Applying To College

May 17, 2013
by Sharon Epstein Leave a comment

Advice for Graduating High School Students: The View from My Inbox

This is an interesting time of year for me.

In my email I find notes from students excitedly telling me where they’ll be headed in the fall. I’m also hearing from new students, often apprehensive about the college process, needing to figure it out.

The intersection of two worlds.

It’s a year-long cycle. Head down, one foot in front of the other, schools visited, essays written, applications completed, interviews done, flying toward something new and oh-so-fabulous.

At times it can be tough to see through the slog, but it’s inevitable: After June comes November. After November comes acceptances. After acceptances, graduation.

So, for my 2013 graduates – here’s to you. You did it. And as you leave for adventures yet to be imagined, remember:

Be joyful.
Try new things.
Speak up.
Take risks.
Never lose sight of your dreams.

In a few years I look forward to discovering more notes from my students, excitedly telling me their post-college plans: internships, grad school, work, family, adventures yet to be imagined. And then I’ll turn to the other emails in my inbox, the ones from my new students, and assure them it can all work out.

Graduating this year? Here are helpful links and good advice:
Credit Card Insider: College and Your Credit
5 Pieces of Advice Every High School Graduate Should Get
The Best High School Graduation Advice No One Ever Told Me

Sharon Epstein is owner of First Impressions College Consulting in Redding, Connecticut. A Writers Guild Award-winner and two-time Emmy nominee, Sharon teaches students how to master interview skills and transform their goals, dreams and experiences into memorable college application essays. She works with students everywhere: in-person, by phone, Skype and email. Visit her website for more info. Connect on Google+, Pinterest and Twitter.

May 7, 2013
by Sharon Epstein Leave a comment

Free College Prep Program in Ridgefield May 9

Are you a member of a college-bound family?

Come to my final college prep program of the spring (and it’s free!):

“Less Stress, More Success”
May 9
7pm
Ridgefield Parks and Recreation
Ridgefield, Connecticut

I’ll be joined by Jennifer Soodek, an independent educational consultant and founder of Head4Success career and college counseling in Ridgefield and Westport. Jennifer and I spoke at ProAccess, the teen center in Bethel, and had a terrific time working together.

We’ve teamed up to help students and their families:

Navigate the college admissions process
Learn how to write memorable college application essays
Take that stress level down a notch (or more)

Jennifer will talk about the application process, from college visits to SAT and ACT testing to creating the right college list.

I’ll teach students how to write great application essays.

You’ll leave knowing what colleges look for and how essays can go from boring and bland to unique and interesting.

Bring your questions and learn from the experts.

This is a great program for high school students and their families.

More info: Ridgefield Parks and Rec. I hope to see you on May 9!

Sharon Epstein is owner of First Impressions College Consulting in Redding, Connecticut. A Writers Guild Award-winner and two-time Emmy nominee for her work in television, she teaches students how to master interview skills and transform their goals, dreams and experiences into memorable college application essays. Sharon works with students everywhere: in-person, by phone, Skype and email. Visit her website for more info. Connect on Google+, Pinterest and Twitter.

May 4, 2013
by Sharon Epstein Leave a comment

4 College Admissions Myths Debunked

Lately, I’ve been speaking to students and families just starting the college process.

The students and parents always have great questions, but I always hear some rumors floating around. So I thought it would be a good time to debunk:

4 COLLEGE ADMISSIONS MYTHS

1. You should make your college list from U.S. News and World Report and accept admission to the college that ranks the highest.

Whoa. When was the last time students were cut out of the same cookie mold? Uh, never. Use rankings as a guide, but do your homework and apply to schools that are a good fit for you.
The same goes with admissions — make the decision that’s right for you. Go to accepted student days, attend class, eat the food, explore the programs in your intended major, and find out how the schools will meet any special needs if you have them. And don’t forget to talk to alums to see how connected they stayed to the school and how beneficial their learning was to their career. You’ll end up at your top-ranked school. No matter what U.S. News and World Report says.

2. Private colleges are more expensive.

This isn’t always the case, especially after you receive your financial aid package.

3. The college admissions process is ultra-competitive.

Sure, if you apply to the handful of schools who admit less than 30 percent of students. But that accounts for only about 55 out of 2,000 colleges in the country.
The fact is that most colleges actually accept over half of the students who apply, and many admit much more. So before you inhale that entire bottle of anti-anxiety medicine, chances are that you can remove the word “ultra” from “ultra-competitive.”

4. Admissions officers don’t read the essays.

I hear this a lot, and it’s not true. Admissions officers read the essays. What’s more, they often give them to others to read. If a student seems like a possible candidate, the essay will be read out loud to the entire admissions team. If the admissions team needs more feedback, they’ll give it to a team of faculty members to review. That’s a whole lot of eyes on your essay.

related links:
Huffington Post: Ten Least Expensive Private Colleges
CollegeData: Understanding College Selectivity
Sharon Epstein is owner of First Impressions College Consulting in Redding, Connecticut. Need help with essay writing, interview skills, and organizing your college search? I work with students everywhere: in-person, over the phone, Skype, and by email. Visit my website for more info. Connect with me on Google+, Pinterest and Twitter.

April 19, 2013
by Sharon Epstein Leave a comment

Free College Essay Writing Program 4/23 and 4/30/13

Join Me for a Free Program: “The ABC’s of Writing a Great College Application Essay”

April 23 – Brookfield Library, Brookfield, CT. 7pm. I’ll be joined by Matthew Dempsey, Assistant Admission Officer at Fairfield University.
April 30 – Mark Twain Library, Redding, CT. 7pm. I’ll be joined by Ken Higgins, Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Sacred Heart University

You’ll Learn:

How to write a great college application essay
What schools look for when they read your essays
How to approach the new prompts on the 2013 Common Application

Why this Program WORKS:

It’s from two points of view: how to write college application essays, and what colleges look for when they read those essays.

I’ll give you an overview of the college essay writing process, including what schools look for, good and bad topic choice, and how to make every essay unique. Matthew and Ken will discuss how you can approach the new 2013 Common App essay prompts, what kind of essays work and don’t work, and how essays are viewed in the context of the entire application.

Who Should Come:

High school students and their families. Freshman and sophomores are welcome, too. Bring your questions. It’s never too early to begin to understand what this application business is all about!

Sharon Epstein is owner of First Impressions College Consulting in Redding, Connecticut. Need help with essay writing, interview skills, and organizing your college search? I work with students everywhere: in-person, over the phone, Skype, and by email. Visit my website for more info. Connect with me on Google+, Pinterest and Twitter.

April 13, 2013
by Sharon Epstein Leave a comment

Tips for Parents: How to Handle Springtime College Application Stress

I hear it in a parent’s voice. It’s a friendly phone call, often in early spring, an inquiry about a student’s college application essay.

We chat for a while. I learn about the student’s dreams and accomplishments, and the list of colleges that are sure bets, real possibilities, and merely hopefuls.

But underneath our conversation runs a thread of anxiety. Anxiety about college choices, visits, deadlines, and those looming college application essays.

I hear that, too. And I tell them it’s okay.

I actually love this time of year. I look forward to meeting my students, knowing that I’ll teach them how to find their star power, and that by the end of our time together they’ll have transformed their dreams, goals, and experiences into powerful college application essays.

But it’s the parents I work with now. I help them manage their schedules, anticipate the bends in the road, and reassure them that, when the deadlines do arrive, everything will be ready to go.

And I give each parent 4 Important Springtime Tips:

Anxiety is Normal. If you’ve done your homework and understand the college process, you know there’s a lot to handle. But also have the confidence to know that you’ll get it done.
Essay Writing Can Wait Until June. Junior year of high school is filled with schoolwork, tests, SATs, ACTs, prom, and just life. So while it’s good for your teen to be thinking about which one of the five Common Application essay topics he or she might like to write about, the actual writing can wait until school ends.
Help Your Student Plan Her Time. Teenager’s schedules are crazy, and by nature many students have a poor grasp of time management. Throw in summer activities, sports, and family vacations, and you’ve got a recipe for major stress.
- If you can help your student find the time to 1. Think (very important) and 2. Write, you’ll be well ahead of the game.
It’s spring. Take a walk. Count the flowers. Count your blessings. And remember that, despite your anxiety, with good planning you and your student will get the job done.

March 26, 2013
by Sharon Epstein Leave a comment

5 More College Visit Tips for High School Sophomores

Student Studies in Uris Library, Cornell University

My last post, 10 College Visit Tips for High School Sophomores, turned out to be a big hit.

I even received some great suggestions for more college visit tips, including a note to tell parents that they should share these posts with their students.

Note for Juniors! The tips in both posts will help you, too. So here they are:

5 More College Visit Tips for High School Sophomores:

Besides taking notes, take video so you’ll have a visual history later on.
Think about splitting from your parents and taking a separate tour. You can be independent as well as safe (if that’s a concern).
Ask other students questions. Don’t just hear what the tour guide and admissions office want you to hear and see (although speaking with an admissions rep is a good thing to do).
If there is a student from the same high school enrolled, contact him or her and see if he or she would take you to the cafeteria, eat the food and meet and greet, and get treated like a real person.
Parents – Reading your student is important. If your student isn’t ready, don’t visit. Dragging someone to a place he or she doesn’t want to be will only cause irritation all around. (Or, as a colleague of mine put it, “Leading a horse to water when he’s not thirsty will often aggravate the horse and the horse’s parents.”)

Do you have more tips for college visits? Let me know! I’ll include them in future posts.

March 16, 2013
by Sharon Epstein 3 Comments

10 College Visit Tips for High School Sophomores

Summer on the Arts Quad – Cornell University

A friend of mine just called. Her son’s a high school sophomore and she was wondering if she should take him on college visits this year. She thought she’d start with schools that are nearby so he could get a feel for what college visits are like.

Is sophomore year too early to visit? Not at all. If you visit early, however, and then decide to apply, you may want to go back for a second visit. You also might find you’ve forgotten some key details, such as the names of the tour guide, admissions officer, and instructors you met (although notes and photos are good reminders).

Early visits can be helpful when a student:

Can’t get a good sense of schools online
Isn’t sure what size school would be best
Needs to get a feeling for rural, suburban, and urban environments
Is uncomfortable or shy about asking questions
Will be visiting different parts of the country
May need extra help or time to organize the college search

Here are 10 Tips for Sophomores to Make the Most of College Visits:

Put down the phone and look around. This visit is for YOU and you won’t get much out of it if you’re answering texts and checking Instagram. Pay attention – you’re about to choose where you’re going to spend the next four years of your life.
Relax. No one is watching you. Even better, you’re a year ahead of many students on the tour who are feeling the pressure to decide where they’re going. So take a deep breath and just let it all sink in.
Keep an open mind. Forget where your friends want to go. (Most of it’s just talk anyway.) Forget about what kind of school you think is “prestigious.” (Lots of schools you never heard of have the best programs in the country.) Keep your options open – you can’t find the best school if you don’t give it a fair shake.
Go with your gut. A big part of the college search is figuring out what schools will be a good match for you. So look around campus. Eavesdrop on students’ conversations. Grab a cup of coffee and hang out wherever there’s a hangout. Try it on and see if it fits.
Listen to questions. Pay attention to the questions students and parents ask on the tour. You may want to ask some of those same questions next time.
Ask questions. There’s no downside to asking questions of anyone – tour guide, students, college admissions officers, even the security guard at the dining hall. So if you’ve got a question, ask it. (“How do students get around in all that snow? Is the food edible? Is there really a course called ‘Brownies with the Dean’?”)
- If you’re shy, plan to ask one question and then make sure to ask it. Start getting comfortable now.
Explore. Go “off-road” and find the places that aren’t on the tour. Duck in to the dining hall and the library. Size-up the gym facilities, the radio station, the theater – whatever interests you. Ditch your parents and take a walk by yourself.
Debrief. On the way home, review your experience with your parents. Discuss what you learned, what was exciting, what you’d change, and what you didn’t like. As you talk, your college search will not only begin to take shape, but your parents will also become better equipped to help you navigate your way.
Make notes. If you haven’t made notes while you were on campus, do that now, while it’s fresh in your memory.
- Include General notes: Your overall impression, including the size of the school, types of classes that are offered, and if you felt it might be a good fit.
- Include Specific notes: Details, including the names of buildings you want to remember (a dorm you thought you’d like to live in, for example), as well as the people you met and the names of courses, activities, or instructors that were recommended.
- Get organized. Start a file for each college you visit.
Think of questions to ask next time. Now that you’re starting to get a sense of what appeals to you, make a list of questions for your next trip. After each college visit, remember to debrief and refine your questions. Soon you’ll be way ahead of most of the other students, because you’ll have learned how to figure out which school is right for you.

$1500 College Scholarships from the Joe Lieberman Connecticut Scholarship Fund

Senator Joe Lieberman (CT)

U.S. Senator Joe Lieberman, serving 1989-2013, has established the Joe Lieberman Connecticut Scholarship Fund to assist outstanding high school seniors from Connecticut who plan to continue their education in college or vocational school programs. These are renewable scholarships which are awarded for full-time study at an accredited institution of the student’s choice.

Scholarship Amount:

Up to five $1500 awards each year.
Awards may be renewed for up to three additional years with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0.

Who is Eligible? Applicants must:

Be United States citizens or permanent legal residents.
Be high school seniors who reside in Connecticut and attend public or private high schools or home school in Connecticut.
Plan to enroll in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited two-year or four-year college, university or vocational-technical school for the entire upcoming academic year.
Have a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale (or its equivalent).
Demonstrate outstanding leadership potential and a record of community service.

How Are Winners Selected?

Scholarship recipients are selected on the basis of academic record, demonstrated leadership and participation in school and community activities, work experience, statement of career and educational goals and objectives, unusual personal or family circumstances, and an outside appraisal.
Financial need is not considered.
Preference will be given to applicants who demonstrate outstanding leadership potential and record of community service.

Awards are for undergraduate study only.

Important!

The first 500 applications received will be opened and processed; therefore students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
Applications must be postmarked no later than April 1.

More info:

Joe Lieberman Connecticut Scholarship

Or phone: 1-507-931-1682 and ask for the Joe Lieberman Connecticut Scholarship Program

Sharon Epstein is owner of First Impressions College Consulting in Redding, Connecticut. Need help? I work with students everywhere: in-person, over the phone, Skype, and by email. Visit my website for more info. Connect with me on Google+, Pinterest and Twitter.

March 9, 2013
by Sharon Epstein 2 Comments

Best College Town – Ithaca, New York

Cornell University McGraw Tower.

I’m about to brag. Ithaca, New York was recently chosen Best College Town in the U.S.A.

Ranked by the American Institute for Economic Research, Ithaca (home to Cornell University and Ithaca College) was followed by Ames, Iowa (Iowa State University), and State College, PA (Penn State University).

I went to Cornell. My best friend Stephanie went to Ithaca College. The schools sit atop two hills that rise above the town of Ithaca – Cornell to the east and Ithaca to the south. When we arrived, much to our delight, we realized we could see each others’ dorm on the opposite hill. So, in a communications experiment of sorts, we tried blinking the lights in our rooms – as much message to say, “Hello, can you see me?” as “I can’t believe we’re in Ithaca. Isn’t this going to be great?!”

And Ithaca was great. While the schools provide a diverse student population, it’s the town that’s the star. Over the years, Ithaca has managed to maintain a true sense of self. It’s relaxed, bohemian, and green. It overflows with farmers’ markets and food co-ops, theaters, restaurants, a no-cars-permitted Commons, and the ever-present opportunity to walk, hike, bike, sail, climb, and otherwise just inhale the joyous beauty of the Finger Lakes.

USA Today College has written an article called “What Makes the Best College Towns?” Here’s the excerpt about Ithaca:

About 200 miles northwest of New York City lies Ithaca, home to Cornell University, Ithaca College and what Taylor Long calls “Idealistic Bohemians.”

“There’s a lot of culture and a lot of hip energy, but also this really earnest, small-town vibe,” said Long, who is a senior at Ithaca College. “People fall in love with this city. It’s the sort of place where your weird projects can thrive.”

The city is home to intellects, a Burlesque dance troupe, a newspaper that reports only positive news, an extensive farmers’ market and thousands of ambitious students. In fact, because of the town’s unique energy, The Dalai Lama and other Tibetan monks are frequent visitors.

Despite the eclectic mix of residents, the city’s party scene is fairly tame, another reason Long thinks the college town is unique.

“When I think of college towns, I do kind of think of Penn State or something like that where there’s a row of bars and a row of frats, and everyone is running around naked with their chests painted,” Long said. “I think [Ithaca] may be No. 1 because it is very unique and kind of is actually a college town, not just like a town dominated by one particular college.”

Go Ithaca.

Sharon Epstein is owner of First Impressions College Consulting in Redding, Connecticut.
Need help? I work with students everywhere: in-person, over the phone, Skype, and by email. Visit my website for more info. Connect with me on Google+, Pinterest and Twitter:

March 7, 2013
by Sharon Epstein 2 Comments

Common Application Essay and Writing Changes 2013-14

There are changes coming to the writing portions of the 2013-14 Common Application. Here’s an overview that The Common App released today:

1. What writing opportunities are available in the 2013-14 Common Application?

• The Essay. Required of all applicants.
• Additional Information. Optional for applicants who wish to report circumstances or
qualifications not reflected elsewhere in the application.
• Required Explanations. Conditionally required for applicants based on responses to
application questions about school discipline, criminal history, military discharge, or an
interrupted education.

2. What is changing about writing in the Common Application?

• There are 5 new essay prompts.
• Each writing section will have an enforced 650 word limit. The essay will not allow a
response shorter than 250 words.
• The extracurricular short answer question will be part of supplemental essay requirements for schools that want to ask this question.
• Uploaded documents will be replaced by text-entry. Students can compose their
responses directly in the application or cut-and-paste a response drafted in another word
processing program.

3. Can students format their writing?

• Yes. Basic formatting (bold, italics, underline, and accented characters) will be available. In
addition, text pasted from a word processing program will typically retain these styles of
formatting.

4. Will students have other opportunities to share more writing or additional submissions?

• Yes. Through supplemental essays, if colleges wish to ask for them. Also, colleges may be willing to receive uploaded documents such as resumes, research papers, or graded assignments. (Make sure to find out if individual schools accept these kinds of submissions.)

Sharon Epstein is owner of First Impressions College Consulting in Redding, Connecticut.
Need help? I work with students everywhere: in-person, over the phone, Skype, and by email. Visit my website for more info. Connect with me on Google+, Pinterest and Twitter:

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