Frequently Asked Questions
Your success starts here, with the answers you seek.
Embarking on this journey can raise numerous queries and we are here to guide you every step of the way. From understanding our personalized services to clarifying the application process and beyond, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of frequently asked questions to offer clarity and peace of mind.
Delve into our FAQ’s to gain valuable insights, debunk common myths, and empower yourself as you embark on this transformative path towards higher education.
High School
Students should take courses where they can be successful and do well with an appropriate level of effort. Some colleges care that you have a strong GPA in a college preparatory curriculum and are less concerned about course levels. Others expect students to have honors and a few AP courses on their transcript for serious consideration. They would prefer to see students challenge themselves rather than pursuing an easier A. Students who have had a setback in high school that negatively affected their GPA will find that there are many colleges that will focus on their progress and view grades in the context of all their strengths and involvements. The good news is that there are many excellent colleges for a wide range of students studying at all levels.
Standardized tests (SAT and ACT) are just part of what colleges look at when considering an application. Although test scores are still valued at some colleges, most colleges no longer require standardized tests for admission. However, be aware that in the absence of test scores, the college will be focusing on your grades and course choices. If your grades are strong this works in your favor. If they are not, it is important to get the support you need to improve your grades.
Colleges want students who are involved and who pursue interests that are important to them, not students who seem to jump on every extracurricular bandwagon in an attempt to pad their resume. Instead of being a passive member of dozens of clubs, it is better for you to be an active, engaged participant in fewer activities that you find fun and meaningful. Also, your participation is not limited to school-sanctioned clubs. Activities through the community, summer work, and pursuits and hobbies you do on your own are also things you should take into consideration when thinking about your extracurricular commitments.
Given the media coverage of how competitive college admissions has become, not getting admitted to any college is a common yet unfounded fear for students starting their college search. It is important to know that there are more open seats for college students in this country than there are applicants. The reason for all the talk about competition is because the media and many families focus on a small subset of the most competitive colleges. At Educational Advocates, we will help you identify a range of colleges with varying levels of selectivity that meet your academic, cultural, and social needs. This ensures that you apply to a few colleges where you have a high chance of acceptance so that you have some viable options when the decisions are in.
Although some students might have an idea about their intended major before they start college, most students enter undecided. Being undecided when you apply is not a mark against you because colleges know that part of the reason you want to attend college is to learn more about yourself and explore your options. During the college planning process, we will help you research a range of academic disciplines and related careers while also providing a list of colleges in line with your emerging interests.
The first thing we will do is make sure you understand what your learning disability is and how to explain it. We will review your evaluations so you understand their meaning. Together, we’ll review your strengths and prepare a profile that includes the accommodations and services that you will request in college. Based on that profile, we will match you with the colleges that not only meet your learning needs, but also your personal and social interests. You will then continue researching those colleges. When you visit campuses, we highly recommend that you make an appointment with the disability support office.
Transfer
It is estimated that one out of three college students graduate from a different college than the one at which they started. The reasons vary from dissatisfaction with the initial college of choice to changes in financial or family circumstances. Other students begin their college careers at a community college or other two-year college and seek a place where they can continue their education.
We help students reflect on the reasons for transferring and what they are seeking in their new college experience. Then we discuss cost, affordability and financial aid and generate a list of colleges in line with the student’s interests and academic profile. If necessary, we will assist as needed with the application, personal statement and logistics of the transfer process and discuss housing options and the transition to the new college.
The needs of transfer students vary so we individualize our services, which are offered on an hourly rate basis. We do require a minimum of four hours of service.
Our country is currently in a cycle of budget cuts that have forced high schools to make difficult choices. In some school systems, limited dollars for professional staff are allocated to the classroom teacher, sometimes resulting in a reduction in social workers and counselors. This means that excellent high school counselors have increasing caseloads and a wide range of responsibilities that make it difficult to give some students the time and attention they need for the college search. Social trends also are impacting the rising interest in independent educational consulting.
College admission and enrollment management serves the business side of a college or university. Their goal is to bring in a class with the correct balance of students that considers factors such as ability to pay, diversity, and filling various majors, athletic teams and arts roles. They are often not transparent about their policies which is why the consulting profession is needed and valued by many families. There are simply too many details and trends to keep up with than is reasonable for most parents and students to manage on their own. College costs continue to rise each year and parents want assistance finding high quality, affordable options. Families want knowledge and expertise along with more opportunity to discuss their hopes and concerns.
The college search and application process can be a long and sometimes emotional process, so it is of the utmost importance that you find an independent college consultant that is a good match for you and your child. Beyond personality, there are a myriad of other factors to consider, including the consultant’s integrity, first-hand knowledge of schools, and approach to the process. The Independent Educational Consultants Association’s “12 Questions to Ask Before Hiring an Independent Educational Consultant” and “12 Warning Signs that an Independent Educational Consultant is Not Worth Hiring” are two helpful resources on what you should look for (and what you should look out for) when considering a college consultant.
To get the most out of high school, families often find it helpful to begin working with us in freshman or sophomore year. Our focus at this early stage is on helping students set academic and personal goals and think about extracurricular and summer activities as well as jobs. The objective is to help students get the proper plan in place so they can be successful in high school. High school is an experience that should be enjoyed for its sake, not just as a means of getting into college. Meetings for younger high school students are held two to four times per year as needed. The formal college planning process begins by fall of junior year. The initial phase focuses on assessment to help students establish their criteria (Who am I? Where am I headed? What are my interests?), assist parents in thinking through the cost of college, educate the family about admissions and college in general, and provide a timeline, leading to an initial college list.
Given the media attention received by the most selective colleges (particularly the U.S. News and World Reports rankings), it is easy to think these particular schools are the best places for students to matriculate. However, these colleges represent just a small subset of all the schools available, and while they can provide some students with great opportunities, they are not suited for all. Rather than focusing on name recognition and perceived prestige, it is much more important to consider your child’s academic strengths, extracurricular interests and social needs when coming up with colleges for research, visit, and application purposes. In general, you and your child should look for colleges that emphasize the importance of strong writing and communication skills; creative, analytical, and practical thinking; cultural knowledge and global connectivity; and ethical thinking, and offer majors of potential interest. Cost is an important factor to consider. When identifying possible schools for students, we take financial concerns into account so that you and your child can explore colleges that will offer rewarding experiences without compromising your finances.
It is essential that students drive the college planning process, but parent involvement is key to a smooth, successful, and even fun admissions experience. While it is important that the students are the ones taking initiative in contacting the colleges, writing their essays, and keeping everyone involved in the process informed, parents can provide support in a myriad of ways. Helping students keep on track and meet deadlines, helping to arrange college visits, and providing the academic support students need to be successful in school are a few ways parents can help students during this busy time. Also, try to limit discussions about college to once per week to alleviate unnecessary stress.
While the logistical help you can give your child during this process is important, it is even more valuable to give students a safe forum where they can share their thoughts, opinions, and concerns about colleges. Students sometimes come into the process with preconceived notions that are not always accurate—as do parents. That is why it is important for both parents and students to research colleges prior to visiting or applying. This facilitates better decision making by students as they draw their own conclusions about which colleges are a potentially good fit. This doesn’t mean that you can’t share your own opinions; you can and should do this at the right time. However, it is essential to first give students the chance to formulate and share their opinions before weighing in with your own views. This is a process, and both you and your child are likely to change your views as you proceed.
The cost of college is daunting for many families. We believe that an analysis of college costs must be factored into the early stages of planning for college. We explain how to determine eligibility for need-based financial aid and the limitations of net price calculators. When we review the student’s file, we evaluate the likelihood that the student will qualify for merit awards (scholarships) based on grades, test scores or special talents.
We factor the family’s college budget or other financial limitations into the creation of the college list to ensure affordable options. In addition, we help parents define what value in a college education means to them. This definition will vary from family to family. During the parent meeting, we will discuss whether the parents have particular hopes or expectations for what their child will gain from a college education. We will also discuss the cost/benefit of colleges under consideration throughout the process.
We review the process and timeline for applying for financial aid and provide reminders along the way. We answer questions about financial aid forms, however, we do not complete them for families.
Guidance counselors, physicians, therapists and learning specialists frequently refer students and clients to us because of our experience in guiding students with specific needs. While we work with everyone who can benefit from our guidance, we have expertise in working students who fit the following profiles:
- Depression or anxiety
- Medical conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy or serious food or other allergies
- Learning differences and AD/HD and Autism spectrum
- Therapeutic boarding school students transitioning to college
- Substance use disorder
With permission from the student and family, we are happy to communicate and collaborate with professionals to ensure the best possible outcome for each student.
Our individualized approach allows us to counsel and work with students in a way that is comfortable for them and addresses their particular strengths, needs and learning style. We also factor their specific requirements into our college list recommendations to increase the likelihood that the college they ultimately select will meet their criteria from an academic, personal, health and social standpoint.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Begin your journey by scheduling a consultation with a college admissions expert.
