What we covered during the first session last month (June):
- How to modify and polish your list of colleges
- The 4 key components of a college list.(Academic, Environmental, Social & Financial)
- Sample questions that are important to you and your family under each component listed above.
- We suggested rating each question under each component on a 1-5 or 1-4 scale so you have quantifiable data points to measure one college against another.
- We discussed using these factors to determine if a school is a reach, match or safety in each component area.
- We covered an introduction to financial aid
- We explained the Federal (FAFSA) and Institutional (CSS/Profile) methodologies
- We described the timing and process regarding filing these forms
- We suggested online tools (generic search online as well as school specific financial aid calculators) so you can get introduced to the information needed, requirements for colleges your family is considering and to help you get an idea what you might expect going forward so you can ask questions and plan appropriately
- We discussed meeting with Financial Aid & Admissions resources at the colleges you are considering so you become educated on the process and what might be available to you and your family
What we covered during the first session this month:
- The importance of volunteering and community service experience on college applications (how to participate in these activities in a way that feels good and not forced - and how to build this into your kid’s overall story)
- Identifying your kid’s “story” early in the process - how this helps to create a stronger application in the future, while allowing your kid to focus on who they really are and what activities they really love
Action items to be aware of in June:
- Buckle down on either SAT or ACT preparation (1-2 months of serious study)
- Consider registering for an upcoming SAT or ACT test at the beginning of the school year
- Visit college campuses if you have time this summer (especially if you pass by any campuses during family vacations)
- Participate in activities this summer that enhance your kid’s overall “story,” while they have more time in the day to do activities that they love
Reminder for how to get the most out of the concierge service:
- The 1st Wednesday of every month will be the monthly coaching session. Office hours vary so check the google sheet.
- During office hours, we’ll answer any general questions that we’ve received via emails or posted in the FB groups.
- Use the Facebook group to share information with one another, and ask questions on your mind (we’ll look here before office hours).
- We send reminder emails the day of monthly sessions and office hours. Please add "debbie@road2college.com" to your email address book if you aren't receiving our emails.
- We've created a google sheet with the calendar of all the sessions and topics. In addition, there is a tab in the google sheet labeled "Videos" that has links to all the recorded sessions.
- We really want your feedback and will be sending a survey after each session to hear what you have to say. It's very short (4 questions). We want to make sure you are getting what you need out of the service and your feedback will help us continue to improve things.
The next Office Hours is tonight, Wednesday, July 24th at 7pm EST.
Best,
Russ, Marisa & Debbie
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