RAMBO

You'd think the answer to the start date for college prep would be "around grade 11", however a better and more accurate answer is Pre-K. The reason is that today's college admission teams look at more than GPA and test scores.

Think about how early young children actually learn values and skills. Those values and skills learned in elementary and middle school are central to high school success. Students who work well with others, volunteer, step up to lead, who are assertive and also good followers, tend to look better on college applications later.

When does college prep begin? In the beginning, of course.

Ah, summertime.  Time for teens to sleep in, go to the pool, work part time and...go to college prep camp? Summer is prime time to get your rising 11th and 12th grader ready for college.  Waiting until school starts in the fall puts a barrier of distraction in your teen's way.  

 

Making college decisions like what to major in and where to study and working on writing college admission essays all take quiet time.  Teens need and deserve the opportunity to reflect on what they want to do and how they want to get there.  That's nearly impossible among the noise and energy drain of high school classes, activity deadlines, standardized testing, homework and social distractions.

 

Make summer a time of fun for your teen but also a time of reflection, data gathering and discussion about where they want to go.  Go on college tours at any college that is holding a college tour day to get your teen in the mindset of looking at what is available and how colleges differ.

 

Consider enrolling your teen in college prep camp.  Rambo Research and Consulting offers a one week college camp for rising 11th and 12th graders in the Hampton Roads, Peninsula and Williamsburg area.  The camp is being held July 18-22, 2011 from 1-3:30 in the afternoon in Williamsburg.  In that short time period, students will select an appropriate major, develop their "short list" of colleges for application and write the all-important college admission essay.  Register now at www.ramboresearchandconsulting.com on the 2011 summer camp page. There are only 10 seats remaining.

 

An identified college major, short list of target colleges and submission-ready essay puts a teen waaaaaaaay ahead of his peers in the fall.  A student with this kind of head start, can actually enjoy his junior and senior year!