Monday, March 13th 4:45 - 5:45 p.m.
Behind the Scenes: College Admissions
Two seasoned admissions professionals will lead a live exercise where you, the audience, will participate as members of a mock admissions committee for a fictitious university. The purpose of this session is to help students understand what is most important to an admissions committee when making decisions.
Tuesday, March 14th 4:45 - 5:45 p.m.
How to Plan an Intentional Gap Year
In this interactive gap year webinar Jane and Jason will share their stories and expertise as they define and demystify the gap year, share effective gap year planning strategies, and answer your questions.
Wednesday, March 16th 4:45 - 5:45 p.m.
Conquering the College Essay:
Bringing Your Application to Life
For many, the college essay is the most stressful part of the application. Instead of thinking of it as an insurmountable hurdle, view it as a unique opportunity to introduce yourself. We’ll explore all aspects of the essay process: brainstorming ideas, do’s and don’ts for effective writing, how to approach the Why College X essay, and how parents can help (or hurt).
Thursday, March 16th 4:45 - 5:45 p.m.
College Planning for Students who Learn Differently
Join independent educational consultants Liz Cooper and Dana Roth in learning ways to support your students effectively as they prepare for and transition to college. Key topics include: differences between high school and college, strategies to facilitate your student’s college readiness, and the range of models of support and services offered on college campuses.
Join us for LIVE Seminars on Saturday, March 18th
Keynote with Jill Shulman
The Chill Parents’ Revolution: A conversation with author, college essay coach, and chill parent (on her best days)
The college search process can be daunting for students and parents alike. Join us for a conversation between Jill and a Sudbury parent, as Jill talks about ways to remove some of the stress from the search process and empower students and parents alike.
Jill Shulman wrote College Admissions Cracked: Saving Your Kid (and Yourself) From the Madness and founded the Chill Parents’ Revolution to empower parents as they support their students through the twists and turns of college admissions.
Jill is also the founder of In Other Words, a college essay coaching service with an empowering, low-stress approach to succeeding in college admissions. Jill has evaluated thousands of applications for elite colleges; taught writing at The New School and City University of New York; appeared in the news at Forbes, the LA Times, CNN, NEPR and more; and written for The New York Times, Family Circle, Parents, and others.
College Funding 101
Todd Weaver, President of Strategies For College, Inc., is an Independent Educational Counselor who specializes in integrating the college selection process within cost management parameters for the families with whom he works. Todd received his B.A. in Political Science from Vanderbilt University in 1990 and his M.B.A. from Northeastern University in 1997, where he worked in the Financial Aid department.
Strategies for College, Inc. has assisted more than 7,000 families in seeking and finding admission to selective and highly selective colleges and universities that match their student’s level of intellectual curiosity, interests and abilities. His firm is proud that more than 95% of the students with whom they work return to the same college for sophomore year versus the national average of 66%. Strategies For College, Inc. is a Certified Financial Planner Board Registered provider of professional continuing education, and for more than 20 years has taught Certified Public Accountants 4 and 8‐hour CPE courses on college planning at the Boston Tax Institute.
The Digital SAT, the ACT, and YOU: A Guide to Navigating College Admissions Testing
From the new, digital SAT to the spread of test optional policies, the landscape of college admissions testing has never been more confusing. This workshop will provide clear and comprehensive guidance to help families develop an informed and strategic plan for their student’s admissions testing. Attendees will learn about the upcoming changes to the SAT and the differences between the SAT and the ACT, how to choose the right test for their student, the keys to building a testing timeline, and the essential components of effective preparation. By participating in this workshop, families will gain the knowledge and confidence needed to navigate the complex world of college admissions testing.
Travis Minor founded Open Door Education in 2011 with the goal of building the most impactful tutoring organization in Massachusetts. Travis, who earned his B.S. in Secondary Education at the University of Vermont and his M.Ed. at Harvard’s Graduate School of Education, began his teaching career in West Philadelphia, where he became acutely aware of the profound impact of enthusiastic, rigorous tutoring and test preparation. Travis understands the pressures and challenges facing students attending competitive high schools, and he also knows the life-long benefits of learning to rise to overcome these obstacles through patience, grit, and a willingness to ask for help (something he is still working on). When he’s not at Open Door, Travis serves as the chair of The Scholarship Fund of Concord and Carlisle, the Vice President of Ethics for the National Test Prep Association, and as the Education Entrepreneurship Teaching Fellow at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
Finding Your Dream Colleges
There is a college out there for everyone, and thousands of colleges across the country. This presentation will help students and parents discover what a dream college means for students, and how to help students find their best fit.
Carlos Aguilera is a first-generation college student who, at the age of 11, immigrated from Bolivia to the United States with his mother. Carlos earned his B.S in Marketing and MBA from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth where he held multiple jobs, internships, and assistantships in the student affairs office to pay for school. Carlos has dedicated a major portion of his professional career to working in higher education in administrative, academic, recreational, residential, and dispute resolution roles as he sought a 360 understanding of the student experience. As the leader of The Princeton Review New England territory, he and his team have compiled over 760 presentations to more than 14,000 students, parents, and administrators on all topics related to demystifying the college and grad school admissions over the past 5 years. Carlos resides with his wife and 1.5 year-old daughter in Bellingham, MA where he can be found woodworking, making compost, and reading non-fiction in his spare time.
How to Tackle the College or Gap Year Application Process? Ask an Admissions Panel!
Do you have questions about the application process, ways to support your high schooler as they embark on applications, or even the importance of extracurriculars now and after high school? This panel of local admissions officers and a gap year counselor will answer your questions and more, offering insightful guidance for parents and students alike.
Thank you to our Seminars Sponsors
