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Common Application Now Available
August 7th, 2012The Virtual College Tour – Inspirational, Motivational and Free
July 12th, 2012Around the U.S. thousands of students are visiting colleges without leaving home.
From a personal computer students can explore hundreds of colleges, getting a 360-degree view of the campus and more.
College advisors at International College Counselors recommend them highly for being informative, free and even highly motivational.
When students have a chance to “stroll” around a campus, the dream becomes more real. The discussion can then turn to grades and what is needed for a student to actually attend.
Locations to be visited include lecture halls, gyms and dormitories. Videos may also include student interviews and perspectives on activities like sports, clubs and Greek life. Other tours include information like nearby places to hike, local things to do, and historical features. Sweet Briar College includes places on campus where ghosts have supposedly been seen.
Many families take road trips. But with students applying to more schools, visiting all the schools can be a challenge. Virtual tours can give a student the sense of a college and help narrow down the search. They can help save a family time and money.
Virtual college tours are also a great opportunity for international students to see what a variety of schools looks like.
But, they’re not a replacement for actual visits. College advisors at International College Counselors recommend that students visit their top schools once they’ve narrowed down their list. During an in-person college visit, students can sit in on actual classes and speak with current students to ask questions.
Start touring now!
Berklee College of Music
Columbia University
Fashion Institute of Technology (NYC)
Pepperdine University
Stony Brook University
Syracuse
University of Miami
University of North Dakota
Yale
For more information on International College Counselors or to contact an expert college counselor, please visit www.internationalcollegecounselors.com
SAT or ACT? What are the Differences and Which is the Best Test to Take?
June 23rd, 2012The first thing to do is look at the favored tests for your colleges of choice. If you see a school prefers one test over the other, your decision is easy.
If the colleges don’t specify which test they prefer, the decision SAT vs. ACT is still easy. Neither test is superior to the other. And, to tell you the truth say college advisors at International College Counselors, most colleges don’t prefer one over the other.
The trick is to figure out which one is best suited to your standardized testing strengths, recommend the expert college advisors at International College Counselors.
Each test emphasizes different test taking skills and tests your familiarity in different subjects.
The ACT
• Designed to evaluate your overall educational development and your ability to complete college-level work.
• Has four multiple-choice subject tests covering English, Math, Reading, and Science. Each content area is approached in one big chunk, with the optional Writing Test at the end.
• Optional 30-minute writing test is designed to measure your skill in planning and writing a short essay. If you opt to take it, the additional scores will be listed separately.
• 215 questions
• You’ll have 2 hours and 55 minutes, not including breaks or the 30 minute optional essay. This makes the test faster paced.
• There is no penalty for incorrect answers, only correct responses count. So there is no penalty for guessing.
• Subject test scores (ranging from 1 to 36) are determined by correct answers. The four areas are then averaged together to come up with your overall, or composite, score.
• The ACT Math section requires you to have a broader range of knowledge than the SAT. For example, on this test there’s a little trigonometry, in addition to the algebra and geometry. That said, the ACT Math section is not necessarily harder, since many students find the questions to be more direct.
• Focuses more on grammar and punctuation.
• Science section is logical reasoning based on data and scientific terms, not based on classroom science.
• ACT Reading asks questions that rely more on retrieving information from the text.
• ACT questions are said to be more straightforward and easier to understand on a first read than those on the SAT. The ACT is also more intuitive and a better measure of what a student has learned in school.
The SAT
• Designed to evaluate your general thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Content areas (Critical Reading, Math, and Writing) are broken up into ten sections, with the required essay at the beginning. Keep in mind, this means you will be moving back and forth between different content areas.
• Required 25-minute essay.
• 170 questions
• You’ll have 3 hours and 45 minutes with three short breaks.
• Test scores range from 600 to 2400, combining test results from three 800-point sections.
• Slight penalty for wrong answers on the multiple choice questions.
• Unlike the ACT, the SAT has a part in the Math section where you’ll be required produce your answers.
• SAT Critical Reading relies more on prediction, inference, etc.
• Favors those who are very strong in vocabulary. If you aren’t an ardent wordsmith and English is not your first language, you may do better on the ACT.
• “The SAT’s style–tricked-up, puzzle-like, and logic-oriented–makes it a more teachable test because there are more test-specific concepts to teach. To varying extents, the tricks can be learned and the puzzles simplified. Once students become familiar with them, the test unwraps itself.” (New York Times)
Something to Consider
Almost all competitive colleges “cherry-pick” SAT sub-scores, say the expert college counselors at International College Counselors, meaning they consider the best combination of Math, Critical Reading and Writing earned on different dates. Very few colleges do this with the four ACT sub-scores.
Some Additional Thoughts
Take practice tests to see which test you prefer.
If the colleges you’re interested in accept scores from both the SAT and the ACT, consider taking both tests to see which one you perform better on.
Start studying for the tests as early as possible. Both the SAT and the ACT are not tests you can wait until the last minute to study for.
For a recommendation on a SAT or ACT tutor or to contact an expert college counselor, please call 954-414-9986 or email info@internationalcollegecounselors.com.
This year, college advisors at International College Counselors helped more than 200 students find, apply to and gain acceptance into the college of their dreams. The expert college counselors at International College Counselors are dedicated to helping students and their families successfully navigate the college application process.
International College Counselors has offices in White Plains, New York; Boston, Massachusetts; Miami Beach, Florida; Miami, Florida; Coral Gables, Florida; Palm Beach, Florida; Boca Raton, Florida; Medellin, Columbia and Caracas, Venezuela.
SAT & ACT Test Dates. Get Your Calendars Updated NOW!
June 14th, 2012SAT and ACT test dates are coming up fast. We’ve listed them below for your easy reference. If you want the name of a top-notch tutor for your student, don’t hesitate to call an expert college counselor at International College Counselors or email us at www.internationalcollegecounselors.com.
THE SAT
Upcoming SAT dates and deadlines
DATES
2012
October 6 Register by September 7 Late Registration September 21
November 3 Register by October 4 Late Registration October 19
December 1 Register by November 1 Late Registration November 16
2013
January 26 Register by December 28 Late Registration January 11
March 9 Register by February 8 Late Registration February 22
May 4 Register by April 5 Late Registration April 19
June 1 Register by May 2 Late Registration May 17
Register for the SAT here
Find out subject test availability
*Learn about making changes to your SAT test center, date or which test you’re registered to take
Visit the SAT home page
THE ACT
Upcoming ACT dates and deadlines
2012
September 8 Register by August 17 Late registration August 18-24
October 27 Register by September 21 Late registration September 22-October 5
December 8 Register by November 2 Late registration November 3-16
2013
February 9 Register by January 11 Late registration January 12-18
April 13 Register by March 8 Late registration March 9-22
June 8 Register by May 3 Late registration May 4-17
International students will find test dates in other countries here
Register for the ACT here
Visit the ACT home page
For a recommendation on a SAT or ACT tutor or to contact an expert college counselor, please call 954-414-9986 or visit www.internationalcollegecounselors.com
ABOUT INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE COUNSELORS:
International College Counselors provides expert college counseling on undergraduate and graduate college admissions, financial aid, tuition, essays, and college applications to domestic and international students. The college counseling and college coaching services are tailored to address the goals, needs, and dreams of each student. Mandee Heller Adler, founder of International College Counselors, is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She also received an MBA from Harvard Business School. Ms. Adler’s achievements have brought her recognition as one of South Florida Top 100 Small Businesses in 2010.
International College Counselors has offices in White Plains, New York; Boston, Massachusetts; Miami Beach, Florida; Miami, Florida; Coral Gables, Florida; Palm Beach, Florida; Boca Raton, Florida; Medellin, Columbia and Caracas, Venezuela.
Online Courses: Build a Better College Resume and Improve Your College Application without Leaving Home
June 6th, 2012High School students in their pajamas can enhance their college applications.
Colleges love to see that a high school student has taken online courses even if no credit is awarded for the course. Online courses help your student demonstrate they can do college-level work and show their motivation to learn beyond basic curriculum requirements. By taking online courses, students can also explore interests in a particular profession or field of study. Students can also opt to take online classes that can earn them college credit.
Below we’ve listed some courses that can be taken online for credit and no credit. Some are free, some aren’t. This is not a comprehensive list, but a mere sampling.
Free online college courses for no credit:
Coursera
Coursera offers courses from the top universities, for free to everyone. Current courses come from Princeton University, Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, and University of Pennsylvania. Courses range from the maths and sciences to poetry and world music.
edX
Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are teaming up to offer free, online, college-level courses under a joint superbrand known as edX. MIT currently offers web-based courses featuring discussion forums, short videos, and laboratory simulations, all under the guidance of MIT professors and teaching assistants. Harvard plans to officially announce its first courses in the summer and begin offering the courses in the fall.
Open courseware at The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Johns Hopkins is a respected medical school offering a selection of popular courses which would be of particular interest to students who plan to study medicine, or a related field.
Udacity
Udacity offers a variety of free online courses and students can sign up at any time. Currently all the courses being offered are computer related, and include: Building a Search Engine, Web Application Engineering, Applied Cryptography and Programming a Robotic Car.
Online college courses for credit:
Colleges offer independent study online courses that can be taken any time, any place for credit. They also offer a selection of online cohort courses that follow the semester calendar.
California State University
Miami Dade College
University of Texas
Online pre-college courses, some for credit and some not
Brown University (not for credit)
Students can demonstrate they can do Ivy League level academic work.
Northwestern College (for credit)
This is a college in Minnesota, not Northwestern University.
Oregon State University (for credit)
Through OSU’s Extended Campus, you can choose from over 40 college classes in subjects like Calculus, Art, German, Philosophy, Wildlife Conservation, Women Studies and Atmospheric Sciences.
Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science (not for credit)
Provides students with university-level online courses in mathematics and computer science.
Contact International College Counselors
If you have questions on online courses, credit transfer or college applications and are a client of International College Counselors, please contact our expert college advisors at www.internationalcollegecounselors.com
Former President of Pine Crest School to Join International College Counselors
May 21st, 2012International College Counselors is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Lourdes Martinez Cowgill to the position of Senior Director of College Counseling. Cowgill, who served as president of Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton for 15 years, will work one-on-one with undergraduate and graduate students, advising them and guiding them through the college admission process.
As a former President, Headmistress and College Counselor at Pine Crest School, Cowgill worked closely with students including Presidential Scholars, National Merit Scholars, scholar-athletes, visual and performing arts majors, Ivy League-bound applicants, and many others. Additionally, Cowgill regularly spoke with colleges on behalf of students, and was instrumental in making Pine Crest School one of the top private college preparatory schools in the nation. Under her guidance, Pine Crest students matriculated to all of the top colleges and universities in the United States.
At International College Counselors, Cowgill will provide expert college advising services to students all over the world who wish to attend a school in the United States. These expert college counselor services include assisting students with college selection, college admissions essay writing, application support, high school planning, interview preparation, scholarship help, wait list / deferral strategies and more.
Cowgill’s leadership positions on the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Board, National Merit Corporation Advisory Council, and Educational Records Bureau (ERB) Board of Trustees offer families insight into standardized testing and the role it plays in selective college admissions.
Cowgill is fluent in both English and Spanish. She has done national work in that academic field as a member and Chair of the Spanish Achievement Test (Spanish SAT II) and presenter for Spanish AP workshops in the Southern region.
Cowgill earned her B.A. from Barry University, her M.A. and Ph.D. from Bryn Mawr College, and her M.Ed. from Florida Atlantic University.
Notes from Our Counselor Breakfast with Admissions Reps
May 15th, 2012Get your Insider Information here.
Last week, the team at International College Counselors attended a counselor breakfast with admissions representatives from Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, Penn and Stanford. There are a lot interesting developments at each of the schools and within the domain of Higher Ed.
What the expert college advisors at International College Counselors know you need to know:
Schools give a lot of weight to Early Decision.
At Duke, 25% of the Early Decision applicants were accepted; 1/3 of the class was filled by Early Decision.
At Penn, 1/3 to 1/ 2 of the class was filled by Early Decision applicants.
This is significant given that the other three schools have Early Action (Non binding) as opposed to Early Decision (Binding) and therefore do not show evidence of such preference.
Without reservation, the expert college advisors at International College Counselors always recommend that students seriously consider Early Decision options when they begin the college process. If there is a school your student really wants to attend, and it offers Early Decision, don’t miss out!
Free online financial aid calculators are invaluable tools.
For those families who worry about the cost of college, and as to whether you can bind your child to a particular institution without financial aid details, know that every college now offers a Financial Aid Calculator. These can be found on the school’s website. This calculator can help you determine, based on last year’s financials, how much money your family can expect to receive from that particular institution.
Here are links to a few such calculators
Northwestern: https://npc.collegeboard.org/student/app/northwestern
Emory: https://npc.collegeboard.org/student/app/emory
Keep in mind, you or your student can always call a school’s financial aid office for information and ask questions,without giving your name.
Questions? Contact International College Counselors.
As always, the expert college counselors are available to answer any specific questions our clients have. Don’t hesitate to call or email us at 954-414-9986 or www.internationalcollegecounselors.com
If you are interested in becoming a client of International College Counselors, please call or email us. College planning is definitely worth thinking about, and the sooner, the better!
AP Grade Reporting
May 7th, 2012To report the AP test or not to report the AP test, that is this week’s question.
After taking one of the many various AP tests, there are usually three ways a student will feel: Great! Good. And Awful.
If you think you did great or good, congratulations!
If you’re sure you did awfully and scored a 1 or a 2, or you’re not sure how you did, you can withhold or cancel your score.
Because AP grades are released in July, any request for changes in reporting must be received by June 15.
The expert college counselors at International College Counselors note that it’s not likely that any one AP grade you submit, no matter how low, will fatally wound you.
Canceling vs. Withholding
Canceling AP grades
Canceling an AP grade permanently means you’ll never, ever see the grade and it’s deleted from your record forever.
The option to cancel a score helps a number of students, say the expert college advisors at International College Counselors. Some of those students took an AP course but found that the class didn’t cover all the information on the test or they didn’t study for the test as much as they should have. (And this happens more than we’d like to think.) This option also encourages the risk takers, the students who take an AP exam in a subject they might not have taken the class for. (They’re the ones who study a lot on their own).
To cancel a score, you must send the College Board a Score Cancellation Form AND a written request by mail or fax by June 15. You must include in your letter:
your full name, home address, birth date, high school
the year(s) that you took AP Exams
the name, city, and state of the college you specified
the name(s) of the exam(s) for which you want a grade cancelled
your signature
This service is free but note that the grade report that you and your high school receive will indicate that the grade has been canceled.
Withholding AP grades
Withholding a score means you may have one or more grades withheld from the colleges you indicated on your answer sheet. This gives you the chance to see your scores before the colleges.
You may later release the grade to that college by sending AP Services a signed written request and a small fee.
What we suggest to the students we work with at International College Counselors is to not send your scores to any colleges in May.
Our reasoning is as follows: with your test, as explained to our company by an AP representative, you only get to send your scores to one school free, any others are $15. In other words, if you choose to withhold your scores from all the colleges until you see them, you’re only “losing” $15. Many students can think of the $15 as “insurance”. It’s easy to see your scores and then send them in if you want to.
You can withhold a score if you already sent them in, but if you took them this year, expert college advisors at International College Counselors recommend waiting until early July. Beginning July 1, grades by phone are available for the 2012 exams. It’ll cost you a few extra dollars to get your scores by phone, but it’s a very small price to pay in the larger scheme of things.
To withhold a score, you must notify the College Board by sending them a written request by mail or fax by June 15. You must include in your letter:
1. your full name, home address, birth date
2. the year(s) that you took AP Exams
3. the name, city, and state of the college you specified
4. the name(s) of the exam(s) for which you want a grade withheld. (All your grades will still appear on the reports sent to you and your high school.)
5. a check for the exact amount due made out to “AP Exams.” There is a $10 fee per score, per college.
6. your signature
Note that unlike a canceled score, a request to withhold a grade does not permanently delete your grade. A withheld AP grade will be sent to your high school. It will count in your AP average and affect AP scholar designations. This means you can choose the scores that work to your advantage and feel confident to take some extra AP exams.
Make sure you keep a copy of all your correspondence with the College Board.
Contact the College Board
For more information straight from the College Board on AP grade reporting services, including addresses, phone and fax numbers:
Contact International College Counselors
For help from an experienced college advisor, please contact the expert college counselors at the Miami based International College Counselors of http://www.internationalcollegecounselors.com
International College Counselors
(954) 414-9986
About International College Counselors
International College Counselors is a Miami-based company that provides expert college counseling on undergraduate and graduate college admissions, financial aid, tuition, essays, and college applications. The college admissions counselors at International College Counselors work with domestic and international students. International College Counselors, founded by Mandee Heller Adler, tailors college counseling and college coaching services to address the goals, needs, and dreams of each student.
International College Counselors has seven offices in three countries.
International College Counselors Expands with New Florida Offices
April 26th, 2012International College Counselors is pleased to announce the expansion of their college admissions counseling business with new offices in Miami, Coral Gables and Palm Beach, Florida.
International College Counselors operates in three states – New York, Florida and Massachusetts, and three countries – the United States, Colombia and Venezuela.
Their new offices in South Florida will bring the International College Counselors team’s expertise closer to more students, their families, and area schools.
“We saw a need and an opportunity to bring Miami, Coral Gables and Palm Beach a local college admissions resource,” said founder and CEO, Mandee Heller Adler. “With our new offices, we’ll be able to provide more students and local schools with the personal attention International College Counselors is known for. Our guidance is based upon a student’s individual needs and talents.”
International College Counselors new branches are located at 1395 Brickell Ave., Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131; 2525 Ponce De Leon Blvd., Suite 300, Coral Gables, FL 33134; and 800 Village Square Crossing, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410.
International College Counselors will maintain their current headquarters in Hollywood, Florida and they look forward to continuing their intelligent growth, while maintaining the high quality of personal, professional service they provide their clients.
In 2012, the college advisors at International College Counselors helped more than 200 students find, apply to and gain acceptance into the college of their dreams. The expert college advisors at International College Counselors are dedicated to helping students and their parents with the often daunting and complex college application process.
For more information on International College Counselors or to contact an expert college counselor, please visit http://www.internationalcollegecounselors.com
ABOUT INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE COUNSELORS:
International College Counselors provides expert college counseling on undergraduate and graduate college admissions, financial aid, tuition, essays, and college applications to domestic and international students. The college counseling and college coaching services are tailored to address the goals, needs, and dreams of each student. Mandee Heller Adler, founder of International College Counselors, is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She also received an MBA from Harvard Business School. Ms. Adler’s achievements have brought her recognition as one of South Florida Top 100 Small Businesses in 2010.
International College Counselors has offices in White Plains, New York; Miami Beach, Florida; Miami, Florida; Coral Gables, Florida; Palm Beach, Florida; Boca Raton, Florida; Medellin, Columbia and Caracas, Venezuela.
Great Ways for Parents of High School Students to Spend Their Tax Refunds:
April 23rd, 2012According to the Internal Revenue Service, the average 2012 tax refund is roughly $3000. Here are some great suggestions for what to do with the money you get back if you’re a parent of a teenager who plans to attend college:
1. Pay for Tutoring. The importance of grades for colleges cannot be ignored. The GPA is the single most important part of a college application. Not only that, colleges want to see a challenging high school curriculum. If your student needs help in one or more subjects, spend some money on tutoring. (It may even pay off more in the form of scholarships.) If you need help finding an amazing tutor, contact your International College Counselors college advisor for more information.
2. Put money into a 529 plan. Even if your child will be a junior this year, it’s not too late to make a tax-preferred investment for college. Many states, including Florida and New York, provide a tax deduction for 529 contributions even if you’re investing for only a short time.
3. Invest in a summer enrichment program. Summer enrichment programs can help propel your student toward college and gain acceptance into a school of their choice. Let your student explore a subject of interest or bolster volunteer work credentials. College advisors at International College Counselors know there are programs for all interests, including engineering, career exploration, robotics, entrepreneurship, women’s leadership, music, drama and test prep. Nearly every school, including the Ivies, offer a summer program for high school students, allowing students to experience life on a college campus. Some programs offer college credit.
4. Go for the test prep. Next to grades, test scores are one of the most important factors in college admissions. Please contact your college advisor at International College Counselors for the name, number and email address of a (SAT word alert) splendiferous SAT, ACT, SAT subject test, AP and TOFEL tutor who can help you increase your test scores.
5. Visit colleges. College visits can be costly but worthwhile. Your student just may find their top-pick school is nothing like they imagined. Visiting a school may also increase chances of gaining admittance and of getting a better award package, if only slightly. Taking the time to tour campus shows commitment.
6. Encourage summer college courses. Summer college courses can give your student the opportunity to attend school classes with undergraduate students or other select high school students and earn college credits.
7. Hire an independent college counselor. If you are not a client of International College Counselors, what are you waiting for? Our expert college advisors can give your student the individualized attention to properly tackle the college admission process. With new offices now in Coral Gables, Boston, Miami, New York and Palm Beach Gardens, and advisors who speak fluent Spanish and Mandarin Chinese, we can better meet your needs. From help choosing colleges, going on interviews, editing essays and more, we will give your student the tools to find and get into the college of his or her dreams.
If you need help evaluating and choosing a summer opportunity for your student and/or want information on tutoring, and are a client of International College Counselors, please give your college advisor a call or send an email.