TVH College Counseling

Hey! If you are interested in reading up on the latest TVH college tips and stories and news, I just published my February 🩷 newsletter on Substack (link in bio).

And yes, those cute kids in the photo are my folks. As Cal Poly Pomona and Humboldt State students, they met on a study-abroad program in Sweden in 1967. I know. Crazy!

Now almost 60 years later, studying abroad has become much more common place. But what's it take to get into college in the first place? Can you get in with a 3.0?

Turns out, there are almost 200 four-year colleges in California alone. We tend to only ever talk about maybe 10% of the schools out there. The most selective ones.

What if these popular, “prestigious” universities aren’t actually the best ones for you? If you’re a junior that’s feeling like it’s too late to apply to a 4-year college because your grades aren’t what you’d hoped, your options might be broader than you realize…

**I touch upon all these things and so much more in this month's post! Tap on over**

The CSU app was released today! You've got until Dec 1 to fill it out and submit it. Let's go!
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My latest post in Substack (WHAT PREPARED ME MOST) also dropped today. Check it out to get latest info on the FAFSA, the CSU and UC apps, and the college reps visiting high schools this month.
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My Substack link is in my bio, as always!

Kids are already submitting applications!!!! What?! Yep. It’s crazy early I know, but some schools have deadlines this month! Like the beautiful university pictured right here in this post. Read about it in my latest article on Substack. Link in bio as always.
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Also… The great Sonoma County COLLEGE Fair is Wednesday this week! Don’t miss it! You can read about that as well in my handy dandy September newsletter. While you’re over on that platform, it’s probably a good idea to subscribe. It’s free, and every new TVH post will be sent directly to your inbox. So easy.

Hey! If you've been here for a bit, you know I'm all about crushing the college application game. You may also know I send out a newsletter each month that includes links and resources for keeping on track with dates and deadlines and all that jazz. I've been emailing these notes out for a few years now, but I recently moved over to Substack.
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If you’ve got (or you are) a college-bound kid and are hoping to get through this whole thing without a college counselor, my monthly missives might just save the day. And if your kid is one of my students, my updates will keep you well-informed on what is happening behind the scenes. There's something for everyone.
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So, join the club and sign up on Substack (link in bio, forever and always). It’s free, so there’s no pressure to do anything but read and soak up all the helpful info that you didn’t even know existed. AND your subscription would make my day. Would really love to have you!
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My June post features this lovely lady (see photo), my niece and student-of-the-year rockstar who will be starting high school in the fall. Amazing chica, this one. ⭐️

This just happened! College ✅ So proud. Couldn't love him more!

Check out what happened this weekend!!! I woke up to this text Sunday morning:

I got ACCEPTED EARLY to UC BERKELEY!!!! I'm 1 of 1000 selected for early admission out of 127,000!!! (0.8%)!!!

..and I am still thinking about this and SO PUMPED FOR THIS GIRL.

As I work with students to build college lists, we consider acceptance rates. But never does 0.8% (LESS THAN ONE PERCENT, you guys) ever enter our minds. Stanford, for example, is 4%. The apps that these colleges are reviewing are those of very high-achieving students, most of whom do NOT get accepted. But when they do, we celebrate!!!

What a deserved honor. What a fantastic way to be recognized for a job well done. What an opportunity. Hats off to this stellar student. 👏🏼

I know the rest of you amazing UC applicants are still waiting. Ugh. As I mentioned in my newsletter this month, sometimes that’s the hardest assignment of all. Waiting.

It sounds like Berkeley will release the rest of their decisions around March 27…AKA a million years from now. Since it feels like FOREVER away, here’s some advice. Go live your high school life. Your sports. Your activities. Your friend stuff. Stressing over what colleges will decide (even thinking about it) will accomplish nothing, so go do all your fav high school things with those you love while you can. These days will be over before you know it!

And once again, HUGE CONGRATULATIONS