Posts by Avalon Admin
Plan B: When College is not the Immediate Next Step
We recently attended the National Conference for Independent Educational Consultants Association – IECA). These are our takeaways from the session on Plan B: When College is not the Immediate Next Step.
Presenters: Nicole Oringer, Founder of Ivy Ed, and Kristin White, educational consultant and author of 2 books – “The Complete Guide to the Gap Year: The Best Things to do Between High School and College”, and “It’s the Student not the College: The Secrets of Succeeding at any School Without Going Broke or Crazy”.
Why Delay College?
– Changes due to Covid
– Online learning
– Financial concerns/value
– Health concerns
– Opportunity to make a social impact – internships/volunteer
– Want/need to develop self awareness (college readiness)
– GAP year
– Studies show GAP year students perform better (better GPA) than non-GAP year
– Many international programs are hoping to run and/or are moving programs to the US or
safer locations
– Do I defer? Questions to ask:
– How will my learning experience be (hybrid, in person, virtual)
– Do I want an internship
– Can I take classes locally
– Bridge programs – live on campus but take Community College classes
– Foundation programs – build language skills before taking regular college classes
– Community College/Online degrees
– VERTO – GAP year experience / college credit w/guaranteed transfer options
The Nuances of Advising High Academic Student-Athletes During COVID-19
We recently attended the National Conference for Independent Educational Consultants Association – IECA). These are our takeaways from the session on high performing high school athletes.
Presenters: Katie Andersen and David Stoeckel, The Student Athlete Advisors
Impact on Recruiting
– Recruiting Calendars have changed temporarily:
– DI – Dead period until July 31, 2020 – No in-person contact on or off campus
– DII – Quiet period until July 31, 2020 – On campus in-person contact allowed
– DIII – Case by case basis
*Coaches may write, call (phone or video), email and text
Campus Closures and Quarantine
– no unofficial/official visits, camps or showcases
– Limited ability for student athletes to evaluate schools and programs
– Coaches rely on recruiting video for initial evaluation
NCAA Eligibility Center
– Student athletes must take SAT or ACT to meet Div I or II requirements (even if the
schools decide to offer test optional admissions)
– check www.eligibilitycenter.org for updates
Spring Sports
– 5th year of athletic eligibility
– NCAA is allowing colleges to offer spring sport athletes a 5th year of athletic
eligibility – this will impact future recruiting classes but will not include Ivies
Advice for Student Athletes
– Contact coaches and send video (even if it’s a year old)
– Keep up your grades
– Take the SAT or ACT – NCAA is still requiring testing for eligibility
– Ask college coaches to put you in touch with current players and attend virtual
admissions meetings if you can’t visit campus
– Ask coaches if there will be financial impact on team budgets
– Ideas for inspiring your mind and body during Covid-19
College Admissions Testing in the Time of Covid-19
We recently attended the National Conference for Independent Educational Consultants Association – IECA). These are our takeaways from the session on Testing in the Time of Covid -19.
Presenter: Drew Heilpern, Summit Educational Group
These are the current planned testing dates:
– SAT – Aug, Sept, Nov
– ACT – June/July, Sept, Oct, Dec
For regular decision – November and December tests are fine
Students should be prioritizing SAT/ACT over Subject tests
– Maintain a sane and sensible testing plan
– Many students peak on test performance fall of senior year so don’t worry about the
lack of testing junior year
– Colleges are keenly aware of testing challenges & these changes are impacting all
students equally
– Deprioritize subject tests – since June tests were cancelled, colleges are not
expecting to see those scores
Statement from Tulane:
“Whatever your school does, we’ll support it. If you have only Pass/Fail grades in the second semester, we’ll totally understand. We’ll give you the benefit of the doubt in every single way we can. Go to your online classes, do the best you can, make your presence felt, try your hardest. We’ll notice, trust me.”
