CMH College Consulting

Most schools in the Triangle are officially out for a two week holiday break. For most students, that means it's time to have fun and not study. For many high school seniors, however, it's the perfect time to finish those college applications. While most college deadlines for early decision and early admissions have passed, the majority of students will be aiming for those regular college admissions dates. Those dates commonly occur from January 1st until as late as the middle of March. In addition, some schools may still have time to submit applications in order to be considered for Merit Aid. Early January is usually the latest schools allow for those submissions, so check with your counselor or the admissions department at the school you are applying to. Students applying to school in North Carolina can log into CFNC.org to locate the dates for the specific schools they are interested in. Click on the Search CFNC & Campus Sites button and choose the school you are in

A recent article in the New York Times posted an interview with a private school counselor regarding their take on whether or not their was a "need" for college consultants. My response was as follows: It's interesting to see the reaction people have to the college consulting profession. An educator for over 23 years, and now a college consultant and founder of CMH College Consulting, I always found the time to assist those students that needed some extra help with their college search and applications. The student’s needs were varied. Most couldn't get in to see their counselor, others had poor counselors, some just needed more time than a counselor could give. But either way, student’s seeking additional assistance beyond the school counselor is not new. It's been going on for decades. It’s funny how college consultants are being touted as “not truly needed” and criticized for being an unregulated profession, making claims that may not come true, and even

I recently attended a luncheon where we were addressed by a speaker who is quite well known in their field. The address began by giving us some informational background on how this speaker had overcome some economic hardships and had been guided by their mother’s sage advice. The speaker was able to go to college and as a result, became a success. They then shared one piece of advice in which they thought was key to this success. Apparently, this speaker’s mother had advised that if they didn’t want to grow up poor, they should spend some time living among the poor and observing them. Then, they should go out into the world and NOT do what those poor people did. I was appalled… In this day and age of equality and calls for acceptance among the diverse, there is still that prejudice against those that are poor. How is it that we still assume the poor are ignorant, lazy and worthless? How is it that in this day and age, we still equate being poor with unhappiness? Do we really beli

An article in the Washington Post confirmed what many had feared: in state students are having a much more difficult time getting accepted into their own state's universities. As the economy continues to lag, schools are finding it necessary to accept more out of state students to pay the higher tuition bill. The end result is that in state schools are becoming even more selective for the brightest students. While this isn't great for students looking to stay at home in state, it does have one small advantage. While doors to your home state's flagship universities may be closing, doors to out of state flagships, which were traditionally closed to out of state students, are now becoming a bit easier to obtain entry into. The bottom line, however, is that students need to keep an open mind about where they want to apply to school and make sure that school is a fit - not just conveniently down the road.

CMH College Consulting: The Benefits of a College Visit

I'm often asked by parents if it is necessary for their child to visit a college before they apply. My answer is always the same: Absolutely! I then explain that this is a place your child will spend the next 4 years. This will be their home - they must feel comfortable. My speech usually lasts a bit longer, explaining that they need to be able to convince the admissions office that this is really what they want, etc. Recently, however, I witnessed a completely different reason: watching a child realize they had found their fit and fall in love... On a blustery, cold, wet day, as Hurricane Ida marched across the Carolina's making her Atlantic Assault, I had the opportunity to watch a young man realize he had finally found a fit. Touring the school with umbrellas being blown askew, rain soaking our pants and shoes, and the wind making the temperature feel close to freezing, I watched as the smile on this young man's face continued to grow. With each new building and co

I just finished visiting Highpoint University, Catawba College, and Davidson College in North Carolina. View my photos on my Facebook Fan Page.

I regularly read Bob Morse's Blog on US News. Recently, he posted "Which Schools Are A+ for B Students? October 08, 2009 12:46 PM ET | Robert Morse". On first site, it appears to have the possibility of a good read. However, I was turned off by the first sentence which reads, "What do you do if you are a high school student with less-than-dazzling grades and SAT/ACT test scores and you still want to go to a very good school?" Seriously, can someone please tell me when getting all B's became "less than stellar"? As a credentialed and experienced educator, I find this to be offensive. We need to stop insisting that all students have A's. Or worse, having less than straight A's makes you "less than stellar". Grading scales are set to distinguish between excellent, above average, average, below average, and not meeting expectations. When everyone earns A's, what then becomes the basis of average? While attending a top tier

Many student's wait until the Spring of their junior year and even the fall of their senior year to begin taking their SAT's and ACT's. However, the beginning of junior year is the perfect time to make your standardized test schedule, particularly if the schools you are applying to require Subject Area exams (SAT II's). It is important to note that Subject Area exams can NOT be taken on the same day as the regular SAT, thus you must make sure you have time to get both exams in. Also, SAT II' are not offered as often as the regular SAT, so make sure you keep that in mind when scheduling your tests. As a rule of thumb, SAT II's are best taken after an advanced course such as honors or preferably an AP course. Also, Ivy Leagues schools require 3 SAT II's.

Fall is a great time for rising juniors, as well as rising sophomores, to begin thinking about college visits. With the hectic academic and extra-curricular load students are carrying, it is no longer possible to do all your college visits the summer before senior year. Students should begin taking advantage of Open House's and College Fair's in order to start putting together their potential college list. When applying to a college, many schools ask if you have visited the campus. Replying "yes" sends the message that you are indeed interested in the school and not just applying as a fall back. It is important to remember that the school you chose will be where you spend 8 months out of the year. Taking into account distance from home, cost of travel, climate, & residence status are helpful in choosing your college. Make sure that this is a school that not only meets your major interest, but look to see that the school offers areas that you are also interes

The PSAT is just around the corner - October 14th to be exact. So, what is the PSAT, who should take it and why? "The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a program cosponsored by the College Board and National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC). It's a standardized test that provides firsthand practice for the SAT®. It also gives you a chance to enter NMSC scholarship programs and gain access to college and career planning tools (CollegeBoard, http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/about.html)." While 9th and 10th grade students are encouraged to take the test for practice, the only year that "counts" is the 11th grade. The test is given once nationally and students must register for it. Although the test's most commonly known purpose is for the awarding of National Merit Scholarship's, it really has several benefits for all students. The biggest advantage of taking the test is to provide a baseline i

It's hard to believe that college deadlines are already approaching. When determining when to submit your applications there are a few things to remember: First, check to see whether a college has Early Action or Early Decision. Make sure you understand whether the school's policy is binding or has restrictions. Most Early Decision's require you to commit to the school if you are admitted. This means you must also withdraw all other applications. Early Action means that you are in an early round, however, depending on the school, you may be restricted to how many Early Action school's you can apply to. Second, make sure that you have completed all the required testing and acquired all the appropriate paperwork necessary to meet each decision deadline. If you still need to take the SAT in Nov or Jan, an Early Action or Decision is probably not the best plan. The same logic applies if you are counting on your senior year grades to boost your GPA. Finally, don't

As students begin to complete their college applications, the question of how many schools to apply to always comes up. While there is no magical number to guarantee acceptance, several rules of thumb come to mind: When applying to college, make sure you have visited the school, after all, this is where you will live for the next 4 years. If you really can't make it to the school, make sure you have thoroughly researched the school's web site as well as researched the surrounding area. Ask questions of people that have attended the school. Make contacts and communicate regularly with admissions staff. Don't apply to a school that you KNOW you won't attend; this is a waste of good time and money. This is not what is meant as a safety school. A "safety" school is not a guarantee. Instead, a "safety" school is one that you would be happy to attend, although not necessarily your first choice. This is a school that you are above, or at the top end of

The 2009-2010 Common application went live on July 1. While summer is a great time to relax and do those things you didn't have time for during the school year, it's also a time to get ahead of the college application process. Looking forward to senior year, most students are carrying a heavy load. Class work and activities will quickly dominate your life again. Now is the time to make sure that you at least complete the basic information sections on your applications before the rush of the new school. Take time to gather your material and focus on doing a thorough job of completing and answering all the questions on your applications. The more you can do now, the less stress you will have in the fall!

This is my comment to Robert Morse's Blog in US News and World Report http://www.usnews.com/blogs/college-rankings-blog/2009/06/24/what-i-did-in-kazakhstan.html For years now, I have eagerly awaited the ranking results of my graduate school alma mater. Having earned a terminal degree at the nation's topped rank graduate school of education, I am quite proud of the accomplishments of my former and current professors, as well as its former and current students. I was fortunate to have experienced first- hand the dedication and passion shown each day, as research was diligently conducted to improve all aspects of the educational process. Presently, I am working as an Independent College Consultant in my own firm, CMH College Consulting. Instilled with the belief that all children can learn, and that each child learns differently, my first goal is to find a college that best fits the needs of the individual student. Not surprisingly, the goal of most parents and st

It's been two weeks since my first post about college essays. With summer well under way, it is time to put the pencil to the paper. A few tips on writing: Start with an idea - Jot down thoughts or sentences about a topic you think you want to write about Narrow your subject to two or three ideas Try writing a few sentences on each and see where it goes Share your ideas with a parent/teacher/ or mentor Get some feedback and try again! Remember, essays take time. Don't expect a finished product the first time. This is the one chance you get to show the admissions team how unique you are beyond the grades and test scores! Take advantage of the time you have this summer and make the most of the opportunity!

The Common Application will be available the first of July. Now is the time to check and see which of your schools uses this application. Junior year grades should be posted by now. If you can, try and get an official copy of your transcripts from your school. When the application comes out, go ahead and start your account. Sign in and begin filling in the basic information. While this seems mundane, it is rather time consuming. Take advantage of the summer to get ahead in this process. After completing your personal information, begin putting in your grades. Make sure you follow the instructions. One of the biggest mistakes students make is NOT reading the instructions carefully. What you think they want may be completely different from what they really want.

Now that you figured how who you are applying to and when, it's time to start gathering documents. While keeping a list of all your accomplishments is good, it would be best to turn that list into a resume. To begin, make sure you have the following: Complete list of all high school courses taken, in order, from freshman year. Make sure you have the full course name and grade. If your school uses a block schedule and only records one grade for the full credit, that is the only grade you should report. Complete list of any high school course that you took in middle school AND received high school credit for. This grade will NOT be computed in your GPA. Complete list of every college course, be it summer or online, in which you received either a high school or college credit. Again, make sure you have the full name, grade, and type of credit received. Finally, regarding grades, make sure your list accurately reflects what each transcript reports. You will need an official tran

So you've finished your junior year; you're finally a senior! Now the real fun begins! You've spent the last 3 years making the grade, being involved, developing leadership skills, and taking tests. You've got all your information ready for your applications. What more can you do?! Guess what? It's time to start planning those college essays! That's right, now, during the summer. The essay is your one single opportunity to show admissions counselors who you are. Beyond the transcript and the application, admissions people want to know what makes you tick. As you wind down from junior year, start thinking about those little things that make you unique. Get a notebook, or make a file on your computer, that is devoted to essay ideas. Jot down anecdotes such as the time you went fishing with your grandpa, or how you were picked for the decorating committee even when everyone knew you were the class math geek. Write everything down. Don't look for momen

As classes end for the summer, now is a good time to start thinking ahead to the Fall. If you are a rising senior, here are a few things to begin working on now: Make a definitive list of those schools you are applying to in the Fall If you haven't visited each of the schools on your list, make plans to do so this summer Check to see which type of application each school accepts: Common, their own, or both Determine the application deadline for each school and decide whether or not you will apply early decision, early application, priority decision, or regular admission This list is just the beginning of what should be an exciting time for students. Stay tuned for more tips on getting ahead in summer!

Planning for college in a poor economy is difficult at best. With nationwide layoffs and one of the largest unemployment rates in decades, saving for college isn't exactly at the top of one's list of things to do with their paycheck. However, aside from putting away money you don't have, there are steps that parents and students can take to ease the total cost of education. As students navigate the high school process, pay particular attention to what courses your student takes. AP courses offer the opportunity to earn college credits while in high school. It is not uncommon for students who did well in AP classes to earn credit for 1-2 semesters of college. Particularly ambitious students may be able to finish most of their general electives while still in high school. This leads to early graduation, which results in a large savings in college tuition. With public school tuition around $15,000 and private schools as much as $50,000, this results in a huge amount of