Quote of the Day:
“Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” – Will Rogers

I love that quote from one of our well-loved homespun philosophers.  How true!  Who can afford to rest on their laurels?  Having those laurels is a good thing, to be sure, but what are you going to do with them now?!

Welcome to my blog, and I wish you all a wonderful 2018.  It is my goal to reveal important and useful information on all matters concerning your student’s high school years and college application strategies.

These days, with so many difficult problems facing kids your students’ age, having a student that is focused on being accepted to college is a true gift.  And certainly reflects well on your parenting.

With that in mind, I am going to focus my information towards parents of juniors.  Your time is coming, and it can be a more than a little stressful… am I right, parents of seniors?  So, here are some tips for you and your junior student that might help right now.

Even if you have a fantastic student, the application process can be difficult. Check out the quote at the top of the page again!  There are more elements to the college admissions decisions, particularly in the selective and highly selective range of colleges where the applicants are all great students.  Then it is the other components of the application that become vitally important.  I want to share a little inside info with you.  Here is the basic format to how college admission decisions are made:

  1. Standardized test scores – this is the first factor that most colleges look at, because there is generally a range of acceptability for these scores.  Therefore, one VERY IMPORTANT tip for you is to insist that your student prepares for these tests.  Best case scenario; your student is done with all SAT/ACT testing by the end of the junior year, with great results on the scores.
  2. GPA – this is up to your student of course.  But oh so vitally important in the decision process, and any help and encouragement you give your student is great for advancing the cause.  Remember that only the grades from freshman through the end of the junior year tip the scales for college admissions.  The senior year grades will be checked on by the colleges but do not count for much for the decision making process, except in the case of a total flunk-out in the senior year.
  3. The Essay – omygosh…this is sooooo important!  If all other factors are on the mark, I firmly believe that most rejections occur because of a poorly selected topic or an essay that simply misses the mark for whatever reason.  But, (putting on my red superhero cape) this is an area where I can really help out.  Topic choice and writing style are two areas I work on with students very consistently and with great results.  Please do not hesitate to contact me when the writing begins.
  4. Everything Else – this includes letters of recommendation, supplemental material, athletics, choice of major, and countless other factors.  I can also help identify, compile and format all these for students in the most compelling way possible for their applications.

Okay – that’s it for now.  Parents of juniors… please take note –

Question: What is the #1 mistake high school students make on their college application?

Answer: Not taking the application process seriously enough!

 

Please contact me with any and all questions:

Holly O’Brien/The College Concept
214.535.4393
holly@thecollegeconcept.com
www.thecollegeconcept.com