College Bound - Consulting Services

03/09/2022

This is excellent!

12/02/2021

American Association of University Women - Auburn is offering THREE different SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES to students living in the Placer Union High School district area:
1 - High school seniors going to college. Potential applicants can find this application on their high school's counseling website.
Applications are due January 31st.
2 - Students transferring from a community college to a four-year college or university. Applicants can find the application on their website. https://auburn-ca.aauw.net/scholarships/
Applications are due April 1st.
3 - Women who are re-entering the college experience at Sierra College after a break of some sort. Applications can be found on the Sierra College scholarship website.
Applications are due April 1st.
Please consider sharing this with anyone that you know that might be eligible. All applicants need have a permanent address in the Placer Union High School District boundaries.
All of the information and application links are on their website https://auburn-ca.aauw.net/

02/20/2021

Who would have predicted that with the COVID restrictions and lockdowns that students would interpret it as coming with MORE opportunities? More motivation to fly and be free... that is a no brainer. Ultimately, students end up where they should, regardless of what they think when applying. Best wishes to all as we approach admission season.

Waiving standardized test requirements during the pandemic brought more hopefuls to the Ivy League and large state schools, while less-selective colleges face an alarming drop.

12/02/2020

The negative impact of this trend will be far reaching in higher education. The return of these students whom have deferred will intensify this next admission cycle and their absence this year is financially devastating. Ultimately, the US needs these international students and a vaccine is the green light to come back. The question is, will they?

The pandemic is a major reason, but the number of international students has been falling for years.

12/01/2020

This is one of the most exciting things I've seen in a while. Arcata and CSU Humboldt are both beautiful destinations. Stay tuned for other incredible opportunities in higher education.

The CSU system is looking to Humboldt State University to become the third Cal Poly in the state system, which could result in less impaction at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Of the 23 campuses in the …

09/04/2020

Wow - this injunction definitely puts some teeth into the concept of not using the SAT or ACT for admissions.

A judge in California ruled that the system's "test optional" policy unfairly disadvantaged students with disabilities who could not access the SAT and ACT.

08/14/2020

I truly believe that most students will rise to the occassion of this very weird time. Honestly, we may all grow with our perspective and in terms of our priorities. Best wishes to all that are starting school with at least an idea of how to operate. Think back to March and how foreign the ideas of social distancing, distance learning, and masks were. We've all learned a lot and I think these kids will do just fine!

The University of Notre Dame’s president apologized for posing near students for a photo. Princeton canceled in-person classes just weeks before they begin. Canada’s border patrol turned away a mother driving her daughter to McGill because of her U.S. citizenship.

08/12/2020

To my many teacher friends and the thousands of students that are navigating this very challenging time... hang in there! Be your best, look for the best in each other and know that you can do this!

Rocklin High School teacher’s take on the start of this school year Lyrics: Don't you know I'm waiting at school? But if you're here, you're breaking the rul...

07/31/2020

On behalf of the educators out there...this next quarter (but probably longer) starts a new chapter in public education. There is a huge learning curve that students, teachers, and district administrators will be navigating, yet again, together!
As we embark on this thing called “eLearning or blended learning or even face to face instruction”, we are asking our Facebook friends to refrain from publicly scrutinizing their children’s teachers/schools/district for the way they are teaching, the lessons they’re assigning, or the decisions the districts are making. Instead, we ask you stand up for educators if you see this negativity on your timeline.
Please offer grace to your child’s teacher and other school personnel. I promise that educating & keeping your children safe is still their #1 priority. ❤️
They are about to navigate uncharted waters with little idea in what to expect. This is a crisis, not a time to be playing armchair quarterback. They love your kids and will be doing their absolute best!

04/02/2019

This is an important read. A big part of navigating the college admissions process is weeding through the myths. This myth that athletics are the ticket to a good college, is outrageously mis-understood. First of all - most college athletes don't get money for their sport and if they do it is nominal (they would make with a part-time job). 2nd - if a student is a high caliber student (top 10% or higher) it is very unlikely that their athletic ranking is on par, so they actually may have to give up an academic opportunity in order to play their sport where their recruitment makes sense. 3rd - the amount of money, time and energy that is spent promoting a high school athlete would be guaranteed to go further in tutoring and a variety of other activities. 4th - it's a one in a million that an athletic recruitment gets a student to an ideal college and that recruitment comes with money.

*BTW -I never discourage a full commitment to a sport if the student/athlete loves their sport, it's their passion, and that is their primary reasoning. But, if there is an idea that there is some return on the investment (time and money), I try as diplomatically as possible to encourage a more well-rounded approach.

Those who think that athletics is the easy way to get into an elite school are sorely mistaken. In fact, getting into college as a recruited athlete is one of the hardest ways to get in.

03/13/2019

As a college consultant, I find this scandal to be outrageous and alarming all at once. Of course, the wealthy parents that are being charged, deserve their punishment and shame for their participation in such egregious efforts on behalf of their kids. It’s gross on every level and is the abomination of what many parents are doing to a lesser degree... pulling out all of the stops to get their kids ahead. In the end, that parental practice is unethical and ultimately will not serve their kids well, but clearly not everyone sees it the same as I. With all of that being said, at the helm of this scandal was a college consultant that guided these families in their outrageous pursuits. THAT is what really has me floored and appalled. When clients walk through my door, I make it painfully clear that I do not have the power nor will I exercise any string-pulling that will get anyone into any schools. I say this, because it would be unethical and illegal if I were to operate in such a manner. I make it clear, that if anyone in my role professes their ability to get kids into schools or even to get scholarships for kids, those consultants are either lying or they are willing to act unethically and may suggest something fraudulent. Honestly, I think this is more often to be the case in an effort to chase Financial Aid, but clearly it happens with admissions as well.

Keep it real people: Don’t lie on your applications; don’t cook your financials; don’t exaggerate or make up disabilities; don’t write kids' essays (don’t pay others either); don’t cheat on standardized tests in any way, shape or form; and so many more seemingly obvious don’ts. Just don’t think you are better than everyone else or that you deserve something that you don’t. Just don’t!

Lastly - this scandal should definitely make people evaluate why they would use a college consultant. I am worth my fees as a guide to the admissions process, but not because I can get your kids accepted. Instead, my role is to help you find the right fit. I critique essays and give kids timelines in ways that are received by students more openly than if the same message was coming from parents. I have insight on college opportunities that students and families may not have considered. I can give you a realistic idea of what your college admissions outcome will be and how to prepare for your options. I can offer strategies for pursuing schools and majors in ways that will ensure that your best foot is forward, but I'm not getting you in the door. I can change your family dynamic by allowing me to be the coach and parents to be cheerleaders. I do a lot of things, but getting your kids accepted where they don't belong, is not one of the things that I do.

Feel free to call me if you are looking for what I can offer, but don't bother if you are looking for what this person was offering.

Federal authorities announced indictments in massive college cheating scam.