2015 Workbook- Win College Admission Acceptances

WINNING COLLEGE ADMISSION ACCEPTANCESIt’s in the mail............................................................................................... 2The Logical Approach, Not the Typical Approach................................................. 4Have a Plan with a Strategy................................................................................... 6S. 1. There’s a Time for Preparing ............................................................................. 8 Your Personal Marketing Plan ............................................................................... 8 Evaluate College Credentials ................................................................................. 16 Plan High School Course Studies ........................................................................... 24 Build a College List ................................................................................................. 27 Doing Your Homework........................................................................................... 34 Vision Recruiting .................................................................................................... 36 The Power of the Personal Statement (plus 9 samples)....................................... 43 Define SAT/ ACT Goals, Preparation and Testing Plan.………………………….. .......... 55S. 2. There’s a Time for Playing ................................................................................. 57 Planning Ahead for College Trips .......................................................................... 57 Visiting Colleges ..................................................................................................... 64 Understanding the College Perspective…………………………………………………………. .. 70 Meeting the College Admission Counselor ........................................................... 75 Studying Forward ................................................................................................... 77 College Admission Interviews................................................................................ 79 The College Application Essay (plus 8 samples).................................................... 81 The Common Application ...................................................................................... 93S. 3. Winning Time ..................................................................................................... 96 Submitting Applications ........................................................................................ 96 The CSS Profile ....................................................................................................... 101 Follow-up and Follow-through.............................................................................. 102 Filing the FAFSA...................................................................................................... 103 Winning the Game ................................................................................................. 106 Supplemental attachments- College Homework, College Evaluation ........................... 110, 111 1

It’s in the MailOn a chilly winter afternoon in February, the mail arrives to mom’s anticipation. She goes out tocheck it and finds three letters with college letterhead on the envelope. To the thrill of the family,she yells out “The college admissions letters have arrived, everyone come look!”The family circles around her, she hands them off to her child, the applicant, and says, “Here wego, let’s open them up.” Denied… Denied… Deferred…To the astonishment and utter disappointment of all, they quietly put the papers down andeveryone moves back to their previous place. “How can that be?” the mother says to the father.“That makes no sense at all. I wonder if there’s been a mistake.” Turn back the clock to that early day in December, when mom said, “It’s time to get your applications submitted. Let’s open up the Common App.” A week later, five applications were submitted, casually prepared, a last minute essay written and attached, briefly considered supplement questions answered, and off they went into cyberspace, to land one day upon a person’s computer for review. And just like they were sent out, denials and defers came rolling in. Why did they expect anything different?----------------------------------------November comes around each year, then December. For high school seniors across the land,they begin to think about submitting college applications and writing a quick essay. They knowthe applications are due, but the family is busy and applications still don’t get closed out for acouple of months. So, no hurry, they think. Then at their convenience, they go on line, quickly fillout the “regular admission” application, attach their essay and casually hit the “submit” button.Feeling pretty good, they get through the holiday season informing family and friends of theirpreferred college interests. After all, they feel comfortable that they met the basic academicrequirements for college with a good GPA, a decent SAT score and a few AP classes taken.They remain unknown to the admission office and as such, have put their college future at risk.Depending on the schools for which they applied, maybe yes, maybe no, a lot has been left tochance. And for too many families, this is the typical approach taken for college admissions. 2

A month or two passes and admission decision memos begin to arrive, some by email and someby mail. Anxiously opening the letters, they begin to see a trend of denials and deferrals. Thatdoesn’t make sense, they think. Disappointment sets in, sometimes devastation. To the casualfamily, it just doesn’t make sense. But in reality, it makes plenty of sense. This approach comeswith predictable results. Year after year, it follows the beaten path taken by millions of others,with much the same outcomes. The learning curve is slow to set in when it comes to qualifyingcolleges, submitting applications and winning admission acceptances.Thousands of qualified students lose out in the college admissions of their preferred schoolsevery year, and for much of the same reasons. People tend to follow the paths as thosepreceding them, even if the desired outcome was missed. Why? Because they don’t know anybetter or any different. Now, you can know better, you can take the logical approach, bedifferent, create your advantages and win admissions to your preferred colleges.A note to the wise: Don’t let the time pass you by, and it’s all about the time and how you use it. You’re on a college timeline whether you realize it or not.Most common mistake: People evaluate colleges first, rather than evaluating themselves first; often choosing colleges based on names rather than college fit.Most overlooked component in the college equation: Most families miss the application process, jumping to the end game rather than working it from the beginning, leaving their outcome to chance. 3

The Logical Approach, not the Typical Approach “There’s a time for preparing, a time for playing, and a time for winning.”As in any game or adventure, time and effort is made in advance to prepare oneself for thetasks and challenges that lie ahead. We all agree that better preparation leads to betterperformance and improved results. The time given and effort made to prepare usually coincideswith the importance attached to the event or activity. We call this preparation time. Many thingsare done in advance to be better ready for the game or activity, as part of a strategic plan fordelivering a better performance and achieving the desired outcome. For college, this includesgetting organized and prepared for visiting colleges, having evaluated qualifications and built acollege list, having researched the colleges and understood what they look for in theirapplicants, all done in advance of the visit.As in any football game, there is an opening kickoff; for baseball there is a first pitch; for hockeythere is a face-off; for golf there is a first tee shot, and so on for all sports. Kickoff is made, thegame begins. We call this playing time. Adjustments are made along the way as situationsoccur, challenges are met, and strategy changes. There is reevaluation and reconsideration.For college, the kick-off is the email sent to admissions office informing them of your interest inthe college. Playing the college game includes visiting colleges, meeting key-decision makers,sharing your vision for college success and plans for study, having a Student-profile sheet andPersonal Statement to present, completing the Common Application in a mindful manner,having a well-constructed essay along with well-written answers to supplemental questions, andbecoming well known in the college admission office.As in any real estate deal, there is a closing; for getting a job, there is an offer; for sports events,there is the end-game; for college, there is submitting applications, winning acceptances andearning scholarships. We call this winning time. Winning time is the last two minutes of afootball game; the 9th inning of a baseball game; the exchange of funds at a real estate closing;and for college, it’s receiving the acceptance letter and scholarship award.The typical approach of families is to wait and jump in at the end, thinking they win the game byjust playing the end-game. It’s like playing the last two minutes of a football game, playing thelast inning of a baseball game, and for college, blindly submitting applications to randomcolleges. The typical approach predictably results in random acceptances, denials at preferredcolleges, lesser scholarships, and unfulfilled college dreams. 4

The logical approach, as we will discuss throughout, is based on advance preparation, playingthe game from the beginning and winning in the end; resulting in preferred acceptances, greaterscholarship awards, and more quality options.This will become clear as you work your way through this Workbook. We have divided it intothree sections- 1. There’s a Time for Preparing 2. There’s a Time for Playing 3. Winning TimeWe have designed and laid out the Workbook to follow the sequence (college timeline) ofevents required for the application process to be fulfilled and desired outcomes achieved. Wehave captured every significant activity and date to effectively guide you through the process,one logical step at a time.In Stephen’s Covey book “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”, Habit One - Be Proactive; every step in this book takes on the habit of being proactive, involved, and engaging. Habit Two - Begin With the End in Mind; we will do that in the next section by discussing the plan and strategy. Habit Three - Put First Things First; we follow this discipline precisely throughout here, so let’s get started. 5

Have a Plan with a StrategyMost people randomly submit applications to a few colleges of certain interest without having athoughtful plan. They hope to get accepted into one or two of them, then make a choice leavingthe worry about costs and possible majors until later. Not us, and you don’t have to either.Rather, we have a defined plan and designed strategy to win preferred acceptances and havequality options to consider.The plan is to submit your top choice college applications early, in October, saving others of lesser interest for later. We base our plan on the premise that early applications receive a premium acceptance rate and the first round of merit scholarships. We grew up believing “The early bird gets the worm”, it applies here very well. Being ahead early in the game secures quality options. For most colleges, applications submitted my mid-October will normally deliver their decisions in December. You get the admission counselor’s attention before their desk piles up with the later applications. This works to your distinct advantage. We understand plenty of people will say that sending applications out in October is not necessary. Or, they can’t because they won’t have the necessary contents completed or they have to wait on their school for certain items. They don’t have SAT’s done, essays written, or letters of recommendations to attach. That’s all good news for you, but don’t get drawn in to it, rather, leave it to others.The strategy calls for submitting 8 - 12 early applications, could be “Early Action” or just early application. These colleges make up your top preferred list. We prefer applications to go to colleges meeting your educational goals, academic standards, and admission qualifications. We plan to have a range of colleges, to include a few reach schools, a handful of well-matched schools, and a few safety schools. We purposely avoid applying solely to dream schools or reach schools. The goal is to wake-up on New Year’s Day with a handful of acceptances received and quality options secured. Why is this important? Threefold- one, it provides great relief to know that you have landed quality options; two, having options provide leverage in negotiating college costs; and three, it gives the student and family 3 – 4 months to reevaluate the accepted colleges for understanding the expectation of an education, experience, and cost.We understand many people will just want to submit 2 – 3 applications. It’s a lot easier, ofcourse. They will say they know what schools they want to go to. They will believe themselvesto be certain qualifiers for those schools. But in doing so, they sorely limit their options for 6

college and risk their leverage for financial awards. After all, from the point in time of submittingapplications, the college decision will be six months away. A lot can happen in those six monthsto influence your final choice. It should be this way. You’ve narrowed your list and it takes timeto sort out the important variables to a successful and satisfactory college experience. Keep inmind that you won’t likely know the final college cost until March or April. The point is you cancreate quality options by submitting applications early to a range of colleges that you havedecided upon based on qualifications, interests, needs, and overall good fit.In following the logical approach and the game plan we map out here:- you become well-prepared and knowledgeable about the college process and timeline- you get started early and find yourself ahead in the game from the very beginning- you have a personal marketing plan, complete with email, video, and a student-profile sheet- you build a list of colleges matching your specific qualifications, interests, needs- you plan ahead for college visits, campus tours, and meeting key people- you visit targeted colleges and connect with the key-decision makers- you create your own advantage along the way and gain momentum as you go- you are in a strong position entering the application phase of the process, with comfort- you submit early applications, complete with quality written essays and supplemental questions- you gain preferred status for acceptances and scholarships- you win acceptances to your preferred colleges- you maximize your scholarship potential- you negotiate financial awards while others are still submitting applications- you have a plan for pursuing college studies and educational opportunitiesIn the end result, you will make a knowledge-based college decision in considering all thefactors for success and satisfaction. You will gain a far greater awareness of your expectationfor a college education, college experience, college outcome, and college cost. This is our work,our passion, and our goal.For it all to come together, there’s a time to prepare, a time to play, and a time to win. Let’s go for it. 7

1. There’s A Time for PreparingYour Personal Marketing PlanWhile the rest of the country submits applications and waits (reactive) for decisions, you canbe different (proactive). You can influence your outcome beyond hitting the submit button. Thesecret is to build relationships in the admissions office with the people who will decide youroutcome. The admissions counselor is a key-decision maker to your future. Get to know theperson who will be assigned to your application. Most private colleges will have a designatedadmission counselor assigned to your specific area for applicants. Your job will be to find outwho that person is and contact that person with an introductory email.This is an easy and most valuable thing to do, yet it remains perhaps the most elusive. Peoplejust plain miss out on this. Why? Number one, because it’s a lot less work not to do anything.Secondly, most people are not aware of the great potential benefit that exists in connecting withtheir specific admission counselors. And even if they have a sense for the benefit, the effortoften falls short and is rarely carried out to the fullest extent. But for those that do, it’s veryworthwhile indeed.It all starts with having a personal marketing plan. Simply speaking, this is your plan tobroadcast your interest in the colleges to their admissions personnel. It allows them to becomefamiliar with you, getting you into their system, providing a tracking of your interest, andbecoming personally aware of your interests. Understand that a college admission counselor ata private college is similar to that of a salesperson. Their primary job is to market and presentthe core values of the college to the prospective students, with intent to entice the student tosubmit an application that might ultimately lead to an enrollment. Their secondary job is toqualify the student for acceptance. The admission office is the upfront sales & marketing teamof the college. Note- the role of the admission counselor for a state university could be different,a bit less personal than those of private colleges. But unless you find out otherwise, treat themall the same.A common myth that exists is that college admission counselors are older, long-term, well-paidemployees of the college. And while that’s true in some cases, most admission counselors areyoung, bright-spirited, friendly people, often fresh out of college and new in their career. The payis generally less than what people think, but the counselors tend to have a passion for their job. 8

They like to help you and they appreciate your respect in return. In this regard, it’s good to knowwho you’re dealing with as the contact point and decision-maker for your application and meritscholarship award. This person is most important to you and your outcome during the collegeadmissions process. They can help you in a big way if they know you. They can’t help you at allif they don’t know you. I hope the point is clear, college admissions counselors don’t know youuntil you make yourself known to them, and that’s your job. It’s called marketing yourself andwhile it’s not something young people relish in doing, it is a great lesson to learn at a young age.Here are the five key components of a quality and effective personal marketing plan.Introductory email: There are thousands of applicants competing for admission acceptance at each college. To have your application receive preferential treatment, colleges need to know of you in advance of your application. It begins with an introductory email that’s sent to college admissions office. An introductory email memo reflects your intentions to consider the college and specifically references your interests in their college. It implies your qualifications. It is short and easy to read. It is grammatically correct with proper spelling throughout. Anything longer or challenging to read will not get the initial interest of the counselor. Therefore, the role of the introductory email is to gain initial interest of college counselors and to get your name in their system. Without it, you will likely remain unknown to the college and they will remain unaware of your intentions until one day your application appears on their computer screen. If they don’t know who you are, then you are tagged a Stealth Applicant- an unknown applicant, often resulting in an unexpected application decline. Here is a sample of the email to send-Introductory email to college admissions officeTo: send to two email addresses, one to the general admissions email, and one to the counselor assigned to your areaSubject: name the college and follow it with the word “admissions”Hi, my name is “_____________”, I am a “Junior/ or Senior” at “________” HighSchool in “town, state”. My GPA is ___. I have a serious interest in your college andwould like to plan a visit soon to see the campus and meet with you.Attached is my Student-profile for your review.Thank you,Full name, grad. yearHigh School, town and state 9

Student Profile page: “The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks and then starting on the first one.” Mark Twain, American Author, 1800’sBuilding a quality student profile is your first real task in getting started. Every high schoolstudent should create and maintain a profile sheet. Why you ask? Because building a qualityprofile is about setting goals, achieving goals, and then recording your achievements in asimple to read format for college admission counselors to see. The student that gets good atthis and makes it a routine, will learn accountability for themselves at a young age. Getting inthe habit of setting goals, improving performance, and posting to their profile will serve themwell in the college process. But more importantly, it is a way to begin building value in you tothe admissions office.Your profile document, along with an introductory email, will be your way too introduce yourselfand your intentions to college admission offices and for athletes, college coaches. An effectiveuse of a profile will serve to familiarize the key decision-makers of the college with yourintentions and qualification. It will serve to open the door for you to further your communications.Your student-profile is your personal resume, a one-page informational sheet with contactinformation along with a brief summary of achievements. It presents small bits of informationthat allows a college official to quickly assess your qualifications.The format for your profile is important. It is broken down into a few key sections, as follows:Heading: your preferred name, Bobby as opposed to Robert, Kathy as opposed to Kathryn, for examples; your graduation year; and for athletes, add your athletic positions or events displayed in the order of your preference for playingPhotos: displayed along the left side; we recommend two photos- a head shot on top, plus an action photo beneath; always have current photosContact information: your complete contact information including that of your parents, add in the contact information for your high school; athletes- add in contact information for your high school and club coach, personal trainers and instructors 10

Academic information: post your grade point average, your super-scored SAT and ACT score, SAT II scores, academic honors; highlight specific high achievement Special interests for study: identify your interest is areas of study and a college experience (for example- study abroad, internships) Athletes: include essential statistics, post monthly updates, separate statistics by year, separate high school stats from club stats, post awards and athletic measurements Achievements and extracurricular activities: to include, - leadership achievement - community service - charity involvement - youth activity volunteer - church service or mission work - foreign travel or foreign study - hobbies (jogging, fishing, singing) - special interests (environment, politics, small business, physical health - participation in clubs, inside or outside the school - school involvement- student government, debate team, band/ choir, committees References: include the names and phone #’s of 3 personal references, could be a teacher, a coach, a neighbor, a friend’s parent, a parent’s friend; be sure it’s someone who knows you well and let them know that you used them as a referenceRemember, your profile is designed to quickly capture interest. Keep it simple and easy toread. Highlight a few key points of interest and keep it current at all times. Most people will gettheir student-profile started but not maintain it. Don’t let that be the case. Plan to update it onthe 1st day of each month and print out 5 copies. Don’t let your profile sheet get to detailed orcluttered. Never let it extend to a 2nd page. Save details for discussing later in your meetingsand phone calls. A sample profile is found on the next page. 11

Name, Graduation year, High SchoolInsert a head shot photo here Age:Insert an action photo here Parents name Street address Video- Town, State, zip code Attach YouTube link here email: student’s email parent’s email Home: phone # xxx-xxx-xxxx Cell: phone # xxx-xxx-xxxx High School: H.S. address: GPA: SAT: ACT: Special interests for study: Leadership, Achievements, Awards, Community Service: Achievement: Such as- sports, music, arts, dance, academic honors Volunteer: Such as- Church service, help with local youth sports league, volunteer for a charity event, etc Leadership: Such as- attended Leadership conference in Wash DC; Started and directed fund raiser for Tornado victims, raised $3000 Extracurricular activities/ special interests: Such as- music, art, dance, student council, debate team, chess club, Boys/ Girls Scouts, work References: xxx-xxx-xxxx Name xxx-xxx-xxxx Name xxx-xxx-xxxx Name Video – Attach YouTube link here 12

Video: You're an athlete, a musician, a singer, a debater, a member of the student council, a speaker, a youth coach, a community volunteer; whatever it is, capture a glimpse of it in a brief video. Be sure to begin with a simple introductory clip, good tone of voice, looking straight into the camera. \"Hi, my name is Jeff Hanson, 2017 grad, Weston High School, here in Connecticut. Thank you for spending a couple minutes watching my video\". Then proceed with the best one or two minutes of quality video that you have available. A \"quality” video doesn’t mean fancy, flashy, and musically enhanced. It means that it properly captures a moment of you in time. It personalizes you allowing the viewer to see a side of you that doesn’t show up in an application. In this regard, a video is a very effective tool to use in the application process. The addition of video to an introductory email and personal profile page completes your personal marketing package. Now you’re ready to roll out the plan by introducing yourself to college counselors and make plans to meet them.Calling college admission counselors: The next step is easy and it’s short. Once you make plans to visit a college, call the admissions office and let them know you’re coming to the college and would like to meet them. They will likely suggest that you register for a campus tour. Depending on your schedule, a campus tour arranged through the admission office is fine to do, but otherwise, a self-guided tour can suit the purpose just as well and tends to be more efficient with your time. Sample introductory phone call for initial campus visit and meeting, what you say is in red-“Hi, my name is ______________. I’m a sophomore/ junior living in ___________________, attending _____________________ high school.”“I have an interest in attending your college and would like to make plans for a visit. Is there a counselor there assigned to my area that I can speak with?”A yes or no reply doesn’t matter, only that they connect you with a counselor matters. Andwhen they do, follow this sequence of questions with the counselor.“Hi _____, my name is ______________. I’m a sophomore/ junior living in __________________, attending _____________________ high school. I have an interest in attending your college and would like to make plans for a visit. Can I plan to meet with you during my visit?”I have a few questions for you, is that ok? 13

At this time, plan to engage in a personal discussion for 5-10 minutes. Ask a few simple questions. The questions serve to begin a friendly discussion and they allow the responder to be helpful, which they like. Begin with- “What SAT score and GPA do you look for in your applicants?” “What does it take to receive a scholarship?” ”I see that your school accepts the common application (provided it does), is there any advantage to submitting the college application rather than the common app?” “I plan to submit an early application, sometime in October. Is there an advantage in doing that?” “Is there anyone I can plan to interview or speak with during my visit? “Is there an area representative that I can meet?” “Can I send you my student-profile by email so you can have all of my current information?” List a few of your own questions here which are specific to your interests- 1. 2. 3.* Be prepared to answer their one important question- “What do you plan to study?” Write here your response (minimum 50 words)- 14

Plan to visit colleges and meet the people: This is the final component of your personal marketing plan. No personal marketing plan is complete without putting it into effect. This is the fun part. It’s the reward for being well-prepared. Set aside dates for a few days of travel. Identify the colleges that you specifically want to visit. Map out your trip. Plan to visit 2-3 colleges each day while spending 2 hours or so on each campus. You won’t always have time for scheduled campus tours and for the first visit, they are not necessarily needed to do. However, you can register for a tour (that gets you in their system); you can begin the tour with the information session, but you don’t have to go through the full walk around the campus. Do your homework on the college in advance. Arrive with a copy of your Student-profile sheet along with a copy of your high school transcript (this is your marketing package). Be ready to express yourself and your interests for college. Be ready to discuss your intended path of studies, which will follow in line with your Personal Statement (we’ll get to that a bit later). Also, identify probing and relevant questions to ask the admission counselor, such as- “What does it take to win an acceptance and earn a scholarship?” Make it your marketing plan to build value and trust in you to the admission office and get their support of your application by being well organized, prepared, and focused. 15

Evaluate College CredentialsWhile the rest of the country focuses on academic record in randomly submitting applications,the typical approach with predictable outcomes, you can be different in applying the logicalapproach and secure your best outcome. Sure, colleges value academic record, thecombination of GPA with SAT/ SATII / ACT scores. But high academically-qualified students arebeing denied or deferred at quality colleges across the land. How you distinguish yourself fromother comparable applicants is important to admission acceptance and scholarship awards.Understand that while they certainly value academic record, they also value people, the humanelement. All throughout the application process, there are opportunities to show admissionoffices that there is a lot more substance to you, the applicant, than just your academic record.They need to see value in you as a prospective member of the student population and how youmight enhance the college culture aside from what they can see on an electronic application.And we know that value equates to preferred admission acceptances and increased scholarshipawards. Let’s take a look at how you can build college credentials into a basket of value tocolleges and create your own advantage in doing so. The key elements are- Academic record Leadership achievement Community involvement, volunteer service, mission work International travel, study abroad Diverse interests and hobbies Well written essays and responses to supplemental questions Personal statement Complete and timely-submitted applicationWork begins in 8th grade as your grades serve to begin qualifying for Advance Placementclasses later in high school. Credentials begin to take shape in 9th grade by establishing yourGPA along with searching out opportunities for leadership roles, school-based activities, andcommunity service involvement. Then in 10th grade, you can be on the path for AP classeswhile beginning preparation for SAT’s and ACT’s, with a plan to take them during the spring of11th grade. As a junior, you can begin career exploration and start to consider potential areas ofcollege study, this being the time to write your Personal Statement. Junior year is the go-to yearfor visiting colleges and meeting admission counselors. The application process kicks in during 16

the summer before senior year as students begin admission interviews, writing the collegeadmission essay, and filling out the Common Application. By the first day of 12th grade, theCommon Application can be completed, and by October 1st, a priority list of colleges can beidentified for submitting applications. All told, these make up the list of college credentials. Theyall work together in determining qualifications for possible college acceptances and scholarshipawards.Common mistake: people tend to evaluate colleges first, rather than evaluate themselves first.We recommend evaluating yourself first. This is the only way in which you can truly find the rightmatch college for you, otherwise, it becomes a random selection process. The randomnessbegins when people look first at the big name colleges and then wonder how they might be ableto get in. And their random search continues with trying to find quality colleges whereby anacceptance seems possible. The randomness continues with selecting colleges based solely onmatching GPA and SAT scores to admission standards and hitting the “submit” button. That’sthe typical approach taken by the masses, but one that often leaves the student and familydisappointed with application declines, low scholarships, and few options.Rather, we apply the logical approach by evaluating credentials first and then matchingqualifications, interests, and needs to a list of prospective colleges. We work to build value firstknowing that value to a college equates to admission acceptance, it’s that simple. However, ittakes time. It requires a concerted and conscious effort. And, it needs a plan with goals.Colleges today are more competitive for admissions than ever before. There is a big rise in thenumber of applications submitted (primarily due to the Common Application). Administratorsfrom private colleges see applicants by the thousands with top grades and good SAT/ ACTscores. Administrators from state universities have seen an increase in the number of applicantsand a rise in their credentials. So what do they do? They look for distinguishing factors thatseparate you from the others. Building value in you to colleges is a 3 – 4 year task. To maximizeyour admission acceptances and scholarship awards, know what credentials colleges look forand how they value applicants. Let’s discuss the main components.Academic record: Sure, GPA and SAT/ ACT scores are very important, but honors classes, AP courses, SAT II’s all factor in favorably. Colleges look for and reward rigor in your schedule. You begin qualifying for AP courses with high grades as early as in 8th grade. For athletes, you begin qualifying for NCAA eligibility in 9th grade with 30% of your eligibility earned then… that’s right, 30% in 9th grade. 17

For students who begin 9th grade in accelerated classes, you will be on the accelerated paththroughout high school in those areas of study. For those who excel in Freshmen AP classes,such as Biology, you can take the SAT II at the end of the school year. Plan to take SAT II’son through high school, at the end of a school year in which you excelled in an AP class. Agood score there is a big winner for college consideration. Top colleges specifically look forSAT II subject tests. So pick a few topics and plan to take SAT II’s. There is no downside totaking these tests as they won’t be submitted if you’re not pleased with the results.You can have an SAT plan for preparation and test taking that begins in 10th grade with plansto take your first SAT in January of the junior year. We recommend that you plan to take threeSAT’s- the first one in January of your junior year; the second one in either May or June ofyour junior year; and a third one in October of your senior year. Understand that high SATscores mean improved likelihood for acceptance and scholarship. And that SAT’s are “super-scored” meaning the colleges accept the best score achieved for each part taken from all thetests. You can take as many as you want without concern for not doing well on any given test.Consider taking ACT’s. Take the ACT once or twice as needed, or focus on it all together. It’sa much different test than the SAT and you may do better on a relative basis than the SAT. Allcolleges are accepting the ACT’s, so it is a good test to plan on taking. Many students prefer itover the SAT.When it comes to self-study for SAT’s, I recommend these two prep book options to choosefrom. They are both high quality, standard, traditional review books that are very thorough.They are extensive in their training and explaining of each content component in the SAT.They have multiple sample tests included in the book and they generally offer some form ofon-line training as well.- Cracking the SAT, by Princeton Review- Barron’s SATA current topic of interest involves the importance of SAT’s. Sure, many schools have become“Test optional”. This means you don’t have to submit SAT/ ACT scores for consideration onyour application. But this does not mean that they are any less important. Rather, a case canbe made that they are more important than ever. The SAT scores of incoming freshmen arenow used as a major criteria for the ranking of colleges. Most of the top colleges consider SATscores as a major component to providing an acceptance. Many colleges slot SAT scores fora merit-based scholarship award. Therefore, it is hard to argue the point that SAT’s are less 18

important just because some schools have gone to SAT-optional. After all, everyone knows ifyou don’t submit your SAT scores, then you did not do well enough to enhance yourapplication status. My strong recommendation is to make your SAT scores a priority and beginwith early preparation.On another topic, we often get asked how colleges feel about AP classes. Is it better to takeAP at the risk of a lower grade? Generally yes, depending on the risk, of course. Top collegesprefer their applicants to have taken AP classes, but they also place a high emphasis on GPA.Taking AP classes shows rigor in the course scheduling and that is a big positive as long as itdoesn’t come at a compromise to your GPA.In general, the surest way to win admission acceptances is to have a solid academic record,consisting of good grades, high SAT/ ACT scores, and rigor in your course schedule.Plan ahead for your SAT and ACT tests: I will pick up a __________ guide book on ________ I will begin preparing on _________ (date) I will commit ______ hours per week to self-study My plans are to take 3 SAT’s on these dates- _______, _______, _______ My plans are to take 2 ACT’s on these dates- _______, _______, _______ Possible topics for SAT II’s include- _________, __________, __________ 19

Leadership achievement, community service, mission work: In addition to academic record, colleges value leadership achievement and community service and consider your record for this quite seriously. You will definitely improve admissions potential by demonstrating leadership qualities. Note this is not a 3 month initiative that you can do in 12th grade (admission counselors see right through that); rather it’s established over time throughout your high school career. Sit down as a family today to search out and find leadership roles that you can sink your teeth in and have an impact. Start something unique to you and build it over the next couple of years or so. For example, it’s good to participate in a charity event, such as a 5k run for cancer, or a storm clean-up crew. But, it’s of much greater value if you can assemble a team of participants. And then for the next event, encourage each team member to assemble their own team. After a few events, you now have a team full of mini-teams. Your contribution to the charity is much enhanced and shows great leadership to colleges. Start a club in your high school and build upon it. Pick out a special interest of yours and solicit others to join in. It could be a chess club, a debate club, a sports club, a musical band, an investment team, a social media group, an environmental “green” club, or any number of other possibilities. Or you can join a current club and take a leadership role within the club. This shows entrepreneurial spirit and is greatly valued by colleges. There are always numerous groups in your area that need good volunteer help. This could include coaching youth athletes, working with kids at the Boys and Girls Club or the YMCA, helping out at the Food Bank or the Homeless Shelter, taking dogs for a walk at the Animal Humane Society, or volunteering in your church. It all shows community awareness and service, which is valued by colleges. One quick point, do it for the right reason and make a sincere effort to serve your community, no half-stepping here. Beyond community involvement lies mission work. These are typically trips planned by the student (as part of a group) to leave home for a specific purpose, time, and location to help disadvantaged people or suffering cultures. This could include being part of a relief team to help people recover in a storm-ravaged community, or being part of team assigned to build a shelter, or being part of a team to help feed the homeless, or being part of a time to help care for the elderly. In short, it’s humanitarian-related work and it’s of great value to colleges in demonstrating the student’s inner core value system. 20

I hope the point is clear. Colleges value and reward applicants who have demonstrated personal values, morals, and ethics through a commitment to leadership and service. It is this factor that often makes the difference amongst applicants with similar academic records.International travel, study abroad: Colleges value applicants who have a level of cultural diversity, be it in their heritage or in their experiences. Students who have international travel experience often demonstrate the ability to be away from the comfort of home and adapt well to new environments. Students who have had the opportunity to study abroad during high school show an amazing ability to coexist and thrive in a diverse cultural setting amongst various ethnic groups. These are personal experiences and traits that bode well for college success and as such, they are greatly valued by college admission offices.Diverse interests and hobbies: Colleges specifically look for well-rounded, interesting students. They value students who demonstrate interests and involvement in a diverse number of topics and activities. In school, they like to see achievements in music, art, dance, student council, debate teams, and athletics to name a few. Outside of school, they like to see applicants with diversity in hobbies or special interests that engage the mind and/ or the body to be creative, imaginative, interactive, fit and healthy. Be sure to express your unique interests during your interviews and also in writing upon request on your application.Essay: College admission counselors see essays of all types, short and long, interesting and boring, good grammar and bad, well-written and not. If writing your essay is an afterthought, then it will compromise your opportunity for admission acceptances, it’s that simple, and also that much overlooked. Writing a quality essay is much easier than people think. We have an entire section devoted to writing a quality essay later, but for the purpose of building credentials, it is necessary to note that a good essay is well thought out and well written; involving an interesting topic that points ahead towards a benefit in college. It should be easy to read, flow well, and stay on point. We like to encourage having the essay done during the summer leading up to senior year because we know things get busy once you begin senior year, and we don’t want the essay to delay early applications. We encourage the topic to be picked by July the essay completed in August. 21

Essays get the attention of people reviewing your application, either for the good or otherwise. Keep the readers interest and don’t make them feel like their time is wasted. The essay can make the difference in getting a check mark versus a decline. Make your essay count to improve your value to a college. And speaking of the reader, keep in mind who this might be and what it takes to keep their interest. Let’s be honest here, the audience matters. Getting and keeping the interest of a 25 – 30 year old reader is different than that of a 40 – 50 year old reader. So let’s keep this in consideration. In the end result, a quality essay can overcome a shortage in the academic record to win an admission acceptance.Personal Statement: Here lies the great mystery and big secret to winning college admission acceptances. Often times, the readers of college applications will go straight to the Personal Statement when one is provided. However, less than 5% of applicants have a Personal Statement and know to submit it on the Common Application. We have a section dedicated later on the Personal Statement, but for the purpose of this section, know that having one becomes a big advantage during the application process. Here’s some detail. The college application is a summary of your grades, your classes, and your extracurricular activities. It includes your college essay, for which is written on a particular topic of special significance to the applicant. But nowhere on the college application do you otherwise share your deep insights, vision, and passion for college and life thereafter. This is reserved for your Personal Statement, a written document, about 500 words long, describing your plan for college and vision for success. In short, it begins with a statement of the cause, concern, issue, challenge, opportunity that you see as you look ahead for the next several years. It continues with a statement of your interest to resolve or engage and includes your plan for a college education as your way to build qualifications. It concludes with a statement on how you visualize your success as a young adult. Your Personal Statement is the most powerful tool you have in building interest in you from the college. Sure, they have interests in students with good grades, but they have great interest in students who have a vision and a passion, for which they are capable of expressing either verbally or in written form. The Personal Statement is your written version, but once you have that in place, it makes it a lot easy to speak it. So, when the next person asks you what interests you have in college studies or what you want to do for a career, then turn to the work you did on your Personal Statement and share it with those who have an interest in you. 22

Completed and timely submitted application: The final component to building college credentials is not really a credential. However, it is a strategy and one that yields great value to the prospective student, adding merit in doing so. Many students rush through applications, just trying to get them done and submitted. Believe me, the admissions counselor can quickly spot a rushed application. Those don’t usually get serious consideration, and why should they? “The early bird gets the worm.” Get your applications submitted early. The early applications, those submitted prior to November 1st, will often get much more consideration than those submitted later. Why? Twofold- one because early applications reflect serious intent; two because the stack of applications to be reviewed is smaller allowing more time for consideration. Let’s face it, admission counselors get swamped with applications that come by their desk after the New Year. Do you want yours to be in that stack? You can’t be the “early bird” submitting your applications after December 1, the worms are gone. It’s that simple. And this is one thing you have complete and total control over. Each specific college requires either additional information or asks supplemental questions, all of which require a thoughtful response, not necessarily a lengthy one. Be brief, but make a strong point. View each question as an opportunity to express your interest and desire for the college. Always be consistent in expressing the importance of college to you. And by the way, many of the answers to these questions can come right off your Personal Statement. We often hear people holding off their applications awaiting high school recommendation letters. This is not necessary. We would much prefer you to submit your application pending receipt of the letters rather than delaying the application. If you have any question about this, simply place a call to the admissions office and ask them for their policy. This gives rise to the benefit in requesting your recommendation letters before you go on summer break after junior year. Again, be early in your requests and you will likely have your recommendation letters posted in time for submitting applications.………………………………Academic record, leadership achievement, community service, international travel,diversification of interests, quality essays, a Personal Statement and timely applications: alltogether make up who you are and go a long way to getting serious consideration foracceptance into preferred colleges. It takes time and a plan, so the sooner you get started andbuild upon it, the more you can impact your own college situation and affect your outcome. 23

Plan High School Course Studies through Senior YearWhile this seems to be quite logical, it’s not very typical. Most families work their way throughhigh school one semester at a time, knowing they have five required core classes to take eachsemester and having to fill in a couple of electives as they go. Typically, the core classes consistof an English, a Science, a Math, a Language, and a History/ Social Science course; and thereis a progression made through high school by direction of the high school curriculum. But thereare some choices to be made along the way that greatly impact the student’s preparedness forcollege. For instance, language is usually required for 3 years, opening up the senior year for apreferred elective.When we look ahead to the next decade of job opportunity, we see a lot of growth jobs beingprojected that require skills and knowledge in fields such as computer technology andprogramming, business and financial analyst, data and information management, digital andinternational marketing, homeland and internet security, engineering of all kinds, and a variety ofhealth sciences. All of these job possibilities require a combination of college studies thataccording to profession may include- - probability & statistics, applied mathematics, business analytics, data science - computer technology, systems and network design, programming and software development - business, finance and accounting, supply-chain management, digital marketing - international studies, international marketing, government policy - human sciences, health sciences, physical sciences, bio-medical sciences, biometrics - engineering, includes mechanical, civil, material, sustainability, biomedical, electrical - cybersecurity, cyber-forensics, homeland security, information security, biometrics - environmental science, environmental law, environmental engineering 24

STEM- Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics. This is the transformation era for STEMeducation and opportunity. The next decade of job growth, high wages, and real opportunity willoften be found in these fields. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are animportant part of education in a competitive global marketplace. Colleges package these studiestogether to form Interdisciplinary Degree Programs. This is the new trend in more progressivecolleges. But, it has not caught on completely at the high school level. Only to a minor degree dothese courses become a part of their core curriculum. That’s ok, we can’t change that, but wecan acknowledge our own responsibility to search out available STEM classes and add them intothe course schedule as electives.STEM initiative: recent research shows that the United States educational system has fallenbehind many other countries in these areas. It is generally acknowledged that improvements need tobe made at the high school level for the students to have a competitive edge in a globalized, high-tech marketplace, those who will make-up the future workforce in America. Accordingly, national andstate educational policymakers have taken up effort to improve the overall mathematics, science andtechnology literacy of U.S. students. Therefore, the STEM initiative is designed to integratetechnology and progressive learning methods into the daily educational experience at the highschool level. The goal is to have a better qualified workforce to compete on the international level.The graph on the following page displays the growth anticipated in STEM related jobs andsignifies the importance of educational knowledge and qualifications. 25

Source: U.S. Department of Education, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math: Education for Global Leadership, 2015The great benefit in choosing STEM classes as electives is that the student becomes introducedto the subject matter while still in high school, which significantly supports their interest andknowledge in these courses at the college level. The challenge that comes along with havingthese classes as electives is that it builds the rigor and difficulty for the school schedule. In otherwords, it doesn’t provide much breathing room and may come as a replacement for gym class,study halls, arts and crafts, music and drama; all classes that also have significant value to ahigh school student. It’s a hard balance to get, but one worthy of forethought and planning. Itrequires a conscientious effort throughout high school to study the subjects that will prepare youbest for your college experience. 26

Build a College list Matching Qualifications, Interests, Needs While the rest of the country typically chooses colleges randomly, you can be different. Applying to colleges based on your qualifications along with understanding the elements for college success and satisfaction is more the logical approach. It will attract their interest in you and greatly enhance the likelihood for your admissions acceptance. While this is intuitively easy to understand, most people miss out on this completely, left to wonder what went wrong. Applying to colleges should not be a random process. College success and satisfaction cannot be found with just a click on a computer program matching you to colleges based solely on academic record. Yes, your list of colleges must meet a range of admissions standards, but a lot more goes in to finding the right college fit. The first step in the college search process is to build a list of colleges that meet your qualifications, interests, and needs. This is our way for evaluating yourself first before considering colleges. For your initial list of colleges, consider these most important factors for college success and satisfaction: 1. Academic record- GPA, SAT’s, ACT’s, AP classes 2. School culture- where you feel most comfortable fitting in 3. Social interests- what you like in a school, the community, and its activities 4. Geographical preferences- the region of the country you most enjoy living 5. Financial needs- your price point for affordability of college 6. For athletes- athletic level, your level of competitive play and desire for college athletics We begin with the top four due to their static nature as they won’t change much. Then we consider # 5 and # 6 as dynamic elements that will change as you move forward through the process. The idea is to list colleges that match your academic level and desired living comfort while considering a range of costs and athletic levels (for athletes). Your interests from administrators will only come from colleges for which you demonstrate qualifications for admission. Your right college fit will only come from colleges for which you will enjoy success and satisfaction. Let’s take a closer look. Academic record: GPA, SAT’s, ACT’s, AP courses. This is the simplest piece. Match your qualifications to college admission standards. Match your standards for college to prospective colleges. Match college study programs to your interests for studies and possible careers. 27

Consider the school’s academic reputation outside of its immediate geographical area. We refer to this as the “Traveling degree”. It’s defined by how well the education/ degree travels outside of its area. Will it be recognized as valuable and worthy far away from the college town? Evaluate freshmen dropout and on-time graduation rates, intern opportunities, and job placement percentages. Consider if the school is located in a good area for employment. Be sure to know what percent of incoming freshman go on to an on-time graduation with job or graduate school opportunities thereafter. The national average four-year graduation rate approximates 40%; compare the school against this point of measure; on-time graduation reflects in the student intention and the quality of education being offered; higher rates reflect favorably. The national average freshmen dropout rate approximates 20%; compare the school against this point of measure; freshmen dropout reflects in the student intention and their satisfaction with the college; lower rates reflect favorably. Check for average classroom size and the student-to-faculty ratio. Think about your preferences for classes. Consider if you perform better in smaller, interactive, classes where you know everyone and they know you, including the professor. Or do you prefer large classrooms that are lecture based, with little interaction from other students and the professor? Simply put- does the college meet your standards for offering a comprehensive quality education, quality degree, good choice of majors, high graduation rates and good job placement opportunities upon completion.School Culture: make sure the school is right for your daily living comfort and needs. Cultural compatibility is the immediate driver for satisfaction and comfortable existence at college. It’s very important to understand the cultural make-up of the college. To begin with, evaluate the student body: - Undergraduate school enrollment - Full-time, resident students - Geographical diversification; in-state resident percentage - Ethnic, racial, international, gender diversification - Faith-based orientation 28

Consider the community area and the style of living you prefer. To begin with, evaluate: - Community appeal; desire for community events and activities - Preference for city, rural, or suburban living; campus surroundings - Dormitories: room style, set-up and number of students per room; bathroom and shower facilities; availability of housing for upperclassmen; location of off-campus living; parking areas - Cafeteria’s; availability and food quality; convenience of location; places where your meal card works outside of the main cafeteria - Weather, especially during semester months (the time you will be there); don’t just evaluate it during the beautiful summer months (the time you might not be around); it makes a difference to your enjoyment Cultural compatibility includes your upbringing, your ethnicity, your family heritage, your comfort in city versus country settings. Your college fit and expected level of satisfaction is largely determined by your cultural compatibility. It’s this simple, you have to feel comfortable on the campus for you to enjoy academic success and have a great college experience. Otherwise, you’ll be returning home soon.Social interests: campus activities are important to satisfaction. Consider the activities and scheduled events that provide enjoyment to you. This includes the student-union, clubs, gyms, games, concerts, guest speakers, and any other activity for you to enjoy. Discuss how you feel about fraternities and sororities and check to see how they are set-up on campus. Consider your interest in being a part of the college sports scene by attending games and cheering on your team. And believe it or not, the library is a social gathering place, so check that out and evaluate your access to computer needs, internet capability, research, lab work, and library resources. Consider the events and activities available to the students in the local town and community. Will it be an enjoyable place to call home for four years? Your social well-being is important, yet a delicate balance. So consider it closely. It is a factor, but not likely to be the deciding factor. 29

Geographical preferences: consider where you like to live or where you like to visit. Your best chance at college success and satisfaction will be found in the region of the country that you enjoy best in considering many factors, not just weather. Consider how far from home works for both the student and the parents. It’s important for the parents to feel comfortable with access to their child. Don’t pick a state just because it looks nice on TV. Don’t pick a college because it has a good football or basketball team. Rather, pick your region based on where you want to be in college, where you want your internships and job opportunities to be located. Pick an area that you might want to live in as an adult. Pick an area that you are culturally comfortable in and make sense for you to enjoy being there. There is a saying that seems to hold true more often than not- “The farther away you go, the faster you come back.”Affordability: it’s simple, yet so difficult for most families. It begins with a long-term financial plan to be able to fund college expense. It requires you to calculate your price point for college affordability knowing that costs are rising and terms are extending. We save in-depth scholarship discussions for a different writing, but for here and now, it’s important to know that a lot goes into managing college costs. You won’t know the final college costs until after application acceptances have been earned and financial awards come out for negotiation. Yes, I said negotiation. It is a negotiated client/ provider relationship. The point is to not eliminate schools prematurely based on costs since you don’t really know what the costs will be yet. Keep a range of college costs in consideration when qualifying colleges for good fit. There are six primary components to college costs: 1. Tuition 2. Room & Board 3. Books 4. Fees 5. Travel expense 6. Term of stay 30

There are ways to mitigate the costs of each component. Here are the six buckets of money and financing resources available for either reducing the cost of college or funding its cost. 1. Merit-based scholarship awards, academic-based and athletic-based 2. University-endowed Grants 3. University need-based financial aid, secured by submitting the CSS Profile 4. Federal need-based financial aid, secured by filing the FAFSA 5. Student loans- the Stafford loan, secured by filing the FAFSA, is often offered and carries with it a low rate of interest with payments deferred beyond graduation; it’s four year maximum approved amount is $27,000; note- third-party student loans are available and are co-signed by the parents 6. Work-study programs, secured by filing the FAFSATuition is negotiable, but the negotiation begins now, not literally, but figuratively. It starts bybuilding value in you to the college decision-makers. It includes getting to know them well andallowing them to know you, your goals, your vision, your purpose, and your role. Beyond theadmissions office, it is worthy to meet the administrators for your college of studies.Room & board costs have skyrocketed over the past 5 years or so, approximating $12,000 peryear at most schools. This cost is not considered negotiable if living on campus. Certainly amove to live off-campus offers a lower cost opportunity, but comes with logistical challenges.Book cost is also on the rise, could cost over $1,000 per semester. It is best reduced bypurchasing used books through the university book store. Upon request, sometimes thecollege will offer you free books in lieu of other scholarships.Fees have also increased substantially, could be in the range of $3,000 - $4,000 per year, andinclude items such as health insurance, technology, and sports. Whether you need it or use itdoesn’t matter, you will get charged for it all. They are generally not negotiable. They reflect inyour Financial Award statement and are added to the bill. 31

Travel costs are less when you can complete a round-trip to and from the college by car. If the college is within a 300 mile range, then you can typically do a round-trip in a single day if it’s needed. And with minor emergencies that may occur, a 300 mile or less distance to the college will keep the cost of travel to a minimum. If air travel is the preferred method of to-and- from travel, then it adds approximately $5,000 per year to the cost of college. Term applies to the time it takes to earn a four-year degree. Will you be on the 4-year, 5-year, or 6-year plan? The national average time it takes to complete a four year degree is 5 ½ years and growing. It is up to you to begin work now on deciding upon a college study plan and avoid unnecessary extension of time. If you don’t have plans to graduate in four years, then the college will plan an extra year for you.Athletic level: an in-depth discussion on collegiate athletics is described in detail in our Workbook & Guide for Athletes. The point we would like to make here is that your best fit athletic opportunity cannot be established early in the college search. It is necessary to apply a range of athletic level to the list of colleges in consideration. As you get evaluated by college coaches, the athletic level right for you will become more apparent, known as “The Reality Check.” But it’s never a certain thing. No one really knows how hard the athlete is willing to work to continue improving themselves for the college game. Therefore, matching athletic level to qualifying colleges is a substantial challenge requiring plenty of hard work and due diligence. Therefore, we have devoted two books and several articles to the subject. One point is worth mentioning. The biggest mistake athletes and their families make is they chase sports. Less than half of all college athletes ever enjoy a bit of on-field success in college. This is due to many factors, but most often due to athletes and families picking the wrong college. This is caused by picking the college based solely and in hoping for a sports opportunity, which may not be clearly understood. College sports success is found in having a planned approach to evaluating opportunity in full, to include that for a quality education, an enjoyable college experience, a manageable college cost, internships and job prospects, along with playing college sports. College success is gained best with early involvement and knowledge of the process. The best opportunity for college success is logically found from a point of understanding the college perspective and priorities, the coach’s situation for player and position needs, the recruiting objective, their goals and policy, while deciphering real opportunity from false fronts. 32

Qualifying colleges for good fit requires you to identify an initial list of colleges and make plansto get out and visit them. But don’t wait until your senior year for this. You can begin qualifyingcolleges by the end of your sophomore year. With a decent college visitation schedule, you canvisit 20 colleges or more by the end of junior year. By doing this, you will come to know whatyou like in a college, a college campus, a campus culture, and a community environment.Qualifying colleges in advance for good possible fit opportunities is key to streamlining youreffort, saving you valuable time and money, and winning admission acceptances.Use this space to begin listing colleges: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 33

Doing Your HomeworkIncluded in every type of preparation for something that is meaningful requires some level ofadvanced research and homework in order to know the situation better. On the following page,you will find a copy of our College Contact and Planning Sheet. It is designed to allow studentsto record relevant information about the college prior to visiting the school.The top section allows you to record basic information on the college. Of special interest is toidentify the admission office email and phone number, and to further identify the specificcounselor of whom is assigned to applicants from your geographical region (mostly applicable toprivate colleges), and record their contact information. Identify the Director of Admissions as aperson of interest and influence. Record the email and phone number to the Financial Aid office.Having this organized and readily available will allow you to be efficient in your email and callcommunications with the college.School enrollment data, cost date, graduation and freshmen drop-out rates (the inverse ofretention) can all be found on the website or by calling the admission office.The Net Price Calculator, NPC, is an estimate of college cost based on information you submit.Each college is required to have the Net Price Calculator listed on their website for your use.Majors of interest can be identified by clicking on the “Academics” tab of the website. Click on“Undergraduate Majors and Courses” and review the selection of studies available at the college.The middle section of the form allows the student to keep track of visits and communications,followed by recording the plan for submitting an application.The bottom section is for athletes, for them to record information relevant to the sports team, itscoach, its conference, and its recent performance.* The form on the next page is best kept in a folder maintained for each college of interest. The folders are best kept in a file set-up to efficiently record and keep information on the colleges.Always make sure you have available a copy of the most recent high school transcript in eachcollege folder, to be able to copy and provide to the admission office upon your college visits.This is very important to have as it reflects your beginning qualification for admission. 34

Record of Contact Information, Points of Contact, Key Data, Meetings Set, and Action Plans College: ______________________________ Address:________________________________________________ Adm. Counselor_______________________ email: _______________________ Ph # ________________________ Dir. of Admissions _____________________ email: _______________________ Ph # ________________________ Fin’l Aid Office: ________________________email: _______________________ Ph # ________________________ School enroll-_______ Tuition cost-________ Room, Board ______ Books & Fees _____ GPA/ SAT req-____/_____ % of students graduating in 4 years- _____, Freshman drop-out rate- %______, Net Price Calculator- __________ Majors of interest- ______________________________________________________________________________ --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Marketing package emailed, date- __________ to whom- _______________________________________________ Call made, date- _____________ to whom- ___________________________________________________________ Appt set, date- ____________ with whom- ___________________________________________________________ Initial campus visit, date- ______, met with- __________________________________ campus tour- ____________ Follow-up plan- _________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________ Follow up emails- ________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ Follow up calls- __________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ Follow up visits- __________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ Application Plan and Timeline: _____________________________________________________________________ Application submitted ____________ application decision _________ scholarship award ____________ Athletes: Coach’s name __________________ ph # ________________ email _______________________________ How long has the coach been at the school- __________ where did they come from ___________________________ College Athletic conference ____________________________, Division level- DI, DII, DIII, JUCO Other schools in the conference are __________________________________________________________________ Team record: last year- ______________ previous 4 years- ________________________________________________ 35

Vision RecruitingThe Vision StatementAs the fall approaches each year, several million high school students ponder their college future.For these students, the college search process begins for sophomores and juniors. The collegeapplication process begins for seniors. For seniors who are not ready nor prepared, the applicationprocess may be overwhelming and most likely will come full of anxiety, stress, disorder, andrandom decision-making. For sophomores and juniors who are mindful of the task at hand and theprocess that goes in to getting college right, they will feel the comfort of having time on their side.No one will argue the point that earlier is better for getting involved in the college process; theprocess of matching colleges to your qualifications, interests, and needs, planning college visits,and having a strategy in mind to build value in you to the colleges. The immediate and mostreliable way to build value in you to colleges is to come prepared. This includes- Having a Student-profile sheet Having a copy of your high school transcripts Having done your homework on the college Having communicated your interests to the admission office Being ready to express your interest and passion for collegeThe first four of those are easy as all are fully under your control to having done. The fifth one,being ready to express your interest and passion for college, is much more difficult. With that beingthe case, it is your # 1 best way to separate yourself from the competition as few prospectivestudents will arrive on campus ready to express themselves. However, expressing your interestrequires a lot more thought, preparation, and execution than to merely arrive on campus to sayhello. Although that is a good start. Here lies the secret to gaining support in you from a collegeadmission counselor- the ability to answer these two basic, essential-to-college questions. “What do you plan to study?” “What do you want to do?” 36

During the last two years of high school, you will get asked one of these two questions at least ahundred times. They will be asked by friends, family, neighbors, teachers, college advisors, highschool counselors, and casual acquaintances. Then in college and through to job interviews, youmay get asked again another couple of hundred times. The typical response ranges from: - “I don’t know…” - “I think…business, maybe marketing, maybe economics.” - “Medicine, I want to be a doctor.” - “I like biology.” - “I want to be an athletic trainer, so I will study exercise science or kinesiology.” - “Engineering!” - “Physical therapy!” - “Philosophy.” - “Psychology.” - “Journalism, I like to write.” - “Criminal Justice.” - “Computer technology.”You get the point. And then, the person asking the question usually asks- “What will you do with it?”Most students come up empty at this point, typically reflecting negatively and missing their realopportunity to delight and impress the questioner. The logical approach is to have a thoughtful,expressive, certain, confident and intelligent response, building great value in you while doing so. 37

Your Vision Statement is your ability to verbally express your vision for the future and the potential role you might have in shaping it.Your ability to express this in a moment’s notice when someone asks you about your college plansor career interests is how you gain interest from others, building value, credibility, and respect.Doing so while in a college-related setting with college officials, the key decision-makers, is called- Vision Recruiting “Vision recruiting” is defined as the preferential treatment applicants get for admission acceptances and scholarship awards based on their ability to express a vision for their future, an understanding of current day issues, a sense for future opportunity, a plan for college studies, and how it will all come together to qualify them for having a meaningful role and valuable participation in whatever it is they wish to pursue.Let’s see how it is created and how it works (see examples at the end)To be well versed, a few things are noteworthy. For one, it is necessary to be aware and informedof the world around you, extending well beyond your local township. Knowledge is needed in U.S.government and politics, world affairs and foreign cultures, local and national economics, alongwith national matters of healthcare, education, environment, business, law, finance, and more.Consider your concerns and challenges for the future and the corresponding opportunities yousee that lie ahead. Factor in your interests, passions, and desires for college and a possiblecareer. And get ready to express yourself. This will be called your vision statement and it’scomprised of four essential comments when it comes to college studies. 1. The first comment describes your concern or foreseen challenge in this country or in a world situation when you think about the next five years (your college term) or so. Such as, - In looking ahead to the next 5 – 10 years, I’m concerned about the sustainability of natural resources as our country’s population continues to grow. I’m worried about our dependence on outside countries, such as for oil. - In looking ahead to the next 5 – 10 years, I am concerned about the direction of healthcare and the potential for a decline in patient care. I see doctor’s rushing through appointments. I see a mounting increase in Medicare spending. 38

- In looking ahead to the next 5 – 10 years, I see a continuation of out-of-control government spending. I’m worried about the effect an increasing national debt will have on our future economy, inflation, currency value, and taxes. - In looking ahead to the next 5 – 10 years, I see a big increase in on-line purchases and data storage, with it will come a challenge for maintaining internet security. - In looking ahead to the next 5 – 10 years, I see American’s disrespecting the cultures of other countries for which they wish to do business in a growing global economy.2. The second comment refers to your belief system about the matter, such as, - I believe, as a country, we need to be self-sustaining in the supply of utilities, fuel, water, and food for our own people. - I believe our country should have the best patient care in the World and we need the Medicare program to be sustainable. - I believe our Federal Government should be required to operate with a balance budget, just like my family has to. - I believe that we have to have the utmost confidence in the security of our information on the internet, with both identity and data protection. We should not be at risk for hacking every time we go on-line. - I believe it’s in our own best interests to get to know and better understand the various cultures around the world if we are to achieve peace and reliability in our business dealings.3. The third comment refers to your plans for study, such as, - Therefore, I plan to study a combination of Environmental and Earth Sciences to prepare me for a career in the sustainability of natural resources. - Therefore, I plan to study a combination of Biological and Health Sciences to prepare me for a career in healthcare. 39

- Therefore, I plan to study a combination of Business, Economics, and Government Policy to prepare me for a career in business. - Therefore, I plan to study a combination of Computer Technology with Dara Science and Cyber-security to prepare me for a career in either Information Technology or Data Administration. - Therefore, I plan to study a combination of International Studies with International Marketing to prepare me for a career involving foreign trade. 4. Then finish with how you see yourself contributing, such as, - With this, I will be able to serve to improve our country’s ability to generate and sustain much-needed supplies of natural resources for decades to come. - With this, I will become an advocate for improved patient care, either as a practitioner, administrator, or researcher. - With this, I will be able to pursue a career in either business management or governmental policy-making and administration. - With this, I will work to create and implement new technology while protecting private information and important data in doing so. - With this, I will be better positioned to help build international business while improving relationships along the way.Here is how it comes together and works- “In looking ahead to the next 5 – 10 years, I’m concerned about the sustainability of natural resources as our country’s population continues to grow. I’m worried about our dependence on outside countries, such as for oil. I believe, as a country, we need to be self-sustaining in the supply of utilities, fuel, water, and food for our own people. Therefore, I plan to study a combination of Environmental and Earth Sciences to prepare me for a career in the sustainability of natural resources. With this, I will be able to serve to improve our country’s ability to generate and sustain much-needed supplies of natural resources for decades to come.” 40

“In looking ahead to the next 5 – 10 years, I am concerned about the direction of healthcareand the potential for a decline in patient care. I see doctor’s rushing through appointments. Isee a mounting increase in Medicare spending. I believe our country should have the bestpatient care in the World and we need the Medicare program to be sustainable. Therefore, Iplan to study a combination of Biological and Health Sciences to prepare me for a career inhealthcare. With this, I will become an advocate for improved patient care, either as apractitioner, administrator, or researcher.”“In looking ahead to the next 5 – 10 years, I see a continuation of out-of-control governmentspending. I’m worried about the effect an increasing national debt will have on our futureeconomy, inflation, currency value, and taxes. I believe our Federal Government should berequired to operate with a balance budget, just like my family has to. Therefore, I plan to studya combination of Business, Economics, and Government Policy to prepare me for a career inbusiness. With this, I will be able to pursue a career in either business management orgovernmental policy-making and administration.”“In looking ahead to the next 5 – 10 years, I see a big increase in on-line purchases and datastorage, with it will come a challenge for maintaining internet security. I believe that we have tohave the utmost confidence in the security of our information on the internet, with both identityand data protection. We should not be at risk for hacking every time we go on-line. Therefore, Iplan to study a combination of Computer Technology, with Data Science and Cyber-security, toprepare me for a career in either Information Technology or Data Administration. With this, I willwork to create and implement new technology while protecting private information and importantdate in doing so.”“In looking ahead to the next 5 – 10 years, I see American’s disrespecting the cultures of othercountries for which they wish to do business in a growing global economy. I believe it’s in ourown best interests to get to know and better understand the various cultures around the world ifwe are to achieve peace and reliability in our business dealings. Therefore, I plan to study acombination of International Studies with International Marketing to prepare me for a careerinvolving foreign trade. With this, I will be better positioned to help build international businesswhile improving relationships along the way.” 41

Think about it and practice it until you are comfortable with your reply. You do not need tomemorize it, rather, you only need to express it in genuine terms. And keep in mind, it canchange as you go along in learning and experiencing new things.You will be utterly amazed at the expressions you see from the people who ask you thesequestions. They are not accustom to any kind of thoughtful response. Your response will leave alasting impression in people’s minds, creating great value with college admission offices, and bythe way, this will serve one day to give you a big boost in your job interviews. VISION RECRUITING- College’s providing student applicants with preferential acceptances and larger scholarships for those who can express their vision for the future and what their role might be in shaping it. Write your vision statement here using the same format: 42

The Power of the Personal StatementWhereas, speaking about your vision is called your Vision Statement, writing about it is calledyour Personal Statement. This coincides directly with your Vision Statement and accordingly, willbe one of your most powerful and influential writings you ever do. It will substantially help you indefining your interests in college study and a career thereafter. It is a living document, meaningthat it is designed to use over time in various situations. It can and will change as you learn anddiscover. It should be updated and maintained through college and at least to your first job. It willbe of great benefit upon filling out your college applications. It will be used while in college and insearch of internships. And it will be further used in graduate school applications and jobinterviews.The Personal Statement shows the substance in you and your interests that are not shownanywhere on your application, either for college or for a job. It reflects your deeper internalthought and belief system. It reflects your plan for college studies and the substance behind yourplan. A Personal Statement is something that every college admission office of private schoolsvalue and want to see you have, but will never ask for. Rather, they will see who has one andwhat they make of it. Often times, an admission counselor will skip right to the PersonalStatement and value it over other application information.We have eight examples to follow. It will be easier to learn by reading the examples. Here is abrief overview of how to construct your Personal Statement.The Personal Statement should approximate 400 words. It primarily consists of three essentialsections. Begin though with a title in mind even though you will not likely have a name for it untilyou’re done writing it…that’s just the way it works. Fit a title to the document, not the other wayaround. Section 1- The Vision. This is what you see and hear as the world turns or how certain personal events and activities have shaped your interests. Through high school, you begin discovering more about your passion, purpose, and desire for life and your possible career. This is when you find an area of serious interest, more so than a hobby, to possibly pursue for college studies and a career thereafter. It is not designed to pinpoint exactly what job you want, rather, it is designed to pinpoint your passion and desire to qualify yourself for a cause. Begin with identifying and describing recent activities or events that have given influence, rise and 43

credence to your interests. Provide enough detail to allow the reader to understand the correlation between the events and your interests. Include statements of the cause or circumstance; statements of your concern, issue, or problem that you see existing; statements pertaining to the challenge at stake and its inherent opportunity, all of which are of particular interest to you, your studies, your college choice, and your possible career. “When I returned from _____, I felt…” “When I look ahead to the 2020’s, I see…” Section 2- The Interest and the Plan, describing your specific interest and your plan for college studies. Tell the reader what you would like to advocate for and how your college studies will qualify you to carry out your intended role. Explain how you plan to be a part of the solution through an education and a plan for college study- “I would like to be an advocate for an improved…” “Therefore, I plan to study a combination of _____, _____, and _____ to qualify me for ____.” Section 3- The Passion, sharing with the reader the passion you have for seeing it through and how you visualize success in doing so. Reflect on what it means to you. “I will realize success when…” “I plan to lead the charge…” “I will be at the forefront…”Use the sample sheet, found after the examples, to begin writing your Personal Statement. 44

Personal Statement - “Cultural Consulting” Having just spent my junior year studying in China, I feel that America now suffers in a self-imposed isolation from the rest of the world. Not that Americans are isolated, because surely we arenot, but Americans tend to be absorbed in their own little bubbles. Americans get stuck in their ownbeliefs, fed by a government who believes itself to be superior, making it prohibitively difficult toaccept the ways and means of other cultures, and an unwillingness to open their minds about it. Notthat this is always the case, and in many ways many Americans do not follow this trend. Howeverfrom the outside perspective, this is how the United States and Americans are often viewed byforeign countries and their people. Yet, the fact of the matter is the world is now completelyeconomically intertwined, and economically motivated. I see this as a problem and a growingchallenge as we look 20 years into the future. My goal is to become a cultural consultant, a diplomat and mediator of the internationalbusiness world. I want to be an advocate for helping people and businesses to better understandthe beauty and complexity of different cultures. I want to help bridge the gap created by diversecultures in the world of business. I have found that many obstacles can be avoided by simplyrespecting different cultures, and not imposing ourselves onto them, as Americans tend to do. Iwant to help facilitate the cultural understanding of these businesses to better the lives of thepeople on both sides of the cultural barrier. My plan for college is to study international business and marketing, alongside internationalrelations and technology. I feel this course of studies will prepare me best for a career combininginternational business with government policy and foreign relations. My vision for success is creating a meaningful change in the world by bringing together diversecultures, in a more cooperative, amicable way of doing business, visiting, traveling or even justinteracting. My vision includes the symbiotic union of diverse economic backgrounds, diversecultural beliefs and diverse ethnic backgrounds and to bring these people together, capturingeverybody’s unique strengths and perspectives to make a better world for everybody to live in; tocreate a model that could by applied right here, in our own backyard. 45

Personal Statement- why Journalism?Writing has long been a method for expressing one's thoughts or point of view; a particularsituation or occurrence; new information or expanded knowledge; brilliant creativity andimaginative thinking; delivering news and world reports. Writing was used by the old ancientEgyptians to communicate situations and alert others of potential harm. Writing evolved throughthe centuries to capture the history of time and discoveries of the world; to learn from the greatminds like Albert Einstein, the creative minds like John Steinbeck, the philosophical minds likeDeepak Chopra, and the emerging intelligence found in medical journals and other informativepublications. Here we are today, right in the middle of the information age intertwined in a globalexistence of vastly differing cultures with information fed to us at blazing internet speed.This decade and the next will be known forever as the era for transformation of informationexchange. Where the Egyptians were carving messages in walls for people to read decades later,we have available an abundance of e-books, e-news, blogs, and internet materials to browsethrough on a moment’s notice; and in some cases become old news in a day’s time. We learn abouthappenings around the world within minutes of occurrence. Our financial markets react to news fromaround the world in same-hour time. Our government reacts to world affairs in same-minute time.Businesses form strategies based on a continuous stream of information in same-second time. Thisis the information break-through decade, for which I want to be right in the middle, be in the mix, andparticipate at the forefront of the charge.I go to bed thinking. I wake-up thinking. Journalizing my thoughts immediately upon conception is myway to capture my inner-most belief system. Sharing my journals is an opportunity to have my voiceheard; to affect people's lives in a favorable way by sharing key thoughts; to be quick and efficient indelivering my message. For example, I am a strong advocate for \"Driving without Distractions\", aclub that I started in high school. To be more than a mere thought, I had to organize it in written formand learn to share it in various media applications with the public. I can do this well in local forums asI've done, but with the internet, I have the opportunity to share my message globally. And that's veryexciting to me. The new and evolving forms of media provide incredibly powerful tools tocommunicate with others, to influence others, and to cause a real change in our society. Therefore,I plan to study journalism in combination with information technology. This will prepare me to lead aproductive and quality life in contributing to society through creative, informative, responsible, andintelligent journalism in the years to come.My vision for success places me at the forefront of information exchange, leading the charge forimproved communications and information gathering amongst my generation of students and friends,associates and colleagues. 46

Personal Statement- The Great Recession The Great Recession is an ongoing global economic decline that began in December2007 and took a sharp downward turn in September 2008. This has been one of the world’sworst economic hardships dating back to the Great Depression of the 1930’s. Even though thegovernment reports today that the recession is over and that the country is moving towardeconomic prosperity; I don’t see it, I don’t feel it, I don’t smell it, and I don’t taste it. What I do seeis that the recession has left a trail of destruction and devastation, and I think it will be yearsbefore we feel economic prosperity again. The Great Recession has resulted in the loss of jobs and much income, the closing oflarge corporations and small businesses, the movement of industry and jobs overseas, andsignificant loss in personal wealth; all leading to a decline in our confidence as a country. Thisrecession has resulted in a drastic increase in our country’s national debt, devaluation of ourdollar, and losing our sense of economic leadership throughout the world. Since I have livedthrough the entire Great Recession and see this as an ongoing issue for our country movingforward, I want to do my part and make a difference in the economy in getting it back to where itneeds to be, a steady improvement with a gain in consumer confidence. My plan for college is to study business accounting and finance, in combination witheconomics and government policy. After completing an undergraduate degree, I plan to furthermy studies in graduate school. My goal is to become either a certified public accountant, afinancial planner, an economic adviser, or a policy lawmaker. I want to be an advocate forbusiness and economic growth. My studies will prepare me to pursue a career in helping ourcountry avoid another recession of this magnitude. Studying business in conjunction witheconomics and government policy will give me the foundation for how the economic system worksand why it goes through such dramatic swings. My career plans have me in position to effectivelydeal with these issues in the future. My vision for success reflects in my ability to help shape theoutcome as we go forward into the 2020’s. 47

Personal Statement- the Athlete in MeAs an athlete, I get to travel around a bit. In my travels, I am finding a very disturbing trend of over-weight, out-of-shape, debilitating, hobbling, unhealthy people. I see it all over, from visiting arestaurant, to traveling on a plane, to shopping at the mall. I see it in my own backyard, withneighbors, fellow students, friends, workers and shoppers. I see our country in a general healthdecline, and that is of great concern to me. It concerns me to see people who don’t seem to valuethe healthy side of living, suffering in a life style decline due to years of negligence. It concerns meto see the healthcare crisis grow in this country, brought on largely from the general mindset of thepublic, combining poor eating habits with a general lack of exercise. I see runaway costsassociated with poor health, from the cost of diabetes to costs associated with heart failure. TheMedicare system is in jeopardy due to out-of-control spending. The government (Obamacare) isintervening with the private sector for health insurance, forcing legislation upon them. Privatecompanies are being stressed with the increasing costs for providing health insurance toemployees. I see a lot of medical problems and poor health due solely to the poor decisions ofpeople regarding their fitness and nutrition, compounding throughout society in many ways. To me,this is unacceptable. I value the healthy side of life and have adopted a mindset for a daily routinecombining good fitness and healthy eating.In considering my college studies, I’ve decided to be an advocate for healthy living. I plan to studya combination of Biology, Nutrition, and Health Sciences to qualify and prepare me for a career inhelping people be fit. I have a passion for improving the overall fitness level of people. I know thatfitness starts at a young age with adopting the right mindset and maintaining it through life. Itbegins early in the teenage years. Young people need to connect healthy living with a long, happyand enjoyable life.In looking ahead to college, I plan to grow my perspective on learning about health and fitness. Iplan to broaden my sphere of influence in promoting healthy routines and habits beyond family andfriends. My vision for success is founded when I help younger people adopt a mindset for healthyliving, gaining a happier lifestyle and improving performance. It is my desire to spread the fitnessmindset into people’s daily life, leading to a life time of benefit and greater enjoyment overall. Thisis my passion. This is my life. This is my duty. 48

Personal Statement- What’s wrong with my computer? Something was wrong with my computer. When it booted up, the screen went black and aransom note appeared. All my personal data was being encrypted and unless I sent $150 inBitcoins or digital money to the hackers, my entire system would be wiped out in a matter of days.I had the “Crypto-locker virus.” It took days of work to rid my computer of the virus, however, all ofmy personal files were destroyed. This was my first experience in the world of cyber-crime. Headlines screaming about breaches in data security have blanketed the media in the pastyear. Financial institutions, retailers and even government agencies have been targets of hackerswho have infiltrated their systems and stolen vast amounts of confidential consumer information.The fallout from these cyber-attacks is enormous; privacy infringement, stolen identities, loss ofmoney and production time, and computer viruses; all resulting from a combination of ourdependence of the Internet and the insufficiency of securing data. As I look ahead in the next 10 years, I see a greater dependence on the Internet. Themovement from hard records to digital records will continue along with the shift to digital currency.The outcome of our increased reliance on the Internet will be an even greater level of internethacking and information disruption. I see a big opportunity and growth in working on data systems,computer systems, Internet security, and in tightening regulations on information exchange. I have a serious interest in computer programming and coding, website and mobile applicationdesign, and data and systems administration. My ambition is to learn how to protect digitalinformation and detect when a cyber-crime has occurred. I plan to be an advocate for protectingpeople’s rights, their personal data, and their continued ability to transact business online in a safeand efficient manner. This is the future of how information will be collected, distributed, stored, andsecured. Therefore, I plan to study a combination of computer science, information technology,cyber security, computer forensics, and business to qualify me for a career in helping companiesand individuals live a worry free life from computer hackers. I will realize my success when I have led the way for a safer system of online data andinformation exchange; this is my plan, this is my passion. 49