What’s “Your College Bound Plan?” Get Organized Now!

STAY ORGANIZED WITH THIS COMPANION WORKBOOK  TO “COLLEGE BOUND” INTERACTIVE GUIDE

“My College Bound Plan” by Christine M. Hand Gonzales, Ed.D.

mcbp-2016-17-cvr-only-72dpiA complete companion workbook to the College Bound interactive e-book with all the forms and checklists found in College Bound ready to use.

Now available in paperback on Amazon for $14.95 – great for keeping notes on your college plan – just click here!

Reviews:

“College Bound has everything! The first place I went was how to figure out what to major in. The links to O*NET and the career and major profiles really helped. Then I used the link to College Navigator to match majors with colleges. Testing, essay ideas, asking for letters of recommendation, and finding money are all important topics to me. There’s so much in this book. No matter what I needed, I found it in College Bound! There’s nothing else like it – and I know it helped me get into USC.” Jessica – University of South Carolina Freshman

“College Bound is awesome! I began my search for a college my junior year when I was interested in playing sports at the Division II or III level and Dr. Chris’s book helped a lot. The step-by-step instructions made the process for a student-athlete easy to understand. It also answered all my other questions about visits, the interviews, and the application process. Thanks, Dr. Chris!” Brian, High School Senior – Connecticut!–more– Read more reviews – click here.

cb-2016-17-cvr-only-72dpi“College Bound has been an amazing resource for our family! With one child in college and another who will graduate in two years, this book is a wealth of information! We are using it to help our daughter prepare for getting into the right school, and we’re using it to find additional financing for our son. I would have loved to have this book when he was in high school.” RM, Mother to a High School Junior and College Sophomore

“College Bound has been an amazing resource for our family! With one child in college and another who will graduate in two years, this book is a wealth of information! We are using it to help our daughter prepare for getting into the right school, and we’re using it to find additional financing for our son. I would have loved to have this book when he was in high school.” RM, Mother to a High School Junior and College Sophomore

“As a high school college counselor and a private consultant, ‘College Bound’ and the My College Bound Plan workbook have become essential tools in working with my students. The step by step process details every piece of important information needed to for your student to be successful in the college search and with the challenge of applications. I use the workbook with my students and have College Bound on my iPad as an instant resource.  I have recommended both of these books to my students and their parents.” Christine Carriuolo, M.S., College Counselor

For “College Bound” in eBook or paperback, click here!

Can’t Get to a College Campus? Why Not Visit from Home?

Visiting the campus is probably one of the most important steps in actually choosing your college. After all, you may be choosing where you would like to live for the next four years.  If you do not have the opportunity to visit, or have a chance to meet an admissions officer at a college fair in your hometown, it will be important for you to take a virtual visit:

  • Do your research about the college online.
  • Know your own goals and what questions you would like answered.
  • Know your PSAT, SAT and/or ACT scores, and GPA.
  • Understand your own strengths in the academic arena as well as in extracurricular activities.
  • Focus more on academic and student life opportunities.
  • Be honest on with yourself and what you are looking for.
  • Never underestimate the value of a tour whether online or in person. Click here to visit college virtual tour websites.

Dispelling the Myths About the College Selection Process

There are many myths about the college selection process, a few of which follow: 1) there is one perfect college for each student; 2) investigating colleges is an unpleasant chore; 3) a prestigious college education is a necessity for a successful career; 4) you can only afford a low-priced college; and 5) if you’ve never heard of a college, it can’t be good. These ideas frequently interfere with the primary goal of college admissions – to help students and colleges find the best possible match. We often associate exclusivity with higher value, but the fact is that “more selective” does not necessarily mean “better”. A student should not simply attend the most competitive college that accepts him or her. It is a mistake to narrow your sights to only one college, or to steer away from certain colleges because of higher costs. Keep your options open. Looking at colleges is an exciting and interesting activity that often leads to important self-discovery and new direction for the future. Let your enthusiasm and optimism shine and have fun with the process.

How to Impress Your Instructor Online: Quick Tips to Success for the Virtual Student

How to Impress Your Instructor Online: Quick Tips to Success for the Virtual Student by Harold T. Gonzales, Jr. Ed.D., is the essential resource guide for online students and educators working with students in higher education settings. The author offers an overview of the keys to success for the virtual student as they delve into their online learning experience and provides tips to impressing their online instructor. The book covers a broad range of topics including learning styles, time management techniques, online etiquette and communication skills, evaluation, and the challenging problems of plagiarism and cheating.

This must-read guide for any student considering online learning! Available for $4.99 in the College-Path.com Bookstore. Also on Amazon for the Kindle and Barnes and Noble Nook versions!

 

How Do I Avoid Scholarship Scams?

Are you asking, “How do I know when a scholarship is really a scam?”  There are several ways scams become apparent. Finaid.org discusses several including:

  • Money required before getting scholarship but scholarship never materializes
  • It may look like a scholarship program, but the scholarship company may be a for-profit agency. In other words, it costs to apply for it, and the money the company raises goes towards paying for the award.
  • A low interest loan if offered for a fee prior to approval.
  • A letter indicates you have won a scholarship prize but you must pay to receive it.
  • Scholarship matching services guarantee scholarships.
  • A free financial seminar often includes a sales pitch for insurance, annuity, or other investment products.

Read more about scholarship scams.

What is “Demonstrated Interest” and Can It Affect College Admissions?

There are many factors that are considered in the college’s admissions decision. Some factors such as grade point average, standardized test scores, and rigor of course curriculum can be measured. Other factors, such as the college visit, attending an information session, having a positive attitude about the opportunity to attend a particular college or university, and social networking might be considered “demonstrated interest” and are not measurable. Attending college fairs and local events, completing supplemental essays, contacting admissions personal for more information about programs, sending a thank-you note, and completing and early admissions application can all be considered to be showing a high degree of interest in the institution. When you are making the decision to apply to a college, find out whether “demonstrated interest” is a factor in the application process.

 

Grade 12, Senior Year Action Plan

Fall Semester

September

Check your transcripts to make sure you have all the credits you need to get into your college(s) of choice. Find out from the colleges to which you are applying whether or not they need official copies of your transcripts (sent directly from your high school) at the time of application.

Register for October/November SAT Reasoning Test, SAT Subject Test, and ACT (with writing) tests.

Take another look at your list of colleges, and make sure that they still satisfy your requirements. Add and/or remove colleges as necessary.

Make sure you meet the requirements (including any transcript requirements) for all the colleges to which you want to apply. Double-check the deadlines, and apply.

Give any recommendation forms to the appropriate teachers or counselors with stamped, college-addressed, envelopes making certain that your portion of the forms are filled out completely and accurately.  Be sure to give them a resume of your activities.

Most early decision and early action applications are due between October 1 and November 1. Keep this in mind if you intend to take advantage of these options and remember to request that your high school send your official transcripts to the college to which you are applying. Read what seniors should be doing during the application process each month of their senior year.

Action Plan for Junior Year – Grade 11

Fall Semester

Maintaining your grades during your junior year is especially important. You should be doing at least two hours of homework each night and participating in study groups. Using a computer can be a great tool for organizing your activities and achieving the grades you want.

Talk to your guidance counselor (or teachers, if you don’t have access to a guidance counselor) about the following: Availability of and enrollment in Advanced Placement classes.

Schedules and registration for the PSAT, SAT Reasoning Test and SAT Subject Test, ACT with Writing, and AP exams. Remember that when you take the PSAT in your junior year, the scores will count towards the National Achievement Program and the National Merit Scholarship Program (and it is good practice for the SAT Reasoning Test). Read more on the action plan for students each semester of their junior year.