How To Find a Good Gap Year Program?

gap year sign board

With so many gap year programs to choose from, how do you determine which ones are worth applying to?

Continue reading

Pinterest and College Planning?

How can Pinterest help you in planning for life after high school? Read more to find out.

Continue reading

Mark Your Calendars For The "Colleges That Change Lives"

Juniors, as you start to build your college lists you may want to consider the Colleges That Change Lives.

Continue reading

Athletic Recruiting – Why Not Plan An “Unofficial Visit” with the Coach?

a girl runing on track while coach recording time on a device

If you’re interested in playing sports in college, then start your college search early, and be sure to visit the coach when you go to campus!

Continue reading

Don’t Plagiarize Your College Essays-‘Turnitin For Admissions’ Is Watching

admissions look for in a college essay

As college admissions offices turn to “Turnitin,” an anti-plagiarism service, make sure that you are writing your own college essay and not borrowing anyone else’s words.

Continue reading

Student Finds Perfect College With Help of Expert College Counselor in Denver

It’s so fun to hear from students who have successfully found the perfect college…a place that really fits their academic and personal interests and abilities.

This short video was created by one of my former students who is now at Hope College in Holland, Michigan.  His family hired me as their college counselor to help this young man figure out what he wanted.  After several  months of getting to know one another, of exploring various options, and pulling together essays and applications, he was able not only to get into a great college, but win some scholarship money, too boot!

Perhaps I should just let him speak for himself.

If I can help you or someone in your family find the best college for them, please send me a shout.

Mark Montgomery
Educational Consultant in Denver

Technorati Tags: college consultant, educational consultant, college counselor, college admission, Denver, Colorado, Hope, Michigan, hgh school, student Del.icio.us Tags: college consultant, educational consultant, college counselor, college admission, Denver, Colorado, Hope, Michigan, hgh school, student

Failing Grades at Community College: Will They Kill Me?

help text written on notebook

Sometimes people write with personal questions, seeking advice for their particular situation.

I received one today from a student at a community college who had a couple of failing grades.  Clearly, the student had finally woken up and figured out that getting Fs was not such a great idea.  But with that new understanding, what is a student to do about those Fs?

Here’s the student’s question:

I have 2 Fs in Math 090. This happened when i first started school at a community college. I didnt know how dropping classes worked and i got overwhelmed. Can i still graduate? Can i still go to a university?  Should i start over at another community college, and if i do is it possible that those two Fs will be discovered? 

And here is my response: 

Hi, and thanks for your inquiry.

With regard to graduating from your community college, you need to speak with a student advisor there.  I am sure they have academic counselors, and you should make an appointment with one to discuss your Fs.  The advisor can tell you what you need to do to graduate, as each college has its own rules.  You will likely have to retake the classes to make up the credit (if you haven’t already).  Do not be embarrassed.  What is, is.  You need to know how to proceed from here.

With regard to transferring to another community college, if you plan on transferring any of your current credits to that new college, your Fs will follow you. Unless you start completely over at square one, and do not divulge that you have already attended a college, your Fs will follow you.
I do not recommend this option for ethical reasons.  While it’s not good to fail, it’s worse to lie about it.  Fortunately, you live in the land of Second Chances.

From this point forward, what counts is how you respond to this mistake. If you retake Math 090 and get a good grade–maybe even an A (because you take advantage of every tutoring service and academic support system at your junior college, and you study like crazy)–then four-year colleges may be inclined to overlook your mistakes.  Now, you may not get into Stanford. But with good recommendations, a solid record of success since those dreaded Fs, and other good works in other aspects of your life, you can make a convincing case that you have matured, that you have learned the required mathematics, and that you have made up for your youthful transgressions of the past.

I hope this is helpful.

Regards,
Mark Montgomery
Montgomery Educational Consulting