If You Want to be Accepted, Show Colleges You Care!

Today, colleges can use using data mining techniques to track every interaction a student has with their institution.*  That makes it more important than ever to show them that you want to attend their school. When asked why you are applying to XYZ University, you must be able to show that you know who they are and what makes them different from ABC University, their prime competitor.

Colleges track each time you visit their web site and how long you stay there, how quickly you open email from them, whether you click links imbedded in these emails, and how often you initiate contact with a member of the school community whether admissions, students or professors.

The Catholic University is one of the
the hundreds of campuses Charlotte Klaar has visited.

Visiting Colleges is also Crucial to Acceptance

Here’s a cautionary tale from the class of 2013: I always explain the need to demonstrate interest and visit colleges when possible. Last year, one student family decided that this wasn’t necessary, and they chose to wait until acceptance letters were in before they visited the colleges. 

This was in spite of the fact that most colleges on the list were within driving distance. They felt that since their student had a stellar GPA and test scores, the visits weren’t necessary.

The student received mostly “Wait Lists” and only two acceptances from colleges that would have taken her no matter what. The Target and Reach colleges on the list believed she would not attend, since they saw little or no interest in them beyond the application. So, in order to maintain their ranking on U. S. News and World Report listings, they didn’t ‘waste’ an acceptance on a student they felt was not likely to actually attend.

The lesson is: Invest the time and effort necessary to show them that you are a serious student of their college or you likely won’t be accepted.

 For more valuable information on selecting and gaining acceptance into the college of your choice, contact Charlotte Klaar, PhD, Charlotte@cklaar.com, 301-834-6888.

*See Big Data http://huff.to/11pLovC 

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.  

Strong Academics, Idyllic Settings at Women's Colleges

On a recent trip to Western Massachusetts, I visited two wonderful women’s colleges: Mount Holyoke (@mtholyoke) and Smith (@smith). While both are women’s colleges and have many similarities, they are also quite different from each other. I strongly encourage young women to explore these as well as other women’s colleges, before deciding whether to apply only to coed institutions.

Mount Holyoke, in South Hadley, is smaller (2,200 students) and in more of a rural setting than Smith. Tucked into the Berkshire Mountains, this beautiful campus offers the opportunity to think and learn in a comfortable and quiet setting.

Recently, a series of fabulous restaurants, coffee shops, and boutiques were added at the edge of the campus. All are within walking distance of the residences.

Academics have always been the strong suit of the Northeastern U.S. liberal women’s colleges known as the “Seven Sisters.”*  As the first dedicated to educating women, Mount Holyoke has never been distracted from its mission of providing a solid liberal arts education, coupled with strong programs in the arts – including dance, theater, and studio arts.  They also offer well-respected programs in business and science. While one might think of South Hadley as a “sleepy little town,” dynamic intellectual pursuits are alive and well at Mount Holyoke. 

Smith College in Northampton is the largest of the Seven Sisters, and is located in a much busier town that’s within easy walking distance. There is a lot to do in the area surrounding Smith, and the campus itself is a haven around a beautiful lake. 

A very strong engineering program is offered, along with its liberal arts core. Smith’s curriculum also has a strong global focus, and encourages students to study abroad to prepare for a future career as a global leader. Their open curriculum, with no core requirements, encourages students to explore their interests in many areas, so students frequently have double majors or minors.

The residential system at Smith is governed by a house system, rather than residence halls, and students identify themselves by their house (all if which are self-governing).

Both Mount Holyoke and Smith have a population of non-traditional women students, as well as significant international populations. Their selection process emphasizes the GPA of incoming students. Both colleges are SAT optional, in recognition of their focus on strong high school preparation. Each is a member of the Five College Consortium, and students can easily take classes at the other colleges via a bus system.

Don’t miss the opportunity to explore these and other women’s colleges to round out your college research.  You may find a good fit and a rewarding college experience!

* The other women’s colleges of the Seven Sisters include Barnard College, Bryn Mawr College, Radcliffe College, Vassar College, and Wellesley College. All were founded between 1837 and 1889.

Juniors- Use Your Spring Break Effectively

It’s Spring Break!  Now is the time for juniors to begin visiting colleges and narrowing down their list of potential choices.  Visiting colleges while they are still in session will give you a clearer picture and feel for the campus.  Go with an open mind, and thoroughly explore the campus, academic buildings, dining halls, and dormitories.  Try to imagine yourself in each setting.  On average, students spend 15 hours a week in class, so you want to make sure you pick a college campus where you believe that you can live peacefully.

If possible, talk to students who attend each college; put together a list of possible questions in advance, so you feel more comfortable in starting conversations.

Also take photos and notes along the way, to help you remember the pros and cons of each college later, when you’re comparing campuses!

Here are some factors to consider during your break:

Consider your options

There are a wide variety of options available: private universities, public universities, liberal arts colleges, community colleges, etc.

Two-year community colleges are a good route for some.  They provide the opportunity to complete general education requirements that will transfer into a four year university, which can save tens of thousands of dollars on college tuition.  If you plan carefully, it is possible to transfer from a community college to a university and still graduate within four years.

Here is a great article about private vs. public colleges: www.collegeconfidential.com/dean/archives/000294.htm

Create a list of 10-15 colleges that are of possible interest

Here is a great website that can help lead you in the right direction: www.princetonreview.com/college-education.aspx

For more information about how to select the right college, and 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.

Junior Year and the Dreaded College Search

Now is the time to start planning for your college career!

Junior year is known for beginning the college search and preparing for the search and application process.  It can all seem daunting, so here are some tips to help make your junior year more manageable:

Narrow down potential majors

Talk with your guidance counselor and schedule a time to take career tests and assessments.  These can be very useful in identifying your strengths, narrowing down your interests, and pointing you toward possible career paths.

Attend college fairs

College fairs are a valuable resource to gain additional information about a wide variety of colleges.  There will be admissions representatives present for each college, so it is a great way to ask questions and learn more.  For more information about college fairs, read my blog post College Fairs- Helpful Hints to Help Your Child Stand Out.

Create a list of colleges

Create a list of colleges that you are interested in; try to keep the list between 10-15 colleges.  When creating your list, don’t forget to consider important criteria such as: majors offered, location, public vs. private, financial aid options available, demographics of the campus, size, tuition costs, housing options, extracurricular activities, student-faculty ratio, etc.  

Visit colleges before applying

Schedule college visits before applying.  Even if you plan to go on a scheduled campus tour, plan your visit so you can also explore the surrounding community.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions; make a pro/con list of each school so that later you can accurately -recall details of each campus.  The college will be your home for four years, so you want to make sure you will feel comfortable there. 

Colleges monitor students’ interest in their school.  Not only will visiting the schools help you narrow down what you want in a college, but it will show the college that you are interested in them as more than a backup or safety school.

Get to know your teachers

Colleges require students to submit letters of recommendation along with their admissions application.  Get to know some of your favorite teachers.  They will be a valuable resource when it comes to asking for letters of recommendation.

Grades

If you have a low GPA it’s not too late to turn it around.  Colleges look at trends in your GPA, so if you have slacked off, you still have time to show colleges that you’re taking your education seriously.  If you do very well your junior and senior years, colleges will notice your efforts.  

Don’t forget about standardized tests

Deadlines for standardized tests are fast approaching! Make a timetable for SAT/ACT.

March 9^th is the deadline for the ACT http://www.actstudent.org/

April 6^th is the deadline for the SAT so begin thinking and studying for the SAT http://sat.collegeboard.org/home

Begin to prepare for AP exams.  Remember you can get college credit, so the time you spend studying for the exam could save you from taking a course in college.  Put forth the effort now and it will pay off in the future.

There are many study guides available to help you prepare for all standardized tests.

Begin thinking about senior year course selection

Consider taking upper level courses such as Honors, AP, and community college courses.  AP courses and classes at your local community college are great ways to earn college credits.  It shows colleges your intellectual curiosity and dedication to hard work.

Plan for summer

Start planning now so you can make effective use of your summer.  Begin to think of possible jobs or internships and schedule additional college visits.

Here are some additional resources for high school juniors.

The College Board’s action plan for juniors: http://www.collegeboard.com/student/plan/action/juniors.html