Sample Format

Morning

ADMISSIONS OVERVIEW

• Trendspotting: How the “business” of admissions has changed the process
• Fit: How to find schools that are right for you
• What the most competitive colleges want and how to demonstrate it
• What matters at top state schools
• Selectivity vs. value: Hidden gems beyond the big names
• Paths of least resistance: Colleges that admit by major and what that means for admission
• How to make various types of admission work for you (early decision, early action, rolling, etc.)
• What really counts: The most over- and underrated aspects of the application
• The role of the family and high school: What each must do
• “Minority” status and gender: When it helps and hurts in admission, what to do about it
• Common mistakes to avoid

TESTS & COURSES

• Standardized tests: Which to take and when; how score reporting and usage has changed
• The changing role of APs:  What you need now; advantages and loopholes
• Courseload: Finding the right match for your abilities

ACTIVITIES, ESSAYS & RECOMMENDATIONS

• The activities that matter to colleges: It’s about “going deep”
• Essays: How you convey your experience makes all the difference
• Recommendations: Picking the right sources and preparing them to make your case
• Examples of what works and what doesn’t

Afternoon

INFORMATION SOURCES

• College profiles: How to interpret them; their use and limitations
• What colleges say publicly and do privately and how it affects your candidacy
• Rumors, guidebooks, and the Internet: Identifying the best and worst sources of information
• The interview and visit: What to look for and questions to ask

FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIPS

• Financial aid: What to reveal and when; how to negotiate for aid
• Scholarships: Where they are and how to qualify

Q&A/NEXT STEPS

• Audience questions on any topic: Issues at specific colleges; state-school standards; ivy admission; accelerated medical programs; learning disabilities; dealing with poor grades on a transcript; NCAA; home schooling; etc.)

INDIVIDUAL APPOINTMENTS

• Families receive private, 30-minute consultation with Mike Kennedy about  their student’s case
• Students provide transcripts, test scores, upcoming course selections, and survey responses prior to discussion
• Families receive a customized list of colleges tailored to their situation
• Families can ask questions and discuss next steps for specific colleges
• Format may be an in-person meeting or phone conversation depending on course participation