Capstone Educational Consultants

Helping Students and Families Navigate the College Journey

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Last Minute Gift Ideas

Are you looking for some last minute gift ideas for a family member, neighbor or special someone?  Consider gifting a career assessment, personality type indicator, learning style inventory or multiple intelligence assessment!  They are great and quick options and provide the student or adult valuable information and insight into their world and journey.  Each instrument is filled with details specific to the individual and comes with a personalized report and an *one-hour interpretive session from a certified practitioner.

Here is a brief description for each instrument:

MBTI Certified Logo (PMS)_hiresMyers Briggs Type Indicator – The MBTI® unleashes the knowledge for each person to understand more about themselves and the depth of their own preferences.  It has the ability to unlock personal potential with the keys to awareness of personality types through it’s use in the workplace, career choice and professions, learning styles, relationships and personal growth.

“Good type development can be achieved at any age by anyone who cares to understand his or her own gifts and the appropriate use of those gifts.”    -Isabel Briggs Myers
Strong Certified Logo (CMYK)Strong Interest Inventory® – The Strong is an incredible instrument used in both high school and college settings for students uncertain as to what major and/or career for which they are best suited.  It’s one of the world’s most widely respected career planning tools.  Are you trying to figure out what might be a good fit?  Or maybe you’re in the middle of a career transition and need some ideas!  
logo_lsiLearning Styles Inventory – The LSI is a fantastic way to identify the absolute ideal environment that suits how you learn best, ultimately learning how to study smarter.  Supported by over 30 years of research, the LSI unleashes the student’s unique learning style “to boost confidence, self-esteem and academic achievement.”
logo_miMultiple Intelligence Advantage™ –  When it comes to intellect, there is nothing more powerful than discovering that which is unique about the individual student in order to strengthen all intelligence, boost confidence and explore career possibilities.  There is nothing better than unlocking the understanding of a student’s whole intellect.
Would you like to learn more?  Complete the form below and Mark will contact you!
[contact-form][contact-field label=’Name’ type=’name’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’Email’ type=’email’ required=’1’/][contact-field label=’I Am Interested In:’ type=’checkbox-multiple’ options=’MBTI®,Strong Interest Inventory®,The Learning Styles Inventory,Multiple Intelligence Advantage’/][contact-field label=’Comment’ type=’textarea’/][/contact-form]
*The one-hour interpretive session can be done in person, via-video conference or phone conference.

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Mark Cruver Honored in Planting School

Dayton, TN – Rhea County Academy (RCA) of Dayton, TN, today, recognized Mark Cruver of Fayetteville, GA, one of its founding members for his dedication, guidance and vision in establishing Rhea County’s first private school (K-12).  The founding members of Rhea County Academy represented a diverse balance across academia.  To include retired educators, Admissions professionals and invested parents, the founding members cast their vision began from the ground-up.Mark Cruver

Mark Cruver has been an Independent Educational Consultant (IEC) since 2012 and assists high school students throughout Fayette County and the greater Atlanta area with all aspects of their college journey.   Mr. Cruver earned a bachelor of arts degree in Christian education with a youth emphasis from Bryan College (TN).   He received a master of education with a focus on college student affairs from Azusa Pacific University several years later.

Mr. Cruver earned an Independent Educational Consultant Certificate from the University of California – Irvine in 2014.    Mark Cruver has served as director of admissions for Bryan College in Dayton, Tennessee, where he developed an insiders perspective from applications to essays, understanding the elements most attractive to university or college admissions departments and served on Rhea County Academy’s inaugural board.

Mark continues to expand his education as it relates to college and career.  He is a Strong Interest Inventory® and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator certified practitioner.  Mr. Cruver attends multiple national IEC conferences and workshops each year.  He holds active Professional Membership with the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) and works primarily with students on their journey to college.

Rhea County Academy of Dayton, Tennessee was founded in 2003 and deemed Rhea County’s first private school for students K-5.  RCA continues to provide an excellent education, graduating their first class in 2015.  Today, RCA has a strong student body of 90 students K-12 with a continued vision focused on quality and excellence.

For many years following RCA’s launch they called Grace Bible Church of Dayton, Tennessee their home.  Due to overwhelming support, they now have their own space to call home on California Avenue in Dayton, Tennessee.  This full-sized facility, consists of classroom space for all grade levels.   Recreational activities are held outside on their well-equipped playground and athletic fields.  RCA has partnered with Rhea County’s local homeschool network to offer classroom experiences.  Bryan College provides dual-enrollment options for RCA’s high school students.

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The Greatest Thing Ever!

If it were possible to know the greatest thing ever, would you take the time to find it?  There are countless stories of such adventures.  Remember these great films?  The Goonies,   National Treasure,  Indiana Jones,  Star Trek, to name only a few!  There’s something captivating, mystic and ultimately, rewarding in the quest and discovery for whatever “holy grail” we are seeking to find.

As students, finding this gem in light of college could be the greatest thing ever!  But what exactly is it?  And why, when it’s found, would it become the greatest thing ever?

If a man empties his purse into his head no one can take it away from him.  An investment in knowledge always pay the best interest.    Benjamin Franklin

The pursuit of the greatest thing ever comes through the simple act of reading.  Read!  It becomes the conduit through which depth of thinking, breadth of understanding and construction of vocabulary occurs.  As Franklin states, it will “always pay the best interest.”

Leave nothing unturned, read often, read from different sources.  This, by far, becomes the best preparation for and improvement in writing, standardized tests and general knowledge of the world and events.

Take the time to read and read, and read some more!  It is the window through which knowledge is gained.  It truly is the greatest thing ever!!

Mankind have a great aversion to intellectual labor; but even supposing knowledge to be easily attainable, more people would be content to be ignorant than would take even a little trouble to acquire it.   Samuel Johnson (1709-1784)

by Mark Cruver
©2014 Capstone Educational Consultants

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Shaun White And Our College Dreams

The name Shaun White is no stranger to the airwaves these days.  In fact, he’s Shaun-Whitebeen all over them with his exciting performance expected on this year’s Winter Olympic half-pipe.  Anticipated by many to bring home the Gold, Shaun actually went on to rank 4th in the event.  And as you know, 4th place in the Olympics brings nothing home, but Shaun brought home something more priceless than Gold!

The more I pondered on this moment of surprise, I thought of the many high school students who, like Shaun, have worked hard and have for themselves incredible dreams and aspirations for college.  It’s a journey not unlike an athlete’s journey to win Gold.  But for Shaun, his dream ended nothing like he had imagined it would.  It ended in 4th place.

You Don’t Always Get What You Work Hard For

Shaun didn’t quite set out during his college days expecting to win a Gold Medal at a future Winter Olympics.  In fact, Shaun’s parents were a bit confused when their math student began talking of snowboarding and a half-pipe.  But Shaun didn’t allow those moments to interrupt his big dream of one day making history.

His journey began with a dream and with that he set out to make it come true.  Like so many high school students that think long and hard about the college of their dreams, Shaun thought a great deal about what it would take to make his dream a Gold-en moment.

Hard work certainly paid off, he made it to the Olympics!  But the dream of Gold he worked hard to earn slipped through his fingertips.  Similarly, high school students work extremely hard with community service, academics and extracurricular activities in hopes that one day it will all pay off — for college.   But the truth is everyone doesn’t get into the college of their dreams, even though they work very hard.  Everyone doesn’t win and that’s okay because Shaun doesn’t see himself as having lost, he thinks of himself as a winner regardless.

Good Sportsmanship Matters

When we don’t get what we want or even what we think we deserve it often leads to conflict.  I can only imagine the disappointment with not getting to medal in the Olympics after such discipline and working so diligently for that very moment.

College-bound students are experiencing this very thing each time the college of their dreams sends the infamous letter of rejection.  This being said, it’s even more difficult for these students to congratulate their friends — especially when it’s at a college they want to attend as well.

Seeing Shaun go for it and lose it was nothing short of painful.  But watching him respond to it was priceless — encouraging those who’d done well and winning the very thing he wanted.

Bad Days Happen

Bad days are not easily forgotten.  They tend to linger for a while.  But it is critical in these moments to not lose heart.  How you respond to your bad day makes all the difference.  Shaun collected his thoughts and instead of dwelling on the events of the past few moments, shot them forward to the “next time.”

It’s important for high school students to realize life hasn’t come to an end when dreams get crushed.  Instead, live life to the fullest as though nothing will stop you.  Remember, even though you don’t get into the college of your dreams simply means there will be a detour and detours are meant to take you to the same destination.

Be Encouraged

Nothing can spoil a moment more than derogatory or negative comments when something you’ve always wanted doesn’t quite land in your lap.  Don’t be that negative person.  Instead, be sure to encourage the one who got turned down from a college or not chosen for that scholarship.  Everyone wants to win, but it takes character to make it through a loss.

Friends and family that encourage the high school student along their college journey will be giving them the strength they need to make it through those rough moments.  It’s fantastic to have a supportive family and a group of friends by your side when the tough gets going.

Thank you Shaun White for showing America how to work hard to win and how to act when you don’t!

by Mark Cruver
©2014 Capstone Educational Consultants

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The Key To Christmas Break: Time To Think

 

Students and Christmas break conjure up all sorts of thoughts:  Christmas parties, family gatherings, comfortable couches, late mornings, late nights and an endless supply of festive goodies and excitement.  But in the middle of this more than wonderful hustle and bustle of the season, there within lies a sleeping giant.  This giant, if ignored, can be considerably unwelcoming as college approaches.  However, if greeted warmly, considered thoughtfully, this giant becomes your best-friend when it comes to college planning!

University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh

For both high school seniors and college students, the Christmas break can be a great time to think.  The challenge is finding and taking the time, the gift, and using it wisely.  It takes considerable discipline to be intentional about time over this break given the many things otherwise filling their space.  But the time they take to get away, answer some very important questions, pays a dividend that is worth it’s weight in gold.  That’s a gift that keeps on giving!

High school seniors are in a different place than their college friends.  While some have already received their acceptance to college, many are still in the middle of the application process.   It’s important for the high schooler to take this time to concentrate on that college essay.  While school is in session there are many distractions that occupy their attention and more often than not, the things that matter most often suffer most and take a back seat.  The exclusive time the senior takes to concentrate outside of a cluttered daily schedule could very well mean the difference between a good essay and a great one!  And when it comes to a college essay — quality matters!

Another place the high school senior who is still completing applications for college can spend some time asking some questions is regarding their test scores.  If they are content with their current score then they are propelled further down the road to completion.  If, however, they are not content, then it might be in their best interest to take the time to schedule for an upcoming ACT or SAT.  “What can be done to prepare to improve my score?” is a question to consider.

The other category of high school seniors are those who have yet to complete a single application because they have not identified a college of interest.  These seniors are in a completely different mindset throughout their Christmas break.  They should pause first, then just breathe.  Don’t panic!  This Christmas break is a perfect time to sit down and strategize.  There are many resources that can assist in this process and seeking wise counsel can make a huge difference.  Consider finding an IEC (Independent Educational Consultant) locally (http://www.hecaonline.org/Directory) to assist in this process!  Start by asking: “What am I looking for in a college?”  This is a great launching point that will develop into a plan.  Planning ahead is a great gift to yourself!

Coming home for the holidays for the first time since moving away to attend college can be a bit different for the college student — especially if their old bedroom has been transformed into the new workout room with a single treadmill.  College students should spend this holiday break still thinking about their college experience.  Self-evaluating their major fit, academic performance, satisfaction and ultimately, their college selection can be time well invested!  While many will determine early they are in the right place, there are many that know a change is in order.   Transferring can be a costly move at times, but if well calculated, it can be extremely economical in the long run.  No one can answer this question better than the college student who takes the time, away from the distractions of both the classroom and the season, to contemplate for themselves.

For the college student who is completely happy with where they are headed and the college experience has been extremely rewarding, the Christmas break can serve as a time to get involved.  There’s time for occasional periods of excessive rest, but for the most part, it is important for these students to give the gift of their time, skills and cheer to those in their community.  Offer to serve at a homeless shelter or at a local church — time is a precious gift!