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Attention 8-11th grade students and their parents!

All-in-One Academics
Gelato Bar & Information Session
Five Secrets to College Admissions Gold

Saturday, April 20th from 12:00pm – 1:00pm

at

The Nottingham Forest Club

325 Kickerillo Drive Houston, TX 77079

We hope to see you there! In the meantime, check out this short video about the program!

Summer will be here before you know it – and for juniors in high school, that means it’s time to get serious about planning for the college application process. One way to get ahead of the curve is to sign up for one of our College Application Crash Courses – an intensive week-long workshop intended to provide expert guidance to students as they complete the written components of their college applications – all before senior year even starts! But don’t take it from us – take it from a student who took part in one of our sessions last summer and is now finishing up senior year and preparing to head off to Philadelphia to join Penn’s class of 2017! The following is an excerpt from Julian answering questions about his experience last summer with instructors Jessica and Jamil.

– What did you think was the most helpful part of the crash course?

The most helpful part of the crash course was the help that we received with the infamous common app essays. They are simple questions, but such simplicity clutters the thoughts and responses of nervous applicants. Jessica and Jamil were able to guide us through the process, and when we did not know where to start, they helped us brainstorm ideas of what to write. Although many of us did go through several drafts and changes, we were able to produce admissions-worthy essays.

– Do you think your applications would have turned out differently if you were not part of a crash course? How?

If it weren’t for the crash course, I can see my application lacking strength and personality. My school, KIPP Houston High School, does a pretty good job informing us on the college process. However, it does not compare to the amount of help Jessica and Jamil provided us with. It definitely boosted my confidence level, and since many universities do not see you in person during the review process, the crash course was able to help me implement my personality, morals, and stories necessary for universities to know and understand.

– What would you tell a student who is thinking about taking a crash course next summer?

If I could give any advice, I would tell them to be prepared. In other words, the crash course had me working the entire day, and I would advise a prospective participant to be ready for all the hard work that Jessica and Jamil put you through. It is non-stop work with filling out the meticulous common app, and it’s even more strenuous working through revision after revision on the essays. In the end, however, it is definitely worth the hard work. When all your friends and stressing over the college process, you could sit back because you got it done and revised over the summer.

Thank you to Julian for providing us with information about his experience last summer and best of luck when you start at Penn in the fall! For more information about our Crash Courses, please click here.

Exciting news! 

This summer, we’ll be offering our Elite SAT/ACT Prep Course and our College Application Crash Courses as part of a study abroad program in Spain!

We’ve partnered with Sol Abroad, a leader in Spanish immersion programs in Texas – to offer our SAT/ACT Prep Courses and our College Application Crash Courses as an add-on to their fantastic program running this summer in Granada.

Students will be totally immersed in Spanish culture, living with a host family, going on excursions, making new friends – and preparing for your SAT/ACT tests or completing your college applications before senior year even starts! This is a great way to make an already amazing experience even better! Here are the details:

Summer 2013: June 15 – July 13

With SAT/ACT Prep Course: $5,290

With College Application Prep Course: $6,290

This program includes orientation, tuition and classes, excursions, cultural activities, housing, meals, and more. For more information, or to sign up, please visit www.allinoneacademics.com/spain. For more information about Sol Abroad, visit their website at www.solabroad.com.

We hope you’ll join us for this amazing opportunity!

We had heard about College of Charleston for years, and with the rising number of students in our program seeking cool, out-of-state public schools, we decided to take a look in person. Here’s what we found: College of Charleston merits serious consideration.

College of Charleston is a liberal arts college. As such, it offers a wide array of majors, including business, but all majors require a core set of classes from a variety of disciplines. At the same time, College of Charleston has a few unique majors that some kids might want to consider. The Arts Management program is second-to-none, with students getting behind-the-scenes experience in the arenas of nonprofit and gallery work. Students have a set of well-connected professors who help them score internships at museums, galleries, and festivals, so students graduate with the experience to go out and get real jobs in the industry. Additionally, the Historic Preservation major is for students who want to learn how to maintain historical architecture and art. It’s a wonderful program, especially in Charleston, because of the antebellum and turn-of-the century homes in the Battery. Finally, the Hospitality and Tourism major is excellent, not only because of the tremendous faculty, but also because of Charleston’s great touristic value. This school contrasts with Houston’s Conrad Hilton School of Hotel and Restaurant Management because the exposure is so different; Charleston has far more leisure tourists, while Houston has many corporate travelers, just in town for business. As a result, students who hope to work in the resort industry would likely find greater opportunities here, considering that Kiawah and Hilton Head are so close by.

With respect to social life, there is a small Greek life – about 19%. Students not participating in sororities and fraternities enjoy multiple cultural and social opportunities, more so than at many other public colleges, primarily because of the location in Charleston – this place is just fun, and the city itself just breathes good times.

Housing is interesting because aside from the standard freshman dorms, Charleston also has a collection of historic homes on campus where students live. Theme-based housing, such as gender studies or foreign language or the Medical Manor, is located within these gorgeous old homes, and although they’re probably rickety, they are amazing places for college kids to call home. Many kids also live off-campus, and we visited one of our students at his off-campus home. It was beautiful, and all he had to do to get to school was jump on his bike. The streets are safe and slow, and it would be a crime not to ride here – besides, it makes parking issues evaporate.

For our students who need accommodations for learning differences, Charleston can take care of most issues. They have a program called SNAP (no one can really put a finger on what the acronym stands for), which works with students who need extended time or notetaking or textbook accommodations. Also, in the Center for Student learning, students will find tutoring labs in every area, and if they don’t have a tutor in the subject you need, they will find one! It’s pretty awesome.

Now for the nitty-gritty: getting in. Charleston is getting more competitive, but the test score ranges are still doable. The average ACT score range for out-of-state students is 24-28. The average range for SAT Math and Critical Reading is 1100-1240. However, test scores don’t carry the highest weight here; grades and academic rigor are far more important. That means you should stick with those harder classes and put your nose to the grindstone. The truth is (always) that it’s better to aim for A’s than to strive for the cheerleading squad. And, if your numbers fall on the lower side, you should definitely fill out the optional personal statement. Yes, it is optional – but I make all of my students do it. Why? Well, because it’s a poor choice to forgo any chance you have to show your merit.

The final word:

Charleston is beautiful, low-key, and classy. I’m a clear supporter of the school because I think it’s big enough that you can see a new face every day, but small enough that you can get to know faculty members. I like the internship requirements here because it’s becoming more and more obvious that students without internships have a very hard time finding work in the long run.

However, Charleston doesn’t offer every major, a fact they readily admit. So, if you’re committed to engineering, this isn’t your spot. And, if fashion management or merchandising or design is in the cards for you, then look elsewhere. The reps here will be completely honest if they feel like your needs will be better met at a different college, so call them and ask before you invest time and energy in a visit or application. What you study is far more important than where you study (unless we’re talking Ivies or Stanford), so get your ducks in a row before making a decision.

Entrance to Northeastern

I’m not sure that my experiences at a liberal arts college were typical – since so little of what I wind up doing seems typical – but there was nothing practical about it. No one discussed possible careers for a Classics major or an Anthropology major; they were just areas of focus amid the well-rounded core curriculum. Well, let me tell you that I wish I had received a bit more guidance – maybe even just a sign here or there that a real world existed and that I was going to have to function in it. And, that’s what Northeastern does best.

The first time we mentioned to someone that we were going to visit Northeastern, the person responded, “Oh, you have to check out the co-op program!” Obviously, this person was from the Northeast and knew her way around the universities up there; she knew what set Northeastern apart from its peers. On the contrary, hardly anyone I’ve met south of the Mason-Dixon line has ever heard of it. It’s time to change that.

Northeastern builds actual work experience into its curriculum.

Every student at Northeastern participates in what’s called a Co-op. This Co-op program is sort of like an internship, but better. We’ve all seen comedic portrayals of the “intern” getting coffee, making copies, and taking out the trash, clear representations that the average intern is a glorified slave who may or may not learn anything about the business at hand. That’s why Northeastern runs a strict co-op system, in which the participating businesses are required to provide a certain amount of meaningful training, so that Northeastern kids can gain real experience and have the chance at getting real jobs!

Northeastern students spend at least six months working in a Co-op. During that time, they do not take classes or pay tuition. Instead, they get paid to work and see the innards of a functioning business. This step away from the college grind pays off. Some of the students find that they’ve indeed found their true calling through their Co-op work, while others learn that their talents are best suited elsewhere – a realization everyone would rather have during college, as opposed to after.

The Co-op is even cooler than it sounds because students have the option of doing their Co-ops practically anywhere in the world. There are active Northeastern kids everywhere, working up a storm and having fun in the process. I wish I could have had this option when I was in school!

Another Plus: It’s Right on the T in Boston

Northeastern isn’t in the center of Boston’s serious hubbub, but it’s really easy to get there. All you have to do is hop on the T, which is basically a monorail/subway/bus combo. It’s the noisiest public transportation on earth, but it runs like a champ and can get you anywhere you want to go in Boston.

Now, we will grant that Northeastern’s campus lacks the old-world beauty of some New England-area schools, but it makes up in ambition for what it lacks in aesthetics.  And, it isn’t ugly by any stretch; it’s just not going to inspire Pindar to write an ode. In any case, do you want a good job when you graduate, or do you want frame-worthy photos of yourself in front of the library? Think long and hard…

– Jessica

I had heard of Emerson before. One of my favorite students of all time – Eric Helfman – recently graduated from there, and everything I saw in his college curriculum differed from my experience at Southwestern. This college may have a liberal arts component, but it is NOT a liberal arts college (even though technically it is). Note that Eric never had to take a math or science class, and every one of his humanities courses dealt with film or art in some way – hardly the typical liberal arts pathway. I was intrigued – so many of my students could benefit by attending a more hands-on, career-oriented college.

Emerson specializes in artistic, communication, and media majors, so you won’t find a basic business or engineering major here. Instead, you will find top-notch industry equipment for budding journalists and cinematographers, high-end technology for future animators and sound editors, and Broadway-quality theaters for aspiring stage managers and set designers. And, its location complements this no-nonsense environment; it’s wedged right into the city, facing Boston Common. Students here are living and breathing the working world, even as they gain the skills to join it.

Journalism Room – set up to mimic real-life

We were very impressed by the career immersion Emerson offers. For instance, filmmakers get to work with real SAG actors on location, which is cool and exciting, but they also have to deal with the less glamorous parts of filming, like requesting permits from the city – an important insight into bureaucracy from the very beginning. Similarly, the writing program at Emerson broadens its curricular focus to incorporate the complicated publishing process, giving students an understanding of the business world of writing. It’s just not a cotton-candy fantasy land at Emerson; they want their students to be able to work when they graduate… and I frankly wish more schools shared their mission.

I know this is getting long, but I do want to mention two really cool programs at Emerson. Since the school is so career-focused, studying abroad can be difficult. That’s why the school has designed two of its own programs: the semester in LA and the Castle Program. The LA Semester is an internship-based program that takes advantage of the huge Emerson LA alumni network. Emerson is really sending its grads off to work in the media world, and as a result, it can offer over 1,000 different internship opportunities to its students in the heart of the entertainment industry. While the LA Semester is very career-intensive, the Castle Program is more of a general educational experience. The school owns a castle in the Netherlands, where sophomores can live and study for a semester, spending their weekends cavorting around Europe and soaking up the multitude of cultural attitudes that only Europe can peacefully intertwine.

Okay, so we’re clearly fans of Emerson, but that doesn’t mean that we believe everyone should apply to this school or that it’s even appropriate for the majority of applicants. Emerson is for motivated, driven kids, who are actively pursuing careers in very specific industries. As such, they are looking beyond applicants’ numbers to see their potential contribution to the school. Emerson wants the entrepreneurial, out-of-the-box spirit. They want the guy who started the film club or created a quirky blog; they aren’t as interested in the leader of the powder puff team as they are in the director of the school play. In truth, I would not have succeeded at Emerson (I’m saddened to admit that fact – I’m just not creative enough), but my husband would have excelled there.

What’s cool about Emerson is it reminds you that there really is something for everyone, and it’s great that a school can look seriously at the entertainment industry and groom its students to succeed in such a competitive field. Emerson proudly claims that it reaches the midway point between a conservatory and a college. If you think that might be where you belong, then you have to check this school out.

This fall, we are sending students far and wide – from gap years in Costa Rica and Australia to college orientations at Vanderbilt and Notre Dame. In every case, the sendoffs are bittersweet; we’re proud and grateful to have had the opportunity, but also sad to see our friends leave. It’s that spirit of friendship that has inspired this post.

Thank you

Each student who comes our way enriches our lives. I’ve yet to forget a student’s name, face, or essay topic. You trusted us with your college applications, arguably the most important physical representation of your efforts and achievements this far in life. You opened up your hearts and minds to enable us to help you find your voice. Your parents believed in us and allowed us to harass you nonstop until you completed your applications. Thank you – those factors laid the groundwork for this year’s success.

Congratulations

It’s a big deal to head off to college or to make the decision to take a gap year. You’re growing into mature adults who can contribute to our society, and we’re so proud of your accomplishments. Congratulations on the initiative and commitment you’ve shown to reach this point – the world is your oyster.

Seize the day

If we can offer one piece of advice as you move onto the next step of your life, it’s this: Embrace your opportunities! Any time you get the chance to do something different or strange, do it. Join clubs, find internships, study abroad. Write for your college paper, start a blog, do research. College offers a volume of opportunities that no other segment in life can. Make the most of it. You will not regret it when it comes time to write the next résumé, the big one, the one that goes to potential employers or grad programs. Remember, life has no rewind button, so make the most of NOW.

Okay, so that’s it with our babbling. Keep in mind as you go off onto your happy trails that we’re here to support you as you go through school – editing papers, helping with course selections, and navigating the grad school gauntlet. Please keep in touch and let us know how things are going at Boston University, Wash U, UT, University of Kentucky, USC, American University, and Rice. If you want to keep up with us, you can find us on Facebook and Twitter! Now rest up, prepare, and go get ‘em!