Expertise

Make no mistake, the college admissions process is complicated. For example, while on the surface, the Common Application seems like an easy one-stop shop: it is not. Instead, it is a vehicle by which individual colleges request their individual preferences and requirements beyond basic demographic information. Test optional policies may also seem simple; after all, “optional” should mean just that. However, whether or not to submit a test score as part of a college application is much more nuanced and requires thorough analysis: by student, by application, by institution.

Professional College Counselors have the theoretical, practical, and existential experience necessary to guide students and families through a strategic and successful college application process.

High school guidance counselors are stretched thin.

High school counselors juggle many responsibilities from crisis management to AP testing to college admissions work. Since the average student-to-school-counselor ratio is 482-to-1—or about DOUBLE the ratio recommended by the American School Counselor Association—it is not realistic to expect high school counselors to give all students the hours of attention they need during the college applications process.

Don’t wait until the weeks, or days before application deadlines to understand your needs and the resources available to meet them.

Hiring a professional can save money.

When investing anywhere from $100,000 to $275,000+, leaving things to emotion and chance is simply not smart. By ensuring students start college with a sense of purpose, they attend institutions that are the right fit.

Waiting until after college admission or wasting a semester/year figuring out if the right choice was made are costly mistakes.

Qualified Independent College Consultants are bound by a Code of Ethics

Notwithstanding the recent Varsity Blues scandal, most Professional College Counselors are honest and adhere to the guidelines outlined by the organizations to which they belong.

Ensure you hire a professional who is highly qualified, ideally aCertified Educational Planner since they are the most highly qualified in the field. 

Avoid people who guarantee admission to prestigious colleges, offer to write essays or lack integrity. Click HERE for 21 Questions Worth Asking Before Hiring an Independent Counselor.

Self-help books don’t work.

People may read self-help books, but typically they lack the discipline to follow through. More so with teens!

When investing in an IEC, it is important to ensure that he/she is qualified. Since the business is not well-regulated and in theory, anyone can provide educational services, it is important that consumers choose with caution.

Please see below for 4 questions you can ask to make sure you choose the right professional for you.

1. Are you a Certified Educational Planner and what professional 

    organizations do you belong to?

Since certification is optional and the industry is not yet well regulated, select an Independent College Counselor who meets the standards required to join and maintain membership in organizations such as HECAor IECAand is a Certified Educational Planner. Professionals who have neither the professional associations and credentials nor the desire to learn should be avoided.

2. What expertise (i.e.,  education, certifications, professional affiliations,

   and experience) do you have?

3. How long have you been working in the educational space? 

4. Is this your full-time job?

In most cases, freshman year is too early. In my experience, starting the process during the summer following sophomore year makes for a smooth, efficient, comprehensive, and stress-free college process. Rushing at the last minute to make a $100k+ decision is not a smart strategy.

That depends on a combination of factors including, who you are as a student and what colleges you hope to attend recommend.

• Click HEREfor more information on how many APs are enough.
• Check college websites to see what they recommend

Regardless, the most important factor is your well-being. Work with a college admissions counselor to ensure that you are making the right choices for YOU.

Why We Use MindPrint

Students are unique in every way, including how they learn. What works for one, may not work for another. Prescribing learning strategies in the absence of data is inefficient at best, and irresponsible at worst. MindPrint provides us with the data we need to make responsible, quality, and science and data recommendations.   

About MindPrint

MindPrint was developed by neuroscientists at the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine through a National Institutes of Health Grant and is a formative cognitive assessment that measures ten skills across four domains (complex reasoning, executive function, memory, and processing efficiency/speed) in a very short amount of time. Not a traditional test, MindPrint is a series of puzzles designed to measure the underlying skills students need to learn so that instruction can be tailored to be most effective. It is fun to take!

Why is MindPrint Helpful 

Students who get similar scores on the SAT or ACT may get those scores for very different reasons. Understanding which cognitive skills are relative strengths and weaknesses, and by extension, which skills and sections will be easier and more difficult, allows educators, including test prep professionals and tutors, to tailor their instructional approach based on an individual student’s learner profile.  For example, verbal memory, verbal reasoning, and processing speed are necessary for reading comprehension: identifying the deficits allows for more targeted instruction. 

Ultimately, MindPrint will help us determine the better-fit test based on individual strengths and weaknesses; it will assist us in developing an effective test prep plan. 

What Happens After I Take the MindPrint?

As soon as the results come in (allow 48-72 hours), we will review them with students and parents.

Interested in Learning More?

Click HEREto read about the science behind MindPrint.

Click HERE for more information on what Test Optional means.

Absolutely NOT! The only people that benefit from students taking both tests are the College Board, ACT.org, and test prep companies. Read Must I take both the SAT AND the ACT? ABSOLUTELY NOT for more information.

While it is easy for testing agencies to report scores, it is more important for students to know why they earn the scores they earn. Ultimately it comes down to cognition; the extent to which the ACT or the SAT is the better fit test will depend on an individual's cognitive strengths and weaknesses.

To learn more about how to know which is the better-fit test, read How Do I Know if the SAT or ACT is Right for Me? Find Out in 1 hour!

Click HERE for test dates. Click HERE to sign up.

Click HERE for test dates and registration information.

The FAFSA is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. If your student wants access to any federal money, including loans, parents and students must complete the FAFSA. Click HERE to access the application. As an FYI, the updated FAFSA is released on October 1. As a reminder, the FAFSA must be updated every year.

The CSS Profile is a more in-depth version of the FAFSA. Many schools require if a student is hoping to receive institutional aid. Click HERE to access the application.

Nobody knows your student as well as you do. Your input is invaluable. That said, the college application process is an ideal time to let your student take the lead in an important, life-changing process. Ideally, students work closely with a professional college counselor who can guide them through the complex and high-stakes process. In my practice, while I keep parents apprised of their student’s college processes, I deliberately encourage parents to take a backseat role. I use my time with students to help them become more independent and to advocate for themselves. I am happy to meet with and talk to parents as much as they need, but I try to let students take the lead on communicating with parents. That said, if a student is not doing as I ask, I ask parents to nudge their students. My philosophy is one of: as little as possible but as much as necessary. To date, this has worked well for my clients and they head off to college with more confidence and skill in managing their own academic processes and outcomes.

No. It is unethical to put down more than one deposit. Click HERE for more information.

Deferred  

Although certainly not the outcome desired, there is hope! A deferral means that admissions officers will consider your application again: it’s like getting “a do-over.” If you applied EA or ED, the easiest way to think of a deferral is that your application has been put into the regular decision pool; it will be considered again, and you will receive a final answer at a later date (probably in the spring).

Waitlisted

A waitlist decision signals that an institution is finished reviewing your application. If you are placed on a college’s waitlist, make no mistake, you are Plan B for that college (i.e., you are not a priority). As a result, that institution should become YOUR Plan B. If it is your top choice and it comes to fruition, great; if not, it is important consider your options.

What Can You Do if You are Deferred?

• Remember that YOU are the master of your college process, and act accordingly
• Read the deferral notice CAREFULLY and follow the college’s procedures! 
• Get advice from your high school and/or independent college admissions counselor
• Contact your regional admissions officer directly or have your high school counselor reach out to confirm continued interest
• Think of ways to promote personal growth further
• Ensure that your high school counselor sends current and/or end-of-semester grades
• Consider sending an additional recommendation if permitted
• When the opportunity is available in your student portal, provide additional, MEANINGFUL information (Note: Be judicious in defining what is meaningful)

What Can You Do if You are Waitlisted?

• Remember that YOU are the master of your college process, and act accordingly
• Read the waitlist letter CAREFULLY and follow the college’s procedures! (students often are required to take action if they want to accept a spot on the waitlist)
• Understand the institution’s waitlist history (at competitive schools, the chances of being accepted after being waitlisted are slim)
• Reexamine your interest level, and, if still high, consider writing a letter of continued interest and including any noteworthy accomplishments since you applied 
• Look more closely at the schools where you are part of their Plan A (i.e., accepted)
• Consider other options, time permitting

Remember: whether you are deferred, waitlisted, or rejected is more about institutional priorities than you, it is not personal!

Early Action (EA): Apply early. Find out early. Not binding.

Early Decision (ED): This is binding. Apply early. Find out early. Only ONE ED application is permitted. 

Regular admissions: Usually the latest date by which you can apply. Typically find out in the spring.

Rolling admissions: Submit application any time during a date range. Typically find out within weeks of applying.

That depends on your goal, commitment level, and financial situation. You should consult with a professional college counselor before committing to apply ED so that you fully understand the cost-benefit analysis.

Regardless, it is important to remember the following:

• You can only apply to ONE college ED
• If you are denied ED, you can apply ED 2 to an alternate institution 

Click HERE for a comprehensive overview of the process.

Financing college is a source of much angst for many people. Click HERE to read the first of four installments on how to navigate the complex world of scholarships.

Absolutely! Click HERE for the Top Ten Facts Students with Learning Disabilities Should Know when Choosing a College

Yes. Section 504 of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) states that, "no qualified individual with a disability in the United States shall be excluded from, denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under" any program or activity that either receives Federal financial assistance or is conducted by any Executive agency or the United States Postal Service.”

That depends on the student and the goal. At the very least, every college list should contain schools that are reach, match, and likely schools.

Restrictive/Single Choice Early Action is a non-binding early admissions program, signifying extreme interest in a college that is typically offered at highly rejective institutions such as Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Princeton, and Notre Dame.

Unlike ED admissions, you are not obligated to attend if admitted.

Note: Make sure you are familiar with the conditions associated with applying Restrictive/Single Choice Early Action.

No. We are higher education consultants; we specialize in helping students navigate the complex college admissions process. For information on selecting the best learning environment for your child and how to navigate that admissions process, please contact Barbara Levy, M.Ed. or Betsy Metcalf at advisors@educationconnectionadvisors.com or Education Connection Advisors.

Since food allergies are potentially life-threatening, there is no substitute for speaking directly with campus life, dining services, and disability services offices directly. 

The following resources may be helpful:

Preparing for College by FARE

Colleges That Go the Distance for Students with Food Allergies

The short answer is yes. Click HERE to learn about the value of specific degrees by major. It is important to understand that students who go to college with a lack of direction and thus spend extra years earning a degree, erode into the value, regardless of major. 

At Fine Educational Solutions, we are highly qualified, career educators with over a decade of college admissions experience with diverse students.

We put students first, all the time. While many consultants focus on applying to highly-selective universities, we prioritize fit – ensuring we get to know each student so we can help determine where they will thrive, academically and socially. 

We have the expertise to conduct a thorough review of a student’s past assessments, IEP or 504 plans, psychoeducational testing, and high school transcripts. We will share our opinions on readiness for college including strengths and weaknesses and ongoing support services that may be needed. If college is the goal, we can help you with the admissions process to find a school that we think is a good fit. 

Because our services are comprehensive in nature, please contact us to discuss when it makes sense to start services. 

For students who want to go directly from high school to college, fall of 9th grade can be the best time to start working with us to ensure they are on track to meet their college goals. We can also start working with students in 10th, 11th grade and 12th grades, in a shorter, more intensive process.

For students in 9th and 10th grades, our services focus on organizational skill building, goal setting, and exploring college majors and careers.

Since our services are personalized, we offer different levels of comprehensive packages for consulting. Most students and families will benefit from a comprehensive package but once we learn more about your goals, interests, and needs, we can give you more specific pricing. Our packages are customizable to suit your student's needs.

We can work together to devise a payment plan that works for you.

Because we work with students and families across the country and around the globe, the majority of meetings are virtual. Depending on your location, in-person sessions and meetings are available. 

Schools counselors play a vital role in the high school experience. Unfortunately, the current student-to-counselor ratio in U.S. public schools is 492:1. Throughout four years of high school, students receive an average of 38 minutes of one-on-one college consulting, not enough to ensure all students have balanced college lists of good fit schools and quality essays.

We specialize in providing one-on-one support, tailored to the individual, throughout the entire college admissions process. We strongly believe in partnerships and will work as collaboratively as possible with school counselors.

Nobody can guarantee college admission. However, we use the most up-to-date and list-building resources to provide probability of admission, based on your profile, to colleges on your list. We help you build a balanced list of good fit colleges and work with you to present your best self in your applications.