It’s hard to believe that the college application process is in full swing. School just started and the weather is still nice outside. But if you are a senior or live with a senior you know. You know. The chaos that can be the college process has likely taken over.
Written by: Gregg Cohen, President and Founder of Campus Bound
Ever since I started Campus Bound over 20 years ago, I have been passionate about helping people navigate and decipher the complicated financial aid process. Assisting families with various ways to make college costs more manageable has always been a meaningful part of my job.
The financial aid process is going to look A LOT different this year. For the first time in decades, there will be major changes to the FAFSA form, language, and formula. Campus Bound will be taking a look at these seismic changes in a five-part blog series over the next few months. Today we’ll review some of the common terms in the financial aid vernacular that will be changing and how these changes affect you, the consumer.
It’s still August, but some high school students have gone back to school already, so we might as well embrace the fall with open arms. In the world of college counseling, that means there are very important items on every high school student’s “to do list” and we outline them here:
The college resume can be a confusing thing. Do I even need to make one? What is the purpose? What should I include? In this blog post we break it all down for you.
Do I need to make a resume?
The Common Application and the Coalition Application, the two most popular application portals, allow students to highlight 10 extra curricular activities. These can be in-school activities, out-of-school commitments, volunteer work and jobs. IF you have more than 10 activities that you would like to present to colleges, it makes sense to make a resume. IF you have one or more activities that require more space for explanation, it also makes sense to create a college resume. If you’re wondering about it ask your Campus Bound counselor.
Do all colleges want or accept a resume?
The short answer is no. Colleges that will accept a resume will have a space for you to upload it right to the application.
Will I be penalized or looked down on if I don’t submit a resume?
Again, the short answer is no. There is no need to submit a resume unless you fall into the categories above. And colleges won’t penalize you for not submitting one. In fact, they may see it as unnecessary or annoying if you do submit one for no good reason.
What should be included on the resume?
Students, first and foremost, need to make sure their name and other identifying information, such as a social security number, email address or home address, are on the top. After that, all resumes look different. What you include is up to you. For more information about what your resume could look like, visit this previous blog post.
In short, it makes sense to talk it over with your parents and Campus Bound counselor to decide IF you want to include a college resume and what should be included on it. The college application is all about presenting yourself in your best light and adding a resume might be a good way to do that.
This can be such an exciting time for many students and families. All the hard work has paid off, and there are only a few more weeks of high school left. You know which college you will be attending and the future seems bright. While celebrating is certainly in the cards, here are some other important things to consider.
The summer months can be and should be filled with FUN! Rest, relaxation, and time with family and friends are all important, but there are other ways to make the most of the summertime. In this blog we will reiterate the concept of balance and making sure you’re spending the summer months wisely.
Jackie and Jen here! Thank you to Kristen for allowing us to guest blog this week and share our experience planning our staff retreat. As a company that works primarily with families and each other remotely, Campus Bound understands the deep, sustained connection that can be made in an online setting one on one. We routinely train, participate in professional development, and meet with a variety of admissions offices across the country virtually throughout the year.
As we head into course selection time, anxious students are eagerly choosing which courses they will take next year. It’s a time that is sometimes mixed with confusion, fear and many questions. It can also be a time when certain rumors or myths rear their ugly heads. In this blog post, we will break down those myths and provide real, concrete answers.
College visits and tours are now back to offering in-person opportunities, and they are a great way for students to learn more about a particular school and also demonstrate interest (more on that here). So here are some important tips for making the most of college visits and tours.