High School Sophomores, Juniors & Seniors: Attend College Information Sessions

May 2nd, 2013
The Schools are coming! The Schools are coming!

Attending info sessions can help students learn about colleges and, as importantly, will enable colleges to learn about their interest.

To find out about upcoming info sessions, students should visit the websites of the schools they are interested in, and fill out the online forms to receive more information. This way they’ll learn when the college comes to town.

To get the invite all you need to do is ask. (Or have your college admissions counselor ask for you).

At an info session, representatives from a University will present information about their institution and answer questions about the college admissions process. Students, and parents who accompany them, will learn what distinguishes one school from another, what colleges look for in the selection process, and what one can do to enhance the college application. Generally, each session lasts approximately an hour.  Sometimes food is served, sometimes it’s not.

It’s never too early to start looking at colleges. Students who are sophomores or juniors in high school should start now. For younger students in particular, we recommend “group” college visits. This way a student can learn about a number of schools at one time.

Go to as many information sessions as you can!

Exploring College Options is one upcoming event. It is hosted by five of the country’s leading universities: Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, the University of Pennsylvania and Stanford. Many events are happening in May. More details are provided on the Exploring College Options website.

U Penn, MIT, Princeton and Johns Hopkins will be visiting Miami May 18http://www.eventbrite.com/event/5857603249#.

Princeton, Dartmouth, Northwestern, U.C., Berkeley and Vanderbilt have some upcoming Group travel dates http://www.princeton.edu/admission/visitprinceton/on_the_road/.

For help from an experienced college advisor, please contact the expert college counselors at International College Counselors http://www.internationalcollegecounselors.com.

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This year, college advisors at International College Counselors helped more than 200 students find, apply to and gain acceptance into the college of their dreams. The expert college counselors at International College Counselors are dedicated to helping students and their families successfully navigate the college application process.

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Upcoming Seminars:

Monday, May 20 @ 7pm

Preparing for College: What to Look For and How to Get In!

Broward Tutorial Services – 2883 Executive Park Drive, Suite 104, Weston

Contact 954 667-6500 for more information

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High School Students, Social Media and Admissions

April 18th, 2013
More and more admissions officers are looking at social-networking sites to evaluate applicants. Make sure what your student has posted won’t negatively affect any views.  Some college admissions officers said they had rejected students because of what they had seen and/or read on Internet sites like Facebook or personal blog pages.
 
 
Here are some general guidelines for keeping admissions chances safe:
 
1. Students should not write anything negative about colleges.  One student praised the school while visiting the campus then trashed it online.  Admissions took notice and the student was rejected.
 
2.  Teens must learn never to post anything online that is incriminating or embarrassing.  Ever.  Representatives have reported receiving anonymous Facebook and Google “tips”, around admissions time, including photos of students doing things that they shouldn’t be doing. On at least one occasion, a tip has caused an offer of admission to be revoked. (Some tips are called in by jealous classmates (frenemies) also vying for an Ivy League school.)
 
3.  Students must check to see if any Facebook “friends” who have access to their profile have posted any unflattering comments or tagged questionable photos with their name.  If there is something they do not want to be connected to, Students must un-tag themselves and talk to the person who posted the pictures and ask to have them taken down.
 
4. Teens must remove phone numbers and addresses from Facebook. This makes it harder to do a search for your student.  It’s a safety guideline, as well.
 
5.  Students must set their privacy filter as strongly as possible, but never assume that what they post will not be seen. (see #2)
 
6.  Student should use the “grandparent test.” If a student wouldn’t want the grandparents to see what was posted online, then it should not be posted.  This goes for things on a personal wall or webpage, or someone else’s.  Make sure your student’s friends know about this test policy, too.
 
7.  Students should specifically remove all photos and posts that have: Drinking and/or drugs, even if the child is abstaining; wild behavior, even if alcohol or drugs aren’t in the picture; nudity; hints of sex or sexuality; the X-rated and the R-rated; interests that are questionable; favorite quotes that reference illegal activities; obscene or offensive language and/or activities; anything that might be regretted including venting or complaints.
 

Using the Internet to one’s advantage during the admissions process.

The Internet is not all bad.

Students can use the Internet to show admissions counselors that they have a real passion for something, and that they’re proud of their work.   If your teen is an artist or fashion designer, they should post photos of their art. Musicians or athletes should create a webpage or site devoted to their talents. Gifted writers should start a blog. Academically oriented kids can post progress on a science experiment or that they made the history bee team.  All students can note their awards and victories, positive moments in their volunteer work or internships. Students can also express interest in the colleges to which they are applying. They can accomplish this by “friending” a college’s Facebook page, or becoming a Twitter follower. They should not friend admissions representatives directly.

For help from an experienced college advisor, please contact the expert college counselors at International College Counselors, http://www.internationalcollegecounselors.com.

 

This year, college advisors at International College Counselors helped more than 200 students find, apply to and gain acceptance into the college of their dreams. The expert college counselors at International College Counselors are dedicated to helping students and their families successfully navigate the college application process.

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9 Tips for Choosing the Right High School Classes

March 20th, 2013
If success in the college admissions process is important, then your student needs to choose the right classes.

The high school transcript is almost always the most important document in a student’s application. Keep in mind, though, rarely would there ever be one particular class on a transcript that would determine the applicant’s outcome.

While there’s no 100% guaranteed future college admissions formula, there are some strong patterns for success.

Here are some tips to guide you:
1. Meet the high school requirements. High schools have a list of required credits that must be taken in order to graduate.  Most colleges (online and otherwise) require a high school diploma to enroll in any program that grants bachelor degrees.


2. Take a balanced set of classes.  Typically, a student should try to take courses each year in English, science, math, the social sciences, and foreign language.


3.  Choose a smart range of college-prep courses.  A student doesn’t need to take AP Everything to get into college, but course choice depends on the selectivity of the colleges a student wants to attend.   Demanding and challenging honors, accelerated, AP, International Baccalaureate (IB), and Advanced International Certificate of Education (AICE) courses make a student more desirable to a school. However, colleges recognize a student can only take advantage of accelerated courses if her high school provides them.  If AP courses or International Baccalaureate programs are not offered at a high school, colleges understand and only expect that a student will excel in the opportunities to which there is access. Colleges also understand different schools have different requirements that may restrict what courses a student can take.


4.  Show colleges a positive pattern.   Colleges like to see a high level (or an improving degree) of rigor and success throughout a student’s high school years. This includes the senior year. Have you heard this famous question: “Is it better to take a course where I know I can get an ‘A’ or should I take a harder course and risk getting a lower grade?” The answer is: “It’s best to get an ‘A’ in a harder course.”  For those who find this answer unacceptable, we advise students to take the higher course if the student thinks she can get a “B.” Normally “C” or below means that a student is simply in the wrong level. The key is that students need to seek challenge, not avoid it, and succeed in the challenges chosen.


5.  Know the admissions guidelines for top choice colleges.  Many colleges, especially the selective ones, have specific admissions requirements for entering students, for example, a foreign language requirement. It is best to research each school individually.  Make sure your student meets any and all minimum requirements.


6.  Pursue intellectual interests.  It’s OK to take courses of a personal interest like filmmaking or fashion, just make sure it is not at the expense of a schedule’s overall rigor. Honesty is very important when a student is deciding between different courses. Is he or she choosing drama because of a real excitement about it and the challenge it presents, or is the motivation powered by a desire to avoid a different (and perhaps difficult) academic subject?


7. Consider online and dual enrollment options.  Are you very interested in physics but your school does not offer Physics C? Now, with the internet and dual enrollment, students can take almost every class imaginable! Be sure to check with your school prior to taking an online or dual enrollment class to confirm credit will be accepted.


8.  Consult with teachers, a high school counselor and/or an expert college advisor from International College Counselors on what courses are most appropriate. Some difficult decisions may also need to be made about which courses to take and how to balance schoolwork and extracurricular activities.


9.  Do not catch Senioritis! Many admissions offices will check an applicant’s senior year program and performance before offering admission. Additionally, schools may rescind an acceptance if a student performed poorly during the senior year.


Students who push themselves to excel all the way through high school, or show a trend of improvement are the type of student colleges welcome.  Colleges take “extra effort” to be a good sign that a student will do the same at their school.

For help from an experienced college advisor, please contact the expert college counselors at International College Counselors at www.internationalcollegecounselors.com.

This year, college advisors at International College Counselors helped more than 200 students find, apply to and gain acceptance into the college of their dreams. The expert college counselors at International College Counselors are dedicated to helping students and their families successfully navigate the college application process.

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About International College Counselors

 

International College Counselors provides expert college counseling on undergraduate and graduate college admissions, financial aid, tuition, essays, and college applications to domestic and international students.

The college counseling and college coaching services are tailored to address the goals, needs, and dreams of each student. Mandee Heller Adler, founder of International College Counselors, is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and also received an MBA from Harvard Business School. International College Counselors’ achievements include being recognized as one of South Florida’s Top 100 Small Businesses in 2012.

International College Counselors has offices in New York, New York; White Plains, New York; Miami Beach, Florida; Miami, Florida; Hollywood, Florida; Coral Gables, Florida; Palm Beach, Florida; Boca Raton, Florida; Medellin, Colombia and Caracas, Venezuela.

For more information on International College Counselors or to contact an expert college counselor, please visit http://www.internationalcollegecounselors.com.

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International College Counselors Kicks Off Its 2013 College Scholarship Essay Contest

January 28th, 2013

ICC Kicks Off Its 2013 College Scholarship Essay Contest

International College Counselors is pleased to announce the 2013 college scholarship competition. Students in grades 9-11 from Dade, Broward, Palm Beach counties and outside the tri-county area are invited to apply.

This is the fourth year International College Counselors has been awarding college scholarships.

Students are asked to submit a 500 word essay that answers the question:

If you could change one thing about your education, what would it be?

Four college scholarships of $250 each will be awarded, three to students who attend school within Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County; and one to a student from outside the Florida tri-county area, including outside the United States.

Work will be judged on the basis of originality and effectiveness of argument or presentation.

Students who can write fluently in English or in Spanish are encouraged to apply. The deadline for receipt of essays is April 1, 2013.

The contest rules and submission information can be found at International College Counselors. Select the “Scholarship” section of the website under ‘About Us” for downloadable contest rules or click here. You can also go directly to the entry application.

Students do not need to be clients of International College Counselors to enter or to win this annual scholarship competition.

The International College Counselors High School Essay Contest established this Scholarship Fund to increase awareness of the value of higher education among high school students, as well as to give financial aid for tuition to college-bound students.

Good luck to all.

For more information, please contact an expert college counselor at http://www.internationalcollegecounselors.com

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Seniors: Can You Believe it is January Already? It’s FAFSA Time.

January 8th, 2013
Now is the time to start filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, more commonly known as FAFSA. ** ALL** high school seniors and their parents should be filling the FAFSA out.  It’s a pain well worth it.  Many parents who thought they earned too much to qualify have been happily surprised by financial aid.

 

And, starting this year, all students who wish to receive Bright Futures dollars also need to fill out the FAFSA form.  For more information on Bright Futures, please click here.

 

Some advice when filing for financial aid:

 

Fill out the FAFSA ASAP

 

Although the FAFSA deadline for the 2013-14 academic year is not until June 30, 2014, a desired college’s deadline may be sooner. Chances of collecting the maximum amount of FAFSA financial aid diminish as more time goes by.  Many schools work on a first come, first serve basis when it comes to financial aid.

Finish Taxes Early

Most of the information FAFSA requires comes directly from a family’s tax returns. If the returns can’t be completed for whatever reason before some schools’ February deadline, parents are advised to use last year’s information to estimate their earnings. FAFSA will accept the information as long as it’s realistic.  The FAFSA information can be updated later.

Do Not Report Retirement Assets

Do not include retirement assessments on the FAFSA. This can only ruin a child’s chances of receiving financial aid.  The form does not ask about assets from 401(k) plans, Individual Retirement Account or 403(b) plans-only non-retirement assets. Give them what they ask for and no more.

Report Any Unusual Information

Higher Ed institutions and the government understand that financial situations can unexpectedly change. Because of that, families have the ability to appeal to a college to adjust their financial aid after submitting the FAFSA. This means if a parent is laid off or facing an expensive medical bill, it should be reported. If earnings reported on a tax return will likely not recur the following year, also make sure the college’s financial aid office knows this.  Unexpected money may include a rare bonus or winnings from a game show.

Don’t Inflate Education

Rumors are that some schools will give applicants extra credit if they are considered “first-generation college students.” Optimistically, parents who never graduated from college should select “high school” as their highest education qualification.

Make Sure the Right Person Fills Out the Right Information

If parents are divorced or separated, the right parent needs to fill out the financial aid form.  The parent responsible for filling out the form is the one a student has lived with for the majority of the year, even if the other parent is the legal custodial guardian.

Check and Double Check Check Everything

Make absolutely, positively sure no answers were left blank or lines left unsigned. Make sure everything is spelled correctly and numbers are accurate.   Check and double check the FAFSA before it’s submitted.  Errors will slow the FAFSA process and lower the aid.

 

For more tips on completing the form, find additional information on the FAFSA Help site.

 

This year, college advisors at International College Counselors helped more than 200 students find, apply to and gain acceptance into the college of their dreams. The expert college counselors at International College Counselors are dedicated to helping students and their families successfully navigate the college application process.

 

For more information on International College Counselors, please visithttp://www.internationalcollegecounselors.com.

 

 

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE COUNSELORS:

International College Counselors provides expert college counseling on undergraduate and graduate college admissions, financial aid, tuition, essays, and college applications to U.S. and international students. The college counseling and college coaching services are tailored to address the goals, needs, and dreams of each student. International College Counselors has offices in New York, New York; White Plains, New York; Boston, Massachusetts; Miami Beach, Florida; Miami, Florida; Coral Gables, Florida; Hollywood, Florida; Palm Beach, Florida; Boca Raton, Florida; Medellin, Colombia and Caracas, Venezuela.

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10 Opportunities for High Schools Students During Winter Break

December 7th, 2012

Most high school students look forward to winter break as a welcome break. High school life is busy and stressful with classes, study time, activities, and friends. While students do deserve some rest time, they should not let opportunity pass them by either. Winter break = A little extra time to get ahead on a path to success.

Here’s the compromise, high school parents: After a little rest and recovery, there will still be enough time for a student to do something that looks good on the college application.

Ways for a student to make the most of winter break down time:

1. Volunteering in the community. Winter break is a great time for students to clock time doing community service. Good places to look to are the public library, a nursing home, hospital, soup kitchen, homeless shelter, community center or church/synagogue. There are also organizations with extensive databases of locations looking for holiday help, including The United Way and VolunteerMatch. Volunteer work will count more if it is done in an area of the student’s interest.

2. Taking an educational trip. Consider nearby places to visit, such as a museum, national monument, historical house or even a cruise. It’s best if experiences can connect with what a child is studying in school or possibly wants to study in college. For example, if a child is studying U.S. History, a trip to Philadelphia or Washington D.C. will make the lessons all the more exciting and meaningful. If a child wants to be an environmental conservationist, the Ambassadors of the Environment Youth Program onboard a Paul Gauguin cruise may provide great insight, fun and resume building into a vacation. If a physical trip is out of the question, try an electronic field trip. The National Parks Foundation and the Smithsonian Institution are two places that offer virtual field trips that give students a close-up view of popular destinations around America and the world. Talk during or after the real or virtual trip with your child to help the child analyze and find meaning in the experience.

3. Studying for the SAT and ACT. Students can really, seriously improve their scores by doing a little SAT study every day. It will be much easier to concentrate on the test without the distractions of daily homework assignments.

4. Visiting colleges. The more colleges a student has a chance to see, the better, meaning even freshmen should do some visiting. Schools can be local or near a vacation destination. Winter break is not the best time to get a full campus flavor because students are on their breaks, too. However, admissions reps are at work. So go visit schools that are not even on your student’s list. Students on a stay-cation can go on virtual college tours. There are an ever growing number of schools and sites that offer them. (TYPE: “Virtual college tour” into Google and go from there).

5. Looking into jobs. The job market is tight but temporary holiday jobs may be available. If that’s not a real possibility, winter break is a good time to begin looking for a summer job. It’s not too early. Many employers will hire summer help well before the end of the semester.

6. Doing a short term internship. Winter break is a good opportunity to explore a career. A student can spend time shadowing someone in a field or career of interest.

7. Working on the college application. Most deadlines have passed, but there are still some that haven’t.

8. Searching for scholarships. Here is a link to a past blog on how to find scholarships: How to Apply for a College Scholarship.

9. Taking classes. In the two weeks off, there are a number of options. A language immersion course could prove incredibly helpful.

10. Enjoying some down time. Like adults, students need some down time. The relaxing time will give a student time to recharge.

This year, college advisors at International College Counselors helped more than 200 students find, apply to and gain acceptance into the college of their dreams. The expert college counselors at International College Counselors are dedicated to helping students and their families successfully navigate the college application process.

For more information on International College Counselors or to contact an expert college counselor, please visit http://www.internationalcollegecounselors.com or call 954 414-9986.

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE COUNSELORS:

International College Counselors provides expert college counseling on undergraduate and graduate college admissions, financial aid, tuition, essays, and college applications to domestic and international students.

The college counseling and college coaching services are tailored to address the goals, needs, and dreams of each student. Mandee Heller Adler, founder of International College Counselors, is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and also received an MBA from Harvard Business School. International College Counselors’ achievements include being recognized as one of South Florida’s Top 100 Small Businesses in 2012.

International College Counselors has offices in New York, New York; White Plains, New York; Boston, Massachusetts; Miami Beach, Florida; Miami, Florida; Coral Gables, Florida; Palm Beach, Florida; Boca Raton, Florida; Medellin, Colombia and Caracas, Venezuela.

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Give the Gift that Gives So Much Back: A College Advisor

November 28th, 2012

The holiday season is in full swing, and with it, the quest for the perfect gift. Rather than spend time in a crowded shopping mall or scouring the options from countless online retailers, give a gift that will make a real difference in the life of someone you love. A college advisor can give students the personalized attention they need to get into the college of their dreams, said Mandee Heller Adler, founder and CEO of International College Counselors.

Give the gift of a college advisor – a gift that will last a lifetime and enable your student to buy all the ipads and video games on their own wish lists.

An expert and experienced college advisor from International College Counselors will:

1. Provide your child with a guided plan for success.

2. Help your child define and understand his or her unique potential.

3. Keep your student organized.

4. Free up more of your student’s time so he or she can focus on school and other priorities.

5. Inform you and your child about changes in higher education and college admissions.

6. Thoroughly review your child’s application and polish it to a high sheen.

7. Be the “bad-guy”. (As we all know, teens don’t necessarily like to listen to their parents!)

8. Guide your student to make wiser personal decisions during these important years.

9. Find the right college match for your child.

10. Connect your child with any help – like tutors – that is needed as he/she works towards the goal.

“Few gifts make as significant an impact as the gift of encouragement and education,” said Adler. “A family can let their student know what is truly important.”

The earlier students start working with the expert college counselors at International College Counselors, the more advantage they gain. Early planning gives a student time to sift through individual interests, create a steady academic progression, and build a solid foundation of achievements, including focused community work and summer options.

Giving the perfect gift is easy. Just call International College Counselors at 954-414-9986 today.

No batteries required.

This year, college advisors at International College Counselors helped more than 200 students find, apply to and gain acceptance into the college of their dreams. The expert college counselors at International College Counselors are dedicated to helping students and their families successfully navigate the college application process.

For more information on International College Counselors or to contact an expert college counselor, please visit http://www.internationalcollegecounselors.com.

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For High School Sophomores: A Mid-Year College Admissions Checklist from International College Counselors

November 10th, 2012

Sophomores: graduation may seem a long way off, but you’re permanent record is being written now. Colleges will be looking at how you spent this year.

THE SOPHOMORE MID-YEAR COLLEGE ADMISSIONS CHECKLIST

Work on Your Academic Performance

Now is the time to work hard. Set the goal of moving up an academic level in your junior year. Keep your grades up and you may be able to move from honors to AP or from regular to honors. This step up is what colleges want to see.

Prepare early for your midterm exams.

Evaluate your performance. Are you having problems focusing or understanding the material? Could your writing skills be improved? Ask your teacher what you can do to improve.

Evaluate your study skills. Work on your concentration and time management. Next year, will be your most important high school year academically.

Start preparing now for the SAT/ ACT

If you take on the SAT little by little, it won’t feel so overwhelming later.

Review your PSAT test results. They will give you a good indication of what you need to work on.

Read. Read. Read.

Work on your vocabulary. If you learn a word a day between now and next year, that will put you 365 words ahead.

Evaluate your Extracurricular Activities

Explore your Interests. Try out some new activities. Drop the ones you hate. This is the time to find your niche.

Get involved in the activities you like.

Colleges will be looking for true involvement. This means that at the end of four years you will, ideally, be able to demonstrate to the admissions team some level of accomplishment, initiative, commitment, and leadership.

Beware the sophomore slump

It’s natural to feel like you’re losing interest. Now that you know that, do everything you can to stay focused!

Psyche yourself up about college

Start doing a little no-pressure research. Take a look at colleges online. Don’t know where to start? Start with those you heard about and those with sports teams you like. Take a virtual tour or two. If your family goes on a trip somewhere, see if you can tour a campus away from home. College websites can tell you who to contact.

Consider what you may want to major in.

Introduce or Re-introduce yourself to Your College Counselor

Schedule a meeting for sometime next semester with your high school guidance counselor or your International College Counselors college advisor.

Prepare for the meeting by taking your class schedule. Tell your counselor you want to get into a good college. Ask what you need to do to accomplish that goal.

Meeting with your counselor is also a good relationship building move. For the next two years, this person is going to be one of the most important in your life.

This year, college advisors at International College Counselors helped more than 200 students find, apply to and gain acceptance into the college of their dreams. The expert college counselors at International College Counselors are dedicated to helping students and their families successfully navigate the college application process.

For more information on International College Counselors or to contact an expert college counselor, please visit www.internationalcollegecounselors.com.

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College Admissions Advisors Answer Questions on “Rigor” for High School Students

October 29th, 2012

College admissions advisors often recommend that students take the most ‘rigorous’ course load possible. But what do terms like “rigorous course load” mean and how rigorous should a student’s schedule be?  The expert college advisors at International College Counselors answered some answers to these elusive questions.

1. How Do Admission Officials Weigh High School Rigor?

Comparisons are made when evaluating students.  Admissions officers weigh everything from backgrounds around the world to the context of each high school.  In other words, there is no one deciding, defining scale for “rigor”.

What admissions officers will agree upon is that students should take the most challenging course load that they can do well in, while still having enough time to show the deep and passionate involvement in activities that the colleges seek.

“As greater numbers of students are challenging themselves by engaging in rigorous, college-level AP and IB course work in high school, colleges raise their standards.  Students need to stay on top of recruiting trends in order to be competitive,” said Mandee Heller Adler, founder of International College Counselors.

2.  How many Advanced Placement courses should a student take in high school?

It depends on the student, the high school being attended and the desired college.

Students can take zero to two AP courses and get admitted into a good college. Others can take five or six AP courses a year and get rejected from Harvard.

How to decide?

For the most selective colleges, students need to take the most rigorous curriculum available within their own high school.

If a student is home schooled or the high school does not offer AP courses or enough AP courses, know that colleges are aware of different situations that may restrict what courses can be taken. What they really expect that students excel in the opportunities to which they do have access.

However, students should be aware that they can take AP classes online.  Colleges know this too.

Another option is to enroll in classes at a nearby college or take online learning courses to supplement your regular high school work.  You can even earn college credit at the same time.

3. Which are better IB classes or AP classes?

IB stands for International Baccalaureate which is an advanced high school diploma program. AP stands for Advanced Placement.  In the IB program, students who pass six exams can sometimes enter college as a sophomore.  (Note: check with each school because policies differ).  Both curriculums have merit. One is not better than the other. But once again, the student needs to take the most rigorous curriculum offered at his/her school.

4.  Which is better: an A in the regular course or a B in the honors course?

The most accurate answers is: An A in the honors course.

This is how the joke goes, but it’s the truth.

Colleges like to see students challenging themselves.  So the direct answer is: A ‘B’ in an honors course is better that an ‘A’ in regular.  A ‘B’ in an AP course is better than the ‘A’ in honors.

Colleges are looking for students who push themselves, are intellectually curious and are interested in learning. More demanding courses are a reflection of this.

However, what a student should take depends on the student.  What a student must be careful to do is not overreach. Every student should take the most challenging courses he or she can perform well in. It does not help to take AP courses and get a “C.”  Students who take AP must also look towards passing the AP exam.

The worst thing a student can do is take honors courses and then switch to easier courses later in their high school career in order to boost GPA.  A warning to students:  Do not catch “senioritis!”

5.  What courses do colleges want to see?

There are very few situations in which the appearance or absence of any one particular class would determine a student’s college future. But, please be careful:  Students do need to meet all the prerequisite of the colleges they are applying to.  Some require a certain number or years of math, English and foreign language.  And, some schools require certain math levels (such as pre-calculus) for consideration.

Overall, colleges want to see courses that tell a story.  They want to see that a student has pursued his or her interests and have taken a balanced set of challenging classes.

As Yale puts it “We encourage you to pursue your intellectual interests, so long as it is not at the expense of your program’s overall rigor or your preparedness for college.”

A few good questions from Yale for weighing your course selection for the upcoming year:

• Am I taking a well-balanced academic program that will provide me with a good foundation for college?
• Am I prepared to take college-level math, writing, and science courses?
• Do I feel challenged by the courses that I am taking?
• Am I seeking challenge or avoiding it?

Endnote

The fact is, admissions professionals are well-trained to identify “rigor” in the entire transcript and not just courses.

If you are a client of International College Counselors, contact one of our college advisors on what courses are most appropriate for your high school student.  Other students should talk to their high school counselor.

This year, college advisors at International College Counselors helped more than 200 students find, apply to and gain acceptance into the college of their dreams.  The expert college counselors at International College Counselors are dedicated to helping students and their families successfully navigate the college application process.

For more information on International College Counselors or to contact an expert college counselor, please visit www.internationalcollegecounselors.com.

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE COUNSELORS:

International College Counselors provides expert college counseling on undergraduate and graduate college admissions, financial aid, tuition, essays, and college applications to domestic and international students.

The college counseling and college coaching services are tailored to address the goals, needs, and dreams of each student. Mandee Heller Adler, founder of International College Counselors, is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and also received an MBA from Harvard Business School. International College Counselors’ achievements include being recognized as one of South Florida’s Top 100 Small Businesses in 2012.

International College Counselors has offices in New York, New York; White Plains, New York; Boston, Massachusetts; Miami Beach, Florida; Miami, Florida; Coral Gables, Florida; Palm Beach, Florida; Boca Raton, Florida; Medellin, Colombia and Caracas, Venezuela.

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Go to the College Fairs

October 15th, 2012

 

National college fairs span the US from coast to coast and visit every major metropolitan area across the country. Students won’t find any Ferris wheels or cotton candy at these events but they will find many college representatives sitting at tables and handing out brochures and cards.  Have questions?  Ask the reps!  These are outstanding opportunities for students to learn about a wide variety of schools, attend helpful seminars, and collect information on:

* Admission requirements

* Financial aid

* College majors and courses

* Academics

* Life on campus

Fairs can help students cross some colleges off their list and discover new ones to add. Some college fairs are even attended by the admissions officers.  There are also a lot of pens, bags and other giveaway items for the taking.

College fairs are free and open to the public.  Popular venues for these fairs include schools, a convention hall, hotel ballroom, conference center or local community center.

International College Counselors Note:  Students should leave their contact info with all the schools that interest them.  At application review time, demonstrating interest in a school may give them extra points. If students don’t leave their name, the colleges won’t know they were there or showing interest.

To find out when and where college fairs are taking place in your area, ask the high school counselor or call or email us if you are a client of International College Counselors.  You can also visit the website of the National Association for College Admission Counseling.

Links to the upcoming NACAC national college fair schedules:

Fall College Fairs

Spring College Fairs

Performing and Visual Arts College Fairs

Students can also take advantage of online college fair events.  They happen nearly every day.  We highly recommend them for international students and for those who are unable to travel to the college fair locations.  But anyone can attend.

One of the most popular hosts for virtual college fairs is College Week Live.

If you can, send your student to more than one college fair so he or she can get a good sampling of what’s out there. Different schools attend at different times.

The checklist below from College Week Live will help your student get the most out of each fair.

Before You Go
  • Find out which colleges will be at the fair (a list may be posted on the fair’s website) and write down the names of the ones you want to learn about.
  • Make a list of any questions you have.
  • Bring your list, a pen, paper and a bag to hold college brochures.
  • Make sure the email address that you give out won’t embarrass you – remember, college admission officers will see it.
While You’re There
  • Get a map of the fair and plan a route that will take you to the booths of all the colleges on your list. If there is no map available, do a quick survey of the room to locate your colleges.
  • Visit booths and ask college representatives questions. For example, you can ask, “What kind of student are you looking for?” or “What makes your campus special?”
  • Take a minute to jot down any information you think is important before moving on to the next booth.
  • Check out some of the other booths when you’re done with the colleges on your list. You may stumble onto a great college you hadn’t considered.
  • Attend an information session, if any are offered. Typical topics include applications and financial aid. These sessions are good opportunities to get expert advice.
When You Get Home
  • Ask yourself which colleges stood out and why.
  • Organize the college material you collected and review it that week while it’s fresh in your mind.
  • Go over any notes you took during the fair.
  • Throw out the pamphlets of colleges you’ve ruled out so you can focus on the colleges you’re interested in.
  • Do more research on the colleges you’re thinking about. Explore websites, contact the admission office or plan a campus visit. If you liked what you saw at the fair, it may be time to see the college in person.

This year, college advisors at International College Counselors helped more than 200 students find, apply to and gain acceptance into the college of their dreams.  The expert college counselors at International College Counselors are dedicated to helping students and their families successfully navigate the college application process.

For more information on International College Counselors or to contact an expert college counselor, please visit www.internationalcollegecounselors.com.

 

Save the Dates: Free Upcoming Seminars

OCT 11: IMACS Plantation – 7pm – RSVP 561 470-1178

OCT 25: IMACS Boca – 7pm – RSVP 561 470-1178

NOV 3: Temple Beth Sholom, Miami Beach – 12pm

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