College Fair Tips

Fall is a busy season for taking standardized tests, visiting a college campus or two and for attending college fairs.

 Attending a Fall College Fair is one of the best first steps in your college search.

 Here are a few tips to consider.

 1.   All high school students should take the time to attend. I’ve been asked if it’s ‘really worth it’ for an underclassmen to attend. Yes, it is.

2.   Upon arrival, pick up a map of the fair and look to visit the tables for schools you may have already identified.

3.   Introduce yourself to the college representative. That’s right, shake the rep’s hand and say hello. It’s great practice to talk with adults informally but in a respectful manner.

4.   If you have any specific interest, make sure to ask about them such as study abroad options or a certain major you are looking to pursue.

5.   Do not specifically ask what is your ‘chance for admission’ but ask what is the range in GPA, test scores and personal qualities the school is looking for in applicants.

6.   Visit two or three schools for which you have never heard of. This is a great way to expand your thoughts about where to attend and to learn of different types of schools: private universities, small liberal arts colleges, public and state universities, etc.

7.   Make sure to have your QR code scanned by every table you stop at. That way, the college can contact you in the future and you can ask questions going forward.

Have fun. Attending is a fun and exciting time to see what colleges and universities are out there!

Some Tips on how to succeed at College: from my academic coaching years….

As an academic coach, advisor and First Year Seminar Professor, I have decades of experience working with college students on how to manage their time, the heavier volume of course work in college vs high school and adjusting to a new life.

Here are my basic tips for everyone.

Academic:

1. Chunking: What is that?

   Chunking is a term where you divide your time in chunks: Think of your semester and break it down into months, weeks, and days. Look at each course syllabi and map out what assignments are due and plug in each due date, quiz and test into your calendar. Then you can see your entire semester schedule and how you can go about chunking your daily schedule. Do you have a Politics essay due next week? Chunk out some time this weekend to prep and write. A quiz in Biology? Chunk some time each day to review class notes, and readings to stay up on what the professor emphasizes!

2. Tip: The most common place a professor takes questions for a quiz or test is from their lectures and class time. So, take good notes and review class slides!

Personal:

1. For first year, first semester students the ‘newness’ of college has probably faded by now. Phew! Now you need to buckle down, and figure how a more balanced schedule between studying, having fun and taking care of yourself. Make sure to join a club that is 1. Academic, 2. Fun, and 3. Something you’ve never done before. That’s at least 3 clubs, people. Go!

Career:

Go Visit the Career Services Office, now. (Even if you are a first year student.) It’s actually the best year to start. If you wait until senior year, it’s too late! Go, now. And attend presentations and events they offer. Networking is the #1 way to get internships and jobs.

You’ve got this!

It’s October- Here’s your Application to-do list

To-Do List for Applying:

1. Complete Common Application

• All sections in the common app tab

• All supplemental sections- for each college (does the school have an essay prompt as well?)

• Upload completed personal essay in the writing tab in the common app tab

2. Request Transcript and Letters of Recommendation through either Common app, Naviance, Scoir and your guidance counselor via high school office. 

3. If needed, order official test scores from the college board for SAT or act.org for ACt to go to schools you are applying to.

4. Complete STARS, if need be, (this is a software platform that posts your transcript with all high school coursework and grades which you link to your college’s portal after you submit.) https://srar.selfreportedtranscript.com/Login.aspx

5. After you submit, check your email and set up your applicant portals! Important step. You will most likely need to do one or two things in there and/or link your STARS to it, as well as upload an art portfolio, etc. if need be. 

Good luck!

Giving agency: Keeping your Teens accountable for their Actions

Jennifer Breheny Wallace’s published book, Never Enough: When Achievement Culture becomes toxic and what to do about it really hit home for me both personally and professionally. I have been working with teens for almost 30 years and I currently have three young adult children of my own; two in college and one who just graduated from college last spring. The pressure is real. Parenting today is different from twenty- thirty years ago. Parents today feel a an obligation to be more involved, hands-on and to be on top of their children’s activities and achievement both in-and-out of the classroom. 

This starts at an early age but when I meet with families of teenagers, I often learn of how much this pressure has affected them. The anxiety has been developing for decades and parents have been feeling it grow. With the development of globalization and hypercompetition, parents feel they need to be involved in every step of their child’s development and achievement to prepare them for their future.

Parents link their success to their child’s achievements which in turn puts pressure and causes anxiety. 

What can parents do to help their teen feel less anxious, more confident and happy? 

Here are some tips:

1. Tell your teen that they matter. They are special just the way they are and no matter how high their achievement goes, they are special none-the-less. Mattering, according to Breheny Wallace, is the most important action a parent can take to help their teen feel loved and build self-esteem. 

2. Minimize Criticism: I always tell my students that the most important voice they listen to is their ‘inner-voice’. How parents talk to their children helps develop that inner-voice. Speak with supportive words. 

3. Add Value: Make time to ask your teen how their day was? Ask about a small moment, not just how was a test or quiz which can make the teen feel that achievement is the only thing that matters to the parent. 

4. Accountability for one’s actions: This is true for all in the family. Parent and teen anre accountable for their own actions. So parents, instead of solving every problem for your teen, ask them how they will solve the problem- give them agency to solve their problems and help them only when needed.

5. Self-Care: Make sure to take care of yourself. You will not be able to be a loving, supportive parent if you do not take care of yourself first. 

6. Seek help when needed: Today’s Generation Z is comfortable seeking help when they feel they need it. Don’t be a barrier to that as older generations are typically not accustomed to seeking professional help as easily. Mental health problems need to be addressed immediately.

Fall 2025 Campus Visit Information

As you embark on planning your fall trips to college campuses, here is some helpful information you’ll want to know: 

1. Tours, and Campus Information & Financial Aid Sessions
   A. Make a plan- start out visiting schools that are within easy access so that you do not need to take time away from work and school for too long. Visit schools in the small, medium and large range if possible to get a feel for each different size school. Then once the student gets a better feel for the type of school, you can plan a multi-day trip to visit multiple campuses. 

          B. Schedule visits. Typically on the admissions page of a school’s website, you can book your visit on their online calendar. The student’s information should be used. Make sure to use a personal email address, not your high school email address when registering. 

When scheduling you will most likely have the option to attend both an information session and a campus tour. Many times, schools offer a financial aid session as well. Decide what’s best for your window of time and register for one or all of the offered events. 

       C. Information session usually starts off your visit and is held in the admissions office or in a large space where many can congregate to hear the presentation. Sometimes it’s a powerpoint presentation, often it’s simply a representative from admissions welcoming you to campus and providing you with an overview of life at the college or university and giving you key details about the school that they want to make sure you go home with. In other words, this is their sales pitch!

Tour: Most campus tours will cover the following:

Academic buildings

Recreational facilities

Library

First year-residential dorm

Campus landmarks

Financial Aid Information Session:

Need based aid

FAFSA: Free Application for Student Aid

CSS Profile (if applicable)

Merit based aid

Loans

Grants

Work Study

2. Open Houses are typically offered once a month and on a weekend day. It offers the prospective student a more in-depth look at a college or university. Usually a school offers a campus tour, information session, academic and student panels, lunch or brunch and time to talk with other current and prospective students. You also have the opportunity to have a more specific tour that is geared toward what you may want to major in. For example, at an open house at Union College, they offer an engineering specific tour, led by an engineering major.

3. Virtual Tours are a great option as no one can visit every school you apply to and it gives you the same information that an in-person information session typically does. 

4. Self-Guided Tour: If you are unable to register for an official tour or visit. Use a school’s self-guided tour which is usually vis podcast or on their admissions website. 

5. Overnight Stays are great at any time in the college admissions journey but especially when you are deciding between acceptances, spring of your senior year. Spending time with a current student and staying on campus overnight is the best way to be exposed to campus life both in and out of the classroom.

6. Admitted student days take place in winter and spring of your senior year. After you are accepted, you will be invited to attend. They are very helpful in making the final decision on which school to choose. Typically a school provides tours, academic presentations and panel discussions, student panels, meals with current students and time to meet other accepted students as well. 

Visiting colleges is essential in deciding what type of school you’d like to attend. 

• If you want to learn my tips and strategies on what to do while visiting, reach out to Suzanne for a free consultation

Six Tips for a Successful Admissions Interview

Colleges and universities that offer or require an interview as a factor in the admissions process view the opportunity to hear and speak with you as an essential factor in their decision-making. 

Colleges and universities take a more holistic approach to admitting students when they include an interview. It is a great indicator that this college or university sees all qualities of an applicant, not just grades and standardized tests. It can give the student a chance to explain their application and for you and the school to get acquainted. The interview can really help a marginal student’s application, too. 

If a school states that their interviews are evaluative, do it, whether or not it is recommended or required. If a college or university merely recommends interviews, whether or not it is evaluative, it is still highly recommended. 

The college is looking to answer some of the following items:

·      Student’s level of enthusiasm and motivation for attending the school. 

·      Who you are beyond your grades and test scores.

·      Your intellectual promise, leadership, personality and sense of humor. 

6 tips to prepare for the interview:

1.   Know about Yourself

Why do you want to go to college?

Why do you want to attend ( ) college in particular?

Why are you a good match with ( ) college?

2. Be prepared to talk about High School   

Chance to talk about your school community and what/how you were involved

Statistics: Know your GPA and how many students are graduating in your class

This also gives you a chance to mention any loop holes in your studies.

3. Be prepared to talk about Extracurricular Activities

Know the organizations in which you participate.

What has been the most important to you and why?

What might you continue in college?

Have you risen to any leadership positions?

Be sure to talk about activities outside of school too.

4. Dress appropriate: Wear a business-smart look. 

5. What NOT to do during an Interview:

 Avoid yes-and-no answers.

Chew gum

Have your cell phone with you and/or on. Silence it!

Don’t be late.

Don’t over-share

Don’t swear

Don’t put your family down

6. What TO do during an interview:

Relax: There really is no way to bomb the interview.  It’s merely a conversation. 

Dress appropriately

Listen carefully. Be attentive. Smile

Ask questions. It shows you are interested. 

Write a thank you note. Always follow up with a thank you note to the person who interviewed you. 

Be confident! You got this!!

Admissions Reps will visit your high school this fall: should I attend a few, yes.

During the fall months, many college admission officers are out traveling from high school to high school meeting with students to discuss their college. These officers are making the rounds in a designated area of the country.

Here are a few tips to keep in mind when attending a college rep visit:

1. Shake their hand. Introduce yourself and say hello. It’s a great way to practice your professional skills. Adults remember students who go the extra mile.

2. Listen and take notes while the College Rep is giving their summary about the school. You won’t remember everything that is said and you can look back on what was told to you later on.

3. Ask a question or two. Ask about whether or not you must declare a major on your application and if so can you switch your major upon matriculating? Or what about housing? Is it guranteed all four years or do students live off campus after freshman year?

4. Do not look at your phone during the meeting. Silence it and don’t snap or text while in the meeting.

5. Say thank you and get their business card. You can email them after the meeting and thank them for coming to your high school.

Class of 2026: Here’s some $ advice you did think you needed to know: Tuition Discount rates reach an all time high

According to the National Association of College and University Business Offices (NACUBO) the average discount for incoming first-year, first-time undergraduate students for the 2024–2025 admissions cycle was 56.3 percent at private colleges and 51.4 percent for all undergraduates.

As discussed, in an article, by Josh Moody, in Inside Higher Ed, “Tuition Discounting Hits Another High” tuition discount ended close to 60% at private colleges and a little over 50% overall, shows how schools in general are willing to dig deeper into their pockets to secure the needed student headcount.

Private colleges and universities rely more on tuition dollars, especially schools that do not have strong alumni backers and/or endowments.

With the number of high school graduates declining overall in the next few decades, a stop gap in federal funding for public universities and a bottle neck in international students studying in the US, it will be interesting to see what will be in the future with how deep schools will go with offering discounts to entice students and families to commit to one school over another.

Your kitchen table discussion should include, one thing for sure, stay informed and when discussing your options, don’t commit too quickly as schools may circle back to you with an offer you did not expect.

10 Tips for completing the Common Application

The Common App is convenient as it allows students to apply to multiple colleges and universities at once with the same inputted information and college essay.

As convenient as the Common App may be, many students make mistakes inputting their information. Here are some tips on how to avoid typical mistakes.

1. Deadlines: The Common App goes live on August 1st of each year. So a student can start to submit any time after that especially for a school that has rolling admissions or early decision or early action. Keep track of deadlines. It is very important to not miss a deadline or you will miss out on submitting your Common App.

2. Personal Information: A student must input their personal information about basic information. It is important that the student ask a parent or guardian for any information they may need to complete this section accurately. (Typically, a student doesn’t know when their parent graduated from college, for example.)

3. Activities Section: The goal of the activities section is to share with the Admissions Committee your involvement in extracurricular involvement. Activities should be organized from the most important to the least important. There are ten spots to list activities. Use these spots wisely. A student only has a limited space to describe each activity. Write your description clearly.

4. Common App Essay: The student will submit a 650 word essay answering one of the prompts listed on the Common App. Copy/paste the essay into your common app. Do not attach a document. This does not always work. The essay should be a non-fiction personal narrative. The essay should share a part of you that is not found anywhere else on the application and that only you can write.

5. Resume: Not all schools ask for a resume to be submitted but if a school does, definitely submit one. It will help explain your activities, honors and accomplishments in more detail than the activities section of the Common App.

6. Standardized Tests: Most colleges and universities have stayed test optional. But if you decide to submit your SAT or ACT score, it should be within the 50% percentile of what the college looks for. Average test scores have gone up due to schools being test optional so be wise about whether you submit your score.

7. Supplemental Essays: Students will be able to review whether or not a college or university asks students to respond to a supplemental essay prompt(s). These are specific to each school. Be sure that if a school says it’s optional to submit anyway. Be as specific as possible when answering supplemental essay questions. Stay on point.

8. Proofread: Make sure to proofread your Common App answers. Have a parent, teacher or school counselor read through your application.

9. Email Address: Please use an appropriate email address when applying to college. Do not use your high school email address. If you need to create a new address, please do so. This is how admissions offices communicate with you; they will send you an email to check your admissions portal/account.

10. Last, make sure to hit submit! Some students forget to make the time to submit their Common App. Set time aside to submit your Common App. Good Luck!

Parenting tips 101: how to get through the college admissions cycle.

Many parents reach out to me seeking guidance and advice on how to navigate parenting through the college admissions process. Here is what you, as a parent, can focus on.

1. If you are positive about your teen, then your teen will be positive about themself. Focus on helping guide your teen, not tell them, what they need to do, should do, or must change to become a successful applicant to a college. How you talk to your teen, talk about your teen in front of them and how you react to your teen’s mistakes directly affects how they feel about themself. Your teen is not an outcome or trophy.  The student is a human.

2. If you attempt to be too involved in the college application process, then your teen will feel like they are not capable of handling it themself. Don’t be a snowplow parent. Do not ask too many questions and nag. You are not applying to college, they are. Do not re-write their essays. Let them write. Admissions representatives can certainly tell if a 17-year old or a 47-year-old wrote the essays.

3. Assist your teen in creating a balanced college list with equal number of likely, target and reach schools. This will give them the best opportunity of having multiple options to choose from once decisions arrive. A list with too many reach schools is unrealistic and does not work.

4. Do not read social media ‘college admissions’ accounts on Facebook. That’s essentially falling down a rabbit hole of wrong information. It will cause you added stress  which will then cause your student stress too.

5. Don’t make every conversation about college admissions. Enjoy your last year with your teen at home. Enjoy senior year and let the college admissions process happen naturally.

6. Help your teen create a calendar so they have their time organized for when to do everything in a timely manner. Timelines help both the parent and teen feel grounded.

7. Let your teen make mistakes. He needs to learn how to build character, problem solve and build self-confidence.

8. When your teen lands on a college campus, he will inevitably face new problems in life. How will they have the needed skills to  problem solve, deal with homesickness and/or approach a teacher about a question if they never had the chance to do so in high school? There is no perfect teen. There is no perfect applicant. There is no perfect parent.