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COLLEGE CONNECTION, Home of The College Whisperer™ and Official Sponsor of College Admission Success™, offers comprehensive college planning and counseling. Guidance and support in choosing a college, getting in to college, and finding the money to pay for college, all while taking the stress, the worry, the frustration and the madness out of college applications and admissions.

At COLLEGE CONNECTION, we’ve not only got your back, we’ve got your best moves forward! 

From college matchin...

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COLLEGE CONNECTION VOTED “BEST OF THE NORTH SHORE*”

And while that and $2.75 may only get us on the NYC subway (maybe), it will get you the very best in comprehensive college planning, counseling & support.

College Matching | Admission Strategies

Application Enhancement | Essay Development

Scholarship & Financial Aid Sourcing

Free Telephone Consultation – 516-345-8766 | Virtual Sessions www.collegeconnect.info

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COVID-19 Update From College Connection 

***FREE TELEPHONE CONSULTATION - 516-345-8766 | Call Us!***

With the extension of social distancing Guidelines through the end on April, College Connection, home of The College Whisperer™, is continuing to pause in-person college planning and counseling sessions. The free College Planning Workshop, scheduled to take place on April 20 in Garden City, has been postponed.

It is our hope that, as the impact of the Corona Virus is mitigated, we will be able ...

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First and foremost, of course, would be to STAY HOME. Help to flatten the curve of the Corona Virus, not only to keep yourself healthy, but to avoid infecting others, particularly the most vulnerable. Socialize online (teens are experts at that)...

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Don't let the Corona Virus, with attendant quarantines, pauses, and time outs, hamper your college admission plans.

Whether you're in Great Neck or in Guam, time constraints, logistics, social distancing, or simply dollars and cents may make face-to-face, in-person counseling impractical, if not impossible.

That's why College Connection offers E-Planning, a comprehensive combo of online, e-mail, telephonic, and virtual counseling, with a real-live college planning counselor on hand and on call,...

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Colleges once considered “safety” schools have become “reach.” The application process, seemingly simple back in the day, is now overwhelming. And the cost of college, well, let’s just say that arm and leg may not cover it. What’s a high school student (or parent) to do?

On Monday, April 20, 2020 at 7:30 PM, the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island will play host to a free college planning workshop, where high school students and their parents will get the inside scoop on how to...

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Has applying to college - or just thinking about applying to college -- left you dazed, dizzy and down-in-the dumps? Do you go blank when you try to put pen to paper for that college essay? Does worrying about how you're going to pay for it all send chills down your spine? 

COLLEGE CONNECTION, your one-stop source for college planning, counseling and support, has the cure for what ails you!

With the college application season about to get into full swing, and with it, the ang...

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Pssst! Got College Plans? Then you need this guy. . . The College Whisperer™ - That warm and fuzzy teddy bear who comforts you from #college angst, anxiety, and stress.
The College Whisperer™ - That ferocious pit bull, tenacious in getting you into the right college, and helping you find the money to pay for it. The College Whisperer™ - At six pounds four ounces (weight may vary) #Determined #Courageous #Cute


If this is how #college applications, admissions, paying for college, an...
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... Will You Be Ready?

Yes, the 2018-19 Common Application, online portal to nearly 800 college applications, will be rolled out on August 1st. Other college application platforms will follow.

Do you know which colleges are "best" for you? Will your applications get your foot in the door, let alone over that ivy-covered gate? Will that essay "wow" the college admissions team? And what about financial aid, scholarships, and the ins, outs, and in-betweens of the college admissions and financial a...
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...With A Little Help From The College Whisperer™

• For the independent student who simply needs some direction and support. A three-hour in-person session the "need to know" on topics such as choosing colleges, completing the applications, writing the essays, finding scholarships, applying for financial aid, and all the good stuff. [In-Person service limited to Nassau, Queens, and  western Suffolk. Out of area? Ask about working remotely.]

ONLY   $500.00

Check out all of College Connection's co...

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If there is a single question The College Whisperer™ is asked most about the college application process, it is, "Where do I begin?"

My typical response is, "At the beginning, of course!" ;-)

Seriously, though, getting started down that long and winding road to college admissions, as it is with many things in life, is often the most difficult part of the journey.

So, what will follow below is a basic (very basic, as in, just to give you a push) primer -- a "To Do" list, if you will -- to set y...

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There are many superlatives bantered about these days. “Best” seems to trump all. “Best” hotels. “Best” restaurants. “Best” haircut. [I once knew a man who only frequented what he believed to be the “best” of everything. He died. As I recall, he had the “best” funeral.] And then, there are those best of the “best” -- “Best” colleges. Ahh, yes. The “Best” Colleges In America (or the world. The Universe?) Rankings of the “best” 100, the “top” 25, an...
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WHAT: College Planning Forum For High School Students & Parents

WHEN: Thursday, October 26, 2017 at 7:30 PM

WHERE: Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island | 38 Old Country Road, Garden City, NY 

WHY: Because the more you know, the better prepared you'll be!

Whether planning for college, applying to college, paying for college, or just thinking about college, this workshop is a must attend for high school students and their parents.

Seth Bykofsky, a/k/a The College Whispere...

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Rankings. The best of the best. Top dog. Number one seed. Whether of colleges, basketball teams, tennis players, or pizza parlors, somebody is ranking them, and everyone is reading about them. Suspect as they are -- and they are, on so many levels -- we are drawn to rankings like so many moths to a flame (or was that, so many flies to... you get the idea). Rankings give us a sense -- often a non-sense -- of someone else’s idea of which school, which restaurant, which airline, which dry c...

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Seldom are the words “ethics” and “humanity” heard in the same breath as “college admissions,” but on Wednesday, March 22^nd at 7:30 PM, the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island will play host to a college planning workshop, where high school students and their parents will get the inside scoop of how to choose the “best” colleges, the ins and outs of the application and admissions process, writing persuasive essays, and navigating the maze of financial aid ...

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In case you were wondering what to do over Spring Break, we’ve come up with a definitive list of the “Top Ten” things high school students (particularly juniors) should be doing to prepare for the coming college application and admission season.

So, in between soaking up the sun on the beach, hitting the slopes, or sleeping until 2 PM, pick up the iPad or Android and have a go at one (and more) of these:

10. Search for “Best” Fit Colleges. [And if you do nothing else in this endeavor,...

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COLLEGE CONNECTION, Home of The College Whisperer™ and Official Sponsor of College Admission Success™, offers comprehensive college planning and counseling. Guidance and support in choosing a college, getting in to college, and finding the money to pay for college, all while taking the stress, the worry, the frustration and the madness out of college applications and admissions.

At COLLEGE CONNECTION, we’ve not only got your back, we’ve got your best moves forward!

From college mat...

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COLLEGE PLANNING FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS & PARENTS

• Choosing Colleges That Are “Best” For You

• Navigating The Application Process

• Admission Strategies

• ​Winning Essays

• Financial Aid Essentials & Scholarship Sourcing

College Connection, Official Sponsor of College Admission Success™, offers a FREE College Planning & Admissions Workshop. Open to students and parents alike, this forum will explore such topics as choosing a college that’s a “best” fit for you, the intricacies and nuances of...

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Just the other day, The College Whisperer™ -- also known as "Current Occupant" in certain postal circles, received a piece of unsolicited mail. Not email, mind you, but actual snail mail, at bulk rate, no less.

Keeping with my practice of opening every piece of mail that crosses my desk -- and actually reading it -- I sliced off the top of the envelope and pulled out what I soon realized was an invitation to take a survey. Innocuous, and otherwise destined for the circular file, until I saw,...
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The college admissions process, from application to financing, is confusing, confounding, complex, and often overwhelming. Getting in the admissions game is one thing. Understanding the rules (where there are rules), and actually getting in to a college that is “best” for you, is quite another!

Common App or proprietary college application? Early Action, Early Decision, Restricted Early Action, Regular Decision or Rolling Admissions? ACT, SAT, Test Optional? Deferral or Waitlist? CSS Profi...

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Not all that long ago, college counselors talked about Target Schools, Reach Schools, and Safety Schools.

For those who need a refresher in the terminology:

Target School -- You have the grades, the scores, and pretty much fit right in with what the college is looking for.

Reach School -- Not quite there academically, and perhaps a longshot. A toss of the dice. Why the heck not?

Safety School -- You are breathing and have a pulse at the time of application. Congratulations. You're in!

Fast forward...

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Rankings. The best of the best. Top dog. Number one seed.

Whether of colleges, basketball teams, tennis players, or pizza parlors, somebody is ranking them, and everyone is reading about them.

Suspect as they are -- and they are, on so many levels -- we are drawn to rankings like so many moths to a flame (or was that, so many flies to... you get the idea).

Rankings give us a sense -- often a non-sense -- of someone else’s idea of which school, which restaurant, which airline, which dry cleaner...

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Test prep and fees for APs, SATs and ACTs: $1500
College Application fees: $1000
College tuition, room & board: $60,000

Knowing how to navigate the college application, admissions & financial aid process? PRICELESS!

Okay, so we’re mixing Farmer’s Insurance with MasterCard, but surely you get the message.

The college admissions process, from application to financing, is confusing, confounding, complex, and overwhelming. Getting in the admissions game is one thing. Understanding the rules (where...

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There are many superaltives bantered about these days. “Best” seems to trump all. “Best” hotels. “Best” restaurants. “Best” haircut. [I once knew a man who only frequented what he believed to be the “best” of everything. He died. As I recall, he had the “best” funeral.]

And then, there are those best of the “best” -- “Best” colleges.

Ahh, yes. The “Best” Colleges In America (or the world. The Universe?) Rankings of the “best” 100, the “top” 25, and th...

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As you head down that long and winding road toward college (try to stay behind the salt spreader :-), take advantage of College Connection’s College Cafe.

Information is updated regularly, so check back frequently at College Cafe!

To Do List:

Nag. Nag. Nag. Yup, it’s what we do! LOL

Here are a few things high school juniors should be working on as we move toward the Spring --

1. Naviance -- Begin building/updating your Resume (Under About Me);

2. Take the SAT and the ACT. Repeat the test on whi...

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Just Who Is The College Whisperer™?

The College Whisperer™ is Seth Bykofsky. [Or is it the other way around? No matter! :-)]

Born on the cusp of a new century (1 B.C.), his mother, Frances, was first runner-up to Miss Alternate Universe, while his father, Irving, served as counsel to the Czars. Orphaned at a tender age by the tragic sinking of the Titantic, Bykofsky was home-schooled until the age of 13, at which time he was summarily expelled. 

Joining the French Foreign Legion and rising t...
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We were going to title this post, Seth Speaks. . ., but we didn't want to confuse our readers with that great transcendental guru of the 60s, Seth Speaks, as channeled by psychic Jane Roberts, or, for that matter, the truly amaaazing guru of Broadway, Seth Rudetsky, who not only speaks, but sings, acts, and plays the piano with aplumb.

So, we'll just leave it as The College Whisperer™ Speaks... and ask that you pull up a chair, sit back and relax, and listen up for a good measure of sage wis...
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Yes, school is out. HOORAY!

But before (or after) you hit the beach -- or the slopes -- here are a few things “To Do” during the break:

1. High school Seniors: Put the finishing touches on those college applications still waiting to be submitted, and, by all means, SUBMIT! [Be aware of those deadlines. They mean it!]

2. Follow up on submitted applications (most colleges have Application Trackers on their web portals) to make certain they are complete. [Transcripts, letters of recommendation,...

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Just Who Is The College Whisperer™?

The College Whisperer™ is Seth Bykofsky. [Or is it the other way around? No matter! :-)]

Born on the cusp of a new century (1 B.C.), his mother, Frances, was first runner-up to Miss Alternate Universe, while his father, Irving, served as counsel to the Czars. Orphaned at a tender age by the tragic sinking of the Titantic, Bykofsky was home-schooled until the age of 13, at which time he was summarily expelled. 

Joining the French Foreign Legion and rising t...
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Hours (even days) after the Long Island National College Fair at the Nassau Coliseum, I can still see the glazed looks in the eyes of parents and high school students. You know. That deer-in-the-headlights glare as they attempted to traverse the aisles, packed in like sardines, swimming upstream against the current as if salmons on their way to spawn. [How's that for mixed metaphors?The College Whisperer ™ wants to give equal time to all species. Cue the reptiles! ;-)]

Yes, if you attended t...
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Welcome to October! A new month means that it is time, once again, to enter College Prowler's $2000 "No Essay" Scholarship Contest. [And while you are on the College Prowler site, be sure to check out the many other scholarship opportunities!] REMEMBER: If you don't apply, you won't get money! (And scholarships are NOT just for high school seniors!!!) In other news, an "on point" article on college rankings, as appeared a couple of years ago in The New York Times, is just as relevant today. Che...

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As Jews the world over usher in the year 5775 (where does the time go?), The College Whisperer™ pauses to reflect, to refresh, and to wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous new year.

Next year in college!


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A few years ago, a reader inquired as to whether it was worth going to the National College Fair. A number of errant links (they tend to break or disappear over time) aside, the advice on the Fair is certainly as valid today as it was then, and well worth repeating.

L.B. of North Merrick, NY writes: 

There's a College Fair coming up at the Nassau Coliseum. Is it worth attending, for college-bound students and/or their parents?

The College Whisperer™ responds:

A definite maybe. ;-)

In days of old...
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National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) Long Island College Fair

Sunday, October 5, 2014

11 AM - 3 PM

Nassau Coliseum

Uniondale, NY

For more information, click HERE

For student registration, click HERE

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At COLLEGE CONNECTION, We've Got Your Back. And Your Best Moves Forward!

Find Us on the web at College Connection
Check out The College Whisperer™ blog
College Connection on Twitter  Follow Us
The College Whisperer™on Facebook  Like Us On Facebook

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Wow, another school year begins. [Where did the summer go?]

That means a full and hopefully rigorous courseload for high school seniors, aside from dealing with the trials and trbulations of the college application and admissions process.

Yes, senior year is a whole lot more than planning for prom and putting together that high school yearbook. After all, colleges to which you will apply shall see what courses you are taking, your mid-year grades, and the activities you're engaged in this year ...
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Summer draws to a close, and college application season is now upon us.

Along with the usual angst and anxiety that accompanies the madness of the application and admissions process, the twists and turns, minefields and detours, you must be prepared for the unexpected.

Be forewarned that Murphy's Law ("whatever can go wrong, will go wrong") is in full force and effect!

But what could possibly go wrong? 

Famous last words...

Last year, it was the foibles and follies of Common App. Log in fails. For...
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L.N. of Manhasset, NY writes:

My son will be a junior in high school this year, and we are considering enrolling him in an online college planning course. The price seems right ($299), and a set of CDs is also available for an additional sum. Any thoughts?

The College Whisperer™responds:

Good for you for wanting to start college planning early. Too many high school students, waiting until the start of their senior year, wish they had gotten a head start in their junior year!

With respect to the...

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Pssst! Got College Plans? Then you need this guy. . . The College Whisperer™ - That warm and fuzzy teddy bear who comforts you from #college angst, anxiety, and stress.
The College Whisperer™ - That ferocious pit bull, tenacious in getting you into the right college, and helping you find the money to pay for it.
The College Whisperer™ - At six pounds four ounces (weight may vary) #Determined #Courageous #Cute



If this is how #college applications, admissions, paying for college,...
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Helping students get into colleges that are the best fit for them is Job 1 at College Connection. And right alongside is an endeavor of near-equal import: helping students find the money to actually pay for the colleges they've worked so hard to get into!

Most kids are excited, though somewhat nervous, about the college application and admissions process. Once they start getting into it -- Common App, personal essays, supplements, and all -- most find that what they thought would be an ordeal ...
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As we stare down the barrel of yet another college application and admissions season [where does the time fly?], The College Whisperer™ asks the age-old question: Who's Got Your Back?

Yes, who is looking out for you on that long, winding, sometimes treacherous, and too often nerve-wracking road to college? Well, let's see.

College Board? Sorry. The folks who would have you take a test to get in to the shower may say they're looking out for your best interests (after all, to say otherwise migh...
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Seth Bykofsky, better known as The College Whisperer™, takes to the airwaves on Long Island Money & Business (WLIE 540 AM) to discuss college admissions and the application process.

Click HERE to join the conversation. Click HERE to read The College Whisperer™ blog. Click HERE to get started down the road to college admission success!

- - -   
Plan. Prepare. Prevail!  

          FREE College Planning Workshop, March 26th

 When college applications get to you, you need to get to us! 

Contact us ...

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It wasn't long ago that high school students, diagnosed with a Learning Disability -- such as ADHD or Dyslexia -- would go out of their way to avoid any reference to their educational challenges when applying to college. Indeed, many students, throughout their elementary and secondary school careers, would not even seek out professional help, this for fear of being labeled as "LD."

My, how things have changed, and dare I say, for the better.

In this age of transparency and candor -- not to ment...
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Jump Start Your College Applications!

When: Wednesday, March 26, 2014,  7:30 PM - 9:30 PM

Where: Ethical Humanist Society -- Auditorium
             38 Old Country Road
             Garden City, New York 11530

Why: Because getting in to college has become more competitive than ever, and the application process increasingly complex. You need to be in the know and prepared to go!

College Connection, Official Sponsor of College Admission Success™, hosts a free College Planning Workshop. Open to stud...
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When it comes to planning for college, and getting a jump start on those college applications, there are few things -- well, other than that pint of Forbidden Chocolate ice cream -- that can help ease the journey and lighten that burden than college planning workshops, community forums (often in your own school or local library), and, of course, those college fairs that help you sort out which colleges are "best" for you.

Here's a sampling of what's coming up on Long Island and in our own back...
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One-upping The Most Interesting Man In The World...

The College Whisperer™ is Seth Bykofsky. [Or is it the other way around? No matter! :-)]

Born on the cusp of a new century (1 B.C.), his mother, Frances, was first runner-up to Miss Alternate Universe, while his father, Irving, served as counsel to the Czars. Orphaned at a tender age by the tragic sinking of the Titantic, Bykofsky was home-schooled until the age of 13, at which time he was summarily expelled. 

Joining the French Foreign Legio...
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“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go...” 
― Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You'll Go!

Turn college dreams into college reality, with the help of College Connection and The College Whisperer™. 

“You'll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You'll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step. S...

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While applying to college -- let alone actually going -- may seem far away, now is the time to start planning, preparing and gearing up, way before the madness of the senior year of high school. 

So, what can high school juniors (and, in many instances, sophomores), and their parents, start to do now to get ready for the college application and admissions process? 

Well, here is a short "To Do" list to get the ball rolling: 

-Check out the college planning calendar to get an idea...

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That's what is being said about applying to college, getting in to college, paying for college.

It's complicated!

What once was accomplished with relative ease, and without undue burden upon either psyche or pocketbook, has now de-evolved into a seemingly endless charade of convoluted online protocols, mind-numbing contortions of clicks and spinning wheels, and "brother can you spare about $160,000 to help put my kid through college."

It's complicated!

Heck, it used to be easy. Then again, what w...
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Are you and your parental units confused, frustrated, or overwhelmed by the college application and admissions process? Do you break out in a cold sweat at the mere mention of the Common App? Is having to write that college essay a fate worse than a sudden outbreak of acne?

You, and your unsuspecting parents, may be suffering from that dreaded and most feared malady known as CAS (College Application Syndrome), and not even know it. And yet, you need not suffer the debilitating side effects of ...

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FREE College Planning Workshop [And who doesn't like FREE?]

When: Wednesday, October 16, 7 PM - 8:30 PM

Where: Harborfields Public Library, 31 Broadway, Greenlawn, NY

Why: Because getting in to college has become more competitive than ever, and the application process increasingly complex. You need to be in the know and prepared to go!

Harborfields Public Library hosts a free College Planning Workshop. Open to students and parents alike, this forum will explore such topics as choosing a college t...
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In the grand quest to find the college that's the right fit for you, to gain a foothold (if not the upper hand) in the application and admissions process, to develop that winning college essay, and, once accepted, to find the money to pay for it all, who would be best suited to guide, coach and de-stress students and parents alike -- the Long Island Medium or The College Whisperer™?

We asked a panel of experts, comprised of noted academics, intellectuals, rocket scientists, and the intern fr...
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No, not the retelling of a life's tale. The stuff that a movie fantasy and new Broadway musical are made of. The meshing of imagination and whimsy, with reality and truth. 

Then again, perhaps this is just such a story. The exuberance and optimism of youth. That dreamlike romanticism of life, embraced by every teen who sets out to conquer the world, to triumph over mediocrity, determined not only to dream those dreams that are larger than life, but to make those dreams come true.

Yes, Big Fish....
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As if the portended changes to the SAT were not enough for us to ponder, let alone digest, word from the once great test-master that the SAT Question of the Day will soon fall by the wayside. 

Much like the VCR and the landline, College Board, the arch nemesis of students and parents alike, will cease to send out SAT Question of the Day emails come month's end. Instead, they will rely upon Twitter (@SATQuestion) and a free mobile app.

Ahh, progress. . .

And so, as we tearfully say hasta la vista...
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Katie of Syosset, NY writes:

I've seen a few ads for intensive, not to mention, expensive, college application events, promising, among other things, a completed Common Application and a fully prepared "suite of essays" in just 4 days. One such "boot camp," held up in Boston, charges $14,000, not including room and board. Is it worth the big bucks?

The College Whisperer™ responds:

Well, let's see. The earth was created in 6 days, so we suppose that creating a winning admissions strategy, no ...
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Not to pat ourselves on the back -- then again, if you don't toot your own horn, who will? -- College Connection, home of The College Whisperer™, and Official Sponsor of College Admission Success™, has received yet another feather in its proverbial cap. 

Recognized among the 101 Top Resources on How to Get Into College, and coming in at number 25 (Casey Kasem would be proud), College Connection is privileged to be listed among those college resources designed to "help students of all ages ...
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Never mind the IRS scrutinizing not-for-profit organizations, or the Justice Department tapping phone lines at media outlets. And forget about the NSA mining your phone records and reading your emails. 

No sir. The plot is much more sinister and insidious. It involves information and data so personal that even your own high school can't release it without authorization. Records you believed were safe from prying eyes (not to mention, money-grubbing corporations) being compiled, culled, shared ...
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Gap Year. That year between high school and college -- and sometimes, between college and grad school of college and work (if you can find work). A time to recharge, to rejuvenate, to mature, to decide what you want in life and where you want to go.

Always popular in Europe, where a year "on" before university -- traveling, interning, engaging in community service, and, yes, taking courses that often count toward college credit -- Gap Year is gaining greater traction here in the good ole U.S. ...
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Since the advent of the college Net Price Calculator, parents and students alike, having pretty much figured out which colleges are good fits, are still walking around in that proverbial fog when it comes to figuring out the true cost of college, let alone comparing the cost of college A to college B.

Yes, the College Scorecard helps a bit, but can we say that the fog has actually lifted?

Enter the latest tool in the effort to find the "best" college, calculate and compare costs, and determine ...
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Choosing that "perfect" college -- whether to apply or to attend -- is no easy task. The College Whisperer™ offers some advice on how to find the college that's best for you. 

Lily Herman, college student at Wesleyan University and Co-Founder of The Prospect, writes:   

What do you think is the most important thing for a student to look at when choosing a college? Or, what's an important aspect that many students don't look at or think about but they should?  

The College Whisperer™ ...

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College Connection, home of The College Whisperer™ and Official Sponsor of College Admission Success™, is offering free, one (1) hour college planning consultations with an independent college counselor to Long Island’s veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, and their immediate families. Services include college matching, admission strategies, the application process, essay development, as well as scholarship and financial aid sourcing.

Understanding the unique needs and special circumstance...
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In a world where there is an App for virtually (pun intended) everything, it's no stretch to find Apps slowly creeping into the already cramped and convoluted world of college applications and admissions.

Yes, there are Apps to match students to colleges. Apps for scholarships. Even Apps to help you on the SAT (Number 2 pencil App not included).

And now, from the folks who brought you Naviance, The Musical comes Naviance, The App. Hold on to your iPhones, iPads and iWhatHaveYous, ladies a...

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Keeping to his State of the Union promise to provide accountability and transparency, and to help families determine “where you can get the most bang for your educational buck,” President Obama has unveiled the so-called "College Scorecard."

The College Scorecard creates a new universal system to rank the educational value of the nation’s colleges and universities, and allows parents and students to view a college’s cost, graduation rate, loan default rate, median borrowing, and employ...
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Tuesday, April 23 - Spring College EXPO - sponsored by Nassau Counselors' Association. Mack Sports Complex, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY: 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM.

Now is the time for high school juniors (as well as sophomores) and their parents to get a jump start on college planning.

Hofstra University in Uniondale (Long Island) will play host to the 2013 Spring College Expo, sponsored by the Nassau Counselors' Association.

Beat the crowds. Meet with representatives from more than 300 colleges a...
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Add this to the list of accolades for College Connection, Long Island's premier college planning service, and home of The College Whisperer™: @GetCollege -- our Twitter site -- was named to the Top 101 College Planning Twitter Accounts for Parents.

Oh yeah. We're up there with the best of 'em. @nytimescollege, @USNewsEducation, @CollegeBlogs and that Holy Grail (or is it Holy Terror of college information, @CollegeBoard. Cue the balloons!

Okay. So we're Number 83 for our first appearance on t...
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While most high school seniors are submitting FAFSA, and some are putting the finishing touches on the last of their college applications, high school juniors, waiting in the wings, are busy, er, ah, um, busy doing, hmmm... What exactly are high school juniors busy doing?

Dollars to doughnuts (who says that anymore?), while juniors -- and the parents of same -- may have much on their respective plates, preparing for the madness of college applications and admissions (and we mean seriously prep...
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Here comes Hurricane Sandy!

Earthquakes. Hurricanes. Locust. [Would you believe a noisy Cicada, falling from a nearby tree? Oh, we hate when that happens!]

All enough to unsettle even those with nerves of steel. And yet, even these natural disasters (not to mention those man-made ones that come our way, seemingly on a daily basis), hardly compare to the terror struck in the hearts of bold men, brave women and unflappable 17 year olds by the onset and ensuing deluge known as the college applicat...
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The critical information and minutia gained at the College Fair lives on!

Check out the Long Island College Conference Manual, and find out what you need to know before you go -- to college.

- - -
Plan. Prepare. Prevail!

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of The College Whisperer™.

Who knows what peril lurks in the college application and admissions process? The College Whisperer™ knows. . .

* * *
Comments? Questions for The College Whisperer™?
Write us at info@...

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Long Island National College Fair
Sunday, September 30, 11 AM - 3 PM
Nassau Coliseum
Check out the Long Island College Conference Manual

A couple of years ago, a reader inquired as to whether it was worth going to the National College Fair. A number of errant links (they tend to break or disappear over time) aside, the advice on the Fair is certainly as valid today as it was then, and well worth repeating.

L.B. of North Merrick, NY writes:

There's a College Fair coming up at the Nassau Coliseum. I...
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SAT Test Dates	Registration Deadline	Late Registration Deadline	Details
OCT 6	September 7	September 21	Register Here
NOV 3	October 4	October 19	Register Here

ACT Test Dates	Registration Deadline	Late Registration Deadline	Details
OCT 27	September 21	September 22 - October 5	Register Here
DEC 8	November 2	November 3 - November 16	Register Here

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Are you ready?

The College Fair comes to the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Sunday, September 30th. [Click HERE to find out all about the College Fair.]

Know which colleges are coming to the Fair, what Workshops are being offered, where to go and what to see by reading the College Conference Manual before you go! [See the digital edition, and pick up a hard copy at your high school Guidance Office to preview at home and take to the Fair.]

A visit to the Long Island National College ...

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Okay. It's no guarantee you'll gain entrance through those ivy-covered gates, but it is the great start you need on your journey down the road to college admissions success!

Scan today! Be on your way to college tommorow!

Plan. Prepare. Prevail!

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of The College Whisperer™.

Who knows what peril lurks in the college application and admissions process? The College Whisperer™ knows. . .

* * *
Comments? Questions for The College...

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Students taking SAT to be charged $25 per filled-in oval

Would this surprise you? Maybe. Maybe not.

You would be surprised, however, at the wealth of information you will find -- on the ins and outs, ups and downs, DOs and DON'Ts of the college application process, the intricacies of college admissions, the abundance of scholarship money ripe for the picking, and just about everything college -- when you follow us on Twitter @GetCollege.

Simply sign up (it's free), log in, and click follow to jo...

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Just the other day, The College Whisperer -- also known as "Current Occupant" in certain postal circles, received a piece of unsolicited mail. Not email, mind you, but actual snail mail, at bulk rate, no less.

Keeping with my practice of opening every piece of mail that crosses my desk -- and actually reading it -- I sliced off the top of the envelope and pulled out what I soon realized was an invitation to take a survey. Innocuous, and otherwise destined for the circular file, until I saw, tu...
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With the 2012 summer Olympic games about to get underway in London (Go USA!), The College Whisperer has been giving some thought to the benefits (okay, absolute necessity) of having a coach as students wend their way along that long, winding and often treacherous road toward college admissions.

After all, name just one successful Olympic athlete who went for the gold without a comparably winning coach. Odds are, you cannot.

Where would Nadia Comaneci have been in pursuit of the perfect 10 witho...
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As critical as the hows of the college application and admissions process are -- how to write a compelling essay; how to prepare, complete and submit a winning application; how to get your hands on money to pay for college -- high school students and their parents should not lose sight of the equally important whens -- as in, when to take the ACTs and SATs; when to visit prospective colleges, both virtually and in person; when to decide which colleges to apply to; when to complete and submit ...
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As if there wasn't too much information out there already, prospective college students now have a new place to turn on the Internet for information on college prereqs, the application and admission process and paying for that degree -- BigFuture, direct to you from the folks who brought you the SAT and subject tests, your friends and ours, College Board.

At first glance, BigFuture looks like the be all to end all of college planning sites, until you delve deeper. Click here, click there, and ...
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Monday, April 23 - Spring College EXPO - sponsored by Nassau Counselors' Association. Mack Sports Complex, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY: 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM.

Now is the time for high school juniors (as well as sophomores) and their parents to get a jump start on college planning.

Hofstra University in Uniondale (Long Island) will play host to the 2012 Spring College Expo, sponsored by the Nassau Counselors' Association.

Beat the crowds. Meet with representatives from more than 300 colleges an...

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Every year, Fortune Magazine compiles a list of The 100 Best Companies to Work For. Considered in the mix, among other attributes, are best benefits, perks, health care, job security and management-employee relations. [And it should come as no surprise -- as it is no coincidence -- that the best companies to work for are, more often than not, the most profitable companies, given that a happy, satisfied employee is typically a productive and loyal employee!]

So it naturally flows, if there are ...
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As any student (or parent) who regularly visits Barnes & Nobles could tell you, books on college applications, admissions, paying for college, and the like are run of the mill. There's a "how to" for every step in the process, from choosing the college that's "right" for you to finding scholarship money to help foot the bill.

Then there's College Prep 101 (Second Edition), which, rather than "how to," is more along the lines of "what to do" and "when."

In fact, college-bound students (and thei...
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One of the best local insights into the college application and admissions process comes from Newsday's College PrepTalk, available both in print and online.

In an article written last year, but no less pertinent today, College PrepTalk examines whether students benefit from the advices and support of and independent college counselor and, if so, how to find the one that's best for you.

Delicious food for thought and fine fare from those who know at Newsday!

Read on. . .

Private coaches: Are ...

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No. Not a typo. Get complete, customized, personal college planning -- from college matching, admission strategies and essay development to scholarship and financial aid sourcing -- all for the incredibly low, all-inclusive price of $999.

Yes, you read that correctly. Now through Friday, November 18, College Connection is offering the Good Old-Fashioned Advice at a Good Old-Fashioned Price package, a bargain at the regular everyday price of $2000, now for only $999.*      *Certain restrictions...
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Just Who Is The College Whisperer™?

The College Whisperer™ is Seth Bykofsky. [Or is it the other way around? No matter! :-)]

Born on the cusp of a new century (1 B.C.), his mother, Frances, was first runner-up to Miss Alternate Universe, while his father, Irving, served as counsel to the Czars. Orphaned at a tender age by the tragic sinking of the Titantic, Bykofsky was home-schooled until the age of 13, at which time he was summarily expelled. 

Joining the French Foreign Legion and rising t...
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Ahh. To swim like a salmon upstream at the Long Island College Fair. The huddled masses yearning to speak with a college admissions rep. The glazed and bewildered look in the eyes of confused and weary parents. The lines at the booths of the most popular colleges, where high school students stand six deep waiting their turn to get information otherwise available to them with the click of a mouse from their laptops (from the comfort of their homes, while still dressed in their PJs). And, of co...
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Be bold!

That's what often separates the college also-rans from the college acceptances. Toot your horn. Give voice to your essay. Build that resume. Wave that brag sheet!

And now, in keeping with our long and storied tradition of bringing you the best of the web's college planning and resource websites, here's one that not only helps you brag (and live to tag about it), but is also an exceptional source for material and information related to the college application and admissions process.

The ...
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Which is the fairest College Fair in all the land?

Why, the National College Fair, of course, hosted by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), and coming to Long Island (Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale) on Sunday, October 2, 2011 (11 AM to 4 PM).

Admission to the College Fair is FREE. [There is a nominal fee for parking.]

With more than 350 colleges and universities in attendance, and upwards of 10,000 students and parents expected to stream through the doors of the Coli...
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Naviance. If you're a high school senior, or about to be one, Naviance has as surely become a part of your vernacular (good SAT word :-) as the Common App.

Heralded -- by those who market it -- as the next best thing to sliced bread, Naviance is said to offer a "road map to success," not only to college, but toward a lifelong career.

Of course, if someone offers you a road map, you darn well better know how to read it, where the closures and detours lie, and be privy to alternate routes, just ...
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Earthquakes. Hurricanes. Locust. [Would you believe a noisy Cicada, falling from a nearby tree? Oh, we hate when that happens!]

All enough to unsettle even those with nerves of steel. And yet, even these natural disasters (not to mention those man-made ones that come our way, seemingly on a daily basis), hardly compare to the terror struck in the hearts of bold men, brave women and unflappable 18 year olds by the onset and ensuing deluge known as the college application and admission process.

F...
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Some advice is well worth repeating. These mental meanderings, from a prior post by The College Whisperer, among them:

A Sherpa's Guide to College Admissions

Excerpted from TheCollegeWhisperer.com

 

M.S. of East Williston, NY writes:

Do I really need a college planning counselor for my child? Aren't the resources available through her high school guidance counselor, the colleges,...

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We spend quite a bit of time (so you don't have to) searching for the best -- as in concise, informative, relevant and useful -- college planning guidebooks and websites.

Here are a few that are particularly pertinent, and should be on ever college-bound student's "must read" (or at least, "must browse") list:

The 2012 College Planning Guide (Eleanor Roosevelt High School, New York, NY). If there ever was an "everything you need to know" college guidebook for high school students, this is it! K...
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Ever want to read news, advice and opinion of interest to college-bound students and their parents? A one-stop source for information on the college essentials, such as the ins and outs of the application process, the particulars on admissions, the where, why, and how of scholarships, and what's what, both on and off campus?

Well, now you can!

The College Connection Daily is out! [http://paper.li/GetCollege/1308919539, for those who'd rather cut and paste.]

Yes, you can now get the latest from ...
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Could it be that yours truly, The College Whisperer, should be shouting from the mountaintop rather than whispering on the Internet?

If you're planning to apply to college, you need a college planner!

Couldn't be simpler, right?

You retain the services of a financial planner to guide your investments prudently, safely, and with an eye toward capital preservation and long-term growth.

You enlist the services of a wedding planner to make sure everything is perfect on that most special day.

Why, you...
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Circumventing the gales and high seas of the college admissions process can be treacherous. If the forces of the SAT/ACT don't sink you, the wake of the Common App just might.

So many things to do. So many essays to write. So little time to meet the Early Action deadlines. So much info out there, much of it just plain wrong.

And yet, out on the horizon (dare you raise your head from that Dramamine-induced stupor), there is hope. The perfect calm. That troika of inspiration. The very essence of ...
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The numbers are in, and they speak volumes about this year's crop of college-bound students. [Well, at least the ones that chose College Connection to help them successfully navigate the road to college!]

100% of students who used the planning and counseling services of College Connection were accepted by one or more of their top three college choices. 98% were accepted to their colleges of first choice.

Congrats to all of our students, who have been making the right choices from the get-go!

And...
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For every college-bound student -- and his or her parents -- The New York Times' The Choice is a must read. Timely articles, insights, tips, and anecdotes appearing daily on this appealing and interesting blog help guide you safely through the jungle that is the college application, admission and financing process.

Beyond The Choice, The New York Times provides special sections, including the recently published Education Life, which inform, enlighten and, yes, even entertain.

Learn about such c...
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The Mayan calendar, in the ultimate homage to Montezuma's Revenge, passes into eternity in 2012. December 21, 2012, to be exact. The winter solstice.

It is then, according to 2012 theorists, that the world shall meet an apocalyptic fate. [Assuming anyone could spell  a·poca·lypti·c, or actually knew what it meant!] Witness the many books, movies, and  entrepreneurial merchandising efforts attempting to capitalize on the 2012 version of Y2K. The coming of the Apocalypse.

Calendars, and th...

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There's an old adage that goes something like this: An idiot with a plan is better than a genius without one.

Well, I'm not so sure I agree that an idiot will do well (though, apparently, many have ;-), but certainly, the smart move, particularly when it comes to college admissions, is to have a plan -- and, once you have a plan, to wisely put it into action.

This is especially so when, year after year, colleges are becoming more selective (this year being no exception), and applicants, so much...
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For the scoop on everything from college applications to admission strategies, paying for college to finding the best food on campus,find The College Whisperer/College Connection on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

Up-to-the-minute info on scholarships, financial aid, test prep, essay development, getting into college, and college life from A to Z, all at the tip of your finger. The experts. The opinions. The "how to", "where to" and "what to" (as well as "what not to" for every college-bou...
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With the warmer weather approaching (we can only hope ;-), high school seniors poised to make those all-important college acceptance decisions, and juniors pondering just where they should apply, visits to college campuses, near and far, are in the offing.

Yes, there are virtual tours galore, and, by all means, you should take every last one of them. Still, as the old saying goes, there's nothing like being there! [Check out our previous post on campus visits and virtual tours.]

From January to...
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What's more powerful than having the expertise, guidance and college admission know-how of the premier college planning and counseling service on your side? Having the folks with the inside track on what it takes to get through college right along side with them.

That's what College Connection, the renowned and respected college planners, and The Real College Guide, America's trusted resource on life on campus, have created by establishing a strategic partnership.

College Connection, with its h...
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Okay. You've taken the SAT and/or the ACT for the first time. Other than that, and perhaps making plans for Junior Prom, what are you doing to prepare for the onslaught that is, the college application and admission process.

Sure. Senior year, let alone college, seem a lifetime away. And yet, the time for submitting your college applications (perhaps as early as August 1), is much closer than you think.

So, what can high school Juniors -- and their parents -- do now to start preparing for colle...
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Our good friends at AccreditedOnlineColleges.com, who themselves sport a blog (www.accreditedonlinecolleges.com/blog/), have posted a list of college blogs that, as they succinctly put it, "every parent should read."

The list of blogs is by no means definitive, and certainly not exhaustive (after all, The College Whisperer's blog, which clearly ranks right up there -- if The College Whisperer must say so himself -- does not appear among the anointed. An oversight, to be sure ;-), but many of t...
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Commenting on our post, How Much Is That College Coach In The Window?, John T. Weir, Founder and CEO of The College Planning Network, had these words of wisdom to students -- and parents -- interested in college planning services:

I spent the past few years researching the college planning resources that are available for young adults and their families. I found that high school guidance counselors can be a great resource, but their time is very limited and they are spread too thin. So, par...
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Time. There never seems to be enough of it. It goes by so quickly. Fleeting. Elusive. Of the essence. Time, as in, "where did the time go?"

Time as a measure. Time as a harbinger. Time well spent. Time as an investment.

Investment? Sure thing.

Why, just this weekend, as The College Whisperer pored over Sunday's New York Times, there was old man time himself, taking the form of watches (now referred to, among the elite, as "timepieces") being offered up as precious investments.

A Breitling fot $41...
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Kiplinger Magazine, in its upcoming December issue, takes a look at "values" in private colleges. As with most rankings, the findings should be taken with both a grain of salt and a hand on your wallet. "Value," too, is subjective, given the price tags attached to most of these institutions of higher learning.

Of value to the college bound (and, most certainly, their parents) is Kiplinger's reporting on the availability of financial aid at the ranked colleges, including averages (in dollars) f...
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Getting good advice -- and, sometimes, following it -- is key to success in the college application and admission process.

That's why College Connection, your one-stop source for college planning, counseling and support, sponsors The College Whisperer blog, and helps get out the word -- to parents and students alike -- on what it takes to get into college, as well has how to pay for it all -- on our website, via Facebook, and by way of Twitter.

Bringing you the inside scoop on successfully nav...
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. . .Until You Speak With A COLLEGE CONNECTION Counselor!

Overwhelmed!

That’s what parents and high school students alike tell us about the college application and admissions process.

It’s the perfect storm. The confluence of conflicting deadlines, endless paperwork, constant pressure, and information overload.

Wondering which college is right for you or your child? Has the Common Application left you asking yourself, “where do I start?” Is the personal statement cause for terminal wr...
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The morning after the College Fair at the Nassau Coliseum, I can still see the glazed looks in the eyes of parents and high school students. You know. That deer-in-the-headlights glare as they attempted to traverse the aisles, packed in like sardines, swimming upstream against the current as if salmons on their way to spawn. [How's that for mixed metaphors? The College Whisperer wants to give equal time to all species. Cue the reptiles! ;-)]

Yes, if you attended the College Fair, and didn't le...
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The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum plays host this Sunday, October 3rd, to the National College Fair.

Come on out and meet The College Whisperer as he makes his way through the crowds, past the booths manned (and womaned ;-) by cheerful college reps, to the concession stands. LOL

While I love and loathe college fairs, I will miss no opportunity to mingle with the hopeful, the stressed and the angst-ridden, as they scout out information and insight on prospective colleges.

Look for the College...
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Planning for college can be expensive. College Connection, Long Island's one-stop source for college planning, counseling and support, helps keep costs in check with its Referral Rewards Program. Earn credit toward FREE college counseling.

Now that the school year is underway, friends and classmates are starting to think about applying to college. Many have already started the process. Bravo!

At College Connection, we want to help you reduce the cost of college planning, while helping other stu...
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S.K. of Jericho, NY writes:

My daughter, a high school senior with a 4.0+ GPA (weighted), nearly perfect SAT and ACT scores, and a resume of community service and extracurricular activities second to none, is in the process of applying to college. Hopefully (fingers crossed), she is Ivy bound. With the selection process so extremely complex and competitive, we reached out to a college coach who "specializes" in the Ivies, only to find, to our dismay, that she charges $950 per hour and upwards...
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Yes, The College Whisperer said, FREE -- as in gratis, no cost, complimentary, on the house. In other words, FREE!

What could possibly be offered for FREE, you ask?

College Planning Workshops, absolutely FREE for churches, temples, synagogues, religious and fraternal groups, and other not-for-profit (though you will, by attending a workshop) organizations.

From finding the perfect match of student to college to finding the money to pay for that match, we'll take you through the winding and seemi...
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. . .It's The College Whisperer!

What: FREE College Planning Workshop

When: Monday, September 20
          7:00 PM to 8:30 PM

Where: West Hempstead Public Library
            500 Hempstead Avenue
            West Hempstead, Long Island, NY

Why: [Because we like you!] To give you the ins and outs, ups and downs, and everything in between on the college application process, college admissions, and financing that university degree.

Admission is FREE (to the College Planning Workshop, not necessarily to ...
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L.B. of North Merrick, NY writes:

There's a College Fair at the Nassau Coliseum on Sunday, October 3. Is it worth attending, for college-bound students and/or their parents?

The College Whisperer responds:

A definite maybe. ;-)

In days of old, long before the advent of the Internet and the coming of age of electronic media, other than visiting campus after campus (there were no virtual tours), and relying on snail mail for glossy brochures and, if you were lucky, a course bulletin or two, colleg...
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Love 'em or loathe 'em. Write 'em or misplace 'em. Everybody has lists.

"To Do" lists. "Shopping" lists. Long lists. Short lists. Lists of colleges to apply to (which, in The College Whisperer's experience, are usually much too long).

To the genre of lists, add InsideCollege.com, where lists, on the site that calls itself "the insider's guide to everything college," abound.

There's a Most Popular List list, which includes such eclectic topics as Colleges with No Tuition (hey, where did everybody...
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M.K. of North Hills, NY writes:

My son, a high school senior, will be applying for admission to colleges this fall. He has several prestigious, and expensive, private colleges in mind. His father and I were thinking more along the lines of one of the university centers of our state university. Your thoughts?

The College Whisperer responds:

When it comes to public universities versus private colleges, it would seem we think alike, M.K.

Too many folks -- particularly impressionable students who thi...
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No. Not a typo. Get complete, customized, personal college planning -- from college matching, admission strategies and essay development to scholarship and financial aid sourcing -- all for the incredibly low, all-inclusive price of $999.

Yes, you read that correctly. Now through Friday, October 15, College Connection is offering the Good Old-Fashioned Advice at a Good Old-Fashioned Price package, a bargain at the regular everyday price of $2000, for only $999.

Move over, Ron Popeil. there has ...
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Fresh off a three-continent, two-galaxy whirlwind tour of cyberspace, The College Whisperer re-enters the stratosphere, ready to make his only Long Island appearance (so far) on Monday, September 20, 2010, from 7 PM to 8:30 PM.

The College Whisperer brings his know-how and savvy (sorry, no entourage) to what some consider to be the center of the universe (or so local residents would have you believe ;-), West Hempstead, New York, offering a FREE College Planning Workshop for parents of college...
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When "Best" May Not Be "Best" for You

The U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges for 2011 (but it's only 2010) has hit the street (and, no doubt, the desktops of America's college-bound students).

Harvard and Princeton duking it out for top honors. Poor Yale, always in the show position. Not to mention Duke.

List upon list of "Bests." Best National Universities. Best Regional Universities. Best Public Universities. Best for Engineering (of all sorts). Best Business Schools. And the lists go on a...
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The college search goes iTech!

You knew this one was coming. Actually, it's here. An App for iPads, iPhones, and similar devices that allows the college-bound to match themselves with colleges. It's called CollegeApp®, the brainchild of The College Whisperer's college counseling colleague, Erin Avery of Avery Educational Resources.

I've (or is it, i'Ve?) yet to test this app, but it does seem rather interesting as a 21st Century approach for matching students with colleges, and vice versa.

As...
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The College Whisperer has gotten quite a few comments -- almost all along positive lines -- on his recent blogpost, Could a college planning counselor really give you a competitive edge.

Here's a sampling for your perusal:

I think a college planning counselor can give a student a competitive edge by helping them to choose the right schools and providing the college assistance that will allow them to make the best college decisions. This should...
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Did the little piggy cry wee, wee, wee all the way home?



The expert guidance. The knowledgeable advice. The learned hand helping to successfully navigate the long and winding road to college admissions.

"Can I afford to retain the services of an independent college counselor?" Think of it this way. Can you afford not to? It's not the cost, really, as you prepare to make one of the greatest investments of your life. It's the value. It's the empowerment. It's the calm during the storm. It's, ...
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It's college application time!

Yes, the Common Application is "live" as of August 1. [More on that in a moment...]

First, The College Whisperer sends out a great big thank you to his college planning colleague and compatriot, The College Answer Guy, for the kind words (all true, but still kind ;-) offered up on his blog. Check it out at I Have a Twin!

It's nice to be thought and spoken of highly, especially by one's peers. And, if two heads are better than one, college-bound students will benefi...
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Not so fast, ye olde College Whisperer. [That's THE ye olde College Whisperer, to you!]

Sure, I know quite a bit about college planning, the application and admissions process, and the very essence of college life ["Back where I come from, we have universities, seats of great learning, where men go to become great thinkers. And when they come out, they think deep thoughts and with no more brains than you have. But they have one thing you haven't got: a diploma"], but nobody knows everything...
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H.G. of Lido Beach, NY writes:

I've done the college tours, pored over the college websites, and read through the media hype offered by the admissions offices. How do I find out what life -- social, academic and otherwise -- is really like on campus?

The College Whisperer responds:

To really know what college life is like, get the students point of view.

Yes, gather all the reading material you can. Bookmark those college websites. Collect the glossy viewbooks. Take as many tours as budget, time ...
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L.G. of Oyster Bay, NY writes:

What are your thoughts on taking a year off between high school and college?

The College Whisperer responds:

While taking time off between high school and college -- often referred to as the "gap year" -- is commonplace throughout Europe and Oceania [travel anywhere, and you will find students from countries like England, France, Australia and New Zealand, traveling, and working, seeing the world, gaining perspective, and, perhaps earning some much-needed cash to c...
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P.N. of Searingtown, NY writes:

Are there any reputable and straightforward blogs or online forums offering advice, information and discussions for prospective college students? If so, could you recommend one?

The College Whisperer responds:

Given that blogs and online forums are essentially the opinions of their authors and/or participants, one's mileage, with respect to reputation and straightforwardness (let alone reliability), may vary greatly. Every piece of information happened upon online...
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The Internet is a tangled web, indeed, particularly when it comes to the plethora (SAT word ;-) of college websites, each professing to be the best, to offer the most, and to be the last word in all things college.

Some college websites are great. Others less so. And everyone has an opinion on where to click when researching colleges, developing admission strategies, looking for college planning advice, or hunting down scholarship money.

Higher ed journalist, speaker, consultant, author of The ...
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E.B. of Lattingtown, NY writes:

What's the story with so-called "for profit" colleges? I thought all colleges were into making profits? Are these institutions legit?

The College Whisperer responds:

With what colleges and universities charge for tuition these days (never mind room and board), one would think they are all "for profit." Just what do they do with all that money, anyway?

Alas, most traditional colleges are not-for-profit as opposed to for profit (not to be confused with the dis...
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M.S. of East Williston, NY writes:

Do I really need a college planning counselor for my child? Aren't the resources available through her high school guidance counselor, the colleges, and the Internet, sufficient? It all seems so expensive.

The College Whisperer responds:

Back in the day, when the earth was young, and college applications were written by hand and mailed to one or two schools along with a check for $15, a visit to your guidance counselor, along with a thumb-through of the college...
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Oprah writes:

Thoroughly enjoy your interesting and informative college planning and admissions blog. The information and guidance you provide is invaluable, and your wit and humor are priceless. In the circles I travel, you are considered the Dr. Phil of the college planning circuit. Keep up the great work, and thanks for the advice!

The College Whisperer responds:

Accolades from Oprah. Wow!

Of course, this is not Oprah Winfrey, but rather, Oprah Silverberg of Munsey Park, NY.

Hey, we'll take th...
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Jeff of Lynbrook, NY writes:

I am completing my junior year in high school. I've been hearing quite a bit about high school resumes, and how critical they have become to the admission process. Just how important is the high school resume, and what should it contain?

The College Whisperer responds:

Remember when your teacher told you that your high school record would follow you throughout your life?

While most of us are still waiting for that record to catch up with us, the high school resume, o...
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C.S. of Cedarhurst writes:

 

My husband and I are Orthodox Jews. I lean a bit more toward modern views on life, particularly as concerns the role of women in society. My husband, on the other hand, is very much of the traditional mindset, believing, among other things, that girls, whose role is marriage and place is in the home, have no need to go to college. I would like your opinion on the subject, as my daughter will be entering her senior year of high school in the fall.

 ...

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Rebecca of Lawrence, NY writes:

I'm the parent of a high school junior and want to know when we can get started on college applications.

The College Whisperer responds:

That would be the editorial "we," right? LOL

The Common Application, which is the starting point for the admission process at most colleges and universities, does not go "live" until August 1.

That said, high school juniors and their parents (as well as counselors and advisers) can get a sneak preview of the complete Common App, in...
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Who Will Be Finding Out What About YOU Through Facebook, MySpace, And The Emerging Social Networks?

A week doesn't pass when Facebook isn't in the news, and not necessarily in a good way.

Cyberbullying. Stalking. And that perennial tale of woe wherein a college acceptance becomes a college rejection, the visions of a high school applicant, drinking and partying, dancing in the head of an admission's officer, courtesy of those tagged photos posted on someone's Wall.

The world, if not Big Brother ...
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Shhh! Tell Everyone.

The College Whisperer writes: 

Ushering in a new era in college planning, College Connection, Long Island’s one-stop source for college planning, guidance and support, is pleased to introduce The College Whisperer.

Questions about going to college, planning for college, getting into college, or paying for college?

The College Whisperer has the answers (or will po...

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P.L. of Plainview, NY writes:

There are quite a few college planning books on the shelves (not to mention what an Internet search reveals). Are they worthwhile? If so, which books do I buy?

The College Whisperer responds:

Ahh. So many books. So little time!

Indeed, visit any Barnes & Nobles and you will no doubt find an entire section filled with books on college selection, college preparation, college planning, college life, and the all-important "how to" pay for college.

At my last visit to the...
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B.L. of Oceanside, NY writes:

When is the best time to begin planning for college?

The College Whisperer responds:

Right out of the womb, or as soon thereafter one can secure a Social Security number for the newborn. At least in terms of saving for college, the sooner the better.

With college costs rising into the hundreds of thousands of dollars -- and that's just for meal plans ;-) -- parents are well advised to save early and save often.

With New York's 529 College Savings Plan -- www.nysaves.o...
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P.N. of Manhasset, NY writes:

My son will be a senior in high school this year, and we are considering enrolling him in an online college planning seminar. The price seems right ($299), and a set of CDs is also available for an additional sum. Any thoughts?

The College Whisperer responds:

It seems that nowadays, almost anything can be done online, including college itself. [When online dentistry arrives, count me in!]

Call me old-fashioned, but when it comes to college planning, there's absolutel...
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