Bonnie R. Rabin, Ph.D.
Personalized Educational, College Admissions and Career Consultation Services

561.509.0021  |  607.280.4905

http://www.collegecareerconsulting.com     

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Bonnie R. Rabin, Ph.D.
focuses on guiding students and career professionals to better position themselves to reach educational and career goals. You'll receive unlimited one-on-one attention to create a focused and personalized strategic educational plan.  

With over thirty years experience as a university professor, admissions committee member and HR Consultant, you're invited to leverage her extensive knowledge of university curricula and career opportunities.

Be inspired! 
Educational & College Admissions Consulting:
  • Academic assessment and extracurricular planning and refinement.
    PRE-COLLEGE ADVISING
  • Customized solutions for effective study habits, time management and test taking strategies
  • Assistance with college research and program majors to create a list of target, reach and likely admit schools.
  • Negotiating and maximizing your financial aid award, including targeted scholarship search
  • Guided college application assistance and review, including application deadline management.
  • Admissions essay- finding your niche, topic development and guided editing of multiple drafts of your Common Application core and supplemental essays and Scholarships
    Summer Internships/Co-ops, REU and research assistantships application support
  • Evaluating potential gap year programs and your admissions offers 

Career Services:

  • Customized and personalized attention   
  • Resume, cover letters and networking  
  • Coaching for new graduates
  • Guidance for career changes
  • Assisted preparation and review of cover letters
  • Coaching and practice for effective job and promotion interviews
  • Negotiating a salary offer or a raise
Greetings!
NEWSLETTER CONTENTS:

University of Florida Dual Enrollment 

Some Year-End Reminders!  

Complimentary Summer Activities 8th -10th

June College Application Workshop  for Juniors
____________________________________________

Please join me in offering congrats to all seniors and their families!!

It's Time for Reflections:  
YEAR-END EDUCATIONAL & COLLEGE PLANNING ASSESSMENT
As the end of the school year is within sight, I invite all students to reflect upon goals set in August.  Which of these were easily achievable?  Why?  What have you learned about yourself and how you approach learning and your time that works well and what will you change for the next academic year?

Parents, how have you changed as your student continues to develop their strengths?

At our end-of-year conference, we'll review your accomplishments both within and outside the classroom as well as identify opportunities for growth to realize personalized educational goals.   


Let's discuss whether Dual-Enrollment is right for you! 

Some of my current juniors have expressed an interest in Dual-Enrollment courses.  You may be interested in  University of Florida's course offerings and I share the link for your review:


Please review potential classes and give me a shout out to explore how a specific course might fit into your strategic educational plan .  It's important to have very clear reasons for enrolling in any course, but especially an online course.   

Keep in mind, if you are already a very strong student aiming at highly competitive colleges outside of the Florida system, there's very little admissions bump for rising seniors to a Dual-Enrollment course as the grade will post perhaps after the admissions decision has been rendered. 

Rising seniors should only consider courses that truly interest you and the opportunity to swap something out of your high school class list.  Above all, aim for something you cannot take at your high school.

If you are certain you plan to attend UF, FSU or a college within the Florida system,  taking English as a Dual-Enrollment class as opposed to attempting a "5" on AP Lang/Lit would potentially offer a great chance of earning transfer credit towards freshman English as a Florida college student.  

Given my experience as a University Professor, please keep in mind, the most competitive colleges outside of Florida will not likely accept online credits as transfer classes,  and this is especially true for  STEM classes.

For rising sophomores and juniors, Dual-Enrollment is an opportunity to increase your high school weighted GPA and possibly expose yourself to some interesting subject matter not offered at your high school.  

For students with GPAs under the typical UF admissions portfolio average, DE offers an opportunity to slightly increase your chances of admission to UF.  

 
If you don't see any courses of interest at UF, please contact me to discuss some other competitive online programs available to high school students.

END-OF-YEAR Reminders

CONFIRM EXAM REGISTRATIONS: 
Please review your College Board and ACT accounts to ensure that registration has been completed for all SAT/ACT and SATII subject tests for  May and June.  Yes, invariably some registrations are not accomplished as intended.  

I continue to encourage all families to focus on having students self-manage all their registrations,    

I urge all students to take two practice tests under timed conditions.  Please send me your scores to ensure that these are consistent with the range of scores on your short list of colleges.  Ideally, proximity to AP exams is desirable for taking most subject tests.  
That said,  Math IIC and foreign languages can be postponed  for more practice time until the fall.

TESTING ACCOMMODATIONS: Current 9th and 10th grade students with testing accommodations/504 plans should begin the process now of registering with both the College Board (SAT) and  ACT 

ACTIVITIES RESUME:
In anticipation of your end-of-year conference, please revise and update your "Activities Statement/Resume/Brag Sheet"  to reflect all activities both formal and informal.    Please contact me if you do not have your template.

Juniors- Your Activities Statement is an essential step in building the  contents for the first draft of the required section of your Common Application on Activities.

Competitions:
For those of you perfecting final papers and projects, keep in mind your best work may be suitable for submission to a variety of state and national essay competitions  (and scholarship applications during the admissions cycle in your senior year). 

I look forward to discussing and reading any of your papers you would like to share.  At our end-of-year conference, we will discuss whether you have any work in progress that is competition-worthy.  Please don't under-estimate yourself!  Competition venues are available in business, STEM, humanities, poetry, legal issues and more.

  WHAT's ON YOUR RADAR THIS SUMMER?

J
UMP START YOUR 
STRATEGIC EDUCATIONAL PLAN - 
COMPLIMENTARY SUMMER PROJECTS 

I am thrilled to again offer complimentary summer career and educational independent projects for 8th to 10th grade clients and new clients signing a Comprehensive package. 

Students and parents are invited to review my comprehensive list of summer projects and together we build a program that may involve summer reading, written assignments (short assignments involving guided student-directed research on potential careers, current events or professional reading relevant to a potential /emerging area of academic interest) and relevant hands-on projects. 

Especially for 8th and 9th grade students: Setting the Goals - 
Dream It and Own It!
Whether at home or away, summer is great time to Do-It-Yourself - DIY!! 

Take hold of a project, set a goal and either working by yourself or alongside other students with a similar interest (I am pleased to match students with similar interests),  do-it and own it!

NEED AN IDEA???
STEM students, let me introduce you to some opportunities to learn to code or take hold of some of the DIY projects in Popular Science magazine (2-3 of these every month).  Last October I sent many of you a link to make an LED Jack-0-Lattern.  Food Scientists:  Lots of weird new things to learn.  Engineers-no shortage of ideas! Aspiring physician-- ? Ideally, work on a project with potential entry into science fair this fall . Together, we'll set  manageable milestone project due dates.

Business students-are you aware of the latest developments and controversies in your field?  Consider volunteering for an organization /family/small business to implement a social media campaign.   Learn how to organize data for analysis.

SHOW ME THE MONEY?! NOT REALLY...
I think all students in any major should learn more about the amazing initiative started by Bill Gates and Warren Buffet:

Bill Gates and Warren Buffet are encouraging the wealthiest individuals in the world to give back to society through donations that can make a difference in our society and on our planet.  

Learn about how billionaires earned their wealth and how they are changing the world. Who do you admire most? Why?  Where will you leave your mark on society?


Humanities: Writers, Pre-law, psychologists, diplomats! There are many interesting essay contests throughout the school year. Use the summer to do your research in anticipation of participating in an essay competition in a field of interest.   Reading current events and being aware of how public policy makers and industry work hand-in-hand can be eye-opening.

Artists, Actors and Musicians-Continue to create original work expanding your craft, building your portfolio and ultimately finding your unique passion. Is your social media current including videos of your performances?

Bottom line- start to explore areas you haven't yet considered or enrich an existing interest.  I have an extensive list of possibilities and hope all students to do something productive and enjoyable this summer.

READ READ READ-books are only one part of reading.  I encourage all 8th, 9th and 10th grade student develop a list of 2-3 internet periodicals, newsletters or industry bulletins that develop and increase your awareness of a potential area of interest.  

For example,  business students can read the NYTimes Business section or Wall Street Journal.  STEM students should be reading one science magazine on a regular basis.  Need suggestions?  Pre-med students are you aware of the cutting edge research in your area of interest? Have you considered ethical discussions underway?
 
 
10th and 11th    NEXT STEPS: FINDING YOUR NICHE, Course Adjustments!

This is the time to develop or confirm your area of interest of study.   All juniors should have already spent extensive time comparing and evaluating curriculum at colleges on your short list.  

Especially for Sophomores:
If you aren't attending a summer program, this summer is the perfect time to engage in preparation for ACT/SAT tests to be taken in the fall of your junior year.  Please discuss with me the variety of test preparation options and what might suit your learning style and family budget.

Are you attending sleep away camp with no internet access? Trust me, if you are signed up for SAT/ACT online prep, your camp will provide internet access time for this purpose.


All students should  jump start their anticipated most difficult classes for next year.  
For most students, that would be an AP Math or AP Science class.  Spend disciplined time 2-3x a week to become familiar with concepts you'll be learning the first semester. Buy the SATII/AP books and read them. 

EdX offers "on-ramp" courses.  Let me help your student create a manageable summer schedule and help monitor their progress.

SUMMER READING: 
I have a recommended reading list and engage with your student in writing or by phone to discuss a relevant book. All are non-fiction and relevant to a potential educational area of interest.

 
Best Wishes for a strong finish to the school year!


Bonnie R. Rabin, Ph.D.
Educational and College Admissions Consultant
HIGH SCHOOL JUNIORS   -- There are still a few spaces remaining in my June College Application Workshop.    Click below for detailed information on my webpage.

All clients have complimentary access to the June workshop and exclusive access to the Fall Sunday Afternoon Writers' Block series.


Bonnie R. Rabin, Ph.D.

561.509.0021

607.280.4905

brabin@collegecareerconsulting.com 

 

Request your complimentary consultation.   

BE INSPIRED