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What do Freshman Parents Need to Know?
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Watch this
fun video featuring Lisa Bleich and some of her clients as they discuss getting ready for college
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Important Dates
SAT Test Dates
October 1, 2016
November 5, 2016
December 3, 2016
January 21, 2017
March 11, 2017
May 6, 2017
June 3, 2017
ACT Test Dates
September 10, 2016
October 22, 2016
December 10, 2016
February 11, 2017
April 8, 2017
June 10, 2017
Three ways to apply: Own application, Common App, Coalition App
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| Most writing doesn't happen behind a laptop. It happens when your mind is free to wander and let an idea percolate and clarify itself. So as you prepare to write your personal statements and other essays for college be open to what runs through your mind:
- Right before you fall asleep
- On a walk, run, bike ride
- In Yoga, Kick boxing, or the outfield
- Taking a shower
- While you are driving
- While you are talking to a friend about a problem or something unrelated
- Waiting for the subway or bus or in
line at Chipotle
Keep a note pad or your phone handy and jot it down, make a voice memo or note for yourself. Whatever works for you to get the idea down. Collect your ideas, random thoughts, etc. over a few weeks so when you sit down to write you will already have the inspiration. Remember that the college admissions committee has to understand why you do what you do. What motivates you? How did you come to a particular decision? When your personal life prompts you to do something, that's what makes for an interesting story and makes an interesting candidate. We look forward to brainstorming with you and hearing the stories that best reflect who you are. Rising seniors, if you haven't already, please schedule an appointment with us so we can help you craft your story.  Contact us if you'd like to work with one of our essay specialists.
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The Quiet Revolution
We all hear about kids with perfect grades and test scores who are denied admissions at select colleges and conversely kids who were "not as strong" getting in. This phenomenon will continue as colleges look beyond grades and test scores to increase access.
Allison Cooper Chisolm, CEO of Ivey College Consulting and a former admissions officer at select colleges, led a fascinating discussion the 2016 HECA (Higher Education Consulting Association) conference in Philadelphia. She calls it the Quiet Revolution in college admissions whereby admissions officers realize that
non-cognitive skills predict long-term success better than test scores (which only predict first year success).
So what are these non-cognitive skills and how do you demonstrate them to colleges?
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Summer is a great time to relax and read something that you get to choose. Below are some of our recent favorites.
Juniors - it is not uncommon to be asked in an interview "what is your favorite book?" or "what was the last book you read for pleasure?"
Sophomores and Freshmen - reading is a great (and relatively painless) way to prepare for the Critical Reading and Writing sections of the SATs and ACTs.
The Language of Flowers
is a beautifully written novel about an 18-year-old girl named Victoria who ages out of the foster care system and comes to live on the streets of San Francisco. click here to read more
Farenheit 451
 is a dystopian classic set in a future where the government has banned all reading material and learning in order to keep the order.click here to read more
Fangirl
follows an introverted young woman, Cath, through her first year of college. Cath is a super-fan of a Harry Potter-like series and writes fan fiction as a means of escape. She has a tense relationship with her family and not many friends. The book is very character-driven and luckily, the characters are wonderful - one more interesting, charming and loveable than the next. And it's a pretty great love story too.
 The Perfect Storm
is a work of (creative) non-fiction that tells the story of a fishing boat, the Andrea Gail, that disappears off the coast of Massachusetts during one of the worst hurricanes to ever hit the eastern seaboard.
The Boys in the Boat is a great story of nine college-aged rowers and their journey to the 1963 Olympics in Berlin. Page by page, this work of non-fiction has you experiencing the challenges the team faced both in their personal lives and on the water.
Skimming the most recent NYTimes Book Review, there are other great options to try depending on your interests.
If books are not your favorite, magazines or blogs are great alternatives. You can also listen to podcasts or audio books while you are traveling!
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| Graduating Seniors: It was a pleasure working with each of you. Enjoy your summer! Rising Seniors: If you are not yet on our calendar, please contact us to schedule a brainstorming session for your essays. Rising Juniors and Sophomores: Let us know your final summer plans. Sincerely,
Lisa, Beth, Abby and The CBM Team
College Bound Mentor, LLC
908-789-8566
www.collegeboundmentor.com
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