One of the questions I get asked all of the time is: What can my family be doing now to prepare my student for college and beyond?
My answer: Strive to raise students who are independent, responsible, and citizens. How? Create family systems that are rooted in values and hold children accountable for carrying their share of the chores and responsibilities.
We refer to The Command Center as the place in the home where we keep schedules, chore charts, and manage weekly finances. This can be a bulletin board, a bedroom wall or a refrigerator. What’s important is that it is located in the home where parents can manage and make changes, and children can own and take responsibility. It’s also important to note that it is designed with the realization that this area and the materials in it are subject to change as children grow and needs shift.
Some examples include:
Post family values, or special quotes that sets the tone for the space
Create a family calendar where everyone’s schedule is laid out for the week
Many people believe that being deferred marks the end of the road on their journey with a particular school, however, that is not always the case. There are several steps that you can take once you receive that deferral, and it is important to remain positive throughout the process. Here are four things you can do if you receive a deferral letter from a college or university:
Decide if that college is still your top choice. Does the deferment change how you feel about the school? Find someone whose opinion you trust & value so that you can talk it out. Weigh out the pros and cons and remain practical in your thought process.
Follow the instructions in your deferral notice. The college may need more information from you to help them make their decision. This could be updated grades/test scores, more recommendation letters, or an update on your extracurricular activities. Provide the requested materials in a timely manner.
Compose a deferral letter. Some colleges want to know that you are still committed to attending their school. This is a great opportunity for you to express why the school is a great fit for you as well as confirm your continued desire to attend. Remain upbeat and hopeful in your delivery, no matter how disheartened the situation may make you feel.
Focus on your backup plan. Once you’ve done everything you can do it is important not to lose sight of all the other amazing opportunities that await you! Continue to apply and look forward to the decisions of other colleges!
At e.Merging we believe that there is no such thing as “too early” to be thinking about the future. We think of the resume as an opportunity to envision the future.
Foster meaningful relationships with your teachers
Continue to add to your list of extracurriculars
Research 1 school on your college list per week
Sign up for a college fair in your area
Speak with your school counselor about your future plans
Begin organizing any information you come across about potential colleges in ONE place
Get involved in your school and community whenever possible
Sign up for a SAT/ACT preparation course, or take practice tests
Self-reflect on experiences and activities in high school that were meaningful to you
Plan ahead! Build a list and/or timeline. Application season will arrive before you know it, and you want to be as prepared as possible.
Students with a diversity of experience have a background, upbringing, or other life circumstances that have fundamentally shaped how they see the world.
These experiences could be cultural, ethnic, religious, geographic, socioeconomic, or any number of factors that contribute to their unique perspective.
Why does Diversity of Experience matter?
Colleges strive to create classes of people who fit well with their school’s culture and mission, but who also bring a variety of perspectives and experiences that will add value to the school’s community.
Having a diverse class is more likely to lead to students doing a variety of things upon graduation, enabling a school to have a broader impact on the world.
We will be having a new webinar on March 7 from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM MST on College Preparation!
We will be discussing the practical steps for students and parents to create a competitive (and genuine) application.
The topic of my last webinar was, “What Are Colleges Looking For?”
The Common Application requires students to share the “story” of their high school years by including transcript, test scores, activities list, resume, personal statement, and supplemental essays.
College admissions officers are also looking for character traits that “bring the student to life beyond the numbers.” The student’s responsibility is to prove these traits throughout the college application.
If you were unable to make my last webinar, we want to make sure you have access to this valuable information so please watch the recorded video below to learn more
Not to worry, we will be having a new webinar on March 7 from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM MST on College Preparation!
We will be discussing the practical steps for students and parents to create a competitive (and genuine) application.
Contribution to others has benefits that extend far beyond building an excellent resume for college applications. Contributing to others is known to make people happier, healthier, inspire others, and promotes cooperation and social connection.
The most effective way to inspire students to contribute is for parents to model “giving” and to include students along the way.
To learn more about research and contribution read this article from the Greater Good.
Students who contribute are always coming up with ideas to improve everything they touch. Then, they act on those ideas in a way that is noticeable by their peers, teachers, or families.
They can proudly say “Hey, I made this happen,” or “I made this better than it was before.”
These students may be leaders in the traditional sense—presidents of clubs, captains of teams—or they may make substantial contributions to other communities.
Why does Contribution matter?
Colleges want to invest in students who will have a positive impact on their campus community.
Students who elevate other people, communities, and organizations will enhance the college’s community as well as the world upon graduation.
Questions to ask?
What is a community where you feel at home? What is your role in the community? How do you contribute to it?
What have you done to make your school or community (family, organizations, hometown) a better place?
Describe a time where your leadership positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts (in your family, community, school, or organizations).
Describe a time when you made one or more people’s lives better. How did it make you feel?
What is something you frequently do that others will miss in your community when you are in college? What drives you to make this contribution?
Colleges want to see students exhibit initiative. Admissions officers seek “stories” that prove that students can “take the reigns” and step into new opportunities. We work with students to create and document their experiences with the belief that the resume maps a “life well lived.”
What is Initiative?
Students who take the initiative are unwilling to accept the status quo but are willing to challenge it, do things to improve, and generate outcomes. They are proactive in finding solutions and putting them into action.
Why does Initiative Matter?
Students who take the initiative are unwilling to accept the status quo but are willing to challenge it, do things to improve, and generate outcomes. They are proactive in finding solutions and putting them into action.
To learn more about “what colleges are looking for,” check our blog on Drive and IntellectualCuriosity or join us for a webinar on Monday, January 31, 2022 at 12:30-1:15 MST.
The college admissions process is stressful. Students are bombarded with the pressure and expectation that they will have top scores, an abundant activity list, and write a personal statement that will blow everyone away. In my college educational consulting practice, I find that most parents and students are confused and bewildered by the abundance of information. As a top consultant in the field, I strive to provide researched-based and timely information so that students are informed with accurate advice. This month, I have been exploring the topic: What are colleges looking for? In last week’s post, we explored the topic of DRIVE as one of the traits that admissions directors seek. The student’s job is to PROVE these traits by aligning personal narratives to the qualities inherent in Drive. Students who prove drive tell stories such as:
Examples of DRIVE
When I didn’t make the volleyball team, I joined rock climbing and now I climb 2 x’s a week and compete on a traveling team
I struggled in Chemistry and instead of switching to the easier class, I started meeting with my teacher during her office hours
I wanted to place in speech and debate so I found a mentor to work with me and now I am placing-and striving to place in nationals.
What is Intellectual Curiosity?
Intellectually curious students spend their free time learning for the fun of it, challenging their own views, and pondering new ideas.
These students will go above and beyond their coursework to gain a deeper understanding of the subjects and topics that interest them, such as by going on to the internet to learn more.
They love finding unique connections between their areas of interest and formulating new ideas.
Why does Intellectual Curiosity matter?
Colleges know that students who are deeply interested in a subject or topic are more likely to succeed in classes, contribute to the college community, and be successful after graduating.
They want to empower intellectually curious students to make an impact on their chosen field.
Top 10 Tips to Prove Intellectual Curiosity
1. READ, READ READ. Students who read are more interesting and have more to say about the world.
2. Listen to podcasts to expand interests and passions.
3. Subscribe to magazines on topics that pique interest.
4. Documentaries are a great way to dig deeper beyond the classroom walls.
5. Sign up for academic programs in the summer that inspire and inform.
6. Write an opinion piece for the local newspaper and submit it for publication.
7. Secure an internship in an area of interest.
8. Get to know teachers and meet with them on a regular basis.
9. Engage with a mentor and pursue a research project.
10. Keep track of all your efforts in a spread sheet as many colleges require a list of how a student has pursued their interests.
LUNCH AND LEARN WITH LAURA BARR
January 31 at 12:30 pm
Join Laura Barr in her Lunch and Learn as she explores the topic of “What exactly are colleges looking for and how can parents help.” This topic is relevant for parents of all ages.
The Common Application requires students to share the “story” of their high school years by including transcript, test scores, activities list, resume, personal statement, and supplemental essays.
College admissions officers are also looking for character traits that “bring the student to life beyond the numbers.” The student’s responsibility is to prove these traits throughout the college application.
One of the top traits students are looking for is DRIVE.
Driven students push themselves to succeed no matter the odds.
Driven students usually have confronted difficult situations and emerged stronger, wiser, and determined.
They are confident in their ability to solve new challenges.
Why is Drive Important?
Colleges know that the transition after high school can be challenging—college students face tougher classes, more activities, and new social pressures.
Driven students are likely to overcome these challenges to graduate, do well in classes, and succeed after graduating.
LUNCH AND LEARN WITH LAURA BARR
January 31 at 12:30-1:15 pm MST
Join Laura Barr in her Lunch and Learn as she explores the topic of “What exactly are colleges looking for and how can parents help.” This topic is relevant for parents of all ages.
It is an absolute honor to work with kind, curious students who are eager and committed to creating a post-graduate life that provides meaning and purpose. Much of my work is asking meaningful questions that offer fodder for growth. As we head into a reflection, rest, and gratitude period, I wanted to share some of my favorite gratitude questions that trigger meaningful and heartful conversations.
The more gratitude we practice, the happier we become. Research proves that active habits in consciously showing and sharing gratitude improve self-esteem, self-efficacy, and general outlook. To learn more about the research, check out this article from Berkley.
To prepare our students for the application plan, we are inspired by Warren Berger’s book “More Beautiful Questions” to mine for passion, purpose, and identity development.
TIP: Download our Gratitude exercise and create a habit of talking with students about what matters most to them.
