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!

Make Your Scholarship Application Shine

In this era where college costs are soaring and grants at state colleges are diminishing, it’s more important than ever to pursue scholarships, and create applications that make you stand out from the competition. Here are a few things you can do to make your application shine!

·         Note unique qualifiers like your college major and extracurricular and athletic activities.  Also note characteristics such as being a vegetarian, adopted or a first generation student.

·         Extracurricular activities are also a great way to acquire personal experiences.  Expand on your passions and interests by joining a club or organization that’s related to your hobby, intended major or future career path.

·         Make an impact by getting involved in community service and volunteer opportunities.  The meaningful experiences gained will amplify your presence on a scholarship application.  Detail how these experiences have assisted your personal growth and helped you develop time management, problem-solving and organizational skills.

·         Quality, not quantity, counts in showcasing your leadership roles.  Show how your experiences have taught you people skills and how to successfully deal with conflicts.

·       Make your application error-free and meet all deadlines.

·         End with a personal statement that showcases your personality.

o   Start with a great “first impression” sentence or paragraph.

o   Sell yourself, but tell the truth.

o   Don’t use clichés – be unique and incorporate emotions.

o   Be optimistic.

o   Use active, not passive, verbs.

o   Proofread several times and ask another person to proof 
   it as well.

Places to Find Scholarships

There are many online sites to hunt for scholarships, including Scholarships.com, RaiseMe.com, Zinch.com, Fastweb.com, Cappex.com and more.  Also seek out scholarships through your high school guidance office, community foundation, local churches, and civic organizations such as your local Rotary, Lions, Eagles and Elks club.

Begin researching scholarship opportunities during your sophomore and junior year of high school, so you have time to plan out the steps you’ll need to take to earn scholarships that are the best fit for you. 

Junior Year: Make a plan that will guide you through school to college.

There are many questions to think about when planning for college, so get started now!

When it comes to searching for colleges, do you have any in mind? Do you know where you want to apply? How much help do you want finding ways to pay for college? When you imagine college, what are you most excited about? Is it learning new things? Living on your own? Playing sports? Having a social life? Or are you pursuing a career interest?

Here are some steps you can take this year to get a jump start on your college search process:

• Take a good look at your unweighted GPA.

·    Take college admission tests, such as the SAT and the ACT.

·         Strive to take college-level or honors courses as a senior, because that’s what college admission officers like to see.

·         Prepare a list of schools that interest you, and begin scheduling college visits. Be sure to take advantage of the opportunity to talk with students at each campus you visit.

·         Colleges look for quality involvement in extra activities and experiences outside of school; join an academic club, volunteer for activities and clubs and play sports. Passionate involvement in activities and demonstrating leadership helps showcase your maturity and ability to make meaningful use of your free time.

·         After determining the qualities you are looking for in a college, put those ideas into a college search program such as www.collegedata.com or https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org  to create a list of colleges to consider for applications.

·         Start researching scholarships and financial aid options.

·         Attend college fairs that allow you to meet with college representatives to ask questions.

If you’d like help with your college search process, applications, college essay, financial aid options and more, call Klaar College Consulting.  We have a variety of programs available to meet your needs.  Or attend one of our upcoming seminars.  Visit http://www.cklaar.com/seminars.html or call us at 301-834-6888.