In The Know

Last week my daughter (15 years old and a sophomore in high school) and I attended a virtual college fair provided by CollegeWeek Live (CWL). If you are used to SecondLife, you first log into like a large conference area. There were different levels and each college had booths. There hundreds of schools from Ivy League to small local state schools. Throughout the day there were live streaming presentations from New York about college admissions process, SAT vs. ACT, scholarships and even about writing the college essay. There was also a Q&A session at the end of each presentation. Also, students can chat with current students at different schools. You have access to each school’s application, catalogue, financial aid forms and much more. The fair ran from 10am EST to 11pm EST for two days to accommodate all time zones. It was not the personal touch you get from being there live, but it was the convenience that you can drop in at each booth, get the information you want, view presentations and ask someone to contact you later if needed. It was very different but informative at the same time.

Additionally, you should look into services like College Admissions Assistance (CAA) that will help you and guide both parents and students throughout the entire process. CAA really emphasizes this and reminds students and parents that they CAN GET YOUR BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN FOUR YEARS! If students focus and work hard to stay on track with their programs, four years is attainable. Why is this so important? In today’s workforce, a Bachelor’s degree is like a high school diploma in these times. Organizations want more education and graduate degrees. So instead of just making a goal to get a Bachelor’s to be competitive, you’ll want to pursue a graduate degree and that means more money. From a practical and cost perspective, a 6 year Bachelor degree and 3 year master’s degree program means 9 years instead of the traditional 6 years for both. You’ve added an additional 3 years of college cost. Transferring from school to school adds additional cost and time as well, so choosing the right school and career track that is about your interests is imperative.

Both organizations (CWL and CAA) work closely with a large number of schools to ensure they are preparing students and parents for this tedious process. Students, pick a school that fits you and your interest and not because your parents went there. You’ll find that the program that you decide to enroll in will be more challenging and you’ll be more focused. Parents, start your search early as I’m doing. All components (essay, high school transcripts, SAT/ACT, extra curricular activities, etc.) will matter in Admissions decision so help your sons and daughters understand that staying focus in school will really help them during this process. And determine early if your students want to go to college. There are other alternatives.

As a final note, I wish me and my parents knew what I know now when I was applying for colleges and financial aid. There is so much information and money available for schools but not really easy to find. You really have to do your work. And what I found out is that you have to start early. Don’t wait until your junior year to do everything. Research takes time and understanding what you want to do so you can get into the right school that will fit you.

I took notes (Click Here for Notes) that I took during a few of the presentations that you may find helpful, but again, these are my interpretations of what was discussed. You’ll want to review the videos at CWL (you’ll have to sign up but well worth it) or inquire to individual schools if you have questions.

Don’t get discouraged. Good Luck!