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Hi everyone – it’s Holly O’Brien of The College Concept.  It is my weekly goal to reveal important and useful information on all matters concerning your student’s high school years and college application strategies. Parents of high school students; please sign up for my community in BubbleLife on this page and get my blog directly into your e-mail. Take a look at the bottom of my blog for the college application services I offer, and why not send this link to a friend who may be able to use the information as well.

I invite you to contact me at

Phone; 214.369.8055 

E-mail; holly@thecollegeconcept.com

Website; www.thecollegeconcept.com

Quote of the Day

There is no way of writing well and also of writing easily.

                                         ANTHONY TROLLOPE

I chose this quote to emphasize the purpose of my blog today.  The college application essay is possibly the most time consuming portion of the application, and it can be pivotal to the decision process.  In a highly competitive admissions situation, with SAT scores and GPA numbers being similar between a group of student applicants, the essay will become a deciding factor.  What is it that the colleges are looking for in this enigmatic essay requirement?

Here are a couple of suggestions;

  1. Make it personal – a story from a unique perspective with distinctive insights. 
  2. Brag a bit within the context of the story, i.e. “It was humbling to be chosen as the MVP from the many great players on the team.” Overt bragging does not reflect well on the writer.
  3. One option is to choose a topic that relates to the student’s possible major, such as the building of a robot as told by a potential engineering major.
  4. Think of the essay as a literary work, not as an essay for English class.  Make the language vibrant and the images vivid.  It is not as much about the form, more about the personality (of course the language, grammar, and spelling must be excellent!)
  5. Character has become an integral component in the current application climate; find a way to reflect integrity and a willingness to be an active participant in improvement of the campus/community in the essay.

If your rising senior is applying for college this fall, The College Concept can help! Here are a few recent letters from parents:

Holly,

We’ve been out of town with ABC this past week for 4 days, but wanted to let you know …he got in UT!  He found out Friday when we were in Austin!  He is only one of about 7 or 8 he knows about, non-top 10, who got in.  ABC is so thrilled!  I can't thank you enough for your help - you saved his first essay after the English teacher pronounced it "ready to go"!  HA HA- that was a joke!  And you started with him from scratch on the second one...   I guess the optional 3rd essay did a good job of showing his true colors- burnt orange and white! I just wanted to close the loop with you - I really appreciate you taking ABC on at such a late date and when he was so up against a wall.  I have another student coming in to HS next year - I will know better than to wait on the English department this time around!

Thanks again,

XYZ 

Holly,

The decisions are made......yeah! We hit the target!!!  We are so thrilled! Now we are busy with graduation parties, and so the fun begins. We love and appreciate you so much. Look forward to visiting with you soon!

Hugs,

WXY

 

Here are some great College Concept options for rising 2011 seniors- Please pass this information on to anyone you know with a rising senior!

Parents; these classes or private sessions are a great way to get a head start and minimize stress by reducing the amount of parent/student interaction regarding the application timeline, often a difficult issue surrounding college application time when everyone is somewhat anxious. Please see my website at www.thecollegeconcept.com to enroll. You may also send a check, along with a choice of workshop dates, private sessions, or X-treme E-mail to;

The College Concept/Holly O’Brien

3419 Westminster Avenue, Suite 316

Dallas, TX  75205

One 3-hour workshop                       only $185

Workshops dates

August 12, August 14, September 25, October 16          3 - 6 PM

Here are a few of the topics we will cover in each workshop:

  • The Essay; take it from ordinary to extraordinary!
  • The Common Application; be a “must have” applicant for colleges
  • The College Interview; get savvy with our insider tips
  • The Selective College Application; differentiate yourself!

The College Concept also offers:

  • Private sessions for essay enhancement and customized strategies: get in to your top pick colleges!

2011 senior special rate                               $110 per hour

  • X-treme E-mail: get expertise via e-mail exchange on your essays, extracurriculars, supplemental submissions, résumé, interview skills and anything else you’ll need to accomplish an “x-traordinary” college application.  Up to 75 comprehensive outgoing e-mails per month.                                                   $200 per month

 Your student’s future is important, and worth his or her very best effort.

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hollyobrien July 28 @ 10:03 am

Hi everyone – it’s Holly O’Brien of The College Concept.  It is my weekly goal to reveal important and useful information on all matters concerning your student’s high school years and college application strategies. Parents of high school students; please sign up for my community in BubbleLife on this page and get my blog directly into your e-mail. Take a look at the bottom of my blog for the college application services I offer, and why not send this link to a friend who may be able to use the information.

Quote of the day:

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are. 

                                                           ~Theodore Roosevelt

Now on to the topic.  As a bit of background info, the students who graduate high school these days are competing for a spot in college with the largest pool of college applicants in the history of the planet, as well as the most accomplished, competitive, and savvy.  A bit scary for us - loving parents who want the very best for our hardworking students!  So what can our students do to stand out, distinguish themselves, and get the attention of the admissions office at their dream college?  Here are a few of my suggestions;

  1. Get started as early as possible.  Begin making plans and strategizing at the beginning of high school, not the end.
  2. Encourage your student to pursue a “passion”, no matter how atypical it may seem to you.  If she loves to batik cloth, or he is an avid ornithologist, encourage the hobby.
  3. Have your student to research the dream colleges in depth, so if and when there is an interview, your student can ask intelligent, specific questions of the interviewer.

There are many more strategies that can help your student stand out in the crowd of applicants.  My goal at The College Concept is to formulate a strategy designed specifically with your student’s accomplishments, interests, and college choices in mind.  Those of you with high school students, please continue reading to find out what we offer, and where our students have recent acceptances.

It is wonderful to hear success stories from the students I have worked with.  Here are a few:

1/1   HARVARD
1/1   PRINCETON
1/2   YALE
1/1   MIT
2/2   DUKE
1/1   PENN/WHARTON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
5/5   UT AUSTIN
2/2   TCU
1/1   GEORGIA TECH

1/1   UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SAN DIEGO

2/2   UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS

The College Concept offers a series of reasonably priced workshops to give your student a jump start on the college application process, now enrolling online. 

There is probably no story that I have not encountered; I can help your student present themselves in the best light possible in their application process.  I can also work with students individually on high school course selection, extracurricular planning, essays, the Common Application, college choice and admissions strategies.

 

Please contact me at

Phone; 214.369.8055 

E-mail; holly@thecollegeconcept.com

Get help online!

Check out my new X-Treme E-mail service at www.thecollegeconcept.com;

Get expertise and suggestions via e-mail exchange on course selection, essays, extracurriculars, supplemental submissions, résumé, interview skills, and anything else your student will need to accomplish an "x-traordinary" college application. Includes up to 75 outgoing e-mails from The College Concept per month.  
                                                                                   Only $200 per month

 

Get registered now for my

College Application ACTION! Workshop

New:  comprehensive workshop format and dates – have a look!

If you have a student who will be applying to college this year, now is a great time to start working on the college applications! I offer an intensive, but fun, 3-hour workshop that will give your student a head start and set him/her apart from the rest.

 One 3-hour workshop                        only $185

Workshops dates

August 12  *  August 14  *  September 25  *  October 16

3 - 6 PM

 Here are a few of the topics we will cover in each workshop: 

  • The Essay; take it from ordinary to extraordinary!
  • The Common Application; be a “must have” applicant for colleges
  • The College Interview; get savvy with our insider tips
  • The Selective College Application; differentiate yourself!

 

Class size is limited - register ASAP. Convenient Park Cities location.

(Parents; these workshops are a great way to get a head start and minimize stress by reducing the amount of parent/student interaction regarding the application timeline, often a difficult issue surrounding college application time when everyone is somewhat anxious.) Please see my website at www.thecollegeconcept.com to enroll. You may also send a check along with the selected workshop date to;

The College Concept

3419 Westminster, #316

Dallas, TX 75205

Private hourly or multiple hour packages available - please see my website at www.thecollegeconcept.com

Please email me with any questions at holly@thecollegeconcept.com.

Holly O’Brien

holly@thecollegeconcept.com

www.thecollegeconcept.com

214.369.8055

 

Your student’s future is important, and worth his or her very best effort.

Holly pr picture.jpg
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hollyobrien July 13 @ 2:28 pm

Hi everyone – it’s Holly O’Brien of The College Concept.  It is my weekly goal to reveal important and useful information on all matters concerning your student’s high school years and college application strategies. Parents of high school students; please sign up for my community in BubbleLife on this page and get my blog directly into your e-mail. Take a look at the bottom of my blog for the college application services I offer, and why not send this link to a friend who may be able to use the information.

Quote of the day:

A single conversation with a wise man is better than ten years of study.

                                                                CHINESE PROVERB

 

Tip of the day:

Just how important is the interview to the college application process?  Only 5 to 10 % of the overall decision…so is it actually all that important?  Picture this; a huge portion of the applicants at a particular selective university all have similar GPA’s and SAT scores (the first component of an application that is pinpointed by the admissions officers).  By the way, this is a very common scenario these days with such a bright and competitive applicant pool.  So, how does an admissions office make the difficult and lengthy process of elimination from many thousands of applicants to only a few thousands or even hundreds of students happen?  Yes, you are right.  It is the other aspects of the application process that become the determining factors; the interview becomes extremely important at that point.

I have an amazing opportunity for any of you with a Class of 2011 senior. On July 31st, from 3 – 6 PM, and for one time only, Paris Rutherford, an alumnus of both USC and Harvard University, and former interviewer for Harvard, will be part of The College Concept Application Action session.  He is the CEO of his own urban development company, and was the spokesperson chosen to represent that topic on CNN after the Katrina disaster. He will spend individual and group time with students on that day going over how to promote yourself to the interviewer, what to say and how to say it, and what to expect from the interviewer.  He is a fantastic instructor and amazingly knowledgeable.  Please don’t miss this chance to give your student the insider’s view of the college interview. You may sign up online at www.thecollegeconcept.com. Please pass this information on to anyone you know with a rising senior!

The College Concept offers a series of reasonably priced summer workshops to give your student a jump start on the college application process, now enrolling online.  It is wonderful to hear success stories from the students I have worked with. 

Here are a few:

1/1   HARVARD
1/1   PRINCETON
1/2   YALE

1/1   MIT
2/2   DUKE
1/1   PENN/WHARTON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
5/5   UT AUSTIN
2/2   TCU
1/1   GEORGIA TECH

2/2 UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS

2/2 UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

 

There is probably no story that I have not encountered; I can help your student present themselves in the best light possible in their application process.  I can also work with students individually on high school course selection, extracurricular planning, essays, the Common Application, college choice and admissions strategies.

 

You may contact me at

Phone; 214.369.8055 

E-mail; holly@thecollegeconcept.com

 

Check out my new X-Treme E-mail service

at www.thecollegeconcept.com;

 

get expertise and suggestions via e-mail exchange on course selection, essays, extracurriculars, supplemental submissions, résumé, interview skills, and anything else your student will need to accomplish an "x-traordinary" college application. Includes up to 75 outgoing e-mails from The College Concept per month. 
                                                                                           Only $200 per month  

Get registered now for my

College Application ACTION! Camps

If you have a student who will be applying to college this year, summer is a great time to start working on the college applications! I offer an intensive, but fun, series of 2-3 hour camps that will give your student a head start and set him/her apart from the rest. 

  • The Essaytake it from ordinary to extraordinary

Offered July 20, August 14, and Sept. 25; 3-6 PM                           $185 per session

  • The Common Application – how to present your accomplishments so that you are a “must have” applicant for colleges.  

Offered July 21 & August 7; 3-6 PM                             $185 per session

  • The Interview; what to expect, what to talk about. Participate in mock interviews and get tips you can use for any college interview from a former Harvard interviewer.

July 31; 3-6 PM. One session only                                  $185

  • The Highly Selective College Application; how to differentiate yourself.

Offered July 14 & August 12; 3-6 PM                          $185 per session

 

Class size is limited - register ASAP. Convenient Park Cities location.

(Parents; these classes are a great way to get a head start and minimize stress by reducing the amount of parent/student interaction regarding the application timeline, often a difficult issue surrounding college application time when everyone is somewhat anxious.) Please see my website at www.thecollegeconcept.com to enroll. You may also send a check (along with a list of class choices and dates) to;

The College Concept

3419 Westminster, #316

Dallas, TX 75205

 

You may email me at holly@thecollegeconcept.com.

Holly O’Brien

holly@thecollegeconcept.com

www.thecollegeconcept.com

214.369.8055

 

Your student’s future is important, and worth his or her very best effort.

Holly pr picture.jpg
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hollyobrien July 05 @ 8:39 am

Hi everyone – it’s Holly O’Brien of The College Concept.  Parents of high school students; please join my blog on BubbleLife by signing up for my community.  Get important information on all matters concerning your student’s high school years and college application strategies sent directly into your email.

I invite you to visit my website at

www.thecollegeconcept.com

or contact me at

Phone; 214.369.8055 

E-mail; holly@thecollegeconcept.com

Quote of the day:

I do not try to dance better than anyone else.  I only try to dance better than myself.

                                                                             MIKHAIL BARYSHNIKOV

Okay – we are in the throes of college application panic time, or at least nearly there.  Parents!  Word of advice…don’t let the little darlings wait until the last minute to get going on this.  It is a lengthier process than it seems, and you will lose your last nerve if you wait too long.  Remember, the senior year is already chock full of activities; 

1. Parties

2. Parties

3. ummm…oh yes – More Parties.

 

Breaking news…it is doubtful that your dear senior will forego one of these to double check the punctuation on his/her personal statement essay.

Tip of the day – apply to more than one college, but don’t apply to more than 7 or 8.  The work load to do so is formidable, and your student can probably identify and remove one or two schools that are similar to others on the list, or can eliminate one or two after really contemplating the realities of living there for 4 years.

My recommendation on assembling the list of schools to apply to is a bit different from most. I feel that most of the schools on the list should be the schools that are going to be more challenging to gain admission to, i.e. “reach” schools.  Reason; if your student already has a safety school and a “most likely could get in” school, why not aim higher with the other applications?  It is a numbers game with the more selective schools.  Chances are your student will get accepted to one of them if he or she is in the ballpark with SAT scores and GPA.  Then it comes down to having a great application.  Guess what!  That’s what I do!  Please read the classes and other great options I currently have available to help your rising senior rise to the top.

 

The College Concept offers a series of reasonably priced summer workshops to give your student a jump start on the college application process, now enrolling online.  It is wonderful to hear success stories from the students I have worked with. 

Here are a few:

1/1   HARVARD
1/1   PRINCETON
1/2   YALE

1/1   MIT
2/2   DUKE
1/1   PENN/WHARTON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
5/5   UT AUSTIN
2/2   TCU
1/1   GEORGIA TECH

2/2 UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS

2/2 UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

 

There is probably no story that I have not encountered; I can help your student present themselves in the best light possible in their application process.  I can also work with students individually on high school course selection, extracurricular planning, essays, the Common Application, college choice and admissions strategies.

 Check out my new X-Treme E-mail service

at www.thecollegeconcept.com;

Get expertise and suggestions via e-mail exchange on course selection, essays, extracurriculars, supplemental submissions, résumé, interview skills, and anything else your student will need to accomplish an "x-traordinary" college application. Includes up to 75 outgoing e-mails from The College Concept per month.  
                                                                                   Only $200 per month

 

2011 Senior Special

Private Sessions for customized strategies            $125    $110 per hour

 

Get registered now for my

College Application ACTION! Camps

If you have a student who will be applying to college this year, summer is a great time to start working on the college applications! I offer an intensive, but fun, series of 2-3 hour camps that will give your student a head start and set him/her apart from the rest. 

  • The Essaytake it from ordinary to extraordinary

Offered July 20 & August 14; 3-6 PM                           $185 per session

  • The Common Application – how to present your accomplishments so that you are a “must have” applicant for colleges.  

Offered July 21 & August 7; 3-6 PM                             $185 per session

  • The Interview; what to expect, what to talk about. Participate in mock interviews and get tips you can use for any college interview from a former Harvard interviewer.

July 31; 3-6 PM. One session only                                  $185

  • The Highly Selective College Application; how to differentiate yourself.

Offered July 14 & August 12; 3-6 PM                          $185 per session

 

Class size is limited - register ASAP. Convenient Park Cities location.

Parents; these classes are a great way to get a head start and minimize stress by reducing the amount of parent/student interaction regarding the application timeline, often a difficult issue surrounding college application time when everyone is somewhat anxious. Please see my website at www.thecollegeconcept.com to enroll. You may also send a check (along with a list of class choices and dates) to;

The College Concept

3419 Westminster, #316

Dallas, TX 75205

Feel free to email me at holly@thecollegeconcept.com.

Holly O’Brien

holly@thecollegeconcept.com

www.thecollegeconcept.com

214.369.8055

Your student’s future is important, and worth his or her very best effort.

 

Holly pr picture.jpg
Holly pr picture.jpg
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hollyobrien June 29 @ 7:09 pm

Hi everyone – it’s Holly O’Brien of The College Concept.  It is my weekly goal to reveal important and useful information on all matters concerning your student’s high school years and college application strategies. Parents of high school students; please sign up for my community in BubbleLife on this page and get my blog directly into your e-mail. Take a look at the bottom of my blog for the college application services I offer, and why not send this link to a friend who may also be able to use the information?

Quote of the week

…so now, we will entrust to you the free inquiry of future generations.

                                      Drew Faust, president of Harvard University,

                                                To the 2010 graduating class

Isn’t that an exquisite and stirring farewell for a group of young people setting off to a new life? Hopefully you have noticed that my blog has been absent from BubbleLife these past few weeks.  Oh, what a wonderful time I have had!  My eldest son is now a proud member of the 2010 graduating class of Harvard University, and I was fortunate enough to be able to attend the ceremony.  A beautiful and inspiring ceremony it was; giant crimson banners fluttering in the breeze. Christiane Amanpour, CNN international correspondent extraordinaire and the commencement speaker, touched and amazed us all with her phenomenal stories.  Meryl Streep was awarded an honorary doctorate, and Supreme Court retired judge David Souter challenged us with interpretations of constitutional law. 

But here I am, back and ready to rock, with my College Application ACTION! Workshops starting up soon. 

So, what mysterious formula is it that the colleges really use to determine which students will be admitted and those who will not? I have the straight scoop from the Dean of Freshman Admissions at Harvard;

1. SAT scores

2. GPA

3. everything else included in the application. 

BTW, because of this sequence, the application essay can often turn the tide on an admission decision, everything else being equal.  So…I don’t do SAT prep, but there are plenty of options out there, ranging from do-it-yourself books (for self-motivated students only!) to classes, to one-on-one services.  And as far as GPA goes, it is what it is.

However, I deal with; #3. everything else included in the application!  Résumés, essays, supplemental material; every word on every page is important.  Remember; the current college applicant pool is the largest and most competitive in history.  When potentially 75% of the UT class is the top 8% of Texas students, you can bet things are a little crazy around the admissions offices these days.

Please forward my blog to a friend with a high school student!

 

You may email me at holly@thecollegeconcept.com.

Holly O’Brien

holly@thecollegeconcept.com

www.thecollegeconcept.com

214.369.8055

 

Remember - What is the #1 mistake high school students make on their college application? Not taking the application process seriously enough!

 

I invite you to visit my website at

www.thecollegeconcept.com

 

The College Concept offers a series of reasonably priced summer workshops to give your student a jump start on the college application process, now enrolling online.  It is wonderful to hear success stories from the students I have worked with. 

Here are a few:

1/1   HARVARD
1/1   PRINCETON
1/2   YALE

1/1   MIT
2/2   DUKE
1/1   PENN/WHARTON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
5/5   UT AUSTIN
2/2   TCU
1/1   GEORGIA TECH

2/2 UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS

2/2 UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

 

There is probably no story that I have not encountered; I can help your student present themselves in the best light possible in their application process.  I can also work with students individually on high school course selection, extracurricular planning, essays, the Common Application, college choice and admissions strategies.

 

You may contact me at

Phone; 214.369.8055 

E-mail; holly@thecollegeconcept.com

 

Special one-on-one rates for 2011 seniors

$110  $125 per hour

 

Check out my new X-Treme E-mail service

at www.thecollegeconcept.com;

 

get expertise and suggestions via e-mail exchange on course selection, essays, extracurriculars, supplemental submissions, résumé, interview skills, and anything else your student will need to accomplish an "x-traordinary" college application. Includes up to 75 outgoing e-mails from The College Concept per month. 
                                                            Only $200 per month

  

Get registered now for my

College Application ACTION! Camps

If you have a student who will be applying to college this year, summer is a great time to start working on the college applications! I offer an intensive, but fun, series of 2-3 hour camps that will give your student a head start and set him/her apart from the rest. 

  • The Essaytake it from ordinary to extraordinary

Offered July 20 & August 14; 3-6 PM                           $185 per session

  • The Résumé – get that “wow” factor that will set yours apart. AP classes, extracurriculars, standardized test scores – your résumé is your opportunity to shine.  Learn how to assemble a “short list” of your significant accomplishments.

Offered June 30th & July 10; 3-5 PM                            $135 per session

  • The Common Application – how to present your accomplishments so that you are a “must have” applicant for colleges.  

Offered July 21 & August 7; 3-6 PM                             $185 per session

  • The Interview; what to expect, what to talk about. Participate in mock interviews and get tips you can use for any college interview from a former Harvard interviewer.

July 31; 3-6 PM. One session only                                  $185

  • The Highly Selective College Application; how to differentiate yourself.

Offered July 14 & August 12; 3-6 PM                          $185 per session

 

Class size is limited - register ASAP. Convenient Park Cities location.

(Parents; these classes are a great way to get a head start and minimize stress by reducing the amount of parent/student interaction regarding the application timeline, often a difficult issue surrounding college application time when everyone is somewhat anxious.) Please see my website at www.thecollegeconcept.com to enroll. You may also send a check (along with a list of class choices and dates) to;

The College Concept

3419 Westminster, #316

Dallas, TX 75205

 

You may email me at holly@thecollegeconcept.com.

Holly O’Brien

holly@thecollegeconcept.com

www.thecollegeconcept.com

214.369.8055

 

Your student’s future is important, and worth his or her very best effort.

Holly pr picture.jpg
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hollyobrien June 22 @ 9:26 am

Hi everyone – it’s Holly O’Brien of The College Concept.  It is my weekly goal to reveal important and useful information on all matters concerning your student’s high school years and college application strategies. Parents of high school students; please sign up for my community in BubbleLife on this page and get my blog directly into your e-mail. Take a look at the bottom of my blog for the college application services I offer, and why not send this link to a friend who may be able to use the information as well?

Personal note;  excitement builds as I prepare to leave next week for Boston to see my son, Alex Doubet, graduate as a member of the 374th class of Harvard University!  I can’t wait!

Quote of the day:

Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential.                

                                                                                                                                          WINSTON CHURCHILL

Okay – parents of rising seniors; you are probably still feeling relaxed about your students approaching college application process.  Enjoy…this too shall pass!  The first half of the senior year becomes a marathon of essays, résumés, transcripts, and final SATs, not to mention the daily rush of normal school life.  This is true particularly with students who are applying to multiple schools, often the case in these competitive times.  Here are a few tips for you from both my professional and parental perspective.

  •  Get an early start.  It seems like there is still plenty of time, but it becomes very taxing and worrisome as the deadlines draw near and there are still incomplete applications remaining.
  • Be active with your student in the application process.  Help organize, make suggestions, do a bit of research, whatever your student may need to smooth the busy time a bit.
  • The early bird, etc…  The deadlines are absolutes, but try to get the applications in earlier; consider making November 1st your student’s personal deadline, and the deadline for early decision or action applications even earlier, perhaps October 1st.  The admissions officers are going to be more unhurried and careful reading your student’s application when there are only 20 on his/her desk as opposed to when there are 2,000. 
  • Ask for teacher recommendations early on – even now, before the school year is over.  This task is not necessarily a requirement for teachers, and is very time consuming for them. I recommend that the requests be made;  

                       a. to 2-3 teachers who know and like your student!

                       b. with a nice hand-written card.

                       c. with an attitude of gratitude!

I invite you to visit my website at www.thecollegeconcept.com

 The College Concept offers a series of reasonably priced summer workshops to give your student a jump start on the college application process, now enrolling online.  It is wonderful to hear success stories from the students I have worked with. 

Here are a few:

1/1   HARVARD
1/1   PRINCETON
1/2   YALE

1/1   MIT
2/2   TCU
2/2 UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS 

2/2   DUKE
1/1   PENN/WHARTON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
5/5   UT AUSTIN
1/1 GEORGIA TECH

There is probably no story that I have not encountered; I can help your student present themselves in the best light possible in their application process.  I can also work with students individually on high school course selection, extracurricular planning, essays, the Common Application, college choice and admissions strategies.

 You may contact me at

Phone; 214.369.8055 

E-mail; holly@thecollegeconcept.com

 

Check out my new X-Treme E-mail service

at www.thecollegeconcept.com;

 get expertise and suggestions via e-mail exchange on course selection, essays, extracurriculars, supplemental submissions, résumé, interview skills, and anything else your student will need to accomplish an "x-traordinary" college application. Includes up to 75 outgoing e-mails from The College Concept per month. 
                                                                                           Only $200 per month  

Get registered now for my

College Application ACTION! Camps

If you have a student who will be applying to college this year, summer is a great time to start working on the college applications! I offer an intensive, but fun, series of 2-3 hour camps that will give your student a head start and set him/her apart from the rest. 

  • The Essaytake it from ordinary to extraordinary

Offered July 20 & August 14; 3-6 PM                           $185 per session

  • The Résumé – get that “wow” factor that will set yours apart. AP classes, extracurriculars, standardized test scores – your résumé is your opportunity to shine.  Learn how to assemble a “short list” of your significant accomplishments.

Offered June 30th & July 10; 3-5 PM                            $135 per session

  • The Common Application – how to present your accomplishments so that you are a “must have” applicant for colleges.  

Offered July 21 & August 7; 3-6 PM                             $185 per session

  • The Interview; what to expect, what to talk about. Participate in mock interviews and get tips you can use for any college interview from a former Harvard interviewer.

July 31; 3-6 PM. One session only                                  $185

  • The Highly Selective College Application; how to differentiate yourself.

Offered July 14 & August 12; 3-6 PM                          $185 per session

 Class size is limited - register ASAP. Convenient Park Cities location.

(Parents; these classes are a great way to get a head start and minimize stress by reducing the amount of parent/student interaction regarding the application timeline, often a difficult issue surrounding college application time when everyone is somewhat anxious.) Please see my website at www.thecollegeconcept.com to enroll. You may also send a check (along with a list of class choices and dates) to;

The College Concept

3419 Westminster, #316

Dallas, TX 75205

 

You may email me at holly@thecollegeconcept.com.

Holly O’Brien

holly@thecollegeconcept.com

www.thecollegeconcept.com

214.369.8055

 Your student’s future is important, and worth his or her very best effort.

 

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hollyobrien May 18 @ 1:30 pm

Hi everyone – it’s Holly O’Brien of The College Concept.  Parents of high school students; please join my blog on BubbleLife by signing up for my community on this page.  Get important information on maximizing your student’s high school years and college application strategies sent directly into your email.

I invite you to contact me!

holly@thecollegeconcept.com

www.thecollegeconcept.com

214.369.8055

 

Quote of the day:

Action is the real measure of intelligence.

                                                                                                                                   NAPOLEON HILL

Here’s an innovative and expedient way to get help with upcoming college applications;

Check out my new X-Treme E-mail service

at www.thecollegeconcept.com;

 

get expertise and suggestions via e-mail exchange on course selection, essays, extracurriculars, supplemental submissions, résumé, interview skills, and anything else your student will need to accomplish an "x-traordinary" college application. Includes up to 75 outgoing e-mails from The College Concept per month. 
                                                               only $200 per month  

                                                                                                           

…Kids applying to college today face a perfect storm of admissions demographics. For the past decade the number of high school graduates has steadily risen; at the same time grants, loans and scholarships have made higher education accessible for more families. But the number of desks at the top-tier schools has stayed relatively flat, leaving more kids battling for the same coveted spots. The colliding trends were evident in admissions rate this spring: Yale turned down or waitlisted a record 92.5 percent of applicants; Stanford, an all-time high of 92.8 percent. And the applicant glut has only been aggravated by the popularity of the Common Application (now accepted be 391 schools, including Harvard and Princeton), which lets students apply to multiple schools using just one form. The percentage of kids applying to six or more schools has risen to over 25 percent, with an ambitious few submitting a carpal tunnel-inducing 20 apps or more.

                                                                                                                                      -exerpted from Smartmoney Magazine- 

Class of 2014 Admissions Statistics – Selective and Highly Selective Schools

 

 

Harvard

Harvard admitted record low 6.9 percent

Harvard received 30,489 applications this year. 2,110 students were accepted.

Duke

Duke admitted 15 percent

Duke received 26,770 applications this year, 3,972 students were accepted, 18% admitted last year.

Yale

Yale admitted 7.5 percent

Yale received 25,869 applications this year.  1,940 students were accepted.

Princeton

Princeton admitted 8.18 percent

Princeton received 26,247 applications and admitted 8.18 percent. 2,148 students were accepted. This is a drop from last year's admit rate of 9.94 percent, and 9.25 percent in 2008.

Stanford

Stanford admitted 7.18 percent

Stanford received 32,022 applications this year.  2,300 students were accepted.

 Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt admitted 16.3 percent

21,817 students applied, 1,600 were admitted. There was a 2.3% drop in acceptance rate from last year’s class.

UT Austin

As of this year UT Austin automatically admits the top 8 percent of the graduating class, filling 75% of the available spaces.  There were over 31,000 applicants.

Universtiy of Virginia

UVA admitted 30.7 percent

UVA received 23,280 applications this year. 6,900 students were accepted.

Penn

Penn admitted 14.2 percent

Penn received 26,938 applications this year.  3,830 students were accepted.  The acceptance rate dropped 2.9% compared to last year’s acceptance rate of 17.1 percent.

Brown

Brown admitted 9.3 Percent

Brown received 30,136 applications this year, compared to 24,988 applications last year.  2,804 students were accepted, or 9.3 percent.

 Remember - What is the #1 mistake high school students make on their college application? Not taking the application process seriously enough!

 Parents of Class of 2011 seniors – consider getting a head start on your student’s college application process.

 Get registered now for my

College Application ACTION! Camps

If you have a student who will be applying to college this year, summer is a great time to start working on the college applications! I offer an intensive, but fun, series of 2-3 hour camps that will give your student a head start and set him/her apart from the rest. 

  • The Essaytake it from ordinary to extraordinary

Offered July 20 & August 14; 3-6 PM                           $185 per session

  • The Résumé – get that “wow” factor that will set yours apart. AP classes, extracurriculars, standardized test scores – your résumé is your opportunity to shine.  Learn how to assemble a “short list” of your significant accomplishments.

Offered June 30th & July 10; 3-5 PM                            $135 per session

  • The Common Application – how to present your accomplishments so that you are a “must have” applicant for colleges.  

Offered July 21 & August 7; 3-6 PM                             $185 per session

  • The Interview; what to expect, what to talk about. Participate in mock interviews and get tips you can use for any college interview from a former Harvard interviewer.

July 31; 3-6 PM. One session only                                  $185

  • The Highly Selective College Application; how to differentiate yourself.

Offered July 14 & August 12; 3-6 PM                          $185 per session

 

Class size is limited - register ASAP. Convenient Park Cities location.

(Parents; these classes are a great way to get a head start and minimize stress by reducing the amount of parent/student interaction regarding the application timeline, often a difficult issue surrounding college application time when everyone is somewhat anxious.) Please see my website at www.thecollegeconcept.com to enroll. You may also send a check (along with a list of class choices and dates) to;

The College Concept

3419 Westminster, #316

Dallas, TX 75205

 

You may email me at holly@thecollegeconcept.com.

Holly O’Brien

holly@thecollegeconcept.com

www.thecollegeconcept.com

214.369.8055

 

Your student’s future is important, and worth his or her very best effort.

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hollyobrien May 11 @ 12:36 pm

Hi everyone – it’s Holly O’Brien of The College Concept.  Parents of high school students; please join my blog on BubbleLife by signing up for my community on this page.  Get important information on maximizing your student’s high school years and college application strategies sent directly into your email.

Check out my new X-Treme E-mail service at www.thecollegeconcept.com;

get my expertise and suggestions via e-mail exchange on course selection, essays, extracurriculars, supplemental submissions, résumé, interview skills, and anything else your student will need to accomplish an "x-traordinary" college application. The reasonable $200 monthly fee includes up to 75 comprehensive outgoing e-mails from The College Concept.  

Quote of the day:

Knowledge is, indeed, that which, next to virtue, truly and essentially raises one man above another.
                                                                                                                                                                           JOSEPH ADDISON

I invite you to contact me!

Holly O'Brien/The College Concept    214.369.8055    holly@thecollegeconcept.com    www.thecollegeconcept.com 

Tip of the Day:

The lawns are a tender green, the air is full of fragrance -- ahhh, the lazy days of summer are nearly here.  If you are the parent of a high school student, however, summer is a great opportunity to team up with your student and design a season that is truly unique and of great benefit to your student.  Some suggestions:

  1. Create a personal reading list and have a goal to complete it. This list can include books as well as articles, research papers in a field of interest, enrichment magazines such as Discover and Smithsonian, old documents, etc.  With the extra time summer allows, encourage your student to really delve deeply into a topic of interest. Be sure and keep a record of books and other significant material read for future reference.
  2. Organize a community service project.  Not only does this enhance your student’s view of the importance of giving back to the community, but it also provides organizational skills, leadership expertise, and a great sense of accomplishment.
  3. Gain a new skill.  Some examples are EMT, teaching, lifeguarding, and working with animals. Many new skills require a training period, and this training can be a great addition to a college application, as well as to future employment possibilities.
  4. Take an advanced level course that enables your student to augment an interest or complete a requirement.
  5. Write a novel or a book of poetry.  Writing has become significant, and can be a key component to many college acceptances these days with so many students being deficient in this area.

Colleges these days are looking for leadership, initiative, creativity, and compassion. As a parent you have the experience and insight to guide your student into a fun AND meaningful summer.

Remember - What is the #1 mistake high school students make on their college application? Not taking the application process seriously enough!

 Parents of Class of 2011 seniors – consider getting a head start on your student’s college application process.

Get registered now for my

College Application ACTION! Camps

If you have a student who will be applying to college this year, summer is a great time to start working on the college applications! I offer an intensive, but fun, series of 2-3 hour camps that will give your student a head start and set him/her apart from the rest. 

  • The Essaytake it from ordinary to extraordinary

Offered July 20 & August 14; 3-6 PM                           $185 per session

  • The Résumé – get that “wow” factor that will set yours apart. AP classes, extracurriculars, standardized test scores – your résumé is your opportunity to shine.  Learn how to assemble a “short list” of your significant accomplishments.

Offered June 30th & July 10; 3-5 PM                            $135 per session

  • The Common Application – how to present your accomplishments so that you are a “must have” applicant for colleges.  

Offered July 21 & August 7; 3-6 PM                             $185 per session

  • The Interview; what to expect, what to talk about. Participate in mock interviews and get tips you can use for any college interview from a former Harvard interviewer.

July 31; 3-6 PM. One session only                    $185

  • The Highly Selective College Application; how to differentiate yourself.

Offered July 14 & August 12; 3-6 PM                          $185 per session

 

Class size is limited - register ASAP. Convenient Park Cities location.

(Parents; these classes are a great way to get a head start and minimize stress by reducing the amount of parent/student interaction regarding the application timeline, often a difficult issue surrounding college application time when everyone is somewhat anxious.) Please see my website at www.thecollegeconcept.com to enroll. You may also send a check (along with a list of class choices and dates) to;

The College Concept

3419 Westminster, #316

Dallas, TX 75205

 

You may email me at holly@thecollegeconcept.com.

Holly O’Brien

holly@thecollegeconcept.com

www.thecollegeconcept.com

214.369.8055

 

Your student’s future is important, and worth his or her very best effort.

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hollyobrien May 04 @ 10:42 am

Hi everyone – it’s Holly O’Brien of The College Concept.  It is my weekly goal to reveal important and useful information on all matters concerning your student’s high school years and college application strategies. Parents of high school students; please sign up for my community in BubbleLife on this page and get my blog directly into your e-mail. Please send this link to a friend who may be able to use the information.

On a personal note; excitement is building in my mind and heart as I prepare to attend my oldest son’s graduation from Harvard University!

Quote of the day –

I not only use all the brains that I have, but all that I can borrow.
                                                                                          WOODROW WILSON

I invite you to visit my website at

www.thecollegeconcept.com

The College Concept offers a series of reasonably priced summer workshops to give your student a jump start on the college application process, now enrolling online.  It is wonderful to hear success stories from the students I have worked with. 

Here are a few:

1/1   HARVARD
1/1   PRINCETON
1/2   YALE

1/1   MIT
2/2   DUKE
1/1   PENN/WHARTON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
5/5   UT AUSTIN
2/2   TCU
1/1   GEORGIA TECH

2/2 UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS

2/2 UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

 

I can also work with students individually on high school course selection, extracurricular planning, essays, the Common Application, college choice and admissions strategies.

 

You may also contact me at

Phone; 214.369.8055 

E-mail; holly@thecollegeconcept.com

 

Things are really starting to hum around the College Concept sphere of influence – all the soon-to-be-senior juniors are starting to ruminate about the leviathan task that lies ahead. In fact, these days applying to college is a whole different animal than it used to be; leaner, meaner and more competitive than ever.  The applicant pool is breathtaking! Kids these days are accomplished beyond anything we saw in the dark ages…oops, I mean when I was in high school. Let’s see…topic, topic, what’s the topic.  I know – a useful but quick blog (for all you portmanteau enthusiasts out there… a quog) I will call “Hush-Hush but Handy College Admissions Factoids”

  • As stated in last week’s blog; the essay can be the “make or break” component to an application. Take it very seriously.
  • Don’t let the cost of a school dissuade you from applying. 

Financial aid is not as hard to get as one would imagine. The colleges need good students and understand that to get them enrolled, financial aid is often a necessity.

  • As a flip side to the previous bullet; I have it from an extremely reliable source that a full tuition student will be given a priority in the admissions process if they are anywhere close to the parameters acceptable to the school, i.e. money talks!  (Like we didn’t know that!)
  • If your student has a desire to pursue something unusual in his/her studies, such as ancient Greek, this can be a big selling point to colleges, which often have trouble filling the less popular majors. This can be a good way to gain acceptance to a highly selective college.
  • It’s okay, in fact it’s a great idea, for parents to be involved in their students activities that culminate in the information submitted to colleges.  With the huge (largest ever) applicant pool these days, it is a College Concept recommendation!

If your student is as busy as most are these days, they need your help, despite what they may say. The application process is almost like a part-time job, and parents can help with planning, organization, and research.

Remember - What is the #1 mistake high school students make on their college application? Not taking the application process seriously enough!

Get registered now for my

College Application ACTION! Camps

If you have a student who will be applying to college this year, summer is a great time to start working on the college applications! I offer an intensive, but fun, series of 2-3 hour camps that will give your student a head start and set him/her apart from the rest. 

  • The Essaytake it from ordinary to extraordinary

Offered July 20 & August 14; 3-6 PM                           $185 per session

  • The Résumé – get that “wow” factor that will set yours apart. AP classes, extracurriculars, standardized test scores – your résumé is your opportunity to shine.  Learn how to assemble a “short list” of your significant accomplishments.

Offered June 30th & July 10; 3-5 PM                            $135 per session

  • The Common Application – how to present your accomplishments so that you are a “must have” applicant for colleges.  

Offered July 21 & August 7; 3-6 PM                             $185 per session

  • The Interview; what to expect, what to talk about. Participate in mock interviews and get tips you can use for any college interview from a former Harvard interviewer.

July 31; 3-6 PM. One session only                    $185

  • The Highly Selective College Application; how to differentiate yourself.

Offered July 14 & August 12; 3-6 PM                          $185 per session

Class size is limited - register ASAP. Convenient Park Cities location.

(Parents; these classes are a great way to get a head start and minimize stress by reducing the amount of parent/student interaction surrounding the application timeline, often a difficult issue at college application time when everyone is somewhat anxious.) Please see my website at www.thecollegeconcept.com to enroll. You may also send checks (along with a list of class choices and dates) to;

The College Concept

3419 Westminster, #316

Dallas, TX 75205

Holly O'Brien/The College Concept

holly@thecollegeconcept.com

www.thecollegeconcept.com

214.369.8055

 

Your student’s future is important, and worth his or her very best effort.

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hollyobrien April 27 @ 12:00 pm

Hi everyone – it’s Holly O’Brien of The College Concept.  Parents of high school students; please join my blog on BubbleLife by signing up for my community.  Get important information on all matters concerning your student’s high school years and college application strategies sent directly into your email. And please send this link to a friend who might benefit as well!  Thanks!

I invite you to visit my website at

www.thecollegeconcept.com

 

or contact me at

Phone; 214.369.8055  

E-mail; holly@thecollegeconcept.com

 

Quote of the Day

Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.

                                                                                                 ALBERT EINSTEIN

Tip of the Day

college campus with studentsI have had many parents ask me which component is most important these days when it comes to the college application; the standardized test scores, the GPA, or the essay.  My answer is “YES”.  And my point is to emphasize that all components to the application process are extremely important, due to the sheer numbers of applicants, and definitely worth the student spending preparation time and effort on.  However, with so many accomplished students competing for spots at the most favored universities in the country, and with standardized test scores and GPA’s being comparable, often times the essay can be the pivotal factor in the acceptance.

What are the admissions officers looking for in an essay?  Keep in mind that individual essay readers may read thousands of essays during the admissions process at the larger or highly selective schools.  So essays that become a deciding factor in a student’s successful admission are distinctive in some way; an exceptional imagination, an engaging story or a unique writing style.

 Remember - What is the #1 mistake high school students make on their college application? Not taking the application process seriously enough!

 

Get registered now for my series of College Application ACTION! Camps

If you have a student who will be applying to college this year, summer is a great time to start working on the college application! Your student can complete the extensive application process before others even get started.

I have a series of 2-3 hour camps that will give your student a head start and set him/her apart from the rest.  Enroll online at www.thecollegeconcept.com. My camp sessions include;

  • The Résumé – get that “wow” factor that will set yours apart. AP classes, extracurriculars, standardized test scores – your résumé is your opportunity to shine.  Learn how to assemble a “short list” of your significant accomplishments.

Offered June 30th & July 10; 3-5 PM                   $135 per session

  • The Essaytake it from ordinary to extraordinary .

Offered July 20 & August 14, 3-6 PM                  $185 per session

  • The Common Applicationhow to present your accomplishments so that you are a “must have” applicant for colleges.  

Offered July 21 & August 7, 3-6 PM                    $185 per session  

  • The Interview; what to expect, what to talk about. Participate in mock interviews and get tips you can use for any college interview from a former Harvard interviewer.

July 31, 3-6 PM. One session only                       $185

  • The Highly Selective College Application; how to differentiate yourself.

Offered July 14 & August 12, 3 - 6 PM                            $185 per session

 

Class size is limited - register ASAP. Convenient Park Cities location.

(Parents; these classes are a great way to minimize stress by reducing the amount of parent/student interaction, often a difficult issue surrounding college application time when everyone is somewhat anxious.) Please see my website at www.thecollegeconcept.com for more information, and you can email me at holly@thecollegeconcept.com.

Holly O’Brien

holly@thecollegeconcept.com

www.thecollegeconcept.com

214.369.8055

 

It is wonderful to hear success stories from the students I have worked with. 

Here are just a few:

1/1   HARVARD
1/1   PRINCETON
2/2   YALE (one waitlisted…my fingers are crossed)
1/1   MIT
1/1   DUKE
1/1   PENN/WHARTON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
5/5   UT AUSTIN
2/2   TCU
1/1   GEORGIA TECH

2/2  UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS

2/2  UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS

 

Here’s what two of my most recently accepted students have said;

…I was accepted into TCU, Santa Clara, and Sewanee. I am going to attend Santa Clara University in California!! I am so excited about it!! Thanks so much for all your help with my application. I really appreciate it! I hope you are having a great year and I'll let you know how Santa Clara turns out!

…It's so good to hear from you! I have been accepted to Alabama, Ole Miss, and College of Charleston, and wait listed at SMU. I haven't decided where I'll be attending next year, once I decide I will let you know! Thank you for all your much needed help and encouragement.

I also work privately with students.  There is probably no story that I haven't encountered, so I can help your student - no matter what the circumstance - present themselves in the most convincing way possible to their colleges of choice.  I can help find the schools that are right - where they have the best chance of admission, where they will prosper, where they will be on the road to a bright future.  If your student starts working with me early in his or her high school career, I can help them get the most of that experience while at the same time shaping their course of action to put them in the best possible position when it comes time to apply.   

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hollyobrien April 21 @ 1:24 pm
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