The College Whisperer™ | Navigating The Road To College

Showing Tag: " admissions" (Show all posts)

Applying To College In The Age Of The Corona Virus

Posted by Seth Bykofsky on Thursday, March 19, 2020, In : College Planning 

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

Here at
College Connection, we’re hunkering down, ready to offer some sage advice for high school students as they march forward - socially distanced, of course - on their journey to college.

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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College Counseling In The Time Of The Corona Virus

Posted by Seth Bykofsky on Monday, March 16, 2020, In : College Planning 



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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FREE College Planning Workshop | April 20

Posted by Seth Bykofsky on Monday, February 10, 2020, In : College Planning 



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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A Spring Break "To Do" List

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, April 18, 2019, In : College Planning 
Wondering What To Do Over Spring Break? Read On...
Remember, college application and admissions season is closer than it appears in the rear view mirror. Check out College Connection's College Planning Packages (or create one of your own). Then, give us a call (516-345-8766) with your questions, concerns, or to schedule a college planning & counseling session in the comfort of your home (Long Island, NY and environs) or remotely. 
At College Connection, we've got ...

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The College Whisperer 4.0™

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, December 5, 2018, In : College Planning 

Pssst! Got College Plans? Then you need this guy. . . The College Whisperer™ - That warm and fuzzy teddy bear who comforts you from 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)


If this is how applications, admissions, paying for college, an...
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Prelude To College Applications: A Primer On Getting Started

Posted by College Connection on Saturday, June 9, 2018, In : College Planning 


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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The Knowledge Of College In Black, White, And Shades Of Gray

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, May 22, 2018,

College is closer than it appears in the rearview mirror!

That said, here is a short list of required reading as we prepare for yet another exciting college application season:






And, for those who are absolutely enamored...

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Free College Planning Workshop

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, January 11, 2018, In : College Planning 



College Planning 101 | The Knowledge of College

Monday, May 21 2018 7:30 PM - 9:30 PM

Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island

38 Old Country Road, Garden City, New York 11530

    Space Is Limited | REGISTER TODAY at www.tfaforms.com/319156

...
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What High School Juniors (and even Sophs) Should Be Doing Now!

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, November 29, 2017, In : College Planning 

At College Connection, we help you navigate the college application, admissions, and financial aid maze. We welcome the opportunity to work with you, should you choose to use our college planning and counseling services.
 
Meanwhile, you can get a jump start on those college plans.

It's not too early to start planning and preparing for college. In fact, the time is just right...

READ, High School Juniors: This Is Your Moment! 

Questions? Concerns? Leftover turkey and trimmings? Give a holler. We a...


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On Turkeys, Tuition, & Trolling For Scholarships

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, November 21, 2017, In : Paying for College 

Almost time to stick that Thanksgiving turkey in the oven (and can that Christmas music be far behind?). [By all rights, if the heralding of Christmas (1 day) begins the day after Halloween, the festivities for Chanukah (8 days) should start right after Valentine's Day. Just sayin'... ]

Early Action. Early Action II (like hitting the snooze button?]. Regular Decision.Now is the time to put those finishing touches on the yet unsubmitted applications. Dot the i's. Cross the t's. Answer the optio...


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Free College Planning Workshop | Garden City, NY | October 26

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, October 5, 2017, In : College Planning 



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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So Many College Applications. So Little Time...

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, June 21, 2017, In : College Applications 


Just when you thought it was safe to start your college applications, you have to decide where to start them, how to submit them, and who will truly give you the easiest access, the most bang for your buck, and the greatest likelihood of success.

Most of those applying to colleges are familiar, for better and for worse, with the
 Common Application (with 600+ colleges), replete with it's spinning wheels of death, initializing bars of doom, and the very antithesis of commonality, college-specifi...


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Essential Reading On The Road To College

Posted by College Connection on Friday, May 12, 2017, In : College Planning 

College is closer than it appears in the rearview mirror!

That said, here is a short list of required reading as we prepare for yet another exciting college application season:






And, for those who are absolutely enamore...

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College Planning & Counseling | Now's The Time!

Posted by College Connection on Friday, March 24, 2017, In : College Planning 

FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY:
 Save $500 on our Ultimate College Planning Package! Just $4000 complete, now through April 28. [Payable in 8 monthly installments of $500.]
 
Don't wait until the beginning of your Senior year to begin the college application and admissions process. Get started NOW!
 
Here's just some of what our college planning and counseling package includes*:
 
 
      ·         Comprehensive college plan customized to student’s needs and           goals                               ...

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Tips For Students (and their parents) Applying To College

Posted by College Connection on Saturday, March 11, 2017, In : College Planning 


1. Five top tips for college bound students

- Seek out colleges that are the "best" fit for the student, rather than what is "best" for Forbes, U.S. News, or The Princeton Review. Rankings make for fun reading and can offer valuable insight, but students need to do their homework to find colleges that are right for them, and not merely popular or trendy to others.

- Apply early. If a college offers Early Action (non-binding), and the student is motivated to have a complete, accurate, and read-w...

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Ethical Humanists of Long Island to host The College Whisperer™

Posted by College Connection on Friday, January 20, 2017, In : College Planning 

Seldom are the words “ethics” and “humanity” heard in the same breath as “college admissions,” but on Wednesday, March 22nd 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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The Road To College Starts Here!

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, December 14, 2016, In : College Planning 

FREE COLLEGE PLANNING WORKSHOP

Navigating The Application Process ~ Admission Strategies
Persuasive Essays ~ Financial Aid Essentials
Wednesday, March 22, 2017  7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
at the Ethical Humanist Society of Long Island
38 Old Country Road, Garden City, NY 11530

COLLEGE PLANNING FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS & PARENTS

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...

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College Planning | High School Juniors

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, November 22, 2016, In : College Planning 

EARLY BIRD SPECIAL!

Why wait until Black Friday or Cyber Monday? Save $500 on our Ultimate College Planning Package! Only $4000 complete, now through January 15. [Payable in 8 monthly installments of $500.]
 
Don't wait until the end of your Junior year to begin the college application and admissions process. Get started in January!
 
Here's just some of what our college planning and counseling package includes*:
 
 
      ·         Comprehensive college plan customized to student’s needs and     ...

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Early Action. Don't Miss It!

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, August 10, 2016, In : College Applications 

Just a quick reminder that Early Action deadlines for many colleges and universities are quickly approaching, with some only days away (UNC-Chapel Hill and the Georgia Tech, for instance, have Early Action deadlines of October 15th).

Most Early Action Deadline fall between November 1 and November 15.

Some schools have what is known as Priority Deadlines. While not Early Action, in the traditional sense, apply by the Priority Deadline for your application to receive the most favorable considerat...

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The Best Fit For Your College Plans!

Posted by College Connection on Monday, July 4, 2016, In : Just for Fun 

COLLEGE CONNECTION VOTED "BEST COLLEGE PLANNER & COUNSELOR OF THE NORTH SHORE." [Of course, our students, and their parents, already knew that! SEE, What They're Saying]

How do you like that? For the second year running, College Connection, home of The College Whisperer , is tops in the category of "College Planning & Counseling," in  Blank Slate Media's Best of The North Shore (Long Island) 2016.

Who's the best college planner and counselor on the north shore? C'est Moi! 

Okay. We know. Thes...


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Whose College Applications Are They, Anyway?

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, June 14, 2016, In : College Applications 

Just when you thought it was safe to start your college applications, you have to decide where to start them, how to submit them, and who will truly give you the easiest access, the most bang for your buck, and the greatest likelihood of success.

Most of those applying to colleges are familiar, for better and for worse, with the Common Application (with 600+ colleges), replete with it's spinning wheels of death, initializing bars of doom, and the very antithesis of commonality, college-speci...


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In College Applications, Truth Matters

Posted by College Connection on Monday, June 6, 2016, In : College Applications 

Truth: Conformity to fact or reality; exact accordance with that which is, or has been, or shall be. 
                                                                        --Webster's Dictionary

The truth.
 Seems so hard to come by these days, particularly for those of us who closely follow the political circus in which we are now center ring (enter the clowns in that funny little car).
The truth. Often supplanted by half-truths, untruths, innuendo, misstatements and out and out lies.
The truth....
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Jump Start Your College Applications! | May 25 | Garden City, NY

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, May 18, 2016, In : College Planning 

COLLEGE PLANNING FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS & PARENTS
• Choosing Colleges That Are “Best” For You
• Navigating The Application Process
• Admission Strategies
• Engaging Essays
• Financial Aid Essentials & Scholarship Sourcing

College ConnectionOfficial Sponsor of College Admission Success™, offers aFREE 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 intricaci...


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Spring Break's "Top Ten" List

Posted by College Connection on Monday, March 21, 2016, In : College Planning 

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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Why Wait? Jump Start Your College Applications!

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, February 11, 2016, In : College Applications 


High school junior? Sophomore? Even freshman? Why wait until you're a rising senior to start your college applications? With the new "Rollover" of the Common Application (see, you can teach an old dog new tricks), students may start the common aspects of the Common App (just not the supplements), and data will be saved and carried over from the 2015-16 application to the 2016-17 application. [And, at least in theory, to subsequent years.] No more "wipeout" of data prior to the Common App goin...


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Got College Plans? Get A College Plan!

Posted by College Connection on Friday, January 15, 2016, In : College Planning 

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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FREE College Admissions Workshop | March 14 | Garden City, NY

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, December 16, 2015, In : College Planning 

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 ConnectionOfficial 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...


Continue reading ...
 

A Fall Guide For The College Bound

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, November 4, 2015, In : College Admissions 

WELCOME TO NOVEMBER!

Almost time to stick that Thanksgiving turkey in the oven (and can that Christmas music be far behind?). [By all rights, if the heralding of Christmas (1 day) begins the day after Halloween, the festivities for Chanukah (8 days) should start right after Valentine's Day. Just sayin'... Wink]

Anyway...

Early Action. Early Action II (like hitting the snooze button?]. Regular Decision. Now is the time to put those finishing touches on the yet unsubmitted applications. Dot the i's. C...

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On That Path To College: No Stone Unturned!

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, October 22, 2015, In : College Planning 

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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Early Action Deadlines Are Closer Than They Appear In The Rear View Mirror!

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, October 8, 2015, In : College Applications 

Just a quick reminder that Early Action deadlines for many colleges and universities are quickly approaching, with some only days away (UNC-Chapel Hill and the Georgia Tech, for instance, have Early Action deadlines of October 15th. That's next Thursday!).

Most Early Action Deadline fall between November 1 and November 15.

Some schools, such as the University of Maryland (November 1), have what is known as Priority Deadlines. While not Early Action, in the traditional sense, apply by the Priori...

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A Guide To The Common Application

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, July 30, 2015, In : College Applications 


Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you know that The Common Application,home to some 600 college applications, goes "live" for 2015-16 on August 1 (that's this coming Saturday, for those who may be calendar adverse). 

And so, courtesy of our friends and colleagues at The Prospect, here's a Step-by-step guide to filling out the common app

Okay, so this guide presumes that Hogwarts is your first choice (is that school even on Common App?), and it is based on the 2014-15 version of The Comm...


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Prelude To The Common App: A Primer On "Getting Started"

Posted by College Connection on Monday, June 22, 2015, In : College Applications 


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...


Continue reading ...
 

FREE College Planning Workshop July 15th | REGISTER TODAY!

Posted by College Connection on Sunday, June 21, 2015, In : College Planning 


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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New Meaning To "Safety School?"

Posted by College Connection on Sunday, June 21, 2015, In : College Planning 


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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Enrollment Management Is The New College Admissions

Posted by College Connection on Monday, June 8, 2015, In : College Admissions 

For most graduating high school seniors, the tale has been told. You've applied and been accepted to college, made your final decision, and, hopefully, searched for and found an abundance of scholarship money to pay for that degree.

There are of course those, who, waking up to the fact that high school is now coming to an end, have yet to apply to college. The procrastinators. The "hiding under a rock" gang. The "I only applied to one school and didn't get in" bunch.

Out of luck? Too late? Afte...


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Top Ten Tidbits Of Advice For Those About To Embark On The Road To College

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, May 27, 2015, In : College Planning 


This is the time of year when everyone doles out advice – to graduates of high school and college, to the newly minted and soon-to-be-initiated, to sun-worshippers, everywhere.

And so, I thought it appropriate to hand out a few gems of my own, gratis, for those still bright-eyed high school juniors/rising seniors, as well as their already angst-ridden parental units, just now beginning the journey through the college application and admissions maze.

 So, without further, and in no particular ...


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The Sherpa's Guide To College Admissions

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, April 30, 2015, In : College Planning 


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 th...

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MAY DAY! MAY DAY!

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, April 29, 2015, In : College Admissions 


No, not a 
distress call. [Though there were many, throughout the college application and admissions season, from students and parents alike.] Not International Workers’ Day. [Though we do celebrate the labors of the college-bound in their studies and pursuits which have taken them to the ivy-covered gates.] Not Beltane, the ancient Celtic feast ushering in summer. [Though what student doesn’t look forward to those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer?] 

May 1
 is, indeed, May Day -- with a uniq...

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What You Don't Know About College Admissions Can Hurt You!

Posted by College Connection on Friday, March 13, 2015, In : College Planning 

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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In Search Of A "Best" Fit College

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, March 12, 2015, In : College Planning 

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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High School Juniors: Get A Jump Start On The Road To College

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, January 28, 2015, In : College Planning 

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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The College Whisperer™ Speaks. . .

Posted by College Connection on Monday, January 5, 2015, In : College Planning 

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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What To Do Over Winter Break

Posted by College Connection on Saturday, December 27, 2014, In : College Planning 

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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Haven't Applied To College Yet? There's Still Time!

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, December 18, 2014, In : College Applications 

While many a college application deadline has long ago passed (or is about to), there are literally hundreds of colleges out there still accepting applications for the fall of 2015.

Here are but a few of the ways you can find colleges that have late application deadlines and/or offer "rolling" admissions:

  1. Common Application member institutions still open to new applicants may be found by going to the Common App website, scrolling down Member Colleges & Universities, and clicking College Search....

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What High School Juniors (and even Sophomores) Should Be Doing Now

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, December 3, 2014, In : College Planning 

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 of where you s...

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Up Close and Personal with The College Whisperer™

Posted by College Connection on Monday, November 17, 2014, In : College Planning 

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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So, You Missed The Early Action Deadline

Posted by College Connection on Sunday, November 2, 2014, In : College Applications 

No Big Deal!

Sure, somewhere in the neighborhood of 30% of prospective college students will be accepted via Early Action/Early Decision. Yes, had you applied Early Action, (a) most or all of your college applications would have been completed and submitted before Thanksgiving, (b) you would have increased your chances, though only slightly in most instances, of being accepted by the college of your choice, and (c) you'd typically have an admission decision in hand (or in your email inbox) som...

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SAT Scores; Early Action; Financial Aid; Upping The Ante

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, October 28, 2014, In : College Admissions 

SAT Scores: A reminder that scores for the October SAT are now posted at www.CollegeBoard.org. Official scores must be sent to those colleges requiring same via the College Board website. [Note: If the Early Action Deadline is November 1, scores should be sent "RUSH" (additional fee applies).] 

Early Action Deadlines: Be aware of Early Action (EA) Deadline dates. Do NOT wait until the actual deadline date(s) to submit your applications. 

Naviance: For those high schools utilizing Naviance, be s...

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I'm The College Whisperer™ And I Approved This Message

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, October 21, 2014, In : College Planning 

VOTED "BEST" In COLLEGE PLANNING AND COUNSELING
BY
THOSE WHO MATTER MOST!



* * *
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 icon_sm_twitter.gif Follow Us
The College Whispereron Facebook icon_sm_facebook.gif Like Us On Facebook

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The College Essay - Owning The 650

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, October 16, 2014, In : College Applications 


Ah, the college essay. Those 250-650 words on the Common App that try the souls of high school seniors (not to mention their already overwhelmed parental units).

First, a few (okay, many) thoughts on the college admissions process, in general, and the college essay, in particular. 

Did you know that the average time spent by an admissions officer reviewing a college application is but 7 1/2 minutes? That’s the ENTIRE application. NOT just the essays and supplemental writings! [when it comes t...


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SAT Scores, ACT Scores: AP Scores; Scoring $100

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, October 15, 2014, In : College Applications 

As college application deadlines loom on the horizon, here are a few pointers to help you complete the process. Remember, there's more to applying to college than simply clicking "Review and Submit" on Common App!

Test Scores --
 Nothwithstanding the unofficial reporting of test scores to colleges via Common App, prorietary applications, and SSAR (where required), the ONLY test scores considered for admission by colleges are the ones officially submitted via College Board (SAT, SAT II, AP) and ...

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Early Action Deadlines Are Closer Than They Appear In The Rearview Mirror!

Posted by College Connection on Friday, October 10, 2014, In : College Applications 

Just a quick reminder that Early Action deadlines for many colleges and universities are quickly approaching, with some only days away (UNC-Chapel Hill and the University of Georgia, for instance, have Early Action deadlines of October 15th. That's next Wednesday!).


Most Early Action Deadlines fall between November 1 and November 15.


Some schools, such as the University of Maryland (November 1), have what is known as Priority Deadlines. While not Early Action, in the traditional sense, apply by...


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College Connection Update - October, 2014

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, October 2, 2014, In : College Planning 

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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Shofar, So Good!

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, September 24, 2014, In : College Planning 

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!


Don't leave college admissions to prayer alone!

Call College Connection (516-345-8766) after the holidays for the competitive edge in this most selective college market.

College Matching ~ Application Enhancement ~ Essay Development 
Admission Strategies ~ Scholarship & Financial Aid Sou...

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For The Love Of Money!

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, September 23, 2014, In : College Admissions 

Typically, when we mention "money" here at The College Whisperer, we're talking scholarships -- free money for college. Where to search for it and how to get your hands on it. After all, financial freedom beats student debt every time!

Today, however, we are constrained to blog about the megabucks that is the world of college applications and admissions. A tale of collusion and conspiracy, piracy and profiteering, patting you on the back with one hand, while picking your pockets with the ot...

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To The College Fair -- Or Not!

Posted by College Connection on Friday, September 12, 2014, In : College Planning 

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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School's Open: Strive Carefully!

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, September 2, 2014, In : College Planning 

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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Expect The Unexpected!

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, August 28, 2014, In : College Planning 

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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Please Release Me, Let Me Go (To College)

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, August 21, 2014,

As if applying and getting in to college weren't challenging enough, the law can even stand in your way.

Yes, there is a federal law, commonly known as FERPA (short for Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act), intended to protect student information from prying eyes, that could, if you are not diligent, actually keep school records out of the hands of college admissions officers.

As silly as it may seem, even though you are applying to colleges, your high school cannot send transcripts or re...

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A High School Resume Speaks Volumes

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, August 12, 2014, In : College Applications 

While the "common" section of the Common App no longer provides for the upload of a formal Resume, most colleges continue to welcome same, and many, including those on Common App, provide the opportunity to upload a Resume, either via the Common App Writing Supplement, or their own proprietary applications.

READ, Common App members and others welcome your resume.

If you would like a sample high school resume, simply email us at info@CollegeConnect.info, and we will wisk one off to you. Feel fre...

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Live from The Common App

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, August 12, 2014, In : College Applications 

It's time to apply to college!

Common App is up and running, as is the Universal College Application. Proprietary college applications are coming online.

Are you ready to apply to college? 
Now is the time to plan and prepare. 
Appointments are being scheduled. 

Questions? Concerns? Ready to get started? Call Us! 
516-345-8766 
COLLEGE CONNECTION 
Home of The College Whisperer™ 
www.CollegeConnect.info 
www.TheCollegeWhisperer.com 
@GetCollege

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Nothing Beats Up Close And Personal

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, August 7, 2014, In : College Planning 

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 Whispererresponds:

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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Common App Goes "Live"

Posted by College Connection on Saturday, August 2, 2014, In : College Applications 

"It is life, but not as we know it!" - Dr. Leonard McCoy, Star Trek

The Common Application is up and running (for now). Are you ready to start your college applications?

Before the Common App gets to you, you need to get to us!

COLLEGE CONNECTION. The cure for the Common App.


- - -
Plan. Prepare.
PREVAIL! 

The College Whisperer™ is the Trademark of COLLEGE CONNECTION,Official Sponsor of College Admission Success. The road to college begins at COLLEGE CONNECTION! Whether you are applying to colleg...

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Prelude To The Common App: A Primer On "Getting Started"

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, July 9, 2014, In : College Applications 

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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The College Whisperer™ 4.0

Posted by College Connection on Monday, June 16, 2014, In : College Planning 
Pssst! Got College Plans? Then you need this guy. . . The College Whisperer™ - That warm and fuzzy teddy bear who comforts you from 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)



If this is how applications, admissions, paying for college,...
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As Exciting As Watching Paint Dry

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, May 21, 2014, In : College Planning 

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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Who's Got Your Back?

Posted by College Connection on Friday, April 18, 2014, In : College Planning 

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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The World According To Common App

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, April 3, 2014, In : College Applications 

Or why moving to Iowa (or Bangladesh) may actually improve your chances of getting in to your college of choice!


Common Application: Inside the Numbers
Of course, the numbers don't tell the whole story. While the folks at Common App pat themselves on the back, touting the many successes of this online college portal, for CA4, as the 2013-14 version was called, failure may have actually been their thing.

Failure to launch. Failure to load. Failure to upload Supplements. Failure to permit log on. Failure to paginate. Failure to produc...

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Educate America First!

Posted by College Connection on Monday, March 24, 2014, In : College Admissions 

Recently, I spent the better part of a day assembling furniture that was “Made in China.” Leaving aside the fact that the instructions were clearly lost in translation, and the pictures of the nuts, bolts and assorted parts looked nothing like the content of the carton (not even the ones that were left over after final assembly), I got to thinking about why we can’t – or simply won’t – make things like tables, chairs, and dressers here in this country.

Could it be, as we are told...


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On The Air

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, March 19, 2014, In : College Planning 

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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Learning Disabilities: Taboo, No More

Posted by College Connection on Friday, March 14, 2014, In : College Planning 

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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FREE College Planning Workshop, March 26

Posted by College Connection on Saturday, March 8, 2014, In : College Planning 
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

WhyBecause 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 ConnectionOfficial Sponsor of College Admission Success™, hosts a free College Planning Workshop. Open to stud...
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Workshops, Forums, And Fairs. Oh My!

Posted by College Connection on Monday, March 3, 2014, In : College Planning 

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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Take Your College Applications Seriously

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, February 25, 2014, In : Just for Fun 

The college application and admissions process and the entire collegiate industrial complex? Not so much!



Going to college is a great experience. Shouldn't getting there be at least half as much fun?
- - -

Plan. Prepare. Prevail!  

Before college applications, the Common App, CSS Profile, FAFSA, financial aid forms, and the whole college application and admissions process get to you, you need to get to us! 

Whether applying to college, paying for college, planning for college, or just thinking a...


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"He Once Sat In The Front Seat While His Daughter Learned To Parallel Park The Car..."

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, February 11, 2014, In : College Planning 

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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Oh, the Places You'll Go!

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, January 30, 2014, In : College Planning 

“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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Still Haven't Applied To College? You're Not Too Late!

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, January 22, 2014, In : College Applications 

While many a college application deadline has long ago passed, there are literally hundreds of colleges out there still accepting applications for the fall of 2014.
Here are but a few of the ways you can find colleges that have late application deadlines and/or offer "rolling" admissions:
  1. Common Application member institutions still open to new applicants may be found by going to the Common App website, scrolling down Member Colleges & Universities, and clicking College Search. Indicate that yo...

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Send In The Drones. . .

Posted by College Connection on Monday, December 30, 2013, In : College Applications 

With all the buzz surrounding talk of Amazon making deliveries by drone, The College Whisperer figured, well, why not deliver college applications -- and, for that matter, college acceptances -- by drone?

Given the disastrous year had by Common App, and all of the wild twists, turns, and machinations of the college application and admissions process, the delivery of college applications by unmanned drone could only be an improvement, right? And with all the droning on and on and on during t...
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"Congratulations! You've Been Accepted To College." Or Not!

Posted by College Connection on Friday, December 13, 2013, In : College Admissions 

Well, folks, They've done it again! Sending out letters of acceptance to prospective college students, when they meant to say, "deferred," or worse still, "denied." Ooops!

This time, it was Fordham University, which, through a third party contractor, mailed out 2,500 letters to applicants telling them they had been accepted, when, in fact, they had not.

READ, 2,500 Applicants Get False News of Acceptance to Fordham 


Bummer!


First of all, a third part contractor? Since when do colleges outsource a...

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When "Submit" Doesn't Mean "Submit"

Posted by College Connection on Friday, December 13, 2013, In : College Applications 

We've posted on this blog before -- months ago -- about Common App's misleading interface. You know. Where PAYING is the first step. To PAY you hit SUBMIT. And after paying, you hit FINAL. After that, a nonexistent SIGNATURE screen to complete the submission process is supposed to appear, but often does not. [If Amazon worked this way, they would have had to file for bankruptcy protection years ago!]

Now, as the college application season winds down for many high school seniors, Common App, in...

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What High School Juniors (and Sophomores) Should Be Doing Now

Posted by College Connection on Monday, December 9, 2013, In : College Planning 

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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"It's Not The End Of The World. . ."

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, December 3, 2013, In : College Admissions 

For all those with "end of the world" anxieties, here are just a few things that the college-bound shouldn't worry about:

-You missed the Early Action deadline. "It's not the end of the world..." There are literally hundreds of colleges and universities with regular decision deadlines yet to come, not to mention (though we always do) the legion of schools with rolling admissions.

-Your Common App essay lacks formatting and pagination. "It's not the end of the world..." No worries here. If y...


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It's Complicated!

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, November 14, 2013, In : College Planning 

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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Not Too Late To Apply Early!

Posted by College Connection on Monday, October 21, 2013, In : College Applications 

While the dates to apply Early Action to a few colleges (UNC-Chapel Hill, Georgia Tech - both extended to 10/21) may have passed, most are yet to come (typically, November 1 - December 15), and quite a few deadlines have been or are likely to be extended as a result of the continuing Common App fiasco. [Check college websites for actual deadline dates and extensions, if any.]

So, if you can get your applications ready (not just done, but complete, accurate, and showing you at your scholastic b...
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Until There's A Cure For The Common App. . .

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, October 10, 2013, In : College Planning 

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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Meet The College Whisperer™ October 16th

Posted by College Connection on Monday, October 7, 2013, In : College Planning 

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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As Seen On Common App's Facebook Timeline...

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, September 24, 2013, In : College Applications 

Not that we would have this blog become a diatribe against the Common App, but we couldn't help chuckle out loud when we read the following on Common App's Facebook timeline:

"APPLICANTS: Do not try to trick the system into letting you create two accounts. If you succeed, you have no idea of the potential mess that awaits you: confused colleges, confused counselors and teachers, mismatched records, incomplete applications....and that's just the beginning. For your own good, please don't go dow...
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Long Island Medium vs. The College Whisperer™

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, September 18, 2013, In : College Planning 

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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BREAKING NEWS: The Most Selective College In America

Posted by College Connection on Monday, April 1, 2013, In : Just for Fun 

Special to The College Whisperer

Hot off the presses comes news of the most selective among the nation's highly selective colleges and universities.

Princeton? Nope. Harvard? Uh uh. Stanford, perhaps? Go fish!

No, this year's most selective college in America, hands down, is none other than Maza State, a small, liberal arts college in the town (formerly city) of Maza, North Dakota.

Ah yes. Maza State. Not on every student's tip of the Common App. Or any student’s, for that matter. And yet...


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It's STILL Not Too Late To Apply To College!

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, February 21, 2013, In : College Applications 

While many a college application deadline has long ago passed, there are literally hundreds of colleges out there still accepting applications for the fall of 2013.

Here are but a few of the ways you can find colleges that have late application deadlines and/or offer "rolling" admissions:
  1. Common Application member institutions still open to new applicants may be found by going to the Common App website, scrolling down Member Colleges & Universities, and clicking College Search. Indicate tha...

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College Admissions - The Exciting Game Without Any Rules

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, January 3, 2013, In : College Admissions 

For those of us old enough to remember the movie, Bang The Drum Slowly, or, for that matter, the crafty card games of The Sting, TEGWAR is a familiar, if but somewhat unsettling, word.

Yes, TEGWAR -- The Exciting Game Without Any Rules -- where a good old game of Poker turns into a time-honored way of separating suckers from their money.

Oddly enough (and quite the perfect segue, really), that brings us to college admissions. A process where suckers, if not (yet) to be separated from their mon...
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So, You Missed The Early Action Deadline

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, November 14, 2012, In : College Applications 

No Big Deal!

Sure, somewhere in the neighborhood of 30% of prospective college students will be accepted via Early Action/Early Decision. Yes, had you applied Early Action, (a) most or all of your college applications would have been completed and submitted before Thanksgiving, (b) you would have increased your chances, though only slightly in most instances, of being accepted by the college of your choice, and (c) you'd have an admission decision in hand (or in your email inbox) sometime betw...
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Ten Things The College Admissions Office Won't Tell You

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, September 4, 2012, In : College Admissions 

1. Your Application Is Incomplete. Yes, most colleges have so-called "Application Checkers" which allow you to see (though not always in real-time) what, if anything is missing from your application. Test scores. High school transcript. Supplements. Recommendations. Colleges will not even review your application until it is deemed complete, and it is entirely up to you to make sure it is -- as in, "signed, sealed and delivered."

2. You Missed The Application Deadline. A candidate for Early Act...
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No Stone Unturned

Posted by College Connection on Monday, August 13, 2012, In : College Planning 

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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One One-Thousandth of a Point

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, August 9, 2012, In : College Prep 

Watching the Olympic games, The College Whisperer is awestruck by the seemingly superhuman athletic performances, from swimming to gymnastics to beach volleyball. The thrill of victory, and the agony of defeat! The human drama of athletic competition. WOW!

And to think, the difference between getting a medal and going home without one is sometimes determined by one one-thousandth of a point or of a second. One one-thousandth. Can you imagine that?

Well, consider this. When reducing -- by formu...


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Once Safe Colleges Now Out Of Reach

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, May 24, 2012, In : College Admissions 

Acceptance rates at many colleges are lower this year than in the past, and the prediction is for those percentages to drop further still next year.

College-bound students, and their parents, are scratching their heads. Why is a college that was a "safety" school, just a few short years ago, now a "reach," or even beyond?

Are college applicants becoming smarter? Are colleges recruiting too many international students? [Colleges spend millions each year recruiting foreign students, and while In...
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You Still Haven't Applied To College???

Posted by College Connection on Friday, May 4, 2012, In : College Admissions 


You're a high school senior, about to graduate, and the Common App is about as uncommon to you as 365 consecutive days of sunshine are to the rain forest.

Somehow, for reasons only known to, um, well, who knows -- you are just now starting down that long and winding road that leads to the ivy-covered gates known as college. Game Over, or good things come to those who wait?

As The Choice, The New York Times' informative college admissions blog attests, Many Colleges Are Still Taking Applications...


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It's Not Too Late To Apply To College!

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, January 4, 2012, In : College Applications 

Ah, yes. The high school senior who, just now, is waking up to the realization that he or she actually has to apply to college in order to start classes in the fall! So much for Early Decision, Early Action and, in many instances, Regular Decision, the deadlines having come and gone.

On the other hand, look at it this way: by waiting to apply to college until later in the game, you unwittingly managed to pare down the list from nearly 4000 accredited colleges and universities to several hundre...
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Please Listen Carefully As Our Menu Items Have Recently Changed. . .

Posted by College Connection on Monday, December 19, 2011, In : College Admissions 

Ever notice how every company, from the largest corporation in America to the smallest Mom and Pop store on Main Street, has relinquished control of their telephone to the relentlessly annoying and endlessly mind-boggling automated answering systems?

"For billing, press 6." "To check the status of your order, press 7." "For repairs and technical support, press 9."

Assuming you have figured out the correct menu item (which, by the way, has never really changed), you are, more often than not, no ...
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Getting Into College Isn't Rocket Science*

Posted by College Connection on Monday, November 28, 2011, In : College Admissions 

*It's actually more difficult!

Rocket Science.
More appropriately, aerospace engineering. The time-honored term used to describe a task or idea as being easy as compared to rocket science, which is perceived as a very difficult field. Usually used as a statement such as "It's not rocket science!"

So, why even attempt to make a connection between, say, the science of putting a man on the moon and the college application and admissions process?

Let's put it this way. The former deals with the desi...
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FREE Newsday College Admissions Webinar

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, October 5, 2011, In : College Admissions 

Who doesn't like free?

Add "FREE" to Newsday's College Admissions Webinar (this Thursday, October 6 at 8 PM) and you've got yourself a winning combo!

Supplement our face time with this informative online session covering important and relevant topics such as college applications, the admissions process, and, as not everything in life is free, the ins and outs of financial aid.

Registration for the Webinar is required.

And please be so kind as to clue in friends, neighbors, classmates and c...

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Meet The College Whisperer™

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, October 4, 2011, In : College Planning 

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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The College Fair May Be Over, But The Wealth Of College Info Lives On!

Posted by College Connection on Monday, October 3, 2011, In : College Planning 

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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Are You On "Target" For The Colleges You're Applying To?

Posted by College Connection on Saturday, October 1, 2011, In : College Admissions 

See Who Got In, Who Didn't, and How You Compare


No, it isn't foolproof, and it won't guarantee that your "target" school is a sure thing, or that "reach" school is beyond yours. Still...

Would you like to see the qualifications of thousands of real students who applied to college? See who got in, and who didn't? How about an inside look at the students applying this year?
Now you can, with the College Admissions Tracker, a free tool from COLLEGEdata.com
With the Admissions Tracker, you ca...

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Early Decision and the Ties That Bind

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, September 21, 2011, In : College Applications 

As college-bound high school seniors seriously begin work on their college applications -- inclusive of the Common App -- two questions invariably arise: "What is the difference between 'Early Decision' and 'Early Action,' and should I apply under either?"

"Early Decision," simply put, is binding. The end all of decisions. You will go to no other college. If they accept you, you must go. This is it!

You may only apply "Early Decision" to one college, and you, your parents, your high school and,...
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The Calm Before -- And During -- The College Admissions Storm

Posted by College Connection on Friday, August 26, 2011, In : College Planning 

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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Thoughts On College Planning, Redux

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, August 25, 2011, In : College Planning 

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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The College Planner

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, June 21, 2011, In : College Planning 

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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The Perfect Calm Through The College Admissions Storm

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, May 19, 2011, In : College Planning 

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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100% Acceptance Rate for College Connection Students

Posted by College Connection on Monday, May 9, 2011, In : College Planning 

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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College Chit Chat Live On Twitter @GetCollege

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, November 11, 2010, In : Just for Fun 

The College Whisperer
, renowned for his wit and witticism on all things college, will host an open forum (sponsored by College Connection, the one-stop source for college planning, counseling and support) on Twitter (@GetCollege), answering your questions about college applications, the admissions process, personal statements and essays, the how and where of finding and getting the big bucks you need to pay for college, and, really, any aspect (well, almost ;-) of college life.

When: Friday, N...
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The Cure for the Common App

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, October 21, 2010, In : College Applications 

COLLEGE CONNECTION

Planning ~ Guidance ~ Support

College Matching ~ Admission Strategies ~ Application Enhancement 
Essay Development ~ Scholarship and Financial Aid Sourcing


DON'T JUST APPLY TO COLLEGE. GET IN!

CALL TODAY 516-345-8766


Empowering Students. De-Stressing Parents.

FREE, no obligation telephone consultation.

www.CollegeConnect.info

COLLEGE CONNECTION
Helping To Successfully Navigate The Road To College

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Don't Even Think About Submitting That College Application. . .

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, October 13, 2010, In : College Planning 

. . .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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How Much Is That College Coach In The Window?

Posted by College Connection on Monday, September 27, 2010, In : College Planning 
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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A Sweet, Joyous and Peaceful New Year

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, September 8, 2010, In : Just for Fun 

As Jews the world over usher in the year 5771 (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!


Don't leave college admissions to prayer alone!

Call College Connection (516-345-8766) after the holidays for the competitive edge in this most selective college market.

College Matching ~ Application Enhancement ~ Essay Development
Admission Strategies ~ Scholarship & Financial Aid Sourci...

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The Great Procrastinator

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, August 5, 2010, In : College Admissions 
L.T. of Garden City Park, NY writes:

My son, the great procrastinator, graduated high school last June, never bothered to apply to college, and had absolutely no idea what he wanted to do with his life. Suddenly, a light bulb went off over his head and he wants to go to college -- this fall! Can he still get in to a college starting in just a few weeks? Any colleges here on Long Island accepting students at this late date?

The College Whisperer responds:

So, The Great Procrastinator was p...

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So Many College Websites, So Little Time

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, June 17, 2010, In : College Planning 
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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College Admission Boot Camp?

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, April 28, 2010, In : College Admissions 
J.R. of Great Neck, NY writes:

I saw an ad in The New York Times for what is being billed as a college application boot camp -- an intensive 4-day "event" where students may complete their college applications with "leading admission pros." The cost is $14,000 for the 4 days, not including food or lodging.

My daughter will be a high school senior this fall, and I was wondering whether a boot camp such as this would be a wise investment?

The College Whisperer responds:

The Few. The Proud. The Angs...

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