The College Whisperer™ | Navigating The Road To College

F.B. of West Hempstead writes:

Hey Dad. Mom would like you to stop off at the store and pick up milk, fruit, and veggies.

Also, the car is making a funky noise, and I think a pair of my socks fell behind the clothes dryer.

Love ya!

The College Whisperer responds:

Ahhhh! The work of The College Whisperer is never done...

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

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Rebecca of Lawrence, NY writes:

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

The College Whisperer responds:

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

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

That said, high school juniors and their parents (as well as counselors and advisers) can get a sneak preview of the complete Common App, including the essay questions, at https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/docs/downloadforms/CommonApp2011.pdf.

This should be a good starting point, particularly in getting those creative juices flowing in connection with creating a vibrant, nuanced, and highly critical personal essay.

Here are the essays, with instructions, that will be on the application:

Personal Essay. Please write an essay (250 words minimum) on a topic of your choice or on one of the options listed below, and attach it to your application before submission. Please indicate your topic by checking the appropriate box. This personal essay helps us become acquainted with you as a person and student, apart from courses, grades, test scores, and other objective data. It will also demonstrate your ability to organize your thoughts and express yourself.

*Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.
*Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.
*Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.
*Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.
*A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.
*Topic of your choice.

Thinking caps on. Pencils down. We're in the exploratory stage at this point. A figurative glimpse into the future, as you or your child finishes up her junior year, decides what to do on her summer vacation, and gears up for the great college application frenzy that follows in the fall.

By the way, with the "first look" at the Common App comes this advance notice: There's no better time to begin planning for college, and staking your claim on admission to the college of your choice, than now!

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

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The road to college begins at www.CollegeConnect.info

E.L. of Jericho, NY writes:

Are these expensive SAT prep courses worth the money?

The College Whisperer responds:

Funny you should ask.

An article just came over the wires from Associated Press in which it is reported that Princeton Review, one of the big boys in SAT/ACT prepdom, is "voluntarily" removing language in their advertising that offers a "guarantee" of a score increase if you take their review course.

Take a look at SAT prep company stops claiming 255-point boost.

Pay Princeton Review only $1199 (Kaplan charges a similar fee), and your score will magically rise by some 255 points. If only...

Truth is (not that the truth matters much to these folks), taking the course will not serve to increase test scores. And when College Board, the mad scientists who created the test prep Frankensteins in the first place, poo poos the claims of the likes of Princeton Review, you know there must be something to it.

Fact: Whether or not you take a test prep course, your scores on the second-taking of standardized exams such as the SAT and ACT are likely to go up.

First, students mature, if only by several months (which means much at a high school student's age). Maturation accounts for the greatest score increase.

Second, the student has become more familiar with the test, its format and with testing conditions.

Third (as in practice, practice, practice), if the student is taking the test for the second time, chances are he or she didn't get perfect scores the first go round, and has since regrouped, reorganized, and refocused, geared now to strive higher and achieve more.

Can a tutor help (typically at less than half the cost of Princeton Review or Kaplan)? Yes, if the issues include formulating good study habits, testing techniques, time management, and a focus on the critical elements versus "tricks" and shortcuts. No, if the student is not going to put in the time and effort, or the parent is getting a tutor for Johnny simply because every other kid in the school has one.

There are no tricks or shortcuts, either to test preparation or to college admissions. Organization, focus, developing and implementing a strategic plan, and, yes, a little bit of luck, make for a winning combination.

The SAT, ACT and other standardized tests are, and likely will remain, a rite of passage, like it or not.

Be prepared, to be sure. Get help, when you need it. Just don't get taken by the big names in the industry, or taken in by their outrageous, and patently false, claims.

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

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The road to college begins at www.CollegeConnect.info

Who Will Be Finding Out What About YOU Through Facebook, MySpace, And The Emerging Social Networks?

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

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

The world, if not Big Brother at the college admissions office, is watching your every move on the web. You can and should do as much as possible to protect yourself, your reputation, and your chances of being accepted to the college of your choice.

Short of forgoing Facebook (about as likely as giving up your cellphone), the essentials of social networking etiquette must apply.

Keep you pages private, potential pranksters at bay, "friends" close to the vest. Personal info should be kept to a minimum. That includes birthdays, phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and, yes, even names. [You know who those folks in the photo are. The rest of America doesn't need too!]

As for photos, videos, and YouTube sensations, post with care. Remember, even photos and sundry details presumably removed from the web (or so you think) still lurk in the hidden recesses of cyberspace.

If you must have a presence online -- and these days, who doesn't? -- make certain what is posted is accurate, appropriate, and only what you would want your grandmother to see.

Think your privacy is safe online? Think only your "friends" are interested in what you do, where you go, and who you hang with? Think Facebook is just for fun, where what goes on the Wall stays on the Wall?

Think again!



Read 7 Things To Stop Doing Now On Facebook.

Hmmm. Perhaps this is why The College Whisperer doesn't have a Facebook page. You can, however, follow The College Whisperer on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GetCollege.

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

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The road to college begins at www.CollegeConnect.info

Steve of Rockville Centre, NY writes: 

What's the story with IB programs?  In 2006 if my daughter had picked a State college, she would have gotten 32 credits for her IB diploma (that's one whole year of college).   She chose a private university and had to fight for the 18 credits she was eventually given.

 The College Whisperer responds:

Contrary to popular belief, IB stands for International Baccalaureate®, and not irritable bowel. Although, given the stomach-wrenching one often has to go through to secure college credits for IB courses from American universities, one can understand the confusion.

The International Baccalaureate offers programs in many, but not all high schools that, over the course of the program (typically, 2 years) challenges students with a rigorous, college-level course of study.

 Not unlike Advanced Placement courses, administered by our old friends at College Board (the folks who brought you that original knot in the gastrointestinal tract), students who excel may (the key word being “may”) receive college credit for work completed in high school.

 As with AP credit, the college or university sets policy as to whether the school will accept IB credit, and if so, how many credits will be accepted.

Unlike AP, where one year of study typically yields one year of credit, colleges, more often than not, will award only one year of credit for the two years of IB study. Not a very good rate of return.

As noted, this policy varies widely from public universities to private (the former generally being more liberal in the acceptance of IB credits), and then, from one private institution to the other.

Moreover, fewer schools, at least in the United States, accept IB credits than those that accept the more popular and widely-recognized AP credits, where variations are more dependent upon the student’s score than on recognition of the program itself.

Southside High School in Rockville Centre, NY is one of six Long Island high schools (the others being Bay Shore, Commack, Long Beach, Northport and West Islip) currently offering IB programs. Virtually every high school on the Island offers at least some AP courses. The best practice in deciding whether a college-bound student should enroll in an IB program, where offered, is to engage in a bit of forward thinking – as in, where do you intend to go to college?

If the reason for pursuing IB is not merely for the knowledge, but for the college credit as well, make certain that the colleges to which you will be applying not only award IB credit, but actually give you the credits you’ve earned.

When in doubt, stick with the Advanced Placement courses, where available. There, too, check with individual colleges as to credit. Compared to IB, you should find a more welcoming reception.

For a well-written article on this very issue, check out The Washington Post's, Despite IB Growth, College Credit Is Elusive.

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of The College Whisperer.
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Shhh! Tell Everyone.

The College Whisperer writes: 

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

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

The College Whisperer has the answers (or will point you in the right direction so you can find your way to those ivy-covered gates).

Launching here today, at TheCollegeWhisperer.com, is a blog intended to serve as portal for college-bound students and their parents to explore the possibilities, open the doors, relieve the stress, deep six the angst, and find a comfort zone as they begin that long, but what we hope will be pleasurable and productive journey on the road to college.

Whatever your concerns, be they related to preparation during the high school years, the college application and admission process, footing the tuition bill, or, as you will come to know it during that critical senior year, the six degrees of separation anxiety, The College Whisperer can help you successfully navigate that road to college.

E-mail us with you questions about any aspect of the college experience. Write us with your comments, musings, and “war” stories. Make us an integral part of the college planning process as we travel the road together.

Straight talk. Sound advice. Good fun. The College Whisperer is here to reveal the secrets to college admissions success!

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of The College Whisperer.
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Write us at info@TheCollegeWhisperer.com

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B.R. of Old Westbury, NY writes:

Simple question. Should my child take the ACT or the SAT? Which do colleges prefer?

The College Whisperer responds:

If only the answers were that simple.

I remember, way back when in elementary school in Bayside, New York, having to take a standardized exam known as the Iowa Test, leaving me to wonder whether students in Iowa were, at the same time, taking New York Tests.

We've gone from way too much testing, and unfounded reliance thereon, to teaching solely to the test, for the test, and by the test. So much so that the mere mention of SAT (which used to stand for Scholastic Achievement Test, but now professes to be a Scholastic Aptitude Test, the former said to demonstrate what you've learned, while the latter showing what you're capable of learning. The tests, in both cases, falling woefully short of the intended objective) strikes fear in the hearts of students and parents alike. Many of us still experience the flashbacks. I forgot my watch. Are these really number 2 pencils?

If The College Whisperer had his druthers (unfortunately, he hasn't had them since some time in 1978 ;-), every student in America would boycott the ACTs, SATs, and every other standardized test, forcing college admission officers to accept or deny on the basis of academic performance, extracurricular activities/community service, the student's character, and that all-important personal essay.

Of course, there's always that one holdout who would take the tests, obtain perfect scores, gain acceptance to Harvard, and go on to become an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, ruining it for everyone else!

While SATs, ACTs, and other standardized exams rarely demonstrate either aptitude or proficiency as much as they do the test-taker's ability to do well on standardized tests, they are, for better or worse, here to stay. Well, here to stay as long as there is money to be made off of them by the test-makers and test-preparers, who have created a multi-billion dollar cottage industry.

In the words of the old SAT analogies, MONEY is to GREED as SAT is to COLLEGE BOARD, AMERICAN COLLEGE TESTING, or all of the above.

But I digress.

Until a few years ago, whether one took the ACT or SAT was purely a matter of regionalization. If you lived in the northeast, you took the SAT. Period.

Today, the ACT is gaining popularity across the nation, and, though not admitted by admissions officers, has become increasingly the barometer of choice as the SAT, mostly through the shortcomings of its parent, the College Board, loses credibility as a prognosticator of college success.

Indeed, some universities have dispensed with the need for submission of any standardized test scores, though this continues to be the exception rather than the rule.

A cute portrayal of the ACT versus SAT dilemma appeared in The New York Times (ACT vs. SAT) not all that long ago, and is well worth a read here. The advice given therein is probably worth heeding.

Sign-up (and attend) free courses and workshops offered in your high school, local library, or community college (nominal fee). Take the practice exams. [This can be done online, without having to buy the books. Check out http://sat.collegeboard.com/practice and http://www.actstudent.org/sampletest/index.html.] Avail yourself of free online resources, including http://www.act.org/aap/pdf/preparing.pdf and http://sat.collegeboard.com/practice/sat-practice-test. Keep up with your studies. Read.

Then, take BOTH the SAT and the ACT (no more than twice, please), and see how you fare. Submit the better of the two scores to colleges of choice. [You will, statistically, do better the second time around, even without help from a prepatory course, this on the basis of maturation, comfort with the format and exam conditions, and the fact that you now know, more or less, what to expect.]

If you need a tutor for ACT/SAT prep (and Lord knows, we could all use a little extra help, now and then), College Connection will match you with one of the best (so you can give the folks at at those test prep giants a raspberry, rather than all of your money).

Above all. Do not stress over the ACT or SAT. Relax! It's only a test.

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of The College Whisperer.
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Write us at info@TheCollegeWhisperer.com

The road to college begins at www.CollegeConnect.info

P.L. of Plainview, NY writes:

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

The College Whisperer responds:

Ahh. So many books. So little time!

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

At my last visit to the bookstore, there were no less than three (count 'em, 3) books by different authors entitled, How To Go To College Without Going Broke. [I presume the sequel, How To Avoid Copyright Infringement Without Going Broke, is in the works. LOL]

For the most part, each book has value (especially to the author and publisher, who are paying for their kids' college education with your money), but, as those who hoard the books quickly learn, there is much redundancy, repetition, and redundancy (wait a minute. Didn't we just say that? ;-), with overlapping information and advice, much of which could readily be garnered elsewhere (i.e., the Internet or from the high school guidance counselor), were one to know where to look, to take the time to look, and to make the effort to look.

The tendency, particularly on the part of parents, who don't want to miss a beat, is to buy too many of the college planning books, adding to the ever-present information overload, piling confusion on top of frustration, and creating a giant black hole in the wallet, even before the first tuition bill comes due.

The key here is knowing which (if any) college planning books to buy (or, better yet, to borrow from recent grads or your local library -- they do still have libraries, don't they?), what to look for in the books, and, critical, separating fact from myth, where the written words conflict, or, worse still, collide.

At College Connection, all students have access to College Cafe, a compendium of essential links and resources that includes relevant and timely excerpts from the most popular (and some lesser known) college guides. Working with your College Connection counselor, you'll not only be pointed in the right direction in the stacks, but focused on the wheat rather than the chaff. In other words, less wasted time; no more asking, "Did I miss something?"; and, believe me, so much easier on the eyes (not to mention the thumbs) than leafing through thousands of pages of written material.

So, before you go broke buying the books that made other people rich, get organized, create a plan, and consult with the experts who will help you navigate that road to college!

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of The College Whisperer.
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The road to college begins at www.CollegeConnect.info

B.L. of Oceanside, NY writes:

When is the best time to begin planning for college?

The College Whisperer responds:

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

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

With New York's 529 College Savings Plan -- www.nysaves.org -- saving is easy and virtually painless. An account can be opened with as little as $25, the money invested grows (and my be withdrawn for college-related purposes) tax free, and there's a great NYS tax deduction of up to $10,000 per year for married couples filing jointly.

More on saving for college in future posts.

As for college planning, I assume you mean strategies putting your child's best foot forward in the application and admission process, and getting the competitive edge in this most selective college market.

While the second mouse often ends up with the cheese, the old adage of the early bird catching the worm certainly holds true when getting into college counts.

There are college planning calendars aplenty online, and, most assuredly, in the guidance office at the high school. These planning timetables give an overview -- and, in some instances, month-to-month details -- beginning in the freshman year. [Check out the College Connection College Planning Calendar.]

While the freshman year of high school may seem eerily early to start thinking about college, actually, given the tabla rasa (clean slate) and the long window of opportunity before those college apps are due, it's actually the best time to create a college plan.

Aside from grades and standardized test scores, the outcome of which are not entirely within the hands or minds of the student (encouragement to try one's best notwithstanding), other variables vital to the college admission critique are completely within the student's control.

Course selection, particularly electives, honors, and AP (Advanced Placement). Which ones to take. When to take them. What will put the student at an academic advantage.

Extracurricular and out-of-school activities. Not just, "Gee, this will look good on my high school resume," but a four-year commitment, and a dedicated involvement, be it in athletics, music, community service, or some combination thereof.

Believe me, once you're in your senior year, it's way too late to do the "shoulda, coulda, woulda" dance, your track record -- or lack thereof -- having already been firmly established, if not set in stone.

College planning may also involve career counseling. Some of us are pretty much set on what we want to do with our lives in our mid-teens. Others are still searching well into their 50s, 60s and 70s. [Not that there's anything necessarily wrong with that!]

And then there's working on those all-important critical writing skills. A jump start here will not only help you make the grade in high school, but will better prepare you for the SATs, ACTs, and yes, for those crucial personal essays that will accompany your Common Application.

The early high school years give students the chance to prepare themselves for the college application process at their own pace, without the stress or anxiety often suffered by the upperclassmen (and women) who, having put off the planning of their futures to late junior or early senior year, now face the daunting and unsettling task of catching up instead of getting ahead.

College may seem light years away to high school freshman and their parents. Trust me. College applications and admission decisions are much closer than they appear in the rear view mirror.

Consult with a college planning counselor early in the game, and you're sure to be a winner!

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of The College Whisperer.
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The road to college begins at www.CollegeConnect.info

P.N. of Manhasset, NY writes:

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

The College Whisperer responds:

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

Call me old-fashioned, but when it comes to college planning, there's absolutely nothing like face-to-face, mano-a-mano, up close and personal.

Give and take between student and counselor is an integral part of the process through which the student truly achieves college admission success. Yes, online lectures, guides, and tutorials can point both students and parents in the right direction, but beyond the online interface, most of the online applications (and their CD/DVD counterparts) tend to leave you on your own in the critical steps involved in navigating that road to college.

"How-to" sessions are, indeed, helpful tools, as are comprehensive essential links and resources, compiled to be in one place and always at hand. [Which is why College Connection provides all students with College Cafe, where the resources and links every student needs are never more than a mouse-click away.]

Beyond the rote and the mundane (in other words, the stuff most students and parents already know), online counseling sessions, while often a good source (among many) of resource material, rarely fill the gap between application and admission, leaving most users wanting, if not needing, more.

True, the price is right, but like those "how to get rich" DVDs of infomercial fame, you typically get just about what you pay for, at best, or taken for that $299 (plus shipping and handling), at worst.

Can you find solace, comfort, and, ultimately, admission to the college of choice through online and/or CD/DVD counseling sessions? To be sure, so long as you understand that what you are getting cannot possibly be custom tailored to the needs of the individual student, any more than a suit bought online is likely to be that perfect fit.

College is, to put it lightly, a huge investment -- in time, in life choices, and, of course, in money. When considering college counseling, choose wisely, and always remember, while you don't always get what you pay for, as a general rule, when you buy cheap, you get cheap.

Besides, I always prefer the interaction of live contact, rather than the dull glare of the computer monitor.

The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of The College Whisperer.
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Comments? Questions for The College Whisperer?
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The road to college begins at www.CollegeConnect.info