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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;
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
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 College Concept also offers:
2011 senior special rate $110 per hour
Your student’s future is important, and worth his or her very best effort.
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;
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 HARVARD1/1 PRINCETON1/2 YALE 1/1 MIT2/2 DUKE1/1 PENN/WHARTON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS5/5 UT AUSTIN2/2 TCU1/1 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
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.
August 12 * August 14 * September 25 * October 16
3 - 6 PM
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
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
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 HARVARD1/1 PRINCETON1/2 YALE
1/1 MIT2/2 DUKE1/1 PENN/WHARTON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS5/5 UT AUSTIN2/2 TCU1/1 GEORGIA TECH
2/2 UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
You may contact me at
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
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.
Offered July 20, August 14, and Sept. 25; 3-6 PM $185 per session
Offered July 21 & August 7; 3-6 PM $185 per session
July 31; 3-6 PM. One session only $185
Offered July 14 & August 12; 3-6 PM $185 per session
(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;
You may email me at holly@thecollegeconcept.com.
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
or contact me at
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.
2011 Senior Special
Private Sessions for customized strategies $125 $110 per hour
Offered July 20 & August 14; 3-6 PM $185 per session
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;
Feel free to email me at holly@thecollegeconcept.com.
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!
Remember - What is the #1 mistake high school students make on their college application? Not taking the application process seriously enough!
Special one-on-one rates for 2011 seniors
$110 $125 per hour
Offered June 30th & July 10; 3-5 PM $135 per session
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!
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.
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
1/1 MIT2/2 TCU2/2 UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS
2/2 DUKE1/1 PENN/WHARTON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS5/5 UT AUSTIN1/1 GEORGIA TECH
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!
Action is the real measure of intelligence.
NAPOLEON HILL
Here’s an innovative and expedient way to get help with upcoming college applications;
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.
Parents of Class of 2011 seniors – consider getting a head start on your student’s college application process.
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.
Knowledge is, indeed, that which, next to virtue, truly and essentially raises one man above another. JOSEPH ADDISON
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:
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.
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 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
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”
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.
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.
(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;
Holly O'Brien/The College Concept
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!
Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.
ALBERT EINSTEIN
Tip of the Day
I 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.
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;
Offered July 20 & August 14, 3-6 PM $185 per session
Offered July 21 & August 7, 3-6 PM $185 per session
July 31, 3-6 PM. One session only $185
Offered July 14 & August 12, 3 - 6 PM $185 per session
(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.
It is wonderful to hear success stories from the students I have worked with.
Here are just a few:
1/1 HARVARD1/1 PRINCETON2/2 YALE (one waitlisted…my fingers are crossed)1/1 MIT1/1 DUKE1/1 PENN/WHARTON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS5/5 UT AUSTIN2/2 TCU1/1 GEORGIA TECH
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.