When it comes to academic success at the collegiate level, there is one skill more than any other that separates the “A” students from the “C” students: the ability to handle complex reading.

The problem is, too many are waiting until they are college freshmen to attempt to learn how to do this. The time to learn it is in high school, and alarmingly, most states do not require complex reading comprehension instruction at the high school level nor do they have any standards for high school reading achievement (according to an Associated Press report of a study from ACT, the nonprofit company that publishes one of the two tests required for college entrance). Instead, reading is considered a subject for elementary school and is rarely taught in later grades.

What makes an article or book complex to read? Complex reading is characterized by an elaborate organization where the messages are often implicit rather than overt. The interaction between ideas or characters may be subtle instead of obvious.

Most of all, the vocabulary is demanding and intricate.

How many college-bound high school students can read complex works? Of the 1.2 million high school seniors who took the ACT in 2005, only 51 percent scored high enough to show they were ready to handle first year college-level reading requirements. This is a concern not only to colleges, but also to employers. In 2009, the number increased only 2% to 53%. Take a look at the breakdown here: CollegeReadinessBenchmarksbySubject

What can be done? These aren’t easy solutions, but the ACT insists that high school reading standards must be revised in core subjects, and struggling readers need to get help earlier in their education. Also, more teachers need to be trained in how to teach reading within their subject matter. That is, a chemistry teacher must also learn to teach reading as it relates to science.

Here’s a link to helping develop strong readers beyond the third grade.

So, what’s the most important factor that enhances GPA, Test Scores, Extracurriculars, How “wonderful” your boy or girl is? READING! Read, read, and read some more!

It is essential that from grades K-12, students work to build strong reading comprehension skills early and often (just like voting… HA!) in order to prepare for a successful college and work career later in life.

What does student diversity mean to you?

Do you think colleges and universities feel the same way about diversity on campus?

Living on the East Coast, I had never heard of the group called the Future Farmers of America. Might members of that club help add to the “diversity” of the student body at most colleges? Apparently, some colleges consider that “type” of diversity to be too far out of their (political) spectrum to be admitted to their elite, “diverse” institution.

Institutions of higher learning are generally looking (or at least make the claim), to create a heterogeneous study body to enlighten each other by mixing many minds to produce many voices.

Of course, the reality is far from the hype.

In his essay published in the July 12, 2010 edition of Minding the Campus, Dr. Russell Niely writes that, “in practice ‘diversity’ on campus is largely a code word for the presence of a substantial proportion of those in the “underrepresented” racial minority groups.” Niely refers to new study by Princeton sociologist Thomas Espenshade and his colleague Alexandria Radford in writing his essay on how diversity punishes students of certain backgrounds more than others. Take a moment to read his interesting commentary.

I joke about it today but even though my grades and test scores from high school fit the range of the school I applied and was accepted to, I believe I was accepted on “let’s take a kid from Vermont” day when the admissions office was looking to fill some “rural” seats in the freshman class.

If there is only one thing that you take away from this post, it is that you need to understand that college admission is not about you (or your student), but rather about “them” (the particular college or university you’re considering applying to).

If you don’t “fit” what they’re looking for, then you’re barking up the wrong tree. Or worse, you get in, but then don’t get enough financial assistance to make it through all four years and become saddled with an insurmountable amount of student debt.

What a terrible way to start off your young life!

When beginning your college search, find schools that are open to giving you an opportunity to build on your competence and intelligence so that you will become successful in whatever you ultimately decide to do… rather than those entities that demand a certain type of credential before allowing a person to progress.

How would you pronounce the object in the photo? With an emphasis on the “UM” or the “BRELLA?”

UM-brella, or um-BRELLA?

I used to think there was only one way. Growing up in Vermont; it was “um-BRELLA.”

Where I went to college, people emphasized the first syllable instead.
I realized that by traveling a little more than a thousand miles from where I grew up, I could find more diversity than by traveling a much shorter distance across the Canadian border to the French-speaking province of Quebec!

I learned about people, politics, geography, the change of seasons, and most of all, myself.

1861-1865 – What does this time in history mean to you?

People across this great nation of ours are at the same time, both very similar and very different from one another. Certain preconceived notions are found in various parts of society in each state of union and I was fortunate enough to experience a variety of them by living in a different part of the country for four years. For example, I had been taught that the war between the states in the 1860′s was called the Civil War. I discovered that others had been informed that it was the War of Northern Aggression. Amazing how different those terms are, that describe the same event.

We all have seen the red and blue of the political maps on television during election season and can see that the two colors present themselves more brightly than the other, in certain areas of the country. Meeting the people that truly believed in a different point of view than mine was a fascinating dose of reality. It made me review and understand my own views with more conviction, and even open my eyes to a point of view opposite of mine.

The mountains of my home state became rolling hills and open valleys as I drove the 20 hours it took to get to school. It was amazing to see the changes in the scenery as I went off to college.

Going to Football Games

I expected the fall to resemble the crisp, dark days of New England after the leaves had fallen and the local football team was on the gridiron. Instead, I found that attending the college games were nothing like anything I had ever experienced. The men wore coat and tie women wore dresses – “Bizzaro World” for a kid from New England who was used to seeing everyone dressed in sweatshirts, jeans, boots, hats and gloves for the games! It was great to go through winter without a single snow flake sticking to the ground! Discovering the trees, plants, and flowers in bloom in March instead of June, was a real treat!

Best of all, spending time away from the community I grew up in, really helped me mature and learn about myself in an environment that did not confine my learning experiences to the boundaries of my youth. My point is that this is the time in a young person’s life to get out, explore, and really push oneself to break free from your comfort zone!

The Worst College Visit Ever!

“I hated that school,” were the first words that came out of my client’s mouth when I enthusiastically asked her about her recent college visit.

As an independent college counselor, I spend a lot of time coaching high school students on how to have a fun and productive experience on a college campus.

Strangely enough, many colleges do all the wrong things to have a student’s visit be a complete turn-off.  Here is what to do to achieve that result:

1. Make sure that there is no human contact when setting up a visit and/or interview.  Have it be all done on-line with no further communication from the college in terms of confirmation, information about where the admissions office is, where to park, and directions on how to find one’s way around the campus.
2. Make sure that there is no welcome when the family arrives at the admissions office.  Have the secretary be too preoccupied to take the time to be gracious. It’s especially effective if the visitors have the impression that they were unexpected.
3. At the orientation session, make sure that the message is, “This is a very prestigious college, and you’ll be lucky to get in.”  Paint a picture of the typical student as the quintessential overachiever who is so perfect that students in attendance are in awe of their own inadequacies.
4. Don’t have any process for selecting tour guides.  Anyone who qualifies for work study will do.  Guides who are especially uninformed about academic programs, activities, and life on campus are perfect.  Guides who are sarcastic, pretentious, or who have no personality or sense of humor are ideal.
5. As prospective students walk around the campus with their parents, have everyone ignore them.  Don’t smile, nod, or even say, “Hello” (gasp!).
6. When touring the dorms, make sure the tour guide doesn’t have a key to the “showcase dorm room.”  Instead have her offer to show the group her room, complete with hung-over boyfriend in her bed.  This actually happened, much to the delight and surprise of the prospective student’s mother.
7. When touring the dorms, have there be beer flowing down the stairs and empties overflowing trash bins on a Tuesday or Wednesday morning.  Hey, a mid-week party breaks up the monotony of studying!
8. Have the campus look tired and uncared for.  Buildings should be showing signs of wear and be unclean. Outdoor clusters of cigarette butts add a special touch.
9. If a student asks to visit a class, be sure it’s one where the professor is boring and the students are apathetic.
10. Let there be no further contact with the student from the college.  There are so many students who are interested, there just isn’t enough time to stay in touch or encourage them to apply.

An article for families of rising high school juniors and seniors.

How to understand financial aid

What to do when you aren’t eligible for Financial Aid?

I just saved $300 on my car insurance!

Well, not really. I haven’t had that euphoric feeling recently, but I know there are some families who have been shouting for joy in recent weeks, due to the fact that they understood the financial aid process at the higher education institutions in the United States, BEFORE their student was applying.

Their excitement doesn’t come from a savings of ”$300″ but rather from a number that could be closer to $100,000!

Yes, you read that right.

Families that have students heading off to college this coming fall, which prepared a GAMEPlan for their college search, are finding success and happiness in knowing that over the next four years, they will have a financially sound ability to continue to live within their financial parameters. A financial plan that they chose for themselves. Not what the schools have imposed upon them.

High School Juniors (soon to be seniors) – Know this… your “base year” for financial aid began five months ago. You are smack in the middle of what the colleges will see when you apply for financial aid in January 2011. Take advantage of this knowledge and prepare yourselves and your families for the inevitable “sticker shock” that will occur when the acceptance letters and financial aid awards start pouring in next spring.

NOW is the time to start planning for YOUR college success plan. It is important to consider the Money Factor, competitiveness of the Admission process, and the Family Priorities when putting together your college search GAME Plan.

Other material to read: Financial Aid 101: How to Get More.

While this article contains some good information on both short and long-term strategies for saving and paying for college, the underlying point that needs to be repeated over and over is that waiting to figure out how to pay for college AFTER your student has been accepted is WAY TOO LATE! Get yourself prepared and educated on the process when your high school student is finishing up sophomore year! By the time your student is a junior, you’re already “IN” the financial aid “base year.” You’ll thank yourself later!

For Undergraduates & Graduates In Healthcare Studies

We have been contacted recently about this program, and we are happy to share it with our readers. If you know a deserving college undergraduate or graduate student in healthcare studies, please pass the information along.

This is a scholarship opportunity for students who are currently pursuing healthcare-related degrees.

Eligible students must have completed at least one year of undergraduate or graduate course of study in the Spring of 2010.

The TYLENOL® Scholarship Program is generously offering $250,000 in scholarships to students pursuing healthcare-related degrees.

Applications must be received by May 14, 2010.

Check out Tylenol.com/scholarship for more information.

We reprint here some details we received about the program:

TYLENOL® Scholarship Program

Paying for college has never been tougher, so we wanted to be sure to bring this scholarship opportunity to your attention!

The TYLENOL® Scholarship application is available online at Tylenol.com/scholarship.

Scholarships are awarded based on outstanding leadership qualities, as well as academic excellence.

Additional scholarship details:

• Eligible students must be pursuing healthcare-related degrees
• Ten students will be awarded $10,000 scholarships
• Thirty students will receive $5,000 scholarships
• Applications must be received by May 14, 2010. Winners will be selected by July 15, 2010. Scholarships delivered by September of 2010.

Eligible students must have completed at least one year of undergraduate or graduate course of study in the Spring of 2010 at an accredited two or four year college, university or vocational – technical school.

The makers of TYLENOL® care about the future of healthcare and recognize that dedicating yourself to healthcare is no small commitment.

That is why we are proud to offer a scholarship program dedicated to supporting some of the best and the brightest undergraduate and graduate students involved in healthcare-related fields.

Now in its 18th year, the TYLENOL® Scholarship Program supports America’s next generation of healthcare providers.

******************
Please note that College Search GamePLAN has no affiliation with Tylenol or related companies.

Good luck to all who participate.

Happy Now We're Through It All

Juniors are in the midst of the college search process, if they are doing it correctly!

Time To Talk About The Sophomores! Freshmen Too!

“If you are prepared, you will be confident, and will do the job.” ~ Tom Landry

Key Success Factors

1. Students who do well on standardized tests do a lot of reading. Read, read, and read some more!
2. If you don’t like to read, refer to # 1
3. Set your test strategy toward the end of sophomore year
4. Take PSAT in sophomore and junior year. Take PLAN at the end of sophomore year
5. Manage your time. Don’t cram for standardized tests
6. Engage yourself in a challenging high school curriculum
7. Establish a high level of classroom performance in Math, Science, Foreign Language, and History
8. Develop your writing skills over time and get constructive feedback on your writing as often as possible
9. Understand what your candidate colleges will require of you
10. Pay attention to the official record you create! Don’t practice by taking the real test. Use diagnostic tests for practicing

Don’t forget also: “A stitch in time saves nine.”

PS – For those who missed it and are still waiting for or struggling with award letters, here’s a helping hand:
Award Letter Evaluation Tool

Award letters are in and now is the time to analyze the various offers. There can be a lot of information to digest, such as the form and amounts of student financial aid, the total cost of attendance, PLUS Loans, as well as the family’s funding options and budgeting.

The Award Letter Evaluation Tool from Strategies For College (MS Excel) allows you to break down financial aid awards from each college, and help decide which offer best meets your needs.

The spreadsheet includes a tab providing straightforward instructions, covering the following elements:

• Gathering cost information for each school.
• Enter up to 4 schools.
• Cost of Attendance
• Award Package data
• Award Package analysis
• Estimated Family Responsibility

The worksheet then helps you calculate, analyze and compare:

Total Cost Of Attendance (Annual)

• Billed costs by the school (ex. tuition, board, fees)
• Other expenses (ex. books, travel)

Financial Aid

• Gift Aid
• Self Help (loans and work study)

Family Financial Responsibility

• Balance due by the family

Financial Comparisons

Funding Sources to cover remaining balance

Feel free to share the Award Letter Evaluation Tool from Strategies For College with anyone who is in the process of making their final decision on college selection.

And good luck to all!

College - Who Is Going To Pay?

We have spaced a few things out, but there is no content editing.

We invite parents and students to make comments.

And we will follow the same rules for this interesting post. Here we go …

Budgeting In The Fun Stuff

“I’ve decided to use this week to get through some of the controversial issues I see on other blogs. I’m simply going to post my opinions and see what you think.

Today’s topic: Fronting College Costs

My hubby and I don’t have kids, but we remember college. I had some help from my parents and my husband was covered 100%.

I can’t think of anything concrete to base an opinion on. I had a higher GPA than my husband, but I don’t know if money had anything to do with that.

My parents are retired and my husband’s are not, but I’m not sure if his college expenses are what held them back. In short, I’m not sure what is best for your situation, but here’s my opinion.

I’d save for retirement before I’d save for my kid’s college expenses.

My kid can get scholarships, grants, a job, or loans. There is none of that for retired people. I rather not have to depend on others to provide for me in my old age, so I believe in retirement first.

What if you are good for retirement?

Well, that’s trickier. I remember how mature and how selfish I was as a teenager. Yes, I could handle money, but I was sooo manipulative. I don’t believe my grades would have been worse if my parents had covered me, but I might have gotten into more trouble.

What are your kids like? Do you think they will see your help as the miracle it is and earn their keep? Or do you think they will party the nights away since it’s not their money?

If I was a parent and knew I could help, I’d make them this deal.

I have X amount to contribute. If I see them working their butts off to get all the scholarships and grants as possible, I’ll help them cover the rest if I can. If they continue to work their butts off, I’ll continue trying to help. If at any point they decide to take advantage (like fail a class or two or become alcoholics), I’ll pull the plug.

The best idea I’ve heard of was from a lady that left a comment on a blog I read last year.

Her parents agreed to pay for the housing expenses of all 3 of their kids, but the kids had to cover everything else. This motivated her and her siblings to get as much “free” money as possible and work summers to cover the rest. That seemed really helpful and fair.

What do you think? To pay or not to pay, that is the question. Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. ”

Lee Bollinger, President of Columbia University, was rejected by Harvard.

We regret to inform you that you did not make it into a prestigious institution.

His take on that?

‘Don’t let rejections control your life. To “allow other people’s assessment of you to determine your own self-assessment is a very big mistake.”’

Mr. Bollinger was quoted in a recent article in the Wall Street Journal to affirm the obvious:

A bright kid is going to be successful no matter what name is on the sheepskin when they graduate college.

After the rejection by Harvard, he attended the University of Oregon on a scholarship and look at where he is today.

At this time of the year, many high school seniors are experiencing the angst that comes with the college application process, and stories abound of overly stressed students.

And then there are the parents, who may be projecting their own anxiety on their children and creating most of the drama. (The issue of parental ambition is worthy of its own discussion).

Fear Of The Thin Envelope

The “thin envelope” is typically the rejection letter that no student wants to receive.

A degree of nervousness is normal, but let’s put things into perspective:

• Being one of several students from your high school who apply to the same selective college increases the probability of getting waitlisted.
• Each year in the United States, there are almost 300,000 students in the top ten percent of their respective high school classes.
• The “top 50″ (and we have our own opinion about this ranking) national liberal arts colleges and national universities are capable of enrolling only 50-60,000 students each year.

The message that students and parents can take away from these facts:

75% or more of the very best students enroll in quality institutions other than the “top 50” and have very happy and productive college experiences and prosperous lives thereafter.

It’s that simple. So take a break from the undue stress and understand that success in the undergraduate years is driven by the student.

And there is a host of high quality learning institutions outside of the “top 50″ that are ready to welcome a hard working and positive thinking student.

What you do in your academic work is more important than the name of the institution on the diploma.

Our approach?

Work with our clients to establish a plan that results in a selection of four or more schools that provide a “best fit” college environment for the student, and financially viable options for the family.

This can sometimes cut against the grain of the student and/or the parents, who may well be star struck by their “dream college”.

However, our experience tells us that while this successful approach doesn’t eliminate all the nervousness, it certainly reduces the stress.