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Build Your College Shopping List

When you think of what presents you are going to buy for family and friends this holiday season, do you make a list? Do you look through online catalogs to see what appeals to you and what your friend or family member might like? Or maybe you have an idea of what you want to buy for your best friend and spend time searching for it in the perfect color.

This is also a good time of year to begin working on your college shopping list. You can build this list in the same way that you do your holiday shopping list. Think about the things that are important to you in a college and add these to your list.  For example, what do you want to achieve?  What kind of student are you?  What sort of career would you enjoy?  These questions will form some high level ideas so you can you shop for colleges that match up with your interests.

Another aspect to consider is your level of interest in academics and social life. Do you want a balance of each? Do you want to focus more on academics? On social life?  Take some time to write down your top three priorities when it comes to your college experience, this will help you refine what sort of school and campus life you’re looking for so you can add that to your shopping list.

Last but not least is access to support services.  Colleges have varying levels of support for students who need accommodations to assist them in maximizing their academic potential. You should explore the support services available at the schools you are considering if you will need accommodations.  Think about what accommodations you might need in your first year.  Which ones did you use the most?  Were those in a particular subject?  What will help you succeed in college?  This should be an important part of your decision to attend a college and needs to be on your college shopping list.

If you feel like you – or your child – could use some support we’re here to help!  Our educational consultant will be there every step of the way to review your transcripts, assist with your essay, and review any accommodations you might need.  Getting started is easy, click on ‘Contact Us’ to schedule a quick consultation.

About the author

Samantha Maloney

Samantha has spent the last nine years as a College Reading & Learning Association (CRLA) Certified Master Tutor, homeschool teacher, mentor and curriculum creator. She is an ADDCA Associate Certified Coach and has completed over 150 classroom hours at the ADD Coach Academy with special training for families impacted by ADHD. Samantha has led English language chat sessions for Raritan Valley Community College, received advanced training in tutoring for college admission essays, and has written various curricula ranging from collegiate-level ESL to primary school speech & composition. As a teenager, Samantha lived with undiagnosed ADHD, and spent grades 6-12 procrastinating writing essays and dreading timed writing exams. It wasn’t until her first year at Florida State University where she learned a new process of recursive writing that functioned in tandem with her ADHD brain. Fast forward 13 years, to the height of the pandemic, Samantha homeschooled students that went from a state of boredom and ‘online-school-fatigue’ to a place of engagement by balancing lecture, discussion, interactive games, movement, and mindfulness meditation. With special training in dyslexia, dysgraphia, ADHD, and other learning differences, Samantha has developed a deep appreciation for helping individuals uncover new methods of tackling schoolwork. A teen, who feels scattered, overwhelmed, and easily distracted, walks away with customized tools & education to feel empowered, supported, more confident, and ready for the next step after high school. As a team, Samantha and her clients harness their processing & performance strengths, and utilize them as a vehicle to help them to reach their goals. She has no greater joy than when witnessing an “ah-ha” moment, facilitating a breakthrough, or supporting her students with acceptance and encouragement. Samantha’s mission is simple. She wants all children, teenagers, and young adults to feel empowered and confident both in and out of the classroom. When she’s not facilitating breakthroughs, you can find her instructing yoga, playing with her two dogs, and reading suspense fiction novels.