Unfortunately, this happens quite a bit: we’ll have our first meeting with student and then they say the words we dislike hearing, “I wish I had known that…”
We wish the college process wasn’t confusing or difficult, but the truth is, it can be. Here are some of the most common scenarios, by school year, in which we hear students say “I wish I knew that!” Pay attention… don’t let it be you!
It’s no surprise that taking a year off between high school and college is a growing trend in America. The rising number of gap year programs and increase in information about taking a gap year are leading parents to ask the question, “Could a gap year program be right for my son or daughter?” The gap year trend has seen a 20 percent increase since 2006 and the initial data is coming back with overwhelmingly positive indications for student success in college. Yet, many parents are still hesitant and anxious about their student taking a year off. Being informed and seeking help from trusted professionals will help you will make the right decision about whether or not this rising trend is right for your child.
If you are a student who plays sports in high school, you may want to consider playing in college too. Talking with a high school coach, friends, family members, college athletes and college coaches can all help you decide if college sports may be right for you.
While the majority of the college admission world is focused on seniors right now, and understandably so, we don’t want juniors to feel that we forgot about them. There are important items on their to-do list right now as well. Below are 5 things juniors can be doing now to get a head start on the college application and admission process.
The college admission process can seem like a cat and mouse game, whereby the student is always chasing and trying to appeal to their colleges of interest. And, it is like that to some extent; we’ve talked a lot about Demonstrating Interest in previous blogs and why it’s important (read more here). But, there are times it can also feel like the colleges are chasing YOU. It’s a good thing, of course, but sometimes it can get a little overwhelming. Here is how to deal with some common scenarios.
At Campus Bound, our mission is to:“Assist students in finding the college or university that is the best fit academically, socially and financially.” But what does “the best fit” mean? We break it down for you here.
The college experts at Campus Bound get asked this question a lot, “Which is better, many years of the same activity, or lots of different activities?” There isn’t a simple answer to this, so allow us to explain in this blog post.
There is no such thing as two students who go through the college process in exactly the same way. Some students apply Early, and some do not. Some students apply to local schools, while other students apply to schools on the other side of the country.
However, the majority of students are going to follow a common trajectory in the college admissions timeline. They will research schools, visit, interview, apply, wait, etc. But, there are a handful of special populations who will likely go through a very unique college process. Campus Bound Counselors are knowledgeable and skilled to help any special students navigate the process. Below are some of the special populations we serve and how we help them.
The college application process is complicated, and it’s understandable that families would want to seek as much information as they possibly can. But, we have learned over many years of doing this work that too much advice can actually work against you. Here are a few examples when it makes sense to cut down the outside advice and maybe even trust your own gut.
There is a saying when talking about colleges and universities that it’s nice when they have a “work hard, play hard” mix. If you think academics are the only thing that happens in college, you’re wrong. For traditional students, academics certainly come first, but the social aspect of college is a close second.