Get started on 2010-11 college applications

May 19th, 2010

The College Application preview is now available.

High school juniors who want to get a head start on college applications can see a preview of the entire 2010-11 Common Application.

The new Common App goes online on August 1. Until then, students can familiarize themselves with what information they will need. And, they can start working on it.

Where can I find a preview version of the Common Application?

A preview version of the 2010-11 Common Application has been posted at:  https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/SchoolFormsFAQ.aspx

What is the Common Application?

The Common Application is a not-for-profit organization that provides an admission application – online and in print – that students may submit it to any one of 414 member schools that accept it, including 47 public institutions.

The full list of schools that accept the Common Application can be seen here: https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/Members.aspx

What are the benefits of the Common Application?

The Common Application is intended to ease the admissions process for students by reducing the number of separate applications a student has to complete when applying to numerous colleges.

Note from International College Counselors: Many colleges still require additional information, including more essays.

Is there a Common Application for transfer students?

Yes. You can preview the transfer application here: https://www.commonapp.org/CommonApp/SchoolFormsFAQ.aspx

There are six choices of topics for student essays and the minimum length is 250 words. This essay should be the same for all colleges – so make sure it’s the best you have! Students working with International College Counselors, please call us at 954-414-9986 as soon as you possible and we will help you get started.

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AP GRADE REPORTING

May 9th, 2010

To report the AP test or not to report the AP test, that is this week’s question.

By Mandee Heller Adler, president of International College Counselors

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.

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. Some of those students took an AP course but found it didn’t cover all the information on the test. (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 notify the College Board by sending them assigned request by mail or fax with your signature. You should include in your letter:

  1. your full name, home address, birth date, and AP number(s)
  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 canceled.

This service is free but note that the grade report that you and your 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 me 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 end them in if you want to.

You can withhold a score if you already sent them in, but if you took them this year, we recommend waiting until early July. Beginning July 3, grades by phone are available for the 2009 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 letter with your signature. You should include in your letter:

  1. your full name, home address, birth date, and AP number(s)
  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 grade, per college.

Note that unlike a canceled score, a request to withhold a grade does not permanently delete your grade. A withheld AP grade counts in your AP average and affects AP scholar designations. This means you can choose the scores that work to your advantage and feel confident to take some extra AP exams.

For more information on AP grade reporting services straight from the College Board go to:
http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/ap/exgrd_rep.html

If you need a college advisor or have any other college questions, I’d be happy to answer them. Please write me here or at my personal email which can be found on this International College Counselors website.

Mandee Heller Adler, Founder of International College Counselors and lead college advisor
www.internationalcollegecounselors.com

<http://www.internationalcollegecounselors.com> >

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How to Make the Most of Your Summer Internship or Job

April 28th, 2010

Summer is almost here. For those of you with jobs or internships, take the time to plan on making the most of your opportunity. Mentors and people who you may want recommendations from are almost always on the lookout for promising young talent. One of your other goals should be to turn your experience into a resume builder.

Stand out with your professionalism. Do what you can to show the company you’re the one they should be watching and giving the plum assignments to. Be professional, serious and responsible. This should earn you more respect and responsibility. Be on time for work, meetings, conference calls and team building exercises. Even better – come early. Make sure you dress for success, too.

Reset your expectations. It’s good to have personal goals but sometimes realities don’t match our expectations. Rather than dwell on any negatives of the job or internship, seek out and embrace the opportunities offered. Chances are you won’t be given that assignment that saves the company and makes you a star. But, that’s not why you’re there. You’re there to learn, expand your horizons, and add to your resume. No matter what, always be enthusiastic and upbeat.

Be proactive. If your job or internship appears to be a sea of repetitive tasks like making photocopies or coffee, don’t complain. Ask to have a meeting with your supervisor to ask about new opportunities or projects. If there is a job you want to try, ask your supervisor if you can join the team, observe the meetings or otherwise contribute in some way. You won’t know, unless you ask. Even if they say no, you will gain the respect and attention of your older colleagues. Interns and employees who identify their employer’s needs and ask for new challenges demonstrate the initiative and motivation that companies want.

Learn about yourself. You’re there to watch and observe. Use this time to find out more about yourself. See what kind of people you relate to. What kind of work you like to do. Compare yourself to people on the job who you admire. Do they have skills you lack or can work on acquiring?

Build up your resume. Volunteer for extra tasks and look for opportunities to take advantage of. To do this, the best first step is to prove that you’re responsible and resourceful. Then, let’s say, you’re working in an ice cream shop and your boss needs to leave a few hours early, volunteer to be put in charge. If you’re given the responsibility to lead, this counts on your resume as Management. If you’re working in an advertising firm and think you might want to be a copywriter, ask for the current assignments. Write the ads then ask for feedback. Who know, they may even love your ad so much, they’ll run it.

Ask questions. Always remember that a summer job or internship is a learning experience for you. While your employer expects to get some work from you, you are expected to be interested in what’s going on. So ask questions. This is your chance to get advice and learn.

Make connections. Build up personal relationships. Find a mentor. After the summer is over make sure to stay in touch with the people you met and connected with – and stay connected. It’s never too early to start building your professional network. A professionally geared site like LinkedIn.com is a good place to keep in touch.

Develop your professional people skills. Hone in on people you admire. Study the qualities you admire in them. Take notes on their dress and what character traits put them ahead. Then try to emulate those traits.

Learn to take criticism gracefully. No one likes to be criticized, but you’re sure to encounter many negative opinions throughout your life and career. Criticism can help you. Follow up a negative assessment by asking for their thoughts on what you could have done better. Are there resources you don’t know about? Is it true you need to be more detail-oriented. And then put that information to use. The best part about a summer job or internship is that you’re not expected to know everything. Both you and your employer know that you are there to learn.

Always, always stay enthusiastic and positive!

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Free Webinar: College Admissions Answers

April 13th, 2010

Our Broward/ Dade/ Miami College Counselors are pleased to announce that Kaplan is presenting a Free Webinar on “The Most Commonly Asked Admission Questions” featuring Mandee Heller Adler on Tuesday April 13th at 8pm.

The link to register is below!

http://www.kaptest.com/College/Getting-into-College/free-practice-tests-workshops.html&utm_source=kaptest&utm_medium=promotiles&utm_content=pc-home-lol-rally&utm_campaign=promotions

We look forward to seeing you there.

The Team at International College Counselors

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Decision making after the thick envelopes

April 7th, 2010

The envelopes are in.

If you have more than one thick envelope in your hand you’re now in the driver’s seat. The colleges have taken their sweeeeet time choosing you, and now it’s your turn to choose them. They’ve given you the month of April to make your choice. Far beyond the glossy paper of the brochures, here are some things you should consider:

Economics. It’s hard to deny that this may be a factor for many students. If you’ve been offered a generous financial aid package or a scholarship, it’s going to be hard to ignore this “bonus”. However, the price tag may not be so much a factor in some cases. The Ivies and a small number of other schools across the country have policies that allow students to meet the full need of students and allow them to attend irrespective of their ability to pay.

Fit. Where do you feel like you will fit in best? Some students thrive at universities where the city itself plays an important role in one’s overall education. Cities included on this list include New York and Boston and, as you can imagine, the cultural and internship opportunities are enormous. However, city schools tend to be more impersonal and cities aren’t as conducive to a school community atmosphere. Residential campus schools like The University of Florida in Gainesville or Williams College pride themselves on providing everything you need right there on campus, from cultural activities to social life. They have more of a community atmosphere.

Academics. Do you have an idea of what you want to do in the future? Then you need a school that offers a major or program that will allow you to explore that option to fullest. Also be aware that there can be real differences in the course of study at various places. Some schools like Columbia University and the University of Chicago require students to take a core curriculum. The mandatory courses can take up to two years to complete. Open curriculum schools, like Amherst, Brown and New College, have no required courses. Instead they require that students take one of a list of first-year seminars. Guidelines and advisors at these schools help students with their course choices.

Culture. Michael Roth, president of Wesleyan College presents this consideration excellently:

“The evolution of student culture over many years that comes to define the way a place feels to the young men and women who spend these transitional years on campus. Students – not teachers and officials – make that culture. At Duke, for example, there are extraordinary programs and deep research going on. But over several weeks of the spring semester (especially this year), it’s Blue Devil basketball frenzy that takes over campus culture. At Middlebury, there is currently an energetic student debate about the meal plan, which many students see as a defining element in their campus experience. At USC, the entertainment industry seeps into the fabric of the place, even when the subject areas are quite distant from Hollywood. At Wesleyan, the students have created vibrant music and film contexts that seem to fuel independent rock and hip-hop on the one hand, and popular film and TV on the other. Although most students here study neither music nor film, the energy of these areas percolates around campus.”

Only you will know what is truly important to you. What this college counselor suggests is that you create a list of all the questions you want answered and then you go visit the school. If you’ve already visited the schools, then visit your top two choices again. Take a good hard look at the school. Can you see yourself fitting into the culture? Do you feel comfortable? This is going to be your home away from home for the next 4 years.

Specific questions you may want to ask if you haven’t already: How hard is it to get into the classes you want? How small or big are the classes? Are there internships, and how does the school help students prepare for life after college whether that means career placement or help with graduate and professional programs? Does the school offer the athletic opportunities you want to participate in or cheer on? What will it mean to be an alumnus of George Washington University rather than the University of Miami? College counselors can help guide you to the right decision but ultimately, you should be looking for the campus energy that matches your own.

No doubt about it. Choosing your college is a big decision. Congratulations from International College Counselors to all the students offered this decision to make.

Reach deep down inside and make the best decision for you!

Mandee Heller Adler

International College Counselors

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Tougher standards proposed for Bright Futures Scholarship

March 22nd, 2010

by Miami college counselor Mandee Heller Adler, founder of International College Counselors

Lawmakers are preparing to make the Bright Futures scholarship more difficult to get and keep. This will happen if a proposal made Tuesday in a Florida Senate budget committee wins favor.

The legislation is an effort to close a $3 billion budget hole.

The Bright Futures college scholarship program was originally designed to pay full tuition costs for top-performing university and state college students.

Changes under consideration this year:

— Increasing the academic standards to qualify for the scholarships, from a 1270 SAT score to a 1290 by 2013 for the top award and from 970 to 1050 for the secondary award.

— Prohibiting students from renewing their Bright Futures scholarships if they lose their eligibility.

— Requiring students to use their scholarships within four years, as opposed to the current seven-year limit.

— Reducing the number of credits covered by Bright Futures from 110 percent of a program’s requirements to 100 percent.

— Maintaining Bright Futures at its current level of $126 per credit hour, essentially making it ‘flat’ award –even though tuition could rise as much as 15%,

— Requiring students to fill out a federal student aid form when applying for Bright Futures scholarships. It would give the state access to financial information on Bright Futures students and their families.

According to The Miami Herald, nearly 185,000 students are attending college with help from the scholarship. More than 95 percent of students at University of Florida use Bright Futures, as do the majority of those studying at FSU.

The changes would make the scholarship more competitive and leave less wiggle room for students who want to take extra classes, said state Sen. Evelyn Lynn, R-Ormond Beach and head of the Senate’s budget committee.

In contrast to the Senate’s budget team’s sweeping overhaul of the Bright Futures program, the head of the House’s budget committee proposed a simpler change: a 6 percent cut in funding for the scholarship. This means up to $450 less for Bright Futures students next year.

The college advisors at International College Counselors have extensive knowledge regarding the Bright Futures Scholarship. Whether you live in Orlando or Miami, college counselors at International Counselors are available to help you. Please contact us with any questions you may have.

International College Counselors

Main office: 954.253.5719

Mandee Heller Adler

mandee@internationalcollegecounselors.com

Barry Liebowitz

barry@internationalcollegecounselors.com

International College Counselors provides expert college counseling on undergraduate and graduate college admissions, financial aid, tuition, essays, and college applications. Mandee Heller Adler, college admissions consultant and Founder of International College Counselors tailors her college counseling and college coaching services to address the goals, needs, and dreams of each student. Our college advising company works with domestic and international students. Let us help you make the best decisions in choosing, getting into, and paying for college.

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Make Summer Count

March 9th, 2010

by Mandee Heller Adler, President of International College Counselors

Students who want to shine on their college applications should not forget about the summer as well. You don’t need to go to Costa Rica to build huts, but you do need to do something that raises your APA (application point average). If you’re not planning to take classes or attend an enrichment camp—get a job, volunteer or get an internship. Summer is coming up fast so here are some ideas to get you thinking about how to make the most of your summer.

Get a great summer job or internship

There are many opportunities in Miami.  And college counselors at International College Counselors  know that summer jobs and internships are great ways to show colleges, and your parents that you are successfully maturing into a responsible adult. And there are few better ways to earn a little respect and gain valuable real-world experience. In a tight job market like the one we’re experiencing now, your best bet may be the internship. An internship is a pre-professional work experience that provides students with an opportunity to gain unpaid experience in a field you’re interested in. So what you don’t gain in cash, you gain in experience. Think of it as a summer course. But with persistence and luck, you can land an internship in your dream career. If you think you might like to try advertising, check with your local agencies to see what internship opportunities are available. Think you want to be a lawyer, see if you can work in a law firm. An internship is also great way to secure yourself a recommendation and get your foot in the door for future networking.

If you’re looking for available internships opportunities here in Miami, college counselors at International College Counselors can help you. Opportunities can also often be found on company websites and social networking sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn.

Volunteering gives back

It can be profitable to work for nothing. You can make a difference, gain experience and explore your interests. For example, if a career in medicine interests you, you could volunteer a few hours a week at a hospital or nursing home. Interested in animals? Volunteer at the local animal shelter. Feeling entrepreneurial? Start a non-profit of your own. The choices are endless and all your hard work and time can pay off. Colleges and universities truly adore students who can demonstrate that they make the effort to help others. You may not be making money but you can make friends, and networking connections. You’ll also be creating fodder for those application essays. Then there’s always the fact you will be doing good — a wonderful reason to volunteer in itself.

Take a Virtual Class or Try Dual Enrollment

Flush out your resume and explore something new. Virtual classes and dual enrollment programs offer you a chance to choose something you want to learn. Try out a course from a major you’re interested in. Explore aeronautical science or 17th century literature. At some schools taking a virtual class or participating in a dual enrollment program can even help raise your GPA . Both can also help save you time and money if you take classes that count both for high school credit as well as college credit. Depending on their school, students who enter college with credit can reduce their course load per term or even graduate early.

Enjoy your summer – wisely!

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International College Counselors is Now on Twitter

February 26th, 2010

The college admissions experts at International College Counselors are now tweeting.

See the most recent application and essay tips, deadline reminders, important updates, congratulation notices, article links, and more by following us @College_Experts

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The Alumni Interview

February 23rd, 2010

Approximately 25% of schools count an alumni interview towards admission, and not only in Miami, college counselors know. When alumni interviews are not required for admission, this experience can benefit students as a valuable source for learning more about a school.

Different schools have different ways of arranging the interviews. Your chance of being asked to attend one really depends on how organized your area’s alumni are and whether the school counts the interview. It also depends on where you live. International students or students who live in remote areas, may need to do an interview over the phone, or skip it all together.

If you’re not working with International College Counselors, the best way to be sure is to call the school yourself and ask the admissions office how the alumni interview process works – and if it counts towards admission. If you’ve already been contacted by an alumni for a mandatory evaluative (one that counts) interview, make sure you prepare, go and follow up with a thank you note.

If your school of choice only offers informational interviews, you may need to be the one to initiate the process. Whether or not you are offered an interview may be more dependent on how organized your local alumni are then whether the school is seriously considering you.

Each year, the first interview assignments are typically sent out to local alumni chapters in early September. Early decision applicants should expect to hear something about their interview by mid-November. Otherwise, the general rule is regular decision applicants may be contacted as late as mid-February.

International College Counselors Tip: Students need to know the alumni interview policy of the colleges about which they are serious. Many universities have limited alumni who will interview, and so interviews are on a first come first basis. So, the earlier you send in your application, the better chance you have of getting an interview.

At International College Counselors, we don’t always recommend the interview for our students. Are you exceptionally shy? Insecure? While an interview can help, it can also hurt an application.

Putting things into perspective, when the alumni interview is used as part of the admissions consideration process, it rarely makes or breaks an application, and far more often than not, it works in the applicant’s favor. When applying to an institution where it is not required, students should use the interview as an opportunity to learn more about the School and the community from the perspective of an alumnus.

If you need interview tips and coaching, International College Counselors can help

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Get Free Money for College!

January 15th, 2010

Seniors, juniors, sophomores and freshmen: Free money is available from a variety of sources and offered as scholarships. What makes these money trees even more attractive is that you won’t need to repay the money.

However, you do have to work to earn your “pay”. The first step is finding the right scholarships for you. The second step is applying to them.
Scholarships are available from a variety of sources, including federal and state governments and private sources, such as employers, corporations, professional associations, and educational institutions.

Some scholarships are based on financial needs. Others are awarded to students with special abilities qualified as academic, artistic, or athletic achievement. Still more are reserved for people who have certain religious affiliation, ethnicity, memberships, hobbies, or special interests. Some, scholarships, like the scholarship essay offered by International College Counselors, require an essay. Others require illustrations. Then there is a spate of unusual scholarships that I’ll also get to.

HOW TO FIND SCHOLARSHIPS & APPLY FOR THEM
You don’t have to look farther than your computer to find scholarships to apply to. Several free scholarship databases are available online, offering millions of different scholarships worth billions of dollars. International College Counselors recommends the scholarship database FastWeb.com. It’s large, most often accurate and frequently updated.

Our college advisors also recommend searching for scholarships using a web search engine. Include the word “scholarships” in your search keywords and see what comes up.

Scholarships can also come with unusual eligibility requirements, such as a scholarship for left-handed students. There aren’t many of them, but it doesn’t hurt to see what may be out there. Start by typing “unusual college scholarships” into the search engine. Then use keyword combinations to match your “specialties” with the word “scholarships”. A few examples of the more esoteric scholarships out there:

Chick Evans Caddie Scholarships
For all of you who spent summers lugging bags across greens: Each year, the Western Golf Association awards scholarships to more than 200 student caddies. Among other things, scholarship winners must demonstrate excellent academics, financial need, exceptional character and, naturally, a strong caddie record.

The Duck Brand Duct Tape “Stuck At Prom®” Contest
Contest participants must enter as a couple (two individuals) and attend a high school, home school association or other school-sanctioned prom held in the spring, wearing complete attire and/or accessories made from Duck brand duct tape and submit a photo of yourselves to their website. Ten finalists are selected and visitors to the site then vote on them. First prize is a $3,000 scholarship and some cash for the event hosting school. This year, the Prom Contest starts on March 1, 2010.

Eileen J. Garrett Scholarship
The Annual Eileen J. Garrett Scholarship of $3000 is designed to assist a student attending an accredited college or university who wishes to pursue the academic study of the science of parapsychology.

International College Counselors Tip: If you have to pay money to get scholarship money, it’s probably a scam. Scholarships that sound too good to be true usually are.

Of course, the most prestigious scholarships attract the most attention because they are among the most lucrative and competitive awards. Many colleges also offer full tuition academic scholarships. There are also many school and community specific scholarships, and scholarships for Hispanic and Latino students.

Florida students should not forget to apply to the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program. The Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program provides scholarships based on high school academic achievement. Now is the time to apply.

College advisors know that scholarships pay off in other ways as well. They get you free money, AND look good on your college applications.

Next week, I’ll write about How to Apply for Scholarships.

APPLY FOR THE INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE COUNSELORS SCHOLARSHIP NOW. All students in 9th through 11th grade are eligible to participate.

http://internationalcollegecounselors.com/index_essay.html

Mandee Heller Adler and the expert International and Miami college counselors are available for questions.

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International College Counselors
3107 Stirling Road, Suite 208
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33312 USA
(954) 414-9986

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