College MatchPoint

There are a great number of “urban myths” about this subject. The truth is the best activities/organizations are the ones that you are truly passionate about. If you love sculpture then that is the best activity for you. I would say the more important issue is how much initiative you take to deeply pursue the activity or organization. It’s absolutely fine to choose something “out of the box” to pursue, but make sure you are fully engaged in the activity and that you take on leadership where possible. Yes, we’ve all heard that every college needs a bassoon player, but that may not be your passion. Choose what you love and dive deep into it!

Is the disability support services provided in college the same as those in high school?

No! Many students and parents are confused about this issue. Disability Support Services in college are different from high school. Colleges do not use IEP’s or 504′s. Don’t let this discourage you.

I find many of my students get great services in college. The key is to understand the process to follow to access the services. The first step to accessing services is to have up to date testing that clearly states your diagnosis and needed accommodations. The testing must be done in the last three years. The next step is to complete the needed paperwork to apply for services. The Disability Support office will review your documents and determine what services and accommodations are offered to you. It is important to note that some colleges are more “disability friendly” than others. Find out about this process when you are considering colleges. A strong Disability Support Services office can greatly enhance your experience in college.

No! Many students and parents are confused about this issue. Disability Support Services in college are different from high school. Colleges do not use IEP’s or 504′s. Don’t let this discourage you.

I find many of my students get great services in college. The key is to understand the process to follow to access the services. The first step to accessing services is to have up to date testing that clearly states your diagnosis and needed accommodations. The testing must be done in the last three years. The next step is to complete the needed paperwork to apply for services. The Disability Support office will review your documents and determine what services and accommodations are offered to you. It is important to note that some colleges are more “disability friendly” than others. Find out about this process when you are considering colleges. A strong Disability Support Services office can greatly enhance your experience in college.

I’m having a great time serving on the Unigo Expert Network. This week’s question was:

This week’s question from Alex R. from Lakewood, NJ asks:

I don’t know what I want to major in yet, can that hurt my application? When do I need to pick a major by and how important is choosing the right major for my career?

Exploration leads to a solid college major by Lisa Bain Carlton, College MatchPoint

Students tend to find their majors in a couple of ways. The most common is that they take a course that really sparks their interest in a subject. I encourage students to get to know the professors in these courses. Ask the professor about the field and the emerging trends within it. It is also a good idea to talk with other students in the major. Another path for finding a major is volunteer work or an internship. Real world experience brings the field alive in a way that course work alone cannot.

I’m proud that I’ve been selected to be a member of the Unigo Expert Network, along with some of the top admissions experts throughout the US. As a member of this network, my advice will be featured each month in media outlets including US News & World Report, McGraw-Hill, The Huffington Post, AOL, Seventeen Magazine, and more.

To see the first column, discussing the importance of college rankings, visit: www.unigo.com/expertnetwork.

Finally, this is an interactive column. We will be answering questions sent in from high school students and parents like you, each week. If you have a question you’d like to see answered by the nation’s top admissions experts, please send it in at www.unigo.com/expertquestions

Happy New Year!  I hope all of you have a wonderful New Year full of learning and adventure.  I encourage you to set some goals for the coming year.

If you are a senior, what do you want to accomplish in your final semester of high school?  Most of you will probably say you want to get out.  However, is there a class that you’d like to make in A that may help you in college?  Is there a classmate that you never took the time to get to know?  Enjoy this final semester and don’t forget to study!

If you are a college freshman, you just finished a whirlwind semester. How did it go?  Take heart, most of us find the first semester challenging.  Now is a good time to take stock of what changes you will make for next semester.  Maybe set the alarm a little earlier two days a week or find your way to the library more often.  Perhaps, you may also want to join some organizations on campus.

For all of you, make the most of the coming year and may it be full of joy and wonder.

Keep In Touch,

Lisa

Read the SmartMoney article.

I’m thrilled to pass this article on to my clients.  Many families I work with assume that they will not receive any financial aid, however, as the article points out many middle class families qualify for financial aid. This is very important in the college search as it is in a student’s best interest to have a variety of options- public schools and private schools.   Continue reading »

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/21/education/21college.html

Check out this article which talks about how to pay in state tuition even if you live out of state.

http://www.examiner.com/x-20753-DC-College-Admissions-Examiner~y2010m2d3-4-more-ways-to-pay-instate-tuition-at-outofstate-colleges