CMH College Consulting

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!