Preparing for College Admissions: Understanding Myths, Majors, and Myself
Discover academic strengths/weaknesses, decode college myths, thoughtfully pick majors, and explore college options. By beginning early, students are less stressed, more knowledgeable & confident, and empowered to make better decisions.
Carissa Hoitenga, College Consultant & Mentor
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(68)
What's included
6 live meetings
5 hrs 30 mins in-class hoursHomework
1 hour per week. Independent work done outside of class is an important and required part of this course and assigned after each meeting. As this course helps students gain insight into themselves within the context of preparing for college, most assignments will include personal surveys, with the possibility of reading an article or blog post. Independent work is meant to be purposeful, thought-provoking, and add personal value to the class experience while taking up minimal time. Each assignment is required, and the end result of that assignment (either survey results or knowledge) is required to discuss and learn the topic in the following class.Assessment
There are no formal grades in this class.Class Experience
US Grade 9 - 11
Working with a college consultant can be very expensive. This course provides a lot of the information consultants share with their clients as they prepare to begin their admissions journey, but in a more affordable structure of a small group class. **Check dates! Schedules can vary and may not meet once/week. Be sure you select the option that works best for you! First Outschool Course? Get $20 towards any Outschool class! Enter this code when enrolling: CARISSAH20 **The last day of class will either begin 30 minutes earlier or end 30 minutes later than usual; check each sections schedule to be sure you note the time difference of the final meeting! See course description below for details. Mark your calendar!** - I do not share any recordings of this course, with the exception of the last meetings, upon request. This is to encourage teens to share in class and protect their privacy. Teens (and I'd think most people) do not want other unknown parents being able to hear their more personal thoughts about college. - Would you like this course offered as a private class? This can be arranged! The fee for this is $475. Just message me and we'll make it happen! While this course was designed for students applying to colleges in the USA, students applying to colleges in other countries might benefit as well. If you are considering colleges outside the USA, please message me before enrollment so I can advise if this course would be a good fit for your personal situation. __________________________________________ CLASS DESCRIPTION: I didn't know what I didn't know -- I hear this over and over from parents and students. Why? Because the admissions process is completely different from 20 years ago. Designed for students in 9th and 10th grades (but also open to advanced 8th graders and 11th graders needing a bit of structured guidance/aren't sure what to do after high school or where to start in the admissions process), whether attending public, private, or homeschool, this course guides students in: - self-discovery and self-analysis of academic and social college readiness - the building of high school resumes - preparation for selecting and applying to colleges - starting to sample the large array of colleges out there -- at the end of the 6 weeks, students will receive a document with the names and links to all colleges highlighted in class thus far **This class includes sharing and discussions so that we can learn from each other. Students are expected to have their cameras on in order to have a better discussion and a more engaging class, but recordings are not shared, so students do not need to worry about others re-watching them if they ask questions. While students are encouraged to share about themselves, students may decide how much personal detail they are comfortable sharing. Every student has a different comfort level, which is always honored. *RECORDINGS: A student's privacy is of utmost importance to me. In this class, we discuss things that students may not want on a recording that is shared to anyone outside the group, such as classmates' parents. For that reason, I do not share recordings of this course.
Learning Goals
Students should have a better understanding of the types of colleges, what colleges look for in their applicants, gain a deeper understanding of themselves as a student and person, gain insight into how to select a major, learn the myths of selecting a college, self-evaluate their study skills, and begin to see the broad range of college options available to them.
Syllabus
6 Lessons
over 6 WeeksLesson 1:
Introduction to Colleges
- Intro to the class and classmates
- Discussion on current thoughts and feelings of college
- Exploration of different types of colleges, including community college, 4-year colleges, American universities abroad, and technical schools 55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 2:
Finding my College "Why" and Assessing College Readiness
- Why is attending college important to you? We'll complete a survey in class to help you voice your 'why' while considering other reasons you may not have thought of before.
- Where am I in the college-readiness scale, and what areas should I work on improving during high school in order to succeed in college? 55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 3:
College Selection Myths & Knowing Yourself
- What is true and what is a myth in selecting a college?
- Becoming self-aware and discovering my unique traits and abilities, the first step to building a best-fit college list 55 mins online live lesson
Lesson 4:
Building Your Admissions Showcase
- Drawing conclusions from my survey results and connecting results to my high school resume
- Building my admissions showcase to be the most competitive college applicant I can be 55 mins online live lesson
Other Details
Parental Guidance
This class will expose students to many different aspects and ideas on college as well as a variety of colleges, which may include public, private (religious and non-religious), community, international, and technical colleges. As many private schools often have a religious affiliation or background, this may be pointed out when discussing a private school in a purely informational manner. Any colleges or universities that are discussed in class are for informational and eductational purposes only. A college's inclusion in a class discussion does not constitute any endorsement by the teacher. As this is a group class, students are encouraged to share their thoughts and ideas on college as well as respect those shared from other students, even if they are different. There are many ways to 'do college,' and all ways are valid.
General advice to parents: I strongly recommend (unless your teen needs assistance) to allow your teen privacy during this class. Teens are much more open to share their thoughts, ask questions, and explore who they are without parents present. This is excellent preparation for their admissions journey, when they'll need to do a lot of things on their own. I make this recommendation for the benefit of your teen.
Pre-Requisites
Students should have a basic understanding of what college is. Middle schoolers who have completed my "What is College?" class are ready, though it is not required students have taken that course.
Supply List
On the first day of class, students will be given a packet of printable worksheets for use throughout the course that must be printed out by the 2nd class. All worksheets for all sessions will be given on the first day of class for your printing convenience. The packet includes roughly 35 pages, which may be printed front & back. Students will also need a pen/pencil at each class starting with class 2.
Joined June, 2020
5.0
68reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
Master's Degree from Inter American University San German Campus (Universidad Interamericana)
I have my own business as an Independent College Consultant and mentor students towards their individual goals, whether that is to attend a community college to save money or getting an acceptance at Brown. I hold an Independent Education Consultant Certificate, an M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language, and a B.A. in Sociology (with minors in English and Spanish). I personally have attend college courses at private and public institutions, as well as at institutions in the three U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and Spain.
I've worked with students making education transitions (from a foreign high school to an American high school, from high school to college, and from college in home country to college in foreign country) since 2010 through both my professional career and through volunteering at two non-profit organizations. I have been assisting students specifically with applying to and starting college since 2014. I have worked as an advisor at a university for over five years as well as taught general education English courses at a university for one year. In addition, I have been a reviewer for two different Department of State competitive scholarship programs.
I regularly take classes and attend professional conferences and workshops to improve my skills in helping students evaluate, select, and apply to colleges. As an Independent College Consultant, I visit college campuses (both in-person and virtually) to learn as much as possible about various colleges and universities. I am also an Associate Member of IECA, the professional organization for independent education consultants, and I visit around 15 - 20 colleges each year.Reviews
Live Group Course
$264
for 6 classes1x per week, 6 weeks
55 min
Completed by 18 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 14-17
2-3 learners per class
