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BLOGS

Introducing The Greenwood System!

6/10/2020

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Do you know students struggling to pick their major or questioning 
their current educational path?

Starting this summer, College Success Plan students will have the opportunity to take the Greenwood System career assessment which helps students focus their education on a future career direction.  The Greenwood System career assessment is a comprehensive report and exploration process that takes into account a student's unique abilities, interests, personality and values to create an action plan for the future. With the support of a trained College Success Plan mentor, your student will navigate the self and career exploration process to help him/her make decisions about course work, majors, internships and ultimately a career after college.  Students who go through this process are more confident in their educational decisions and have a focused and concrete Action Plan to achieve their personal, educational and professional goals. Call us to learn more!

Learn more about Greenwood by watching this Video!
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Use Summer to Advance Your Career!

6/9/2020

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College Success Plan’s work doesn’t begin and end with academics.  We also help students explore their major and career options, specify a desired professional path, brainstorm avenues for further learning, identify opportunities for development and create a plan for overcoming obstacles.  We assist our students in researching majors, minors and careers.  We provide individualized direction for resume, cover letter and LinkedIn profile creation and refinement.  We help students create an action plan to achieve their goals and provide support and reminders along the way.  While many students are facing the summer with uncertainty and disappointment, we encourage them to maximize their time to advance and reflect upon their long-term plan!
 
Do your research
  • Take the time to explore different professions, career paths and industries!  If you have not yet committed to a certain career path, take the time to explore those that interest you.  If you have already identified the field you wish to join, learn more about different roles, responsibilities and advancement opportunities located within that industry.
  • Make a list of contacts.  Reach out to family, friends and professional contacts to create a list of people holding positions you’d like to learn more about.
  • Set up informational interviews - schedule virtual informational interviews if you’re unable to set an in-person meeting.  Ask questions about your interviewee’s job responsibilities, education, professional history and goals.  Learn more about his or her work environment, the perks and challenges of the work environment, and other jobs of interest within the company.
  • If possible, schedule a time to observe or tour an office. Consider shadowing an employee for a day.  Remember, the people you meet during visits like these are great resources when it comes to future jobs and internships.
Prepare your materials
  • Take time to polish your resume
  • Refine and personalize your cover letters
  • Update your LinkedIn profile
  • Make sure your social media accounts are appropriate for future employers to see
  • Reach out to professors or previous employers to ask for letters of recommendation
Create a portfolio
  • If you are interested in a career field where supplemental application materials are a strength, get started on these!
  • Begin collecting samples of your best work (artwork, research papers, coding/programming work, news articles, reviews, etc.)
  • Consider personal projects you could take on that would be impressive to potential employers.  Can you create an electronic portfolio, video or slideshow of your work?  This can be an easy way to distinguish yourself from other candidates - be creative!
  • Just because this summer looks and feels different than previous summers does not mean that students must put their plans to further their career on hold.  Losing a job or internship is undoubtedly disappointing; however, there are other avenues for progress.  
College Success Plan is happy to help students with any or all of these tasks!  
We offer summer special package pricing.

 
www.collegesuccessplan.com
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College vs. High School: A Monumental Adjustment

6/20/2019

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Anyone who has ever attended college or watched their children navigate this transition knows how vastly different the experience of a high school student is from that of a college student.  From the newfound independence to the excess of free time to the vastly different academic expectations, many, if not most, students find their new university life to be a major culture shock.  

College Students experience major shifts in the following areas:

Independence: 
- The newfound independence students experience in college is one of the most overwhelming changes
- College students must independently select their classes, their major, their schedule
- They must independently manage their social lives, their sleep schedules, where and what they want to eat for each meal
- Most students find this independence to be both a blessing and a curse Class Variety:
- College classes come in a wide range of topics
- Students must take into account:
- Professor teaching styles 
- Course timing and course length
- Class formats (online vs. in-person vs. hybrid, lecture vs. seminar, etc.)
- It is each student’s responsibility to research and register for courses, as well to decide when it is necessary to add/drop/make changes to existing courses

Schedule Complexity:
- College classes require students to be in different places at different times each day; students may not have the same classes or schedule each week
- Some students are even required to travel between different campuses for class
- College classes vary in length and format
- Students must independently decide when the time is right for: attending class, studying, exercise, eating, extracurricular involvements, social activities, etc.

Accountability and Responsibility:
- College students are treated like adults
- Parents won’t be called if a student skips a class / Parents no longer speak on their student’s behalf / Parents cannot give students permission to miss classes
- College students are expected to make adult decisions, are held responsible for these decisions and must be accountable for poor decisions

Social Opportunities:
​- College students receive an entirely new set of peers -- from roommates to dorm-mates to classmates
- In college, you can create a new, fresh identity for yourself: this can pose as many problems as it offers benefits
- Many students attend college in a new state or section of the country, which can expose them to cultural differences
- Many students experience loneliness and awkwardness as they attempt to establish their college identity and form new relationships
​- This process can be slow, time-consuming and oftentimes discouraging 
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Students also quickly learn that college is expensive and budgets must be managed, that there is significantly more homework, that attendance is their responsibility, that it’s harder to stand out in college classes and that there are fewer grades and fewer opportunities for feedback than they experienced in high school.  We must honor the challenges our students are going through as they navigate this transition and offer the insight and support they need to overcome such adversity.
College Success Plan helps its students by promoting accountability, by encouraging flexible thinking and by supporting students in being proactive wherever possible.  College will inevitably challenge a student’s will-power, self-control and self-esteem, and our Mentors feel privileged to act as coaches and confidants during this trying time.

If your student is struggling with the adjustments of college life, please reach out to College Success Plan to learn more about how we can help!
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Sample Weekly Student Email

5/21/2019

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Dear Pat,
Great to meet with you today! I am so glad we were able to go over your four syllabi that were posted and discuss ways to be successful right from Day 1 this semester.

As we discussed, let's make sure to do the following this week:
1) Complete all readings and homework ahead of time -- no missing assignments is a goal!
2) Utilize individual school resources (office hours, Help Rooms, T/A's, Review sessions, etc.) -- the syllabi specifically state that help is available and encouraged for students!
3) Get to the library during the day and immediately after night classes to get work done -- let's limit distractions and make sure getting all work done is a priority before hanging out with friends!

Attached is your to-do list for this week.

Next Session: Monday January 14th 12:30 pm EDT

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to me! Have a great first week back and I will check in with you again this week!
​

Regards,
​Elizabeth
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A Time for Reflection

4/24/2019

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Don't miss out on the opportunity to reflect on the semester with your student!
  • How do you and your student feel about the semester?
  • Were you and your child pleased with the results?
  • What went well?
  • What can your student do differently?
  • Where and what are my priorities?
  • Is my next semester schedule realistic?
  • How can I improve?
  • What are my realistic goals for next semester?
  • What are my overall college expectations?
  • Where can I get extra support?
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College Scoops

3/5/2019

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Planning a college visit soon? Don’t go without College Scoops! Get a feel for student life and beyond when you connect with their handpicked student and parent ambassadors who share the best places to eat, sleep and explore on and around campus. 

​* Save time, energy and stress and enjoy the sights and bites! 
* Over 120+ colleges highlighted with over 900+ restaurants, hotels, and excursions. 
* 300+ College Scoops Student Ambassadors take you onto the campus for an
insider's peek into student life.
* Parents' "Top 5 Picks" for each campus.

Moira McCullough started College Scoops after spending countless hours scouting college campuses with her 3 college-bound teenagers. A wanderlust and foodie at heart, Moira has developed a surefire itinerary for over 120 college campuses, saving parents hours of research, whether they're visiting in person or exploring online.  

College Scoops is great for families visiting campus as a preview or parents weekend. Make it a great experience!
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New Year, New You!

1/3/2019

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The new year offers an opportunity to reflect on the previous year, to identify areas of our lives that are lacking and to commit ourselves to self-improvement. While we identify those aspects of our personal, social and professional lives needing development, why not encourage our students to set their academic resolutions? If your student is suffering from low self-esteem, not experiencing the level of success you know they are capable of, or are in need of individual guidance to experience academic fulfillment, College Success Plan might be the solution you’ve been looking for!

College Success Plan's academic and organizational plan is for any college student who wants positive results or is motivated to get back on track. If you feel your child could benefit from our services, please give us a call to learn more about how College Success Plan is educating and empowering students!
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Want to get involved?

11/19/2018

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College students are often so overwhelmed with work and friends that they miss the opportunity to be involved in their college’s clubs and extracurricular activities.  The value of these experiences is endless, and the accessibility you experience at college is unparalleled.
Why is getting more involved on campus in your best interest?
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  • It allows you to meet new people!  Even if you have found a close group of friends, college is the perfect place to meet people of all different backgrounds and experiences.  It is likely you will never again be surrounded by such an interesting and diverse selection of your peers. Don’t lose sight of all you can learn from your classmates!
  • It forces you out of your shell!  Clubs are a great place, especially for shy and introverted students, to relate to others based on mutual interests and passions.  They provide a no-pressure environment in which to make friends and strengthen confidence!
  • It exposes you to new hobbies and interests!  You never know how enjoyable knitting, political activism, ultimate frisbee or reading French Poetry could be!  The most interesting people have a wide range of talents and interests. Take advantage of the variety and availability of your college’s clubs and organizations!
  • You can learn more about a potential career!  Interested in pursuing a career in journalism?  Writing for the school newspaper could either solidify this passion or inspire you to explore other professions.  Interested in teaching? Joining a peer mentoring or volunteer tutoring club will provide you with relevant and applicable experience.
  • It looks GREAT on a resume!  Involvement in clubs and leadership positions within them demonstrate a passion for learning and a diversity of interest that will impress any potential employer.  
  • They’re fun!  Don’t believe us?  Commit to giving one new club a try each semester and see what happens!

Together with our students, College Success Plan mentors explore the clubs and organizations available at each university.  We encourage students to participate, provide reminders for club responsibilities and show students how to manage their time so as to make room for these beneficial memberships!  Let us show your student how valuable and enriching active participation on campus can be!​​
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Control The Things You Can Control

11/12/2018

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At College Success Plan, we are constantly reminding our students that there is a solution to every problem.  No matter how desperate or dire a situation may feel, there are always opportunities for improvement and growth.  Our Mentors empower students with this knowledge and guide them to identify these opportunities and take action. By focusing on the things you can control and releasing control of those you cannot, you minimize anxiety and are better able to identify a path forward.

When students focus on the aspects of their education that they can control, the results are positive and impactful.  Conversely, when students focus their energy on things they cannot control, many become overwhelmed, pessimistic and ultimately paralyzed by their inability to solve the entire problem.  By helping students break off bite-sized pieces, their problems become more manageable and they experience the satisfaction of small successes, which further motivates effort and growth.

Through deliberate discussion and exercises, our Mentors engage in conversations with students to determine which areas of stress and worry are within their control.  The average person’s circle of concern includes health, family, school/work, politics, etc; whereas, a person’s circle of control includes proactive steps that can be taken to protect those concerns.  For instance, my general health is of great concern to me; within my control is my ability to eat healthily today, to exercise this week, to go to bed earlier, to get a yearly check-up, and so on. A student’s grades are of great concern; items within control include completing an overdue assignment, emailing a professor to ask for an extension, scheduling a meeting with a TA to formulate a catch-up plan or setting up an appointment with a tutor on campus.

Identifying steps within our control inspires proactivity and makes us feel less helpless.  When we can see a real path leading towards our ultimate goals, the fear of never reaching those goals becomes less daunting.  Indecision is the primary impediment to success, and we at College Success Plan strive to inspire each student to action upon identifying which steps can be taken and how.  Ultimately, problem-solving skills such as these are vital tools for survival and success in the real world and instilling these in our students while they are still in college sets them up for a lifetime of ambition and resourcefulness.

If your student struggles to differentiate between the things he or she can and cannot control, please give us a call to learn more about how College Success Plan is educating and empowering students!
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What are your goals for the semester?

11/5/2018

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Taking the time to set goals for the upcoming semester is something every college student should do.  College Success Plan Mentors prioritize goal setting exercises prior to the start of the year so that they may support students’ goals and hold them accountable.  Goals are important because they give us focus, they provide a measurement for progress, they ground us, and last but not least, they motivate us!

Suggested academic goals for students:
  • Regular attendance
  • Getting started on larger assignments/projects early
  • Taking advantage of your professor’s office hours
  • Reviewing your notes weekly
  • Using all of your accommodations
  • Asking for help/finding tutors when necessary

​Not only should students set their academic goals (as academics should always be the priority at college!), but they should also consider personal, social and professional goals that will lead to a well-rounded life.  

Suggested social goals:
  • Getting involved in clubs
  • Making a friend in every class
  • Befriending a professor
  • Class participation
  • Staying in touch with family and old friends
Suggested personal goals:
  • Eating 3 meals a day
  • Making time each day for exercise
  • Getting a minimum of 8 hours of sleep
  • Keeping a journal
  • Yoga/meditation
Suggested professional goals:
  • Seeking out research opportunities on campus
  • Exploring summer internships/jobs in the fall
  • Taking advantage of your college’s Career Center
  • Preparing early for graduate school
  • Starting to networCollege Success Plan places great value in creating and maintaining a balanced life.  The pursuit of balance is a lifelong feat and we encourage our students to invest in a balanced future today.  By setting academic, social, personal and professional goals, students identify the aspects of their lives that are necessary for productivity and happiness.  
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At College Success Plan we view our thorough goal-setting and goal-maintaining activities to be of the utmost importance.  They provide our students with a road map for the future. If your student is plagued by indecision or experiencing anxiety surrounding his/her future, please let us help.  We offer a data-driven and individualized approach that provides our students with the focus, direction and confidence they need to discover what path will offer them the greatest fulfillment!
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Mailing Address
3 Grant Square, #183

Hinsdale, IL 60521

Offices in Florida, Illinois, Texas & Wisconsin

Phone: 630-481-6153​
​Admin@collegesuccesplan.com
Website by RyTech, LLC
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