10 Opportunities for High Schools Students During Winter Break

Most high school students look forward to winter break as a welcome break. High school life is busy and stressful with classes, study time, activities, and friends. While students do deserve some rest time, they should not let opportunity pass them by either. Winter break = A little extra time to get ahead on a path to success.

Here's the compromise, high school parents: After a little rest and recovery, there will still be enough time for a student to do something that looks good on the college application.

Ways for a student to make the most of winter break down time:

1. Volunteering in the community. Winter break is a great time for students to clock time doing community service. Good places to look to are the public library, a nursing home, hospital, soup kitchen, homeless shelter, community center or church/synagogue. There are also organizations with extensive databases of locations looking for holiday help, including The United Way and VolunteerMatch. Volunteer work will count more if it is done in an area of the student's interest.

2. Taking an educational trip. Consider nearby places to visit, such as a museum, national monument, historical house or even a cruise. It's best if experiences can connect with what a child is studying in school or possibly wants to study in college. For example, if a child is studying U.S. History, a trip to Philadelphia or Washington D.C. will make the lessons all the more exciting and meaningful. If a child wants to be an environmental conservationist, the Ambassadors of the Environment Youth Program onboard a Paul Gauguin cruise may provide great insight, fun and resume building into a vacation. If a physical trip is out of the question, try an electronic field trip. The National Parks Foundation and the Smithsonian Institution are two places that offer virtual field trips that give students a close-up view of popular destinations around America and the world. Talk during or after the real or virtual trip with your child to help the child analyze and find meaning in the experience.

3. Studying for the SAT and ACT. Students can really, seriously improve their scores by doing a little SAT study every day. It will be much easier to concentrate on the test without the distractions of daily homework assignments.

4. Visiting colleges. The more colleges a student has a chance to see, the better, meaning even freshmen should do some visiting. Schools can be local or near a vacation destination. Winter break is not the best time to get a full campus flavor because students are on their breaks, too. However, admissions reps are at work. So go visit schools that are not even on your student's list. Students on a stay-cation can go on virtual college tours. There are an ever growing number of schools and sites that offer them. (TYPE: "Virtual college tour" into Google and go from there).

5. Looking into jobs. The job market is tight but temporary holiday jobs may be available. If that's not a real possibility, winter break is a good time to begin looking for a summer job. It's not too early. Many employers will hire summer help well before the end of the semester.

6. Doing a short term internship. Winter break is a good opportunity to explore a career. A student can spend time shadowing someone in a field or career of interest.

7. Working on the college application. Most deadlines have passed, but there are still some that haven't.

8. Searching for scholarships. Here is a link to a past blog on how to find scholarships: How to Apply for a College Scholarship.

9. Taking classes. In the two weeks off, there are a number of options. A language immersion course could prove incredibly helpful.

10. Enjoying some down time. Like adults, students need some down time. The relaxing time will give a student time to recharge.


This year, college advisors at International College Counselors helped more than 200 students find, apply to and gain acceptance into the college of their dreams. The expert college counselors at International College Counselors are dedicated to helping students and their families successfully navigate the college application process.

For more information on International College Counselors or to contact an expert college counselor, please visit http://www.internationalcollegecounselors.com or call 954 414-9986.


ABOUT INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE COUNSELORS:

International College Counselors provides expert college counseling on undergraduate and graduate college admissions, financial aid, tuition, essays, and college applications to domestic and international students.

The college counseling and college coaching services are tailored to address the goals, needs, and dreams of each student. Mandee Heller Adler, founder of International College Counselors, is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and also received an MBA from Harvard Business School. International College Counselors' achievements include being recognized as one of South Florida's Top 100 Small Businesses in 2012.

International College Counselors has offices in New York, New York; White Plains, New York; Boston, Massachusetts; Miami Beach, Florida; Miami, Florida; Coral Gables, Florida; Palm Beach, Florida; Boca Raton, Florida; Medellin, Colombia and Caracas, Venezuela.

Give the Gift that Gives So Much Back: A College Advisor

The holiday season is in full swing, and with it, the quest for the perfect gift. Rather than spend time in a crowded shopping mall or scouring the options from countless online retailers, give a gift that will make a real difference in the life of someone you love. A college advisor can give students the personalized attention they need to get into the college of their dreams, said Mandee Heller Adler, founder and CEO of International College Counselors.

Give the gift of a college advisor – a gift that will last a lifetime and enable your student to buy all the ipads and video games on their own wish lists.

An expert and experienced college advisor from International College Counselors will:

1. Provide your child with a guided plan for success.

2. Help your child define and understand his or her unique potential.

3. Keep your student organized.

4. Free up more of your student’s time so he or she can focus on school and other priorities.

5. Inform you and your child about changes in higher education and college admissions.

6. Thoroughly review your child’s application and polish it to a high sheen.

7. Be the “bad-guy”. (As we all know, teens don’t necessarily like to listen to their parents!)

8. Guide your student to make wiser personal decisions during these important years.

9. Find the right college match for your child.

10. Connect your child with any help – like tutors – that is needed as he/she works towards the goal.

“Few gifts make as significant an impact as the gift of encouragement and education,” said Adler. “A family can let their student know what is truly important.”

The earlier students start working with the expert college counselors at International College Counselors, the more advantage they gain. Early planning gives a student time to sift through individual interests, create a steady academic progression, and build a solid foundation of achievements, including focused community work and summer options.

Giving the perfect gift is easy. Just call International College Counselors at 954-414-9986 today.

No batteries required.

This year, college advisors at International College Counselors helped more than 200 students find, apply to and gain acceptance into the college of their dreams. The expert college counselors at International College Counselors are dedicated to helping students and their families successfully navigate the college application process.

For more information on International College Counselors or to contact an expert college counselor, please visit http://www.internationalcollegecounselors.com.

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE COUNSELORS:

International College Counselors provides expert college counseling on undergraduate and graduate college admissions, financial aid, tuition, essays, and college applications to domestic and international students.

The college counseling and college coaching services are tailored to address the goals, needs, and dreams of each student. Mandee Heller Adler, founder of International College Counselors, is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and also received an MBA from Harvard Business School. International College Counselors’ achievements include being recognized as one of South Florida’s Top 100 Small Businesses in 2012.

International College Counselors has offices in New York, New York; White Plains, New York; Boston, Massachusetts; Miami Beach, Florida; Miami, Florida; Coral Gables, Florida; Palm Beach, Florida; Boca Raton, Florida; Medellin, Colombia and Caracas, Venezuela.

For High School Sophomores: A Mid-Year College Admissions Checklist from International College Counselors

Sophomores: graduation may seem a long way off, but you’re permanent record is being written now. Colleges will be looking at how you spent this year, say expert college advisors at International College Counselors.

The sophomore mid-year college admissions checklist.

Work on Your Academic Performance

Now is the time to work hard. Set the goal of moving up an academic level in your junior year. Keep your grades up and you may be able to move from honors to AP or from regular to honors. This step up is what colleges want to see.

Prepare early for your midterm exams.

Evaluate your performance. Are you having problems focusing or understanding the material? Could your writing skills be improved? Ask your teacher what you can do to improve.

Evaluate your study skills. Work on your concentration and time management. Next year, will be your most important high school year academically.

Start preparing now for the SAT/ ACT

If you take on the SAT little by little, it won’t feel so overwhelming later.

Review your PSAT test results. They will give you a good indication of what you need to work on.

Read. Read. Read.

Work on your vocabulary. If you learn a word a day between now and next year, that will put you 365 words ahead.

Evaluate your Extracurricular Activities

Explore your Interests. Try out some new activities. Drop the ones you hate. This is the time to find your niche.

Get involved in the activities you like.

Colleges will be looking for true involvement. This means that at the end of four years you will, ideally, be able to demonstrate to the admissions team some level of accomplishment, initiative, commitment, and leadership.

Beware the sophomore slump

It’s natural to feel like you’re losing interest. Now that you know that, do everything you can to stay focused!

Psyche yourself up about college

Start doing a little no-pressure research. Take a look at colleges online. Don’t know where to start? Start with those you heard about and those with sports teams you like. Take a virtual tour or two. If your family goes on a trip somewhere, see if you can tour a campus away from home. College websites can tell you who to contact.

Consider what you may want to major in.

Introduce or Re-introduce yourself to Your College Counselor

Schedule a meeting for sometime next semester with your high school guidance counselor or your International College Counselors college advisor.

Prepare for the meeting by taking your class schedule. Tell your counselor you want to get into a good college. Ask what you need to do to accomplish that goal.

Meeting with your counselor is also a good relationship building move. For the next two years, this person is going to be one of the most important in your life.


This year, college advisors at International College Counselors helped more than 200 students find, apply to and gain acceptance into the college of their dreams. The expert college counselors at International College Counselors are dedicated to helping students and their families successfully navigate the college application process.

For more information on International College Counselors or to contact an expert college counselor, please visit www.internationalcollegecounselors.com.

College Admissions Advisors Answer Questions on “Rigor” for High School Students

College admissions advisors often recommend that students take the most ‘rigorous’ course load possible. But what do terms like “rigorous course load” mean and how rigorous should a student’s schedule be? The expert college advisors at International College Counselors answered some answers to these elusive questions.

1. How Do Admission Officials Weigh High School Rigor?

Comparisons are made when evaluating students. Admissions officers weigh everything from backgrounds around the world to the context of each high school. In other words, there is no one deciding, defining scale for “rigor”.

What admissions officers will agree upon is that students should take the most challenging course load that they can do well in, while still having enough time to show the deep and passionate involvement in activities that the colleges seek.

“As greater numbers of students are challenging themselves by engaging in rigorous, college-level AP and IB course work in high school, colleges raise their standards. Students need to stay on top of recruiting trends in order to be competitive,” said Mandee Heller Adler, founder of International College Counselors.

2. How many Advanced Placement courses should a student take in high school?

It depends on the student, the high school being attended and the desired college.

Students can take zero to two AP courses and get admitted into a good college. Others can take five or six AP courses a year and get rejected from Harvard.

How to decide?

For the most selective colleges, students need to take the most rigorous curriculum available within their own high school.

If a student is home schooled or the high school does not offer AP courses or enough AP courses, know that colleges are aware of different situations that may restrict what courses can be taken. What they really expect that students excel in the opportunities to which they do have access.

However, students should be aware that they can take AP classes online. Colleges know this too.

Another option is to enroll in classes at a nearby college or take online learning courses to supplement your regular high school work. You can even earn college credit at the same time.

3. Which are better IB classes or AP classes?

IB stands for International Baccalaureate which is an advanced high school diploma program. AP stands for Advanced Placement. In the IB program, students who pass six exams can sometimes enter college as a sophomore. (Note: check with each school because policies differ). Both curriculums have merit. One is not better than the other. But once again, the student needs to take the most rigorous curriculum offered at his/her school.

4. Which is better: an A in the regular course or a B in the honors course?

The most accurate answers is: An A in the honors course.

This is how the joke goes, but it’s the truth.

Colleges like to see students challenging themselves. So the direct answer is: A ‘B’ in an honors course is better that an ‘A’ in regular. A ‘B’ in an AP course is better than the ‘A’ in honors.

Colleges are looking for students who push themselves, are intellectually curious and are interested in learning. More demanding courses are a reflection of this.

However, what a student should take depends on the student. What a student must be careful to do is not overreach. Every student should take the most challenging courses he or she can perform well in. It does not help to take AP courses and get a “C.” Students who take AP must also look towards passing the AP exam.

The worst thing a student can do is take honors courses and then switch to easier courses later in their high school career in order to boost GPA. A warning to students: Do not catch “senioritis!”

5. What courses do colleges want to see?

There are very few situations in which the appearance or absence of any one particular class would determine a student’s college future. But, please be careful: Students do need to meet all the prerequisite of the colleges they are applying to. Some require a certain number or years of math, English and foreign language. And, some schools require certain math levels (such as pre-calculus) for consideration.

Overall, colleges want to see courses that tell a story. They want to see that a student has pursued his or her interests and have taken a balanced set of challenging classes.

As Yale puts it “We encourage you to pursue your intellectual interests, so long as it is not at the expense of your program’s overall rigor or your preparedness for college.”

A few good questions from Yale for weighing your course selection for the upcoming year:

• Am I taking a well-balanced academic program that will provide me with a good foundation for college?
• Am I prepared to take college-level math, writing, and science courses?
• Do I feel challenged by the courses that I am taking?
• Am I seeking challenge or avoiding it?

Endnote

The fact is, admissions professionals are well-trained to identify “rigor” in the entire transcript and not just courses.

If you are a client of International College Counselors, contact one of our college advisors on what courses are most appropriate for your high school student. Other students should talk to their high school counselor.

This year, college advisors at International College Counselors helped more than 200 students find, apply to and gain acceptance into the college of their dreams. The expert college counselors at International College Counselors are dedicated to helping students and their families successfully navigate the college application process.

For more information on International College Counselors or to contact an expert college counselor, please visit www.internationalcollegecounselors.com.

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE COUNSELORS:

International College Counselors provides expert college counseling on undergraduate and graduate college admissions, financial aid, tuition, essays, and college applications to domestic and international students.

The college counseling and college coaching services are tailored to address the goals, needs, and dreams of each student. Mandee Heller Adler, founder of International College Counselors, is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and also received an MBA from Harvard Business School. International College Counselors’ achievements include being recognized as one of South Florida’s Top 100 Small Businesses in 2012.

International College Counselors has offices in New York, New York; White Plains, New York; Boston, Massachusetts; Miami Beach, Florida; Miami, Florida; Coral Gables, Florida; Palm Beach, Florida; Boca Raton, Florida; Medellin, Colombia and Caracas, Venezuela.

Go to the College Fairs

National college fairs span the US from coast to coast and visit every major metropolitan area across the country. (Expert college advisors at International College Counselors highly recommend attending) Students won't find any Ferris wheels or cotton candy at these events but they will find many college representatives sitting at tables and handing out brochures and cards. Have questions? Ask the reps! These are outstanding opportunities for students to learn about a wide variety of schools, attend helpful seminars, and collect information on:

* Admission requirements
* Financial aid
* College majors and courses
* Academics
* Life on campus

Fairs can help students cross some colleges off their list and discover new ones to add. Some college fairs are even attended by the admissions officers. There are also a lot of pens, bags and other giveaway items for the taking.

College fairs are free and open to the public. Popular venues for these fairs include schools, a convention hall, hotel ballroom, conference center or local community center.

International College Counselors Note: Students should leave their contact info with all the schools that interest them. At application review time, demonstrating interest in a school may give them extra points. If students don't leave their name, the colleges won't know they were there or showing interest.

To find out when and where college fairs are taking place in your area, ask the high school counselor or call or email us if you are a client of International College Counselors. You can also visit the website of the National Association for College Admission Counseling.

Students can also take advantage of online college fair events. They happen nearly every day. We highly recommend them for international students and for those who are unable to travel to the college fair locations. But anyone can attend.

One of the most popular hosts for virtual college fairs is College Week Live.

If you can, send your student to more than one college fair so he or she can get a good sampling of what's out there. Different schools attend at different times.

The checklist below from College Week Live will help your student get the most out of each fair.

Before You Go

Find out which colleges will be at the fair (a list may be posted on the fair's website) and write down the names of the ones you want to learn about.
Make a list of any questions you have.

Bring your list, a pen, paper and a bag to hold college brochures.
Make sure the email address that you give out won't embarrass you - remember, college admission officers will see it.

While You're There

Get a map of the fair and plan a route that will take you to the booths of all the colleges on your list. If there is no map available, do a quick survey of the room to locate your colleges.

Visit booths and ask college representatives questions. For example, you can ask, "What kind of student are you looking for?" or "What makes your campus special?"
Take a minute to jot down any information you think is important before moving on to the next booth.

Check out some of the other booths when you're done with the colleges on your list. You may stumble onto a great college you hadn't considered.

Attend an information session, if any are offered. Typical topics include applications and financial aid. These sessions are good opportunities to get expert advice.

When You Get Home

Ask yourself which colleges stood out and why.

Organize the college material you collected and review it that week while it's fresh in your mind.

Go over any notes you took during the fair.

Throw out the pamphlets of colleges you've ruled out so you can focus on the colleges you're interested in.

Do more research on the colleges you're thinking about. Explore websites, contact the admission office or plan a campus visit. If you liked what you saw at the fair, it may be time to see the college in person.

This year, college advisors at International College Counselors helped more than 200 students find, apply to and gain acceptance into the college of their dreams. The expert college counselors at International College Counselors are dedicated to helping students and their families successfully navigate the college application process.

For more information on International College Counselors or to contact an expert college counselor, please visit www.internationalcollegecounselors.com.

The Application is Submitted! What Should I Do Next?

You've submitted your application but you still have some work to do. The expert college advisors at International College Counselors say time to put the icing on the cake you've been baking for the last three and a half years. We're down to the details and crumbs.

Get your official transcripts sent from your school to each college. These are not sent automatically and colleges must receive them by the application deadline. Be sure to confirm the transcript before it goes out. In particular, please make sure that your classes, grades, community service hours (if on your transcript), test scores (if on your transcript and you want it there) are correct. You'll be amazed at all the stories we've heard about mistakes on transcripts. Then, order transcripts for each of your colleges. While many schools send transcripts for you, if you are mailing them yourself, please send them registered mail. Addresses for transcripts can be found on Naviance, the Common App, and simply by Googling the school's admissions office.

** Very important for our non-U.S. students - If your transcript is in another language, it needs to be translated into English (If you need help- let us know!).

Confirm that your Letters of Recommendation have been sent/ are in the process of being sent. While many public colleges do not require letters of recommendation, all the common app schools do require a counselor recommendation and at least one teacher recommendation. If your school uses Naviance, the counselor will be tracking the letters for you, but for everyone else, you can simply look under the "School Forms" tab on the common application for those letters that have been "Assigned" and those that have been "Submitted."

Send your best test scores. Make sure you send the best of your ACT or SAT, Subject tests and/ or TOEFL. These need to be sent by you, and come directly from the College Board, ACT.org or ETS. These do not get sent automatically to the schools unless you indicated where you wanted your scores sent when you registered or tested (depending on the test). If you've retaken the test and received higher scores, you will want to send the higher scores to the schools.

Fill out and send in your financial aid documentation. All U.S. students regardless of family income should fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) and CSS profile. International students, students who are not citizens, or students who are not permanent U.S. residents may have to send a certificate of finances and a bank letter. Check with each school either by calling or searching their website, to find what you need. Make sure all deadlines are met! These are inflexible deadlines. For Floridians, Bright Futures applications are not available until January.

Visit the campus if you have not done so already. Meeting with admission staff, faculty members and/or sitting in on a class demonstrates that you are truly interested in a school. Also attend any regional events that the school hosts. Schools like to see that you are interested and this gives you extra points with the admissions committee. Visiting a school and/or attending events are also good ways for you to get more information on whether a school if a good fit for you.

Please remember that without just one of the pieces above, your application is not considered complete. In all cases, once you submit your application, you can confirm receipt of these supplemental documents either via an online portal (save those log in and passwords they send you!) or via a phone call to the admissions office. This is another reason to get your applications in early- to provide you with enough time to confirm receipt, and to re-send if something does not make it.

Just a few more steps, and you are officially done! Congratulations! Now the hard part.... the wait!

This year, college advisors at International College Counselors helped more than 200 students find, apply to and gain acceptance into the college of their dreams. The expert college counselors at International College Counselors are dedicated to helping students and their families successfully navigate the college application process.

For more information on International College Counselors or to contact an expert college counselor, please call 954 414-9986 or visit www.internationalcollegecounselors.com.

Free Upcoming ICC Seminars - Save the Dates!
IMACS Plantation - Oct. 11 - 7pm
IMACS Boca Raton - Oct. 25 - 7pm
Space is limited. Call 561 470-1178 for more info and to reserve your spot.

11 Ways to Jump Start the College Admissions Process Your Junior Year

With the release of the new Common Application, the 2012-2013 college admissions cycle has officially started. From a college admissions point of view, the Junior year is the most important year of high school. Whatever college you plan to attend, a clear strategy will guide you toward your destination. Here are eleven tips from the college advisors at International College Counselors that will help Juniors jump start the college admissions process.

1. Meet with your counselor. Discuss your career goals and the classes you should take. Many colleges require a high school career that shows a progression of courses. Make sure your high school coursework is laying the foundation colleges are looking for.

2. Choose your classes wisely. The choices you make on your junior curriculum are the most important. The difficulty of the courses you take matter. Instead of going for the easy "A," choose classes that will challenge you. Colleges like to see students who have shown that they challenge themselves.

3. Keep your grades up. Class rank and grades are key factors in college admissions.

4. Explore your personal interests. Take classes in a variety of subjects that interest you. Join some clubs. Take part in different activities outside of your school. Take classes of interest at a community college. Now is your chance to find out what you like to do. Identifying your interests will help you choose a college major.

5. Make a calendar. Start by marking off important test dates and deadlines. Then write in action items and goals related to the college application process including essay deadlines you set for yourself, scholarship deadlines and campus visits.

6. Stay organized. Set up special folders for college-related materials and plan how you'll keep them straight. Designate a place for reference material and one for correspondence. Start a notebook just for the admissions process. Write down all user names and college application passwords as well as thoughts about schools. Keep a log of correspondence, phone calls, meetings with college representatives and visits to each school.

7. Plan your testing. Take the SAT and ACT early in the year so that you are done before April and can save May and June for subject tests and AP tests. Taking the tests early will also give you time to improve your score, if need be. Call the college advisors at International College Counselors for the name of an ACT and/or SAT tutor.

8. Get to know teachers. Work really hard to impress a chosen few of your teachers. You want them to know you - and like you - well enough to write a personal and exceptional letters of recommendation for you.

9. Get Involved. Perform community service and/or get a part-time job. Extracurricular activities show that you're well rounded and know how to manage your time efficiently.

10. Position yourself for leadership. Run for office in one of your clubs. If you have a volunteer job, explore options for taking charge of a project. Colleges like to see that you've moved up in an organization. It shows commitment.

11. Research, research, research. Gather college information and use it to narrow down your choices of colleges and universities. Seek out college entrance requirements, scholarships and financial aid options. Go on "virtual" campus tours. Visit the websites of schools that interest you. Attend college fairs and college nights. Talk with students from your colleges of interest. Obtain course catalogs. Plan to visit campuses. Learn about financial aid options.

In 2012, the college advisors at International College Counselors helped more than 200 students find, apply to and gain acceptance into the college of their dreams. The expert college advisors at International College Counselors are dedicated to helping students and their parents with the often daunting and complex college application process.

For more information on International College Counselors or to contact an expert college counselor, call 954-414-9986 or 800 452-9090.

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE COUNSELORS:
International College Counselors provides expert college counseling on undergraduate and graduate college admissions, financial aid, tuition, essays, and college applications to domestic and international students. The college counseling and college coaching services are tailored to address the goals, needs, and dreams of each student. Mandee Heller Adler, founder of International College Counselors, is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She also received an MBA from Harvard Business School. Ms. Adler's achievements have brought her recognition as one of South Florida Top 100 Small Businesses in 2012 and 2011.

International College Counselors has offices in New York, New York; White Plains, New York; Boson, Massachusetts; Miami Beach, Florida; Miami, Florida; Coral Gables, Florida; Palm Beach, Florida; Boca Raton, Florida; Medellin, Columbia and Caracas, Venezuela.


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10 Ways for High School Sophomores to Jump Start the College Admissions Process

School is starting for many high school students across the country. From a college admissions point of view, the sophomore year is the second most important year of high school. Although you may not know which college you want to attend or what you're going to major in, the college advisors at International College Counselors have provided a clear general strategy that will prepare you for wherever you apply.

1. Meet with your counselor. Discuss your career goals and the classes you should take. Many colleges require a high school career that shows a progression of courses. Make sure your high school coursework is laying the foundation colleges are looking for.

2. Choose your classes wisely. The difficulty of the courses you take matter. Instead of going for the easy "A," choose classes that will challenge you. Colleges like to see students who have shown that they challenge themselves.

3. Avoid the Sophomore Slump. School can feel tedious and boring, stay focused on the goal: college. Keep your grades up. Class rank and grades are key factors in college admissions.

4. Explore your personal interests. Take classes in a variety of subjects that interest you. Join some clubs. Take part in different activities outside of your school. Take classes of interest at a community college. Now is your chance to find out what you like to do. Identifying your interests will help you choose a college major.

5. Take the Preliminary SAT (PSAT) and the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT).The 2012 PSAT/NMSQT test dates are Wednesday, October 17 and Saturday, October 20. Make sure you go over the test results with a college counselor, an independent one or at your school.

6. Consider taking the PLAN. The PLAN is the American College Testing (ACT) counterpart to the PSAT. This test covers English, math, reading and science. It is typically given in October.

7. Get to know teachers. It's not too early to do this.Work really hard to impress a chosen few of your teachers. You want them to know you - and like you - well enough to possibly write personal and exceptional letters of recommendation for you.

8. Get Involved. Perform community service and/or get a part-time job. Extracurricular activities show that you're well rounded and know how to manage your time efficiently. Next year you will want to take on a leadership position, start laying the groundwork.

9. Read and Write. You will need good writing skills for your college essay and for the rest of your life. Reading builds vocabulary. College counselors at International College Counselors recommend students take a look at the SAT prep books out there. There are many resources from romance novels to manga comic books that will build vocabulary while being entertaining.

10. Learn, learn, learn. Take a look at the Common Application and get familiar with what colleges are asking for on their applications. Visit some college websites and see what all the fuss is about.

Since 2004, the college advisors at International College Counselors have helped more than 500 students find, apply to and gain acceptance into the college of their dreams. The expert college advisors at International College Counselors are dedicated to helping students and their parents with the often daunting and complex college application process.

For more information on International College Counselors or to contact an expert college counselor, call 954-414-9986.

Common Application Now Available

The Common Application is now available online at https://www.commonapp.org. This means students can start to enter their information, and begin their final school essays (supplements too!) Please note that some schools, which accept the Common Application, have not yet released their supplemental applications, and this is nothing to worry about. The main Common Application includes two essays: a 150-word essay about your involvement in a particular extracurricular or work-related activity, and a 500-word answer to one of 6 topics, one of which is "Topic of your Choice." In addition to the Common Application, several other schools will now be releasing their individual applications for Fall 2013 as well, including University of Florida, Florida State University, University of Central Florida and Indiana University at Bloomington. The Common Application also gained 37 new members for the 2012-13 application cycle. That brings the total number of colleges and universities that accept the Common Application to 488.  Member schools are in 46 states and the District of Columbia, as well as in France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, and Switzerland. It is to your great advantage to get started on these applications as soon as possible--with some extra effort now, you can have much of the work done before senior year even starts! Clients of International College Counselors, be sure to contact us with your information once you've registered for the Common App or any other schools' applications, so that we can go over everything with you and help finalize your drafts before you push "Submit"!  Also don't forget to make note of your log in and password, and to send it to us once there is something for us to review. For more information on International College Counselors or to contact an expert college counselor, please visit www.internationalcollegecounselors.com This year, college advisors at International College Counselors helped more than 200 students find, apply to and gain acceptance into the college of their dreams. The expert college counselors at International College Counselors are dedicated to helping students and their families successfully navigate the college application process. ABOUT INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE COUNSELORS: International College Counselors provides expert college counseling on undergraduate and graduate college admissions, financial aid, tuition, essays, and college applications to domestic and international students. The college counseling and college coaching services are tailored to address the goals, needs, and dreams of each student. Mandee Heller Adler, founder of International College Counselors, is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She also received an MBA from Harvard Business School. Ms. Adler's achievements have brought her recognition as one ofSouth Florida Top 100 Small Businesses in 2010. International College Counselors has offices in White Plains, New York; Boston, Massachusetts; Miami Beach, Florida; Miami, Florida; Coral Gables, Florida; Palm Beach, Florida; Boca Raton, Florida; Medellin, Columbia and Caracas, Venezuela. w.

The Virtual College Tour – Inspirational, Motivational and Free

Around the U.S. thousands of students are visiting colleges  without leaving home.

From a personal computer students can explore hundreds of colleges, getting a 360-degree view of the campus and more.

College advisors at International College Counselors recommend them highly for being informative, free and even highly motivational.

When students have a chance to “stroll” around a campus, the dream becomes more real. The discussion can then turn to grades and what is needed for a student to actually attend.

Locations to be visited include lecture halls, gyms and dormitories. Videos may also include student interviews and perspectives on activities like sports, clubs and Greek life. Other tours include information like nearby places to hike, local things to do, and historical features. Sweet Briar College includes places on campus where ghosts have supposedly been seen.

Many families take road trips. But with students applying to more schools, visiting all the schools can be a challenge. Virtual tours can give a student the sense of a college and help narrow down the search. They can help save a family time and money.

Virtual college tours are also a great opportunity for international students to see what a variety of schools looks like.

But, they’re not a replacement for actual visits. College advisors at International College Counselors recommend that students visit their top schools once they’ve narrowed down their list. During an in-person college visit, students can sit in on actual classes and speak with current students to ask questions.

Start touring now!

Berklee College of Music
Columbia University
Fashion Institute of Technology (NYC)
Pepperdine University
Stony Brook University
Syracuse
University of Miami
University of North Dakota
Yale

This year, college advisors at International College Counselors helped more than 200 students find, apply to and gain acceptance into the college of their dreams. The expert college counselors at International College Counselors are dedicated to helping students and their families successfully navigate the college application process.
For more information on International College Counselors or to contact an expert college counselor, please visit www.internationalcollegecounselors.com

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE COUNSELORS:
International College Counselors provides expert college counseling on undergraduate and graduate college admissions, financial aid, tuition, essays, and college applications to domestic and international students. The college counseling and college coaching services are tailored to address the goals, needs, and dreams of each student. Mandee Heller Adler, founder of International College Counselors, is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She also received an MBA from Harvard Business School. Ms. Adler's achievements have brought her recognition as one of South Florida Top 100 Small Businesses in 2010.

International College Counselors has offices in White Plains, New York; Boston, Massachusetts; Miami Beach, Florida; Miami, Florida; Coral Gables, Florida; Palm Beach, Florida; Boca Raton, Florida; Medellin, Columbia and Caracas, Venezuela.

SAT or ACT? What are the Differences and Which is the Best Test to Take?

by Mandee Heller Adler, CEO and founder of International College Counselors.

The first thing to do is look at the favored tests for your colleges of choice. If you see a school prefers one test over the other, your decision is easy.

If the colleges don’t specify which test they prefer, the decision SAT vs. ACT is still easy. Neither test is superior to the other. And, to tell you the truth say college advisors at International College Counselors, most colleges don’t prefer one over the other.

The trick is to figure out which one is best suited to your standardized testing strengths, recommend the expert college advisors at International College Counselors.

Each test emphasizes different test taking skills and tests your familiarity in different subjects.

The ACT

• Designed to evaluate your overall educational development and your ability to complete college-level work.
• Has four multiple-choice subject tests covering English, Math, Reading, and Science. Each content area is approached in one big chunk, with the optional Writing Test at the end.
• Optional 30-minute writing test is designed to measure your skill in planning and writing a short essay. If you opt to take it, the additional scores will be listed separately.
• 215 questions
• You'll have 2 hours and 55 minutes, not including breaks or the 30 minute optional essay. This makes the test faster paced.
• There is no penalty for incorrect answers, only correct responses count. So there is no penalty for guessing.
• Subject test scores (ranging from 1 to 36) are determined by correct answers. The four areas are then averaged together to come up with your overall, or composite, score.
• The ACT Math section requires you to have a broader range of knowledge than the SAT. For example, on this test there’s a little trigonometry, in addition to the algebra and geometry. That said, the ACT Math section is not necessarily harder, since many students find the questions to be more direct.
• Focuses more on grammar and punctuation.
• Science section is logical reasoning based on data and scientific terms, not based on classroom science.
• ACT Reading asks questions that rely more on retrieving information from the text.
• ACT questions are said to be more straightforward and easier to understand on a first read than those on the SAT. The ACT is also more intuitive and a better measure of what a student has learned in school.

The SAT

• Designed to evaluate your general thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Content areas (Critical Reading, Math, and Writing) are broken up into ten sections, with the required essay at the beginning. Keep in mind, this means you will be moving back and forth between different content areas.
• Required 25-minute essay.
• 170 questions
• You'll have 3 hours and 45 minutes with three short breaks.
• Test scores range from 600 to 2400, combining test results from three 800-point sections.
• Slight penalty for wrong answers on the multiple choice questions.
• Unlike the ACT, the SAT has a part in the Math section where you'll be required produce your answers.
• SAT Critical Reading relies more on prediction, inference, etc.
• Favors those who are very strong in vocabulary. If you aren’t an ardent wordsmith and English is not your first language, you may do better on the ACT.
• “The SAT's style--tricked-up, puzzle-like, and logic-oriented--makes it a more teachable test because there are more test-specific concepts to teach. To varying extents, the tricks can be learned and the puzzles simplified. Once students become familiar with them, the test unwraps itself.” (New York Times)

Something to Consider

Almost all competitive colleges “cherry-pick” SAT sub-scores, say the expert college counselors at International College Counselors, meaning they consider the best combination of Math, Critical Reading and Writing earned on different dates. Very few colleges do this with the four ACT sub-scores.

Some Additional Thoughts
Take practice tests to see which test you prefer.

If the colleges you're interested in accept scores from both the SAT and the ACT, consider taking both tests to see which one you perform better on.

Start studying for the tests as early as possible. Both the SAT and the ACT are not tests you can wait until the last minute to study for.

For a recommendation on a SAT or ACT tutor or to contact an expert college counselor, please call 954-414-9986 or email info@internationalcollegecounselors.com.

This year, college advisors at International College Counselors helped more than 200 students find, apply to and gain acceptance into the college of their dreams. The expert college counselors at International College Counselors are dedicated to helping students and their families successfully navigate the college application process.

For more information on International College Counselors or to contact an expert college counselor, please visit www.internationalcollegecounselors.com

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE COUNSELORS:
International College Counselors provides expert college counseling on undergraduate and graduate college admissions, financial aid, tuition, essays, and college applications to domestic and international students. The college counseling and college coaching services are tailored to address the goals, needs, and dreams of each student. Mandee Heller Adler, founder of International College Counselors, is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She also received an MBA from Harvard Business School. Adler's achievements have brought her recognition as one of South Florida Top 100 Small Businesses in 2010.

International College Counselors has offices in White Plains, New York; Boston, Massachusetts; Miami Beach, Florida; Miami, Florida; Coral Gables, Florida; Palm Beach, Florida; Boca Raton, Florida; Medellin, Columbia and Caracas, Venezuela.

SAT & ACT Test Dates. Get Your Calendars Updated NOW!

SAT and ACT test dates are coming up fast. We’ve listed them below for your easy reference. If you want the name of a top-notch tutor for your student, don’t hesitate to call an expert college counselor at International College Counselors or email us at www.internationalcollegecounselors.com.

THE SAT

Upcoming SAT dates and deadlines


Register for the SAT here

Find out subject test availability

*Learn about making changes to your SAT test center, date or which test you're registered to take

Visit the SAT home page


THE ACT

Upcoming ACT dates and deadlines


International students will find test dates in other countries here

Register for the ACT here

Visit the ACT home page


For a recommendation on a SAT or ACT tutor or to contact an expert college counselor, please call 954-414-9986 or visit www.internationalcollegecounselors.com


ABOUT INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE COUNSELORS:
International College Counselors provides expert college counseling on undergraduate and graduate college admissions, financial aid, tuition, essays, and college applications to domestic and international students. The college counseling and college coaching services are tailored to address the goals, needs, and dreams of each student. Mandee Heller Adler, founder of International College Counselors, is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She also received an MBA from Harvard Business School. Ms. Adler's achievements have brought her recognition as one of South Florida Top 100 Small Businesses in 2010.

International College Counselors has offices in White Plains, New York; Boston, Massachusetts; Miami Beach, Florida; Miami, Florida; Coral Gables, Florida; Palm Beach, Florida; Boca Raton, Florida; Medellin, Columbia and Caracas, Venezuela.

Online Courses: Build a Better College Resume and Improve Your College Application without Leaving Home

High School students in their pajamas can enhance their college applications.

Colleges love to see that a high school student has taken online courses even if no credit is awarded for the course. Online courses help your student demonstrate they can do college-level work and show their motivation to learn beyond basic curriculum requirements. By taking online courses, students can also explore interests in a particular profession or field of study. Students can also opt to take online classes that can earn them college credit.

Below the college advisors at International College Counselors listed some courses that can be taken online for credit and no credit. Some are free, some aren't. This is not a comprehensive list, but a mere sampling.

Free online college courses for no credit:

Coursera
Coursera offers courses from the top universities, for free to everyone. Current courses come from Princeton University, Stanford University, University of California, Berkeley, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, and University of Pennsylvania. Courses range from the maths and sciences to poetry and world music.

edX
Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) are teaming up to offer free, online, college-level courses under a joint superbrand known as edX. MIT currently offers web-based courses featuring discussion forums, short videos, and laboratory simulations, all under the guidance of MIT professors and teaching assistants. Harvard plans to officially announce its first courses in the summer and begin offering the courses in the fall.

Open courseware at The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Johns Hopkins is a respected medical school offering a selection of popular courses which would be of particular interest to students who plan to study medicine, or a related field.

Udacity
Udacity offers a variety of free online courses and students can sign up at any time. Currently all the courses being offered are computer related, and include: Building a Search Engine, Web Application Engineering, Applied Cryptography and Programming a Robotic Car.

Online college courses for credit:

Colleges offer independent study online courses that can be taken any time, any place for credit. They also offer a selection of online cohort courses that follow the semester calendar.

California State University

Miami Dade College

University of Texas


Online pre-college courses, some for credit and some not

Brown University (not for credit)
Students can demonstrate they can do Ivy League level academic work.

Northwestern College (for credit)
This is a college in Minnesota, not Northwestern University.

Oregon State University (for credit)
Through OSU's Extended Campus, you can choose from over 40 college classes in subjects like Calculus, Art, German, Philosophy, Wildlife Conservation, Women Studies and Atmospheric Sciences.

Institute for Mathematics and Computer Science (not for credit)
Provides students with university-level online courses in mathematics and computer science.

Contact International College Counselors
If you have questions on online courses, credit transfer or college applications and are a client of International College Counselors, please contact our expert college advisors at www.internationalcollegecounselors.com

Former President of Pine Crest School to Join International College Counselors

International College Counselors is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Lourdes Martinez Cowgill to the position of Senior Director of College Counseling. Cowgill, who served as president of Pine Crest School in Fort Lauderdale and Boca Raton for 15 years, will work one-on-one with undergraduate and graduate students, advising them and guiding them through the college admission process.

As a former President, Headmistress and College Counselor at Pine Crest School, Cowgill worked closely with students including Presidential Scholars, National Merit Scholars, scholar-athletes, visual and performing arts majors, Ivy League-bound applicants, and many others. Additionally, Cowgill regularly spoke with colleges on behalf of students, and was instrumental in making Pine Crest School one of the top private college preparatory schools in the nation. Under her guidance, Pine Crest students matriculated to all of the top colleges and universities in the United States.

At International College Counselors, Cowgill will provide expert college advising services to students all over the world who wish to attend a school in the United States. These expert college counselor services include assisting students with college selection, college admissions essay writing, application support, high school planning, interview preparation, scholarship help, wait list / deferral strategies and more.

Cowgill's leadership positions on the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) Board, National Merit Corporation Advisory Council, and Educational Records Bureau (ERB) Board of Trustees offer families insight into standardized testing and the role it plays in selective college admissions.

Cowgill is fluent in both English and Spanish. She has done national work in that academic field as a member and Chair of the Spanish Achievement Test (Spanish SAT II) and presenter for Spanish AP workshops in the Southern region.

Cowgill earned her B.A. from Barry University, her M.A. and Ph.D. from Bryn Mawr College, and her M.Ed. from Florida Atlantic University.


ABOUT INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE COUNSELORS
http://internationalcollegecounselors.com

International College Counselors provides individualized college counseling services to students. The expert college counselors at International College Counselors guide each student through the entire graduate and/or undergraduate college admission process. Services provided by International College Counselors include college selection, college admissions essay writing, interview preparation, high school planning, scholarship help and more. The college admissions counselors at International College Counselors have helped hundreds of students navigate the college admissions process, and get into the best fit school. International College Counselors is headquartered in Hollywood, Florida, and has offices in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties; New York; Boston; Medellin, Columbia and Caracas, Venezuela.

Notes for Parents of High School Students

Get your Insider Information here. Last week, the team at International College Counselors attended a counselor breakfast with admissions representatives from Duke, Georgetown, Harvard, Penn and Stanford. There are a lot interesting developments at each of the schools and within the domain of Higher Ed. What the expert college advisors at International College Counselors know you need to know: Schools give a lot of weight to Early Decision. At Duke, 25% of the Early Decision applicants were accepted; 1/3 of the class was filled by Early Decision. At Penn, 1/3 to 1/ 2 of the class was filled by Early Decision applicants. This is significant given that the other three schools have Early Action (Non binding) as opposed to Early Decision (Binding) and therefore do not show evidence of such preference. Without reservation, the expert college advisors at International College Counselors always recommend that students seriously consider Early Decision options when they begin the college process. If there is a school your student really wants to attend, and it offers Early Decision, don't miss out! Free online financial aid calculators are invaluable tools. For those families who worry about the cost of college, and as to whether you can bind your child to a particular institution without financial aid details, know that every college now offers a Financial Aid Calculator. These can be found on the school's website. This calculator can help you determine, based on last year's financials, how much money your family can expect to receive from that particular institution. Here are links to a few such calculators Northwestern: https://npc.collegeboard.org/student/app/northwestern Emory: https://npc.collegeboard.org/student/app/emory Keep in mind, you or your student can always call a school's financial aid office for information and ask questions,without giving your name. Questions? Contact International College Counselors. As always, the expert college counselors are available to answer any specific questions our clients have. Don't hesitate to call or email us at 954-414-9986 or www.internationalcollegecounselors.com If you are interested in becoming a client of International College Counselors, please call or email us. College planning is definitely worth thinking about, and the sooner, the better!

AP Test Reporting

To report the AP test or not to report the AP test, that is this week's question. After taking one of the many various AP tests, there are usually three ways a student will feel: Great! Good. And Awful. If you think you did great or good, congratulations! If you're sure you did awfully and scored a 1 or a 2, or you're not sure how you did, you can withhold or cancel your score. Because AP grades are released in July, any request for changes in reporting must be received by June 15. Note that it's not likely that any one AP grade you submit, no matter how low, will fatally wound you. Canceling vs. Withholding Canceling AP grades Canceling an AP grade permanently means you'll never, ever see the grade and it's deleted from your record forever. The option to cancel a score helps a number of students, say the expert college advisors at International College Counselors. Some of those students took an AP course but found that the class didn’t cover all the information on the test or they didn’t study for the test as much as they should have. (And this happens more than we’d like to think.) This option also encourages the risk takers, the students who take an AP exam in a subject they might not have taken the class for. (They’re the ones who study a lot on their own). To cancel a score, you must send the College Board a Score Cancellation Form AND a written request by mail or fax by June 15. You must include in your letter: your full name, home address, birth date, high school the year(s) that you took AP Exams the name, city, and state of the college you specified the name(s) of the exam(s) for which you want a grade cancelled your signature This service is free but note that the grade report that you and your high school receive will indicate that the grade has been canceled. Withholding AP grades Withholding a score means you may have one or more grades withheld from the colleges you indicated on your answer sheet. This gives you the chance to see your scores before the colleges. You may later release the grade to that college by sending AP Services a signed written request and a small fee. What we suggest to the students we work with at International College Counselors is to not send your scores to any colleges in May. Our reasoning is as follows: with your test, as explained to our company by an AP representative, you only get to send your scores to one school free, any others are $15. In other words, if you choose to withhold your scores from all the colleges until you see them, you're only "losing" $15. Many students can think of the $15 as "insurance". It's easy to see your scores and then send them in if you want to. You can withhold a score if you already sent them in, but if you took them this year, we recommend waiting until early July. Beginning July 1, grades by phone are available for the 2012 exams. It'll cost you a few extra dollars to get your scores by phone, but it's a very small price to pay in the larger scheme of things. To withhold a score, you must notify the College Board by sending them a written request by mail or fax by June 15. You must include in your letter: 1. your full name, home address, birth date 2. the year(s) that you took AP Exams 3. the name, city, and state of the college you specified 4. the name(s) of the exam(s) for which you want a grade withheld. (All your grades will still appear on the reports sent to you and your high school.) 5. a check for the exact amount due made out to "AP Exams." There is a $10 fee per score, per college. 6. your signature Note that unlike a canceled score, a request to withhold a grade does not permanently delete your grade. A withheld AP grade will be sent to your high school. It will count in your AP average and affect AP scholar designations. This means you can choose the scores that work to your advantage and feel confident to take some extra AP exams. Make sure you keep a copy of all your correspondence with the College Board. Contact the College Board For more information straight from the College Board on AP grade reporting services, including addresses, phone and fax numbers: Contact International College Counselors For help from an experienced college advisor, please contact the expert college counselors at the Miami based International College Counselors of http://www.internationalcollegecounselors.com International College Counselors (954) 414-9986 About International College Counselors International College Counselors is a Miami-based company that provides expert college counseling on undergraduate and graduate college admissions, financial aid, tuition, essays, and college applications. The college admissions counselors at International College Counselors work with domestic and international students. International College Counselors, founded by Mandee Heller Adler, tailors college counseling and college coaching services to address the goals, needs, and dreams of each student. International College Counselors has seven offices in three countries.

International College Counselors Expands with New Florida Offices

International College Counselors is pleased to announce the expansion of their college admissions counseling business with new offices in Miami, Coral Gables and Palm Beach, Florida. International College Counselors operates in three states - New York, Florida and Massachusetts, and three countries - the United States, Colombia and Venezuela. Their new offices in South Florida will bring the International College Counselors team’s expertise closer to more students, their families, and area schools. “We saw a need and an opportunity to bring Miami, Coral Gables and Palm Beach a local college admissions resource,” said founder and CEO, Mandee Heller Adler. “With our new offices, we’ll be able to provide more students and local schools with the personal attention International College Counselors is known for. Our guidance is based upon a student's individual needs and talents.” International College Counselors new branches are located at 1395 Brickell Ave., Suite 800, Miami, FL 33131; 2525 Ponce De Leon Blvd., Suite 300, Coral Gables, FL 33134; and 800 Village Square Crossing, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410. International College Counselors will maintain their current headquarters in Hollywood, Florida and they look forward to continuing their intelligent growth, while maintaining the high quality of personal, professional service they provide their clients. In 2012, the college advisors at International College Counselors helped more than 200 students find, apply to and gain acceptance into the college of their dreams. The expert college advisors at International College Counselors are dedicated to helping students and their parents with the often daunting and complex college application process. For more information on International College Counselors or to contact an expert college counselor, please visit http://www.internationalcollegecounselors.com ABOUT INTERNATIONAL COLLEGE COUNSELORS: International College Counselors provides expert college counseling on undergraduate and graduate college admissions, financial aid, tuition, essays, and college applications to domestic and international students. The college counseling and college coaching services are tailored to address the goals, needs, and dreams of each student. Mandee Heller Adler, founder of International College Counselors, is a graduate of the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. She also received an MBA from Harvard Business School. Ms. Adler's achievements have brought her recognition as one of South Florida Top 100 Small Businesses in 2010. International College Counselors has offices in White Plains, New York; Miami Beach, Florida; Miami, Florida; Coral Gables, Florida; Palm Beach, Florida; Boca Raton, Florida; Medellin, Columbia and Caracas, Venezuela. Cheree Liebowitz International College Counselors 954-414-9986 Email Information

Great Ways for Parents of High School Students to Spend Their Tax Refunds:

by Mandee Heller Adler, founder and CEO of International College Counselors

According to the Internal Revenue Service, the average 2012 tax refund is roughly $3000. Here are some great suggestions for on what to do with the money you get back if you’re a parent of a teenager who plans to attend college:

1. Pay for Tutoring. The importance of grades for colleges cannot be ignored. The GPA is the single most important part of a college application. Not only that, colleges want to see a challenging high school curriculum. If your student needs help in one or more subjects, spend some money on tutoring. (It may even pay off more in the form of scholarships.) If you need help finding an amazing tutor, contact an International College Counselors college advisor for more information.

2. Put money into a 529 plan. Even if your child will be a junior this year, it's not too late to make a tax-preferred investment for college. Many states, including Florida and New York, provide a tax deduction for 529 contributions even if you’re investing for only a short time.

3. Invest in a summer enrichment program. Summer enrichment programs can help propel your student toward college and gain acceptance into a school of their choice. Let your student explore a subject of interest or bolster volunteer work credentials. College advisors at International College Counselors know there are programs for all interests, including engineering, career exploration, robotics, entrepreneurship, women’s leadership, music, drama and test prep. Nearly every school, including the Ivies, offer a summer program for high school students, allowing students to experience life on a college campus. Some programs offer college credit.

4. Go for the test prep. Next to grades, test scores are one of the most important factors in college admissions. Please contact your college advisor at International College Counselors for the name, number and email address of a (SAT word alert) splendiferous SAT, ACT, SAT subject test, AP and TOFEL tutors who can help you increase your test scores.

5. Visit colleges. College visits can be costly but worthwhile. Your student just may find their top-pick school is nothing like they imagined. Visiting a school may also increase chances of gaining admittance and of getting a better award package, if only slightly. Taking the time to tour campus shows commitment.

6. Encourage summer college courses. Summer college courses can give your student the opportunity to attend school classes with undergraduate students or other select high school students and earn college credits.

7. Hire an independent college counselor. If you are not a client of International College Counselors, what are you waiting for? Our expert college advisors can give your student the individualized attention to properly tackle the college admission process. With new offices now in Coral Gables, Boston, Miami, New York and Palm Beach Gardens, and advisors who speak fluent Spanish and Mandarin Chinese, we can better meet your needs. From help choosing colleges, going on interviews, editing essays and more, we will give your student the tools to find and get into the college of his or her dreams.

For help from an experienced college advisor, please contact the expert college counselors at the Miami based International College Counselors of http://www.internationalcollegecounselors.com

International College Counselors
(954) 414-9986

About International College Counselors
International College Counselors is a Miami-based company that provides expert college counseling on undergraduate and graduate college admissions, financial aid, tuition, essays, and college applications. The college admissions counselors at International College Counselors work with domestic and international students. International College Counselors, founded by Mandee Heller Adler, tailors college counseling and college coaching services to address the goals, needs, and dreams of each student.

International College Counselors has seven offices in three countries.

On College: Decision Making after the Envelopes are In

by Mandee Heller Adler

The envelopes are in.

If your student has more than one thick envelope in hand, they're in the driver's seat. The colleges have taken their sweeeeet time choosing you, and now it's your turn to choose them. They've given you the month of April to make your choice. Far beyond the glossy paper of the brochures, here are some things college advisors at International College Counselors say you and your student should consider:

Economics. It's hard to deny that this may be a factor for many students. If they've been offered a generous financial aid package or a scholarship, it's going to be hard to ignore this "bonus".

If the student has not received the full financial aid offer, college advisors at International College Counselors recommend you begin to explore your financial options through free tools like the one offered on FinAid.org.

The Ivies and a small number of other schools have policies that allow them to attend irrespective of their ability to pay. Contact each school separately for information on these policies.

Fit. Where does a student feel like he or she will fit in best? Some students thrive at universities where the city itself plays an important role in one's overall education. In cities such as New York and Boston, the cultural and internship opportunities are enormous. However, city schools tend to be more impersonal. Residential campus schools like the University of Florida pride themselves on a school community atmosphere. Then there are considerations like the size of the school, the role of Greek life, the athletic culture, and more. College advisors at International College Counselors recommend that your student look for the campus energy that matches his or her own.

Academics. Ideally, a student should have a vague idea of a desired career path. What is needed is a school that offers a major or program that will allow your student to explore that option to fullest.

Culture. Michael Roth, president of Wesleyan College presents this consideration excellently:

"The evolution of student culture over many years that comes to define the way a place feels to the young men and women who spend these transitional years on campus. Students - not teachers and officials - make that culture. At Duke, for example, there are extraordinary programs and deep research going on. But over several weeks of the spring semester, it's Blue Devil basketball frenzy that takes over campus culture. At Middlebury, there is currently an energetic student debate about the meal plan, which many students see as a defining element in their campus experience. At USC, the entertainment industry seeps into the fabric of the place, even when the subject areas are quite distant from Hollywood. At Wesleyan, the students have created vibrant music and film contexts that seem to fuel independent rock and hip-hop on the one hand, and popular film and TV on the other. Although most students here study neither music nor film, the energy of these areas percolates around campus."

Job connections. After college, your student will want to get a job so it's smart to consider a college's career services center. Call them and ask about job fairs, internship opportunities, on-campus corporate interviews, and the number of students per career counselor.

Only you and your student will know what is truly important to you. Ask questions and take a good hard look at the school. Visit the top two choices again if you can. This is going to be your student's home away from home for the next four years.

Experienced college advisors at International College Counselors believe if a student is having a tough time choosing among two or more schools it is probably because he or she has done a good job putting together the list. Most likely that student will be happy at whichever college is chosen.

Worse comes to worse, a student can transfer.

Most importantly, don't let your student procrastinate. This is probably the biggest decision they can make at this point in their life.

For help from an experienced college advisor, please contact the expert college counselors at the Miami based International College Counselors of http://www.internationalcollegecounselors.com

International College Counselors
(954) 414-9986

About International College Counselors
International College Counselors is a Miami-based company that provides expert college counseling on undergraduate and graduate college admissions, financial aid, tuition, essays, and college applications. The college admissions counselors at International College Counselors work with domestic and international students. International College Counselors, founded by Mandee Heller Adler, tailors college counseling and college coaching services to address the goals, needs, and dreams of each student.

International College Counselors has seven offices in three countries.

College Advisor Says Make Summer Count

High school students who want to shine on their college applications should consider the summer an ideal time to add some resume gold.

Contrary to popular belief, a student doesn't need to build wells in Costa Rica, said college counselors at International College Counselors. There are many choices of summer activities that raise the APA (application point average).

“While there’s nothing wrong with a little down time, high school students with college aspirations should use the break to enhance their college applications,” said Mandee Heller Adler, founder of International College Counselors. Summer is coming up fast so here are some ideas for high schools students to make the most of the summer.


Enrichment Camp

There are hundreds of different summer enrichment programs, from the local to the international and, between them all, they offer thousands of opportunities. There are recreational camps, athletic camps, academic programs, volunteer programs, internships programs, and more. Some come with the opportunity to earn college credit. A number of programs give high school students the taste of life on a college campus.

Great summer job or internship

"Summer jobs and internships are great ways to gain valuable real-world experience," said expert college advisor Adler. "In a tight job market like the one we're experiencing now, your best bet may be the internship."

An internship is unpaid (or token payment) work experience that provides students with an opportunity to gain experience in a field of interest. What isn't gained in cash, is gained in experience, friends, and networking connections. Think of it as a summer course. With persistence and luck, you can even land an internship in a dream career.

Volunteering

It can be profitable to work for nothing. You can make a difference, gain experience make networking connections, and explore interests. For example, if you’re interested in a career in medicine, you can volunteer at a hospital or nursing home. The choices are endless and the hard work and time can pay off. Colleges and scholarship funds truly adore students who can demonstrate that they make the effort to help others. Then there's always the fact that doing good is a wonderful reason to volunteer in itself.

Virtual Class or Dual Enrollment

Virtual classes and dual enrollment programs offer students a chance to explore something new. Both can help save time and money if you take classes that count both for high school credit and college credit. Depending on your school, the credit may reduce your course load per term or even allow you to graduate early.

For help from an experienced college advisor, please contact the expert college counselors at the Miami based International College Counselors of http://www.internationalcollegecounselors.com

International College Counselors
(954) 414-9986

About International College Counselors
International College Counselors is a Miami-based company that provides expert college counseling on undergraduate and graduate college admissions, financial aid, tuition, essays, and college applications. The college admissions counselors at International College Counselors work with domestic and international students. International College Counselors, founded by Mandee Heller Adler, tailors college counseling and college coaching services to address the goals, needs, and dreams of each student.

International College Counselors has seven offices in three countries.

Expert College Advisor at International College Counselors Encourages Students to Enter the 2012 Miami Herald Business Plan Challenge

by Mandee Heller Adler
CEO of International College Counselors

High School students who have a great idea for a business, should enter the 13th Annual Miami Herald Business Plan Challenge, said college experts at International College Counselors.

Last year three students from International College Counselors won the challenge!

More information can be found on the Miami Herald website here and I've pasted some relevant parts of the rules below.

Expert college advisors at International College Counselors say winning this Challenge will look good to colleges and, even if a student doesn't win, it's a great learning opportunity and/or a launchpad for some budding entrepreneurs.

A panel of judges will select the three best business plans submitted by high school students, grades 9-12, based on both the quality of the idea and the submitted plan.

According to The Miami Herald, general rules for high school students wanting to enter the Business Plan Challenge include:

* Students must live in South Florida (Miami-Dade, Broward, Monroe and Palm Beach counties).

* The entry must be no more than three pages, type no smaller than 10 point. Students may include one additional page of supporting material, such as a product picture or diagram, a financial spreadsheet or marketing materials.

* The contest is open to students in grades 9-12 in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe counties. A one- or two-page entry is fine in the student category. Put "High School Entry" at the top. A video of the top student winner with be filmed and it will be featured on MiamiHerald.com.

* Entries must be for proposed for-profit businesses or firms in the start-up phase. Companies launched before Jan. 1, 2010 are not eligible. If the submission is an original franchise idea, it will be allowed. Multiple entries from one person are allowed if they are different business ideas.

Entries must be e-mailed by 11:59 p.m. Saturday, March 24, 2012.

The top three competitors will be the subjects of a Miami Herald Business Monday cover story and section. Winners will also be invited to a luncheon in their honor.

If you are a client of International College Counselors and want us to review your business plan, please contact your advisor and they will be more than happy to do so.

May the best business plan win!

International College Counselors
(954) 414-9986
www.internationalcollegecounselors.com

2012 International College Counselors Scholarship

International College Counselors is pleased to announce the third annual 2012 college scholarship competition. Students in grades 9-12 from Dade, Broward, Palm Beach counties and outside the tri-county area are invited to apply.

Students are asked to submit an essay that answers the question:

What makes a good college education?

Four college scholarships of $250 each will be awarded, three to students who attend school within Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County; and one to a student from outside Dade, Broward and Palm Beach County, including outside the United States.

Work will be judged on the basis of originality and effectiveness of argument or presentation.

Submissions may be in Spanish or English, 500 words or less.

The deadline for receipt of essays is April 1, 2012

The contest rules and submission information can be found at International College Counselors. Select the “Scholarship” section of the website for downloadable contest rules. You can also go directly to the entry application.

Students do not need to be clients of International College Counselors to enter or to win this annual scholarship competition.

The International College Counselors High School Essay Contest has established a Scholarship Fund to increase awareness of the value of higher education among high school students, as well as to give financial aid for tuition to college-bound students.

Good luck to all!

International College Counselors
(954) 414-9986
www.internationalcollegecounselors.com

International College Counselors: Recommendation on Attending a College Fair

International College Counselors encourages students to attend their local National College Fair!

Miami National College Fair
Miami Airport Convention Center at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel
Sunday, February 19, 2012
12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

New York National College Fair
Jacob Javits Convention Center
Sunday, April 22, 2012
11:00a.m. - 4:00p.m.

Pittsburgh National College Fair
David L. Lawrence Convention Center
Wednesday, February 8, 2012 (9:00 a.m.-12:00p.m. and 6:00p.m.-9:00p.m.)
Thursday, February 9, 2012 (9:00 a.m. - 12:00p.m.)

More National College Fairs
https://www.gotomyncf.com/

Online student registration is now open for students who plan to attend the Miami National College Fair, the New York College Fair, the Pittsburgh National College Fair and other College Fairs across the U.S. from Boston to Honolulu, sponsored by the National Association for College Admission Counseling.

The fair is free and open to the public.

To register, visit www.gotomyncf.com.

When you register, a barcoded confirmation page is produced. When printed and brought to the fair, this page acts as your electronic ID. Utilizing this barcode eliminates the need for you to fill out inquiry cards at the booths you visit. Online registration leaves you more time to chat with more admissions representatives. So our expert college advisors recommend you try to register before you go to the fair!

Here is how the process works:

Step 1 Visit www.gotomyncf.com prior to attending the fair to register. You will be asked a few short questions regarding your graduation information, home address, and interested major so schools can send you information after the fair.

Step 2 Complete the online registration form. Print the barcode identification page and bring it along to the fair.

Step 3 Colleges at the fair will scan your barcode to access your information, allowing more time for one-on-one conversations and less time filling out inquiry cards.

About College Fairs

Every year, more than 650,000 students attend College Fairs sponsored by the National Association for College Admission Counseling, seeking information about colleges, universities and other postsecondary institutions. Free and open to the public, National College Fairs allow students to interact with admission representatives from a wide range of college and other postsecondary institutions to discuss course offerings, admission and financial aid requirements, college life in general, and other information pertinent to the college selection process.

The college advisors at International College Counselors are available to help you with any questions you may have. Please contact us at

International College Counselors
Main office: 954.414.9986
http://www.internationalcollegecounselors.com