College Materials-College Counseling

01/02/2025

Happy New Year!

This year, commit to embracing your individuality and developing the strengths that allow you to naturally stand out. Lean into your passions, talents, and unique perspective—these are what make you truly unforgettable.

Colleges value authenticity, so let your story reflect the real you. Prioritize becoming the best version of yourself, not a replica of someone else. Celebrate what makes you unique, and let that shine through in every essay, activity, and conversation.
2025 is your year to be unapologetically YOU!

12/15/2024

This holiday season, I’m inviting the families I work with to help support a single-parent family in Santa Ana at Madison Elementary.
Inspired by Shea and Camden Joko’s reflections after volunteering at their aunt Ms. Yee’s school, I was struck by Camden’s words:
“Not everything was perfect that day. I was reminded of my privilege when the students had to pick up free meals for their families at the end of the day. I can’t imagine worrying about where my next meal would come from or if my family would be able to afford the bare necessities.”
Ms. Yee has dedicated her life to mentoring students from elementary school to college, and this year, I want to support a hardworking single mom she knows. This mom, who works as a dishwasher, lives with her three children—a one-year-old boy, a 12-year-old girl, and a 15-year-old girl—in a small one-bedroom apartment. Their wish list includes essentials like blankets and work shoes, but I hope we can add some holiday joy to their lives.
I’ve created a gift registry to make giving easy. I’ll wrap and deliver the gifts this Friday, so Prime-eligible items are best for timely delivery. Alternatively, you can choose a gift on your own by this Wednesday.

07/05/2024

I am continually inspired by their words and perspectives, so I wanted to share a few quotes. Their unique insights and heartfelt reflections remind me of the power of this generation and the bright future they represent.

The 4th of July is a perfect time to pause and reflect on our blessings—freedom, opportunity, and the ability to learn and grow. Happy 4th🇺🇸 Inspiration

05/03/2022

Cheers to the Class of 2022! Congratulations!
 

Getting into college has never been more competitive and I have witnessed firsthand the tenacity and brilliance of the class of 2022
as a College Counselor. I am so proud of you and wish you continued success. Thank you for letting me be part of your journey.

02/16/2022

UC Berkeley sent out a letter yesterday letting applicants know there could be hundreds fewer offers of admission because of a court order. I am so frustrated for our students. Applicants should not have to bear the burden of this decision. Berkeley UC Berkeley and the State (Gavin Newsom) need to manage this now and ensure there are as many open seats as possible at CAL. Students have worked too hard and endured too much during this pandemic to be told that things might not work out again.

Here's some information from the letter sent by the Chancellor:

"That amounts to at least 3,050 fewer undergraduate students than what our 2022-23 enrollment planning currently calls for.

This court-mandated decrease in enrollment would be a tragic outcome for thousands of students who have worked incredibly hard to gain admission to Berkeley. "

What would be tragic is if Berkeley doesn't take accountability and figure out a solution now. Do not depend on the whims of our courts to decide the fate of our students. If we learned anything from the pandemic, we know that you always have to have a Plan B. Let's figure out Plan B for our students.

09/21/2021

UC Campuses may offer a range of virtual opportunities, including college fairs, appointments, admissions sessions, tours, and videos on admission, housing, and/or financial aid and scholarships. Some will be hosted in-person, while others will be offered virtually. Programming for counselors, students, and families will be available.

UC Berkeley: Open House October 9; programming throughout September and October
UC Davis: Open House October 4-29; programming for counselors, families and students offered throughout the fall quarter
UC Irvine: Preview Week October 11-15 (Virtual)
UCLA: Open House September 25-30 (Virtual)
UC Merced: Programming available throughout September, October, and November
UC Riverside: Discover UCR November 1-4 (Virtual)
UC San Diego: Fall Showcase October 2; Programming available throughout September, October, and November
UC Santa Barbara: Programming throughout October and November
Santa Cruz: Programming throughout September, October, and November

06/05/2021

Do we need another Cal Poly?

Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo rejected 15,000 applicants with 4.0 grade point averages last year. Would a Cal Poly designation revive another campus?

02/09/2021

What are colleges looking for?

As more colleges become test optional and test blind, it is important to understand the basis of selection for each college. That’s where the Common Data Set comes in!

The Common Data Set compiles all the most important facts and figures about each college in a standardized format. You can look up the basis for selection for each college.

The Common Data Set pictured is from USC and you can see the important factors that USC uses in the admission process beyond just test scores. Obviously, these factors are changing with COVID testing policies, but you can see the overall picture of factors that were used in the past. If you want to find the basis of selection for colleges that you are interested in, simply Google “CDS” or “common data set” and the school name to find the data (Not all colleges publish the Common Data Set).

The Common Data set does not cover everything, but it is a great resource to use during your college search. DM me if you have additional questions about starting the college search process. I am working with Junior on creating colleges lists all month long.

College Materials

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CLDPQ_fl_He/?igshid=nsct3wsnh8y0

ms.collegeapps • Original Audio

01/19/2021

Is your student meeting with you their high school counselor soon? How often do they talk to them? Academic Advisors and high school counselor are a great source of information and support.

Here are three questions that they can ask them this spring.

✅ Is there a class that you recommend for me next fall that will challenge me and allow for academic success?

✅ Can you think of a summer opportunity that might be a good fit for me?

✅ Can we review my transcript?

Hopefully they will use these questions to get thinking about other topics for their counselor.

_________________

Are you trying to figure out the college application process alone at home with your student during this pandemic?

Let me help your student get on the right track by guiding them successfully through the application process. Feel free to DM me with any questions.

Follow me on Instagram .collegeapps and get more information at http://collegematerials.squarespace.com/new-page