Navigating the Course to College

The college admissions process. In today's high stakes world of admission to college most high school students find themselves standing at a crossroads, facing the daunting challenge of making choices that could forever alter their future. Most of the time students contend with limited resources to guide them on this journey. On average, high school students spend a total of 38 minutes during their entire high school experience speaking with their college guidance counselor. One may wonder how much guidance students receive in 38 minutes. The answer? Not much and definitely not enough. On the homefront, frustrated parents attempt to understand the new rules of college admission because the landscape has radically altered since they applied to college. They feel helpless as they search for answers and strive to help their children reach their potential. Out of desperation many families waste time and money by following inaccurate advice or hiring private counselors who themselves do not stay ahead of the constantly changing trends in college admissions. Further, private counselors often neglect to develop strategies based on relevant data. In reality many students base their decisions on inadequate research, analysis and understanding. How can students avoid the common oversights they seek to avoid? They can depend on accurate, up-to-date, reliable information. Anyone who has watched the classic film "Wall Street" may recall the Gordon Gekko's statement: "The most important commodity I know of is information." Just as information plays a strategic role on Wall Street, so too does remain a requirement for executing a solid and successful plan for admission to college. Like any journey, students must follow the most accurate map available to reach their desired destination. Navigating the Course to College provides the most up-to-date information, enabling students to stay one step ahead of the competition. Armed with knowledge, ultimately students contend with much less anxiety because they plan ahead and choose the route that renders the most choices. The challenge for many students lies not in what they think they know, but that which they never considered. This book answers questions that students never think to ask - answers which often bring to light minor details that often separate the accepted from the rejected students. Students who utilize Navigating the Course to College to access relevant, needed, specific, and up to date information possess the tools necessary to identify the steps they must take to gain acceptance into the college of their choice. With this guide, students have already won half the battle. Now their future depends on how they utilize the information.
About the Author: Ellen Richards founded Ellen Richards Educational Services, Inc. in 2004. She attended Dartmouth College and ultimately graduated with a degree from Wellesley College. After assimilating into the corporate world, Ellen resolved to follow a passion for college admissions she developed when she went through the process. She subsequently completed graduate coursework for Masters degrees in both College Counseling and Child and Adolescent Literacy at Loyola Marymount University. For almost 15 years Ellen worked with the Wellesley College admissions office. While on campus she dedicated herself to recruiting students who would find their niche at the college. After graduation she served as the Los Angeles Admissions Liaison. Interviewing countless students and reviewing a myriad of college applications provided Ellen with the expertise to support students on the complicated journey to admission to college. Her deliberate approach yields excellent results. In addition to her experience, Ellen thorough research on constantly changing trends keeps her well acquainted with the intricacies of most colleges and universities in the United States. Her knowledge every facet of college admissions has enabled her to successfully guide hundreds of families through the college admissions process. Ellen's tireless commitment to excellence and maintaining the highest standards of integrity is proven by the number of satisfied students who gain entry into the college of their choice. Ellen writes for Examiner.com as the Los Angeles College Bound Expert, Los Angeles Mom magazine, NextStep magazine and online for the Center for Student Opportunity, in addition to regularly contributing to various other online website as well as the company blog. Ellen is a member of the National Association for College Admissions Counselors (NACAC), Western Association of College Admissions (WACAC), the California Association of School Counselors (CASC), the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), the Overseas Association of College Admissions Counselors (OACAC) and the Higher Education Consultants Association (HECA).