CMH College Consulting

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...