A Student-Centered Approach Students and families come to me at different stages in the college application process. My individualized and student-centered approach focuses on the strengths of students and finding college options where they will be both happy and successful. Although I build an individualized plan for each student, in general my students progress through the following four phases: EXPLORE When students care about their future and recognize the exciting possibilities ahead, they are much more engaged in the college process. Although some students are ready to talk about college freshman year, many are not ready until junior year. During this phase I discuss initial questions about the college application process, class selection, time-management, potential areas of study and extracurricular and summer possibilities. The goal of this stage is to demystify the process and help students begin to explore the many options in front of them. INVESTIGATE It takes time to research the many college options available to students. During this phase, which is typically during junior year, I help students set their college priorities and major preferences. Then we create an initial college list, outline a testing strategy, plan school visits, and examine summer and extracurricular options. Students who take the time to thoughtfully investigate their college options have a much easier time completing the college application process. PLAN The summer between junior and senior year is a great time to start writing essays and preparing for college applications. My approach is very proactive and during this phase students manage their college list, finalize a resume, organize college deadlines, brainstorm essay topics, write essay drafts and prepare for interviews. It is essential for students to plan and...
Read MorePhilosophy At College Calm, we love getting to know our students, listening to their stories, learning what motivates them, and helping them find their voice. We consider it our job to reduce the stress and confusion students and families feel during the college application process. Our personalized approach creates a comfortable environment where we focus on student’s strengths, validate their experiences and build their capacity to calmly and effectively complete their college applications. We do not view high school and the college process as a means to an end, but rather a time when students can learn about their academic assets and personal interests. We challenge students to think about what they can learn about life through the college process, and encourage them to dream about their futures. We believe students need to start the process early enough to give themselves the time to be (or learn to be) pro-active, organized, and thoughtful. By the end of the process, we want our students to find a college where they will thrive, not just attend. Meet Roxana My background in education and admissions provides me with the unique combination of knowledge and tools to help students complete the college application process. I have a BA from Georgetown University and an MA in Education from Stanford University. As an application reader in the Stanford University admissions office and an admissions counselor at Santa Clara University, I read and evaluated hundreds of undergraduate applications and have first-hand experience in recognizing what makes the best applications rise to the top. Currently I interview Georgetown applicants as an alumni interviewer, serve as a school coach for the Challenge Success program and mentor AVID students...
Read MoreWhat Students and Parents are Saying I would like to sincerely thank you for your beneficial support, guidance and wisdom you shared with me over this past year. Our weekly sessions grew to become something I greatly looked forward to, rather than stressful college counseling meetings. I am grateful for your warm and trusting ways and your unconditional willingness to listen and provide support. Menlo Student (SMU) College Calm helped me most by getting me to go after what I really wanted. Before college calm, I thought I wanted to go the colleges that everybody else wanted to go to. College Calm helped me realized what college would be right for me. Sequoia Student (University of Oregon) My essays, I feel, turned out with the right balance of my own style and concision that needs to be demonstrated within the college-essay genre. The advice that was given by Roxana did not, in any way, hinder my creativity, but rather fashioned it into a precise voice of honesty and clarity. I am very pleased with what was created during my sessions. Burlingame High School Student (St. Johns) College Calm helped me line up my goals and figure out a schedule to make sure everything was my best work and turned in on time. I learned how to write both college essays and supplements (learning more about myself on the way). Although the college essay writing process is a long one, the end result was worth the work and editing. On top of being written well, I think they are representative of what kind of person I am and my accomplishments. Palo Alto High School Student (Pepperdine) The most helpful aspects...
Read MorePosted by Roxana Dommer on Mar 15, 2018 in Uncategorized | Comments Off on Questions for Campus Visits
These are just ideas . . . . see what you are interested in and make a plan to ask some questions on your visits.
ACADEMICS:
Posted by Roxana Dommer on Mar 15, 2018 in Colleges & Visits, Juniors, Parents | Comments Off on Maximizing your College Visits
* to review our 30 minute talk click here and start at minute 11.
6 things to do BEFORE you visit
6 Things to do ON your visit
Read MoreI would like to sincerely thank you for your beneficial support, guidance and wisdom you shared with me over this past year. Our weekly sessions grew to become something I greatly looked forward to, rather than stressful college counseling meetings. I am grateful for your warm and trusting ways and your unconditional willingness to listen and provide support.
College Calm helped me most by getting me to go after what I really wanted. Before college calm, I thought I wanted to go the colleges that everybody else wanted to go to. College Calm helped me realized what college would be right for me.
My essays, I feel, turned out with the right balance of my own style and concision that needs to be demonstrated within the college-essay genre. The advice that was given by Roxana did not, in any way, hinder my creativity, but rather fashioned it into a precise voice of honesty and clarity. I am very pleased with what was created during my sessions.
College Calm helped me line up my goals and figure out a schedule to make sure everything was my best work and turned in on time. I learned how to write both college essays and supplements (learning more about myself on the way). Although the college essay writing process is a long one, the end result was worth the work and editing. On top of being written well, I think they are representative of what kind of person I am and my accomplishments.
The most helpful aspects were the exercises we did in order to start writing all the supplements and the long essay, like the worksheet about words that describe you. It’s also really great to be able to talk openly about topics, which helps in the brainstorming process. College Calm definitely reduced my stress, as it gave me a structured schedule to work with so I didn’t leave everything until the last minute. I feel great about my essays. They are definitely in my own voice, I just needed som…
The fact that Roxana believed so much in me from the start motivated me to keep working hard. It definitely helped to have someone other than a parent or school counselor closely reading my essays, because Roxana’s investment in getting to know me in the first few meetings I think helped her have a valuable read on what I should include in my application. Roxana pushed me to put my best ability forward through this process, and no matter what school I end up at, I will never have regrets of the …
Thanks so much for walking us through the process and answering all of our questions as they came up. We REALLY valued your opinion on many subjects within the college application process! You are very easy to talk to and very professional. Our son felt he could talk with you easily and you connected with him and our family. The essay was a very good product which reflected him as a person. You took the time to get to know him and we enjoyed working with you each and every minute.
We felt that [CC] wasn’t a gift for our student, but a gift for all of us. Given what other parents have shared, I had anticipated yelling and arguments . . . we had none. It was great having someone else set the deadlines for him that he had to stick to. Having him bring a 98% completed written supplement to us allowed everyone to celebrate what was written. This helps them feel confident and comfortable with what is ultimately submitted.
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