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Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Alison Merzel. Alison Merzel is the founder of AHM Advising LLC, an independent educational consulting practice focused on helping high school students and families find their best-fit post-secondary educational options. Prior to launching her business in 2019, Alison was at The Ohio State University's Fisher College of Business for 15 years, most recently as the Senior Director of Graduate Recruiting and Admissions. Alison holds a BS from Northwestern University in Communications and Spanish and a Master of Labor and Human Resources from The Ohio State University. She has a certificate in Independent Educational Consulting from the UC Irvine Division of Continuing Education. She is a Wow Writing Workshop Certified College Essay Coach and completed the Gap Year Association's 2022 Counselor Institute. Alison is awaiting the results of her CEP assessment (Certified Educational Planner) and upon approval, will become just the 6th education professional in the state of Ohio to hold this designation. Alison is a professional member of IECA, the Independent Educational Consultants Association, where she serves as co-chair of the Jewish IEC Affinity Group and as a member of the College Tour subcommittee. She is also a member of NACAC, OACAC, and OASFAA and serves as an Advisory Board Member for College Planner Pro, software that is designed exclusively for IECs. Locally, Alison is a member of the Bexley Chamber of Commerce and sits on the Board of Trustees of Congregation Tifereth Israel where she serves as the Co-Chair of the synagogue's Personnel Committee. Alison and her husband, Jeff, have lived in Bexley for 17 years and have three children (17, 15, and 10) The Merzel family is not complete without mention of Marvin, an Australian Labradoodle, and Toby, a Cavapoo. Find Alison at www.ahmadvising.com. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Stef Mauler, founder of the Mauler Institute™ and author of The Complete Candidate™. She began working in Ivy League admissions over 30 years ago. She met thousands of high school students and their families as they went through the mysterious Ivy League admissions process. Discovering that the majority of applicants had the academic record, but were not accepted, she set out to find patterns in what differentiated the students who were accepted from those who weren't. Stef holds a B.A. in Economics and International Relations from the University of Pennsylvania, an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a Graduate Certificate in College Counseling from the University of California, San Diego. Stef is a Certified Educational Planner and a professional member of IECA, HECA, AICEP and NACAC. Find Stef at https://www.themaulerinstitute.com. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our past episodes on the show page and keep up with our future ones by subscribing to our email newsletter. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros and LEAP. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
In this episode, Lisa, Jeff, and Jennie discuss:The different types of early college applications and what they each mean.Navigation strategies and deadlines for early applications.Which students will benefit from early applications, and which might not.What the data really says about early application acceptance rates.Key Takeaways:Because Early Decision (ED1 and ED2) is a binding contract that the student, parent, and high school counselor sign stating the student will enroll if admitted, only one early decision application can be submitted.Most colleges do not give an admission advantage for early action.Single Choice Early Action and Restricted Early Action are two names for the same thing. Read the fine print carefully as the rules vary greatly by school.Just because ED is available does not mean it is the right decision for everyone. If your teen isn't in love with a school or is relying on financial aid, it is likely not the right choice. “The data is not the reason why you should make your decision about where to apply ED. There are a number of reasons that I think are more important. Particularly, is this a school that you love more than any other school on your list?” – Jeff LevyAbout Jeff: Jeff, an educational consultant since 2007 in Los Angeles, works with students worldwide. With over 20 years in the film and TV industry, he brings unique insights into creative and professional success. He's visited 300+ colleges, ensuring thorough knowledge of programs and campuses before making recommendations.About Jennie: Jennie, a Certified Educational Planner, holds degrees from Northfield Mount Hermon School, Skidmore College, and Framingham State, with additional certification from UC Irvine. Active in her professional associations, she's visited over 500 schools to understand their cultures. Jennie compiles critical admission and financial aid resources and presents them globally, co-founding a virtual roundtable for new consultants to help others reach their full potential.Episode References:Early and Regular Decision Acceptance Rates: https://lookerstudio.google.com/u/0/reporting/60d2d60b-ce9c-400d-84e6-2f8576af18fd/page/p_92z1mm9d7c?s=oCkDSl5aSI8#123 College Institutional Priorities: Understanding Who Gets In with Aly BeaumontGet Lisa's Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career...(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret).flourishcoachingco.com/videoConnect with Jeff & Jennie:Website: bigjeducationalconsulting.comConnect with Lisa:Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingcoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co
You've heard them - now let's talk about them. In this episode, we want to address what some of the most common student misconceptions are, and focus on what we should do about them. Butch Hamilton, Director of College Advising at Saint Mary's Raiken High School in Lennertown, Maryland and a Certified Educational Planner and Educational Consultant at Golden Educational Consulting begins the conversation as our influencer guest. John Pyle, Senior Vice President of Strategy, Enrollment, and Growth at St. Catherine's University in St. Paul, Minnesota carries the conversation forward with some specific examples he runs into as our practitioner guest.
In this episode, Lisa and Jaime discuss:How to prevent unplanned future transfers for your teen.What a “planned transfer” is, when it might make sense, and when it won't work.Common reasons why over ⅓ of undergraduate students transfer. Articulation agreements between colleges that can benefit transfers. Key Takeaways: More than ⅓ of undergraduate students transfer at some point. It should not be a hush-hush topic. Transferring is not shameful. Planning to start at a community college should not be stigmatized. Amazing community colleges exist, and their successful graduates do amazing things in our communities. If your student's only reasons for transferring are social, consider other options within their current school first. Transferring will not usually solve the problem, but changing roommates or joining clubs might. When applying to school, your student is not looking for a school they can get into; they are also looking for a school they can graduate from with a degree—that's the ultimate goal. Reach out to admissions offices and transfer specialists. Your student should ask questions and do their research. “If you have a student who's not really sure what they want to study, it is much cheaper to explore different options and different kinds of majors at a community college than it is to go all in at a four-year university on a major you're not sure about and then have to pivot later.” – Jaime SmithAbout Jaime Smith: Jaime Smith, M.A., MS.Ed., is a Certified Educational Planner with 25 years of experience in the field of education. After many years of teaching English at the middle, high school, and college levels, Jaime turned to online education and founded a virtual K-12 supplementary education program, OnlineG3.com, where she continues to teach gifted and twice-exceptional homeschooled students. As a college advisor, Jaime specializes in transfer admissions, application essays, homeschoolers, neurodiverse learners, and other non-traditional applicants. In 2023, she completed a Post-Master's Certificate in Transfer Leadership and Practice at the University of North Georgia in collaboration with the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students, and is a fervent advocate for transfer support. She blogs about transfer credit and admissions at https://www.transfersavvy.com and is working on her first book, a guide to college transfer, due to be published in the fall of 2025.Episode References:#119 How to Change Your College Major Successfully with Kaci KortisTransfer Savvy Resources: https://transfersavvy.com/transfer_statistics/ Get Lisa's Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career...(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret). flourishcoachingco.com/video Connect with Jaime:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transfersavvy Website: https://transfersavvy.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaime-smith-cep/ Email: jaime@transfersavvy.com Connect with Lisa:Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingcoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co
While choosing a college feels like one of the biggest decisions of your life, choosing to leave one may be even more difficult. That said, swapping the wrong school for the right one can do wonders for your grades, mental health, and future prospects. Amy and Mike invited college advisor Jaime Smith to explore what you should know about transferring. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How common is college transfer? How has the rise of credible online programs impacted transfers? What are the best and worst reasons to transfer? What are the main transfer pathways? Can a student transfer at any time? MEET OUR GUEST Jaime Smith, M.A., MS.Ed., is a Certified Educational Planner with 25 years of experience in the field of education. After many years of teaching English at the middle, high school, and college levels, Jaime turned to online education and founded a virtual K-12 supplementary education program, Online G3, where she continues to teach gifted and twice-exceptional homeschooled students. As a college advisor, Jaime specializes in transfer admissions, application essays, homeschoolers, neurodiverse learners, and other non-traditional applicants. In 2023, she completed a Post-Master's Certificate in Transfer Leadership and Practice at the University of North Georgia in collaboration with the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students. A California native, Jaime now lives in Oregon with her husband and pet bunny. She has one daughter, a former homeschooler turned transfer student who just started grad school. Learn more about Jaime at TransferSavvy.com and follow her on Linkedin. LINKS Common App for transfer https://www.transferology.com https://www.assist.org RELATED EPISODES HOW TO BE A SUCCESSFUL COLLEGE FRESHMAN WHAT TO DO WHEN A STUDENT STRUGGLES IN COLLEGE THE UNWRITTEN RULES OF COLLEGE SUCCESS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
In this episode, Lisa and Jess discuss:Looking at school profiles can help you and your student better understand how their school uses GPA.Understanding how colleges recalculate GPAs and how your student can use GPA calculators to better grasp their standing. Identifying the five core classes that most colleges use to generate the recalculated GPA used in admissions and what grades won't matter on the transcript. Why grade inflation is a huge problem, including the inability of colleges to interpret a transcript accurately. Key Takeaways: GPA is not standardized across high schools, so colleges recalculate it. They typically only use core academic classes from 9-11 grade.Weighted GPAs are not very meaningful since every school calculates them differently. Focus on unweighted core GPA. Grade inflation is also a major issue, making GPAs less reliable indicators of college readiness.Colleges and universities do not typically see senior-year grades because of the timing of application deadlines. While a weighted GPA or inflated grade might feel good to your teen or you, it does not help with college applications or add meaning to transcripts. “A GPA is a grade point average. When you finish sophomore year with a 3.1, you're not actually going to be able to increase that GPA significantly by the end of junior year. That should not deter you from trying really hard to increase your GPA.” – Jess ChermakAbout Jess Chermak: Jessica Chermak is an Independent Educational Consultant with over a decade of experience in academia and helping students navigate the college admissions process. She graduated from Chapman University with a BA in Psychology, and was awarded the SMART Scholarship to attend the University of Denver for an MA in Forensic Psychology. She is a Certified Educational Planner, a Licensed Professional Counselor, a Professional Member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association, and has served on the board of the College Consultants of Colorado. Episode References:Arizona State University GPA Calculator: registrar.asu.edu/grades-and-records/gpa-calculator#042 Will grade inflation hurt your teen? flourishcoachingco.com/podcast/042-will-grade-inflation-hurt-your-teen/#110 How to Know if College is Still Worth It flourishcoachingco.com/podcast/110-how-to-know-if-college-is-still-worth-it/University of California Required Courses and Grades admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/admission-requirements/freshman-requirements/subject-requirement-a-g.html Get Lisa's Free on-demand video: How-to guide for your teen to choose the right major, college, & career...(without painting themselves into a corner, missing crucial deadlines, or risking choices you both regret). flourishcoachingco.com/videoConnect with Jess:Website: virtualcollegecounselors.com/ Email: info@virtualcollegecounselors.com X: twitter.com/VirtualCollegeC Instagram: instagram.com/virtualcollegecounselors/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/virtual-college-counselors/ Facebook: facebook.com/TheVirtualCollegeCounselors YouTube: youtube.com/channel/UC9IMV1yWMBhLBhJ68zwaNlA Connect with Lisa:Website: https://www.flourishcoachingco.com/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@flourishcoachingcoInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/flourishcoachingco/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/flourish-coaching-co
Here's what to expect on the podcast:In what ways does Shellee support parents in navigating the complexities of the college preparation process?What are some practical steps that college-bound students can take to secure scholarships?How does Shellee collaborate with homeschooled students and their parents to ensure a seamless transition to college?What is FAFSA, and what is its primary purpose?And much more! About Shellee:Shellee is the Founder and CEO of College Ready, a college graduate, and a Certified Educational Planner. Her son graduated from Harvard in the spring of 2016 debt-free! Her daughter attended the University of Alabama and completed the Nursing program at CBU, also debt-free! Her passion is helping students all over the world get into the best possible college for them. Shellee has traveled around the world, helping students plan for their “perfect match” college. She believes that no two students are the same and that each student must have their own strategy and plan to be successful. Each student has gifts and talents that will set him or her apart from their competition. Shellee has appeared on television and is frequently interviewed by newspapers and magazines. She has spoken on the topic of successful college admissions to audiences all over the world. Connect with Shellee Howard!Website: https://www.collegereadyplan.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleehoward/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CollegeReadyPlanInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/collegereadyplan/Special Offer: How to Send Your Student to College without Losing Your Mind or Your Moneyhttps://n0ryw73n.pages.infusionsoft.net/?affiliate=0 Connect with Wendi Bergin!Website: https://joyfullyprepared.com/Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/joyfulprepInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/joyfulprepper/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/selfreliantmoms/Download Home Storage Checklist: https://www.joyfullyprepared.com/52weeks
Don't Force It: How to Get into College without Losing Yourself in the Process
In today's episode, I sit down with educational consultant Jamie Smith to explore transfer admissions. Join us as we unravel the opportunities and challenges for non-traditional students, from transfers to homeschoolers. Get ready for insights into the evolving higher education landscape and its impact on admissions. Don't miss this conversation about fostering diversity on campuses and empowering students on their unique educational paths.BioJaime Smith, M.A., MS.Ed., is a Certified Educational Planner with 25 years of experience in the field of education. After many years of teaching English at the middle, high school, and college levels, Jaime turned to online education and founded a virtual K-12 supplementary education program, Online G3, where she continues to teach gifted and twice-exceptional homeschooled students. As a college advisor, Jaime specializes in transfer admissions, application essays, homeschoolers, neurodiverse learners, and other non-traditional applicants. In 2023, she completed a Post-Master's Certificate in Transfer Leadership and Practice at the University of North Georgia in collaboration with the National Institute for the Study of Transfer Students and is a fervent advocate for transfer support.Website: https://jsmithiec.com/Access free resources and learn more about Sheila and her team at Signet Education at signeteducation.com or on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheilaakbar/.
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Deborah Davis Groves. “Mrs. G” as her clients call her, is an Independent Educational Consultant (IEC), Certified Educational Planner located in Austin, Texas. Mrs. G first became familiar with independent college counseling when she hired a consultant to work with her three children and Mrs. G ended up doing all the work. After 28 years of working for non-profit organizations in and around the Austin area, Mrs. G completely reinvented herself by going back to school to become an IEC. She is one of five Certified Educational Planners in Austin and one of 14 in the state of Texas. She launched her business, Davis Groves Educational Services, in December 2011. Deb is a professional member of IECA, a member of NACAC, TACAC, and AICEP. She currently serves on the IECA Nominating Committee and has worked on a variety of committees planning college tours, encouraging and mentoring members as well as being involved in community service in her numerous organizations. She also recently served on the Common Application Outreach Committee for three years. Deb started the Austin IEC Network in 2012 and bridged it into the Austin IECA Regional Group in 2018. This group of consultants grew from the original 9-member organization to over 35 members when she stepped down as the Founding Chair in December 2021. Deb was honored with the IECA's Making A Difference Award in November 2022 which recognizes those IECA members “for their selfless volunteer efforts benefiting the association's 2,300 plus members”. Her daughter, Aubrey Groves, also an IECA professional member, joined Davis Groves Educational Services in 2015. Aubrey graduated from Davidson College in 2006 where she majored in English and minored in Chinese. She has lived in China, Japan, and England. She received her Master's in Eastern Asian Studies at Duke University and went on to become a Mandarin Chinese language teacher to high school students at two different boarding schools on the east coast before joining her mom as an IEC. Aubrey is the Vice Chair of the Austin IECA Regional group that now serves IEC's from Waco to San Marcos, Texas. Aubrey also serves as the Co-Chair of the TACAC IEC SIG Committee and is a member of the IECA College Tours Committee. Mrs. G and Aubrey's clients/families refer to them as “the mother-daughter dynamic duo.” Davis Groves Educational Services has grown into a well-known and respected professional IEC company in the Austin, Texas community and beyond. Davis Groves Educational Services works so hard to empower their students! Managing expectations is probably the hardest part of their job because everyone wants the very best. Mrs. G and Aubrey firmly believe that there is a college for every student! Regardless of the selectivity of the college, success requires hard work wherever a student lands. They want each of their clients to flourish at the colleges that they are called to attend! Deb/Mrs. G and Aubrey have a heart for their clients and have realized that serving as their Independent Educational Consultants goes far beyond just finding the “right college fit.” In many cases it is about changing lives – both Mrs. G and Aubrey's as well as the students! Find Deb at deb@davisgrovesedu.com. PLAYLIST Listen to all of our profiles of exceptional independent educational consultants on our IEC profile playlist. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
The process of preparing, getting accepted, and choosing a college can be overwhelming for both students and parents.. but today's guest prides herself in helping families along the way. Jamie Dickenson is a Certified Educational Planner in Charleston, West Virginia. She typically begins her work with students when they are in 8th grade. Jamie is extremely well versed in all aspects of college prep & admittance, and has helped numerous students navigate the process over the last 25 years.Join us today as we learn from Jamie!Episode Highlights:Background on JamieHow Jamie started her educational planning businessEducational Planning processCollege Choice & Financial AidGrades & TestingAdditional ExpensesMore on Jamie: Find Jamie's book Too Smart for the Ivy League on Amazon HEREJamie Dickenson, LLC WebsiteContact Jamie via phone at 304-556-4807More on Love Your School/Links Mentioned in Episode:Visit Our Show Notes Page HERE!Kim@loveyourschoolwv.orgLeah@loveyourschoolwv.org www.loveyourschool.orgVisit our Facebook HERE!
With total cost of attendance edging towards $90,000 a year for private universities, Mark and Anna are excited to have financial aid expert and independent educational consultant, Claire Law from Educational Avenues talk about how families can prepare for the financial aid process. From discussing 529s to the difference in financial aid applications, learn how you can have the right conversations with your family around affording college. Claire Law is an independent educational consultant, professional member of IECA, Certified Educational Planner. She helps parents figure out the best educational avenues for their teen children. Claire Law worked in college admissions for ten years and for a SallieMae lender for a short while.
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Shannon Bergeron, the Founder of Core College Consulting, based in Austin, Texas. Shannon is a highly experienced and compassionate counselor, skilled in helping students understand their own strengths and goals in order to develop a balanced and realistic college list. Her whole child college counseling™ approach focuses on synthesizing a holistic view of the self for the college application journey, helping students and families reduce stress throughout the process while also helping them come to terms with personal identity and various educational needs, making her highly in demand. Shannon earned a BBA in marketing from the University of North Texas and an MEd in counselor education from the University of Maine. She is a member of NACAC, TACAC, IECA, and AICEP. Shannon began her career as a school counselor in 2003 and started her IEC business part time in 2016. She transitioned to full time IEC in 2019 and has since doubled her business and added a full time consultant. She is also a Certified Educational Planner. Most recently, she was the Lead Counselor at the Liberal Arts & Science Academy High School in Austin, Texas. In that role, Shannon worked with district officials to change policies to protect privacy issues related to gender. She led a Bootcamp for New Counselors for more than 30 new counselors and leader of the Summer Melt program. Additionally, she was a finalist for the Austin ISD “Counselor of the Year.” As a volunteer with the Matchlighters Scholarship program, Shannon provides college counseling for high-achieving, low-income students. She also volunteers with Ally Parents, serving as a friendly and empathetic resource for transgender/nonbinary youth (and parents). Shannon loves to travel and hike with her husband. In her spare time, she trains for and runs marathons. Find Shannon at www.corecollegeconsulting.com or shannon@corecollegeconsulting.com.. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
So much of the college admissions conversation seems to assume perfect grades and test scores along with ultra-selective ambitions. What about the other 99% of the applicant pool? Amy and Mike invited college advisors Katie Garrett and Melanie Talesnick to discuss college advising for B students. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What does it mean to be a regular kid in college admissions? Why are college rankings not the final word in academic fit? How do you create a college list that includes realistic choices while being open-minded to alternatives? How can students advantage themselves in admissions? Why does the term “dream killer” have no place in discussions of college fit? MEET OUR GUESTS For over twenty years, Katie Garrett has shared her passion for academics and education with students and their families. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt University with degrees in both Cognitive Studies and Psychology and has completed her graduate certificate in Independent Educational Consulting through The University of California-Irvine. Katie has been awarded the designation of Certified Educational Planner by the American Institute of Certified Educational Planners, demonstrating the highest level of professional standards through extensive knowledge, expertise, and experience in the field of educational planning. She is a Professional Member of Independent Educational Consultant Association and serves as Chair of the Charlotte Regional Chapter. In addition, Katie has completed coursework in executive functioning through Harvard's Graduate School of Education and is a Certified Parent Coach through the International Coaching Federation. Katie has personally visited hundreds of college and boarding school campuses and meets with admissions personnel on a regular basis to ensure that she stays abreast of the ever-changing landscape of education and admissions. Melanie Talesnick has spent her professional career in a variety of settings. After graduating from the University of Delaware with a double major in Marketing and Management, she worked for the National Basketball Association (NBA). Despite the perks of travel and working with professional athletes, she felt unfulfilled, except when working with grassroots organizations to develop recreational programs for kids. This experience led Melanie to pursue a career in teaching and athletic coaching. She ultimately earned her Master's degree in Student Personnel Services from Montclair State University and a Certificate in College Counseling with Distinction from UCLA. As a high school counselor for over 10 years, Melanie was always drawn to the college process. At the same time, utilizing her entrepreneurial nature, she founded Admit U Consulting to focus solely on working with students and families outside of the high school setting. She quickly emerged as a leader in the counseling office and ended her career at Morristown High School as the College Counselor. In 2015, she left public education to manage Admit U full-time. Melanie is a Professional Member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), a member of the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA), and sits on the National Advisory Board for a private liberal arts university. Melanie is also a Certified Educational Planner (CEP), a distinction held by only a handful of consultants in the state of New Jersey. Melanie's enthusiasm and passion for all things college is contagious! For more information, contact Katie at katie@garretteducationalconsulting.com or Melanie at melanie@admituconsulting.com. LINKS IT'S NOT YOU, IT'S THEM RELATED EPISODES WHAT DOES UNHOOKED MEAN IN ADMISSIONS? AVOIDING THE PAGEANT APPROACH TO COLLEGE ADMISSIONS WHAT IS A GOOD COLLEGE? ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
Applicants find themselves more confused than ever by current test-optional admissions policies; how do you know if “optional” really applies to you? Amy and Mike invited college counseling expert Judi Robinovitz to explore the complexities of whether to submit test scores or not. What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the difference between test optional and test blind? What did test optional look like as a policy before COVID? What does test-optional mean presently in college admissions? What are the most important considerations in deciding to submit a score or not? What signals from schools can help applicants make wise score submission decisions? MEET OUR GUEST Judi Robinovitz is a Certified Educational Planner with more than thirty-five years of experience in college counseling and school placements. She is the author of numerous articles, books, and software products on educational planning and test preparation. Judi has been a featured speaker at national educational conferences, schools, and places of worship. To keep pace with current educational trends, Judi continually travels across the country to visit dozens of college and boarding school campuses every year. She has acquired vast knowledge of the admissions process as well as the requirements and specialties of hundreds of educational institutions. Since 1980, she and her team have successfully guided more than 8,000 students – from those at the very top of their class to students experiencing significant academic struggles – and their families through the planning and application process for private school, college, and graduate school. Judi specializes in guiding students applying to prestigious double-degree BS-MD programs and the nation's most selective universities as well as colleges that best serve mid-range students and those with learning disabilities. During her 23-year tenure at Educational Testing Service, Judi served as technical liaison to the College Board. She designed and led the programming team to implement the College Board's first SAT-prep software; she also wrote strategy chapters of their original SAT-prep books. Taking the SAT numerous times throughout her career, Judi has several perfect 800 scores on her record. As a founding faculty member of two private schools in Boca Raton, Florida, Judi created their college guidance programs and served as Director of College Guidance to the first four graduating classes of each school. Judi founded Score At The Top Learning Centers & Schools in South Florida. Accredited by AdvancED and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the learning centers provide academic tutoring, SAT & ACT preparation, and courses for credit to over 1,000 students every year, both in person and via Skype. The accredited schools are home to more than 180 full-time students who thrive in intentionally small classes ranging in size from one to eight students. Judi is a professional member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association, the Higher Education Consultants Association, the National Association for College Admission Counseling, the Secondary School Admissions Test Board, and the Learning Disabilities Association of America. Judi earned degrees in mathematics and computer science from the University of Connecticut and Rutgers University, both with highest honors. Her professional life has been devoted to helping students achieve academic success. Judi first appeared on our podcast in episode 139 to discuss Building an A+ Extracurricular Resume and in episode 202 to discuss Crafting A College Resume. Find Judi at judi@scoreatthetop.com. LINKS What Does Test-Optional Mean? Truth About Test Optional What Does an SAT Score Mean in a Test-Optional World? The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System RELATED EPISODES WHY COLLEGE READINESS MATTERS WHY OPTIONAL STATEMENTS AREN'T OPTIONAL WHO BENEFITS MOST FROM TEST OPTIONAL POLICIES? ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
Unique Insights Into College Admissions, Costs, Academics, Reputations, and Rankings with Stuart Nachbar What are five things you will learn in this episode? What is the story behind The Good College? What experience is The Good College based on? Who was The Good College written for? What kinds of outcomes should readers experience? What should someone curious about The Good College know about it? ABOUT THE GOOD COLLEGE The Good College offers unique insights into college admissions, costs, academics and college reputations and rankings. It was written to help students and their families do their own research and visit campuses to make their college lists-and ultimately choose their Good College. The author, Stuart Nachbar, is a Certified Educational Planner based in Central New Jersey. He is a college and graduate school admissions advisor who has visited and profiled over 200 colleges and universities over the past decade as publisher of Educated Quest.com. Prior to starting the Web site, he worked around higher education for over two decades as an urban economic development professional and software marketing executive. Stuart joined us on the podcast in episode 78 to discuss WHAT EXACTLY IS A GOOD COLLEGE? To learn more, please visit http://thegoodcollege.com. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
We all know the drill: birth, school, college, adulthood. It's a formula that somehow became mandatory – a script that we're expected to follow. But what if that outline isn't quite the right fit for your child? What if your smart teen isn't ready for college? Judith S. Bass Certified Educational Planner Judith S. Bass, Certified Educational Planner, is the founder of Bass Educational Services, LLC, an educational consulting firm in the DC area. Ms. Bass provides comprehensive college and postsecondary planning for students with AD/HD and other learning differences. With over 30 years' experience as an educator, admissions counselor, and educational consultant, Ms. Bass is a leading expert in educational consulting for students with learning challenges. She earned a Certificate in College Counseling from UCLA and is an instructor in UC-Irvine's College Consultant Certificate Program. Ms. Bass has published numerous articles in local and national publications. She regularly conducts presentations on college and postsecondary planning to parents and professionals throughout the DC and Baltimore areas, and at regional and national conferences. Ms. Bass has just published CollegeWebLD, a searchable database of the disability services available at U.S. colleges and universities. Listen to this bonus episode from the archives of ImpactParents with Judith Bass about how and when to approach your child about going to college. Will they need a gap year? Is college right for them? 12 Tips for Parenting a Complex Teen From the experts at ImpactParents (and the moms of 6 young adults!), we promise you this: it's not too late. In this FREE guide you'll learn 12 fool-proof tips to improve conversations and reconnect with your teens so you can guide them to become independent and successful. Parents all over the world have better relationships with their teens using these tools. You can, too! Here is what was covered on this special archival episode: Time and distance may be necessary for your child to find motivation What are the options available to your child if they don't go to college? The ideal times to address life after high school with your child Related Blogs: Is a Gap Year a Good Fit for Your Child? Standing Up For Kids Who Are Falling Behind Connect with Judith: Website YouTube Facebook Twitter Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Your kids may not be college age yet but it is never too early to start planning and prepping them for the experience. Enter my guest and client; Shelle Howard who helps parents with all the steps from just talking about college, how to choose one, what it takes to compete at an Ivy League school, where to find the grants so they can graduate debt free and what it takes to get it all done without going insane. Join us as we talk all things college and how we as parents can best support our kids from the planning stages right through to their first walk onto campus. Meet Shellee Howard: Shellee Howard is the owner and president of "College Ready". She is a college graduate and is an award-winning Certified Educational Planner. Shellee has traveled around the world helping students plan for their “perfect match” college. She knows what it takes to compete in the Ivy schools and finding the best fit for all students. She believes that no two students are the same and each student must have their own strategy and plan to be successful. Each student has a gift/talent and a passion that will set him or her apart from their competition. Getting to know your student one on one is the key to success. This can be done in person or via Zoom. College Ready has clients all over the world and each one is important. Her focus is to find the best academic, financial and social fit college for each student to thrive at and graduate debt free! Shellee's Free Book: https://freebook.collegereadyplan.com/order-form1644508841710 Meet Loral Langemeier: Loral Langemeier is a money expert, sought-after speaker, entrepreneurial thought leader, and best-selling author of five books. Her goal: to change the conversations people have about money worldwide and empower people to become millionaires. The CEO and Founder of Live Out Loud, Inc. – a multinational organization — Loral relentlessly and candidly shares her best advice without hesitation or apology. What sets her apart from other wealth experts is her innate ability to recognize and acknowledge the skills & talents of people, inspiring them to generate wealth. She has created, nurtured, and perfected a 3-5 year strategy to make millions for the “Average Jill and Joe.” To date, she and her team have served thousands of individuals worldwide and created hundreds of millionaires through wealth-building education keynotes, workshops, products, events, programs, and coaching services. Loral is truly dedicated to helping men and women, from all walks of life, to become millionaires AND be able to enjoy time with their families. She is living proof that anyone can have the life of their dreams through hard work, persistence, and getting things done in the face of opposition. As a single mother of two children, she is redefining the possibility for women to have it all and raise their children in an entrepreneurial and financially literate environment. Links and Resources: Ask Loral App:https://apple.co/3eIgGcX ( https://apple.co/3eIgGcX) Loral on Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/askloral/ ( https://www.facebook.com/askloral/) Loral on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/user/lorallive/videos ( https://www.youtube.com/user/lorallive/videos) Loral on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorallangemeier/ ( https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorallangemeier/) Money Rules:https://integratedwealthsystems.com/money-rules/ ( https://integratedwealthsystems.com/money-rules/) Millionaire Maker Store:https://millionairemakerstore.com/ ( https://millionairemakerstore.com/) Real Money Talks Podcast:https://integratedwealthsystems.com/podcast/ ( https://integratedwealthsystems.com/podcast/) Integrated Wealth Systems:https://integratedwealthsystems.com/ ( https://integratedwealthsystems.com/) Affiliate Sign-Up:https://integratedwealthsystems.com/affiliates ( https://integratedwealthsystems.com/affiliates) Thanks for...
I sit down with Shellee Howard. Shellee Howard is the owner and president of College Ready. She is a college graduate and is a Certified Educational Planner. Shellee has a son who graduated from Harvard in the spring of 2016 debt free! Her son is currently a third-year medical student at UC San Diego. https://collegereadyplan.com/our-team/shellee-howard/ Follow me at: https://facebook.com/couponqueenpin001/ Website: https://couponqueenpin.com Email: cqp@couponqueenpin.com Instagram: @couponqueenpin001 Twitter: @couponqueenpin #podcast #podcasting #spotify #podcasts #podcastersofinstagram #podcastlife #podcaster #youtube #radio #realitytv #love #life #itunes #podcasters #music #applepodcasts #it #podcastshow #interview #learn #newpodcast #motivation #spotifypodcast #applepodcast #Relationship #s #WeTV #passion #radioshow #cqpmoments --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/cqpmoments/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/cqpmoments/support
Shellee Howard is here to teach you how to send your kids to college without losing your mind or your money. Shellee is a Certified Educational Planner and has traveled around the world helping students plan for their “perfect match” college. Guest Bio: Shellee Howard is the owner and president of College Ready. Her son graduated […] The post Plan and Strategize appeared first on WebTalkRadio.net.
Shellee Howard is here to teach you how to send your kids to college without losing your mind or your money. Shellee is a Certified Educational Planner and has has traveled around the world helping students plan for their “perfect match” college. Guest Bio: Shellee Howard is the owner and president of College Ready. Her son graduated from Harvard in the spring of 2016 debt free and is currently a third-year medical student at UC San Diego. Her daughter completed her freshman year at the University of Alabama and will complete her Nursing degree this year. Shellee knows what it takes to compete in the Ivy schools as well as finding the best fit for all students. Guest Contact Info: WEBSITE: https://collegereadyplan.com/our-team/shellee-howard/ FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/CollegeReadyAuthor TWITTER: https://mobile.twitter.com/gocollegeready INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/collegereadyplan LINKEDIN: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleehoward Thanks for listening to the show! It means so much to us that you listened to our podcast! If you would like to continue the conversation, please email me at allen@drallenlycka.com or visit our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/drallenlycka. We would love to have you join us there, and welcome your messages. We check our Messenger often. If you loved the podcast, be sure to subscribe on your favorite platform, share it with friends and leave a review! Dr. Lycka wants you to live your best life. Visit coachingwithdrlycka.com and book your Discovery call today. His bestselling book, "The Secrets to Living a Fantastic Life" can be found on Amazon.com. Get your copy today! We are building a community of like-minded people in the personal development/self-help/professional development industries, and are always looking for wonderful guests for our show. If you have any recommendations, please email us! Dr. Allen Lycka's Social Media Links Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/drallenlycka Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr_allen_lycka/ Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/drallenlycka LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allenlycka YouTube: https://www.YouTube.com/c/drallenlycka Subscribe to the show We would be honored to have you subscribe to the show – you can subscribe to the podcast app on your mobile device. Leave a review We appreciate your feedback, as every little bit helps us produce even better shows. We want to bring value to your day, and have you join us time and again. Ratings and reviews from our listeners not only help us improve, but also help others find us in their podcast app. If you have a minute, an honest review on iTunes or your favorite app goes a long way! Thank you!
For students with ADHD, the transition from high school to college is a time for them to show their independence and not rely much on their parents' support. But college is dramatically different than high school. With increased academic demands, differences in teaching methods and grading procedures, and fewer available accommodations and supports, many students with ADHD soon find themselves falling behind. Judy Bass, a Certified Educational Planner, talks about the learning supports and interventions that help students who learn differently to succeed in college.
College isn't for every student graduating from high school. How do you know if college is the right choice for your teen with ADHD? Judy Bass, a Certified Educational Planner, talks about the career options for students with ADHD after high school, how to evaluate colleges to find the right fit, college application requirements, and how to help teens develop self-advocacy skills.
For students with ADHD, the transition from high school to college is a time for them to show their independence and not rely much on their parents' support. But college is dramatically different than high school. With increased academic demands, differences in teaching methods and grading procedures, and fewer available accommodations and supports, many students with ADHD soon find themselves falling behind. Judy Bass, a Certified Educational Planner, talks about the learning supports and interventions that help students who learn differently to succeed in college.
For students with ADHD, the transition from high school to college is a time for them to show their independence and not rely much on their parents' support. But college is dramatically different than high school. With increased academic demands, differences in teaching methods and grading procedures, and fewer available accommodations and supports, many students with ADHD soon find themselves falling behind. Judy Bass, a Certified Educational Planner, talks about the learning supports and interventions that help students who learn differently to succeed in college.
College isn't for every student graduating from high school. How do you know if college is the right choice for your teen with ADHD? Judy Bass, a Certified Educational Planner, talks about the career options for students with ADHD after high school, how to evaluate colleges to find the right fit, college application requirements, and how to help teens develop self-advocacy skills.
College isn't for every student graduating from high school. How do you know if college is the right choice for your teen with ADHD? Judy Bass, a Certified Educational Planner, talks about the career options for students with ADHD after high school, how to evaluate colleges to find the right fit, college application requirements, and how to help teens develop self-advocacy skills.
Are you college ready? In this segment, Shellee Howard shares the process to ensure you are college ready from all angles. The importance of your student, personal attention, strategic positioning, and including the whole family. See video here - https://youtu.be/tDB7lCsHkhk WHO IS SHELLEE? Shellee Howard is the owner and president of College Ready. She is a college graduate and is a Certified Educational Planner. Shellee has a son who graduated from Harvard in the spring of 2016 debt free! Her son is currently a third-year medical student at UC San Diego. Her daughter completed her freshman year at the University of Alabama and will complete her Nursing degree this year. Shellee has traveled around the world helping students plan for their “perfect match” college. She knows what it takes to compete in the Ivy schools as well as finding the best fit for all students. Shellee believes that no two students are the same and each student must have their own strategy and plan to be successful. Each student has a gift/talent and a passion that will set him or her apart from their competition. Getting to know your student one on one is the key to success. This can be done in person or via Zoom. College Ready has clients all over the world and each one is important. Her focus is to find the best academic, financial, and social fit college for each student to thrive at and graduate debt free! SHELLEE'S CALL TO ACTION Book your FREE 20-minute discovery call with me Get a FREE copy of my book by going to book.collegereadyplan.com www.collegereadyplan.com Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/CollegeReadyPlan/ IG- https://www.instagram.com/collegereadyplan/ Twitter- https://twitter.com/gocollegeready YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr_WodPHDfSWEbiPdsRDbyQ LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/company/college-ready/ GENESIS'S INFO https://thehello.llc/GENESISAMARISKEMP CALL TO ACTION Subscribe to GEMS with Genesis Amaris Kemp Channel, Hit the notifications bell so you don't miss any content, and share with family/friends. **REMEMBER - You do not have to let limitations or barriers keep you from achieving your success. Mind over Matter...It's time to shift and unleash your greatest potential. If you would like to be a SPONSOR or have any of your merchandise mentioned, please reach out via email at GEMSwithGenesisAmarisKemp@gmail.com --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/genesis-amaris-kemp/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/genesis-amaris-kemp/support
Shellee Howard is the owner and president of College Ready. She is a college graduate and is a Certified Educational Planner. Shellee has a son who graduated from Harvard in the spring of 2016 debt-free! Her son is currently a third-year medical student at UC San Diego. Her daughter completed her freshman year at the University of Alabama and will complete her Nursing degree this year. Shellee has traveled around the world helping students plan for their “perfect match” college. She knows what it takes to compete in Ivy schools as well as find the best fit for all students. Shellee believes that no two students are the same and each student must have their own strategy and plan to be successful. Each student has a gift/talent and a passion that will set him or her apart from their competition. Getting to know your student one on one is the key to success. This can be done in person or via Zoom. College Ready has clients all over the world and each one is important. Her focus is to find the best academic, financial and social fit college for each student to thrive at and graduate debt-free! Shellee Howard is also a sought-after speaker and consultant to 100's college-bound students around the world and is widely regarded as one of the world's leading college planners and strategy consultants. Her groundbreaking strategies help students get into their best-match colleges. Best of all, many graduate debt-free with a job they love waiting for them. Whether addressing an intimate group or a standing-room-only arena, count on Shellee to take the fear out of planning and paying for college. Get your "FREE" book offered by Shellee Howard at book.collegereadyplan.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/odell-glenn-jr/support
Shellee Howard is a Certified Educational Planner and the Founder/CEO of College Ready, where she fulfills her passion for helping students get into the college that fits them best academically, financially and socially. On this episode of CFO at Home, Shellee and Vince discuss looking at college admissions like a business plan, the importance of GPAs, class choice, and extracurricular activities in the admissions process, and more. Key Takeaways Break down college like you're writing a business plan Build your resume as if you're building a company Take the emotion out of the admission process. Ask yourself “what do they want to know and who's getting in”? Taking classes with rigor is important (Dual enrollment college courses), not just GPA GPA is generally the number one consideration, but other important factors are: Entrance essay Specific classes Extracurriculars Standardized test results Community service Letters of recommendation Picking the right school You don't want your student to attend a school that's too academically rigorous for them Think about the end game of your education Example: if you're going into business, do you need to make contacts in the local business community while in school Students need to figure out what's important to them If you child doesn't know what they want to do, encourage them to try out different ideas through internships, research projects, or somehow actually doing the work in different areas Resources CollegeReadyPlan.com Ways to contact/follow: Email - shellee@collegereadyplan.com CollegeReadyPlan - LinkedIn CollegeReadyPlan - Facebook CollegeReadyPlan - Instagram CollegeReadyPlan - TicToc Contact the Host - vince@thecfoathome.com
Shellee Howard is the owner and president of College Ready. She is a college graduate and is a Certified Educational Planner. Shellee has traveled around the world, helping students plan for their “perfect match” college. She knows what it takes to compete in Ivy schools and find the best fit for all students. Shellee believes that no two students are the same, and each student must have their strategy and plan to be successful. Each student has a gift/talent and a passion that will set him/her apart from their competition. Getting to know your student one on one is the key to success. College Ready has clients all over the world and each one is important. Her focus is to find the best academic, financial and social fit college for each student to thrive at and graduate debt-free!In this episode, Pamela puts the spotlight on the spectacular journey of Shellee. Among the highlights are:- Who are Shellee's cheerleaders, and how did they help her along the journey?- How did College Ready come to be, and what is it all about?- The wise words she'd like to impartTo know more about Shellee and College Ready, check out the following:Website: https://collegereadyplan.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleehoward/Email: Shellee@collegereadyplan.comListen to the full episode here:Apple iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/underdog/id1534385651Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6FbSDu0aNtuxAEiderUAfBWebsite: https://theunderdogshow.com/Don't forget to subscribe and leave an awesome review!
Ready to learn the history, philosophy, and practice of an experienced independent educational consultant? MEET OUR GUEST Meet Alan Sheptin, owner of Sheptin Tutoring Group (STG). Alan has been a professional member of IECA since 2017 and became a Certified Educational Planner in 2020. He earned a BA in Computer Mathematics from the University of Pennsylvania, an MBA in Finance from Fordham University and a Certificate in College Consulting from UCLA. Prior to establishing his company in 2007, Alan was an Assistant Vice President and Actuary with AXA, specializing in actuarial product development and management. He attained Associateship in the Society of Actuaries with several exams completed towards Fellowship. In addition to his college consulting expertise, Alan is a respected Mathematics tutor, successfully working with students in all levels of Math. He is most sought out for his expertise in Algebra II, Precalculus, and Calculus. He teaches both Precalculus and Calculus at Iona College. He has also undertaken long-term consulting assignments teaching BC Calculus and Pre-Calculus at John Jay and Fox Lane High Schools in Westchester County. Alan first became interested in college admissions when he was the NYC Secondary School Chairman of Alumni Interviewing for the University of Pennsylvania, training alumni interviewers and serving as a liaison between Penn's admission office, interviewers and prospective freshmen. He has leveraged this expertise, plus his extensive knowledge of US and international colleges and universities, to counsel students on the optimal admissions strategy. To date, he has visited over 130 colleges and universities in seven countries. Alan's “alumni” are present at all of the top 50 US universities and colleges, as well as at universities in the UK and Canada. Additionally, Alan has been preparing students for the SAT and ACT examinations for 30 years. He is widely respected for his in-depth expertise in maximizing test scores, as well as his ability to make intrinsically difficult concepts in all areas of Mathematics (from pre-Algebra through Calculus) easier to grasp. Many of Alan's students have continued to work with him in college classes and as they prep for the GRE and GMAT exams. He and his outstanding team of 35 teachers and tutors can offer support in any academic area in middle or high school. He is constantly revamping materials and lessons to ensure that his students are receiving the most recent information about exams. Sheptin Tutoring Group maintains offices in Chappaqua, New York and New York City. Its clients come from as close as the tri-state area to as far away as China, the United Kingdom, and Nigeria. Find Alan at 914-232-3743 or alan@sheptin.com. ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page. ABOUT YOUR HOSTS Mike Bergin is the president of Chariot Learning and founder of TestBright. Amy Seeley is the president of Seeley Test Pros. If you're interested in working with Mike and/or Amy for test preparation, training, or consulting, feel free to get in touch through our contact page.
Welcome to Episode 39 of The Darlington Podcast! In this episode, host Matt Peer, director of enrollment management, and his guests share tips related to academic wellness, emotional wellness, and college preparation as students begin the second semester at Darlington. This week's guests are Jennifer Luitwieler, learning specialist and English teacher; Chris Allen, counselor and AP Psychology teacher; and Ivy Brewer, associate dean of college guidance. Matt Peer was named director of enrollment management in 2020 after serving as the director of Upper School from 2014-2020 and director of student life from 2010-2014. He holds a B.A. in Sociology from St. Lawrence University and an M.A. in Liberal Studies from Wesleyan University. Jennifer Luitwieler has been a member of Darlington's Teaching & Learning Center staff since 2017 and holds a B.A. in English from Chatham University. Chris Allen, who has been a member of Darlington's counseling staff since 2006, holds a B.A. from Carson-Newman College and an M.A. from Argosy University in Atlanta. Ivy Brewer has been a member of Darlington's college guidance staff since 2007. She currently serves as associate dean of college guidance and will become dean of college guidance in 2022-2023. A Certified Educational Planner who has visited more than 200 college campuses, she holds a B.A. from the University of Georgia, an M.A. from Florida Gulf Coast University, and a graduate certificate in college counseling from University of California Los Angeles Extension. https://www.darlingtonschool.org/Today/Details/5801741 (Click here for complete show notes >>)
Shellee Howard is the owner and president of College Ready. She is a college graduate and is a Certified Educational Planner. Shellee has a son who graduated from Harvard in the spring of 2016 debt-free! Her son is currently a third-year medical student at UC San Diego. Her daughter completed her freshman year at the University of Alabama and will complete her Nursing degree this year. Shellee has traveled around the world helping students plan for their “perfect match” college. She knows what it takes to compete in Ivy schools as well as find the best fit for all students. Shellee believes that no two students are the same and each student must have their own strategy and plan to be successful. Each student has a gift/talent and a passion that will set him or her apart from their competition. Getting to know your student one on one is the key to success. This can be done in person or via Zoom. College Ready has clients all over the world and each one is important. Her focus is to find the best academic, financial and social fit college for each student to thrive at and graduate debt-free! Shellee Howard is also a sought-after speaker and consultant to 100's college-bound students around the world and is widely regarded as one of the world's leading college planners and strategy consultants. Her groundbreaking strategies help students get into their best-match colleges. Best of all, many graduate debt-free with a job they love waiting for them. Whether addressing an intimate group or a standing-room-only arena, count on Shellee to take the fear out of planning and paying for college. Get your "FREE" book offered by Shellee Howard at book.collegereadyplan.com
The Liberated Life - Set Yourself Free in Business and Pleasure
Find Shellee: https://collegereadyplan.com/Find Robin: https://quittingculture.comAbout Shellee: Shellee Howard is the owner and president of College Ready. She is a college graduate and is a Certified Educational Planner. Shellee has a son who graduated from Harvard in the spring of 2016 debt free! Her son is currently a third-year medical student at UC San Diego.Her daughter completed her freshman year at the University of Alabama and will complete her Nursing degree this year. Shellee has traveled around the world helping students plan for their “perfect match” college. She knows what it takes to compete in the Ivy schools as well as finding the best fit for all students. Shellee believes that no two students are the same and each student must have their own strategy and plan to be successful. Each student has a gift/talent and a passion that will set him or her apart from their competition. Getting to know your student one on one is the key to success. This can be done in person or via Zoom. College Ready has clients all over the world and each one is important. Her focus is to find the best academic, financial and social fit college for each student to thrive at and graduate debt free!Show NotesYou don't always need to go to the most expensive college. There are three things to base your college decision on:The right academic fitThe right social fitThe right financial fitSometimes, It's not where you graduate from, it's how well you do in college.It's important to help your kids make their college choice. It is a huge decision with many implications. You can begin the college conversation very early by planting the seed about going to college so you can have a bigger conversation with kids when they are in grade school.The process of preparing should really start when they graduate from eighth grade. These questions will help you and your child determine where they should go and what they may want to study. What are you passionate about?What are your core values?What are you good at?If you start early, getting college-ready can be gentle and fun….When they're older, it ends up feeling more like firehouse preparation….Colleges are not looking at what you're doing to impress them. Instead, they are looking at your passion that leads to a purpose that allows you to demonstrate your leadership.Colleges want to know how you will stand out….They want to see and want students to see their uniqueness. They want to see:Early community serviceEarly demonstration of a passionEarly demonstration of leadershipCollege Ready works with students one-on-one and creates a 'Standout Strategy' for each student. They work together to create their college-ready resume based on that strategy. Their clients have someone on their side every step of the way.Two big questions that Shelle gets asked by parents every day:How do I know what my student is passionate about?How do I pick the right college?Shellee asks them those questions and records them for parents so they can hear their answers.Have someone ‘safe' do this with your child….it's different being asked by someone who is curious and from whom they feel no judgment.
Transitioning from high school to college is a sign of independence for many teens. But is your teen with ADHD ready for the responsibilities that come with college life? Do they have the self-advocacy skills needed for college? Judith S. Bass, a certified educational planner, provides insight on ways to help parents determine if their teen is college-ready. She also discusses the life tools students need to survive college and the appropriate time to start teaching self-advocacy skills to your child with ADHD. Judith S. Bass, CEP Founder, CollegeWebLD, and Certified Educational Planner Judith S. Bass, CEP, is an internationally recognized expert in the field of college and postsecondary placement for students who learn differently. For the past twenty years, she has provided comprehensive planning services for students with ADHD, ASD, and other learning differences. Bass is a contributing author to Navigating the Transition from High School to College for Students with Disabilities. Her articles have appeared in numerous magazines, including Washington Parent and Attention. She founded CollegeWebLD, (www.collegewebld.com), a one-stop source of information on college disability services at over 400 colleges in the United States. A past chair of the Commission on Credentialing for AICEP (www.aicep.org) and a past board member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), she serves as a consultant to several independent high schools in the Washington, DC, area. Bass received her undergraduate degree in education and Spanish from Stony Brook University, earned a graduate-level certificate in college counseling from UCLA, and holds the Certified Educational Planner designation.
Transitioning from high school to college is a sign of independence for many teens. But is your teen with ADHD ready for the responsibilities that come with college life? Do they have the self-advocacy skills needed for college? Judith S. Bass, a certified educational planner, provides insight on ways to help parents determine if their teen is college-ready. She also discusses the life tools students need to survive college and the appropriate time to start teaching self-advocacy skills to your child with ADHD. Judith S. Bass, CEP Founder, CollegeWebLD, and Certified Educational Planner Judith S. Bass, CEP, is an internationally recognized expert in the field of college and postsecondary placement for students who learn differently. For the past twenty years, she has provided comprehensive planning services for students with ADHD, ASD, and other learning differences. Bass is a contributing author to Navigating the Transition from High School to College for Students with Disabilities. Her articles have appeared in numerous magazines, including Washington Parent and Attention. She founded CollegeWebLD, (www.collegewebld.com), a one-stop source of information on college disability services at over 400 colleges in the United States. A past chair of the Commission on Credentialing for AICEP (www.aicep.org) and a past board member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), she serves as a consultant to several independent high schools in the Washington, DC, area. Bass received her undergraduate degree in education and Spanish from Stony Brook University, earned a graduate-level certificate in college counseling from UCLA, and holds the Certified Educational Planner designation.
Transitioning from high school to college is a sign of independence for many teens. But is your teen with ADHD ready for the responsibilities that come with college life? Do they have the self-advocacy skills needed for college? Judith S. Bass, a certified educational planner, provides insight on ways to help parents determine if their teen is college-ready. She also discusses the life tools students need to survive college and the appropriate time to start teaching self-advocacy skills to your child with ADHD. Judith S. Bass, CEP Founder, CollegeWebLD, and Certified Educational Planner Judith S. Bass, CEP, is an internationally recognized expert in the field of college and postsecondary placement for students who learn differently. For the past twenty years, she has provided comprehensive planning services for students with ADHD, ASD, and other learning differences. Bass is a contributing author to Navigating the Transition from High School to College for Students with Disabilities. Her articles have appeared in numerous magazines, including Washington Parent and Attention. She founded CollegeWebLD, (www.collegewebld.com), a one-stop source of information on college disability services at over 400 colleges in the United States. A past chair of the Commission on Credentialing for AICEP (www.aicep.org) and a past board member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), she serves as a consultant to several independent high schools in the Washington, DC, area. Bass received her undergraduate degree in education and Spanish from Stony Brook University, earned a graduate-level certificate in college counseling from UCLA, and holds the Certified Educational Planner designation.
Shellee Howard is the owner and president of College Ready. She is a college graduate and is a Certified Educational Planner. Shellee has a son who graduated from Harvard in the spring of 2016 debt free.We discuss her unique but effective strategies for helping students identify the ideal school for them. Last year alone her students received over $10 million in scholarship money as well.
When you hear “resume,” you probably think (perhaps with a shudder) of applying for a job. But since a document like this serves as a succinct summary of someone’s experience, educational background, and special skills, it also makes a surprising difference when applying to a school. Amy and Mike invited college counseling expert Judi Robinovitz to detail the process of crafting a college resume. What are five things you will learn in this episode? How important is it for a high school student to create a resume for college admissions? What should a college resume look like both digitally and physically? How do verbs like initiate, lead, collaborate, and solve matter on your resume? What can students do to build a resume under unusual circumstances? How does building a high school resume help students later? MEET OUR GUESTS Judi Robinovitz is a Certified Educational Planner with more than thirty-five years of experience in college counseling and school placements. She is the author of numerous articles, books, and software products on educational planning and test preparation. Judi has been a featured speaker at national educational conferences, schools, and places of worship. To keep pace with current educational trends, Judi continually travels across the country to visit dozens of college and boarding school campuses every year. She has acquired vast knowledge of the admissions process as well as the requirements and specialties of hundreds of educational institutions. Since 1980, she and her team have successfully guided more than 8,000 students – from those at the very top of their class to students experiencing significant academic struggles – and their families through the planning and application process for private school, college, and graduate school. Judi specializes in guiding students applying to prestigious double-degree BS-MD programs and the nation’s most selective universities as well as colleges that best serve mid-range students and those with learning disabilities. During her 23-year tenure at Educational Testing Service, Judi served as technical liaison to the College Board. She designed and led the programming team to implement the College Board’s first SAT-prep software; she also wrote strategy chapters of their original SAT-prep books. Taking the SAT numerous times throughout her career, Judi has several perfect 800 scores on her record. As a founding faculty member of two private schools in Boca Raton, Florida, Judi created their college guidance programs and served as Director of College Guidance to the first four graduating classes of each school. Judi founded Score At The Top Learning Centers & Schools in South Florida. Accredited by AdvancED and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, the learning centers provide academic tutoring, SAT & ACT preparation, and courses for credit to over 1,000 students every year, both in person and via Skype. The accredited schools are home to more than 180 full-time students who thrive in intentionally small classes ranging in size from one to eight students. Judi is a professional member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association, the Higher Education Consultants Association, the National Association for College Admission Counseling, the Secondary School Admissions Test Board, and the Learning Disabilities Association of America. Judi earned degrees in mathematics and computer science from the University of Connecticut and Rutgers University, both with highest honors. Her professional life has been devoted to helping students achieve academic success. Judi first appeared on our podcast in episode 139 to discuss Building an A+ Extracurricular Resume. Find Judi at judi@scoreatthetop.com LINKS Should I Upload a Résumé with my College Applications? Present a Consistent Picture of Yourself in Your College Applications RELATED EPISODES BUILDING AN A+ EXTRACURRICULAR RESUME CREATING A PASSION PROJECT DEMONSTRATING LEADERSHIP IN COLLEGE APPLICATIONS ABOUT THIS PODCAST Tests and the Rest is THE college admissions industry podcast. Explore all of our episodes on the show page.
Finding the right school for your child with ADHD or learning differences is challenging. What is the first thing a parent should do in their search? What type of school should they consider: private, public, or boarding? Certified Educational Planner Judy Bass provides helpful insights for starting the selection process and choosing the best school for your child. She also discusses what characteristics and qualities to include on your checklist of pros and cons—and why understanding your child's needs should play an essential role in the search. Judith S. Bass, CEP Founder, CollegeWebLD, and Certified Educational Planner Judith S. Bass, CEP, is an internationally recognized expert in the field of college and postsecondary placement for students who learn differently. For the past 20 years, she has provided comprehensive planning services for students with ADHD, ASD, and other learning differences. Bass is a contributing author to Navigating the Transition from High School to College for Students with Disabilities. Her articles have appeared in numerous magazines, including Washington Parent and Attention. She founded CollegeWebLD, (www.collegewebld.com), a one-stop source of information on college disability services at over 400 colleges in the United States. A past chair of the Commission on Credentialing for AICEP (www.aicep.org) and a past board member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA), she serves as a consultant to several independent high schools in the Washington, DC, area. Bass received her undergraduate degree in education and Spanish from Stony Brook University, earned a graduate-level certificate in college counseling from UCLA, and holds the Certified Educational Planner designation.
Dr. Beth Dennard is joined by Certified Educational Planner and Bright Futures Consulting's Director of Operations, Elana Guerra, M.Ed.. Together, they explain the rules of engagement for 6 different types of college admissions plans – from early decision to rolling admissions. Access the complete show notes at brightfuturesllc.com/ep11. Resources: When hiring an independent educational consultant (like your counselors at Bright Futures Consulting), make sure they are part of one of the following 3 professional organizations. These organizations govern all legitimate Independent Educational Consultants: Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA) Independent Educational Consultant Association (IECA) National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) Elana Guerra was also a guest on Self-Accepted Podcast Episode 8, “Why Your Teen Should Start Setting Goals Now”. Listen to Episode 2 of Self-Accepted Podcast for tips on having the “money talk” with your teen, or read the blog here.
Dr. Beth Dennard is joined by Certified Educational Planner and Bright Futures Consulting's Director of Operations, Elana Guerra, M.Ed. Together, they discuss the importance of focusing on the finish line, the difference between goal-setting and living strategically, and why your teen should start setting goals now. Plus, Elana shares a recipe for success. Access show notes at brightfuturesllc.com/ep008.
On today's episode of The F Word, Sheryl Brown is speaking with Priscilla O'Neill, President of Summit Scholars. Priscilla is a Certified Educational Planner and as President and CEO of Summit Scholars, she is equipping young people to discover their trajectory for success. As a college planning advisor, she works not only with individuals and families, but aligns with other financial service professionals too as an independent educational consulting organization specializing in college and career selection, admissions, scholarships, financial aid, and college coaching. In today's chat we will discuss: Student Loan Debt: How much is there? Who holds the most? How do we lesson the load? Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: How does this affect applications for college? Financial Aid? Retirement Funds: How do you help financial advisors avoid parents burning through their retirement income to fund college for their children? Be sure to connect with Priscilla O'Neill: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/priscilla-oneill-cep-4912965/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/summitscholars1 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SummitScholars4realcollegeadvice/ Website: https://summitscholars.com/ Email: advisor@summitscholars.com