Doing What I Love to Do!

Once again this year, I will spend an exhausting and rewarding week teaching at the IECA Summer Institute held at Swarthmore College. It never ceases to amaze me that I learn from my colleagues and students at least as much as I teach. In addition to feeling that I am helping to safeguard the profession by teaching would-be consultants the best practices that IECA holds dear, I find the time spent with knowledgeable colleagues, who love being IECs as much as I do, to reaffirm my commitment to my students and their families. It is a wonderful commentary on life when one can earn a living doing what she loves to do.

The profession of Independent Educational Consulting is a young one, a bit more than 30 years old, and I have been privileged to be part of it for the last 17 years. Those years have been ones of growth, organization, and acknowledgement by other groups that IECA is the premier representative of IECs who are ethical, trained, and professional. Members of this wonderful organization take great pains to keep their skills up-to-date, continue their professional development, do pro-bono work, and keep the good of the client foremost in their minds. I am privileged to be part of this wonderful group.

Summertime - Time for Relaxation but Don’t Forget About College Prep!

It’s summertime and preparing for college may be the furthest thing from your mind. But even as you enjoy your summer break, you’d be wise to use this free time to your advantage.

If you’re a rising senior, be aware that September will come all too soon and by the time school starts, you should have a final list of colleges, so you can begin your applications.  This fall will be a busy time with essays, letters of recommendations, college applications, etc.

By taking advantage of these long summer days, you can get a real jump start on your college application process!

Here are some tips for maximizing your summer:

Read

Reading will help keep your mind fresh and help build language skills. You don’t need to read classic English literature – popular young adult books will do the trick.  And take a book on vacation with you!

Volunteer

Volunteer for an organization that you are interested in and passionate about. This is a great way to build your resume and to narrow down potential fields of interest. 

Get a job

Earn some extra cash while taking on responsibility.  Colleges like to see that you have responsibilities outside of your schoolwork.

Visit colleges

Make time to visit colleges you are interested in.  Since school is not in session, summer may not be the most ideal time for college visits, but you can still get a feel for the place and visit again if necessary. Taking a family vacation? Plan to visit colleges along your way.

Think about what you want out of your college experience

Take time to think about what you want in a school, your interests, and what you would like to get out of your college experience.  Long car rides to the beach are perfect for brainstorming.

Have a fun and meaningful summer!

Charlotte Klaar, Ph.D.

For more information about how Klaar College Consulting can help lead you to college success, call us at 301-834-6888 and visit the many resources available on our website www.cklaar.com.