Face Down Your Top Four College Fears And Help Your Student Succeed!

You want your student to get into a good college, have a fantastic college experience and find a rewarding career – all on an affordable budget! 

But where do you start sorting through the overwhelming steps of the college preparation and application process?  

After all, with 3,500 colleges nationwide, and tuition costs alone ranging from $23,410 a year upwards of $46,272 and up, there’s a lot at stake!

In my 20 years of work as a Certified Educational Planner, I’ve found that the top four fears that most concern parents are:

1.       If my student doesn’t know what he wants to do with his life, how can he pick a major that will lead to a solid career?

2.       Will my daughter find a job in her field after graduation?

3.       Can I afford to send him to the school of his dreams?

4.       Will my daughter incur so much debt that she will end up living at home again?

This blog post series is designed to examine each of these concerns and give parents some solid strategies to lead to their student’s success. Today's blog post will deal with the first question:

1. If my student doesn’t know what he wants to do with his life, how can he pick a major that will lead to a solid career?

Have no fear! Think back to when you were 17. Did you know exactly what you wanted to do and did your life unfold as you expected it to? 

One of the best ways to help your student identify his interests is to encourage him to think about what he is good at and what he likes to do.

Is he a hands-on learner? Does he prefer to work alone or in groups? Does he prefer to learn by doing or from practical experience? Is he more of a theory or application person? 

Simply asking him these questions won’t get to the answers you seek because teenagers, although self-involved, are not usually self-aware. What does that mean? It means that they don’t tend to think deeply about the big questions like:

·         Who am I?

·         What makes me happy?

·         How do I learn?

The best way to answer these questions is not by direct questioning, but through careful observation on your part. As you watch your son take apart the engine of the car, for example, comment on the fact that he really seems to enjoy working with his hands.

Ask if he thinks this has something to do with his desire to know how things work or more that he likes to solve the puzzles of how they are put together. When he tells you that he does not enjoy chemistry class but loved biology, ask why he thinks this might be. Is it because biology is a more visible science and chemistry more theoretical?

Does he have a facility for foreign language but has no idea what he can do with it? Point out the opportunities in our global economy for those who are multi-lingual.

Career Assessments are Useless without Feedback

One of the ways I do help my students to identify their passions is to administer the Strong Interest Inventory and, often, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Many high schools also administer a version of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, but they frequently don’t review the results with the student.

Career assessments without the crucial element of follow up is a waste of time for the student and money for the school district.  One student I worked with resisted taking the assessment because of his negative experience taking the MBTI on the Naviance College & Career Readiness Platform at his school.

None of the career options presented to him had rung true, or were things that he saw as leading to a successful life. No one explained to him about personality preferences (for example, one is not an ESTJ but one shows a preference for that personality style in personal interactions).  As a certified career coach, I’m qualified to have these discussions with your student over the many months we typically work together. This offers him a chance to ask questions as they develop and as he grows and matures.

Watch for our next blog post on "Will my daughter find a job in her field after graduation?"

Why Study Abroad?

By Gail Grand, The College Advisor, Inc.

Imagine hopping on the Paris Metro for the first time, after purchasing your

ticket with Euros, and zooming off to discover the latest Picasso exhibition at the Louvre; or wandering the ancient streets of Rome, and ordering a gelato from a real gelateria in Italian.

Do these adventures sound exciting? Would you consider attending a college semester or a full year in a foreign country?

Studying abroad can be one of the most unforgettable experiences you will ever have, and it comes with a myriad of benefits. Since college is already a transitional phase from childhood to adulthood, time spent abroad during these years can have a particularly positive effect on your self-esteem and confidence.

Navigating foreign streets, learning and speaking a new language, and travelling on your own are all great ways to gain independence and self-reliance. By confronting the challenges of exploring the unknown, you will learn so much about yourself.

Another important aspect of studying abroad is that it gives you the chance to see a new side of your major. You will gain a more well-rounded view of your subject by studying and learning about it through different styles of teaching.

 As society in the United States becomes more multicultural and multilingual, students can greatly benefit from gaining a global perspective. Not only will you be immersed in a foreign language, which is the quickest and the most effective way to become fluent, but you will also have the opportunity to explore a country’s customs, historical landmarks, people and food. This may lead to newfound interests, such as sports and entertainment that do not exist at home.  Have you ever played bandy? What about kubb? These are both popular sports in Sweden.

Studying abroad is a great way to make friends and meet people
(and potential contacts) who hail from completely different backgrounds. Many students report that they stay in contact with the people they meet overseas for years to come. In today’s increasingly globalized society, gaining an international perspective may be one of the most important things you can take away from studying abroad. If you plan on working within the global markets, this experience can set you up to be an ideal job candidate.

Learning how to interact with people from other countries is crucial, and building cultural competency will certainly be attractive to future employers. Immersing yourself in a new culture is a great way to learn how to embrace differences, and that’s a great asset in any professional environment.

Studying abroad will always look impressive on your CV or resume, not to mention on graduate school applications. Many universities direct their own study abroad programs, so for more information, contact your school’s study abroad office.

Another helpful organization is the International Student Exchange Program (ISEP), a non-profit educational community comprised of over 300 universities in more than 50 countries. They can assist with financial and academic issues as well as placement at international universities. Gaining a fresh perspective, learning in a new environment, and making memories that will last a lifetime are just some of the benefits reaped by studying abroad.

And who knows? You may return home having made lifelong friendships with young people from your host country -- and with students from other universities in the USA who were on your Study Abroad program! 

Charlotte Klaar, PhD, Receives Prestigious Award from the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA)

Charlotte Klaar, a Certified Educational Planner with more than 20 years of experience, is being honored with the Steven R. Antonoff Award for Professional Achievement at the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) Spring Conference in Boston, MA on Friday, May 6, 2016.

The award was created to recognize an IECA professional who has distinguished him or herself by their outstanding contributions to the profession of independent college consulting.

Dr. Klaar has been a professional member of IECA since 1998, and has served on the Summer Training Institute faculty for many years, served on the IECA Board of Directors for four years, was chair of the Board Development Committee, served on the Education and Training Committee, was  chair of the Mentoring Sub-Committee, served on the Ad Hoc Master’s Degree Committee, and was chair of the Ad Hoc Strategic Planning Committee.

Additionally, she has taught in the College Counseling Certificate program at UCLA Extension and the Certificate in Independent Educational Consulting program at UC Irvine Extension, and at Assumption College in its master’s in School Counseling Program.

“I’m both honored and humbled by receiving this professional recognition from my peers,” said Dr. Klaar. “With the rising costs of colleges, the competition for acceptance, and the ever-changing admissions and testing criteria, Independent Educational Consultants play a more important role than ever in guiding students to college success,” she added.

Admissions Officers May Check You Out Online

What do college admissions officers look for when scanning the Facebook profiles of applicants? According to a recent article by David Cohen in Social Times, Kaplan Test Prep surveyed nearly 400 admissions officers from across the U.S. to find out. http://www.adweek.com/socialtimes/kaplan-test-prep-college-admissions-officers-facebook/632729

Here’s what Kaplan discovered: 40 percent of admissions officers said they visit applicants’ profiles on Facebook and other social networks to learn more about them, marking a record since Kaplan starting tracking the trend in 2008, when that figure was only about 10 percent.

According to the article, a total of 89 percent of admissions officers said they “rarely” visit social media profiles, while 11 percent admitted to doing so often, Kaplan reported, adding that 29 percent of them have searched for applicants on Google, with that figure remaining relatively steady over the past two years.

But what impact do their findings have on applicants’ chances for admission? According to Kaplan, the same percentage of admissions officers said what they found positively impacted and negatively impacted those chances—37 percent.

In the article, admissions officers shared the following “trigger points” with Kaplan:

·         Interest in talents: Some admissions officer said they will visit an applicant’s social media page–often by the applicant’s own invitation–if the applicant mentions a special talent, for example, such as being a musician, artist, poet, writer or model. In fact, 42 percent of admissions officers reported an increase in such invitations compared with two years ago.

·         Verification of awards: Citation of particularly distinguished or noteworthy awards can sometimes trigger an admissions officer’s online search for independent verification–as one officer noted, something “out of the norm.”

·         Criminal records or disciplinary action: Some admissions officers say that if an applicant mentions that they have a criminal background or a record of disciplinary action, they will do some online digging to get more details.

·         Scholarships: Students applying for special scholarships can come under greater scrutiny, as schools want to ensure that those receiving the scholarships are fully deserving. Extra due diligence can come in the form of online checking.

·         Admissions sabotage: Anecdotally, admissions officers say they occasionally get anonymous tips about prospective students pointing them toward inappropriate behavior. They’ll sometimes dig online to see if it has merit.

All of this means that students are wise to remember who may be looking at their posts, both now and in the future!

Baffled by the 'New" PSAT/NMSQ Scores? Read on!

Here are some valuable insights on interpreting the 'New" PSAT/NMSQ scores by Nancy Griesner at the Examiner.com.

Students lucky enough to navigate the College Board website and successfully retrieve PSAT/NMSQ test scores from October are probably wondering what to make of the dizzying number of scores. As part of the redesign and repackaging of SAT-related products, the College Board has spun off no less than 16 separate scores to consider and stress over. Among these are a total score, a math score, an evidence-based reading and writing (ERW) score, “Nationally Representative Sample Percentile(s),” three test scores, two cross-test scores, seven subtest scores, and a National Merit® Scholarship Corporation Selection Index.

And each of these sets of scores has a different score range. The total score ranges from 320 to 1520; math and ERW scores range from 160 to 760; test scores and cross-test scores range from 8 to 38; subscores range from 1 to 15; and the NMSC Selection Index ranges from 48 to 228.

Families anxious to make decisions about future testing and those curious about how the new NMSC Selection Index might translate into future merit scholarship designations are naturally asking which scores are most important and what exactly they mean.

“Unfortunately, these overhauled reports feel overwrought and confusing. While they offer a vast array of measures—some helpful, some less so—and newly created subscores, they fall short of providing clear takeaways most students are seeking,” explained Bruce Reed, of Compass Education Group. “Aside from strongly encouraging students to now practice on Khan Academy, the new PSATreports are not as obviously actionable as users need them to be.”

So what can students take away from their PSAT experience?

First, be assured that no college will ever see these test results. They are for your use only. So relax.

Finish reading this article at https://t.co/C1rR5Mz42Y

SAT Redesign Offers Opportunities & Challenges

There has been a lot of news about the new SAT, but what will the redesign mean for students in 2016? Nothing! It is the class of 2017 who will be affected by the changes and who should take note of them.

There are no simple answers. The new SAT test is designed to create more opportunities, justifications, and emphasis on real world problem-solving.  Many students will find that the redesign is more challenging, whiles others may find it more logical. 

The new components of the test, which is created by the College Board, will be an evidence-based reading and writing section, a math section and an optional essay section. Each section will be designed to stop students from simply filling a bubble on the test sheet; instead, they’ll need to justify their answers.

The test format will be paper and pencil with a computer-based option having a composite score between 400-1600 excluding the essay score.

Most questions will have only four answer choices instead of five, and students will no longer be penalized for choosing incorrect answers.

Students will be tested on grammar, reading and vocabulary in the context of a passage, and will be required to cite evidence for their answer choices for some of the reading and writing questions.  

Additionally, the reading section will include passages from science, history, social studies and literature, which is an expansion of disciplines as compared to the current SAT.  On the new SAT Math test, students will face tougher problems, but have more time to solve them. 

And on two of the Math sections, students will not be allowed to use their calculators.  Algebra will be the king of the redesigned SAT, with 35 percent of the questions compared to only 10 percent for geometry.  Advanced math topics, including trigonometry, will be covered.

Essays on the new SAT will no longer be mandatory, but students will need to take it at least once for college admissions.  Students now have 50 minutes for the essay (compared to 25 in the past), and the focus has shifted from creative writing to analysis.

The redesigned PSAT launched in October 2015, while the redesigned SAT launches in March of 2016.

For more information on preparing and applying for college, visit www.cklaar.com.

Valuable Insights on College Entrance Exams

Standardized entrance exams such as the SAT and ACT play a major role in the college admission process. The SAT is administered by the College Board and measures skill or natural intelligence. The American College Testing Program (ACT) is administered by ACT Inc. and measures achievement in the core curriculum areas. It is based on the knowledge and skills normally taught in high school college-preparatory courses. All colleges will accept either one but it’s important to know the difference between the two.

·         The questions on the ACT have more advanced math concepts, and tend to be more straightforward. The ACT also has a science section, which the SAT does not.

·         The SAT has a strong emphasis on vocabulary, is broken up into more sections such as critical reading, math and writing.

Everyone should take a Mock ACT after taking the PSAT so that the results can be compared and the student can then move forward to take the assessment that most accurately represents his or her capabilities.

Start getting ready at least six weeks before the test. Take a practice test to prepare for the real thing. There are several free online practice exams:

• 4tests.com
• ACTStudent.org
• SAT.Collegeboard.org
• PowerScore.com
• TestPrepReview.com

Strategies to keep in mind:

·         Relax. Stress is your number one enemy. If you’re not satisfied with the results you can retake the test.

·         Play Detective. Eliminate answers you are sure are wrong, and guess from the remaining choices. Narrowing down your choices will increase your chances of choosing the correct one.

·         Avoid confusing variables in math questions. Turn the questions into simple arithmetic problems by plugging in a number and solving the problem.

When retaking the test, it’s important to have three pieces of information: the score you have, the score you want and the plan to reach your goal. The benefit of retaking the SAT and/or ACT is that scores usually go up after the first try.

You may surprise yourself and your higher scores may even motivate you to apply to other schools or scholarships that you thought were out of reach. Colleges will take your highest score in each section, not just your more recent score. Some will even use test scores as a factor when handing out scholarship money, so plan to take the test at least twice!