Timelines and Checklists Help Ease College Application Stress for Juniors

Are you on track with your college application process?  Sometimes it seems there are so many steps you need to take, it’s hard to tell if you’re on track!  Getting organized by creating a timeline and check list can help you stay on track. 

This month’s blog focuses on what high school juniors should be doing this spring/early summer to prepare for their senior year:

Hopefully you took your practice test (PSAT) last fall, and have made a college “Best Fit” list based on what’s important to you (size, rural or urban, how far from home, cost, academic programs, etc.).

1. Schedule your College Board Test

 Most students take either the SAT or ACT test for the first time during the spring of their junior year, and a second time during the fall of their senior year.

o   The ACT registration deadline for the June 16 test is May 9, 2014 – which is coming right up!  The late registration deadline is May 23.

o   The SAT deadline is for the June 7 test is May 9; late registration by mail is May 23; by phone or online it’s May 28.

o   Late registration may carry additional fees.

2.  Plan Challenging Senior Classes

Now’s not the time to take it easy!  Meet with your school counselor or, for more personalized attention, an Independent Educational Consultant, for advice on what courses would be most beneficial based on your college plans.  They can also guide you on extracurricular activities.

3.  Get Recommendations

Contact the adults you’ll want letters of recommendations from – doing it now will allow you to beat the summer rush.

4.  Search for Scholarships

Many local organizations offer scholarships, but they may have narrow criteria, so finding the ones that are a good fit may take time.  An experienced Educational Planner can also provide invaluable advice on scholarships and financial aid.  

5.  Apply for Summer Jobs and/or Internships

Future employers – even those offering internships – will look for students who took the initiative to hold jobs and internships in high school and college. A job or internship can also help you determine what types of work or fields interest you.

6.  Draft your essay! 

Changes in the SATs will not affect current juniors, so you’ll still need to write an essay, and you’ll also need an essay for your college application. (The Class of 2016 may not need to write an essay for their SATs.)  Start now and give yourself plenty of time to do rough drafts, get input, and then fine-tune a final draft.  Educational Consultants such as Klaar College Consulting can also provide valuable input and guidance on your essay.

7.  Explore Colleges

Review your “Best Fit” list of colleges, and start scheduling campus visits.  Call the admissions office to find out about campus tour schedules and opportunities for personal meetings with a professor or coach. 

Charlotte Klaar spends about 20 percent of her time visiting campuses nationwide every year, and she has the expertise to help students develop their best fit lists.  That list could well include lesser-known colleges that may be an ideal match for you.

Klaar to Host March Seminars on Planning for College, Finances

Klaar College Consulting is offering several educational seminars to help students and parents to prepare for applying for college. The seminars will be led by Charlotte Klaar, Ph.D., Director of Klaar College Consulting, and Dianne Keilholtz, M.S., a Nationally Certified Counselor who recently joined Klaar College Consulting as an Independent Educational Consultant.

The seminars will offer timely information on: planning for college as a sophomore, junior and senior; scholarships and financial aid options; standardized tests; and changes in college applications.

The seminars are on Saturday, March 22, 9 a.m. – 12 noon at the Frederick Campus of Mount St. Mary’s University at 5350 Spectrum Dr., Frederick, and Saturday, March 29 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Comfort Inn, 1872 Edwin Miller Blvd., Martinsburg, WV.  Refreshments will be served.  RSVP to 301-834-6888 or charlotte@cklaar.com.

 “Ms. Keilholtz spent 28 years with Frederick County Public Schools, most recently as a guidance

Dianne Keilholtz

counselor,” and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her new role at Klaar College Consulting,” noted Dr. Klaar.

Ms. Keilholtz earned her Bachelor’s in Special Education at Hood College, and her M.S. in Guidance and Counseling from McDaniel College. She is also an Associate member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA).

Dr. Klaar is a Certified Educational Planner with more than 19 years of experience in her field. She also holds a PhD in general psychology from Capella University, a BA in liberal studies from the University of the State of New York, a teaching certificate from William Patterson University, and an MS in interdisciplinary science studies from Johns Hopkins University.

Dr. Klaar is an active member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), the National Association for College Admission Counseling and the Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling.  

Going the Extra Mile: Volunteering and the College Application

    So you’ve got good grades, participate in extracurricular activities, and know exactly what you want to major in—but you’re still worried about getting into the college of your dreams. You need something that is going to set you apart from the other applicants and make you stand out to a college admissions board. That one thing might just be spending your breaks and summer vacation volunteering.

    Volunteer experience looks good on an application for a few reasons. One, it shows that you’re socially conscious. You’re committed to the idea that you can make the world a better place, and you’re willing to put in the time and effort. Two, the responsibility that comes with any volunteering position is no laughing matter. Three, you will undoubtedly learn something from your experience.

     You’ve got the growth, the social consciousness, the time, and the effort ready to go—but what about the actual volunteering? In order to find the best volunteering experience for you, ask yourself a few questions...

1. What will my college want to see?

2. What would I actually enjoy doing?

     After you answer these for yourself, you can accurately assess what you want to do. Is your dream school religiously affiliated? Maybe consider volunteering at your local Sunday school or church mission. Do you love working with children? Think about dedicating your time at an elementary school babysitting during PTA meetings. Another, bigger question to ask is if you want to stay in your community. Not many high school students pursue volunteer opportunities abroad or in other states, and while it might look glamorous, its not always an option for students under the age of 18. There are many opportunities to volunteer right in your hometown, all you have to do is be willing to seek them out.

     Check with churches, schools, nonprofit organizations, libraries, sports teams, local businesses, your friends, your family members to see if they know of any local opportunities. Always ask for a detailed letter of recommendation after completing your service. Include this with your college application, and you will be sure to stand out from the rest. This will be a chance to help someone in need, and you’ll establish friendships and connections with others that will last for years to come.

Building Your College List to Find Your Dream School

Searching for the right college can be stressful for both students and parents. The costs of tuition, room and board, along with thinking about their child’s happiness, are parent’s main concerns. Meanwhile, students worry about fitting in, the food plan and which club(s) they should join. While both parties have different concerns, they share the same stress, and are looking for guidance to help make the right decisions and alleviate the pressure. For students and parents who are planning ahead, that stress may start as early as sophomore year! 

 

College consultants such as Klaar College Consulting can help alleviate the stress – and lead families to college choices that are the best fit financially, academically and socially.

I recently did a live webinar on how students can get into and stay – at their “dream” college.  To view the full webinar, go to: https://www.collegeessayorganizer.com/webinars/videos/college_list_081913.mov.

Throughout the discussion, one of the main points that we discussed is that by choosing the right school, students are far less likely to transfer or drop out. But with so much riding on this choice—financially and otherwise—how do students and their parents pick the right school? 

First, Know Yourself

One of the first things I have students do before even beginning their college search is to assess what they know about themselves. Far too often, I’ve met students who profess to love big cities, but when I’ve asked “how often have you been to a large city?” they say “never!” 

I spend a considerable amount of time connecting with my students in order to determine what they are really looking for.  I always ask them to dig deeper and get to know who they really are, because this will make a significant impact on which schools they choose to apply to. 

Likely, Target and Reach Schools

Another key point that I outlined in the webinar is the difference between Likely, Target, and Reach college choices. These three categories represent different schools for each student, based on their financial resources, personality, location, etc. 

A number of questions regarded the admissions process; one participant asked if their student should apply to more than 10 schools.  I strongly advised against that, as it shows that the student doesn’t understand him or herself. 

Instead, I counsel my students to use the Safety, Target and Reach school categories, with the majority of their choices falling within the Target range. Target schools give the student approximately a 50 percent possibility of being accepted, as compared to a 75 percent chance of acceptance for the Likely schools and 25 percent for the Reach schools. 

Should You Know Your Major?

Another student asked if they should have a major chosen before they decide on a college.  Not necessarily. Sometimes it’s helpful to know your major beforehand, as in the case of future doctors, but most schools I’ve encountered offer the ability to wait to choose a major until after your freshman year, which I highly recommend. 

Choosing a school you feel you’ll be successful in is more important than selecting your major.  Again, ask yourself whether you prefer a city or rural atmosphere, a large or small campus and class sizes, and being near or far from home. Answering these types of questions will help students make a truly informed college choice.

The admissions process can be daunting and complicated. An independent educational consultant, like me or one of my colleagues, can help students and parents make logical decisions for the future. 

The webinar also includes the many tools and resources that are available for students and parents. For more questions and a personal consultation, please call me at 301-834-6888 or email Charlotte@cklaar.com.

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 

Guide Your New College Student on Budgeting Basics

Your student has a summer job – but rather than letting him or her fritter away their earnings, work with them to start crunching numbers for the first semester of  college! You likely have planned for tuition and books, but what about the little things?  Late night pizza study sessions, athletic equipment, phone bills and extra fees are just some of the many things that get over-looked when planning a fall budget.

This is where planning is essential! Sit down with your student and show him or her how to plan and manage a budget.  (Excel spreadsheets are a handy, low-cost tool.)

·         Determine how much of their paycheck should go towards college expenses each pay period.

·         Have your student set up a savings account. Visit your local bank and see what type of account they suggest.

·         Plan ahead for possible major expenses. For example, how old is your student’s computer? Will a new one be necessary during your child’s college career? Will they need new or specialized software?

Keep in mind that as you hand over the responsibility for budgeting to your student,  mistakes will happen. As the summer and school year progress, check with your student to find out how well actual savings and expenses are coinciding with the budget, and make adjustments as needed.

Seven Steps on the Path to Paying for College

Are you a college senior who is receiving those anticipated college acceptance letters?  Or perhaps a sophomore or junior who is planning ahead?  Either way, parents and students need to plan ahead to determine HOW they’re going to pay for college!  

Step One:

Do the math -- find out the price of your most and least expensive school choices. Then figure out what your family can afford to contribute. Every college now has a cost calculator on its web site to see how you fit the financial profile for that school.

Step Two:

Seek help! On school tours, ask the hard questions about available aid. Visit their financial aid office and get as much information about their grants, scholarships and loans as possible. Start this process as early as you can.

Step Three:

Go scholarship hunting in your local area.  Many local organizations provide scholarships based on certain criteria either directly or through a local Community Foundation.  In Frederick County MD, for example, more than $515,000 was awarded to more than 280 scholars for the 2012-2013 academic year, which represents scholarships from 189 funds.http://www.cffredco.org/receive/scholarships

These applications should be made in the fall or winter, with awards frequently announced in the late spring. Each high school guidance office has a list of local scholarships for its students.

Step Four:

Time your financial aid applications to meet the early deadlines; if you are confused as to how to market yourself or your student, get help from a college consultant.

Step Five:

Complete your FAFSA forms! Even if you think you may not qualify for money, it can’t hurt to try. In addition, everyone needs a FAFSA on file in case of financial emergency in the future.

Step Six:

After you get your financial aid packages back, it’s time to review! Sit down as a family and compare all options.   Look carefully at each award. Even though one school may give you more money, another school may cost less overall. Remember to calculate how much money is being offered in merit aid (free money) as opposed to money that is in the form of loans or work study.

Step Seven:

Make a decision and meet all the deadlines! If you need more time to decide, call the financial aid office and ask for an extension on your deadline. Some colleges are historically more generous than others. A college consultant knows who those colleges are.

For more information on financial aid options and affordable but lesser-known colleges in your area, contact Charlotte Klaar, PhD, 301-834-6888, Charlotte@cklaar.com, www.cklaar.com.