Stem, Steam, Sports
All pathways after high school considered! Welcome to A+ College Consultants!
We are here to help you manage the increasingly complex college admissions process. With our main office in Solana Beach and a satellite office in El Cajon, we serve all of Southern California. We also offer sessions via Skype through which we can serve the whole world! Students of all ages are welcome, but we have age-specific advice for students in late middle school through college.
07/19/2021
Health insurance for college students is confusing. Here's an article to help you figure it out.
What You Need to Know About Campus Health Insurance For some students, their parents’ coverage may be the better choice. The Affordable Care Act is also an option. Here are the pros and cons of the various plans.
05/26/2021
Did last night's eclipse inspire the astrophysicist within? Over a hundred colleges offer astrophysics as a major or concentration. Some are small, liberal arts colleges, like Union College with 2100 students, yet astrophysics majors get access to both a 20-inch optical telescope equipped with CCD cameras and a spectrograph as well as a 7.5-foot radio telescope. On the opposite scale is the University of Arizona with 34,000 students. UA's world-renown Planetary Science department works on Osiris-Rex AND underneath the 50,000 seat Wildcat stadium, engineers and scientists fabricate mirrors for observational telescopes (but never on game days lol). The joint educational effort between Howard University and University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC) funds six undergrad astrophysics majors to participate in summer research with NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.
In astronomy, size and scale may be fundamental but opportunity for undergraduates is pivotal.
04/15/2021
Last year, the pandemic found even some name-brand colleges scrambling to fill those empty seats. Annually, anywhere from 200-500+ colleges don't make enrollment projections. No matter what happens this year, remember this: beats each and every day! There is a college for you!
11/27/2020
Just under$300,000 in merit aid received by my students so far. WAY less than this time last year...sigh...
10/30/2020
How to Do School When Motivation Has Gone Missing Here’s what teenagers can do to equip themselves to move forward during this difficult and frustrating time.
Hey student-artists: The next National Portfolio Day is this Saturday, October 24th: Get a professional review from your college of choice! Online and Free!
Schedule – NPDA National Portfolio Day is free for students to attend from anywhere around the world! Join us for any of our 16 events this Fall to set your art and designs apart. Event Times All National Portfolio Day events are held from 12:00pm – 4:00pm Eastern. Times by Zone 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM East...
08/27/2020
While more than 2.5 million students enroll in college each year only a relatively small handful attend the top private schools. Regardless of where you attend, the subject of higher education, especially during the age of Covid-19, can make it even harder to decide for an unknown future.
Online learning has particularly bloomed because of the pandemic. Meanwhile, there are still a handful of young and adult students who (understandably) question the quality and necessity of online learning.
With so many options out there…you may even be thinking its best to just take a gap year or postpone your education plans.
Still unsure of where to start? Call Allison at A+ for more information and visit my website (https://lnkd.in/gDhB3YB) for more resources and guidance!
08/26/2020
Parents want to know: What are the Top Tips on how to pay for my student’s college adventure?
1) Maintain a high GPA and receive a tuition discount (merit aid)
2) Stay local and save on room and board
3) Graduate early: attend a college that actually gives credit for all of your AP scores
4) Graduate early: take an extra college class each semester
Call A+ for tips on how to navigate the college admissions process.
08/25/2020
How many hours would a student have to work to pay UC tuition? At least 1200! Back in the day, I could afford to pay my own way by working part-time jobs during the year and full-time during the summer.
Those days are long gone. College tuition ranges anywhere from $46/unit at a community college to over $2000/unit at an Ivy. Interest rates on student loans may be low (2%!) but don’t let the APR tail wag the financial dog.
Call A+ for tips on how to navigate the college admissions process.
08/20/2020
Not ready for college? With the pandemic and the uncertainty in the economy, even Harvard reports up to 20% students are considering taking a GAP year. Is taking a break the right choice for you?
Weighing the pros and cons with an independent counselor can prove very useful when making this decision.
Call A+ if you’re uncertain about your path after high school.
08/19/2020
Not all jobs are confined to a cubicle! Everyone has different talents and dreams. Do you like to work outside? How about a major like Parks and Recreation. Do you want to be your own boss? How about a major like Entrepreneurship. Do you like to work with your hands? Colleges have maker spaces now!
Call A+ if you’re confused about what college major might be a good fit for you.