May, 2013

Magellan College Counseling

May, 2013

Quick Links

It’s been fun working with my graduating seniors for the past year.  I’m so proud of clients who have committed to attend a variety of colleges, including UCLA, Cal Berkeley, University of Michigan, Cal State Channel Islands, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Clark University, Sonoma State University, CSUN, Warren Wilson College, Wellesley College, Wesleyan University, and others.  Congratulations!

It’s tempting to slack off at the end of the school year.  Keep in mind, though, that colleges look at all four years of high school. While SAT or ACT tests show colleges how you performed on one specific day, your grades throughout high school show colleges that you have been a strong student for all four years.  Work hard and work strong through your last final exam, and then you can relax a bit over the summer (maybe a little bit of relaxing and a little bit of volunteering, or summer school, or a paying job!)

On the Road Again!
I spent two weeks in April visiting colleges in Pennsylvania, Ohio, St. Louis and Indiana.  My reviews and photos can be found here.  I’ll be visiting more colleges in New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland next week.  I just learned how to post entire photo albums for each college I visit, so from now on, each of my reviews will include a link to a photo album.  I’ve also opened a YouTube channel – click here – and I’ll be posting short videos of students to help you get the feel for each college!

Quick Advice for 10th and 11th Graders:
You are always preparing for the SAT if you are reading every day. Read a book, read a magazine, read news on the internet – just read!  If you come across a word you don’t know, write it down and keep a list.  You are more likely to remember the word if you write it down. If you are interested in structured SAT/ACT test prep courses or in-home tutoring, please call me (877-5-MAGGIE (877-562-4443)) for a referral.  

Plan some college visits during the summer.  You will get the best feel for a campus when you visit in person.  Even if you can’t fly out of town, visit some local colleges, like Chapman University in Orange County, Whittier College, Occidental, USC or UCLA.  Take the official tour, and talk to students on campus.  You can read my impressions of the colleges I have toured (in California and outside of California).

Create your resume NOW.  Keep track of all of your volunteer, extra-curricular and work activities.  Work with your church or synagogue youth group, music and/or art lessons and sports should all be on your resume.  Doing this now will save time when you fill out college applications.

Quick Note to Clients:  Magellan’s May College Trip
I’ll be travelling between Friday, May 17th and Friday, May 24th.  I’ll be visiting colleges and universities in Pennsylvania, New York and Maryland, as well as attending graduation ceremonies at Johns Hopkins University.  I’ll have regular access to both voice mail and e-mail, but I will probably only return calls and e-mail once a day, in the evening.