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What you Need to Know About Financial Aid

October 5th, 2010

If you are looking to receive financial aid, now is the time to start getting your finances in order. The US government loans money to every student who needs it. Two of the most important and most common ways of getting access to government money are the FAFSA and the CSS/Profile.

To receive FAFSA aid, you need to fill out and file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (http://www.fafsa.gov). This federal application for financial aid is also used to apply for aid from other sources, such as your state or school.

The CSS/Financial Aid Profile, CSS/Profile, or College Scholarship Service Profile is also an application that allows students to apply for financial aid. It is distributed by the College Board and is much more detailed than the FAFSA.

Most schools require BOTH the FAFSA and the CSS/Profile in order to eligible to receive financial aid.

The FAFSA determines Federal funding and the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) is set by the government. The FAFSA does not take into account home equity, medical expenses or change in employment.

The CSS/Profile helps determine institutional money, in many cases. The EFC calculation may vary by institution, and can take into account home equity, deductions for medical expenses and provisions for special circumstances.

International College Counselors recommends that ALL students who feel they need aid fill the FAFSA out regardless of their household income.

With both of these forms, it is important to fill them out as early as possible.
The CSS/Profile has varying deadlines depending on the school and becomes available in the fall. If you are applying early admissions or early decision, the CSS/ Profile is often due by November 15. The CSS/Profile can be found at the College Board website: https://profileonline.collegeboard.com/prf/index.jsp.

The FAFSA always becomes available January 1 and should be submitted as soon as data is ready. The FAFSA application can be found at: http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/

If you have specific questions, much like with the CSS/ Profile, the folks at FAFSA are EXTREMELY helpful. Please do not hesitate to call the contact numbers.
FAFSA contact info. CSS/ Profile contact info.

A family should fill out BOTH of these forms each year if you desire aid for college. Be sure to check your specific school’s website for further forms or information. Only rarely are there additional forms, but we never know.

In our next email we will discuss grants, general and school scholarships, and other ways to maximize your finances and minimize your college costs.

For more information on financial aid, please contact International College Counselors to learn more. We would be happy to send you a personalized list of your particular financial aid “to – dos”.

Also, when beginning your FAFSA, please refer to the “Common Errors When Filing for Financial Aid” page in your binder. If you are missing it, please let us know.

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How to Help your High School Junior

October 3rd, 2010

Junior year is the homestretch. The critical decisions that are made this year could have a major impact on the next five years of your life –and long beyond. This is the year students start narrowing lists of colleges and career paths. This is the last full year of grades that college admissions officers will review.

Parents need to continue making this college admissions journey fun and positive. For many students, the college admissions process can feel so overwhelming, they become frozen, missing deadlines and forgetting important details. With the right strategy stress can be minimized – it isn’t realistic to believe it will be eliminated. Approach this as a bonding discovery process for all involved. Parents: Let your child know that you’re proud of your child and you’re there to give your support.

Here are some other International College Counselors tips for parents:

Time Management

• Review your student’s schedule with him or her at the beginning of the school year. The goal is to have your child enroll in challenging classes that will help them prepare for college. If your student is aiming for the more competitive schools he or she must take college-prep classes, including advanced-placement. Care must be taken not to overload on classes or extracurricular activities as junior year courses and grades are critical. A college bound student should be aiming slightly above his or her comfort level. A student needs to show the college admissions team that he or she pushes him or herself.

• Make sure your student meets with a college counselor to discuss college plans and review his or her transcript and experience.

• Help your student keep a calendar. Work with him or her to update it regularly with any important dates and deadlines.

Standardized Tests

• Make sure your student stakes the PSAT/NMSQT again, which is given in October. If your student does well on the exam, he or she can qualify for a National Merit Scholarship

• As quickly as possible, plan the junior year testing schedule. A student can take either the SAT or up to three SAT Subject Tests on one test day, or the ACT. Your student should take the SAT and the ACT tests before the end of their junior year. We always recommend that the student try BOTH the SAT and the ACT. The colleges accept them equally, and students often have a natural inclination towards one test.

• Invest in SAT and/or ACT test review material. Juniors should begin preparing for these tests as soon as possible so that the process isn’t rushed. SAT/ACT test prep can include an online course or traditional class, and practice tests. Make sure your student spends time studying the material for the test. Neither of these tests can be crammed for in one night.

Extracurricular activities

• Encourage your child to remain involved with extracurricular activities. This year is very important. Colleges want to see that a student sticks with something. Encourage your child to assume a leadership role in an extracurricular activity. If your child’s forte is sports or music, consider getting involved in regional, state or national competitions. Colleges aren’t looking for quantity in activities, but quality. And advancement.

College selection/ Application preparation

• Encourage your student to get to know the junior year teachers – and leave a positive impression on them. This is preparation for the all important college recommendations.

• Start narrowing down colleges and universities. Information can be gathered in books and on websites. Try to talk to alumni or current students. In the spring, your student should meet with his or her college counselor to draft a college list. Before the start of your student’s senior year, the goal is to develop a list of 15-20 colleges of interest.

• Talk about career choice(s). These may have a big impact on the list of potential colleges to be considered. The idea here is not to have a student commit to a career path, but to try and narrow down the career possibilities.

• Go on college campus tours with your student. Make sure you take a look at the whole range: public, private, large and small. Consider taking a college road tour over Spring Break. Schedule interviews with admissions counselors at the colleges your student is most interested in.

• Attend any college fairs that come to your area, as well as presentations by traveling college admissions officers.

Money

• Keep talking about financing college if you haven’t already. Talking about money helps students understand how much college really costs, and how they can help defray the costs through applying to private scholarships and getting good grades. Talking about money will also start introducing them to the adult concepts like financial aid and loans. Generally, if you treat your child like an adult now, chances are they will behave more like an adult later.

• Hop on the internet and research scholarships. Then help your student apply to them. Meeting deadlines is a must. Make sure everything is proofread.

Summer

• Help your student find a summer opportunity. This could include an internship, job or college program. Whatever it is, start early. You want to beat the competition. Many other students are going to be looking for opportunities, too. Do some networking on your student’s behalf. If your student is interested in medicine, see who is in your network that you might be able to call. The same goes for if your student wants to be a graphic designer or a lawyer.

• Help your student search online for summer school programs for high school students at colleges, if this is the route they choose.

All year round

• Encourage your child to read. It’s the best way to prepare for the SAT and all standardized exams. If they don’t have a favorite author? Take them to the local library to explore popular options within their age group.

Most importantly: Be there for your child. Be present in his or her life. Listen to his or her hopes, fears and goals. Working together can make these dreams more real and much more possible.

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Get your Invitation to College Visits/Information Sessions

September 24th, 2010

So, you heard that Penn was in town this weekend….after the fact. How did the other families and students know?

Well, it doesn’t really matter. Why your student did not receive an invite can be attributed to a number of factors. It could be something like a test score or that the other family knows an alumnus.

It’s not worth getting anxious over.

It’s better to focus your energy on getting invited to the information events your student interested in.

To get the invite all you need to do is ask. (Or have your college admissions counselor ask for you).

Getting invited to college information sessions is as easy as going to the website and signing up on the admissions page to learn more. Every school that our college admissions counselors know of (except Harvard) has such a list.

For younger students in particular, International College Counselors recommends “group” college visits. This way a student can learn about a number of schools at one time.

Please click the link below to register for a group information session from SUNY Binghamton, University of Vermont, Miami University (in Ohio) and Clemson. www.selectivecollegetour.com

The expert college counselors at International College Counselors recommend you go to as many information sessions as you can.

What are information sessions?
Information Sessions are a chance for prospective students and their families the opportunity to learn more about a university’s academic and student life from members of the admission staff. These university representatives travel around the U.S. and the world reaching out to students. At these sessions, students also gain insights into the admission, financial aid and scholarship process. The goal of each session is to provide a comprehensive overview of the school and answer any and all questions students or their parents may have. Generally, each session lasts approximately a hour. Current students and/or alumni may attend depending on where and when the information session is held. Sometimes food is served, and sometimes it’s not.

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Truth, Plagiarism & the Consequences on College Applications and Essays

September 24th, 2010

Mandee Heller Adler, president of International College Counselors, was quoted in The New York Times in an article titled, “If You’re Going to Be Edited, Be Sure the Result Is Still You“. She discusses the business of professionally edited college admissions essays.

Overall, the article concludes that professionals helping students with college admissions essays are performing an ethical service as long as they don’t write the college admissions essay for a student. The best college counselors allow students to just be themselves, but “a somewhat more interesting, more attractive, more eloquent” version of themselves.

As any parent or student who has worked with International College Counselors knows, what Adler says in the article is true, “she has parents sign a form, part of which establishes that her counselors will ‘review, not do’ the essay.”

“I’m not going to write an essay,” she tells the Times readers. “It’s an ethical question and it’s a line I won’t cross. Of course, it’s a fuzzy line, but I have to feel comfortable that I haven’t crossed it.”

It goes without saying that a student shouldn’t have someone else write their entire college admissions essay for them, whether it’s a friend, parent, college advisor, or a professional writer. But what about the fuzzier areas, like when a student portrays himself or herself as better than they are?

Say International College Counselors: No matter how desperately a student wants to get into a school, don’t lie on the college application. If a university finds out a student has lied on an application or essay – even a little – they’re getting rejected, almost guaranteed.

How does a school know if a student fibbed/fudged/lied? Colleges are doing research of their own. A common practice is for college admissions officers to call up high schools to verify a student’s activities and awards. College admissions officers have also called jobs, internship organizers, and places where students have performed public service.

Thanks to the Internet, it’s easy to see if a student really has received a major award or a significant ranking, whether it’s in music or sports. Some universities like MIT have even hired private investigators to check up on student claims. While there is a chance a student won’t be caught, do they really want to risk it.

Embellishing the truth isn’t good either. If a student delivered meals to homebound senior citizens in their community, he or she shouldn’t write that they ended world hunger. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with presenting yourself in a positive way. This is where a student’s ethics (and clever adjectives) need to kick in.

Plagiarism is always wrong and schools are getting better at detecting it. Penn State, for example, is using an admissions essay service offered by Turnitin. This software service has been used by professors to check their students’ class work – with much success. College application essays are now being compared to a huge database of collected information and what’s already on the web. While most schools don’t publicize whether or not they use this detection system, at Penn State 29 students were rejected in 2010 because of plagiarism on the college application.

College essays are about the student. Who they are and not who they’re not. At International College Counselors, we believe that every student has a gem of an essay within them. What they need to do is find that kernel of truth – and remember to proofread.

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Big Changes in SAT Subject Test Policies

August 13th, 2010

Just like that, Harvard, Georgetown and a few other Universities changed the rules. Until now, these schools had application policies that required all students to take and submit scores for three SAT Subject Tests (aka SAT II).

Harvard will now require only two SAT Subject Tests for Fall 2011 class applicants. Georgetown went from requesting three Subject Test Scores to strongly recommending them.

When applying to schools, expert college counselors say, note the change in language. Universities used to require or request the submission of three SAT Subject Test scores as part of a complete application for admission. Now at many schools, like Georgetown, the language on the test policies has been changed to strongly recommended.

The testing policy at Stanford University states: “We recommend taking at least two SAT Subject Tests, as such information will assist us in our evaluation process. Applicants, however, who choose not to take SAT Subject Tests will not be at a disadvantage in the admission process.”

Of course, as expert college counselors know, the subtleties in language are important, especially at schools where admissions are highly competitive.

International College Counselors note: When a highly regarded university requires only two Subject Tests, our expert college counselors highly recommend you take more to make yourself the most highly qualified candidate.

According to the Harvard website, applicants may take any two subject tests. But to meet these requirements students should not submit two Subject Tests in mathematics, and “candidates whose first language is not English should ordinarily not use a Subject Test in their first language…All students are encouraged to submit additional Subject Tests (which may include one in a student’s first language).”

Additionally, applicants are encouraged to show evidence of the “breadth and depth of their academic interests” by taking additional Subject Tests and to submit Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) test results that provide evidence of academic accomplishment.

Further complicating the evolving role of SAT Subject Tests, a few colleges, like NYU and Colby College, are allowing the Subject Tests and other standardized tests and/or AP and IB tests to be submitted instead of SAT and/or ACT scores.

The College Board currently offers SAT Subject Tests in 20 areas, including history, literature, mathematics, physics, chemistry and a variety of languages.

Charles Deacon, dean of undergraduate admissions at Georgetown, explained via e-mail for Inside Higher Ed: “Georgetown, like Harvard and other selective schools, finds SAT IIs to be quite predictive of academic success at a high school level and we feel they are a valuable addition to SAT Is or ACTs. However, we are aware that for a variety of reasons, students may find it difficult to submit these results so we want to make it clear that they can still apply and we will do our best to consider them fairly based upon the information they are able to provide.”

For the most accurate and current information on standardized test policies for each college, International College Counselors recommend that students visit individual college websites or contact us at 954-414-9986 or at barry@internationalcollegecounselors.com.

Come in for a free consultation with International College Counselors. Or get 5 friends together and we will come out and hold a private seminar just for you and your friends. Just call us at 954-414-9986 or contact us at International College Counselors by email.

Join our Mailing List
International College Counselors
(954) 414-9986

International College Counselors has college counseling Broward, Palm Beach, and Dade college counseling offices. International College Counselors handle undergraduate and graduate college admissions, financial aid, tuition, essays, and college applications. Mandee Heller Adler, lead college admissions consultant and Founder of International College Counselors in Miami, tailors her wide range of college counseling and college coaching services to address the goals, needs, and dreams of each individual student, whether Florida college or Ivy League university. Our college advisors, Miami Florida based, work with domestic and international students. We also work with high schools. Our college counselors are in Miami, Boca, Broward and Palm Beach. Let us help you make the best decisions choosing, getting into, and paying for college. Our offices will allow you to work with a Miami college counselor, Dade College Counselor, Broward college counselor, Palm Beach College Counselors, Boca College Counselor and/or a Ft. Lauderdale College Counselor.

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How to Help your High School Freshman. Tips from International College Counselors.

July 27th, 2010

Many parents ask our expert college counselors at International College Counselors how early their students need to start preparing for the college admissions process. The answer from our expert college counselors: as soon as possible, especially if your student is looking at competitive schools.

The secret is to make the process fun. And not stress your student out too early or too much. College admissions stress is inevitable but it can be minimized even if your child is aiming for the Ivy League. Plus, expert college counselors know, the journey towards a college degree can be a bonding discovery process for all involved.

Here are some International College Counselors tips for parents:

• Review your student’s schedule with him or her at the beginning of the school year. The goal is to have your child enroll in challenging classes that will help them prepare for college. Help your child be less afraid to reach slightly higher than their comfort level. Build your child’s confidence and offer your support. But, expert college counselors understand, be mindful of the realities and don’t push your student too far above his or her level.

• Make sure your student meets with his or her counselor to discuss college plans. Students tend to procrastinate. (You don’t need to be an expert, or a college counselor, or work at International College Counselors to know this.)

• Help your student start a calendar. Work with him or her to update it regularly with any important dates and deadlines.

• Encourage your child to get involved with extracurricular activities. Who knows your child best, but you? Take what you’ve observed over the past 13 years and encourage your student to explore their interests. Water polo, bowling, harp playing, choir, drama, debate, or starting a business. Explore interests outside the school as well. Is your child interested in science? Have them check out volunteer opportunities at a local science museum or center. If your student likes to write, maybe there’s a place for him or her to cover high school activities for the local paper. If a child has an interest in an activity, there’s a greater chance they’ll stick with it and accomplish something. Colleges like to see that a student stays with something and moves up in it. If you’re in Broward, Palm Beach, or Miami, college counselor at International College Counselors know you have many, many options.

• Start talking about financing college. Talking about money helps students understand how much college really costs, and how they can help defray the costs through applying to private scholarships and getting good grades. Talking about money will also start introducing them to the adult concepts like financial aid and loans. Generally, if you treat your child like an adult now, chances are they will behave more like an adult later. Even in 9th grade there are scholarship monies available to use towards college. Topics expert college counselors at International College Counselors suggest include how much money they’ll need for college, how much they should try to save, and ways to reach their goal, whether it’s part-time work or more AP classes.

• Familiarize yourself with the SAT Subject Tests and help build your child’s confidence in his or her strong subjects. Encourage him or her to take the tests as soon as they finish the course so the material is still fresh to them. Subject Tests include World History, Literature, Biology E/M, and Chemistry.

• Help your student find a summer opportunity. Do some networking on their behalf. If your student is interested in medicine, see who is in your network that you might be able to call. The same goes for if your student wants to be a graphic designer or a vet. Many businesses wouldn’t mind a free volunteer. Suggest opportunities around the community your student might not have considered. Students tend to be so caught up in their own world, they may not even realize there may be a cool museum nearby to volunteer at and gain the kind of experience college admissions officers smile upon.

• Help your student search online for summer school programs for high school students at colleges, if this is the route they choose.

• Go on college campus visits with your student. At this point in the game, it’s low pressure. Make it fun. When you go on any family vacations, make it a point to visit college campuses around your destination. Even if the schools are not on your child’s radar, these visits will give everyone a chance to get a feel for the options.

Most importantly: Be there for your child. Be present in his or her life. Listen to his or her hopes, fears and goals. Working together can make these dreams more real and much more possible.

International College Counselors provides expert college counseling on undergraduate and graduate college admissions, financial aid, tuition, essays, and college applications. Mandee Heller Adler, lead college admissions consultant and Founder of International College Counselors tailors her wide range of college counseling and college coaching services to address the goals, needs, and dreams of each individual student, whether Florida college or Ivy League university. Our college advising company, based in Miami-Dade, Florida, works with domestic and international students. We also work with high schools in Miami, Boca, Broward and Palm Beach. Let us help you make the best decisions choosing, getting into, and paying for college.

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How to Choose an Independent College Counselor

July 9th, 2010

Why work with a private college counselor?

Whether you’re in New York or Miami, a private college counselor can help stressed-out parents find ideal academic fits for their students. One can also help families save money by matching students with scholarships and schools that fit a family’s budget AND student’s goals. Putting an independent college expert at the helm of the application process is not a bad idea for family relations either. As parents of teenagers most likely already know, it’s better to have someone else helping your student stick to a plan of action and look over their shoulder or hold their hand through the process. Choosing the right expert college adviser in Dade, Broward, Palm Beach or elsewhere is the important first step

Something to consider about private college counselors.

There is no shortage of individuals and firms willing to help you get your student into college. However, just because someone calls themselves a Palm Beach or Miami college expert doesn’t always mean they are. Many people consider themselves a single source for all things college admissions oriented: college, scholarships, admissions, testing and more. The best independent college advisers know enough about each of these to be helpful, the worst ones can be harmful.

What to look for when you’re choosing a private college counselor?

1. Make sure you have a good, comfortable rapport with the college counselor. Feel you can trust them because, essentially, what you’re doing is entrusting them with your child’s future. Also it’s important that the student and the expert college adviser have workable chemistry.

2. Ask about the students with whom the college expert works. Are they all valedictorians, or does she have some underachievers too? Some expert college advisers have a high rate of success getting students into Ivy League schools because they’ll only work with students who would be getting into a top university anyway.

3. The best kind of private college counselor will spend time learning about your teenager and finding out their likes and dislikes: academically, socially, and geographically. The aim is to get your child into the best school for him or her, which may or may not be the most prestigious school possible.

4. The best college experts work with your student’s individual strength and weaknesses to prepare them to get into the college of their dreams. And they should encourage them in a positive and constructive way. A student should not be forced to participate in extra-curricular activities and classes that provoke anxiety or increase the risk of burnout. In other words, if your student is not gravitating towards rowing, there are always bassoon lessons.

5. Look for an independent college counselor who understands scholarship and financial aid.

6. Ask the college advisor what qualifies her to offer college admissions advice. Look for a planner who has proven experience with college admissions and who has the right relationships. Don’t underestimate relationships whether they’re with college admissions offices or top SAT tutors. Determine what steps the advisor takes to stay current with changes and developments in college admissions. Also check what schools the college advisor has attended and what relevant professional organizations she belongs to, including those like NACAC and the IECA that will keep her in the local and national educational loops.

The answers.

Come in for a free consultation with International College Counselors. Or get 5 friends together and we will come out and hold a private seminar just for you and your friends. Just call us at 954-414-9986 or contact us at International College Counselors by email.

Join our Mailing List
International College Counselors
(954) 414-9986

The answers.

Join our Mailing List
International College Counselors
(954) 414-9986

International College Counselors provides expert college counseling on undergraduate and graduate college admissions, financial aid, tuition, essays, and college applications. Mandee Heller Adler, lead college admissions consultant and Founder of International College Counselors tailors her wide range of college counseling and college coaching services to address the goals, needs, and dreams of each individual student, whether Florida college or Ivy League university. Our college advising company, based in Miami-Dade, Florida, works with domestic and international students. We also work with high schools. Our college counselors are in Miami, Boca, Broward and Palm Beach. Let us help you make the best decisions choosing, getting into, and paying for college.

Tags: broward college advisor, college advisor miami, college counselor broward, college counselor miami, independent college counselor, international college counselors, mandee heller adler, private college counselor
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High School Athletes: How to get recruited

June 21st, 2010

The question many talented high school athletes come to International College Counselors with is: How do I get recruited?

The expert college counselor’s answer: An athlete needs to get noticed by the right coach.

It’s easier in some sports and cities. Athletes in AAAAA and AAAA football and baseball have scouts come regularly to their games. If you’ve ever seen Friday Night Lights, you’ll know that for some sports, and in some cities, whole counties come to games. In metropolitan areas, many sports are regularly covered in widely distributed newspapers or newscasts.

But, every year, thousands of other outstanding athletes are overlooked for one simple reason: the coaches didn’t know they were there.

Have a power drink and breathe. Whether you participate in baseball, bowling, cross country, fencing, field hockey, football, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, rowing, skiing, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, track and field, softball, volleyball, water polo, or wrestling, there are ways that you can help yourself be recruited.

Depending on your sport, start contacting coaches and building relationships with them as early as possible. Perhaps even in junior high if you’re competing in a sport like gymnastics. Try to get them to know your name without being annoying. For example, send them the occasional newspaper article about you and the teams you play for.
Create a professionally prepared resume that highlights your athletic and academic achievements. Then post it online.
Make a high-quality sports video of yourself in action. There is a real probability that a college coach will never see you play in real life until you play for him or her. The best video is a combination game video and skills video.
Use the Internet. Visit college sports sites and college sites and collect as much information about the different sports programs as you can. You’re looking for a school that will be a good fit for you and your talents, athletically and academically.
Get evaluated if you can. Many third-party people serve as the eyes and ears of the coaches who don’t have time to see every player. Get to know the evaluators in your area. Coaches and evaluators face immense pressure to fill their slots with the most gifted athletes they can find. Their jobs depend on it. Your pro-activity actually can make their job easier from their perspective.
Attend college sports camps if you can. The director of the camp is usually the college head coach. It’s also recommended that you gain experience by competing in any tournaments you can.
If a college does show interest you, answer any request they have immediately. If a coach or school is requesting more information chances are you are probably being seriously considered. Ask your high school coach to complete any requests for information about you as soon as possible, as well.

A BRIEF FOUR-YEAR TIME LINE

Freshmen: Take this year to grow and develop your skills. Also, plan your academic calendar. You want to make sure you meet the academic eligibility at the end of your high school career. Even a high school sports superstar is not be eligible to play as a college freshman if he or she does not have a transcript with the right high school courses. Athletes and parents of athletes, make sure you read the NCAA Guide for the College Bound Student Athlete (free PDF to download)

Athletes and their parents can also contact us at International College Counselors to arrange a meeting with one of our college counselors in Dade, Broward or Palm Beach County and we can help you plan your high school sports career.

Sophomores: Get serious if you are interested in competing in college. Start working on raising your visibility and building a reputation as a mature, hard-working, team player. This is also the year you should start researching the ins and outs of recruiting, regulations, colleges, coaches, and sports programs.

This is an ideal year for International College Counselors to help you, as well.

Juniors: This year is your most important one. It is the accomplishments of your junior year that will get the recruiting phone calls later in the year. Get on the coaches’ radar screens as soon as possible to better your chances of successfully getting recruited. Boost your visibility by reaching out to coaches with notes and calls, visiting schools and meeting coaches. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t hear from coaches. NCAA rules prevent them from contacting or calling you until late in your junior year.

Seniors: Make sure that you are eligible by completing all the classes you need for academic eligibility. Show continuing development in your sports skills. Don’t slack off until after you’ve received and signed the “Letter of Intent” and, even then, if you really screw up, they can drop you.

Talented athletes, good luck and take care of your body. Keep working hard to get stronger, faster and fitter. It’s a competitive environment out there – but if you’re a true athlete at heart – knowing that should only push you more.

If you need help, contact a private college counselor at International College Counselors to help you with college admissions and finances.

Join our Mailing List
International College Counselors
(954) 414-9986

International College Counselors provides expert college counseling on undergraduate and graduate college admissions, financial aid, tuition, essays, and college applications. Mandee Heller Adler, lead college admissions consultant and Founder of International College Counselors tailors her wide range of college counseling and college coaching services to address the goals, needs, and dreams of each individual student, whether Florida college or Ivy League university. Our college advising company, based in Miami-Dade, Florida, works with domestic and international students. We also work with high schools. Our college counselors are in Miami, Boca, Broward and Palm Beach. Let us help you make the best decisions choosing, getting into, and paying for college.

Tags: broward college advisor, college advisor miami, college counselor broward, college counselor miami, high school athletes, international college counselors, mandee heller adler
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Going to College without Going Broke

June 15th, 2010

by Mandee Heller Adler, president of International College Counselors

You can’t afford not to go to college. But, taking on too much debt and ending up living in your parent’s house after college is not the only option. You could become a Westinghouse scholar, Olympic champion, or dictator of a small country. Then you’d get a free ride.

For the less driven or genetically gifted, there’s hope for you too: you need to maximize your financial aid and minimize your costs.

Top ways the expert college counselors at International College Counselors recommend to make college more affordable include:

1. Government Loans
The US government loans money to every student who needs it. To receive FAFSA aid, you need to fill out and file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (www.fafsa.gov). This federal application for financial aid is also used to apply for aid from other sources, such as your state or school.

The only catch to the FAFSA is it’s one long application that requires detailed information. Don’t leave it until the last minute and it’ll all be OK.

Not just for our clients in Miami, college counselors at our firm recommend that ALL students who feel they need aid fill the FAFSA out regardless of their house-hold income.

2. Grants
Grants are better than loans because you don’t have to pay the money back. (Free money!) But they’re not available to everyone.

Pell Grants are federal grants awarded strictly on the student’s financial need. Other federal grant programs include the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (also based on financials), and grant programs for students with good grades in competitive high-school programs or specific fields of study, such as math, nursing or teaching. States and colleges also have their own pools of grant money.

3. General and School Scholarships
Scholarships are terrific because students do not have to pay them back and many are not based on financial need.

Thousands of scholarships are available. Sources of scholarships can be national organizations, local clubs, contests, and the schools themselves. The trick is finding the ones you’re in the best position to win. If you’re not a Native American there’s no point in going for the scholarship. You’d be better off making a clever prom outfit with duct tape or becoming a champion at duck calls (both skills are scholarship worthy).

School scholarships are typically given to top athletes, national-merit finalists, and other outstanding students. In order to apply for these scholarships, you need to contact each school individually.

4. Transfer
For students with their hearts set on an elite, expensive school, your best bet may be to attend an affordable school like a public university or a community college first. Credits earned at these less-expensive schools can often be transferred to other universities – even the priciest. For your first two years, they’re mostly core classes you’ll be taking anyway. And in the end what you’re really after is that framed diploma office décor. So it’s the last two years that really count.

5. Work
Many students take a part-time job in order to pay for college and the things they will need such as books, housing and bean-bag chairs. Colleges offer thousands of work-study jobs that can be on-campus or off-campus. They are designed to allow students to study while they work. Waiting tables and taking Advanced Astrophysics never complemented each other so well.

For the foreseeable future, college grads can also cancel some or all of their federal education debt by working in public-service jobs – lower-paying professional jobs that serve low-income communities – or by volunteering.

Other tips include buying used books, living off-campus or at home when you can, and accelerating your degree – knocking off a year or even a semester by taking more courses per semester or loading up on the APs while in high school.

Getting out of college with little or no debt is hard, but not impossible, and with initiative, you don’t have to rob a bank to do it.

If you need help, contact a private college counselor at International College Counselors to help you with college admissions and finances.

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International College Counselors provides expert college counseling on undergraduate and graduate college admissions, financial aid, tuition, essays, and college applications. Mandee Heller Adler, lead college admissions consultant and Founder of International College Counselors tailors her wide range of college counseling and college coaching services to address the goals, needs, and dreams of each individual student, whether Florida college or Ivy League university. Our college advising company, based in Miami-Dade, Florida, works with domestic and international students. We also work with high schools. Our college counselors are in Miami, Boca, Broward and Palm Beach. Let us help you make the best decisions choosing, getting into, and paying for college.

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Graduation Wisdom for All

May 31st, 2010

High school students, college counselors are only among the first professional advisors you’ll hear from throughout your life. In four years (for most of you), you’ll hear from your commencement speaker (the guest speaker at your graduation). Some will be witty and some serious, all will hopefully leave you a little bit wiser.

Gradspot.com made a list of “The All-time Best Graduation Speeches”. Whether they’re the “best” is debatable, as are all “-est” lists, but they’re all really entertaining. Read the full article on The Top Ten All-Time Best Graduation Speeches from gradspot.com.

CNBC also made a list of The Ten Best Graduation Speeches of All Time.

Only three people made both lists, and Will Ferrell is one of them!
They’re all inspiring, so enjoy!

One thought from International College Counselors:
Go out and be successful, but include ethics in your definition of success.

From Mandee Heller Adler, president of International College Counselors, and the other expert college counselors: Good luck to all graduating seniors, in college and beyond.

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who’ll decide where to go.” ~ Dr. Seuss

Tags: Add new tag, broward college advisor, broward college help, college advisor miami, college counselor broward, college counselor miami, commencement speeches, international college counselors, mandee heller adler
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