CMH College Consulting

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...