Comments for The College Planning Blog

Comment on Who Loves You? by Susie Watts

Susie Watts — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 04:46:44 +0000

As an educational consultant and college planner, I think you have offered some great advice for students and families who are just beginning their college planning. The college search is such an important part of the college planning process. Families need to think more about how a school fits their student and less about the name of the school. Students need to do some self-evaluation to determine which schools are a good match for them and what they (students) can offer a college community.

Comment on Managing Expectations for Successful Outcomes by Shelley

Shelley — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 17:13:48 +0000

Love this post, Peter, and the wisdom it reflects.

Hope I can get to folks early enough with this perspective…

Comment on The Coffee or The Cup by acton college planning

acton college planning — Mon, 03 May 2010 10:32:18 +0000

This is a great inspirational piece! Money isn’t the only consideration when people go to college. It is just among them. But the thing is, as long as one gets to really imbibe the proper things that are being taught in college, spending any amount will be all worth it.

Comment on YouTube, You and Colleges by Susie Watts

Susie Watts — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 04:00:02 +0000

As an educational consultant, I do not feel that You Tube videos can possibly accomplish what a good college essay can. Brainstorming topics and reading college essays is one of the things I enjoy most about helping students apply to college. I know that prospective college applicants are far more into technology than any previous generation, but I still think the written word conveys a lot more about an individual that any video can. I am surprised at the number of colleges that have jumped on the bandwagon the way they have.

Susie Watts
College Direction, Denver, Colorado

Comment on YouTube, You and Colleges by Jon Reider

Jon Reider — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 02:40:45 +0000

Peter:

You are too generous. Nowhere do you suggest that this is a silly fad and that however popular with the young, it is not universally popular with their elders. In addition to the cautions you rightly make, he biggest problem is that it is potentially a terrible distraction from more central aspects of the application: hard work to improve one’s grades, thoughtful essays (which still count everywhere) and, yes, even better test scores. This is where students should concentrate their efforts and energies to improve their chances of admission. The video, however carefully it is made and presented, is a frill, even at Tufts, and should be understood in that context.

Comment on Checking “Yes” to Financial Aid on the Admission Application by jay friedman

jay friedman — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:06:41 +0000

Great article on carrying an umbrella for early decision outcomes. Very wise….very logical.

We saw you present at Ridgewood High School and appreciated your perspective. The biggest new idea we gleaned had to do with how the college application can be crafted to best reveal who the student is, and what story he or she has to tell about the last four years and next four years.

My daughter just applied ED to Tufts University. And although, she clearly is a solid candidate in the pool of whom they might accept, we know it can play out in a variety of ways. She is working on those other apps, just in case.

Thanks for your continuous insights!

Comment on Will New Federal Funds Really Help? (Part 2 of 2) by NewParentU

NewParentU — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 02:06:39 +0000

As the parent of a freshman student heading to University in 2 months, I find it SO frustrating that the Universities are raising the tuition in the hope that it makes them look elite, and then they end up giving students grants and scholarships to reduce the cost. Shopping for a university is more of a game than shopping for a car – at least you have some way of finding the real price of a car.

The fact that I am funding my child’s education out of my pocket and then having all my taxes being given to private organizations (yes these are private institutions!), because they jacked their prices up, rubs me completely the wrong way.

The way I see it, the institutions raise their price, which increases the financial need and given a fixed Expected Family Contribution means that the institution just got more money from the Government.

In other industries, where the government gives money to businesses, there is usually oversight organization. Here, in University land, it just seems to be a continuous government money grab!

Just like Peter (but perhaps in a different way), I too am jaded. I don’t see that this is ever going to end. Universities are just like all the other government bailouts and money grabbing organizations we have seen on the news every night for the past 18 months.

Comment on Access to Financial Aid Made Easier? (Part 1 of 2) by collegeloanconsultan

collegeloanconsultan — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:23:23 +0000

The burden of verifying the FAFSA fell on the colleges under the old method. They were the ones that gathered the information and submitted it to the Department of Education. Now the Department has to seek this information themselves, from the IRS. Are government communications so streamlined as to make this cost-effective? Who can be sure? But the real impact will be felt by separating the colleges from any responsibility for the accuracy of the information.

Comment on Two Plus Two Equals—? The Community College Option by jonreider

jonreider — Thu, 14 May 2009 18:10:11 +0000

“Wipe the slate clean?” I am not sure this always works. At most state universities, it is true that the high school record is no longer of interest to the admissions office if a student is transferring from a community college, but at most (not all) private colleges the admissions process will ask a student for a high school transcript. This is not necessarily a kiss of death if a student has turned their academic record around AND CAN EXPLAIN THEIR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT in a compelling way. In other words, the college may be forgiving and understanding, especially if a good deal of time has passed. There are second chances in this business, but it is not the same as the slate being wiped clean.