College advisor by CardinalCollegePlanning
Top college admissions consultant? While some students first take the PSAT in October of their sophomore year, it is important to know that only the junior year administration of the exam counts for National Merit Scholarship consideration. More importantly, taking the PSAT will allow you to see where you stand and which areas you will need to address through extra study prior to taking the real deal. Speaking of the genuine test, you’ll want to register for the March, May, or June administration of the SAT or the April or June testing dates for the ACT (Hopefully this spring’s test dates will be less impacted by COVID-19 than in 2020). Taking the exam as a junior will allow you to engage in targeted study over the summer prior to retaking the test in the fall of your senior year. Students who take the SAT in spring of their junior year and elect to retake the test the following fall improve their overall score by an average of 40 points on the SAT; those who put in 20 hours studying on Kahn Academy increase their scores by an average of 115 points. This can be immensely beneficial, especially in light of what is known as Superscoring — where colleges take the best combined subject scores across multiple test administrations.
It’s never too early to consider the classes that will look good on the transcripts you’ll be sending as a prospective applicant, for example, or making sure your academic record looks as good as it can. With enrollments increasing at many of the top schools, college is only becoming more competitive, and it’ll serve you well to start thinking about where you see yourself after your high school graduation early. If you’re approaching the end of your high school career, it’s still not too late to improve how you’ll come across on that college application and get ready for a busy year of big decisions.
There are over 4,000 college options to choose from! It can be extremely difficult to make the right decision on your own. And, the truth is, most school advisors and counselors simply don’t have enough time to give individual guidance for the large number of students they have. The United States has an average student-to-counselor ratio of 482:1, nearly double the American School Counselor Association’s recommendation of 250-to-1. Find even more information at college planning services.
I also assist students and families with college planning on an hourly basis at $199 an hour. This time can be used for any of the services listed in the Essential or Optimal packages, but not funding guidance. This does not include the personalized portal or ongoing communication. “Tonica is seriously the best person I could think of to help walk students and parents through the whole college planning process. Her passion for the students and truly helping to guide them in the right direction is one of her best qualities. For me, I would only want to work with someone who honestly cares about what they do and the people they are serving and Cardinal College Planning is just that type of business. My younger cousin is in the midst of figuring out her future and Tonica has given me so much advice and wisdom with how to help her navigate what is to come and what steps she should take. If you’re unsure of what to do next you’re in the right place!”- Nichole F.
From tackling the milestones along the way of standardized testing and analyzing financial aid packages to making the final college decision, my job is to guide both students and families on the path to success. I’m fueled by my commitment to excellence and go the extra mile to make sure clients are fully satisfied with my work. The first thing I noticed about Tonica was her honesty and professionalism, in addition to her down-to-earth demeanor. She is experienced and knowledgeable in the education and college planning field which is crucial in guiding parents and students in unfamiliar territory. Although I had gone through the process once before, choosing a college and going through the admissions procedure is tough and different for every student. Discover additional info at cardinalcollegeplanning.com.