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Capstone Educational Consultants

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

College Decisions

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College Decision in 5 Easy Steps

The college decision is painstaking, especially when there are several colleges on the list, all great and all of them want you! It feels good to be invited to the party, but getting to this point for many is painful.

Families can quake at the college decision and this adds strain to the experience that should be exciting and hopeful. In order to help families process this college decision moment better, I’ve identified five easy steps to consider. These steps will not take you to the perfect college, because regardless of how much work is placed in finding a good-fit, no college is perfect. These steps will, however walk you through a process to better understand the important factors in making the college decision and assist families in identifying practical results.

Assess the Options

Now that the college applications are in, students are anxiously waiting for decisions. Colleges are contacting students by mail, by video, by email and sometimes even in-person to share their decision. These decisions come in a variety of flavors with some having a bit of a sting. Accepted – Deferred – Waitlisted – Denied The degree of rejection grows the further down this scale the decision is made. It is important to know and remember, no college decision determines a student’s worth. The most important thing is to rally and move forward.

At this point, it’s key to focus on your options. What colleges are still in the mix? Clearly, there are those to which the student was accepted. And this is super! But the colleges to which you were deferred or waitlisted should not be tossed aside just yet. Getting deferred means the school’s decision is not a “yes” or a “no” and by placing the student in a “deferred” category offers the school another opportunity to evaluate the student. This is a good time to consider revisiting the school and submitting NEW information on your academic progress and/or achievements. When waitlisted, it’s important to know the school is waiting to see how the class fills before offering a decision on your admittance. A waitlisted decision often comes after May 1 and could intersect with other decisions a family is trying to make.

Evaluate the Schools

There are many scenarios students could potentially experience in the college decision process. When a student is trying to decide between two or more equally competitive colleges, it’s important to step back and take a fresh look at each of the colleges. Dig deeper into what initially attracted you to them in the first place. Why were they a good fit and how does that reason weigh in your decision? Are all the colleges on your decision list selected by you for the same “good-fit” reason? Explore each one and give it a score and see how each one differs from the other.

Compare and Contrast

During the evaluation process, take a moment to compare and contrast what you learn. Strategically zero-in on programs of interest, potential majors, clubs, organizations and other areas of student-life important to you. What about housing options? Career centers? What are the outcomes for the major you’re considering? Do students at one of your colleges have a greater chance of getting hired after graduation than the others?

Calculate the Financial Aid

This step may actually come before all the others depending on your college list. The actual cost of attendance can differ greatly between colleges depending on their location (in-state vs. out-of-state), public vs. private and many other factors. Regardless, it is important to determine the actual cost in attending each institution.

Each of the accepted schools will soon provide a Financial Aid Award Letter to outline the varying amounts of aid available federally and institutionally. Once each of them is in your hands, begin the process of actual cost as one factor of consideration.

Be Rational

Keeping an even keel in the college decision process is critical. Getting emotionally connected without a logical approach can make the decision overly complex. For instance, consider if, at one college, you know friends from high school will be going. But at another college, you are considering there will be no friends from high school. It is always tempting to run toward the direction where we feel most comfortable, but it may not be the best choice. So be rational in your decision, keep a level head and think through your college decision from as many angles as you can. It’s one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make!

We are confident you are going to make a very informed college decision and celebrate with you on this great adventure!

If you would still like some direction, or know someone else in need of consultation, feel free to get in touch!

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Choosing A College Once You’re Accepted

Choosing a college once you’ve received your acceptance letters is arguably more important than selecting the colleges in the first place. It goes without saying at this point, but congratulations on your acceptances! But that was the easy part — now it’s time to decide!

A decision typically comes between selecting one of at least two different things. In this case, it may be you have several colleges to choose from. Either way, between two or between many, narrowing down your decision is big. Here’s a simple process to consider:

Compare Apples-to-Apples

In order to fairly consider between two options and choosing a college, it’s important to place them on equal playing fields. Identify those things about each college that make them different. These things could be size, financial package, location or one may have a spot on a team whereas the other one doesn’t. In doing this exercise, you’ll be able to evaluate their similarities, such as academic program, campus amenities, faculty involvement, internship opportunities to name only a few.

Evaluate the Oranges

Whereas before you were focusing on the colleges similarities, in this exercise, you’ll focus on those things that differ: Apple-to-Oranges. Take a look at those things that make each college different from the other and determine the level of importance they each play in your attending college. Finances may be a determining factor, so it should be valued much higher to you than say having a spot on the team with no scholarship offered.

Visit the Campus

Take a trip to see the campus before making your final decision. Exploring the campus, seeing the students in action, sitting in on a class and speaking with faculty, coaches and reading up on the campus newspaper are excellent ways to broaden your understanding and perspective toward a place you’re considering to spend the next four to six years earning a degree.

Ask Questions

Before visiting the campus one last time, make the effort to do your homework. Find out everything you can about the campus, academic programs, student opinions and student organizations before you step foot onto the campus. Prepare in advance a short list of questions that address your curiosities and interest to better understand the academic programs or other aspect of the college.

We hope this helps you tackle this very important decision with more precision and ease.

As always, feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions or need some help sorting through your options. And, for more insight into college admissions, please “LIKE” our Facebook page!

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Community Colleges Make The Grade

Community College

Community colleges have a long history of confusion for parents of college-bound students. They often wonder if choosing to attend a community college is the best idea for their son or daughter. After all, when all of the other students are going away to 4-year institutions, what does it say when your child stays behind and enrolls at the local community college? Studies show, you may be the smartest parent in the community!

Let’s look at some of the numbers on a national scale for students attending community colleges out of high school. As reported by the NPR in December of 2018, community colleges enroll up to 41% of all undergraduate students in the U.S.

As good as that seems, there are still several stigmas that tend to follow the idea of attending a community college out of high school. These myths prevent taking the step and often deter the idea of selecting a community college all-together — myths like, the lack of student life, under qualified professors, it’s too easy, it’s unsafe, it’s a waste of time because credits won’t transfer, or that you’ll be completely on your own. It’s a shame.

Truth is, students are utilizing the benefits of community college attendance to leverage their transfer power into 4-year degree programs all over the country. In fact, “according to a new report from the Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, graduation rates of community-college transfers meet or exceed those of students who enroll at selective institutions as first-time freshman. Community-college transfers also graduate at higher rates than students who transfer from other four-year colleges.” (Harris)

This is great news for students and families in Fayette County, Georgia considering community college as a viable option in their student’s college journey. Our local community college, Georgia Military College has an impeccable reputation not only in our community but across the state and throughout the nation! GMC ranks as the #1 Community College in the State of Georgia according to TheBestSchools.org. And, GMC is also the 14th Best Community College in the Nation according to the same website.

Community College is not for every student, but it certainly stands a chance for consideration. After all, community college students are proving themselves well-prepared for success at even the elite schools!

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College Consulting in Huntsville

College Consulting - Huntsville
Stefanie Miles – Educational Consultant

Capstone Educational Consultants is now providing the same quality college consulting Huntsville, Alabama and the surrounding area for families of college-bound high school students. We are pleased to welcome veteran independent educational consultant, Stefanie Miles to the team. She is a dynamic advisor and has served the Huntsville area for many years — read all about her story here.

For many years, Capstone Educational Consultants has wanted to provide the same unique approach to assisting families of college-bound students in navigating the college journey with families beyond Georgia. When we came to learn more about Stefanie, her values and work ethic, it was apparent we had found a gem.

We are excited to serve the Huntsville, Alabama community and now call the Huntsville area home — too!

Give Stefanie a call, book a free initial consultation or send her an email if you are looking for assistance in the college journey. Explore our services and learn how Capstone Educational Consultants can be the best decision you’ve ever made in and around Huntsville, Alabama!

Stephanie Miles
256-541-7755
smiles@capstoneed.com

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That College Decision By May 1

Making that college decision by May 1 is one of the most important deadlines to remember.  It has been a whirlwind up to this point — applications, essays, campus visits, research, and those long SAT’s or ACT’s.  Nothing feels more right than to finally put your feet up and take a break, after all, you have worked hard to get here!  But unfortunately, there is no time to rest for the weary.  May1DeadlineIt’s decision time and it’s an enormous decision!

This is the time of year when colleges and universities are waiting on you!  But even though they are waiting, they only allow a specified amount of time before those coveted spots are released for others seeking a college to call home.

The May 1 deadline, also known as National Deposit Day to some, is the official day by which current seniors must make up their minds on where they plan to enroll.  Sounds easy, right?  It is a difficult decision for many and unless you are prepared it can become more stressful than getting admitted.

Here are a few things to consider to assist in making this a “no-regret” decision.

  • Like any large purchase, cost is a major factor — take a look at the money.  Hopefully by this point you and your family have completed the FAFSA.  Be sure to know when the Financial Aid Application deadline is at each school on your “make a decision” list.  It is important not to make a decision based on the “sticker price” because any financial aid – (grants, loans, scholarships, etc.) will offset this bottom line.  Be on the lookout for the college to provide you with a Financial Aid Award Letter soon!
  • When it comes to the things you love most, how does the college measure up against those things that interest you?  Whether it be hiking, snow-skiing nearby, certain clubs or organizations on or off campus, shopping, fishing or the such — look more in-depth than just the surface into how the college can satisfy this need.
  • If you are confident on your academic focus, how does the colleges compare as it relates to their program’s reputation, quality and outcomes?  It would be super if all programs were equal, but they are not.  Do as much insightful research into the programs as possible — it’s amazing how much you’ll come to learn.
  • Did I mention opportunities?  Opportunities to engage with professors and the community are critical to building your readiness for the “real-world” with experience through internships or by volunteering.
  • Consider the Big Picture!  When you take a look at the big picture, it is likely no one school will fit everything on your wish list perfectly.  Take a look at the big picture to see what is most important, what weighs more or less and apply those things to what value would be added to both your personal and professional growth.