Capstone College and Career Advising

Parents, you have probably heard of the malady called senioritis. Back in the day, you may have even come down with a case of it yourself. You know the symptoms: a lax approach to studying, difficulty finishing projects or getting to class on time, and an overall attitude that could be summed up as “so over it.” Although you may have to accept and excuse some level of this senior-year affliction, there is a time and a place for it. And that time is NOT January of your child’s senior y…click for more...?>

Stanford along with Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Columbia, and all of the Ivy League schools have very low acceptance rates among applicants.  The competitiveness is crazy with only 5-7% of applicants being chosen to these outstanding institutions.  Many students can be crushed by not being one of the few chosen, but are these colleges really the right fit for you? Prestigious Universities can be highly competitive but that doesn’t always translate as success at the institution once you are ad…click for more...?>

While not the determining factor in college decisions, the ACT and SAT exams are a key component to the college admissions process and scholarships opportunities. As a result, it is important to maximize your scores.  There are several steps which are crucial in making the most of your scores.  1. Take the Right Test – Take both the ACT and SAT as close together as possible without preparation.  When you receive your scores back compare the two exams and determine which one …click for more...?>

Extent That You Exceed Basic Admissions Requirements With each college having a minimum standard for admissions, many colleges still struggle to find room for all the students who meet the minimum criteria.  As a result, they are burdened with finding candidates who not only meet the minimum criteria but far exceed it.  The wider the gap your credentials are from the minimum standards, the better your chances of being admitted to the school of your choice.  For example…click for more...?>

Our Previous Articles demonstrated why it is important to be involved in high school.  Colleges are looking for high school students who are involved in extracurricular activities.  They want students who have a proven track record of maintaining good grades while managing their time well with a variety of activities.  It is also important to be proactive in your involvement early in high school; knowing what to be involved in and to what level you should involve yourself in these things.  …click for more...?>

When a student is involved on campus during their college years, they develop a sense of family with the institution they attend – along with the fellow alumni and students from that university.  It creates a close connection among graduates and the institution.  When these students go into the world and become successful, they show their appreciation by investing back into the university which helped them find success.  This is why universities look for students who will not only thri…click for more...?>

Why would an academic institution invest so many resources into a life outside of the classroom?  It seems they would love to have a student who only focused on academics and would forgo their social life to receive better grades.  Colleges are interested in students who succeed in the classroom but also want to experience college to the fullest.  They want students to be involved and feel a sense of belonging to the institution they attend.  These schools desire students who are well round…click for more...?>

Colleges spend millions of dollars creating a unique college experience on their campus.  They build recreation centers, highlight sports activities, encourage school spirit, create fun activities within the dorms, host special student events…and the list goes on.  Colleges create policies to encourage student participation in these activities – i.e. requiring students to live on campus their Freshman year of college.  As a result of this huge investment, universities look for students i…click for more...?>

Henry is a senior at a small school in a rural community.  He is an exceptional young man who is very gifted but opportunities do not travel through the lone traffic light in his small town and if they do, those opportunities would not stop; they would simply travel on through to get to their much larger destination where the pool of potential is much wider and deeper.  As a result, Henry does not have the resources or personality which would draw attention to his abilities as these opportuni…click for more...?>

Every college has a set standard they go by for admissions. Some colleges openly list those requirements and some universities are not as transparent about their admissions practices. Institutions of higher learning will often times convey to parents that their decisions are based on a wholistic review of the student. This is a bit ambiguous, but essentially it means they look at the entire student considering factors such as GPA, ranking, test scores, level of rigor in the academic record, act…click for more...?>