Sophomores

May 30, 2019 By Mark Cruver Leave a Comment

College Visit Bucket List

Summertime is the best time to start working on that college visit bucket list. Students are looking for things to do and travel seems to be the inevitable solution to new adventures. Why not grab the beach towel, notepad, sunglasses and some comfortable walking shoes and visit a few college campuses.

But, before you step out of the house, be sure to walk your way through our college visit bucket list to maximize your visits and have the best summer exploring some amazing college campuses.

Visit the college website!
Locate the Visit the Campus section of the college website, usually located under Admissions. Many allow you to schedule your visit right on their website!
If there are no options on their website to register your visit, give the admissions office a call and make an appointment directly.
Either way, make sure they know you’re coming!
Listen to their admissions presentation. They have worked hard on assembling the perfect amount of information to help you. Plus, it’s not a time-share presentation so try not to treat it like one.
Meet the admissions representative that travels to your area. Be sure to grab their business card too!
Do you know what major you may want to study? While you are scheduling your visit, see if there might be a professor from that department on hand to speak with you during your visit.
Take a campus tour! I know, this one sounds silly obvious. You’d be surprised how many visit campuses without an actual tour. When you schedule your tour, if you can arrange to have this given by a current student that is best. But, during the summer it will most likely be conducted by someone in admissions — still not a bad option.
Enjoy the moment out-and-about the campus. With or without students present, try to imagine yourself on these sidewalks, sitting in the classrooms, eating in the dining hall, or staying in the residence hall. Try to imagine yourself there as a student.
Show up! Be engaged! One of the most important things you can do is be a student of the college visit. Stay alert and ask questions. There are two kinds of students who visit colleges: those who genuinely want to know about the college and those who don’t want to be there at all. Admissions can spot them both! Which one will you be?
Take pictures! Be sure to document your visit for your own sake. Take it from experience, work hard to have the first picture of your campus visit be one of the name of the college. That way, when you go back to your camera roll, you’ll know which campus the state-of-the-art engineering lab that you took pictures of belongs to.
Take notes! Moms and dads, it is extremely tempting to be the designated “note-taker” for your campus visit. But, truth-be-told, there is nothing better than having your student document their own college visit. After all, the college visit is ultimately for their future education. Make sure you bring along a notepad with your favorite pen.
Visit a room in a residence hall. Watch out here!! Colleges always like to put their best-foot-forward and “show-off” their shiniest and newest stuff. Be sure to visit a residence hall where freshman would stay. Upperclassmen residence halls are good to see too because if this is where you enroll, it’s nice to see where you’ll eventually have the opportunity to stay. Also, it’s important to point out here, this is an area at some colleges where you can impact the overall Cost of Attendance. Some colleges give options and with those options come different price-points.
Come prepared for inclement weather! There is nothing worse than being on a campus tour when the bottom drops out of the sky! Be prepared!
Wear comfortable shoes! You’ll likely catch your Fitbit on fire with the number of steps you’ll likely take on each visit. Fuel up before the tour and stay hydrated!
MOMS ONLY: Be sure to carry that light sweater! Many colleges like to keep it nice and cold (notice I didn’t say cool) inside their buildings — especially those in the southern states where humidity is high. And, you’ll be walking in and out of many buildings!
Stay off your cell phone! There is nothing more distracting to your visit, both for you and the campus host, than to have your phone ringing or dinging during critical moments of information sharing. Place your phone on silence and tuck it away for the time-being. Moms and dads, if you must take a phone call, excuse yourself and catch up with the family/group once your call is complete. You don’t want to be that family!
Ask the right questions! Get a list of questions to ask Admissions, ask Students, and ask Yourself here!
Complete a “Self-Survey” for every campus visit (link in #18)! This will help you keep them all straight. Be sure to complete the survey as soon after your visit as makes sense for you, but before your next campus visit. You’ll find it is similar to finding the right house with your realtor. After the 4th house, they all start to blend together. Keep your campus visits organized.
Visit variety! Don’t be afraid to visit a variety of colleges and universities. The college visit years are meant to help determine what you like as a student. Use the campus visits more to narrow down what you like and don’t like about a college. This will help locate colleges that fit you best!
Send a Thank You card to those you spent time with! Be sure to get their names and their role at the college. This means a ton to those who took their time to share with you.

If you’d like some help with preparing for upcoming college visits or navigating the college admissions process for your student, feel free to read about our services here, or to get in touch here.

March 18, 2019 By Mark Cruver Leave a Comment

Hiring an IEC Still Good

Hiring an IEC is still a good idea for many families looking to garner the assistance and knowledge of colleges and the application process for their son or daughter from an in-field expert. It still makes good sense!

A good IEC walks a student through the college selection and application process by approaching the front door. When working with IECs, it’s not about getting students admitted — we find it far more rewarding to usher the student through a process of admissibility into the colleges or universities unique to their personal profile. All-in-all, IEC’s are looking for institutions of goodfit!

The Independent Educational Consultants Association describes the fundamental role of an independent educational consultant as one who help students explore college opportunities and find the right place for them to succeed academically and socially. IECs don’t get students admitted—they help students demonstrate why they deserve to be admitted at appropriately chosen schools. They help students find colleges they might not have heard of—often out of their region—and they help students put their best foot forward.

So, if you’re looking to hire an IEC, here are 5 things families should consider first:

Does the IEC belong to a professional association such as IECA with established and rigorous standards for membership?
Do not trust any offers of guaranteed admission to a school or a certain minimum dollar value in scholarships.
Ensure that the IEC adheres to the ethical guidelines for private counseling established by IECA.
Find an IEC that visits college, school, and program campuses and meets with admissions representatives regularly in order to keep up with new trends, academic changes and evolving campus cultures.
Do they attend professional conferences or training workshops on a regular basis to keep up with regional and national trends and changes in the law?

If you would like more information on considering an IEC at Capstone, let us know here!

July 30, 2018 By Mark Cruver Leave a Comment

4 Back-to-School Tips for High School Students

Summer is closing and many students are about to go back-to-school. For some, it will be their first year on a new campus, while for others, a reunion of sorts. Either way, getting off on the right foot could easily set the stage for a knock-out year and prevent many late nights, stressful days and aimless studying. Because, when it comes to college, every year of high school counts and having a strategy works! By simply referring to this guide you could maximize your chances of success.

Keep Moving Upward

Regardless of your year in high school, making the grade always wins. But, the slippery slope in not doing well over time is real. There are terms for this. Because the sophomore year tends to fall during the second year of your high school journey — virtually in the middle, some refer to it as “the sophomore slump.” Perhaps more notoroious, however, is the home stretch. Seniors can see the finish-line on the first day back-to-school and run out of gas rather soon. Procrastination sets in and the senior fights contracting the apathetic approach to finishing strong and as a result others ask if they have “senioritis.”

These are dangerous if not addressed quickly. Signs can be noticed when grades are beginning to move in a downward trajectory. Sometimes it’s an easy turnaround, but ultimately it is best to continue moving grades in an upward track, even if it is in small increments. But in the unfortunate event the grades have taken a hit, instead of “throwing in the towel,” take a deep breath and begin building from there. Move those grades upward!

Avoid Overcommitting

There is nothing worse than not having enough time to do the things that need to get done. Learning this art while in high school will pay incredible dividends both in college and beyond. Just keep in mind, getting back-to-school brings a heightened level of excitement and desire to be a part of many things. Remember to narrow down your options so you’re not overcommitting.

It’s important to identify what it is that drives you. What are you furiously passionate about? What do you really like to talk about or get excited about when someone else brings up the subject? Then, take the time to narrow your focus and select your commitments carefully. Remember, colleges like to see deep engagment in a few things rather than shallow involvment in many.

Oh, and if you are a senior, do not forget the college application is time consuming, so limit your commitments even more so during this time.

Practice Time Management

Even though you may limit your involvment in extra-curricular activities, the schedule will fill quickly and become very busy. Transitioning from a care-free summer schedule into a back-to-school routine is daunting and can easily overtake the most experienced of planners.

I was sad to hear that Chick-fil-A was no longer producing their annual “cow-lander.” Calendars like these are perfect in mapping out large projects. The ability to flip from month-to-month and see the big picture far outweighs the benefits of any handheld, portable calendar. However, when it comes to tests, weekly quizzes, reminders and reoccuring events, the pocket calendar on your phone or tablet is perfect!

TIP: The moment you receive an assignment and you know it’s gonna be a biggie — grab that calendar and start mapping out what, where and when you need to do and be in order to get it done on time. My rule of thumb was to always set a due date one week earlier than the actual due date. This way, I gave myself some “buffer-room” for those unforseen train-wrecks. And, it gave me a peace of mind and a sense of satisfaction knowing it was done while everyone else was stressing out!

Segment Large Assignments Into Small Pieces

The aforementioned TIP was just too good and it need not be left alone. Of all the tips, this one is by far the crown jewel, especially if learned early. Parsing a large assignement into “doable” chunks helps remove the stress and promote clarity on the subject. Students are able to focus in on a part instead of the whole and become more productive in the process.

As mentioned before, place the assignment on a day within one-week of the due date. Then, after looking at all the requirements (i.e. research, rough drafts, meetings, etc.) begin plugging in dates moving backwards on the calendar. This allows you to see how much time you actually have to complete the project and identify dates of availability so as to not miss out on opportunity to get things done.

Then, repeat for every assignment!

In the end, this frees up your time more than it fills your time. You will be able to actually spend time with friends and family, go here or there and do this or that, because you have designated specific time for a specific purpose. Success is moments away!

July 18, 2018 By Mark Cruver Leave a Comment

Lessons Learned From the Lower June SAT Scores

In case you missed the news, many high school students who took the June SAT were surprised to learn their scores were lower than they expected. Some knew something was up as many reported the math section seemed particularly easy. Students and parents were unhappy with the unexpected outcome and took to social media almost immediately to make a case. On Twitter, @rescoreJuneSAT went as far as creating a petition and encouraged followers and those perplexed test-takers to sign in hopes of drawing attention from The College Board.

With many dollars and countless hours spent on preparing for tests such as the SAT, students and tutors work hard to maximize the strategies and content by focusing on specific deficiencies or strengths in hopes to raise the score. Students strive to push the bar on their scores for a variety of reasons. Some are being considered for scholarships or honors program placements. But, the most notorious of them all are those hoping to impress or influence an office of college admission.

The results from the June SAT brought considerable disappointment as it literally changed the story for many of these students. Scholarships would not be awarded, honors programs could not be applied for and that “better score” to flash at admissions was going to be far less glamorous.

Some wondered how this could happen when the SAT is a “standardized test.” Allow me to offer a brief explanation that may shed some light on why and how this could happen. Have you ever taken a test or quiz in a class where the teacher graded on a curve? Well, believe it or not, every time you take the SAT it too is graded on a curve. Most of the time it’s hardly noticeable and it’s meant to keep the scoring standardized. But because the math section for the June SAT was particularly easy to most, it elevated most of the test-takers to the top. There-in-lies the problem — and here comes the curve!

It’s painful knowing the implications of diminished returns on tests like the June SAT. It’s truly heartbreaking when one begins to think about all the lost possibilities. But instead of focusing on how this happened or why this happened, I’d like to suggest a few lessons we might learn from this experience.

Here are a few suggestions to consider as students prepare and plan for their future SAT or ACT tests.

Plan Ahead

June is a great opportunity to take the SAT, especially since it’s in the summer while there are fewer distractions and commitments. However, it’s important to plan your testing strategy early so that the June SAT is not the ONLY SAT you take. As a rising senior, this is your last opportunity to take the SAT before submitting your applications to college. By waiting until June to take the SAT you are placing all of your eggs in one basket.

Know the Landscape

It makes sense as a high school junior or rising junior to take a standardized test “cold-turkey.” It’s a good way to get a feel for the test. Along with learning the general feel for the test, it’s equally important to know about the general content to expect on the test. Self-help study guides can be found at your local bookstore and many test-prep tutors can coach you through the content. When you are unfamiliar with the test and its content, you’ll likely find yourself with a score far below your true ability and possibly even below college admissibility standards. So, do your best to know before you go.

Practice

Whether you are an athlete, an artist or a “book-worm,” practicing trains the body and mind to accomplish the desired outcome. Grandma always used to say, “Practice makes perfect!” And, while we know perfection may, in fact, be far away, practice will bring you closer to perfect than ever before. Practicing for the SAT or ACT used to be accomplished only by taking the actual test over and over, resulting in an expensive practice strategy and the results were reported. Now, it’s easier than ever before to practice taking these tests. Both SAT and ACT offer practice tests in their official study guides. For a more realistic practice test, you may want to check out your local test-prep companies. Some of them administer the test under the same testing parameters you would find in an actual testing setting and some even provide a detailed score report for added value! Capstone Educational Consultants is one of those offering such a service.

Take it Again

Taking the SAT or the ACT several times can serve as a series of benchmarks that can assist in knowing where to focus. My grandma used to also say, “Life happens!” And she was right! When it comes to the day you are scheduled to take the SAT or ACT — life will happen. But sometimes life will throw a curveball and take you off your game. Sleep through the alarm? Miss breakfast? Can’t find your keys? Forget your calculator? Family tragedy? All of these and many others can impact your testing performance. This is why it’s important to plan ahead, know the testing landscape, practice and take it again!

July 10, 2018 By Mark Cruver Leave a Comment

Don’t End Your Summer Without Doing This Short List

Summertime is a great time to go visit new places, meet new people and experience the world from top to bottom. The daily routine transforms from backpacks to sandals wrapped in a care-free spirit of adventure. It truly is the best time of the year!

But before it gets too far down the road it’s important to take note of several important things for high school students to do before the end of summer draws near. We always look back on the day before school and wonder where in the world summer went. It seems to slip out of our hands much like the sand did as it slid between our fingers all summer long!

Read a Book

I know, it feels like the last thing in the world to do when you’re applying that suntan lotion, but nothing could be further from the truth. Reading a book throughout the summer is actually the best way to keep your mind engaged, experience an adventure and a drama, or learn about the man who became both Vice-President and President of the United States, but was never elected to either office. Beyond the fun and beyond the education, it also adds to the value of your college applications!

Plan for a Test

The summer months are actually some of the best days to prepare for the upcoming ACT or SAT tests. Students often want to take a break from studying or thinking about anything to do with school, but the truth is, it’s the best time to do it! There are many places to assist in this preparation including Capstone Educational Consultants, but be sure to determine when you want to take that test and schedule a practice test with some tutoring!

Visit a College

Vacations and summer go together like peanut butter and jelly! It’s tough to separate the two. Think about your travel plans and incorporate a visit to a college campus on the way there or on the way back. Most people visit colleges because they are trying to see if that college is a good one to consider and this is good, but sometimes it’s perfectly good to visit a college you’ve never heard of before. This not only introduces you to something new, it provides an opportunity to get a feel for a campus visit experience, learn something new and perhaps even identify what you don’t like!

Give Back

Sometimes summer can be a drag. Between the vacations and all that reading comes the “down-time.” We resort to bingeing on our favorite episodes of “The Office” instead. However, summer is the best time to give back to your community, neighbor or friends. Is there an organization that could benefit from your volunteering? Is there a neighbor that could be blessed by your lending a hand in their yard? Is there a cause to which you could contribute? Giving back is one of the best things in the world to do for others. Try it out!

Sophomores

College Visit Bucket List

Hiring an IEC Still Good