Thanks to the movie, The Social Network, now even most 50-somethings and older know about Facebook. We're often asked how a student's facebook presence and activity, appropriate or inappropriate photos and posts, and friends' posts might affect a student's chances for college admissions.
Claims that questionable Facebook posts and photos can ruin a student's college chances are highly over rated. As you'll learn in this video, most college admissions officers are so swamped with work, they have no time to even think about checking applicants' Facebook pages.
However, there are cases when a the social media presence of a student can influence college decisions. If you're a recruited athlete, in the running for a selective scholarship, have been suspended from school, or if you are applying for admission to a program where there are lots more applicants than seats, you might get 'googled'.
Here's the link to an interview on KARE 11 discussing this issue.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
College Admissions Statistics - What do they mean for you?
84% of students apply to fewer than 7 colleges. What should your number be?
21% of students are denied admission to their first choice college. What good is a first choice college?
Of those admitted to their first choice school, 40% didn't end up attending. Why?
About half of all students go to college within 100 miles of their home. What about you?
These issues were discussed the morning on the KARE 11 Sunrise show. Here's Kim Insley's interview with Valerie Broughton, College Connectors.
21% of students are denied admission to their first choice college. What good is a first choice college?
Of those admitted to their first choice school, 40% didn't end up attending. Why?
About half of all students go to college within 100 miles of their home. What about you?
These issues were discussed the morning on the KARE 11 Sunrise show. Here's Kim Insley's interview with Valerie Broughton, College Connectors.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Rigor Matters
Students are getting the message that the rigor of their high school courses matters.
The College Board administers Advanced Placement tests each spring to high school students. most all of whom enrolled in the corresponding Advanced Placement course in their high school during the school year.
Students who study subjects with the AP curriculum enjoy several benefits. First of all, when admissions personnel review their transcripts, the admissions staff are assured that students have taken the most challenging coursework their high school has to offer. Success in rigorous high school curriculum is the #1 item selective colleges consider in selecting their freshmen class.
Another advantage accrues to students who earn a score of 3 or higher on their AP exam. Many colleges award college credit to students who score a 3, 4, or 5 on an AP test. The range of exam scores is 1-5.
Lastly, a recent report found that success on these AP exams predicts college success, especially freshman to sophomore retention.
Nationally, there's been a 6% increase in the number of public school students who "pass" AP exams and in the state of Minnesota, that increase is 8%. Currently, 16.8% of high school seniors in Minnesota take and score at least a 3 on at least one AP exam.
We're thrilled that students are getting the message that there's value in challenging themselves by taking rigorous courses in high school.
The College Board administers Advanced Placement tests each spring to high school students. most all of whom enrolled in the corresponding Advanced Placement course in their high school during the school year.
Students who study subjects with the AP curriculum enjoy several benefits. First of all, when admissions personnel review their transcripts, the admissions staff are assured that students have taken the most challenging coursework their high school has to offer. Success in rigorous high school curriculum is the #1 item selective colleges consider in selecting their freshmen class.
Another advantage accrues to students who earn a score of 3 or higher on their AP exam. Many colleges award college credit to students who score a 3, 4, or 5 on an AP test. The range of exam scores is 1-5.
Lastly, a recent report found that success on these AP exams predicts college success, especially freshman to sophomore retention.
Nationally, there's been a 6% increase in the number of public school students who "pass" AP exams and in the state of Minnesota, that increase is 8%. Currently, 16.8% of high school seniors in Minnesota take and score at least a 3 on at least one AP exam.
We're thrilled that students are getting the message that there's value in challenging themselves by taking rigorous courses in high school.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
How far would you go to take your ACT?
I read an interesting brief the other day in this week's issue of Bloomberg Businessweek. Not typical reading for an Independent Educational Consultant, I know. Never know where you're going to stumble on a bit of helpful information.
The story describes the path Chinese students take to reaching acceptance into American colleges and universities. You see, the SAT isn't offered in mainland China. I suspect the ACT isn't either. So, Chinese students need to fly to Hong Kong or South Korea or somewhere it is offered in order to meet the testing requirements for U.S. Colleges and Universities. That made me wonder, how far would a typical American teenager would go to prepare himself for his college applications?
The point of this post is that U. S. students should know who they're competing with during the college admissions season. A student would need to be pretty determined to be willing to hop on a plane to take a college entrance exam. Or they'd need to be pushed pretty hard(can you say Tiger Mom?) and/or they'd have to have the cash to fund the trip.
Fact is, the number of Chinese undergraduates in the U.S. is 400 % higher than it was 5 years ago. Bloomberg Businessweek reports that U.S. college admissions personnel are working hard to recruit China's best-qualified, full-paying applicants. Did you know that Chinese families with high school aged children are limited to only one-child? Thus, middle class families In China might be able to afford tuition that exceed what an average American family can afford.
Colleges and testing companies see students living on mainland China as a huge untapped market. The number of high school graduates in the U. S. is declining. Know your competition!
The story describes the path Chinese students take to reaching acceptance into American colleges and universities. You see, the SAT isn't offered in mainland China. I suspect the ACT isn't either. So, Chinese students need to fly to Hong Kong or South Korea or somewhere it is offered in order to meet the testing requirements for U.S. Colleges and Universities. That made me wonder, how far would a typical American teenager would go to prepare himself for his college applications?
The point of this post is that U. S. students should know who they're competing with during the college admissions season. A student would need to be pretty determined to be willing to hop on a plane to take a college entrance exam. Or they'd need to be pushed pretty hard(can you say Tiger Mom?) and/or they'd have to have the cash to fund the trip.
Fact is, the number of Chinese undergraduates in the U.S. is 400 % higher than it was 5 years ago. Bloomberg Businessweek reports that U.S. college admissions personnel are working hard to recruit China's best-qualified, full-paying applicants. Did you know that Chinese families with high school aged children are limited to only one-child? Thus, middle class families In China might be able to afford tuition that exceed what an average American family can afford.
Colleges and testing companies see students living on mainland China as a huge untapped market. The number of high school graduates in the U. S. is declining. Know your competition!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Application Progress Update
December's a busy month for everyone: students, families and educational consultants. College Connectors is happy to reveal that 90% of the seniors we're working with have already submitted all or some of their college applications. We took a break today to decorate for Christmas. Over the past few years we've collected 60 college themed Christmas tree ornament.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Advice from Freshmen
We've been keeping in touch with college freshmen who worked with us during high school on their college searches. They each went through a thorough process of learning about themselves, and learning about colleges in order to find schools where they "fit"! They're willing to share with you: what surprised them about college life. Read what these three students say -
What have you found to be most surprising about college?
I'm adjusting well to life away from home, and my living conditions are very nice. I have an freshman housing apartment a couple miles off campus, which is nice, the only problem is living off campus, but I'm doing my best. The football team is doing great, undefeated going into the homecoming game this Saturday. My classes are going well, the biggest thing to adjust to is the tests but I've been doing fairly well for myself. So far it looks like I made the right decision coming down here, so thank you so much for your help, hope to keep in touch.
Hi!! Everything is going well. I miss home but I love the school and the people here. The surprising thing about college is the amount of homework I have to get done.
Things are going very well! The marching band is super crazy here but a ton of fun. Also, my classes are going really well, I haven't been stressed at all. But we'll see how far that goes. I would say the most surprising part about college is finding out how much time you have during the day to do whatever you want. Also, some people are just so afraid to be weird or be more of themselves even if they don't know the people around them. I will say it's nice to decide what I want to do without having to clear it with someone.What have you found to be most surprising about college?
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Independent College Counselors
Our business is helping students and their families through the maze of college admissions. We love our work.
There have been several recent web based articles about the relationships between families and independent college counselors. In this blog, I'll talk about why we believe families benefit from working with private admissions counselors and then highlight two additional pieces, one on how to find a consultant, and the other on how to evaluate the quality of a consultant. Lastly, I'll provide a link to the IECA list of suggested questions to ask a college consultant before you retain their services.
The success rate of college students in the United States shocks many people. The fact that 25% of all freshmen fail to return to the college where they enthusiastically enrolled as freshmen causes problems for students, families and for colleges. Top educational consultants eliminate the gap between what students expect at college, and what college is really like, therefore maximizing their success. Instead of just identifying colleges where a student can "get in", a good consultant finds colleges from which a student is likely to graduate.
Colleges differ from one another in many ways. Students and parents need factual information about those differences. The facts may not coincide with their assumptions. Finding colleges where students can thrive and succeed is key to student success and to a consultant's success.
A college education is a major financial investment. Few families make large financial
investments without guidance from qualified, ethical professionals. Top educational consultants have experience, commitment to professional development, and membership in organizations that pride themselves on vetting top-notch, ethical professionals: IECA, HECA and AICEP.
The higher education correspondent at MPR recently provided guidance to families on how to go about locating an independent college counselor. Read what Alex Friedrich suggests.
Lynn O'Shaughnessy spoke with three prominent college consultants, members of IECA and HECA, recently and had this to say about how to select a college counselor.
Here's the list of questions IECA suggests you ask prospective consultants.
There have been several recent web based articles about the relationships between families and independent college counselors. In this blog, I'll talk about why we believe families benefit from working with private admissions counselors and then highlight two additional pieces, one on how to find a consultant, and the other on how to evaluate the quality of a consultant. Lastly, I'll provide a link to the IECA list of suggested questions to ask a college consultant before you retain their services.
The success rate of college students in the United States shocks many people. The fact that 25% of all freshmen fail to return to the college where they enthusiastically enrolled as freshmen causes problems for students, families and for colleges. Top educational consultants eliminate the gap between what students expect at college, and what college is really like, therefore maximizing their success. Instead of just identifying colleges where a student can "get in", a good consultant finds colleges from which a student is likely to graduate.Colleges differ from one another in many ways. Students and parents need factual information about those differences. The facts may not coincide with their assumptions. Finding colleges where students can thrive and succeed is key to student success and to a consultant's success.
A college education is a major financial investment. Few families make large financial
investments without guidance from qualified, ethical professionals. Top educational consultants have experience, commitment to professional development, and membership in organizations that pride themselves on vetting top-notch, ethical professionals: IECA, HECA and AICEP.The higher education correspondent at MPR recently provided guidance to families on how to go about locating an independent college counselor. Read what Alex Friedrich suggests.
Lynn O'Shaughnessy spoke with three prominent college consultants, members of IECA and HECA, recently and had this to say about how to select a college counselor.
Here's the list of questions IECA suggests you ask prospective consultants.
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