College Admissions
There's a lot of hype about college admissions these days. While part of it is justified, some of it is not. Admission offers to the most selective schools is sometimes difficult to predict, even for the most competitive students. The good news is that there is a college for everyone and most colleges and universities maintain a very high acceptance rate among applicants.
A student should almost always be accepted at several of his/her choices. The key factor is to target the list so that it includes some reaches, some competitive, and some likely schools. And of course, the student should be excited about the schools that go on the list.
An internet search for colleges always turns up interesting results. Some of the schools are possible matches, but a computer search cannot see, feel, or empathize with a student. It does not understand a fit between personalities and student values. It cannot be subjective.
That’s why working one on one with a professional college counselor can be invaluable. The human touch is absolutely essential in order to make the right match and find the right fit. After visiting several hundred college campuses, you learn a thing or two about what works for some kids and won’t work for others. And when working with international students or Third Culture Kids, there is an additional layer to the fit/match equation.
How do we do it?
- We try to get to know as much as possible about the student -- their background, interests, and ambitions
- Provide personality tests and learning style surveys
- Refine the list of colleges the student could apply to.
- Assist with campus visits (virtual if the student can't go), and what to look for in a
college
- Brainstorm ideas for and work on essays,
- Establish college planning time lines, and keep the process moving forward
- Assist with financial aid information
- Help with the final selection
- Answer all the questions that come up along the way
Perhaps the most important role we can play is that of coach, cheerleader, and objective third party for all of you in a process that can, at times, become a bit stressful within the family.
For more details about how we work with a student, see our three packages of service:
PLEASE NOTE: RNG International Educational Consultants are NOT paid agents of any college or university. We adhere to a strict code of ethics and only accept payment from our clients -- students and their families seeking recommendations based on identified educational needs.
College and Students with Learning Differences and/or ADHD
Students with learning differences or ADD should not limit their dreams because of these issues. However, a student with these challenges needs to be aware of his/her learning profile, strengths and weaknesses, and go to college fully prepared for the rigors and independence of college life.
There are many ways to approach this, but the most important factor is to be prepared and for the student to be their own strong self-advocate. A student should also know where to find resources for help on the college campus, what accommodations can and should be provided, and how to access those resources.
College can be especially challenging for students with ADD, even if they’ve been very successful in high school. There is less structure and much greater independence. Knowing what to expect can keep a student ahead of the game. Not being prepared can set a student up for failure.
But as a newly independent student, he/she becomes the driver in the process of finding and accessing help. Therefore, it's vital that they go enter college mentally prepared to be their own self-advocate. RNG International is experienced working with students with learning differences and understands how to qualify for, understand, and access support resources on a university campus. Let us help.
Transfer Students
I JUST GOT AN EMAIL FROM (the transfer admissions counselor) SAYING THAT I GOT ACCEPTED TO XX PLUS A $6,000 SCHOLARSHIP!!! I'M SO EXCITED! I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR HELPING ME TO FIND THAT SCHOOL! I'm going to look at tickets to go visit RIGHT NOW!
Two weeks later…
So my dad and I went to (xx)to check it out and I REALLY liked it a lot!! The xxxx downtown area is really nice and the people were sooooo unbelievably friendly!!!!! Not to mention that the campus itself is awesome (and the dorms too)! Plus, they have some really good academic programs that sound interesting that I want to try! I've decided to go there for the fall!!! I'm really excited and I hope that I have a good time :)!! Thanks soo much again for all your help!!!!!!! Definitely paid off!!
Emails like that are a treasure. This bright and talented girl had gotten off to bad start with regards to her university education. She started at one university but it was the wrong fit for her, and she was miserable. She didn’t give up right away, but her reasons for being unhappy were valid. Then she went back overseas to live with her expat parents and regroup, taking courses in a local American university. That was also a disappointment. She was thinking of taking a gap year, and felt defeated and demoralized. Her self-confidence had also taken a beating.
When she started working with RNG, we started over again by talking about what she really wanted out of the college experience, what her ideal school would look like, reviewed her academic credentials, and talked about fit and match. We also talked about how her background as a Third Culture Kid not only made her an interesting candidate, but also hard to please! As you can see, even though it was summer and seemingly hopeless, the story had a happy ending.
There are many reasons why students want to transfer. We explore those reasons – maybe the situation at the present school needs a fresh look and transferring isn’t a good idea. Or maybe it is a good idea, and the student needs to keep some things in mind as far as course credit goes so that valuable time and money is not lost. If you are thinking about transferring, let someone with experience help you through the experience and the process.
Career Exploration
Few students have an exact idea of what they want to do when they are 16, 17, or 18 years old. They usually have not had enough life experience in the world enough to know what is out there, and their exposure to various subjects may still be limited to the standard high school curriculum. Occasionally there is a student who has known what he/she wants to do since early childhood, but this is rare.
Students need guidance. Our Career Exploration Services include exploring the student’s:
- Personality type
- Interests
- Skills
- Values
With this information, students can then explore possible careers that more closely fit these categories. They can also see what education and training is needed, how long it will take, what future earnings might be, and potential in the field.
This information is invaluable when it comes to selecting a major. Many students will still need the exposure to various subjects that they get in university, but they will at least have some sense of direction. Some teens obsess about what will happen tomorrow, while others believe in a magical future that will just unfold. Adolescents need to understand how today’s choices will influence tomorrow’s options.
Rebecca Grappo has led 12 hour workshops for teens on Career Exploration in coordination with Amideast, the Ministry of Education in the Sultanate of Oman, and with the sponsorship of Bank Muscat. She can customize this workshop for individual students or schools.
Thank you again for all you did to make the Career Guidance workshop such a success. I especially appreciate your willingness to conduct the workshop at such short notice, and with all that you have going on right now. I will always admire your knowledge, skills, enthusiasm, and ability to inspire. You ARE an expert!
- Sarah Jackson, Country Director for Amideast, Muscat, Oman
Traditional Boarding Schools
Boarding schools can offer students tremendous opportunities for academic challenge, personal growth, exploration, and support. By living in the mix of a residential and academic setting, students are immersed in an environment dedicated to student success.
There is a huge range of options in the world of boarding schools: co-educational or single sex; large and small; hard core academics as well as those that offer challenge with learning support; military schools, and more. Extra-curricular options vary widely, too, as do school cultures.
Working with student placements and boarding schools is all about finding the right fit based on student needs, abilities, and interests. A successful boarding school experience can change a student’s life forever in many positive ways. Read more about the benefits of boarding schools in The Truth about Boarding Schools.
We work very closely with the family and admissions officers when working on boarding school admissions to identify potential schools that will be appropriate matches for the student and get the student excited about the thought of being a part of those school communities. We then work together to complete the application and serve as a resource for the student’s personal statements.
Once the student hears about the school’s admissions decision, we can discuss the final choice. After the student enrolls, we maintain contact with the school periodically to make sure that things are going smoothly. Throughout the entire process, it is important that the families and consultant maintain frequent and open communication. For more information, read some of Rebecca Grappo’s articles.
Boarding Schools for Learning Disabilities and ADHD
All children can learn. But not all children are being taught the way they learn best. The essence of finding the right school for a child is matching instruction to the way children learn. Students with learning disabilities, or learning differences as I like to call it, often struggle needlessly when the educational setting is rigid, or directed toward the majority of students. But one size does not fit all. This is especially a problem in international schools where quality and effective special education resources are difficult to find. Thankfully, more and more international schools are adding learning support services, but when students reach high school, the academic demands increase, and thus their needs also change.
Many schools overseas are also reluctant to accept students with learning differences and/or ADHD, and parents end up begging school administrators to accept their child. Then when things become difficult, often parents and students are reluctant to demand more out of fear of being dismissed from the school. This is when some students are better served in an educational setting that understands them, embraces them, helps to rebuild fragile adolescent egos, and empowers kids to realize they can do more than they ever dreamed of.
This is especially true of high school students. When they do not get the academic support they need, they often doubt themselves, their intelligence, learn to hate school, and then adjust their dreams for the future accordingly. Nothing is more satisfying than to know that a young person's hope in the future has been restored. And that can happen when the educational setting is right for them.
There are traditional boarding schools with great learning support, boarding schools just for average to above average students that specialize in only learning disabilities, schools for kids with lower cognitive profiles, schools for those with Aspberger's and schools that do a great job with ADHD students. Within these schools, some schools are better than others at meeting the individual needs of the child. That is why it is critical to have a thorough understanding of the student's individual profile before making any recommendations about school placements.
Rebecca Grappo, founder of RNG, has visited well over 130 boarding schools, and knows of many others in depth. Let an experienced, professional, and compassionate educational consultant help guide you to the school that will be right for your child.
More info:
All adolescents will struggle at times just because it's part of growing up. But some adolescents struggle in ways that are unhealthy and lead to risky behaviors that can threaten their futures, those around them, and their very lives.
When do you know if your child needs help? Some warning signs include:
- decrease in interest in school
- drop in grades
- oppositional behavior at home, i.e. fighting, arguing, power struggles, lack of respect
- disciplinary problems at school
- experimentation with drugs or alcohol that puts them at risk
- lack of judgment and poor decision making skills
- negative peer group
- being asked to leave a school
- signs of depression
- suicidal thoughts
This is only a partial list of issues parents and adolescents face. But there is hope. There are wonderful programs that can help to turn a struggling teen's life around. RNG International is experienced working with wilderness and therapeutic schools and programs to help a student get their lives back on track. Like any other case, it begins by thoroughly getting to know a student, then working closely over time with parents, programs, and therapists over a long period of time. A successful treatment is one that involves not only the wilderness and/or therapeutic school and program, but also an after care plan to assure a transition that helps the student hold on to progress made. These cases are quite emotional for the families, and require intensive and sensitive work on the part of the educational consultant. Quality programs will quickly tell you the value of having an educational consultant involved in the case from the beginning to the end.
There are also programs for young adults over 18 -23 who did not receive help earlier, learned lessons the hard way, and are now ready to work on their lives. Many parents have told Rebecca, "I wish I had known about you before! I needed you...." It's never too late.
