When Should My Kid Apply to College?
So you have your kid registered for the One Week to Perfect essay writing class, but you have absolutely no idea when they should be done with their essays. While we aim to have at least three essays completely finished by the end of the week, some schools require a number of supplemental essays and application materials. When should you have those in?
Short answer? As soon as possible.
Long answer? It depends on what type of admission you're seeking.
Parents of seniors are feeling out of the loop right now. There may be some anxiety, some frustration, and a lot of misunderstanding the admission process. I find that parents are usually all over in the understanding of best practices— especially this year. It's been years since they have applied to college; since when did everything get so difficult?
I have interviewed dozens of admission reps from schools all over, and their recommendations allow us to better help your child gain admission to their first...
Questions: Cancellations, College, COVID, & You
Questions: Cancellations, College, COVID, & You
On New Years' Day, I don't think that any of us expected to be where we are. I don't think that any of us expected to become mask-wearing, social distancing experts. I don't think parents expected to become homeschooling experts. I don't think our students expected to miss out on so many high school memories. But here we are, with more questions than answers and a lot of uncertainty in front of us.
Luckily, you have me.
In this issue, we are going to discuss what you should focus on as your child approaches their senior year and how you can ensure that your child has every possible opportunity moving forward while keeping in mind the goal of reducing their future cost of college. My goal is to inform parents so that they can feel a sense of control around the critical decisions that will affect both them and their child for the next several years.
First thing's first: We need to have a plan
Navigating the Net
Hey Everyone!
A lot has changed since we last talked, hasn't it? It's been almost a month since we last posted, but we're happy to report that we are still open for business and helping students; it just looks a little different now. All of our meetings have been moved online for the time being, for the safety of both our students and our staff.
We're grateful for everyone's patience and willingness to adjust their meeting methods during this time, and we're doubly grateful for our amazing tutors, who have adapted gracefully. We miss being around out students in person, but we're glad that we have the technology to continue meeting with everyone.
Subject Specific Tutoring
This is a crucial time for students; they should be gearing up for the AP tests next month, and getting ready for finals. While most schools have transitioned to online learning, and teachers are working hard to make sure that nothing is falling through the cracks or being neglected, some...
Yes, We're Open!
Hey everyone!
We've gotten a few worried messages over the past few days asking if we are still open, and the answer is a resounding YES! KMAC operations will be continuing as normal, even with the recent K-12 closings. Our hearts go out to those who are affected by COVID-19, and we want to support anyone who needs help, academic or otherwise, in these scary times.
- We are open for business as usual, including one-on-one tutoring and our group ACT workshops.
- If you are uncomfortable coming into our office, we can also schedule a meeting via Zoom or Facetime. We have been doing so for years, so this is no big deal!
- We ask that if you are feeling sick, or come into contact with someone who is sick, please let us know and we will reschedule your appointment or schedule a virtual appointment.
- We will be sanitizing our tables and office after each meeting to limit the spread of germs. We also have plenty of hand sanitizer and soap!
- Just a reminder: wash your hands, cover your mouth...
Does My 17-Year-Old Really Need a Career Plan Before College?
ASK THE QUESTION: HOW WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR LIFE TO LOOK?
Your child needs to think about how they want their life to look after college. What values are important to them? What skills do they have? What’s their vision? We really encourage students to think about what their days will look like in a chosen career path.
Let’s say you want to help people and think you want to be a nurse. Are you up for night shifts or missing holidays? Are you ready to do what nurses are required to do? Is that the life you envisioned? If not, there are many other ways to help people.
EARLY EXPERIENCE & EXPOSURE SAVES MONEY
Being able to experience careers before choosing a path and going to college is the best way to know. Due to budget cuts, a lot of high schools don’t have this opportunity in their everyday high school classes. There are so many options, but without exposure, children usually know the big careers (doctor, lawyer, etc.) and the ones held by those around...
How to Get College Scholarships: A Beginner's Guide
THE BEST SCHOLARSHIPS ARE THE ONES WORTH THE MOST
Families don’t often think about this until it’s too late, but grades and standardized tests are the biggest way to scholarships. When scholarships are based off of grades and test scores (that are standard across the board), those last for all four years of school. Multiply the dollar amount of the scholarship by 4 and that’s a lot of money!
But what if it’s too late? What if you can’t go back and fix your grades or re-take standardized tests? People often think of scholarships when a student is applying or has already applied to their schools (typically Junior-Senior year).
Don’t worry, there are other options for you.
SCHOLARSHIP SEARCH IS A JOB & THERE ARE RESOURCES
At this point, it’s about taking matters into your own hands. Applying to scholarships is truly a job in itself. You have to search, write essays, fill out applications, and they may even ask for a video...
How to Choose the Right College For You
EVERY CHILD IS UNIQUE. IF WE’RE ABLE TO HELP THEM FIND THE RIGHT SCHOOL FOR THEM, THEN WE ARE CONFIDENT THEY WILL SUCCEED. THIS ARTICLE TALKS ABOUT FINDING A COLLEGE THAT IS THE RIGHT FIT.
College Recruiting Specialists has partnered with Virteom to engage future college students, trade students, parents, and anybody looking to learn more about getting into the college or university of their dreams. In this video, Jacqui and Kelly talk about finding the right college that is a good fit.
We help guide parents and students down the road to college. It’s often a longer road than people think and pre-planning is essential. For us, it all comes down to helping them really find the right college for them. Every child is unique if we’re able to help them find the right school for them, then we are confident they will succeed.
THE COLLEGE BECOMES THE STUDENT’S HOME
A college has to be their home for the next 4 years. Success in...
AP vs. CCP - What Should You Choose?
College Recruiting Specialists has partnered with Virteom to engage future college students, trade students, parents, and anybody looking to learn more about getting into the college or university of their dreams. In this video, Jacqui and Kelly talk about AP and CCP classes and how they help fast-track your college education.
AP and CCP classes are great options for students who want to get a jump start on their college education. These types of courses allow you to get ahead with your college credit, and potentially even earn an Associate’s degree before finishing high school. But before you start enrolling in AP and CCP classes, watch the video or read on to learn which option would work best for your situation.
WHAT ARE CCP CLASSES?
CCP classes are also known as College Credit Plus classes. CCP classes are often offered by local colleges, like a community college. These classes count for both high school credit and college credit.
ARE CCP CLASSES...
A Guide for Student Athletes Considering College Sports
HOW DO PARENTS HELP THEIR KID DURING RECRUITING AND THE PATH TO COLLEGE SPORTS?
There are many misconceptions about what it takes to get to being a college athlete. Often, people feel like their kid is a great athlete. They're setting records, they're in the weekly newspaper, and yet, they're not getting recruited. And that is very common. We have to look at it from the coach's perspective.
LOOKING AT THE RECRUITING PROCESS FROM THE COACH’S PERSPECTIVE
Coaches are looking for someone who's going to be a good fit not only for their team, but for the school. Coach’s recruiting budgets outside of the Big Ten and SEC are relatively small. Their recruiting budgets cover things like traveling to see high school athletes play. That includes the cost of gas, the cost of the ticket to get in, an overnight stay in a hotel.
There's a lot of overhead for these coaches, so they are pretty selective about when and what games they go to. Just because you're a great athlete,...
The 3 Most Common Mistakes When Considering A College
College Recruiting Specialists has partnered with Virteom to engage future college students, trade students, parents, and anybody looking to learn more about the getting into the college or university a student strives to attend.
In this video, Jacqui and Kelly talk about three costly mistakes when considering college: looking, applying and getting in. Watch or read the transcription below!
It's amazing how expensive college has become. It's easily a $100,000 investment, even at a state school. It's really important to be thinking ahead and planning.
What are those costly mistakes and how can I avoid them?
1. NOT MAKING THE MOST OF COLLEGE VISITS
Most college visits begin during junior year of high school. People think it’s no big deal and they’re just going to go take a visit. But think about the fact that the typical college visit means you're meeting admissions. They hand you all of their shiny, fabulous marketing materials to get you hooked on the school. Then,...
