Sharp Focus College Consulting

06/26/2024

High school seniors who are planning to attend college should use the summer to work on their personal statements for college applications. However, many students tend to procrastinate on this important task because they are unsure of how to approach it. 😬

In the blog post titled "How to Write a Stellar Personal Statement for Your College Application," you will learn:
1. What a personal statement is
2. What mistakes to avoid
3. A straightforward process for writing your personal statement effectively

Feel free to share this valuable information with high school seniors who are preparing for college and their parents. It will help alleviate some of the stress associated with this particular college application requirement. 📝

Writing "The College Essay" can be very stressful for many students applying to college. It might feel overwhelming if you lack confidence in your writing ability or find it difficult to write about yourself. You might feel like you don't have anything worth writing about, or that you should write a...

06/12/2024

Are you aware of a soon-to-be high school senior who will soon start the college application process? This summer is the perfect time to begin working on the personal statement and other written materials required for college applications, and I can offer assistance! 😊

The personal statement is distinct from any other essay a student has likely written, and there are specific strategies for crafting a strong one. It presents the student with the best opportunity in the entire application to showcase their personality and allow colleges to see a side of them that isn't evident anywhere else in the application. 📝

I'm truly excited about the prospect of helping your student share their unique story through a personal statement. Beyond that, I offer guidance on supplemental essays, activity lists, and resumes. Don't hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected] to get started on this exciting journey! 😊📝📚

06/04/2024

In this blog post, learn 8 tips to make the most of your college orientation experience!

In Part I of this blog series, I told you my orientation story and what NOT to do at your college orientation. Now we turn our focus to 8 tips to have a successful orientation experience.How to Orientate to CollegeAccording to the dictionary, orientate is a verb meaning: to adjust or align oneself o...

05/28/2024

As summer heats up, so does orientation season at colleges across the country! Incoming first-year students and their families get 1-3 days on campus to meet other new students, learn about the college, and register for the first term. It's an exciting time, but it can also be very overwhelming! To make the most of college orientation, check out this 2-part blog series! And pass it along to students who are starting college in the fall and their parents!

As summer starts, New Student Orientation season at colleges across the country is in full swing. Just about every first-year college student has an opportunity to attend an orientation designed to introduce them to their home for the next four years. Orientation is packed with social activities, in...

05/22/2024

While summer is a time for much-deserved rest and relaxation, it's also an excellent time for long-term planning. Each summer in college presents opportunities to prepare for the year ahead and take action toward future career or graduate school plans. Check out this post on how to use the summer wisely for your future plans! 🌞🎓📚

You've worked hard all year and are ready for summer break. I don't blame you. You're right; you should certainly plan time to rest and regroup before the Fall term begins. Spending time with friends and family, reading for pleasure, and taking up hobbies that you haven't had time for are all great....

05/20/2024

This is the first May in 20 years that I've not participated in Commencement ceremonies, and I'll admit it's strange. Commencement is a day when I celebrate a year of hard work alongside my students and their families and look back on how I contributed to each of their journeys in my own small ways.

Now, as a private success coach, I'm taking time to reflect on how I've been able to help students this year. Without facing capacity issues (I've typically had hundreds of students I'm responsible for while working in higher education), I have loved being able to really get to know the students I work with and support them in achieving their goals.

This year, my students have been able to set goals and execute action plans, increase their confidence, effectively balance academic, personal, professional, and social aspects of their lives, secure meaningful internship experiences, develop relationships with their professors, clarify their career direction, apply to competitive majors, and more.

Another aspect of my work this year has been supporting high school seniors applying to college and college students applying to graduate/professional school. My main role has been coaching them as they write their personal statement and supplemental essays. I love the storytelling aspect of this work and guiding students to discover they have an important story that only they can tell.

If you know of anyone who could benefit from college success coaching or essay support, please send them my way!

05/14/2024

The first year of college is a huge transition, and most students do not feel prepared for it. Knowing what to expect can make your transition much smoother!

If you know someone starting college this fall, pass along these 10 tips for successful first-year college students so you're ready to go! 😊📚

Lily appeared in front of my office door, beaming with the joy and pride of a college freshman who hadn’t started classes yet. A dance major, she had traveled to visit me from her dorm room by scooter, a transportation mode that many students use to navigate around campus. It was two days before t...

05/07/2024

As May has arrived, it's the perfect time for students and parents to begin planning for the transition to college in the fall. To ensure a smooth transition, there are several things you can do, such as taking full advantage of orientation, having regular check-ins with your future roommate(s), and practicing time management skills.Now that it's May 📅, it's time for students and parents to start thinking 🤔 about how to prepare for the transition to college in the fall 🍁. There are lots of things you can do to ensure a smooth transition, including making the most of orientation 🎓, regular check-ins with future roommate(s) 🏠, and practicing time management skills ⏰.

1998 - A Dorm Room Somewhere in ArkansasAs I approached the hallway of my dorm room for the first time, I heard a loud whirring noise. I couldn’t imagine what it was until I saw it with my own eyes. My new roommate’s dad was SAWING part of the closet door off so that her bright blue carpet could...

04/30/2024

Do you have an internship lined up for the summer? Congratulations! Now, it's your time to shine and make the most out of this opportunity. To help you achieve your goals and get the most out of your college internship, read these five empowering tips. Remember, your internship experience is what you make of it, so make the most of it!

A few weeks ago, I wrote a blog post about finding a high-quality internship that went over like gangbusters. So we're back at it, talking about how to make the most of that high-quality internship. So, you've scored that internship you've been eyeing. It's just a few weeks away, and you're feeling....

04/23/2024

👋 As a college success coach, I often find parents and students curious about the advantages of my services compared to those provided by universities. With my 20 years of experience advising students on college campuses, I can confidently say that my services are uniquely tailored to each student's needs. Unlike campus staff, who may be overworked and face high turnover, my services are comprehensive, consistent, and readily accessible. This ensures that students never struggle to find or access the resources they need.

To address this issue, I provide a comprehensive college success coaching program that helps students achieve their academic goals. My services are designed to complement and supplement the support services offered by universities.

I am currently accepting students for my Summer College Transition Coaching Program 📚, which is designed to help students who are starting college in the Fall, and my Academic Year College Success Coaching Program, which is for students who are currently in college. Please share this information with your networks!

04/17/2024

It's mid-April 🌷, and that means college students are in the home stretch with anywhere from 2-6 weeks left of the academic year 🎓. March Madness is over 🏀, the weather is getting better ☀️, summer plans have probably been fleshed out 🏝️, and the last place many students want to be is in class, studying, and writing papers 😴.

How can students overcome the temptation to take shortcuts at the end? Where can they get the motivation to finish strong? 🤔

It's mid-April, and that means college students are in the home stretch with anywhere from 2-6 weeks left of the academic year. March Madness is over, the weather is getting better, summer plans have probably been fleshed out, and the last place many students want to be is in class, studying, and wr...