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 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.
Pre-College Academic Advising!
Be inspired!
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Educational & College Admissions Consulting:
- Academic assessment and extracurricular planning and refinement
- 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
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Coaching for new graduates
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Guidance for career changes
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Coaching for effective job and promotion interviews
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NEWSLETTER CONTENTS:
- WRITERS BLOCK WORKSHOP REGISTRATION is OPEN:
Juniors Complete your Common Application before Summer Vacation
June 5, 6, 8, 11 &12
- Finding Your Passion
Multi-disciplinary majors: Capitalize on your overlapping interests in STEM, Humanities, Social Sciences, Business & even the Fine Arts!
- Increasing Your Chances of Admission -
The Importance of Educational Goals
Tips for College Research: Academics, Social Life, Career Planning and College Ranking
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Links to Recent Newsletters
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Greetings Students & Families!
The past few weeks students have learned of their college acceptances. Every year we read about "record breaking" application numbers- and in my next newsletter, I'll talk all about the "Myths of College Acceptance Rates" and why not only you shouldn't pay attention to these data, but how to beat the odds! Congratulations to all students!
One truly wonderful story is worth sharing. I recently heard from a student who wondered whether he was the recipient of a scam email where he was being invited to click on a link to accept an offer of admission to New York University along with being named a Presidential Scholar (the email was received well before the published NYU decision-notification date). A heartfelt congratulations to a very very very deserving young man at Jupiter High who learned of his acceptance and offer of full tuition as an NYU Presidential Scholar in the Class of 2022!
I'm also thrilled for our clients who learned they are the recipients of significant merit based scholarships at universities around the country.
Sample of 2018 Acceptances: Northwestern, Georgia Tech, UNC, Emory, Cornell, NYU, Rice, University of Chicago, Drexel, Tulane, Purdue, Ohio, Miami, Johns Hopkins, University of Arizona, Penn State, Villanova, Northeastern, SUNY-ESF, St. Johns, Colgate, WUSTL, Fordham, Swarthmore, Pittsburgh, Dickinson , Miami, Syracuse, Colorado, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rochester Institute of Technology, Boston, Hobart & William Smith, Gettysburg, Temple, SUNY-Stonybrook, Denison, SUNY-Binghamton, Byrn Mawr, Hamilton, George Washington, American, Maryland, Indiana, SMU, James Madison, UF, FSU, UCF, USF, UNF, FIT, FIU, F-Poly 
College Application Workshop:
The college application process can be stressful for parents and students alike. High school juniors ('19) you're invited to c
omplete your Common Application Core Essay before your summer break. Register to attend my 5-Day Strategic College Application Workshop.
WORKSHOP GOAL: Build your Admission Strategy, Complete your Common Application and Core Essay
Parents can rest assured knowing that their student will receive personalized and knowledgeable attention before, during and after the workshop. Students can "chill" knowing that completion of the workshop will provide them with the peace-of-mind needed for a more relaxing summer leaving plenty of time to recharge for their challenging senior year!
College Admissions: STEPS TO FINDING THE RIGHT "FIT"
The "fit" between a student and a university is based upon three pillars:
1)
Academics: The university you attend should provide an outstanding academic experience in your intended major/minor fields of study, along with appropriate internship and career placement opportunities. This is paramount to selecting where to attend. Much of this information is gathered on the college's website.
This newsletter discusses how to evaluate academics outside of lists of college rankings. The most important steps include learning how to navigate through the "Academics" and the "Research" tabs to fully explore the curriculum maps, degree requirements and the research projects faculty are conducting. As a former university professor with 30+ years of experience on curriculum planning committees, I'm able to help your family assess "academic fit" and effectively explore your academic options to balance each student's current and emerging interests and strengths.
2)
Social: The social fit is important as each student is looking to find a "home-away-from-home" for four years. Is the campus inviting, inclusive and are there opportunities for ongoing social and emotional growth as you emerge from young adult to independent and launched adult?! This is exactly why students visit university campuses. Details follow below....
3)
Financial affordability: Every family faces unique financial circumstances and we factor those into the choices on where to apply and attend. Please re-read my earlier blog on financial aid and scholarships:
FINANCIAL AID and SCHOLARSHIPS. If you're likely ineligible for financial aid, we can carefully explore colleges that would more likely provide merit-based aid.
THERE ARE MANY CAMPUSES PROVIDING an EXCELLENT EDUCATION offering deep discounts on tuition given your "profile".
FINDING THE RIGHT "FIT": Finding Your Passion:
There's a major field of study to match the unique strengths and interests of every young adult! With nearly 4,000 colleges offering an impressive number of traditional and cutting edge majors and minors, it can indeed be overwhelming to navigate the maze of available degree options.
As a university professor, I designed and approved accredited curriculum programs for several universities. Having spent thirty years advising thousands of students, I invite your family to leverage my knowledge of curriculum requirements and discover an academic area your student will be truly passionate about. Doing so not only leads to personal fulfillment, but increases the chances of admission and future academic success.
Finding that passion begins as early as 7th grade and is nurtured through a series of opportunities both within and outside the classroom throughout high school. DOES YOUR STUDENT HAVE A STRATEGIC EDUCATIONAL PLAN?
Several universities offer multi-disciplinary degree programs
combining STEM/ engineering fields with business, humanities, fine arts and even international studies
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The more you know about your interests and your strengths, the more likely you'll embark upon a path that is joyful and rewarding.
The subject areas introduced in high school are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Consider:
STEM: computational biology, nanotechnology, engineering physics, animal science, food science, viticulture and enology (the art of grape growing and winemaking)
BUSINESS: business analytics, information systems, fashion marketing or financial engineering
HUMANITIES/SOCIAL SCIENCE blends including bio-molecular archaeology, cognitive science, technical writing, computational linguistics
FINE ARTS: scientific photography, costume technology, industrial design or even bakery science
These are just a few examples of fields where great innovation is occurring in a multi-disciplinary way - Be Inspired!
Great choices begin with student inspired research!
STEPS TO INCREASING YOUR CHANCES OF ADMISSION
Establish Educational Goals: A student's initial exploration of the 4000 potential colleges
shouldn't be driven by
name recognition but through a guided and purposeful exploration of college majors, followed by a review of the "social" fit.
Whether you love or hate science, want to change the world, enjoy drawing, solving problems, singing or surfing the web,
a student's passions and interests should ALWAYS direct the college research process.
ASK THESE QUESTIONS OF YOURSELF.
- What subjects do you really enjoy and do the concepts come naturally to you?
- What are your personal strengths?
- Are you a natural problem solver?
- Are you creative?
- Do you enjoy interactions with and helping others?
- Is having a broad based education important to you or would you rather prepare yourself for a very specific occupation (or be honest- income level)?
- What types of news stories on your Instagram and Facebook feeds do you actually gravitate towards?
Answering these questions helps you to navigate through the curriculum requirements for majors currently on your radar and those you haven't yet considered.
COLLEGE CURRICULUM RESEARCH:
WHERE TO BEGIN?
Fortunately, this is not as difficult as it sounds. Think of any university, i.e., University of Florida, Boston , Tulane or Drexel or Colgate. Click on the college's website and begin your exploration within the course catalog.
The course catalog provides very important pieces of information:
- An overall description of each major and the required curriculum (listing required courses to earn your degree)
- Actual course descriptions within each major (and minor) perhaps including a link to the actual syllabi for some of the courses.
What are your first impressions? Take notes- what is attractive to you and can you imagine yourself enrolling in and enjoying these courses?
As you review the curriculum you'll notice that some majors have very rigid four-year requirements (i.e. Art, Music, Engineering). A major having several open slots of "electives" allows you to add a minor area of study and explore.
If you have many interests, avoid labeling yourself "undecided" when in fact you're really a "flexible" and "multi-disciplinary" student ready to embrace a yet to be discovered opportunity. There are colleges which encourage students to
design their own major.
Both breadth and depth of study offer opportunities for your education and career.
Have you narrowed your choices to study not only in a "traditional" major but also a lesser known previously unknown major area of study?!
GREAT! You've just increased your chances of admissions!
Let's move on....
College Specific Research II: Once you have established educational goals, begin some preliminary research on which universities offer the strongest programs in your intended major(s). There are a variety of resources to find a college that may fit a student's academic needs. Again, consider that "name recognition" is the reason behind why some top-tier colleges receive 50,000+ applications enabling them to boast of their single-digit admission rates and high "rankings".
Your goal is to conduct research to help you make an informed college choice. Some of these resources include the following:
University Websites: ACADEMICS:
As noted, a college's website provides invaluable information about potential majors and minors including the actual degree requirements and courses you will be able to complete.
Equally important, and this is particularly the case for aspiring physicians or graduate students, are opportunities to conduct research while enrolled as an undergraduate.
Within any given academic department, click on the links to learn about the faculty and their current research. INCREASE YOUR CHANCES of Admission by focusing your replies to college specific supplemental essay prompts on a specific interest area. For example, discuss Professor Frizzle's recent work on genetics and relate her research to laboratory work you've enjoyed in your AP Biology class or a summer experience shadowing physicians or taking classes at the university level.
Are there formal research programs available for undergraduates? Explore clubs related to your major area of study (i.e. Engineers might consider Robocup!).
SUPPORT SERVICES: What is the extent of available academic support services for tutoring, career placement statistics, study abroad opportunities, or graduate application assistance (Is there a dedicated faculty managing your undergraduate path to medical school?).
Can you identify resources where you would turn for academic assistance or enrichment if needed?
As a freshman, what might life entail outside the classroom?
SOCIAL LIFE: College should be one of your best experiences, an opportunity to make lifelong friends and immerse yourself with like-minded peers. Does the "fit" feel right? It's possible to research academic opportunities online although your
research on "social fit" isn't complete without a campus visit.
Begin your research by reviewing the college newspaper and links to "campus life". What are the available social activities both formal and informal? It's important not only to have the academic resources for your intended area of study, but also to know that that there is more taking place than frat parties, football games or spending your evening playing video games.
Locate the list of student clubs on the college's website (main navigation bar often creates a "campus life" link). If the list isn't reflective of some of your current interests, that's a potential red flag about how you'll be spending your time outside of the classroom.
Imagine yourself a currently enrolled student and take note of the available activities taking place on any given weekend. Do they appeal to you?
SOCIAL MEDIA: Many schools utilize social media to provide you with a snapshot of the campus. While your most accurate way to assess campus culture is through a campus visit, social media can provide an initial impression of student life and the campus pulse.
However, avoid becoming a Facebook follower without ensuring your Facebook page provides a flattering image of yourself. See my recent blog posting: "Social Media- College Applications- Career Connections- Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter?" Once "following" a college on Facebook, admissions is now your "friend", given access to your Facebook page as well.
YOUR CAREER-POST GRADUATION-GRAD SCHOOL - EMPLOYMENT!
LinkedIn's University and Field of Study Explorer: This amazing resource is invaluable in locating schools that consistently produce well trained graduates. The tools provided are helpful for students and parents by focusing the research about colleges specifically to intended majors.
There is also an option to narrow your search to colleges that best prepare you for employment at specific companies.
IF YOU INSIST:
It's not really about rankings- but if I haven't yet convinced you, lists of College Rankings provide a starting point for gathering information about a college's academics, professors and post-graduates' success. But buyer beware - overall rankings often differ drastically from rankings by major departments.
Some of the more popular rankings include US News and World Report's Best Colleges, Forbes American's Top Colleges, Business Insider Best Colleges in America, Money Magazine Best Colleges, New York Times Most Economically Diverse Top Colleges, Washington Monthly College Rankings and PayScale College Salary and ROI Reports.
University ranking lists can vary considerably because of the different methodologies. For example, Forbes America's Top Colleges may return different results than US News and World Report because of Forbes' emphasis on post-graduate success and student loan debt.
INCREASE YOUR CHANCES of ADMISSION: INFORMED INTEREST
The more you learn about potential areas of study, career paths and specific colleges, the easier it becomes to make informed decisions about where to apply and enroll. By selecting universities that meet both your academic and social needs you're more likely to be happy and successful in pursing educational goals. Do your research!
Speak with your guidance counselor, admissions officers, alumni, current and former students.
I invite you to leverage my extensive knowledge of university curricula and my experience advising thousands of high school, undergraduate and graduate students navigating curriculum choices to set and realize educational and career goals. Based on your academic strengths and personal interests, I welcome the opportunity to work together to create your personalized strategic educational plan.
8th to 11th Grade families
This is a perfect time of year for your strategic educational check-up to assist with course planning taking place at many area high schools.
This is also the appropriate time of year to review
extracurricular activities and plan your
summer perhaps considering a
competitive collegiate summer programs
and/or plan independent projects and internships.
Have a wonderful day!
Bonnie
Bonnie R. Rabin, Ph.D.
Educational & College Admissions Consultant
brabin@collegecareerconsulting.com
561.509.0021
WRITERS BLOCK Sessions in June are:
10 am to 1 pm -- June 5, 6, 8, 11 and 12
Goal: Complete your Common Core Essay
SUNDAY Afternoon Fall Series resumes in August 2018 - dates to follow
In case you missed recent newsletters, here are links:
This note provides insights on what you can accomplish in a campus visit - relevant for all students. Whether you're just starting your college search or an admitted senior, please look at some valuable tips.
No student should be enrolled in seven AP classes. Please check-in to discuss the balance between selected classes and your extracurricular life to increase your chances of transition to the undergraduate experience.
What are you doing this summer? Not all programs are equal and there's great value in meaningful local internships and leadership opportunities at home.
This resource will help sophomore and junior families understand what's ahead and the connection between cost/financial aid to college choices. For seniors, some insights on negotiating your financial aid offers.
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QUICK LINKS!
LEARN MORE ABOUT:
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Get started today creating a strategic educational plan for long term educational success.
STAY TUNED!
Next blogs will focus on:
Myths of Acceptance Rates
ACT Preparation
REGISTER FOR OUR SUMMER APPLICATION WORKSHOP HERE:
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