Tag Archives: College application

Attention Parents of College-Bound Teens!

Posted in Self-Esteem by

Hello-

Is your daughter or son a junior or senior in HS? Have you gone through the painful college tour process? Does it all seem a blur?  I’m Dr. Carol and I’m looking to interview parents of college-bound teens who have gone through the college tour process.

If you are willing to give me 30 minutes of your time, I will give you 30 minutes of my time for free.  As a former Director of Admissions and Dean of Admission, I can help you navigate the college process from acceptance and freshman year to budget planning and academic time management.

If interested in being part of my study and a free 30-minute college planning session, please contact me @  Carol@dr-carol.com  or leave me the best way to reach you in the comments section. I will work around your schedule.

Thank you,

Dr. Carol

Ask an Admissions Expert: Dr. Carol Langlois

Posted in College Guidance by

My latest interview on college admissions for Varsity Tutors.

VT: How far ahead of time should a student begin working on his or her college application?

Carol: Families are starting the college search process earlier and earlier. I recommend that as a family you “start” the college conversation during the end of the sophomore year to gear up your teen for the junior year search. I use January of the junior year as the starting  point. I find that telling families “slow and steady wins the race” helps them think through this process. We basically have one year to help you and your teen put his or her best foot forward, the finish line being December or January of their senior year.

VT: What are the best ways to go about selecting a terrific essay topic?

Carol: Look at a bunch of college essays from the year before to familiarize yourself with what the schools will be looking for. That way you won’t be surprised when you actually start your applications. As a rule of thumb, I recommend to students that they think about their best English paper. Pull it out, read again and remember why it was your best paper. Then, keep that in mind when writing the essays for the colleges you have selected. A lot of times, I find students becoming very conservative with their essays. Writing about what they “think” colleges want to see. I start with students by having them brainstorm; having them think outside the box when it comes to some of these questions, then create an outline, which will build into an essay. Don’t think a perfect finished product will happen in one session. You need to go back to these essays and reread, and rediscover. I guarantee the way your essay looks at the beginning of this process is not the way it will look in the end.

For more from this interview, go to: 

http://www.varsitytutors.com/blog/ask+an+admissions+expert+dr+carol+langlois?locale=san_francisco&state=ca

Saving for College

Posted in Articles for Parents, College Guidance, Tip of the Week by
College is an expensive endeavour. Start right from the beginning on finding effective cost saving options. People always ask: Are there ways to waive the college application fees?  Absolutely! This may sound obvious, but just ask.

 Many schools offer application fee waivers to candidates during information sessions, at recruiting events as well as during open house events. Some schools even have the waiver code/option right on their website as a way to encourage applicants to apply early. If you are interested in a fee waiver, and haven’t seen one via any of the options I listed above…..just call the school’s admission office and ask for one. I’d be surprised if they declined your request.