their appreciation by writing recommendations that are just slightly better than if they were asked in an unprofessional, sloppy manner.  Once completed, a hand written thank you note should be sent expressing your gratitude. 

Lastly, students requesting a letter of recommendation from an employer, supervisor, coach or other responsible adult should follow the same process as described above.

“If you have any other questions about selecting a college, or the admissions process, feel free to contact me through my website at www.Prep4CollegeNow.com  or call me at 760.877.7200.  I'd love to answer your questions!”

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Excepted from Steve Sterling,  MyCollegeCalendar.org

Most families do not realize there are several types of application plans offered by colleges and universities.  Deciding which is best for your child, will help determine what schools to apply to, and the timelines that need to be adhered to when applying to specific schools. Before deciding on which type of application plan is right for your child, you need to thoroughly understand the difference. 

There are two types of application plans, Non-Restrictive Plans and Restrictive Plans.

Non-Restrictive Applications Plans allow students to wait until May 1 to confirm enrollment.  These include:

·         Regular Decision is the application process in which a student submits an application to an institution by a specified date and receives a decision within a reasonable and clearly stated period of time. A student may apply to other institutions without restriction.

·         Rolling Admission is the application process in which an institution reviews applications as they are completed and renders admission decisions to students throughout the admission cycle.  A student may apply to other institutions without restriction.

·         Early Action (EA) is the application process in which students apply to an institution of preference and receive a decision well in advance of the institution's regular response date.  Students who are admitted under Early Action are not obligated to accept the institution's offer of admission or submit a deposit prior to May 1.  Under

non-restrictive Early Action, a student may apply to other colleges.

Restrictive Application Plans:  These are plans that allow institutions to limit students from applying to other early plans.

·         Early Decision (ED) is the application process in which students make a commitment to a first-choice institution where, if admitted, they definitely will enroll. While pursuing admission under an Early Decision plan, students may apply to other institutions but may have only one Early Decision application pending at any time. Should a student who applies for financial aid not be offered an award that makes attendance possible, the student may decline the offer of admission and be released from the Early Decision commitment.  The institution must notify the applicant of the decision within a reasonable and clearly stated period of time after the Early Decision deadline.  Usually, a non-refundable deposit must be made well in advance of May 1.  The institution will respond to an application for financial aid at or near the time of admission.  Institutions with Early Decision plans may restrict students from applying to other early plans.  Institutions will clearly articulate their specific policies in their Early Decision Agreement.

·         Restrictive Early Action (REA) is the application process in which students make application to an institution of preference and receive a decision well in advance of the institution's regular response date.  Institutions with Restrictive Early Action plans place restrictions on student applications to other early plans.  Institutions will clearly articulate these restrictions in their Early Action policies and agreements with students.  Students who are admitted under Restrictive Early Action are not obligated to accept the institution's offer of admission or to submit a deposit prior to May 1. 

If you have any other questions about selecting a college, or the admissions process, feel free to contact me through my website at www.Prep4CollegeNow.com  or call me at 760.877.7200.  I'd love to answer your questions!

High school Guidance counselors often encourage students to take AP classes. Are they right?

It's almost considered a truism: Advanced Placement courses and subject tests can only help you in your quest to enter the best colleges.

Not so fast. AP classes have advantages - but there are drawbacks as well.

The Positives of Advanced Placement

• Taking an AP class will usually get your GPA increased. Depending how your particular school rates them, AP classes can be worth a full grade more than their regular kin - that's how some students end up with GPAs greater than the theoretically-perfect 4.0. And even if your school doesn't inflate AP grades, many college admission offices will do it for you.

• Good AP scores can reduce your eventual college course load - and, potentially, your time in college. Generally speaking, a high score - at least three, but often a four or five out of the five-point Advance Placement test - will equate to one semester of the equivalent course. So, if you place out of four courses - you could skip out of an entire semester of college - saving up to $25,000! Even placing out of one or two classes can lead to a semester of part-time student status and, hence, significant savings.

• AP classes show initiative. By taking the more challenging path, schools know you aren't scared to push yourself. In addition, since AP classes are supposed to be college level, you are showing schools that you are fully capable of doing the necessary work.

The Negatives of Advanced Placement

• Your AP scores have zero bearing on your admissions. That's a whole lot of work that may not have much to do with which college you get into - especially if your colleges don't inflate grades according to the difficulty of courses.

• Not all colleges accept AP scores for course credit. If you wind up applying to schools that don't accept AP scores and don't bump up GPAs for AP classes, then you'll have done a lot of work for absolutely nothing.

• AP classes and study takes an inordinate amount of time. It isn't unusual to have two or three hours of homework out of an AP class. That's time you can't pursue other studies, can't devote to extra-curriculars, and can't practice for the SAT - all things that definitely will help you get into college.

The long and the short of it is this: AP courses can pay off in the long run, but there are no guarantees. And, in the short run, they are certain to make the rest of your life difficult.

If you are most concerned with getting into the best colleges, AP courses aren't much help at all. If, however, you are confident you'll get in somewhere good, and want to roll the dice that they'll take AP credits and you can save by graduating early or as a part-time student, AP courses are worth their weight in gold.

As always, the answer depends on you. One thing is certain though - when deciding whether to pursue AP courses, at least find out how your favorite colleges deal with AP credits. If there's no hope of placing out, then it isn't worth your time. 

Your student is about to write one of the most important essays of her life.  Don't panic.  A great college admissions essay will present a vivid, personal, and compelling view of your student to the admissions staff.  It will round out the rest of the application and help your student stand out from the rest of the applicants. 

In order to stand out from the crowd, the essay must elicit an emotional response from the reader.  The focus of the essay should be narrow and personal, authentic, not superficial.  The essay must prove a point or thesis.  The reader should be able to find the main idea and follow it from beginning to end. It should be developed with vivid and specific facts, events, quotations, examples, and reasons.  The student should write as she speaks and use a relaxed conversational style. 

Be original.  Too many essays use the same tired themes.  Remember, what bores the writer will generally bore others.  Show genuine enthusiasm.  The student should pick a topic that genuinely excites her.  The enthusiasm will show through.  The writing will be invigorating and the reader will enjoy reading the essay.

Create some mystery. The introduction that surprises the readers and makes them want to read past the first paragraph will grab attention and help the essay stand out from the crowd.

Use stimulating action verbs.  They make the essay much more lively than passive voice, which comes across as cold and detached.  Use short sentences and simple words. Use simpler, concise language.  The student want the readers to understand the essay.  Using obscure terms needlessly, will not impress. Vary sentence structure.  Intermingle long sentences with shorter sentences to keep the reader from getting bored.

Avoid acronyms and abbreviations.  They have no place in your essay.  For example, use "and others" instead of "et al.," "California" instead of "CA." Avoid using exclamation points and parentheses.  Avoid asking questions or setting off words and phrases with quotation marks.  Avoid gimmicks.  Don't use puns, definitions, famous quotations, flowery descriptions, or overdone wordplay to get the point across.  Avoid controversy.  Avoid offensive tone or language.  Avoid sexist language.  Substitute asexual words for sexist words.  For example, use "chairperson" instead of "chairman" and "pioneers" instead of "founding fathers".

Be careful using humor.  It's more important to tell an interesting story and let any humor be inherent.  Write tight.  Choose nouns and verbs that are as specific as possible.  Use as few words as possible. 

Revise until it is perfect.  The essay will go through several drafts before it is ready.  Keep in mind that the essay must be more than interesting--it must be captivating.  Let the enthusiasm show through.  Adhere to the word limit. 500 word limit does not mean 600 words is okay. Proofread.  Don't rely solely on the computer's spell check. 

Show the essay to someone who can be objective.  To produce the best possible essay, the student needs a good editor. Use someone who knows English well but can also give the writer constructive feedback on how the message is coming across. 

Writing a successful college admissions essay is not a simple task.  Your student should plan on spending a lot of time writing, reviewing, and polishing so that it is just right.  With perseverance, your student will end up with an outstanding essay that will capture the reader's attention, reach an emotional conclusion about the student, and get that letter of acceptance.  

This blog is based on excerpts from "Tips for Writing Your College Admission Essay" by Gregory Lloyd and The College Application Essay by Sarah Myers McGinty.  

Today we are going to focus on how social media can affect college admission.  There was a poll taken in 2008 with over 500 selective colleges completing the poll, that said in about 10% of the colleges polled, the admission officers were checking the applicants Facebook and My Space profiles.  Imagine what the number must be in 2011.

It hurt the applicant 38% of the time.  It helped the applicant 25% of the time so it is hurting the applicant more than it is helping.   I don't think that people, students in particular,  are actually paying attention to what they are putting out there and how the information in their profile is viewed by others.  The student needs to assume college admission officers are looking and should modify the information posted on their pages.  A good rule of thumb is if you think your student's grandmother would be offended by the information, it shouldn't be on the page.

Your teenager needs to keep the information clean but it still should appear as if the teen is an interesting person who would be an appealing student for the school.  Your teenager need to strike a balance between being too clean and too off color or avant-garde.

Your teen is able to control who views certain pages on his Facebook page and he should set up  his profile to limit access to certain pages and photos. His Twitter feed should only go to people who are on an approved list and, if he blogs, it should be set up as an invitation only site.  Not everything your teen does needs to be viewed by everyone.

Your student needs to pay attention to his social media profile, what goes out there and acknowledge how it can negatively affect him.  Remember, it is a reflection on your student and it can affect admission into college.