CMH College Consulting

As if taking an AP exam weren’t stressful enough, now students in the state of North Carolina are dealing with having their AP exams disrupted on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 due to the teacher walkout. Don’t misunderstand; I fully support every teacher in the state. They absolutely deserve to be paid far more than they are being paid. It’s just yet another fight that they shouldn’t have to fight. However, on May 16th, thousands of juniors across the state were preparing for their AP English Language Composition Exam. While the AP Macroeconomics and Italian exam are also administered this day, the AP English Language exam is one of those exams that have some bearing on their college applications. It’s the one they want to do well on to show colleges they really can write. Unfortunately, for every county in the state that is walking out – each one is handling this differently. Wake County is requiring those students who are to take the exam to come to school anyway – I won’t address how ...

It's been a while since I've posted anything to my blog. OK, a while might be a bit under-stated - it's been half a decade. Looking at my past posts, I've made a couple of observations about the field of education. First, issues in education never really seem to change no matter what the decade is. It wouldn't be education if we didn't have major concerns centered on money. There’s the sky rocketing cost of education in public, private and higher education to worry about, as well as the lack of money needed to fund those institutions. There are continued concerns revolving around preparing our students: preparing them for the next grade level of school, preparing them to take standardized tests, and preparing them to get into college. And then there are the concerns about insuring that we produce the world's best students – which we seem to think we should be the best at in everything. This has led to schools and colleges competing to see who ranks as the...

It’s the new year and for parents of high school seniors and college-aged kids, it signifies the arrival of this year’s FAFSA . For those of you unfamiliar with the term, FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It is the tool that helps determine a family’s eligibility for federal grants, loans and work study as mandated by the Higher Education Opportunity Act . Essentially, the completion of the FAFSA allows the government to use your tax returns to determine what your Expected Family Contribution to your child’s education should be and what type of aid you may qualify for. So how does this process work? First, using your 2012 tax return, complete the FAFSA application on line. This should take about 15-30 minutes. Once you submit it, you will immediately receive your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Your EFC is the amount of money, based on your reported income and finances, that you are EXPECTED to contribute to your child’s education. The EFC does take into acc...

An article appeared to today in the NY Times regarding high school counselors. This is my response: An experienced public school teacher and administrator, I am saddened to see yet another member of the system being flogged in front of the public. Having supervised many a guidance counselor, I understand first hand that their job, just like the rest of us in public education, is often an impossible job. While there are those guidance counselors that are fortunate enough to work in very small high schools with low student ratios, the vast majority are not so lucky. Most counselors would love to spend their day guiding and advising students regarding the opportunities that await them in higher education. Unfortunately, mandates from NCLB and other initiatives dictate that their day is spent on anything but advising students. Instead, they are forced to attend truancy meetings, attendance committees, drop-out prevention meetings, oversee testing and scheduling, and obtain training in ...

In response to the US News article on January 15, 2010, it is sad, but true, that students who can afford to pay for college will have better acceptance rates in 2010. While colleges are a non-profit, they are still a business and have bills to pay. While it is unfortunate for students who have financial need, it makes sense to seek out qualified candidates that can pay, especially when there is a huge candidate pool of qualified wealthy students. In response to a previous comment regarding how a college could know...Unfortunately, college applications are full of questions that reveal things about a student that parents don't even realize. The biggest indicator is the glaring question of "will you be applying for financial aid". This tells a lot about an applicant. Also, every school submits their profile when they submit a student's transcript. This too allows admissions officers to see where a student is from. Attending a wealthy school, regardless of your ...

As discussed earlier, the process of beginning the college search entails more than looking in your backyard and picking a school based on your favorite team. In Part 1, the search process began with looking at the size of the school. Having determined the size of school that will meet your needs, it's then time to look at the next factor. Step 2: Setting Just as looking at size entails a great deal of thought, the category of setting is also important. Like many students across the nation, those of us in the Triangle, and all of North Carolina, are fortunate to have a plethora of excellent schools to search from. However, determining which school to look at requires consideration into its setting. With thousands of schools to choose from across the nation, the choice of setting can range from remote to urban. The setting of the school does NOT indicate the size or caliber of a school. Dartmouth is located in a remote area of New Hampshire; the commute from the closest airpor...

Now that the holidays are over and students are in their second semester of classes, it's time for high school juniors to really focus on the college search. But before you start getting out the maps and making reservations though, it's important to make sure that your college search contains a list of schools that are truly a fit. Living in an area that is home to some of the nation's best universities, it can be difficult to look beyond your back door, especially when those schools happen to be amongst the best values in college educations nationwide. However, it is crucial to a student's academic success to do your homework and really look at what you want in a college education, before you jump straight to choosing a college based on its perceived ranking. Step 1: Size In determining what size school you want to attend, it's important to understand the difference between a college and university. A college typically focuses on undergraduate education, awarding...

Duke University recently announced that they will begin participating in the Federal Direct Student Loan Program next fall. One of the few private universities that practices a need-blind admissions policy, Duke has a history of continually striving to increase financial aid to its students. The Federal Direct Student Loan Program is funded by the US Department of Education. It provides loans for education after high school, including the well-known Stafford and PLUS loans. Currently, Duke participates in the FFEL (Federal Family Education Loan) program. Student Aid on the Web makes the following distinction between the two programs: "Under the Direct Loan Program, the funds for your loan come directly from the federal government. Funds for your FFEL will come from a bank, credit union, or other lender that participates in the program. Eligibility rules and loan amounts are identical under both programs, but repayment plans differ somewhat." Duke's motivation in sw...

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 ...