Category: Advice
-
Choosing High School Courses (Spanish River HS 2023/2024 Course Selection Guide)
Choosing high school courses can be an important decision that can significantly impact your future academic and career goals. Here are some steps you can take to help you choose appropriate high school courses: Most high schools publish an annual course guide. The 2023-2024 Course Selection Guide published by Spanish River High School in Boca…
-
Colleges Where Interviews are Required or Strongly Recommended
Some colleges and universities offer interview opportunities to prospective students. Often interview opportunities are limited to students who have submitted applications, which some schools offer them to all prospective students. For those colleges offering interviews, the degree of importance varies by school. Watch for interview opportunities and requirements for the schools on your college list—especially…
-
Confirmations, Application Tracking & Status Portals
Submitting your application is just one step in the admissions process. After submitting your application, watch for a confirmation email from the college. Confirmation emails are typically sent within three or four days of submitting your application. ALSO ….. If you are submitting your application via the Common Application (or any other application) confirm that…
-
Take Advantage of Hosted Online College Tours and Info Sessions
Spring and summer are popular times for college visits, and since you can’t visit campuses in-person due to the pandemic. So many colleges are bringing the universities to you by offering hosted online tours and information sessions! Importantly, register in advance and attend! Many colleges are gathering data on potential applicant’s engagement with the school,…
-
Students Advised to View College Marketing Mailings with Skepticism
Students frequently receive unsolicited letters and marketing materials from universities. These mailings may come in the form of a personalized letter congratulating the student on strong grades or PSAT scores and encourage the recipient to apply for admission. It isn’t unusual for students (and their parents) to interpret this correspondence as an indication of strong…
-
Facebook Warning: Admissions Officers Check Out Students
College-bound students, beware: College college admissions officers may be looking you up on Facebook. Make sure what they see is suitable for viewing! According to surveys of college admissions officers, social media is often used in the admissions process to vet applicants and recruit prospective students. Some college admissions people have stated that a student’s…
-
Matching Career Options with Personality and Interests
Many high school students (and older people too) are interested in learning about careers that fit with their personality type, interests, strengths & weaknesses, and likes & dislikes. There are a number of self-assessment tools to help you. Some of these resources also provide a list of suggested college majors and careers that are…
-
Resource Recommendations for Juniors and Sophomores
As a college consultant, I am frequently asked about college guidebooks and SAT / ACT prep. COLLEGE GUIDEBOOKS: There are many good college guides, but my personal favorite is Fiske Guide to Colleges 2011, 27E The Fiske Guide includes the colleges and universities that most typical high school students consider. In addition to providing an…
-
Favorite College & Scholarship Guides and Test Prep Books
Whether you’re researching colleges and universities, preparing for the ACT or SAT, searching for scholarships, or trying to demystify the college admissions process, there are numerous guide books to help meet your needs. Given the large number of resources to choose from, parents and students often ask for a few suggestions. As an independent college…
-
Don’t Stalk the Admissions Officer
The Choice, a New York Times blog, reviewed two recently published college admissions books — Don’t Stalk the Admissions Officer: How to Survive the College Admissions Process without Losing Your Mind, for students, and I’m Going to College—Not You!: Surviving the College Search with Your Child for parents. “Don’t Stalk the Admissions Officer” by Risa…