College Guidance Services » admin

January of the Senior Year

admin — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 14:58:38 +0000

If you’ve applied in the fall as recommended, January is going to be scholarship essay time. Colleges begin assigning scholarship funds quickly quickly after they admit students. Of course, they don’t just hand you checks so they ask you to write a scholarship essay. These can be valued anywhere from $1000 to $10,000 or more. When the award letters come out in the spring or later, this will be included in the final cost of a year of college.
There may also be scholarship weekends offered where students are asked to compete with other prospective students. Activities may include formal events, interactive group events and just plain fun.
Take advantage of these opportunities. They will cut your student loans and improve your lifestyle after graduation.

Sent in Those Applications?

admin — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 11:47:00 +0000

I hope you have all college applications sent out by now! Why so early? Well, the college process runs on a timeline and you want to be in the right spot at the right time. When the college bus leaves the station, you want to be on it. In January, colleges begin to designate scholarship and financial aid funding for applicants. If you haven’t applied yet, you are not on schedule. College is not only about getting accepted. College is about being affordable. If you don’t apply on time, you are playing catch up. Catch up can be quite expensive. Student loans make a major impact on your lifestyle after graduation. Be smart. Apply early and apply at 5-6 colleges to get the best financial aid package. And, never select a college based on where your friends are going. This is all about you and the funding provided for you.

Letters of Recommendation

admin — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 15:21:21 +0000

You are a senior! Congratulations…but you have a lot of work to do. And, if you are on the ball, you will do it quickly. Ask teachers to write letters of recommendation right now before everyone else does. And, when you do, make sure you have an envelope to the college contact, a resume for the teacher, and a hint about what you would like in the letter. Teachers don’t have you memorized, you know. And, when a teacher does submit a letter for you, don’t expect to see that letter. Letters are often sent directly to the college. This prevents Mary showing Lisa her letter and many other peers totally breaking confidentiality. Don’t be offended if a teacher doesn’t show you the letter. If you are in good standing with the teacher, it will be a good letter. If the teacher hesitates about writing you a letter, perhaps you should move on to another teacher that is more enthusiastic. A bad letter is like no letter.

Gearing up for Senior Year in High School

admin — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 12:36:25 +0000

You will be a senior in a few weeks!! Senior pictures are taking spotlight and the graduation ceremony. But, wait a minute! There is much to be done before you walk in the school door.

1. Have you taken the ACT or SAT at least twice and perhaps three times? If not, get it scheduled NOW. These tests determine scholarships and even admission.

2. Do you have a resume ready with all important information about your high school years? Academic awards, other awards, volunteerism? All the details for a perfect resume are in my book on the home page.

3. Have you selected the teachers you want to ask to write a letter of recommendation for you? Be ready when fall comes.

4. Have you written essays that appear on college admission forms? You may have to write 3 or 4 and wouldn’t summer be the best time to get this out of the way?

If the above are completed, you will have a much more fun senior year with much less stress.

The Summer Before College

admin — Mon, 30 May 2011 10:51:34 +0000

You’ve made it! Your college arrangements are completed. So, what do you do before you begin atttending college? Top priority is to stay out of trouble. Colleges can pull out of their offers if they find out you are no longer the student they thought they accepted. Second priority is to save some money for those incidental needs like pizza, movies, and laundry. Yes, laundry. Mom and dad’s laundry services are no longer free. You are now on your way to being independent and need to pay your own way. The rest of the summer? Enjoy being with your friends and stay safe. The best is yet ahead.

There is No Hurry!

admin — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 17:50:48 +0000

People are beginning to ask you where you will be going to college. Don’t feel pressured. You will decide when you have all the data in front of you. Until you know what each college will offer you, don’t make a decision. If a large university has not submitted financial aid information, move on. Don’t wait for them. Many large universities will not offer great packages. Go with the best offer you recieve while the iron is hot.

Scholarships–They May Be Misleading

admin — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 11:14:49 +0000

You have received scholarships at three colleges! Take a look in how they are applied. Some scholarships will not reduce your costs at all. Confused? It is confusing. College A may take your $1000 scholarship and reduce your costs by $1000. College B may accept the scholarship at 50% and reduce costs by $500. College C may accept your scholarship, take the $1000, and reduce your costs by $0. The $1000 will indirectly go to someone else. Find out how your scholarships will be applied at each college.

Take Notes on a College Visit

admin — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 03:59:37 +0000

College visits are important. Have a list of questions to ask the college counselor when you come onto campus. Make sure you make the appointment with the counselor and meet him or her. These are the people that will fight for you to get financial aid and admission. If your college counselor is not going to be on campus on the day you would like to visit, select a different day when they are there. Look at the cafeteria, library, computer access, dorms, and many other items. Take notes. Have the same questions for each college visit and compare apples to apples. Some students find the food the tie-breaker. Other students find the dorms to be the factor that help them select a college. It can be the city where a college is located. But, keep notes because colleges will blend into one another after a while.

Apply at 4-6 Colleges

admin — Sat, 19 Mar 2011 15:18:58 +0000

No matter what your school counselor tells you, apply at 4-6 colleges in the fall of your senior year in high school. If you have been using information on this website to know if you will be accepted or not, you have the odds in your favor. By applying at 4-6 colleges, you are in a better position to get a good financial aid package. You don’t know which colleges will be more generous or less generous. Colleges have different goals from year to year as to who they will give the best financial aid. By applying to several colleges, your odds are much better. In addition to that, when colleges know that you have applied at several institutions, they know they need to be more aggressive with their offer to snag you as a student. It is the smart thing to do.

Don’t “Cram” the College Search

admin — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 11:27:23 +0000

Students are used to cramming for an exam and often come out okay. Don’t cram the college admissions process or you will pay way too much for college. There is a system in place and things happen in sequence. If you don’t begin the process in the fall of your senior year, which means you need to visit colleges in your junior year, you won’t be in line at the proper time. Applications are due in the fall. Scholarship essays are written in the winter. Award letters are mailed out in the spring. You can’t skip steps and expect to be a winner. If you skip steps, you are most likely to skip the scholarship portion. Ouch.