Long Time No See

Hi Everyone. I know that it has been a long time since my last post. I do have a good reason though...I'm in a doctoral program. I have finally figured out my schedule and will be providing new posts to you soon. Get ready for topics like preparing for college visits, organizing paperwork, completing the FAFSA form, and much more.

Another piece of big news is that Education Within Reach has gotten a makeover. The new name is EWR Educational Consulting. We are a registered LLC in both Alabama and Indiana. The website will be up very soon, so keep your eyes open for us. We are currently taking clients, and look forward to providing information sessions during the summer.

Happy College hunting!

Peace,

College Guru

What Happens If You Don't Get In? Part Two

In my last entry I addressed ways to have agency in the application process.  As stated earlier, the acceptance decision is out of the applicant's hands, but you can make an impression even if you do not receive the letter that you want.  In a perfect world, everyone would get accepted to their dream school.  However, we live in reality and a recession, so applicant pools are going to be a lot tighter.

If you do not get accepted to a college or university, it is not the end of the world.  The best advice that I can give at this time is to be honest about the situation.  You may not have gotten into your ideal school ( or any school), but there are plenty of post-secondary institutions out there.  Enroll in summer and fall courses at an accredited junior or community college.  Do not waste this time by laying around the house depressed.  Use this time to take some college courses and raise your GPA.  Also, look at possible internships and volunteer opportunities.  This is the PERFECT time to boost your resume!!  

As I have said earlier, agency is very important in the application process.  You may not have been accepted for the fall, but see if the college or university has rolling admissions.  Also check to see if you can apply for the spring semester.  This way, you can strengthen your application and WOW the admissions committee.

Applying to colleges and universities can be very intimidating.  The process gets scarier when you don't get accepted.  (Believe me...I know.)  However, you have to stay positive and give it your all.  

Peace, 

The College Guru

What Happens If You Don't Get In? Part One

Hey everyone!!!!

Sorry for the long break.  Graduate school is definitely a whirlwind.  So, today's topic is some people's worst fear...rejection and/or the wait list.  First, let me say that it's not the end of the world.  I have been turned down from schools myself.  I know how you feel and I want to help you get through it.  Forrest Gump said it best, "Life is like a box of chocolates.  You never know what you're gonna get."  You may not get everything that you want in life, but you have to be brave and try.  If you did not get into the school of your dreams, or you were wait listed, you have two options.

1. You can cry.
2. You can take action.  ( I highly recommend this option!!!!)

One thing to remember about the applicant selection process is that it is out of your hands.  As long as you provided the strongest application you could, then it is solely up to the application committee.  Now, does it totally end with them....NO!!!

If you have been placed on a school's wait list, or if you have received a "Thanks, but no thanks" letter, don't give up.  Contact the admissions department of the college or university.  Ask to speak to the admissions counselor that handled your application.  Then, ask what aspects were missing from your application.  Also ask if your application can be re-evaluated.  This means that you are asking them to examine your application one more time.

Also, write a formal letter to members of the admissions committee and explain to them why you belong at their institution.  Describe attributes that you can bring to the campus and also why you should be on their campus in the fall. 

So, you have contacted your admissions counselor, and you have written your formal letter.  Does this mean that the admissions committee will have a change of heart and give you full admission?  Not necessarily, but it does show your determination.

It's getting late...and I have an early morning.  So come back tomorrow for Part Two.

College Guru

Choosing the Right College for You!!

Where do you see yourself in five years?  Ten years?  Figuring out what you want to do with your life is quite complicated; however, figuring where to start may be even harder.  So, instead of asking yourself where you see yourself in five or ten years, let's look at a smaller chunk of time.  Where do you see yourself next year?  For many high school seniors this means, "What college are you going to attend?"

There are thousands of colleges and universities around the country.  The number increases drastically when you think about colleges abroad.  So now, what kind of college do you want to attend?  (At this time, it would be great if you got a notepad.)  Answering the questions below will give you a guide for choosing the best college or university for you!

1. Where would you like to attend college?  (i.e. Southeast, Paris, Chicago, etc.)
2. What size school would you flourish in?  (i.e. 800 students v. 40,000 students)
3. What kind of campus environment would you like for your college to have?  ( college town or metropolitan city?)
4. Do you know what you might major in?  Does the college offer it?
5. Can you talk to students that currently attend the college?  See what they have to say about their school.
6. Does the college allow you to bring a car on campus?
7. Does the city where your college is located have public transportation?
8. Are there stores (Wal-Mart, Target, etc.) close by?
9. How much does it cost to attend?
10. Does the college offer scholarships that you could apply for (not the ones you are selected for, just for applying)?
11. Do you want to stay close to home?  Would you mind being far away from home?

Now that you have answered these questions, let's get real about the situation.  Be honest with yourself.  Look at your answers and see if they really match what YOU want or what EVERYONE ELSE wants for you.  College is a big step, and four or five years out of your life.  (Yes, I said it...five years.  Four years is not the common time for college anymore.  If you want to get out in four years...take courses during the summer.)  With honesty comes clarity...and clarity is a beautiful thing!  

When considering school locations, many people think about two places....New York and California.  Well, there are A LOT of great places in between.  If a college town is what you are looking for, don't forget about schools in the mid-west and the southeast.  Kansas, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Georgia are just a few states that have great college towns along with great institutions.  If you are looking for busy city life, then don't overlook Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia, and San Francisco.  All of these cities have great personalities, as well as transportation systems!

Future scholar you have a lot to think about...so let's get to it!  Best of luck...and STAY POSITIVE!

 

Don't Freak Out!!

Right now, you're sitting at your computer, thinking, "I have so much to do, that I don't know where to start!"  College applications are due soon, you are looking for scholarships, and tracking down teachers for letters of recommendation is hectic.  First, breathe!  Everything is going to work out...you just have to get organized.  To make the process easier, here are some tips!

1. Buy a desk calendar.  Write down all of your application due dates.  This way, you can see when your applications are due.
2. If you HAVE asked teachers for recommendation letters, remind them!  Teachers are busy people.  Just like you forget things, they do too! We're all humans here, so make the effort to give periodic reminders.
   
3. If you HAVE NOT asked teachers for recommendation letters...ASK NOW!!!  As I mentioned earlier, teachers are very busy people.  Not only are they educators, they have lives outside of school!  By asking early, you give teachers time to compose strong, effective letters of recommendation.
4. Set aside time to work specifically on applications.  As a high school student, you have a hectic schedule.  School, homework, extra-curricular activities, jobs, sports....the list goes on!  By setting aside at least 30 minutes per day, you can make a lot of progress.  The time builds up over the week!
5. Stay positive!  It's a crazy time right now, but it will all be worth it by graduation!!