Collegewise

A Tip for Underclassmen Parents- Check your Collegewise Testing Calendar

Have you seen the customized testing calendar we wrote for your student?

We realize that for some students, the average life span of a piece of paper we give them is 37 minutes. So, if you never saw it and have no idea what we’re referring to, call your Collegewise counselor and we’ll get you your own copy.

Not a Collegewise family? Our friends at The Princeton Review have a good guideline for testing. And if you have any questions about what tests to take and when to take them, visit your high school counselor.

Download hs_testing_timline.pdf

Tips for Making the Most Out of College Fairs

Recently, NACAC (The National Association of College Admission Counselors) announced the spring college fair schedule. These are big productions, though not as exciting as your favorite band coming to town, and should not be missed. Click HERE for the schedule. Also, check with your high school college counseling center to see when and where others will be held in your area this spring too.

The following is advice from a former Admission Counselor who spent hours upon hours standing (that’s right standing, not sitting) behind cloth covered tables waiting anxiously to talk to kids just like you.

1. You don’t have to shake hands, but introduce yourself!    

Introduce yourself to the Admission (or alumni) representative standing behind the table of your favorite school(s). While it’s not very likely they will remember your name after just one time, if it’s one of many visits it might start to click when they see you thereafter. But just as importantly (or maybe more importantly) do it yourself. Do not have your mom or dad introduce you. Show that you have the confidence, initiative, and an interest by walking up to a representative. It will go much further than standing quietly by the side while your confident and interested mom or dad does this. You are the one seeking Admission, after all. And by the way - if you are sick or have just sneezed, don’t shake their hand.

Parents- 5 Ways You Can Help!

At Collegewise, we’ve seen over 2500 families go through the college admissions process, and we’ve learned that parents are genuinely interested in their kids’ success.  But it can be easy for parents to feel overwhelmed with what the neighbors, cousins, and other parents at the dinner party are doing, and sometimes, those worries can interfere in their own family’s college admissions process.

Below are some Collegewise tips on how parents can really help their child without hurting them during the college admissions process:

1. Decision 2008. Decisions from colleges are starting to arrive, and remember, your reaction to what’s in the mailbox will impact how your student feels. If an acceptance letter comes, that’s reason to celebrate, even if it’s a safety school. And if the dream school sends a rejection, your student won’t think it’s the end of the world unless you do.

5 Tips for High School Academic Success

You don’t need to read our blog to know that getting good grades will help you get into college.  But here are five tips you might not have thought of, tips that anyone from “A” students to “C” students can use to be more successful in high school. 

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1.  Get to know your high school counselor (and when you do, be nice).

Your high school counselor is not only a resource for you, but can also be your advocate with teachers and colleges.  So before you pick your classes, meet with your counselor.  If you have a question about college, ask your counselor.  And if you happen to have an extra batch of fresh-baked cookies lying around, bring some to your counselor.  We’re not saying you should schmooze with insincerity; we’re saying that you should acknowledge, appreciate and benefit from your counselor’s willingness to help you. 

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February News for Friends and Family

February Retreat

We had our first retreat in February (and by "retreat," we don't mean a military operation in which we withdrew our forces). Our Orange County, Los Angeles and New York offices retreated to a classroom in Irvine for two days to discuss some of the finer points of college counseling.  What are some of the finer points?  Things like financial aid, crafting appropriate college lists, and improving our process for getting our seniors through applications.  And a scavenger hunt. 

This photo was taken during the "lunch" portion of day #1, lunch being an especially finer point of college counseling. 

Seniors- Looking for money to help pay for college?

File the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) by visiting www.fafsa.ed.gov/ to access the free application. And remember: never pay anyone to fill-out your FAFSA for you; it’s called “free” for a reason!

And if you're looking for scholarships, visit www.fastweb.com! Here, you can browse through a variety of scholarships that are available and find ones that are specific to your interests, family background, and so forth.