What did I LOVE about Nancy’s book? She allowed the reader to go inside her own college admissions process with her son and experience all the trepidation and angst that goes along with it. She adds humor by describing parent archetypes so you can avoid those types of behaviors during the process. Her ”5 Tips” sprinkled throughout the book simplify each step in the process and her “Top Tips” from college experts put you inside the heads of those who are “in the know” about college admissions.

Quite honestly, every page of her book had me laughing and saying, “Man oh man, do I remember that statement coming out of my daughter’s mouth!” Then Nancy helps you put it all into perspective and get you to the other side of the drama giving you insight into the perfect mental and emotional response.

Here’s an excerpt from her book of a conversation between Nancy (denoted as “me”) and her son (denoted as “teen”) related to college selection:

Me: What about Texas?

Teen: I don’t think I can go anywhere where they speak with southern accents.

Me: But you have a Pittsburgh accent. This really isn’t the place to start throwing stones.

Me: (after deep breath) What about Ohio? There are so many great schools in Ohio.

Teen: I’m not going anywhere that borders our state.

Me: (rough calculations look like he’s eliminated five additional states and Ontario; I am determined to figure this out) And why is that?

Teen: It just doesn’t feel right.

Or this conversation related to college visits:

Son: I’ve seen enough, let’s go.

Parent: But we haven’t even parked the car yet.

Son: You don’t think I can tell already? I DON’T like it here.

Parent: But we’re finally here. Let’s get out and look around.

Son: Nope. You go ahead if you want to. I’m just gonna wait here.

Zing! Every parent can relate to these types of conversations from their college-bound teens and Nancy knows how to get you through them with a little humor and a dose of common sense coping tactics.

After reading this review, I know that you MUST have your own copy and here’s your chance to win one. Nancy has donated a copy for me to give away to one parent and here’s what you will need to do to be eligible for the drawing:

1. Leave a comment here with your name and email address; then…
2. Go to my Facebook Fan page and leave a comment on my wall telling me why you NEED Nancy’s book.

On February 8th, one lucky parent will win a copy of College Bound and Gagged to peruse its content and learn all they need to know about surviving the college admissions process.

Good luck!

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A special thanks to Jordan Hassell for participating in our Admissions Spotlight Series.  Mrs. Hassell is an admissions officer at Berry College in Rome, Georgia.  Joseph Fernandez from Parliament Tutors conducted this interview.

As an Admissions Counselor, what are your day-to-day responsibilities?

An Admissions Counselor works with prospective students from the time they first become interested in Berry College until they begin classes as a new student.  We attend college fairs and visit high schools to share information about Berry. We meet with students when they visit campus, we correspond with them throughout the admissions and financial aid processes and we read their applications to make recommendations on admission decisions.
What do you consider the most significant parts of an application, the parts which applicants should prepare the most carefully? 

At Berry, we are mostly concerned with a student’s academic record. Students should pay careful attention to their high school curriculum choices, maintain a strong GPA in core classes and maximize their SAT/ACT scores.

What common pitfalls should applicants be careful to avoid?

Avoid being lazy through the application process. Be sure to complete all required sections of the application, submit a thoughtful essay, use proper grammar and punctuation instead of text lingo and pay attention to deadlines.

Are there any myths about the application process which you would like to dispel?

While we do look for active and well-rounded students, extracurricular activities and multiple recommendation letters do not allow us to overlook deficiencies in the academic record.

What advice would you give to an applicant with below-average test scores but significant work experience?

Maximize your test scores by taking more than one exam. Take advantage of free test prep resources through your school or public library. Use your resume and essay to highlight how you are prepared for college coursework.

What do you look for in a letter of recommendation?

We like to see candid details about a student’s preparation for success in college. We also verify a student’s academic and disciplinary records.

How much faith do you have in the ability of the SAT or ACT to predict success in college?

While scores are not the only factor considered, combined with GPA and rigor of curriculum, exam scores do serve as an indicator of potential success in college coursework.

Suppose an applicant has little or no experience relevant to your program, but has significant experience in other fields.  What can that applicant do to distinguish himself or herself as a good candidate for your program?

Complete a solid high school curriculum, earn strong grades and maximize SAT/ACT scores by taking more than one exam. Share details in your college essay that may help us understand how your interests and experience will contribute to our college community.

This is interview was conducted by Joseph Fernandez, an SAT Tutor from Parliament Tutors — an Houston Tutoringcompany.

What do you do when that ill-fated letter arrives? How do you handle your feelings? How do you handle your student’s feelings? How to turn lemons into lemonade?

When the letter arrives

When the letter arrives and is opened you may want to try and spin it into a positive. Resist that temptation. It’s upsetting to both you and your student. Allow some time to display the emotions related to the disappointment and the feelings of rejection. It’s only natural to feel them and it certainly hasn’t been the first or the last time your student will be disappointed.

Your feelings

Parents take these letters personally. How dare they reject MY child! Our disappointment can often overshadow the feelings our student has. Be careful and don’t project your disappointment on to your student. He/she feels bad enough already; the last thing they need to feel is that they disappointed their parents by not getting accepted.

Your student’s feelings

Every student reacts differently. Some might shrug it off (to your surprise) and others might see this as the end of their world as they know it. The hardest part of this whole college process is dealing with disappointment and rejection. All the truisms in the world won’t help at this moment. Hold them, hug them, and let them know that you feel their pain. Don’t spout off truisms like “it will be ok” or “you don’t want to go there if they don’t want you.” Your student needs the time to deal with their disappointment and move on.

Embrace the life lesson

Once the time has passed and your student is able to be objective, use this as a life lesson. Remind them that there is a place for them and that there is a college where they will feel wanted and accepted. Point out that life is filled with disappointments that often turn into opportunities and you never know what lies ahead on the path you might not have originally chosen.

Every child faces disappointment and rejection throughout their life and a parent’s goal should be to help them face those hurtful times with love and perspective.

Last week I did a radio interview with Power Women Magazine about the college prep process and my Parents Countdown to College Toolkit. In it, I discussed the steps necessary to prepare for the admissions process, how to stay organized, and the 10 mistakes parents and students often make when applying to college.

Click the link below and you can listen to the interview.

Power Women Magazine Radio Interview

Something that many families fail to realize is that not only do the schools need to decide if the student is a right fit for the institution (based on application, test scores, etc.), but the student needs to determine if the school is right for him / her.
Websites, such as CollegeBoard.com offer plenty of good information that will help in the college selection process. You can see which schools are right for your child based on admissions requirements, areas of study and even location. College websites also offer a wealth of knowledge that will generally answer many commonly asked questions, such as cost, academic offering, test requirements for admissions and financial aid options. Many college and university websites also offer virtual tours where you can see the campus, the classrooms and common areas; some may offer a glimpse into what dorm life looks like.

Once you’ve narrowed your search based on the information available online and you have a list of schools that will be a good fit on paper, then it’s time to plan your visit. Pictures will show what the campus looks like, but only with a visit will you know how it feels.

Most colleges and universities will offer an information session for prospective students and their parents, very often followed by a tour.

During the information session, many of the same details that you read on the school’s website will be discussed, but don’t forget that these sessions are an opportunity to dive deeper. Usually, it will be an admissions director leading the session, discussing things like program offerings, campus life and the admissions process. They may even discuss financial aid or have a representative from the school’s financial office there to answer questions.

The campus tour is where you’ll get a lot of great information not usually available online. Most campus tours are lead by current students who are well versed in everything the school has to offer. They’ll show you the highlights of the school’s campus, as well as give you an idea about academic routines and social life.

During the information session and tour, there are some key questions you should encourage your student to ask, questions like:

1. What key factors do you consider when making your acceptance decisions? Some schools cut off applications solely based on test scores; others equally weigh everything, such as test scores, transcripts, essay and interview. Knowing this will help you better prepare for the actual application process and better establish your expectations. You can easily get the data related to this question online, but knowing the key factors that colleges consider will be a plus.
2. What are some of the academic offerings outside of the classroom? Your son or daughter may know what field of study he or she wants to pursue, but even if they don’t, it’s good to know what the school can do for him / her beyond the lecture hall. Are there research opportunities or study-abroad programs? These things make for excellent educational opportunities and can help a student build up his / her resume.
3. Is financial aid need-based or merit-based? This may not be an important question for everyone, but some schools offer only need-based financial aid, whereas others may offer both need- and merit-based financial aid. Merit-based financial aid may change as your student’s grades fluctuate throughout their college career, and it’s important for both you and your child to know how academics may affect his or her tuition.
4. What is campus life really like? Do students stay on campus over the weekends? Is there easy transportation to the nearest town or urban center? Are there clubs and sports available based on your son’s / daughter’s interests? Is there Greek life on campus? Is it necessary or even possible to have a car on campus? The college experience is more than just lectures and studying. The social aspect is just as important and enriching to your child’s education, so it’s wise to find out as much as you can about it.
5. Are academic advisers and faculty easily accessible and supportive? Your child won’t have you around to answer all of their questions and help them along the way, and being independent from parents in an important step in the process of maturing. But support is still needed. You’ll want the confidence of knowing that there’s a system in place to aid your child, helping them select courses, guiding them through their program of study and working with them to resolve any issues that may arise during their time at a school. Some colleges have a more hands-on approach, while others are a little less involved. Knowing your child and his / her needs will help you to determine the type of support he / she need to make it through school, and may be a big factor is the school selection process.

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Today’s guest post was written by Sarah Fudin. Sarah currently works in community relations for the University of Southern California’s Master of Arts in Teaching program, which provides aspiring teachers the opportunity to earn a Masters degree in Teaching and Masters in TESOL. Outside of work Sarah enjoys running, reading and Pinkberry frozen yogurt.

For admissions representatives it is getting harder and harder to truly get to understand what motivates a student as well.  With the advent of the Common App and easy to complete online applications, schools are seeing a surge in application numbers while still trying to figure out the best way to personalize the admissions process for the students that are truly interested in their school.

Enter Zinch.

Zinch.com is a social communication platform that enables students to better manage their college search, while allowing college admissions representatives to connect with students that are interested in their school.  Using Zinch a student can create their first professional profile to “showcase themselves” during their college search.

Traditionally colleges have recruited students with partnerships with the College Board and ACT to segment students by their standardized test scores, get a list of student names, and send recruitment messages.  This practice fuels the misconception that the most important thing schools look at is a student’s SAT or ACT score during their admissions decisions.  On Zinch, students are more than a test score. Colleges on Zinch (close to 1,000 of them) reach out to students based on their interests, the type of school(s) they are most interested in, extra-curricular activities, and more … making a student with a complete profile attractive to colleges!

Zinch makes admissions social as well. College Admissions Officers have profiles that they use to respond to student questions on their school’s page, reach out to students from their geographic area, and be “on call” to answer questions a student has about their application process, financial aid, or anything else they can think of while they are looking at schools.  This breaks down the barriers of a traditional “one way” college search.  All of this in addition to close to $2 Billion in scholarships to apply for, study abroad and test prep opportunities to explore, and educational discounts on computers and books exclusive to Zinch members.

Zinch is free to join, and searching for schools or scholarships does not require a registration.  Students only register when they are ready to apply for scholarships and reach out to specific schools.

See you on Zinch!

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Today’s guest post was submitted by Gil Rogers, Director of Marketing and Outreach for Zinch.com.  Gil recently joined Zinch after nearly 5 years at the University of New Haven in West Haven, CT where he served as Associate Director of Admissions and Enrollment Technology.  While at UNH Gil supervised the undergraduate admissions recruitment staff, as well as reviewed application for admission to the university.

I’ve read plenty of books on college admissions. Some are so scholarly heavy that you need a degree to figure them out. Others are so shallow you can find most of the material in your teen’s high school handouts. Zinch’s book is neither of the above. It’s geared toward the student, but is also extremely valuable from a parent’s perspective. Zinch reminds the student that while the college process often involves the entire family, the final choice must be their own. I agree with this whole heartedly. Every parent should grasp this truth.

Since this book is jam-packed with information, it would be difficult to speak about all of it. Suffice it to say that Zinch covers EVERYTHING from beginning to end. It’s an invaluable resource to have for your student (especially at the beginning of the process), because it walks them through admissions step by step.

Following are some of the highlights (and my favorite parts):

• The Truth About College Admissions-This chapter alone is worth the cost of the book. They debunk the myths about college, college rankings, and tell you the things colleges don’t want you to know. Superb!
• Behind the Scenes-This chapter goes into great detail about what goes on in a college admissions office. As a parent, this chapter will be an eye opener. If you’ve ever wondered what goes on, Zinch spells it out!
• College Input-One of the impressive components in the book is the input Zinch includes from actual specific college admissions officers. It helps you see how they think and how they view the process.
• Social Media-Zinch recognizes the importance of social media and how it can affect the college admissions process. The book talks about your student’s online presence and reminds them that Google never forgets.
• The Hook-This is the first book that I’ve seen that talks about “marketing” the student to the colleges. Zinch explains how important this is in order for your student to stand out.
• The Application process-Since this is the most important part of college admissions, the book goes into specific detail about every aspect of the application with step-by-step guides and tips.
• Three Case Studies-This is my favorite part of the book. Zinch takes three college applicants of different backgrounds and academics and presents their entire application to various colleges for review. The colleges then give their recommendations for acceptance, wait listing or rejection, giving you insight into the “whys” of the decision, along with how they came to their decision. It’s a wealth of information for both students and parents.

The book reads easily and provides many highlighted examples related to each chapter topic. Zinch tells the reader in the first few pages how to use the book:

1. Read it. (to get an overview of the entire process)
2. Ask your parents to read it. (to liberate the student and parent from the myths surrounding college admissions)
3. Start early. (they recommend no later than junior year—I say freshman year)
4. Role play. (put yourself in the role of the admissions officer and evaluate each one)
5. Reread the appropriate chapter. (refer to the information as you need it)
6. Work smarter, not harder. (the book provides you with the tools you need to be prepared)

If you are a parent of a college-bound teen (that means even middle school) you should pick up a copy of this book. Amazon has it on sale now for $9.86 and you can get a sneak peek inside the book as well. If you pick up a copy, let me know what you think. You can also post your comments on Twitter using the hashtag #GettingIn.

Recently, I’ve come across two tools that would help to give your student information about their chances related to admissions: MyChances http://www.mychances.net/ & AdmissionSplash on Facebook http://bit.ly/gkZ6NU

Mashable highlighted AdmissionSplash recently explaining how the tool works.

Here’s my question–would you want your student to use these tools? I would love to hear what you think about them. Yes or no?

How to

STAND OUT

in a College Admissions Office

Author and speaker, Paul Hemphill, will conduct this long-awaited webinar on how a student can get accepted to his or her first-choice college.

Here are topics he will cover:

• The exact extracurricular activities a student should be engaged in
• When a student should apply Early Action vs Early Decision
• Why a student should NOT double-major
• when visiting a campus, the exact footage you should walk behind your student
• How many times should your student take the SAT/ACT
• The only two questions a student needs to ask when visiting a college
• Why Ivy League colleges can be ignored without guilt
• What essay topics to avoid and why the college essay will be the easiest to write
• …and more

Webinar Replay

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_98GI9WQJjU

This will be available for 7 Days ONLY!