The College Whisperer™ | Navigating The Road To College

As Jews the world over usher in the year 5773 (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!

. . .And so much more!

Ever wonder how, no sooner than you register at CommonApp.org and complete a profile, you start receiving emails from colleges?

Apparently, others have been asking themselves the very same question.

One such query -- with corresponding answer -- was posted by the folks at Common App themselves:

I would like to know what information schools see before I submit my application and if they can see other schools to which I'm applying, asks one inquiring mind.

Common App responds:

Schools can see the following information before you submit your application:

• Your name

• Your email address

• Your address

• Your date of birth

• Your status: First Year or Transfer

• The term to which you are applying

Schools may communicate with you before you submit your application.  If you do not wish for schools to do so, please answer "NO" to the following question on the registration page:  "The colleges to which I am applying may communicate with me by email prior to submission of my application."  Schools can only see the information you have filled out for their school and cannot see other schools to which you are applying.

Okay. So this may account for the emails you receive from colleges you have listed on Common App, but the mystery deepens when (a) you have yet to enter a college and the emails begin to arrive in your inbox, and (b) colleges you've never heard of begin to communicate with you.

Now Common App insists that they do not compile data or otherwise share information about you -- obtained either directly from you or incidental to your application -- nor do they sell or otherwise pass it along to, say, member colleges (all of which pay a fee for the privilege of having their applications/supplements as part and parcel of the Common App).

Furthermore, Common App advises that they do not disseminate any information about you whatsoever unless you have given you consent.



So how is it that many students are deluged with mail -- of the snail variety and in electronic form -- before they have ever seen the so-called consent, let alone signed it?

Good question, which is essentially begged by Common App, which stands by their statements and simply says, "Colleges acquire student contact info in lots of ways that have nothing to do with Common App."

Indeed. And we take Common App at its word.

So why the sudden barrage of information post Common App registration?

Common App's response to our query was, "Recruitment." Recruitment? Did colleges pick your name and email address out of the air?

Of course not. There are "lots of ways," as Common App attests, and many sources. In fact, every time you register or sign up online for practically anything college related (think, scholarship search engines, college databases, ACT, College Board), you are creating a very specific online profile to be culled, packaged, bundled and perhaps even sold to third parties who may be, for whatever reason, interested in you -- or your money. [No. Do you think College Board would ever sell my information? Friends, the folks at College Board would sell information on their own mothers if they could make a buck! Don't you doubt it for a minute.]

Can you protect yourself by NOT signing the consent. To some extent, in theory at least. Privacy laws, including FERPA (which governs what schools may and may not disclose), give you some protection. Then again, it seems all you have to do is think about college, and, voila, YOU'VE GOT MAIL lights up like Broadway on opening night. [And keep in mind, you DO want to get communications from colleges you ARE interested in!] 

Every time you sign up, innocently check that box (typically waiving your rights), and hit SUBMIT, somehow, somewhere, you consent to information being collected and redistributed.

Bottom line: Give your consent. Sign the FERPA. Be extra careful as to what you put out there. Make sure (within the realm of reason) that which you are signing up for and consenting to is legit. Never give out more than is asked of you. And be weary of unsolicited emails, particularly those that ask for money, or, for that matter, additional information, such as your Social Security Number.

It's a tangled world wide web out there, folks. Proceed with care. Above all, stay calm and carry on!

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@TheCollegeWhisperer.com

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 college, planning for college, paying for college or simply thinking about college, COLLEGE CONNECTION can help! Call TODAY for a FREE telephone consultation. 516-345-8766

For up-to-the-minute news, apps, info and insights on college applications, admissions, scholarships and just about everything college, follow The College Whisperer™ on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/GetCollege

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 Whisperer™?
Write us at info@TheCollegeWhisperer.com

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 college, planning for college, paying for college or simply thinking about college, COLLEGE CONNECTION can help! Call TODAY for a FREE telephone consultation. 516-345-8766

For up-to-the-minute news, apps, info and insights on college applications, admissions, scholarships and just about everything college, follow The College Whisperer™ on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/GetCollege

As we remember the heroes of September 11th, their families, and those who stand on the front lines of freedom, every day, everywhere, reflecting upon lives lost, dreams unfulfilled and promises deferred, we also look to the future, rekindling that spirit of democracy that is the essence of this great nation.

Today, we lay aside partisan politics, petty bickering and the small-mindedness of self indulgence to join hands in that which unites all Americans in a common cause -- a National Day of Service and Remembrance.

Not only do we commemorate this day in our own hometowns, paying tribute to those who gave the last full measure of devotion on a bright crisp September morning, not unlike today, 11 years ago. We also pay tribute, through service in the community, which service extends to college campuses across the land.

From the American Association of State Colleges and Universities:

In 2002, family members who lost loved ones in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks as well as support groups and other organizations began to seek forward-looking tributes to honor the sacrifice of those who were lost and honor to those who rose in service in response to the tragedy. Encouraging Americans to participate in service and remembrance activities on the anniversary of 9/11 anniversary is a productive and respectful way to honor those who perished and rekindle the spirit of unity and compassion that swept our nation after 9/11 to help meet the challenges we face today.

Because of efforts to build support for this idea, September 11 was designated The September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance by the 2009 Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act.

The American Democracy Project encourages its member colleges and universities to honor those lost to the tragic events of 9/11 and to sponsor educational and community-building events to commemorate this National Day of Service and Remembrance.

Today, we come together as a nation -- strong, persistent, determined -- not only in commemoration of those who gave their lives, those who risked their own safety, and those who put service before self, but also, to rededicate ourselves, through local deeds with global reach, to service in the name of freedom.

There is no greater service than public service, and no greater good than service to the community. 

Today, we remember. Today, we reflect. Today, and every day, we commit ourselves anew for country and community!

Join The 911 Day Movement

As the frenzy to complete and submit college applications before deadline (be it Early Decision, Early Action or Regular Decision) heightens, that finger drawers perilously close to the dreaded "submit" button.

With the Common App serving as the very foundation of your foray into college admissiondom, you scrutinize every word, each digit, all the dotted "i"s and crossed "t"s. You pore over your personal statement, short answers and supplemental essays, making sure they give voice to the very essence of heart and soul. You "Save and check for errors" a thousand and one times, just to be certain you haven't overlooked that singular entry that could make or break your application.

And then, confident at last that you have given it your all, you arrive at the "Signature" page, ready to take that giant leap for all mankind -- or, at least, for one harried and beleaguered college-bound high school student.

You check off all of the boxes next to the plethora of colleges you are applying to. You "Print Preview," and check those squares. You certify. You Sign. You date. And then, with breath held and caution to the wind, you decidedly hit "submit."

Done?

Well, not exactly.

You haven't quite completed the Future Plans section for each and every college. Maybe that Short Answer in the Writing section went beyond the alotted 1000 characters. Could be you neglected to fully expound upon your academics, your activities, or your sibling's education. Who knows?

So back you go. Adding. Editing. Hoping you've got it right this time.

SUBMIT!

Uh, uh.

Dollars to donuts, Common App comes right back at ya with an error message, informing you that some or all of the colleges you are applying to require the submission of the "Supplement" prior to submission of the Common app itself.

Soooooooo, you go to the "Supplement" section, reviewing every last one of 'em for the umpteenth time, then forging ahead gallantly, pressing "Submit" for each school's supplement.

Back again to the "Signature" page, where every last one of those checked boxes is now unchecked, your entries having been unceremoniously erased.

You again check off all of the boxes next to the multitude of colleges you are applying to. You "Print Preview," and check those squares. You certify. You Sign. You date. And then, assured that you are now ready to roll, you sally forth and hit "submit."

Finished?

Not quite.

Up pops the advisory that some or all of the colleges you are applying to require PAYMENT (and here you thought this was all being done out of the goodness of the hearts of the college admissions gods :-) before submission of the main application.

And so, you submit, if to nothing else, to the whim, fancy and utter quirkiness of the Common App, going through the payment process (credit card, check or waiver of one kind or another).

Receipts printed. Emails received. Fingers worn to the bone, you proudly proclaim, "Mission Accomplished!"

Not so fast, ye of Common App faith!

Seems you -- and a good many Common App filers -- have fallen in to the Common App's trap for the weary and unsuspecting. You assume that, having paid your way, many times over, and having receipts in hand and emails in your inbox, your applications have been submitted to your colleges of choice.

But nooooooooooooooo!

Be not fooled by that false sense of Common App security; the logic and reason of an all-in-one pay and submit, as if you were making a purchase on Amazon, having quietly fallen by the wayside.

Apparently, the folks at Common App (who still don't see "250 to 500" words in the personal statement as a "limit," but rather, the fundamentals of the English language aside, consider same to be a "suggestion"), haven't quite figured this one out. [Or could it be that they are simply -- perhaps unwittingly -- testing to see if you can follow instructions?]

One more step to go before those applications are actually submitted for the consideration of college admissions officers everywhere, each waiting with baited breath, and a truckload of caffeinated beverages, to receive your pearls of wisdom.

Return, once more, to the "Signature" page, clicking on those now vacant boxes; recertifying that which has been certified up the literal wazoo; sign, date, and then -- with trumpets blaring and angels circling above (even they, by now, have given up and gone home) -- pounce upon that "submit" button (presuming the "enter" key hasn't worn out or fallen off).

Voila! Now you have submitted your college applications (or at least as many as shall appear on Common App). Congrats!

Rest for the weary? Welllllllll, maybe by the time the holidays (and we're not saying which ones) roll around.

Make sure you submit your SAT and/or ACT scores to each college. Submit any and all required forms, envelopes, etc. to Guidance. Update Naviance, if your high school uses it.

Be certain that EVERYTHING -- on your end, the school's end, and College Board/ACT Inc.'s end -- is submitted to the colleges you are applying to in advance of the application deadline date(s) [well in advance for SAT submissions, unless you want to pay extra for College Board's so-called "expedited" service], lest your application become destined for the "wait and see" pile, or, worse yet, the cyber equivalent of the "circular file."

Then, keep on checking those emails, avoiding the temptation to delete everything that isn't coming from your favorite online store. Colleges will write, sometimes just to say hi, but, more often than not, with a purpose.

Open. Read. Follow instructions (i.e., set up your personal account on the college websites). And don't dare forget to follow the status of your application, NOT via Common App (their work on your behalf is now done), but rather, through the personal portal you've established on the website of each college you've applied to.

Ahhh. To sleep, perchance to dream?

There will be plenty of time to sleep after college!

You've applied. Mazel Tov! Now, the groundwork having been laid for your admission, it's time to look for, and actually find the money to pay for the college you will be heading off to next fall.

Onward, brave soldiers, to the search for scholarships and grants...

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@TheCollegeWhisperer.com

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 college, planning for college, paying for college or simply thinking about college, COLLEGE CONNECTION can help! Call TODAY for a FREE telephone consultation. 516-345-8766

For up-to-the-minute news, apps, info and insights on college applications, admissions, scholarships and just about everything college, follow The College Whisperer™ on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/GetCollege

College Savings Plans -- so-called 529 Plans -- were all the rage a decade ago. A tax-advantaged, low-cost vehicle to save money for college.

Then, the bottom fell out of the economy, and suddenly, or so it would seem, folks stopped saving for college. And now, they're paying the price -- literally and figuratively.

That's too bad, because those who started saving, and those who have continued to save, have, in most instances, even in a fluctuating and sometimes volatile market, seen their investment for college not only maintain value, but grow. [Check out the Performance of New York's 529 Plan.] Not a bad place to have stashed the cash for college!

New York's 529 College Savings Program Direct Plan offers many unique benefits.

Flexible use of savings	Save for a child, grandchild, friend--or even yourself. Use at an eligible 2- or 4-year college, vocational/technical school, or graduate school anywhere in the U.S. or abroad. Use for tuition, certain room-and-board expenses, books, supplies, etc.
Tax benefits	Earnings grow federally tax deferred. Qualified withdrawals are federally tax-free. You can contribute up to $65,000 in a single year ($130,000 for a married couple filing jointly) for each beneficiary without incurring federal gift tax as long as you don't make any other gifts to that child for five years.
Additional tax benefits for New York taxpayers	New York taxpayers can deduct up to $5,000 ($10,000 for a married couple filing jointly) in contributions to the Direct Plan on their state income tax return each year.
Easy to get started	Open an account with just $25 ($15 if contributing through payroll deduction).

If it seems like a no-brainer to open and save money for college through a 529 Plan -- especially now, as the markets make a comeback and the costs of attending college continue to rise -- well, you got that right.

No, you can't use that money you've saved through a college savings plan to buy junior that Vette or for the down payment on a beach house (a stretch for inclusion as off-campus housing), nonqualified expenses losing the tax-advantaged benefits and subjecting investors to penalties. Still, you can make a dent -- often a significant one -- in that college bill, particularly if you've saved prudently, consistently and with a view toward the long haul.

Already have a 529 Plan? Keep feeding it! Even $25 a month can make a difference. Kids now starting or already in college? If they've got a year or more to go (think grad school, as well), the dividends -- not to mention the interest -- still pay off. Haven't opened a 529 Plan? What the heck are you waiting for? Get started today!

NOTE: Past performance is no guarantee of future result. One thing is guaranteed, however: That tuition bill will show up in your mailbox like clockwork, and, ready or not, it will have to be paid. Open and regularly contribute to a 529 Plan. Search and apply for those grants and scholarships. "Borrow money from your parents, if you have to!" [Bad idea. Forget I ever repeated such patently foolish advice.] Complete that FAFSA form come January 1.

College is expensive. Doing nothing to help save and pay for it is not an option!

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@TheCollegeWhisperer.com

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 college, planning for college, paying for college or simply thinking about college, COLLEGE CONNECTION can help! Call TODAY for a FREE telephone consultation. 516-345-8766

For up-to-the-minute news, apps, info and insights on college applications, admissions, scholarships and just about everything college, follow The College Whisperer™ on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/GetCollege 

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 Action, are you? Regular Decision more your speed? "Missed it by that much!" simply won't suffice. Sure, colleges will take your application -- and your money for the application fee -- but your chances of getting in should you miss the application deadline are often zero to nil.

3. Highly Selective Doesn't Make Us A Better School. The fact that the competition is keen and your safety school has now become a reach has more -- if not everything -- to do with the sheer number of students applying than it does with the college's academic standing. Not many years ago, colleges had to struggle to fill seats. Today, a college looking to welcome a Freshman class of 3,000 may have over 40,000 applications. You do the math!

4. Your Seat In The Freshman Class Is Being Outsourced to China. The admission of International students is on the rise. Upwards of 10% of the entering class this fall at many American universities is comprised of foreign students. You are not merely competing with your classmates or cross-town rivals for a spot on campus, but with students from around the globe.

5. You Are Little More Than A Screen Shot On An Admissions Officer's Monitor. Scores. Grades. Activities. Essays. The Common App itself. They all appear on the computer screen, reducing you to a matrix to be compared with thousands of other students. Talk about giving you a number and taking away your name. You have one chance to impress and to stand out among the crowd!

6. We DO Consider Whether You Will Be Applying for Financial Aid in the Admissions Process. The vast majority of colleges are "need blind" when it comes to admissions. A few, unfortunately, are not. Know before you apply!

7. We're A For-Profit College from Which You'll Likely Never Graduate (and if you do graduate, you'll be indebted for life). With tuition being what it is (and what it is likely to become down the road), it is hard to believe that most colleges in this country are not-for-profit. Beware colleges out there that are for-profit, existing substantially on loan money borrowed by students to finance their education, with little if any return on investment for the unsuspecting students. There are many legit for-profits. Weed out the bad and those that are suspect -- or under federal investigation.

8. Your College Essay Carries More Weight Than You Think. It's not all grades and scores. Making that connection to campus, demonstrating what you will bring to the college community, defining yourself as an individual, as one who is involved, passionate, empathetic and not likely to turn out to be that lone gunman on the quad can literally make or break your application. You have approximately 500 words in which to market yourself successfully. Make your best case!

9. Where You Went To High School Matters. It's a matter of demographics. Colleges can't take everyone from Long Island (though it may seem otherwise once you get there :-). That kid from Iowa, or from Monticello High, with equivalent grades and scores may well have an edge over the senior from Syosset High. So, when it comes to your application, essays, extracurriculars and such, you need to stand out. Make everything you do and say count -- because it does!

10. We Know What You Did Last Summer. And we're not talking about the essentials of boosting your profile in the work place or in your community service endeavors. No, we mean all those Tweets, Facebook posts and other online ventures that you thought nobody, other than your closest friends, would notice. Guess what? When you post on the Internet, it's out there and it stays out there. Assume that whatever you post online, in whatever forum, will be seen and/or read by a college admissions officer. Don't let a lurid photo or an indiscreet 140 characters sink your college application. Nuf said! 

This list could go on and on, almost ad nauseum. It's up to you to gain the upper hand in the college admissions game, to avoid the pitfalls and the detours along the way, and to score points without being penalized. When it comes to college admissions, you've got one shot. Do it right. Your objective isn’t just to apply to college – it’s to get in!

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@TheCollegeWhisperer.com

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 college, planning for college, paying for college or simply thinking about college, COLLEGE CONNECTION can help! Call TODAY for a FREE telephone consultation. 516-345-8766

For up-to-the-minute news, apps, info and insights on college applications, admissions, scholarships and just about everything college, follow The College Whisperer™ on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/GetCollege

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. Where facts are ignored, disregarded and rarely fact-checked, cast aside upon the rubbish pile like so many copies of yesterday's newspapers.

The truth. Something that Jack Nicholson once said we can't handle.

If we, as a body politic, as a thinking, reasoning people, as a civilized society choose to overlook the truth -- or worse yet, to abandon it entirely as what passes for truth morphs into the Big Lie (say it long enough and loud enough, and, sooner or later, folks will start to believe it), where does that leave that next Greatest Generation -- our children and our children's children?

And what message are we conveying to students now or soon to be applying to college? 

Just what is -- or shall become -- the "truth" on my college applications?

Is it okay to embellish my activities? Does a single afternoon of volunteer work become, on paper alone, a lifelong commitment to community service?

If grades matter, does a tweak here and a nudge there up the ante?

So what if I didn't write that personal statement myself, or simply made up that detailed experience highlighted in my supplemental essays?

Can't I just finagle my parents' assets -- or my own -- to get a larger financial aid award?

And if I check off YES to the question, Are you Hispanic, though I haven't a drop of Latin blood or ancestry dating back to Queen Isabella, who's to know?

The truth.

Where is the line drawn? When is it crossed? When does an enhancement, an edit, a slight exaggeration become little more than a lie?

Truth is, be it on a resume, in a speech, at an interview, in an essay or on the Common App -- especially on the Common App -- the truth matters.

Facts matter. Integrity matters. Honesty matters. Decency matters. Truth, even when reduced to innocuous short answers or blurbs of 1000 characters (and Tweets of 140), matters.

In an age when it has become all too commonplace to say anything and do anything to gain an advantage -- whether in business, politics or, sadly, in seeking admission to college -- there is a premium on the truth, and a hefty price to be paid for deviating from it.

Do not allow yourself to be caught up in what, unfortunately, appears to have become an American past time -- substituting fiction for fact and passing off the unfounded, the inaccurate or the downright fake as the truth.

To thine own self -- and to college admissions offices everywhere -- be true!

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@TheCollegeWhisperer.com

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 college, planning for college, paying for college or simply thinking about college, COLLEGE CONNECTION can help! Call TODAY for a FREE telephone consultation. 516-345-8766

For up-to-the-minute news, apps, info and insights on college applications, admissions, scholarships and just about everything college, follow The College Whisperer™ on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/GetCollege

The College Whisperer's colleague, Allen Grove of About.com's Guide to College Admissions posted a top ten list of sorts to improve your chances of getting into college:

A winning college application is about more than strong grades or high test scores. To get admitted to the country's most selective colleges, applicants will need to put together an application that shines in all areas. Click on the tips below to learn about some of the features of a strong application.

1. Take challenging classes

2. Write a winning essay

3. Avoid these essay topics

4. Get strong letters of recommendation

5. Avoid these 6 application blunders

6. Participate in meaningful extracurricular activities

7. Master these college interview questions

8. Avoid these college interview mistakes

9. Delete these 12 Facebook photos now

10. Demonstrate your interest

As per usual, Allen is right on target. And not just on admission to the "most selective colleges." Guess what? They are all becoming selective as more and more students compete each year for the same number of seats offered the year before.

Of course, many items on the list -- if not all -- rekindle the old Steve Martin skit, How to make a million dollars. "First, get a million dollars..." Sound advice, indeed!

The rigor of your courseload. The strength and breadth of your extracurriculars. Demonstrating your passion, your commitment, your connection to the human race through your essays. And, of course, becoming master of your GPA, SAT and ACT.

Granted, you are more than your SAT Super Score, and that 1 on the Chemistry AP does not define you, but striking up the right balance of grades and groundwork, enthusiasm and empathy, are the very building blocks upon which college admission success stands.

Understanding exactly (or nearly, as there are few absolutes in college admissions) which colleges offer the best fit for you, what those colleges in particular are looking for in a student, and how to both prepare and present yourself to these colleges in a light that most favorably shines upon you (as in, "that's the kid we're looking for!"), are the key elements to gaining admission to the college of your choice.

Anyone can apply, anywhere. The question remains, in this competitive environment, with colleges become more selective, seemingly by the hour, can you get in?

To be well informed, as to process, mindset, timing and, yes, the manner in which successful applicants must package and market themselves, is to be well situated at the ivy-covered gates (and not only at Ivy League schools).

Accentuating your best attributes. Turning weaknesses into perceived strengths. Giving yourself that competitive edge, often yield positive results.

Is a student with a 4.00 GPA (4.25 weighted :-) and a 2400 SAT guaranteed admission to Harvard. No. Is your typical B student with middle of the road scores automatically shut out from Michigan? Absolutely not!

Clearly, you can't make something out of nothing. Grades count. Scores matter. The 4-year stint as couch potato and that essay on how you watched every episode of Law & Order in a single sitting won't be of much help.

On the other hand, making the most of what you have -- and being certain that you have what you need -- can make the difference between "Welcome to the Class of 2017" and "While your application was impressive, we regret to inform you..."

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@TheCollegeWhisperer.com

The College Whisperer is sponsored by COLLEGE CONNECTION, Official Sponsor of College Admission Success. The road to college begins at COLLEGE CONNECTION! Whether you are applying to college, planning for college, paying for college or simply thinking about college, COLLEGE CONNECTION can help! Call TODAY for a FREE telephone consultation. 516-345-8766

For up-to-the-minute news, apps, info and insights on college applications, admissions, scholarships and just about everything college, follow The College Whisperer on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/GetCollege