Complimentary Seminar on Making a Successful College Choice

We are teaming with Applerouth Tutoring Services to present a seminar on "Making a Successful College Choice" on Sat., March 9, from noon to 2 p.m. at the Thomas Balch Library at 208 W. Market St. in Leesburg. There is no charge for the seminar, but call to reserve your spot 301-834-6888 or email me at charlotte@cklaar.com.

Use Your Stress to Become a Success!

It’s that time of year when students are completing college applications and thinking/worrying about whether they’ll be accepted by their top choice colleges. A little stress is good, and can motivate students to make sure their applications are complete, and that they continue to study and finish their senior year with good grades. But how do students learn to manage stress, and turn it into success?

Here are a few techniques:

·       Embrace the anxiety – Everyone feels a stress in their life once in a while. Don’t let your student be afraid of it! In fact, studies show that a little stress can actually increase a test score.

·       Take a five minute breather – Sometimes the best thing a student can do is take a five minute walk, get the blood flowing and release some of the stress hormones!

·      Competition can be fun – Soccer games, talent shows and even school spirit week can teach your student that a little stress can lead to some fun competition! They can embrace a little stress and learn how to “use the force” for good!

·       Finish what you start – When your student doesn’t want to play in the big game, compete in the talent show or wear their school spirit proudly, encourage them to finish what they committed to initially! There is always a victory in playing the game.

·       Be aware- What makes a fun stress turn into an unbearable stress? Find the trigger and talk about it. What makes that application or test so stressful? How can you turn a negative stress into a positive one?

·       Remember, it’s worth it – In between checking on the status of the applications they sent, student should remember that they will get accepted into a college – even if it’s not their number one pick. They won’t stay a high school senior forever!

For more guidance on high school courses and activities, finding a college that’s a good fit, financing, deadlines and more, call Klaar College Consulting, 301-834-6888, Charlotte@cklaar.com.

 

From Freedom of Expression to Fitting into a Box; Changes in the Common Application

Students planning to apply for school in the Fall of 2014 may get an unpleasant surprise. While previous students have uploaded long and creative essays, the class of 2014 will be held to a 500 word limit in their personal statements which are cut and pasted into a box on the Common Application.

The new changes will limit the amount of creativity students are able to show a prospective school.  In previous years, students could exhibit their personalities through longer stories and additional elements such as photos and math equations using the .doc or .pdf format in uploaded essays.

Additionally, the “topic of your choice” question will be removed from the common application, so students who once demonstrated their uniqueness in that question will have to find another way to think outside the box.

Charlotte Klaar, PhD, founder of Klaar College Consulting, recommends that you:

·         Find new ways to be creative in your application. Use an interesting quote, make a bold statement, start your essay with a question and/or have a memorable ending to your essay by using emotion to capture the reader’s attention!

·         Include activities that showcase your best you!

·         To avoid spelling mistakes, write all essays on a Word document, then copy and paste it into the application. Don’t depend on spell check!

·         Always review your applications before sending them in.

For more guidance on high school courses and activities, finding a college that’s a good fit, financing, deadlines and more, call Klaar College Consulting, 301-834-6888. Charlotte@cklaar.com.

Junior Year: It’s College Crunch Time!

For many juniors, the end of winter break ushers in an important time in their high school careers, as they begin to seriously look at their college options.  With more than 3,500 colleges nationwide, there are many factors for students and parents to take into consideration. No wonder the college selection process can seem overwhelming!  To help you focus your efforts, here are the top three things to zero in on right now:

1. Define your criteria for choosing a college

Think seriously about the things that are important to you in choosing a school.  Are you looking for a specific academic program, or is student life more important? How large or small of a college would you feel most comfortable with? Do you want a school where there are opportunities to study abroad?  Would you like a conservative environment, or a more liberal one?  How far from home do you want to be? 

2. Realistically evaluate your credentials

One of the shifts that has affected college admissions is “grade inflation.”  In the past, the traditional bell curve for an average grade was C; now the average grade is B, which can give kids and parents of B students a false sense of security. 

Also look at how challenging your high school course load has been. Challenging courses, including AP classes, show schools that you’re committed to academics and that you used your time in high school wisely.

It’s also important to be involved in your school and in the community, and to commit to a few activities. If possible, these should include athletics and/or the arts, student government, and community service activities.

If you’re in Scouting, achieving the Eagle rank or Gold Award levels are very impressive to college admissions counselors, because of the dedication and leadership potential they represent. 

3. Understand the need for a balanced list of colleges based on financial and acceptance likeliness

When choosing a college, it’s important to not only look at what you want from a school, but what the school wants from you. Be aware of things such as the acceptance rate of various schools, and the credentials of the accepted students. 

In terms of cost, local state schools may not always be the least expensive.  Many are facing huge challenges and the pool of funds available for financial assistance has dried up significantly. Private schools, on the other hand, are funded by endowments, and when private schools want an excellent, standout student who will be a credit to them, they can shift more Merit Scholarship dollars towards getting that student, and less towards a more average student who may choose to go there.

If you’d like help in finding the best possible match between your student’s educational, social, and financial needs, and what colleges offer, give us a call.  We’ve guided hundreds of students to college success!  To schedule your first consultation, just call 301-834-6888 or email us at Charlotte@cklaar.com. 

Enjoy Your Early Action Acceptance

Did you apply for and receive an early action acceptance (not to be confused with the binding early decision acceptance)?

As you’re aware, early action has a lot of benefits, the biggest being that you don’t have to wait nearly as long as fellow classmates to find out if you’ve been accepted to the college of your dreams. While most students have to wait until spring for their acceptance letters, those who decide to submit their application by the early action deadline typically find out by mid December.

If you’re one of those lucky few who took the early action route and have received an acceptance letter, here are several tips:

• ENJOY IT. Take time during your holiday break to relax and enjoy the fact that you’ve already received an acceptance letter. That’s one less stress to worry about during the holiday season! 

• DON’T RUSH IN. Take your time and keep an eye out for acceptance letters from schools you applied to by the regular deadline. Perhaps another school wants to offer you a scholarship, but your early action school does not. This may be an important factor to take into consideration when deciding which school to attend. Once you’ve heard back from all the schools you applied to, fully evaluate your options to make the choice that’s best for you.

With these two tips, you’ll be able to thoroughly enjoy the benefits of your early action application!

Happy Holidays from Klaar College Consulting!

Which Type of College is Right for You!

Which Type of College is Right for You!

 

There are a variety of different types of colleges available, so narrowing down the right one for you may seem like a daunting task. But, it doesn’t have to be! The below explanation of the different categories of colleges may help you find the one that seems best suited to your individual academic, social and financial needs.

Military

Military Colleges, like the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York, teach their students in a unique style with a focus on military history and tradition.

Public

A public university is funded and paid for by public means. These schools are often, though not always, state schools, and they tend to have lower tuition rates than private universities. Towson University in Towson, Maryland (17,517 undergrads) would be an example.

State Schools

A state school is one that is paid for and run by the state. State schools, which are usually public, often have a large student population. For example, the University of Maryland-College Park has 26,775 undergrads.

Private

A private university is not run by the government. These institutions are run as educational nonprofit organizations. Private universities tend to have higher fees than public and state schools. An example would be the University of Richmond in Richmond Virginia.

Religious Affiliated

Religiously affiliated institutions are founded and supported by a specific religion. Because of their basis in religion, they may be a good choice for those with a strong faith. The Catholic-based Loyola University in Baltimore Maryland is an example of this.

Liberal Arts

A liberal arts university focuses on education in the field of liberal arts. Liberal arts include subjects like literature, psychology, and philosophy. As such, these schools would be a good choice for someone with an interest in the humanities. Hood College in Frederick, Maryland is an example of one such school.

Tech Schools

Tech or technical schools provide education in areas of trained labor. Technical schools can prepare students for careers as medical assistants, cooks, electrical technicians, and much more. An example of a technical school would be ITT Technical Institute, which has campuses across the country.

Ivy League

Ivy League universities are a group of academically elite educational institutions. They are private, and have high tuition rates. These universities are very selective. An example of an Ivy League university is Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey. The term “Ivy League” is an athletic designation rather than an academic one.

We hope this list will make it easier for you to find the colleges that match your needs and interests! For more help in selecting the college that is the best fit for you, and that will result in an exciting and rewarding experience that leads to a satisfying career, contact Charlotte Klaar at 301-834-6888 or Charlotte@cklaar.com.

The Letter of Recommendation: Explained

The Letter of Recommendation: Explained

The letter of recommendation has long since been one of the key components of a college application. As such, it can be a major concern for high school students, raising questions such as: Who should you ask to write your letter of recommendation? How much time should they have to write it? What should they say to make you stand out? Is it even really necessary?

Below, we’ll help answer these questions in the hopes of demystifying the fabled letter of recommendation.

• Who are the best people to ask to write a recommendation?

Standard letters of recommendation: Guidance counselors and teachers from your junior or senior years.

Supplemental letters of recommendation: Coaches, employers, religious leaders, and other respected adults who know you well

• How much time should you give the person to write the recommendation letter?

Approximately three weeks

• What should the person writing the letter say in order to make you stand out?

Focus on leadership abilities, extracurricular activities, highlights from your resume, intellectual curiosity, and other abilities/activities that enhance your in-classroom performance

• Is the recommendation letter even necessary?

Most colleges do require at least one standard letter of recommendation

Hopefully, these answers will be helpful in your search for the perfect letter of recommendation.

As an additional note, students should be aware that counselors do not have to alert students as to whether or not they will send a recommendation letter on the student’s behalf. That makes it important that you follow up with your counselor to find out whether they have sent a letter.  If not, it’s doubly important that you get a letter from a teacher or other adult as per above!