All posts by Suzanne Shaffer

college planning, college prep, Guest Posts

How to Get the Most Out of College

Today’s guest post is from Elliot Felix, author of “How to Get the Most Out of College”.

College can really feel like a maze. It’s complicated, expensive, and the future is at stake. It’s also a different maze than what we went through a generation ago, and so are today’s students. They are more diverse in terms of age, race, income, and experience. More transfer between colleges. More work during college, live off campus, and study part-time. Even before the pandemic, about one in six studied fully-online and about one in three took at least one online class. Compared to 30 years ago and adjusted for inflation, private colleges are twice as expensive and public colleges are three times as expensive. Students today have only a 50% chance of making a better living than their parents compared to an 80% chance 30 years ago. Is it any wonder why today’s students and families are more career-focused, more value-conscious, and need more support?

Continue reading How to Get the Most Out of College →
Uncategorized

Why go to college?

 

why go to collegeWith all the college prep advice, parents rarely ask the question: Should my kids go to college? Parents should never assume that college is the best path for every kid. Today I’m going to examine and discuss five good reasons to go to college.

College is an expensive and competitive undertaking. The decision to attend should be a thoughtful one. If your child is leaning toward higher education after high school, here are five good reasons to answer the question–Why go to college?

1. To get an education in a rigorous academic environment

College, like anything, is what you choose to get out of it. If you attend class, challenge yourself academically, and explore new interests it can be worthwhile. But, if you skip class, take easy courses, and skate by with the bare minimum of work, it’s not worth your while.

2. To prepare for a career and gain earning potential

A college degree today does not guarantee a job upon graduation. But with some research and proper planning, that degree can increase earning potential over a lifetime. The job market is highly competitive now and a degree in a career that is in high demand can set you apart from the pack. A new study recently released by the Pew Research Group, found those with a college degree now make $17,500 more per year than those without — a wage gap that’s doubled in recent decades. Those without a degree are four times more likely to be unemployed.

3. To pursue a passion

College is a good place to pursue an academic passion. If you know what excites you and know what needs to be done to achieve it, college can help you reach your goal. In this case, the college choice is even more important because you want to find a school that caters to your passion; be it acting, writing, art, politics or even social media.

4. To discover who you are and what you want in life

It may seem like college is an expensive way to find yourself. But coupled with the benefits of academics and experiences while attending, it’s an excellent place to explore interests and find what you want to do in life. Not every student knows when they enter college what they want to do, and for these students, it’s an opportunity to expand horizons and find their passion.

5. To develop a network of friends and contacts

After college, graduates will be entering the job market. The contacts and friends you meet while in college will offer you networking opportunities that will help you in your job search. Alumni, fellow students, and faculty can all help with professional contacts and job opportunities.

Any one of these is a good reason to go to college. But all five of them means your student is ready to take the plunge into the college world

mom approved tips

Mom-Approved Tips: Q&A on College Topics

 

college topicsI’ve always been opinionated. Sometimes it’s gotten me into trouble, but it’s never stopped me from voicing my opinions on college topics. I’ve written posts voicing my opinions about Greek life and about forcing your child to go to college if he/she isn’t interested. It seems in the college business, everyone has an opinion. And here are just a few of the debates that have parents spinning:

Should you pay for test prep?

There’s nothing wrong with paid test prep. But if your child isn’t interested and doesn’t pay attention, it’s a waste of money. Before you invest some of your hard earned money, do some research. Would individual tutoring be a better fit for your student? Is a big class environment the best buy, especially since all teachers are not created equal? Look at the online tutoring programs and read recommendations on each. Don’t believe the claims that they can give your student a perfect score on the SAT/ACT or that they will raise their scores 500-700 points.

Are Ivy League colleges a good investment?

I don’t have anything against Ivy League colleges. But don’t fool yourself into thinking that just because a college has a famous name or high tuition that your student will get a better education there. Your student can get a good education at any number of colleges that might be a better fit for them. Since these colleges are very selective and the competition is fierce, unless your student is a top candidate, don’t waste your time.

Should you allow your student to take on student loan debt?

Nobody wants their student to incur student loan debt. But for some families, it’s a reality they can’t avoid. Before you sign on the dotted line, however, investigate repayment options and the pay for the degree your student is pursuing. It just doesn’t make sense to borrow $100,000 for college and not be able to repay it. A little bit of student loan debt isn’t bad–it gives them an investment in their education and they will take it seriously. Aside from that, there are all kinds of creative ways to avoid taking on too much student loan debt.

Should you do scholarship searches?

I’m a big proponent of scholarship searching. You don’t have to spend hours at a time, but allocate some time each day to do the searches. And when I talk about searching, I’m not just advocating online search engines like Zinch. Don’t forget to search locally for scholarships with the least amount of applicants which increases your chances to win.

What about for profit colleges?

Two words: buyer beware. For profit colleges lure students in by promising financing. This is always in the form of student loans. Look for accreditation and read the student recommendations before signing up for classes.

Is college a business or an institution of learning?

College is first and foremost a business–more than an institution of higher learning. If that’s the case, you need to be a wise consumer. Colleges are marketing their business to parents and students. It’s your right, as a consumer, to ask questions and search for bargains. Don’t be intimidated by colleges. It’s a huge consumer purchase that you should take as seriously as you did buying your home.

Should you let your student take a gap year?

I’m not against gap years for students. But set some guidelines before you agree. Put together a plan to use the year wisely, whether by traveling and working, internships, apprenticeships, and working to save money. Don’t let your student become a couch potato and accomplish little or nothing during the year.

Should you hire a college counselor?

College counselors can be a useful investment for parents. However, do some comparison shopping and ask for a list of past clients or testimonials. Not every parent can afford a counselor, however. Fortunately there are alternatives to personalized counseling online by reading blogs, books, and attending Twitter chats.

If you have any other questions, please comment here and I’ll be happy to answer them for you.

admissions, college guidance, college planning, Uncategorized

Using Admission Predictors-Yes or No?

We all like to know what our chances are in life. What are my odds at winning the lottery? How likely is that my resume will be seen by the right people? What do the stats say about starting a new business in a down economy? Will the stock we purchased go up?

Recently, I’ve come across two tools that would help to give your student information about their chances related to admissions: MyChances http://www.mychances.net/ & AdmissionSplash on Facebook http://bit.ly/gkZ6NU

Mashable highlighted AdmissionSplash recently explaining how the tool works.

Here’s my question–would you want your student to use these tools? I would love to hear what you think about them. Yes or no?

college guidance, college planning, Guest Posts

5 Tips for choosing college courses

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It’s always great to hear college students regarding advice about the college process. Today’s guest post is from Katheryn Rivas, who is an English major at The University of Texas.

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One of the first decisions that your college-bound child will be faced with upon matriculation is creating a class schedule. In my own experience, the process becomes less complicated as semesters progress, but this, I think, is largely because of trial-and-error, learning from mistakes that I made in previous academic years. Here are a few tips that I would give to first year students who are selecting classes for the first time.

1. Understand that a huge percentage of undergraduates change their majors at some point, so make your class selection diverse.

Many bright-eyed entering freshmen think that they know precisely what they want to major in and what their career trajectory will be like from the first day of class onwards. However, reality works a little differently than do our plans for the future. If you are pretty sure what you want to major in before you enter college, that’s great! However, leave open the possibility of changing your major by not taking too many classes in your prospective discipline when you first start out. Of course, do take some, but keep things balanced and diverse to get a taste for what different fields of study are like.

2.  Figure out what your peak periods of productivity are when choosing class times.

Dates and times should also play an important part in your course scheduling. Are you the type who would rather have a ton of classes on two or three days and have absolutely no classes on some days? Or would you rather have a reasonable amount of classes spread out throughout the week? Personally, I preferred exhausting myself on Tuesdays and Thursdays so that I could have leisurely class days on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. This schedule enabled me to wake up late and hit the books hard preparing for tests on the days that weren’t so packed. However, this setup doesn’t work for everyone, so figure out how you study and work to determine your schedule.

3.  Place a heavier emphasis on general degree requirements your first year.

Many first-year students will make the mistake of taking only those classes which interest them. They figure that they can complete general requirements later in the college career. But what will end up happening is you may put off these requirements for so long that you will suddenly realize, sometimes as late as senior year, that you have a bunch of general courses left to graduate. Don’t end up in this position (like I did) in which you run the risk of taking an extra semester to graduate just because you put of something silly like a phys ed course.

4. Do your course research online to gauge what professors are like in class.

One of the most important factors in doing well in any given class is having a professor that is engaging and accessible. One of the best ways to get classes with the best professors is to visit sites like RateYourProfessor.Com to see which instructors are the best teachers. Reviews will also help you steer clear of professors who are too immersed in their research to care about their class. At the same time however, do take some student reviews with a grain of salt. Some students are simply incensed that they got poor grades, and may take it out on the professor. I’d say believe the reviews that are consistently complaining about the same thing. Don’t base your conclusions on just one or two comments.

5. Take advantage of the “course shopping” period.

Although many universities are different, most institutions encourage “course shopping” during the first two weeks of classes. That is to say, students are free to attend several classes that they aren’t officially signed up for, or drop classes they don’t particularly like, to sign up for others. If your institution does have this flexibility, be sure to take advantage of it. Don’t get stuck in a class that you already know from the beginning you are going to hate.

These are just a few things to keep in mind when creating your course schedule. Be sure to talk to other students who have taken classes you are interested in, and also consult with academic advisors so that you are on track to graduate within a certain period of time. Above all, enjoy the flexibility in the decision-making process of picking your own classes for the first time!

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This guest contribution was submitted by Katheryn Rivas who particularly enjoys writing about online universities.  Questions and comments can be sent to: katherynrivas87@gmail.com.

Uncategorized

Is Paid Test Prep Really Worth It?

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Absolutely. Sometimes. Hopefully. No.

Depending on who you are and what your goals are, each of those answers is equally likely to be true. Like many things, there really isn’t a one-size fits all answer to this question.

Here are the factors you need to consider when thinking about paid test prep:

Household Income

In an effort to be equitable, colleges expect that students in lower income households have less prep/lower quality prep than students in the upper earning households. That creates a double-edged sword: you’re off the hook a little if you’re a low-earning household, but if you have money to spend on education/prep, colleges expect that you have spent it (therefore they expect higher scores from you).

This means, no matter what your household income includes, you’re going to have to make two decisions:

  1. Whether you’re going to (or can) spend money beyond the sum of library late fees.
  2. With whom you’re going to spend that money to get the most bang for your buck.

Student motivation and study skills

Extremely motivated students are real. They love to work hard, they know where to find great information, and they’re driven to work through new concepts until they understand them. These are kids who can sit down with a book and learn from it (and yes, get incredible scores just from the book) or they’ll hop on the internet and choose a tutor they know they’re going to learn from.

You can trust motivated students to guide themselves. They’ll seek out those books that are really helpful and they know if and when they’re reaching their goals. They’ll usually be the first to pipe up if they need some extra help. Unfortunately, these kids are not the norm, particularly outside the top scorers and most competitive high schools.

If your student is either less personally motivated or incredibly intimidated by the ACT or SAT, a book is more likely to become a doorstop than your ticket to Princeton.

When a Book Isn’t Enough: Deciding to Pay for Prep

You must be aware of the kind of prep you’re getting. Right now there are some huge, huge companies whose brands are plastered all over bus stops and billboards and the web. They’re the accepted leaders of the industry, but they’re not often much more than brands. That’s why NACAC released a study a year or two ago saying the average student that prepped with one of these big companies (to the tune of $1000 for a class) only saw a 30 point increase in their scores.

If you’re going with a huge company, ask a lot of questions:

-Are you getting a class? How many people will be in it?

-Are you doing one-on-one? How long has that tutor been tutoring?

-Are there rungs of expertise? Many intro-level tutors only make $15 to $20 an hour. People most established in the industry make anywhere from $200 to $400. Industry leaders sometimes make $600 and more.

I say this to point out that many times you get what you pay for. If you’re going to spend $1000 with a big company, maybe a couple hours with a much better tutor (and skipping those ten-week classes) will get you where you need to go.

The good news is that there are a lot of smaller companies and private individuals (working with a live one-on-one person is always going to be better than taking an automated course) out there that are actually worth the time and money. Even better, some of them are online, so whether you’re in a booming metropolis or in the middle of nowhere, you have access to whatever you decide you want and need.

Have Real Score Goals

Yes, it’s entirely possible to increase SAT scores with paid prep by 300 points or more. My students do so frequently. The question you need to ask, though, is “Do I need my SAT score to go up several hundred points?”

Your score goals are largely going to be based on your target colleges. If you only need 50 more points, it’s ok to prep with that goal in mind. (note: I’d make sure that your practice work shoots for an extra 100 points for each 50 need.) Each student is different: one may need a tutor to get those fifty points. Another may be able to use a book. You have to be painfully honest about what’s going to be most effective, what you really need, and invest the time and money accordingly.

On the other hand, you’re going to be inclined to spend more if your plan is to see just how high you can get your score to go. In other words, you may want to see if you can get a 2100 or above (or a 32+ on the ACT) and let that score range guide where you apply. I once had an ACT student’s score go from a 21 to a 31. That score change changed her life; it’s the difference between applying to community college and Boston College. Whether that’s appropriate for you is up to you.

The Bottom Line

No, you do not always have to pay for test prep.

Yes, it’s possible to use books and online resources effectively, but you need to research those books carefully. Just like tutors, one book is not as effective as the next. Brand recognition and quality are not always synonymous.

Most students are not yet established enough learners to get everything out of a book that they possibly can. Use your goals and progress to decide if you need more help or are ok on your own.

If you can spend the money, take the time to find private tutors who have been in the business for years, have taken the tests as adults, and are committed to teaching skills (not guessing strategies) that your student can use to learn material they can use in college. Great tutors who consistently offer great results are out there. You just have to be very honest about what you can afford to pay, what you need your scores to be, and what the payoff of those scores will ultimately be.

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Today’s guest post is by Elizabeth King, author of “Outsmarting the SAT”. She has successfully led students to score gains of well over 100 points on every section of the SAT. She takes the test every year herself and knocks it out of the ballpark. You can contact her at TutorsforTestPrep.com.

college guidance, college planning

New Blog for pre-college students

PRINCETON REVIEW LAUNCHES NEW BLOG FOR PRE-COLLEGE STUDENTS:

“IN – YOUR GUIDE TO COLLEGE ADMISSIONS”

NEW YORK – March 9, 2011 – The Princeton Review, which has been helping high school students take admission tests for, apply to and get in to colleges for nearly 30 years, has created an informative new resource for today’s college-bound teens:  a lively, content-rich blog titled “IN—Your Guide to College Admissions.”

Accessible at http://in.princetonreview.com/, the “IN” blog is updated multiple times daily and reports on dozens of issues central to a high school student’s college research, application and admission experiences.    From insider feedback on SAT/ACT tests to tips for getting the best financial aid to up-to-the-minute news in higher education, the posts served up on “IN” are designed to keep high school students continually informed about the admission process and the college scene.   Above all, “IN” aims to help teens be savvy college shoppers and successful applicants.   College counselors, advisors and parents of applicants will also find the posts on “IN” useful.

Primarily focused on current news and practical advice, “IN” also serves as a “look it up” resource.  Posts are archived two ways: by month and in categories.  Among them: Careers, College Info, College Life, Cost of College, Financial Aid, and Starting College in High School.   Posts with basic information useful year-long (e.g. “Getting In: Your Junior Year Plan”) are tagged as “resources” and featured in links in a sidebar.

At “IN” readers can find:

  • Test-prep tips and strategies used in Princeton Review courses
  • Updates and analyses of recent SAT and ACT exams
  • Exclusive interviews with college experts: admission officers, counselors and financial aid advisors
  • Suggestions of “best-fit” colleges for various interests/majors
  • College application reminders: admission timelines and deadline reminders
  • Links to news articles about college and admission issues as they happen
  • Feedback from teens about their application experiences
  • “College of the Week” profiles
  • Application stress-reducers: fun facts, humor and college trivia

Users can subscribe to the “IN” via an RSS feed and catch “IN” post headlines via The Princeton Review’s Facebook account (http://www.facebook.com/ThePrincetonReview?v=app_10467688569) and Twitter account (http://twitter.com/theprincetonrev).  Users can email their comments, ideas, suggestions or feedback to INblog@review.com.

Said Andrew Brody, Princeton Review’s Vice President, Content Development, “For years, students have looked to The Princeton Review to be their trusted guide when it comes to higher education.  With our “IN” blog we’re able to share our expertise in admissions and test prep and our college knowledge in a format that offers dynamic flexibility and interactivity.”

Brody noted that the Princeton Review “IN” writers and editors draw on a constantly growing library of information and input the Company gathers each day. The Princeton Review annually collects data on more than 1,500 colleges for its guidebook and website profiles and continually gets feedback from teens taking its classroom and online courses.”

Said Michael Palumbo, “IN”‘s lead editor, “Beyond our rich supplies of college-related data, we have the unique opportunity to draw on fascinating findings from our on-going surveys of college applicants, parents of applicants, college students and college administrators.  There is no end to the repository of topical and timely information we plan to share with our readers on ‘IN.'”

college guidance, college planning, parenting

Parents–Advise, but don’t invade!

Most parents would like to be involved in their child’s college selection process.  Sometimes it’s hard to know how much is enough, though.  From my perspective as a student, it’s best to monitor and advise, but not to invade.

I am the youngest of three children, so my parents were pros when it came to college admissions.  If you are experiencing your first child going off to college, that’s a whole other ball game which may require more planning and research.  No matter what, keep in mind that this decision affects your child more than it affects you, so let them make the final decision.

My parents had a tactful strategy. They had several early conversations with me about what I found important in a potential school.  These aspects generally included a strong marketing program (my major), plentiful extracurricular opportunities, and a comfortable campus with an active & social student body.  My parents would share their concerns, which included campus safety, finances, distance from home, etc.

Once they knew that I had listened to their point of view, I was free to research any schools I wanted. I came up with a list of around fifteen schools and eventually narrowed that down to the six that I would apply to.  As soon as I had my finalists, my parents went into hyperdrive.  They made lists, spreadsheets and poster board-sized charts about the benefits and drawbacks of attending these schools.  They helped me rank my schools into ‘reach schools,’ ‘safety schools’ and the ones that fell somewhere in the middle.  Finally, my dad accompanied me on a trip to the east coast to visit a couple of them.

Ultimately, I decided to attend Syracuse University, a choice that my parents and I were equally comfortable with.  My mom swears that after all the time she spent looking into other schools, she “always knew I would go to Syracuse.”

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Adam Britten is a senior at Syracuse University majoring in Marketing Management.  Follow him on Twitter @AdamBritten.  Read his previous post on this blog, “The most important questions to ask a campus tour guide.”

college planning, social networks

How to BRAND yourself


It’s never too early to start the “branding” process. Lauren Joffe of The Real College Guide lays out a clear strategy to get the ball rolling. Parents should pass this along to their college-bound teens.

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Just because your GPA has made Dean’s List every semester and your work experience is better than most does not mean you have a slam-dunk when it comes to landing a job or an internship in today’s hypercompetitive market. According to the National Association for Colleges and Employers (NACE), all students need to create their own personal “brand.” This is what sets you apart from your equally qualified peers.

Get the Ball Rolling
So what is a personal brand, anyway? “Personal brand is about the unique strengths and attributes each person has. It’s what makes a person stand out and how people think of him or her,” says Paula Loop, U.S. and global talent leader at professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). “Think about how you want to be known, then you can focus on building skills and doing things that will enhance that image. Students who are able to communicate a strong personal brand — the unique strengths they can bring to an organization — are more attractive to employers.”

Start by introducing potential employers to your unique strengths using your resume and cover letter. Remember, these documents will serve as a company’s first impression of you, so it’s critical that you perfect them. Your resume and cover letter will be the first defining aspects of your brand, so make this introduction count by positioning yourself properly, beginning with presentation. Finance majors will have resumes that look much different — in design elements such as font and layout — from those of graphic designers. This also holds true for what your resume says: Certain industries place a heavy emphasis on internships, while others value research or volunteer experience.

Perfecting Your “Elevator Pitch”
Loop affirms the importance of your “elevator pitch,” essentially a 30-second description of who you are, your background and career aspirations. Imagine being in an elevator with a potential employer and he or she asks you to describe yourself and your personal goals. Would you be able to give an articulate, clear response?

Says Loop: “This should consist of no more than five sentences. The first two highlight one’s background. The third displays interests and recent accomplishments. The concluding sentence should address what an individual is seeking in a job and career. The most effective elevator pitches are short and memorable.”

To help guide your pitch, keep in mind these fundamental questions:

  • Who are you?
  • What are your accomplishments?
  • Where are you going, and what are your ultimate goals?

When fine-tuning your pitch, also keep in mind the following points that will help create an outline:

  • How have your past experiences with internships, volunteer work, etc., prepared you to meet your goal?
  • What are your strongest skills?
  • How do you stand apart from other entry-level applicants? What makes you unique and memorable?

Once you’ve drafted something impressive, practice it! Nothing is worse than stumbling through your elevator pitch with a bunch of “um’s” and “you know’s” popping up in every other sentence. Rehearse in front of your mirror, your parents or anyone who can give you constructive feedback regarding body language, tone and fluidity. Be friendly, make eye contact, and give your interviewer a strong, confident handshake.

Brand Yourself — Online!
Despite the ever-expanding social networking sphere, it’s surprising how many students do not properly brand themselves online. Chances are your potential employers are Googling you, which means you need to take advantage of the online world of networking.

“Ignoring or failing to create a business-appropriate image on social media sites like LinkedIn and Facebook can create issues,” says Loop. “Establishing and maintaining a professional social network profile is vital because potential employers are also online. A LinkedIn profile that displays your accomplishments, experience and goals can highlight your personal brand and enhance your job search.

Here are a few pointers outlined by PwC when it comes to branding yourself on the Internet:

  • Use social media, but use it correctly. Actively participate on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, but ask yourself if your profiles are appropriate to be viewed by an employer. According to a CareerBuilder.com survey, almost 45 percent of employers will look at your social media profiles to get better insight. Post all your contact information and join alumni groups to increase your chances of connecting with a potential employer.
  • Be conscious of every email you send. Whether using your smartphone or typing on your computer, always use proper grammar, spelling, punctuation and etiquette whenever writing an email. During networking and job hunting, you will primarily communicate with people via email, which means sloppy emails equal a sloppy image. Don’t discredit yourself by forgetting to give an editorial eye to every email sent.
  • Add links to your online signature. When sending emails or creating your social media profiles, include a couple of links to websites you enjoy, published work you’ve written, and your LinkedIn or Twitter accounts. Give employers an easy outlet to further understand who you are and where your interests lie.

B-E Aggressive
While formulating your brand is the first step, it’s important to constantly stay in touch with contacts, actively research your industry and develop a relationship with your university’s career services center.

Loop encourages students to do one thing each week that will help advance their career. This ranges from sending “hello” emails to contacts within your networking sphere to reading informative blogs related to your particular field. And since up to 80 percent of jobs are found through networking, it’s important to keep your networking sphere intact and growing.

One of your best resources as a college student is your university’s career services center, which can provide you with exclusive job offerings, resume critiques and mock interviews. Take advantage of these opportunities while you can to fully maximize your hiring eligibility.

“There are many important facets to personal branding, but networking is critical,” says Loop. “Start with friends, family and alumni from your school. Those are the people who know you best and will want to help.”

And for those interested in seeking further assistance in crafting your personal brand, PwC is launching Personal Brand Week 2.0 in February, so check out PwC.com for more information, helpful worksheets and career tips.

college planning, extracurricular activities, Uncategorized

bragTAG – Students, Parents and Guidance Counselors Unite!

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One evening at our kitchen table, we were thinking, “Wouldn’t it be great if there were a way to share all our childrens’ great high school moments with colleges in the hope of getting them accepted?”  And so bragTAG was born.  A simple and effective tool to bring your high school child’s college application to life!

We decided to develop bragTAG on the Facebook platform, because that is where the high school children are.  You know how much time they spend there – why not coax them into doing something GOOD while they’re there!  Read on for an exclusive discount code for Parent’s Countdown to College Coach blog readers…

Using bragTAG, students/parents create multi-media representations of individual high school achievements – we call these bragTAGs.  For example, that tremendous touchdown or perfect ballet performance can now be shown to college admissions counselors using videos, photos and journal (text) entries.

Throughout the high school career, bragTAG is absolutely free to use!  When the student/parent is ready to apply to colleges, “bragTAGs” are then compiled into customized one page, multi-media resumes and forwarded to college admissions counselors (we suggest users have a relationship established prior to sending).

Individual bragTAG detail example with comment

Because our own very first question in the development process was, “How do we keep this secure?”, we decided to make sure bragSHEETs weren’t published in any way on Facebook.  You can share individual bragTAGs on Facebook if you elect to, but bragSHEETs can only be forwarded to others.  That bragSHEET is assembled on the fly, using our own secure cloud-based servers – and only assembled when viewed.  In other words, bragSHEETS do not exist until college admissions/guidance counselors/teachers/coaches click on the link you’ve sent.  Our servers then assemble the requested bragSHEET for viewing.

Complete bragSHEET (Resume) with multi-media photos, pop up videos and journal entries

Only persons with the link can see the personal info, and those that are viewing your bragSHEET do not have to be logged onto Facebook, or even have a Facebook account.  Colleges will not see your child’s private Facebook profile! (You didn’t really want them to see those high school dance and party pictures, did you?).

There are several ways to use the bragTAG application.  Send a copy of a bragSHEET to high school teachers whom you are asking to write your letters of recommendation – so they know more about you, and write a fantastic well-informed letter.  You can send a bragSHEET to your school counselor, who can then recommend colleges based on your interests – or even help you edit bragSHEETs for the colleges you’re applying to.  You may want to create customized bragSHEETs for each college you apply to, based on your research (or your independent coach’s research) into what a particular college is looking for!

So – students, parents and counselors unite – and work toward getting accepted at the college of your choice!

As an added bonus, we’ve created a discount code for Parents Countdown to College Coach readers!  The first five readers to comment below will receive a code from bragTAG for UNLIMITED bragSHEET submissions (a $24.99 value). We’ll email the code to you as soon as we receive your contact info!

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Thanks to bragTAG for providing us with this guest post about their product. Find out more on the bragTAG Facebook Fan Page, or the bragTAG College Bound Blog and good luck in your college admissions search!