In all the hysteria around the college admissions process, from cross-country college tours to high-pressure interviews with alumni, there is still an old stand-by that is free, low-pressure, requires little travel, and will provide lots of exposure to students: the college fair.
Every Thursday this summer, we are introducing students and families to a different member of the College Coach admissions team. Drop in to see what we’re reading, where we went to school, and our strategies for beginning the college essay. As you work with us to find an educational consultant that best fits your needs or the needs of your child, we will help you consider the personality and working styles that will bring out the best in you or your student. Today we introduce Kyra Tyler, who works with students both in the Chicago area and remotely.
College decision season has arrived and, unfortunately, not every student will be accepted to his or her top choice college. But just because you didn’t get into your first choice doesn’t mean you don’t have options. With the May 1 national response day a little over a month away, students still have time to make a decision. College Coach admissions expert Kyra Tyler spoke with USA Today College earlier this week and shared three alternatives for students who didn’t get into their top-choice college.
We get this question all the time, whether from a student who is excited about a top-notch start to his high school career, or a parent who is concerned about a rocky adjustment to a more rigorous curriculum. To put it bluntly, yes, colleges do look at freshman year grades on your college application. However, if a student doesn’t receive her best grades during her first year of high school, all is not lost. Admission officers recognize that some students need time to adjust to the rigor of high school work, and can forgive a rocky start if things eventually improve and even out. So if a student starts off with a less-than-stellar academic performance, an upward trend will be noted and appreciated.
When I meet with students and their families about the college admission process, the topic of choosing the right extracurricular activities for college admissions is one they want to discuss with a level of seriousness usually assigned to matters of national security. I can’t say I blame them given that talk of college usually begins almost immediately after a child loses all her baby teeth. One question is always raised: how many extracurricular activities should my child be doing?
College Coach experts, all former senior admissions and financial aid officers, are available to work privately with your student to achieve admissions success.
