College Admissions Bootcamp Offers Tips for Students, Parents

Applying to college can be a stressful process for students and parents alike. There’s the dream school, the backup school and in some cases the backup’s backup.

An expert on the college admissions process will be in Glen Ellyn Wednesday night helping parents and college-bound students learn the myths and reality about applying for college.

Michael Kennedy, of the Kennedy Consulting Group, will be holding a college admissions bootcamp at the Glen Ellyn Public Library at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Kennedy has more than 30 years experience in the college admissions field, most of it directing college counseling at Florida’s top preparatory schools, according to the Glen Ellyn Public Library.

During his presentation Kennedy will offer tips on how to identify the right “fit” in a school, which standardized tests to take, how to write essays that will open doors for students, along with tips on how to secure financial aid and scholarships, according to the library’s news release.

“More than 60 percent of students in this country will transfer during their college careers,” Kennedy said in the news release. “Some of this is due to a change in circumstances, but more often it indicates a poor fit from the beginning.”

Finding that right fit is often a challenge because students and families don’t take into account what Kennedy calls the “five critical elements of fit, which he will discuss in greater detail during the program.

Kennedy will also discuss what activities matter to competitive schools.

“Colleges have changed what they want from students,” Kennedy said. “They’re not interested in long lists of activities and awards. They don’t necessarily care that a student placed in the state geometry competition, played a varsity sport, or was in the National Honors Society. On the other hand, students with phenomenal test scores and grades who do nothing else are also at a disadvantage. From an admissions standpoint, there is an ideal way to undertake activities and families benefit when they understand this information.”

Learn more about the event and reserve a space on the Glen Ellyn Public Library’s website. 

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