As parents, we all strive to provide the best educational opportunities for our children, ensuring they have every advantage in their academic and professional futures. Understanding how to maximize the benefits of AP exams can be instrumental in helping your child succeed. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you navigate this crucial aspect of a student’s high school education. Are AP Exam Scores Important? Some colleges consider AP scores as part of their holistic review process. Good scores can enhance your application by demonstrating your ability to handle college-level coursework. However, AP scores are usually just one factor among many, »
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Discover ten underrated West Coast colleges offering unique opportunities and excellent education in this insightful blog post by Greenhaus College Consulting. Perfect for students seeking hidden gems with strong academic programs and vibrant campus life Read more to explore your options and find your ideal college match (Greenhaus College Consulting). Attending a business-focused college can be your gateway to a successful career. However, creating a college list can be a daunting task amidst the sea of options. That’s why we’ve curated a list of top hidden gem colleges for business in the West. These institutions may not always be in »
Read MoreGuest Blog Post from Peg Keough, College Aid Pro – Director of Education I’ve worked with college-bound families for many years now. Some of the most common questions I hear from parents are about the different letters and documents they receive after their child gets accepted to college. In the midst of the exciting news, there can be confusion around what each piece of mail actually means. Let me break it down for you. The Fun Part – The Admission Letter When those big envelopes or emails start rolling in, that’s when the real fun begins! The first document you’re »
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Are you fascinated by subjects such as marketing, finance, management, economics, and entrepreneurship? Do you enjoy keeping up with business news and trends? Do you have strengths in areas such as analytical thinking, problem solving, communication and leadership? Are you comfortable working with numbers and data? A business major may be right for you. Many people do not realize that the top business programs are highly competitive. If you are considering a business major, there are a few things you will want to consider to be prepared and stand out in the admissions process. These include which high school courses »
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1. University of San Diego A true hidden gem in Southern California, the University of San Diego provides its students with an innovative liberal arts curriculum balanced with an emphasis on pre-professional preparation. The University of San Diego (USD) offers a blend of rigorous academics, stunning campus aesthetics, and a commitment to social justice. USD’s stunning campus, known for its Spanish Renaissance architecture and breathtaking views of the Pacific Ocean, creates an inspiring and serene setting for learning and personal growth. USD also provides an intimate learning environment with a student-to-faculty ratio of 14:1, ensuring personalized attention and mentoring. The »
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9th Grade Checklist As students embark on their high school journey, the thought of college may seem distant and abstract. However, laying the groundwork for higher education begins as early as ninth grade. This pivotal year marks the start of a four-year exploration and preparation process that will shape future academic and career paths. Here are some essential steps to kick-start the college preparation journey in grade 9. From Insider Higher Education: “New research from the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research suggests that the ninth-grade GPA may be much more significant than many previously thought. Ninth grade seems »
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Choosing a major early on in the college admissions process can be beneficial for several reasons. Students can align their interests and extracurriculars with their intended major, apply for summer programs and internships to help prepare them and raise their student profile for selective schools. This can increase their chances of admission to programs that align with their interests and career goals. Moreover, having a clear idea of their intended major can also guide your child’s course selection during high school. They can focus on taking relevant courses and participating in extracurricular activities that support their chosen field, demonstrating their »
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A truly skilled private college counselor can provide the essential help students and parents need, often in more ways than most people realize.
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Summer provides a much-needed break from the demands of schoolwork, especially for students who work twice as hard to keep pace with the curriculum. However, without the structure and routine of the school year, their academic and organizational skills can significantly regress, a phenomenon known as the “summer slide.” This decline in skills can be particularly pronounced for students with executive function deficits. Students with executive function deficits can regress nearly twice as much as their peers during the summer months. This regression can be particularly pronounced in problem-solving, planning, and task initiation. The lack of consistent practice and feedback »
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Sending our teens off to college is a significant milestone that evokes both excitement and apprehension for parents. As we prepare them for the most critical transition, “college readiness” is often used. While most parents can identify some traits their child does possess, such as the need to thrive in an independent living environment, the connection between these traits and executive function skills is rarely made. However, the ability to manage time effectively, initiate tasks without procrastination, break down long-term goals into manageable steps, and advocate for oneself are all aspects of executive function that directly contribute to college readiness. »
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Preparing our students for the transition to college is a significant milestone that brings a mix of excitement and apprehension for parents. While we focus on academic achievement, it’s essential to recognize the critical role of executive function skills in college readiness. These skills, encompassing time management, task initiation, problem-solving, attention, and impulse control, are often overlooked but are vital for success in higher education. A study by the University of Chicago found that students with strong executive function skills were more likely to enroll in college and earn a degree than those with weaker skills, regardless of their IQ »
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Extracurricular activities play a pivotal role in the college admissions process, especially for selective institutions.
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Before examining the details of each application option, it’s important to understand the fundamental distinctions between Early Action and Early Decision.
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Strategies to help students with their next steps ! When students apply to college they have an opportunity to be accepted, denied or wait listed. Being wait listed is often disappointing for students, and many decide not to pursue their options at that school. A college waitlist represents a pool of applicants that the college has yet to decide on, so there is still some hope. Colleges use waitlists because they want to have backup options in case some students who were accepted decide not to enroll. If this happens, the college can offer those spots to students on the »
Read MoreBy: Natay Holmes ABC News 10 Posted at 7:21 PM, Jun 28, 2021 and last updated 7:23 PM, Jun 28, 2021San Diego (KGTV)- More local college applicants may soon be admitted to the topUniversity of California schools. A push from state lawmakers will make room forCalifornia students instead of those coming in from out of state.“I have parents wondering if their children are going to get a coveted position at the UCschools.”Gina Gerrato- Greenhaus is an independent college consultant who works withat least 50 students around San Diego County. She says it’s been tough for many localstudents to get into »
Read MoreBy: Jim Paterson via The Journal of College Admission COVID-19 is taking a mental toll on students as they plan for college, but college admission counselors say connections can ease uncertainty. For many students struggling through high school closures and rapid changes to their postsecondary plans, there has been one overriding theme during the last six months: uncertainty. Instead of savoring familiar traditions and farewells, they faced months of upheaval that tossed around every aspect of their lives during a period that should have instead been focused on excitement about the next stage. Added to that, they are looking ahead »
Read MoreSAN DIEGO (KGTV) – More local college applicants could soon be admitted to UC schools. Independent college counselor Gina Greenhaus has spent more than a decade helping local students get into colleges and universities. She spoke to ABC 10News on Tuesday about this week’s news that state lawmakers are reportedly looking at a plan to cut the share of international and out-of-state students at University of California public schools. The goal would reportedly be to pave the way for additional resident students like many of the ones that Greenhaus works with. “I’m hoping that maybe this will make a difference,” »
Read More1) Rising Juniors and Seniors: For students applying to college in the next year or two, planning out the summer is especially important. By participating in unique activities and thinking ahead, applicants can make themselves stand out among the competition. In light of the Covid-19 pandemic and its effects on college admissions, it is especially critical to develop a holistic resume that highlights not only academics, but social consciousness and diverse abilities. There are several different options to accomplish this. 2) Credit and Non-Credit Classes: Summer is the ideal time to learn something new and out of the ordinary: if »
Read MoreYou may or may not be aware that the most important factor when it comes to preparing for college admissions is achieving high grades in challenging classes. This has traditionally motivated students to perform at their best and monitor their GPAs in hopes of securing a spot at their ideal college. But as schools continue to muddle through online and hybrid learning due to the pandemic, many students are struggling to keep their grades up with even a standard course load – let alone honors and survive AP-level classes. Stressors outside of the classroom combined with social isolation, feeling disconnected »
Read MoreApplying to college is a big step for any teen or young adult. They are taking the first steps towards their independence. Even if your teen is sure about their future career, choosing the right college can make all the difference in the world. One way to make that choice simpler may be to interact with several colleges at a college fair. For some students, college fairs might be a bit overwhelming this is why it’s helpful to set up a game plan for which schools you plan to visit with. Because of the pandemic the in person college fairs »
Read MoreCOVID-19 has changed school and life for many individuals over the last year. Many high school students will be applying to colleges next fall and are concerned about maintaining their grades while still searching for new ways to continue their extracurricular activities during the pandemic. The first thing is to realize that your extracurricular activities may change the format. That’s okay. You just have to get a little creative. 1) Volunteer from Home You may think that volunteering from home is not going to work. How can you sit at home and volunteer? Well, one solution is a virtual service. »
Read More1) Organization is a Key to Success Building your organization skills is key to preventing procrastination, keeping you on task, and eliminating distractions. When you are organized you can focus better and accomplish tasks quicker, allowing you to beat the overwhelm. Here’s what to do… 2) Prioritize, Prioritize, Prioritize Start with making a list of the most important tasks you need to complete. Typically, you can figure this out by the dates each task is due. When tackling large projects, it helps to break down pieces of the project by weeks. If you push big projects back until the due »
Read MoreAre You Well Suited for a Career in Stem? Magazine for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Majors and Career at Greenhauscollegeconsulting. Click here to view issue
Read MoreCollege and Career Planning Magazine with award-winning articles and resources from college admissions, guidance counselors and thought leaders This issue of the college Planning Magazine includes articles on Preparing for college when you have a learning disability, building and boosting your career paths, 8 extracurricular and club ideas and more. Click here to view issue
Read MoreWith the news of the college admissions scandal, many families and students have become both angry and confused about the entire process and how something like this could have happened. As a professional educational consultant, I am not entirely surprised that these events have transpired as corrupt admissions practices have been around for quite some time. It certainly saddens me that these families did not have the opportunity to work with an educational consultant that could have guided the family more appropriately. To our community of motivated students: You should not feel discouraged by a few people that have broken »
Read MoreThe college search process can be a daunting task for any student, but even more so for a student with a learning challenge. Parents are often worried about how colleges will view their students’ grades and test scores in light of a learning disability, anxiety, depression or ADHD. As Independent Educational Consultants, we suggest that you begin by examining your student’s academic profile. Do their grades, test scores, and choice of coursework reflect their true academic abilities or has the learning disability or disabilities prevented them from achieving academic success? Were the accommodations put in place early enough in high school »
Read MoreDon’t Bury Your Head in the Sand Top 6 tips for Students Applying for College Hire a College Admissions Counselor to answer your questions. Make Sure your college list is balanced. Don’t apply to too many schools. Visit Colleges. Clean up your social media profile Follow through with sending grades, test scores and letters of recommendation. College planning can be daunting for some parents and teens. The key is to begin thinking about college preparation early in the process. This can mean carefully planning your curriculum in grades 9 and 10 and keeping a list of the students activities,honors and »
Read MoreThe goal of Academic Coaching is to help students become more organized, better note-takers, test takers and overall students. Achieving these goals will lead towards more self confidence and improved graduation rates. Academic coaching will help students to maintain their motivation and keeps them accountable on a weekly basis. Academic Coaching is focused on the following self management skills: ▪ What are my strengths and weaknesses that I can build on ▪ How can I be a better student and achieve my goals ▪ What resources are available to me on campus, tutoring, writing, accommodations ▪ How can I access »
Read Moreby Gina Gerrato-Greenhaus As a college consulting expert, I am here to share some inside information with you on how to build a balanced college list that reflects your overall choices and needs. While many of us may have those dream schools on our list, it’s important for us to have an accurate picture of where we stand in the admissions pool and which schools will be the best fit for us. Students often have a difficult time matching themselves to a school due to their lack of knowledge and research. When families are first approaching the college process, they »
Read MoreAs the selectivity for college admissions continues to rise, parents become worried and anxious. Each year, we hear about top students who have been denied by their dream schools. This news causes high school students to become anxious and pressured to take more AP classes. As a result, many students have much less time to purse their extracurricular activities and enjoy their high school years. With guidance counselors having increased case-loads in large public high schools, it’s no wonder that teenagers feel lost as they approach their senior year. In addition, the college landscape has changed quite a bit. Parents »
Read MoreFamilies often ask when they should begin preparing for college. This is a difficult question because early preparation begins in middle school. It begins with taking a challenging curriculum, earning good grades, developing a passion and engaging in community service projects. Selective colleges are looking for scholars, however not every student can achieve at this level. Getting accepted to the most prestigious universities has been increasingly difficult, which has been frustrating to both students and their families. How can students stand out from other applicants? What about students who do not have stellar grades and resumes, is there a place »
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