May 2011
2 posts
1 tag
Use the Summer Months to Your Advantage
College-bound high school students should use the summer months ahead to build their qualifications and become the kind of student most sought after by college admission officers. Students should engage in the “right” activities to build their résumé and enhance their student qualifications.
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College Pre-Enrollment Steps
College-bound students and parents - Here’s what to do next to prepare for enrolling into college in coming fall. Include very handy list of tasks to complete.
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April 2011
3 posts
1 tag
Now More Than Ever, Consider Private Colleges and...
Here’s a pretty convincing argument for including private colleges and universities in the list of schools you should consider applying to next fall.
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1 tag
The Freshman Perspective
Fun article about high school freshman’s spring semester. Worth the read.
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What To Do On College Campus Visits This Spring...
Great article on everything to do during campus visits. http://bit.ly/gM5CrJ
August 2010
1 post
3 tags
Parents: Don’t Make The Mistake Of Having Your...
College-bound students need help from parents. The parental assistance I’m talking about doesn’t include parents completing their child’s college application, rather, parents should help with associated simple, time-consuming tasks; tasks I like to call “tedious but necessary.”
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July 2010
5 posts
4 tags
Parents: Complete a Health Care Proxy For Your...
A Health Care Proxy is a medical power of attorney that allows the person appointed by the student (presumably the parents) to be their health care agent. The appointed agent is authorized to make medical decisions on the student’s behalf if the student is severely injured or rendered unconscious.
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4 tags
Be Sure to Clean-Up Language and Photographs on...
High School Seniors: An important task to complete before the college application process gets into full swing next month is to clean-up all personal information you and your friends have posted on internet social network websites that involve you.
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A Practical List Of Items To Take To College
If you’re an incoming college freshman, it may seem a little early to start thinking about the things you need to take with you to college. However, there are numerous things to consider and inventorying items you need sooner than later is a really good idea.
To help you with this process, MyCollegeCalendar provides a checklist of suggested items for college.
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4 tags
Get Your Personal Finances In Order For College
Students leaving for college this fall need to do more than secure money to pay college tuition and fees; they also need to organize their personal finances in preparation for living away from home.
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June 2010
3 posts
3 tags
Top Ten Strengths and Experiences Colleges Look...
On June 16, 2010, the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), a nonprofit professional association of educational consultants located in Fairfax, Virginia, released the results of a member survey which asked what colleges want to see from high school students applying for admission.
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Students: Volunteer and Earn Thousands of Dollars
The current lack-luster economy and scarcity of jobs make it extremely difficult for many high school students to find employment this summer. However, students who want to work but are unable to find a job should think long-term toward their senior year and focus on their potential to earn money from local and regional scholarships.
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4 tags
It’s Possible To Get Extra Scholarship Money . . ....
The decision to not enroll this fall causes students’ scholarship and grant money to return to the college’s pool of financial resources and the money becomes available for students who know to ask for it.
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May 2010
8 posts
6 tags
Don’t Be One Of The People Who Just Won’t Listen.
Last year I wrote about how parents of college-bound students are reacting to tough economic times by allowing their son/daughter to only apply to public colleges and universities (with lower tuition costs). My reaction to this was, “What a mistake.”
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2 tags
RSVP for College Letters of Recommendation
Before leaving high school for the summer, college-bound juniors should approach teachers and counselor(s) regarding letters of recommendation for college applications.
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3 tags
Save Your Best Papers and Reports From This Year
High school juniors should save their best papers, essays, and reports from this year. This is because some colleges and universities REQUIRE submittal of graded writing samples from high school junior or senior years with college applications.
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The Importance of Staying On Schedule When...
A study recently completed by a Stanford University doctoral student stresses the importance of timely completion of key steps in the college preparation and application processes and how timeliness is crucial to the success of college-bound students.
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2 tags
The Student Résumé – Why It’s Important To Have...
Students who create a résumé show they are willing to go beyond the required application materials to demonstrate the initiative that college admission officers like to see. Résumés allow students to present themselves in the best possible manner; they can emphasize their strengths, highlight accomplishments, and present information in the order that best shows their college potential and...
2 tags
Non-Acceptance Letters: An Important Task To...
Students are not completely finished with their acceptance of admission until they send letters of non-acceptance. Letters of non-acceptance are letters addressed to the colleges and universities that accepted them for admission, but they have chosen not to attend.
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3 tags
Late Applications Are Being Accepted By Hundreds...
Today, the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) published today their “Space Availability” list of colleges and universities who are still accepting applications for admission.
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2 tags
I’m Going To College! Now What Do I Have To Do?
As the sense of bewilderment grows on what to do next, families of college-bound seniors should rest assured that MyCollegeCalendar is ready to help with the pre-college enrollment tasks as outlined on the Post-High School/Pre-College Checklist.
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April 2010
10 posts
2 tags
Waitlist Purgatory - Tips for Those Waitlisted by...
Dr. Jon Reider, former Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Stanford University, has a few recommendations for students still waitlisted by their absolute dream college.
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Frosh - Juniors: Plan Your Summer Activities Now
At this point in time, you should begin planning your summer activities. Summer activities should build your student résumé and help make next year’s college and scholarship applications look great.
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3 tags
Include Private Colleges and Universities On Your...
Since last year’s blog post, additional data supporting my position for considering private colleges and universities has been released.
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2 tags
Send Your Student To College Healthy
Don’t forget to complete important medical tasks before leaving for college.
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3 tags
Considerations Before Sending in your Statement of...
There are some crucial considerations students will want to integrate into these last weeks before making their final decision on which college to attend.
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3 tags
Asking for More Financial Aid? Here's What To Do.
College-bound students and their parents are busy comparing financial aid offers from colleges; soon these families will raise the question, “Can we ask for more money?”
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3 tags
Three MUST-DO’s Before Accepting Admission
In these challenging economic times, affordability is the key consideration for many families of college-bound students. Consequently, families should be aware there are important conditions attached to financial aid awards.
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Cash Concepts - Parents Should Be In Charge Of...
High school seniors are currently comparing their financial aid award letters from colleges and universities. Evaluation of offers of “free money” (scholarships and grants) versus loans must be completed for each college to see which one is most affordable.
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Accepted Students – Still Unsure Which College To...
It’s almost time for college-bound high school seniors to make one of the most important decisions of their life. If you’re a high school student headed to college in the fall, May 1, 2010 is the drop-dead date to commit to the college of your choice.
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2 tags
Campus Visits on a Limited (or Absent) Budget
If lack of cash is limiting your ability to travel and visit college campuses this spring (or at any other time), there are things you can do to save money to make visits affordable.
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March 2010
4 posts
3 tags
Leadership is a Big Deal
For years I’ve advised college-bound students of the value of leadership for increasing their chance for admission to colleges of their choice. College admission officers love students with leadership skills.
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Most Campus Tours Are Booked For Spring Break –...
Most colleges are reporting that all available slots for campus tours and information sessions during spring break are filled. You may not be able to participate in the formal aspects of campus visits, but there are many “informal” things you can do to visit campuses.
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4 tags
Plan to Visit Colleges and Universities Without...
College-bound high school seniors should plan one more visit to their top choice colleges and universities and schedule overnight stays in student residence halls (dorms). Overnight stays provide unique opportunities.
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College Campus Visits This Spring Semester
For high school sophomores and juniors, visiting colleges this spring is a great way to get a head start on the college admissions process.
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February 2010
4 posts
3 tags
Did You Forget Your Student Vaccinations? If So,...
Numerous colleges and universities REQUIRE incoming freshmen to receive Hepatitis B immunization. Immunization against other illnesses also will be required, but at this point in time receiving a Hepatitis B vaccination is of utmost importance.
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This Semester Focus On Local Scholarships (NOT...
Most local scholarship applications are due between March 1 and May 31, 2010. Although completing more applications, essays, and interviews sounds dreadful, doing so can pay off in a big way.
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The Most Valuable Advice For College-Bound...
College-bound juniors should ask their senior year high school friends what’s the single most valuable piece of advice they have for completing the college application and financial aid processes. The advice given will help juniors prepare for next year’s college application process and should improve their chances for getting accepted to their colleges of choice and to earn the maximum amount...
3 tags
Make Things Difficult: Advice for Juniors and...
In the days ahead, junior and sophomore high school students will be choosing their classes for next year. These classes should include both the courses required for high school graduation AND the courses recommended to achieve admission to top colleges and universities.
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January 2010
11 posts
4 tags
How To Start Being A Leader Today
Colleges desire to recruit students who have demonstrated leadership abilities because it is an excellent indicator of what they can expect from them in the classroom, on campus, and as alumni.
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2 tags
Don’t Ruin Your Chances For College By Being...
Don’t be stupid and make a wrong decision that may ruin your chance for enrolling in college. Be smart, keep up your grades and think before participating in any “questionable” activity. You have too much to lose. Read Full Story
2 tags
Recession? What Recession?
With the current economic recession griping the country, many people have predicted dramatic changes in the world of college admissions. I’m here to tell you this isn’t the case.
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1 tag
The College Admissions Scam
So here’s the bottom line for all those exceptional middle-class and lower-class high school seniors who will doubt their own worth when the near-inevitable rejection letters arrive: The fault, dear Brutus, lies not in you. The fault lies in the system, and the system isn’t going to change, because it benefits the people it is designed to benefit - people who understand how much a real...
3 tags
Juniors Should Start Planning For The College...
MyCollegeCalendar.org offers invaluable advice for college-bound high school juniors.
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3 tags
Late Admission Steps Using MyCollegeCalendar
MyCollegeCalendar.org provides all the steps and instructions for applying late to college. Starting January 15, steps with instructions are presented on 30-day calendars so late applicants can identify and apply to colleges of interest that accept late/rolling applications.
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2 tags
Juniors: Establish Hard-Working, Respectful...
Junior year high school students should to work to establish hard-working, respectful relationships with teachers and counselors they will ask for recommendations next year. This is very important because whether students like if or not, teachers and counselors are crucial to their success for admission to college.
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Making College ‘Relevant’
Even before they arrive on campus, students — and their parents — are increasingly focused on what comes after college. What’s the return on investment, especially as the cost of that investment keeps rising? How will that major translate into a job?
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2 tags
SAT Scores For Students Entering State...
SAT and ACT Scores matter, but not as much as they once did.
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2 tags
Federal Student Financial Aid Application...
This month the government is rolling out a shorter, simpler aid application in an effort to reduce barriers to higher education, especially for needy students. About 20 million students file the FAFSA, as it is known, each year.
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