Comments on: Ask the College Counselor: Are expensive extra-curriculars worth it? http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/04/07/ask-the-college-counselor-are-expensive-extra-curriculars-worth-it/ Sat, 20 Mar 2010 21:56:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Georgia Gregoire http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/04/07/ask-the-college-counselor-are-expensive-extra-curriculars-worth-it/#comment-5973 Georgia Gregoire Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:37:15 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/04/07/ask-the-college-counselor-are-expensive-extra-curriculars-worth-it/#comment-5973 I am so thankful for this article. My 13 year old was nominated last year and her teacher plans to nominate her again. I have been feeling so guilty because I cannot really afford the cost of these programs. Your comments and ideas have really given me the confidence I needed to seek other less expensive alternative to honor my daughter for her accomplishements. I am so thankful for this article. My 13 year old was nominated last year and her teacher plans to nominate her again. I have been feeling so guilty because I cannot really afford the cost of these programs. Your comments and ideas have really given me the confidence I needed to seek other less expensive alternative to honor my daughter for her accomplishements.

]]> By: Joyce Szuflita http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/04/07/ask-the-college-counselor-are-expensive-extra-curriculars-worth-it/#comment-5907 Joyce Szuflita Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:51:00 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/04/07/ask-the-college-counselor-are-expensive-extra-curriculars-worth-it/#comment-5907 I have a whole stack of glossy, embossed envelopes within envelopes telling how honored that my kids should be pay the thousands of dollars to come to these programs. I am happy that someone nominated them, but the shear number has turned it into a joke. I am happy to hear that college admissions departments know the difference between a scholarship or self generated program and an expensive pre-packaged one. I think that your fund raising idea is brilliant. I have a whole stack of glossy, embossed envelopes within envelopes telling how honored that my kids should be pay the thousands of dollars to come to these programs. I am happy that someone nominated them, but the shear number has turned it into a joke. I am happy to hear that college admissions departments know the difference between a scholarship or self generated program and an expensive pre-packaged one. I think that your fund raising idea is brilliant.

]]> By: Felicity http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/04/07/ask-the-college-counselor-are-expensive-extra-curriculars-worth-it/#comment-5905 Felicity Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:44:48 +0000 http://insideschools.org/blog/2009/04/07/ask-the-college-counselor-are-expensive-extra-curriculars-worth-it/#comment-5905 As a parent who has just been through the college admissions process with my son and his friends, I would say these programs are not helpful and don't worry at all about not being able to afford them. Here's what counts in order: SATs and grade point average and/or class rank, difficulty of course load, essay and teacher recommendations (which I believe are read only by the smaller schools), special unique talents, extracirriculars and volunteering, interview at smaller schools, visiting the school if it is nearby so they know you are interested, being diverse in terms of gender, ethnic background, geography. As a parent who has just been through the college admissions process with my son and his friends, I would say these programs are not helpful and don’t worry at all about not being able to afford them.

Here’s what counts in order: SATs and grade point average and/or class rank, difficulty of course load, essay and teacher recommendations (which I believe are read only by the smaller schools), special unique talents, extracirriculars and volunteering, interview at smaller schools, visiting the school if it is nearby so they know you are interested, being diverse in terms of gender, ethnic background, geography.

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