CMH College Consulting

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