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Capstone Educational Consultants

Helping Students with Test Prep, Tutoring, and Navigating the College Journey

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College Admission Essays

Writing The Essay
Writing The Essay

The college admission essay is arguably one of the most critical components of the application process.  No matter the college, the college admissions essay is important!  Taking these three simple steps can make a difference with your personal essay:

  • Write Down Your Ideas

Take a few minutes to simply brainstorm ideas for your essay by writing them down.  No rhyme or reason.  Grab some paper and pencil.  Go to your happy place and start writing those great ideas!

  • Consider Moments or Characteristics You Value

Make a list of those things you value most or moments that have changed your life or the lives of others.  Many times these ideas can develop into an inspiring essay!

  • Catch Your Reader In The First 10 Seconds

With the thousands of essays being read by admissions office professionals, grabbing their attention in the first 10 seconds is critical.  Make it a fantastic start by not using your typical introduction sentence starter!

Keep in mind there are many who are great to help with your essay journey.   But keep in mind, there are plenty to keep at arm’s length as well.  If you are looking for some help with your essays give Capstone Educational Consultants a call today!

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Getting A Top Recommendation Letter

When it comes to getting those much needed references and recommendation letters for the college of your dreams, it isn’t as easy as one might think.  For many students, the mere thought of asking someone else to write about them is over-the-top, while for others it’s tough determining those who would best fit-the-bill.

So, in the spirit of taking the steps toward getting that glowing recommendation letter, let’s discuss some simple steps to take that will take the sting out of who and how.  Since college admissions offices place a great deal of weight on these letters, mastering the art of asking is ever important.

Here are some recommendations:

Be Aware of Your School’s Procedures

Knowing exactly how your school handles your request for a recommendation letter and what to expect once it is written will take a great deal of mystery out of the process.  Should you ask the teacher directly or is there a form to complete in the guidance office?  Will a copy of the recommendation letter be placed in my academic file?  Will the teacher send it to the college or will the guidance office?  Other than who writes it, who else will read the recommendation letter?

Know Who You Might Ask

Take the time to make a list of those teachers you would like to participate in your college journey by writing a recommendation letter for you.  These teachers should know you differently, in a variety of environments in the context of school.  They should be able to speak of your character, academic responsibility, ethic and habits.  They may even be able to share insights into untapped leadership skills or compassion for others.

Be Sure To Ask Politely, In Person

One of the absolute keys to obtaining a glossy recommendation is the approach you take in asking.  Never should you email or phone a request, nor should you nonchalantly ask in passing.  Take the time to respectfully request by setting up a meeting.  During that meeting, which does not have to take a long time, it will be a great opportunity to briefly share a little about your goals and plans for your college journey.  Be sure to let them know why they are an important part of your journey.

Give Them Plenty of Time

Remember, nothing great happens overnight, so don’t expect your teacher to write your recommendation letter overnight!  Give them plenty of time to consider and write a well-thought letter to reflect the best of you!   It may be a great idea to give them at least a month lead time before they are actually required.  Giving them enough time will reflect your maturity and courtesy.

Equip Them

It certainly isn’t required, but it may be an excellent idea to further prepare your teachers in the details of who you are and what you enjoy.  It’s as simple as preparing a simple folder to include a resume of your academic courses, extra-curricular activities (both in and out of school) and be certain it includes your address and contact information.

Waive Your Right

Admissions personnel prefer to read letters of recommendation that have remained confidential.  This provides a more authentic and honest reference and one that is not obstructed by the influence of other’s opinion.  This pure reflection speaks volumes and can be obtained by making certain they are not sent to the admissions office from your hands.  Therefore, provide the information to your selected and trusted teachers necessary to submit them upon completion.

Say Thank You

A simple “thank you” goes a very long way!  After all, the teachers are taking their time to write about you, so you need to take the time to write to them.  Be sure to write a simple thank you card in your own handwriting and place a stamp on the envelop and place it in the mailbox — don’t forget to put the flag up!  Do not send a thank you email — that is super tacky!

When it all boils down, it’s important to be organized in this process.  So, take the time to do that from the beginning and it will make things so much easier.  Follow these steps along the way and it will put in place the steps needed to get that detailed letter needed to stand out in the admissions office.

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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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What College-Bound Students Can Learn From Ashton Kutcher

by Mark CruverAshtonKutcher

Nothing gains more attention than a movie star making an acceptance speech for an award that would otherwise go unnoticed if not for the unexpected!  And that’s exactly what happened at this year’s Teen Choice Awards.  It was to be nothing but an award with a very predictable response.  After all, it was Ashton with an audience of teenaged girls.  At first, the crowd was usual, but Ashton clearly had something to say and then he shared the unexpected!

He may have made slight jokes about being the oldest in the room, but no one can deny the wisdom and maturity he shared in his acceptance speech.  The lessons he shared were priceless and many along the road of life can apply his three very critical points to their own daily lives.  So, how might his wisdom be applied in the life of the college-bound student?

Ashton . . . or should I say, Chris . . . stated three very important points that the college-bound high school student can use in their own personal journey to college.

His first point was Opportunity!  This is a great reminder of where we are today as a country, community and especially, as a college-bound student.  “It takes hard work,” Kutcher expressed.  Isn’t that the truth!  Without hard work, opportunity merely turns into a hand-out.  So students, this is equally critical to your future!  Kutcher’s example of “being lucky to have a job” can easily be applied to getting to the college of your dreams.  It’s going to take hard work — every day!  But as he noted, opportunity equals hard work!

His second point was Being Sexy!  I can’t think of a single college-bound student that doesn’t think about the value of being sexy.  But being sexy to Kutcher is not what most of us expected to hear from him and truly set him apart.  Being sexy isn’t something on the outside and that’s something we have always wanted our children to understand.  Kutcher makes it distinguishably clear that being sexy means being smart, thoughtful and generous.  The college-bound student can reap a heap of reward by applying this principle each day they grace the halls of their high school.  It’s hard to write in an essay or describe how sexy you are to an admissions officer, but by being sexy — being smart, being thoughtful, being generous — the college bound student will in turn have the opportunity to share with admissions officers about their life rewards!

His third and final point was Living Life!  Nothing speaks louder to a high school student than an adult blessing them with the freedom to “live it up!”  But to Kutcher, “living” is not just watching the clock tick life away.  Instead, Kutcher encouraged his audience of teenage girls to “build life!”  This involves intentional moments that construct your life into one that others will live in.  After all, the life we live in was “built by others no smarter than you!”  In other words, Ashton reminds these girls that they are capable of great things — so “build it!”  For the college-bound student, the same is true!  You are capable of great things, so don’t give up on your journey, work hard and pursue your dreams!   The future is yours!  College may be right around the corner and careers may be just a few blocks further ahead, but you can start today building your life!

College-bound students . . . stay true to who you are!  Take the wisdom Ashton managed to condense in a four-minute speech.  By applying these three points to your every day life you take ownership and responsibility for your future while inspiring others to be the best they can be.  Do this by working hard, being smart, being thoughtful, being generous and investing in your own future by building life!  It’s your time to shine . . . go for it!

Mark Cruver, M.Ed. / Capstone Educational Consultants, LLC

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Christian Students Must Equip Themselves Before College

Summit MinistriesThe number of Christian students that find themselves in their freshman year of college and questioning their faith, wondering what they believe and why they believe it is staggering.  Studies show that between 30% and 51% of Christians renounce their faith before graduating from college.  Christian students are struggling with how to interpret the many messages from society about themselves and their faith.  It’s time for students to think Christianly by equipping themselves on what that means.

As mentioned in one of Summit’s articles in Truth & Consequences, it reads:

Recent surveys of worldview thinking have illustrated that even students raised in Christian homes, who attend church regularly, and who are enrolled at Christian schools, nevertheless tend to think like humanists rather than like believers in biblical revelation. Christians are rejecting the biblical notions of absolute truth and an alarming number are even turning away from Christianity. Worldview training has never been more important.

No student should miss this!  It will change their life!  Choose from one of three locations in Tennessee, Colorado and the newest location . . . California!

This is a fantastic way for students to build upon their own summer experiences!  The return on this investment is priceless!  Don’t miss out — be intentional about the rest of your life!

**NOTE**  Students can also obtain college credit for this event!