Update Announcement!

Okay, so by now most of you have realized that it is the summer. With that you've probably noticed that school is out and most of the school planning has taken a hiatus for a while. Not that parents are any less concerned or that students' goals have somehow become unappreciated or irrelevant, but everyone needs a break every once and a while.

That being said, the blog will take a short summer break so I can both focus efforts elsewhere for a few weeks and it will return in all its glory as school starts again and there is a greater need and desire for the wonderful counsel you get here.

As always feel free to send in questions and stay tuned for any answers and posts that come in the mean time.

Step #1: Make the Decision

While the decision to attend college belongs to your teenager, your role plays a huge part in whether or not this is the path he will take. You guide your teenager through his childhood into adulthood making suggestions and helping with decisions along the way. If you want your teen to go to college, chances are he or she is going to college.

Because this is a major decision, start by taking some reflection time, then talk to your teen. You may also want to take this Is Your Teen Ready for College? quiz. It will give you an overview of what your teenager will need to be able to do by the time he attends college.

Strengthen Your Academic Skills

If you think your skills aren't quite up to speed for college, don't give up. Take time to prepare yourself. There are many ways to get a college degree. You just have to take the path that's right for you. Follow these tips:

• Use test score information to see where you need work. Score information from the ACT®, SAT, PLAN, PSAT can tell you what subjects you need help with and what you can do to raise your skills to the next level. Remember, a low score doesn't necessarily mean you're bad in a subject. It just means you haven't mastered the subject yet.
• Work with a tutor to learn what you don't know yet.
• Take a summer or night school class.
• Check out study aids—books, videotapes, audiotapes and computer programs—at your school library, a public library, or a local bookstore.
• Ask your counselor or a teacher about ways you can build your academic skills.

College Planning Tips for Underclassmen

As an underclassman in high school, you may not think that you have to start preparing for college until your senior year. However, getting a head start on the college planning process will ensure that you meet most of the requirements of college admission by the time your senior year rolls around. Follow these college planning tips to put you at the head of the game.

Freshmen
• Keep your grades up. While grades are not the only factor that colleges look at when admitting students, it is still a very important factor of college admissions. Be sure to study hard throughout your four years of high school.
• Register for appropriate classes. There are certain classes you have to take in order to be accepted into college, such as math, science, English, etc. Meet with your guidance counselor to discuss classes you should take in order to stay on the college-bound track throughout high school. Try to take as many challenging classes as possible, such as honors or advanced placements courses. Not only will this look good on your college applications, but you may even gain college credit for taking AP courses.
• Get involved in extracurricular activities. By being involved in extracurricular activities, colleges will see that you are a well-rounded student. During your freshman year, find a few activities that you have a genuine interest in and stick with those activities throughout high school. Try to be fully involved in a few activities rather than be slightly involved in a lot of activities.

Sophomores
• Plan your finances. The earlier you start planning for the financial obligations of college, the better prepared you will be when you actually have to start paying for it. Try to get a job during the summer, so you can save your earnings for college costs. Begin to research scholarships and student loans now too; remember to compare lender benefits when researching student loans.
• Research colleges and careers. Start researching colleges and career options as early as possible so you will have some ideas for a major. Click here to get started on your career exploration.
• Practice taking college entrance exams. If you practice taking college entrance exams, such as the PSAT, ACT, etc., during your sophomore year, then you will know what to expect and be better prepared for the real tests when you have to take them during your junior year.

Juniors
• Attend college fairs. By attending college fairs, you will have the opportunity to meet with a variety of college recruiters to discuss campus atmosphere, admissions process, etc. Take a copy of your resume to hand out to college recruiters at the fair.
• Take college entrance exams. In the fall of your junior year, take the PSAT to establish eligibility for scholarships. In the spring of your junior year, take the SAT/ACT. Check with your intended college(s) about which test they prefer. Consider taking Advanced Placement Exams or the CLEP tests, if applicable. This may save you time and money by testing out of college courses you won't need.
• Visit college campuses. Once you have narrowed down your choices for post-secondary schools, you should begin scheduling campus visits for the final schools on your list.
• Research/apply for scholarships. Throughout your junior year, focus on researching scholarships. You should begin applying for scholarships the summer after your junior year, especially if deadlines are in the fall.

By taking steps to plan for college during your freshman, sophomore, and junior years of high school, you should be well prepared to apply to the college/university of your choice by your senior year.

Extracurricular Activities: Follow Your Passions

Excelling outside of class is one of the most important things you can do to differentiate yourself in the college-admission process. It’s also important for your personal development. Experiencing success and failure, trying new things, taking on a leadership challenge, working with different kinds of people, pursuing your own initiatives, taking risks — these are all important for your growth, learning, and confidence. Of course, it’s also important for you to balance your time and not get overwhelmed.

How much is enough…or too much?

There is no one “right” or “wrong” activity to engage in. A student who does 8 million community service and volunteer activities will often ask whether she needs to play a sport to get into college. A tri-sport athlete asks whether he needs to do some service or have a job. There’s no clear answer. Some students are able to be involved in multiple activities of different kinds, and they enjoy it. Others like the focus of intense involvement in one or two key areas, and should feel good about showing leadership and initiative.

Whatever you do, try to take it to the next level and search for opportunities to expand and deepen your involvement. Remember to keep your eye on your academic courses and grades, though, since they are the cornerstone of any college application.

Hidden sources of inspiration

Ready to get involved? Look beyond your high school and into the community, and outside of the academic year into your summer schedule. Some personal hobbies — stamp, coin, or card collecting, dance, music, art, writing, work or internships — might have no connection to school. They might even seem inconsequential — something you have always done and which you are naturally good at or interested in. These may turn into your primary passions during high school and could be an important component of your college applications.

For example, one student made sure to continue her dance during the weekends and evenings near home during the school year, and to take advantage of high-level summer programs in dance, even though her high school didn’t offer dance and she was unable to participate in a high school sport. She wrote about her love for dance and added a recommendation from her long-time dance mentor in her college applications. These are the types of things that set a student apart.

The college connection

There is a direct connection between what you like to do with your time and your presentation to colleges. Colleges ask for you to detail what has been most meaningful to you. It makes sense for you to write about your most important activities or personal hobbies, and for these involvements to flow from your interest and dedication, not from any manufactured effort to impress. Stick with what you know (and what you’re good at) and the rest will follow.

If you love the outdoors, pursue a wilderness and leadership program during the summer. Get certified as an EMT or wilderness first responder. Create a ropes course at your school or start an outdoors, hiking, or skiing club. There is no end to the ways in which you can take your passion to the next level. All you need is persistence and creativity. Is money an issue? Fundraisers, applications for community grants, and solicitations for local support can even overcome financial barriers to new programs, clubs, and trips.

Looking for ideas?

There are many resources available to help you plan your activities and summers. An online search will produce an unbelievably long list of programs for the summer or school year, ranging from study abroad opportunities to pre-college programs. Examine those that fit your interests very carefully. Check references, explore whether the academic or activity level is right for you, and consider how the program fits with your objectives — not just for college, but for the exploration and development of your skills and abilities.

I don’t recommend, as you may have already picked up, doing programs or activities “because they look good for colleges.” Do them because they fit you, will help you find what you love to do, and will help you promote your personal development as you move through high school and college. Last but not least, have fun!

Why So Interested in Summer?

You may have noticed that I’ve been going on about summer school for the past few days…

The historical and traditional perspective of a summer school program is one that sparks emotions of fear, despair, and boredom. Normally we think of summer school as something a student would be required to do because he or she needs a class in order to move to the next grade. This is not always the case…

Many advanced students will enroll in a summer program to get a class out of the way so they can do more the next tear or take a class that would conflict with whatever course they took in the summer. Some students will take basics or prerequisite courses during the summer in order to enroll in AP classes during the year.

There are also many summer “schools” that are not necessarily school at all. Many universities have summer programs for students to come and visit (in hopes that they will eventually enroll at the university) and see what college is like. Other community programs such as museums, parks, and community centers offer classes in extracurricular subjects like dance, art, space exploration, mountaineering, etc.

These programs often compete with the typical summer camps that most youth have experiences in before high school. There are camps for music, sports, scouts, and a variety of other interests. Not all are for middle school age children only. Many summer camp programs include high schoolers as participants as well as counselors or student leaders or managers.

But what is the point of the summer program anyway? I mean, students spend more time in school now than they have in years, especially those that want to go to college…
But is it all necessary? I’m afraid the best answer I can give is maybe. Some students will need summer classes to get through school (whether for bad grades or to move into advanced classes). Some students will want those camps or summer programs because that is the only time they have to devote to extracurriculars. But some won’t.

Admissions Counselors will have your grades, SAT/ACT scores, course lists, extracurriculars, essays and maybe even letters of recommendation. Students are in school in most areas for 9 or 10 months out of the year. Based on transcripts and score they will know if you can handle school and how well you are expected to do in classes at a college. Those who are college bound need only be worried about one thing: Balance. They want to admit students who have achieved a successful balance between school, family, fun, work, and life in general. They want students who will add to their community.

What does that mean for you? Take a look at all you do. Don’t spread yourself too thin, but be involved and active in something. It looks better to an admissions counselor that you have good grades and are involved in one or two things consistently and seriously that it does to see someone with good grades that is all over the place when it comes to extracurricular activities. Joining 10 clubs and participating in 3 sports doesn’t work for most people. Don’t be fooled that numbers matter when it comes to showing involvement. You have an essay and maybe letters of recommendation to help you show how balanced and well rounded you are, to show how you can contribute to the campus community of the college of your choice.

Remember, it doesn’t matter if the only thing you do is volunteer or participate in a church youth group. But you should be able to show how that activity has made you into a better, more capable/responsible/reasonable/etc [insert your adjective of choice here] person.

Summer School Option

Failing a class in high school can be devastating to self esteem (not to mention offer potential trouble getting into a preferred college), but luckily there are options to take: Summer school, taking the class over the following year, staying back a year or, if it’s an elective, just letting it go. Here are five reasons why summer school is a viable choice:


1.) Summer school will give more time to learn the basics of the subject being taught. Middle and high school classes mimic the fast paced world in which we live. Unfortunately, students learning math and science often can’t keep up and get lost. Considering each step is a building block for the next concept in the course, it isn’t a mystery why many students do not pass a class the first time around. The needed time is offered during summer school sessions.

2.) The environment of a summer school class offers a different approach. It tends to be more relaxed with smaller classes – it’s the optimal learning environment in which all students could benefit. Couple that with having a different teacher who uses their unique teaching approach and students may do very well with the subject that they previously failed. students, such as these, do well in summer school and often become more positive about their academics.

3.) Summer school will give a second chance to obtain class credit, preventing doubling up a core class during the school year. Here is how today’s high school works: Each state requires a certain amount of core classes to be taken by every student and passed before they can graduate. So, even if a student isn’t going to college, he/she may still have to pass four math classes including algebra and geometry to obtain a diploma. This can be demoralizing to students that have a hard time in math classes. If he/she fails the one, having to take two of these together the next year can lead to more failure with the possibility of the teenager dropping out of school. Summer school prevents this problem.

4.) During summer school, students will be able to focus on just that particular class. Remember, students face the same type of stress that we are facing in our adult lives with deadlines and the push to perform well. Summer school will help those who get overloaded by having too many classes to focus on at one time. So, if the work load during the school year was a problem, summer school is the option to take to get the class credit.

5.) Summer school will give the chance to raise his/her grade point average. A failure in any class really hurts the cumulative average and can cost the chance to go on to the college or technical school of choice. While letting an elective class go and not retaking it is an option, summer school grades replace the failing grade already earned, thereby raising the grade point average.

Create a positive conversation by bringing up something your does well. Then discuss ways to keep a failing grade from happening again by using study groups and perhaps hiring a tutor at the first sign of trouble in a class. When it is all said and done, summer school will get some students back on the right track with passing grades.

Summer School Tips

When looking for a summer school program, here are some important factors to consider:

• How much of the summer do you want to commit to school? Programs range from five days to eight weeks.
• What do you want to get out of summer school? Do you want to turbocharge your academics? Act in a play? Teach young children? Learn how a political campaign is conducted? Polish up a second language? Work with engineers in the computer industry?
• Where do you want to stay? Do you want a residential program where you live in dorms with other students or would you prefer to live at home, attending school only during the day?
• Can you get high-school (or college) credit for summer school courses? Receiving credit depends both on the school where you take the course and on your home school.
• How much can you spend on summer school? If the answer is nothing, are free programs available in your state or school district?

Bottom Line

When evaluating whether summer school is right for you, the real question is what you aspire to learn and what type of summer program provides the best experience for it. For more advice and for information about specific programs, talk to your high school counselor.

Summer School - It’s Not What You Think:

Summer school may make you think of remedial classes for students who slacked off during the school year. But that’s not the whole story. Yes, lots of high schools do have mandatory summer school for students who have underperformed. But summer school can also mean attending classes at a college, in programs students actually compete to get into.

A Variety of Programs and Benefits

These days, there are summer schools for just about every type of student, whether you’d like to work on academic subjects or developing skills such as playing an instrument or sport.

Pursue Your Interests

Use a summer program to develop a talent or interest in the arts, humanities, or sciences. For example, the California State Summer School for the Arts, held on the campus of the California Institute for the Arts (CalArts) in Valencia, has programs in film and video, creative writing, visual arts, animation, dance, music, and theater.

Meanwhile, the Michigan Tech Summer Youth Program allows you to participate in week-long “Explorations” in engineering, math, science and technology, ecology, outdoor adventure, and a variety of social sciences and humanities areas.

To stay closer to home, check out your local performing arts centers, science museums, and parks; many have summer programs where you can get hands-on experience, ranging from set design to environmental education.

Gain Experience Outside of the Classroom

Summer school programs often involve a lot more hands-on learning than you’ll find in your regular classes. Many residential summer school programs include sports, travel, and social activities in their curricula. Personal development and leadership skills are also major themes.

Improve Your High School Transcript

A challenging summer school program can increase your chances of getting into a competitive college. Attending a challenging summer school program can increase your chances of getting into a competitive college. In fact, some summer school programs are as competitive as colleges, requiring an extensive application complete with SAT or PSAT scores, teacher recommendations, and a personal essay.

While attendance at a high-powered summer school does not guarantee that you will get into an Ivy League school, it does add a certain luster to your college applications. Nonetheless, a cutting-edge internship or a job that requires responsibility and leadership can look just as good on your college applications.

Try Your Hand at Real College Work

If you’re craving more in-depth study of a subject you’re interested in, and high school classes leave you wanting more, college-level classes may be the answer. Or, if you simply want to explore a particular school, or experience college classes, it's a great preview.

Most colleges welcome anyone who wants to learn into their normal college-level classes. Of course, they give priority to students who are enrolled full time, but more often than not room is available. Call the colleges on your wish list. Ask if they have a summer semester and get them to send you a catalog.

If you are motivated and able, it’s also possible to enroll in college classes during your normal school year. But make sure the extra workload won’t interfere with your high school work.

The Cost

Private summer schools can be expensive, but the good news is that Governors’ Schools and similar programs supported by state and federal education funding tend to be less so – some are even free of charge, and most offer financial aid based on need.

If you come from a low-income family or you’ll be the first member of your family to attend college, you may be eligible for an Upward Bound TRIO program, in which you could spend part of your summer at a nearby university or college, essentially getting a preview of campus life while building skills and meeting other students from across your region.

Private summer schools, like the program offered at Harvard, also offer a limited amount of financial aid, so don't cross them off your list just because they carry a hefty price tag.