Author Archives: College Advisor of New York

Choose the Right College – At the Right Price!

Join Dean Skarlis, President of the College Advisor of New York, to discuss college admissions and financial strategy. Dr. Skarlis will be sharing his insight on how to find the right fit college, and how not to empty your bank account doing so! Parents of high school sophomores and juniors are encouraged to attend.

Tuesday, March 31, 2015
6:30-8:30PM
Voorheesville Public Library
At the Library Community Room

To RSVP, contact Kathleen Tyrrell at (518) 785-2791 or email at kathleen.tyrrell@voorheesvillelibrary.org.

Join Dr. Dean Skarlis on Finding the Right College at the Right Price

Dr. Dean Skarlis of The College Advisor of New York will outline the steps you need to find a best fit college. Some of the topics he will cover are: the top five factors colleges look for in applicants; the financial aid process and strategies to reduce college costs; rankings/schmankings: understanding why “fit” is critical;  SAT/ACT strategy; how to make the most of college visits; writing the essay…and more. The information and handouts you will take home from this presentation will help you in your child’s college search.

Dr. Dean Skarlis, The College Advisor of New York
High School West Building, Room 50
Tuesday March 24
6:30-8:00pm
$15 admittance fee

For parents of high school sophomores and juniors.

“Planning For Prosperity” Radio Show with Mike Brown

Listen to Dr. Dean Skarlis and Mike Brown of Madison Wealth Managers on the “Planning For Prosperity” radio show on February 22, 2015. They will be communicating the latest trends in college admissions and financial aid. They will also discuss the advantages and disadvantages college applicants face as they seek out the “right fit” school.

Sunday, February 22nd
Madison Wealth Managers WGY Radio
“Planning For Prosperity” Radio Show
Focusing on college admissions and financial aid!

Tune in for the valuable insight and advice provided by Mike Brown and Dr. Dean Skarlis on Sunday!

Don’t Miss Dr. Dean Skarlis Speak on College Planning

The Society of Financial Service Professionals (SFSP) of ENY is hosting an evening with Dr. Dean Skarlis, of The College Advisor of New York, in which he will provide his insights on the college selection process. The event is open to all SFSP members and their clients and is a great opportunity for Chapter Members to provide extra benefits to those clients who may have children approaching college age.

Light refreshments will be served; hope to see you there!

Wednesday, January 14th
6:00 – 7:30 P.M.
Italian American Community Center
Dante Room
$20 for Members & Client Guests
$35 for Non-Members

Presenting:
Dr. Dean Skarlis, President of The College Advisor of New York

Dr. Skarlis will outline the steps you and your clients need to find the best fit college. Some of the topics he will cover are:

  • The top 5 factors colleges look for in applicants
  • The financial aid process
  • Proven strategies to reduce college costs
  • Rankings/schmankings: understanding why “fit” is critical
  • SAT/ACT strategy and the NEW SAT
  • How to make the most of college visits
  • The importance of the essay

For more information on Dr. Dean Skarlis, please visit the College Advisor of New York website.

For further questions regarding this event, contact Melissa Shriver at ENYChapExec@gmail.com.

More about Dr. Dean Skarlis

Dr. Skarlis is the President and founder of The College Advisor of New York. Dean has more than 23 years of experience in higher education, including 6 years as a Consultant at American College Testing (ACT) and 9 years as an administrator at Duquesne University and the University of Pittsburgh. A passionate student advocate, Dean has taught at the graduate and undergraduate levels, and has served as a Senior Lecturer at Tiffin University. He holds a B.A. in Psychology from Allegheny College, an M.A. in Psychology from Duquesne University, and a Doctorate in Educational Policy and Administration from the University of Pittsburgh. Dean also earned a certificate from the Harvard University Institute on College Admissions. His research has focused on quality teaching and learning, retention, and program design at four-year colleges. He is a member of the National Association of College Admissions Counseling and the Independent Educational Consultants Association.
Dr. Skarlis has conducted presentations about college admissions for thousands of students, parents, faculty, and administrators at more than 220 colleges, universities, and high schools across the United States. He has also been a featured speaker and trainer for hundreds of families, financial planners and Certified Public Accountants on the intricacies of college financial aid and scholarships. Nationally, he has appeared on ABC World News and has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal twice, and most recently. Locally, he has been a featured guest and member of the “Answers Team” on CBS 6 WRGB TV, WTEN TV, Fox 23 News, and the YNN – Channel 9 “Family Living” segment which is broadcast across upstate New York. He has been quoted in several local and national publications including an article in The Washington Post entitled, “The Dirty Little Secrets of College Admissions,” The New York Post, The Times Union, The Associated Press, TheStreet.Com, and Capital Region Living Magazine, as well as The Portable Guidance Counselor, a book about the college admissions process published by The Princeton Review in 2010. Dean also serves on the Board of Directors of the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce and the East Greenbush-Castleton Youth Baseball League. In his spare time he coaches Little League Baseball and Pop Warner Football in the community of East Greenbush, NY.

The College Advisor of New York
18 Corporate Woods Boulevard
Albany, NY 12211
USA
(518) 512-3021

The cost of college and the importance of fit

college-advisor-logo

FINDING THE RIGHT COLLEGE AT THE RIGHT PRICE

For Parents of High School Sophomores and Juniors

Shenendahowa High School West, Room 47 on Thursday, October 9 at 6:30 pm

Dr. Dean Skarlis of The College Advisor of New York will outline the steps you need to find a best fit college. Some of the topics he will cover are: The top five factors colleges look for in applicants; the financial aid process and strategies to reduce college costs; rankings/schmankings: understanding why “fit” is critical; SAT/ACT strategy; how to make the most of college visits; writing the essay…and more. The information and handouts you will take home from this presentation will help you in your child’s college search.

To register, please call 881.0444 or email Commed@shenet.org

The fee is $12

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Dean Skarlis on Life Happens Radio

Hosted by Lou Pierro, special guest Dr. Dean Skarlis of the College Advisor of New York will talk all things college: How to plan for it, How to pay for it, and How to maximize value. The process of preparing for college is very different than 20 years ago. Many schools, both public and private, have become significantly more costly and more selective in admissions. Listen to this episode above to learn the top 3 mistakes families make it the college process. Critical to the discussion is how students can find the right schools to attend and how colleges evaluate the students for admission. Also discussed are ways to reduce the cost including tuition assistance programs at the state and federal level, need based aid, work study and merit scholarships. The earlier that the parents, grandparents and the student start preparing for college, the more likely the student will have a successful college experience.

Listen to Dr. Dean Skarlis on “Life Happens Radio”


Hosted by Lou Pierro, special guest Dr. Dean Skarlis of the College Advisor of New York will talk all things college: How to plan for it, How to pay for it, and How to maximize value. The process of preparing for college is very different than 20 years ago. Many schools, both public and private, have become significantly more costly and more selective in admissions. Listen to this episode above to learn the top 3 mistakes families make it the college process. Critical to the discussion is how students can find the right schools to attend and how colleges evaluate the students for admission. Also discussed are ways to reduce the cost including tuition assistance programs at the state and federal level, need based aid, work study and merit scholarships. The earlier that the parents, grandparents and the student start preparing for college, the more likely the student will have a successful college experience.

 

 

 

Maximizing Your Children’s Future Protecting Your Own

Join us for “College Planning: Maximizing Your Children’s Future While Protecting Your Own.

This free workshop is essential for all parents and grandparents with students that plan on attending college! Seating is limited, register today. 

Dr. Dean Skarlis, founder and president of the College Advisor of New York, and Lou Pierro of Pierro Law Group will discuss ways to form concrete steps that lead to a secure future for your children, and peace of mind for you. The focus of education planning for parents is saving for college, using 529 plans, qualifying for student aid and loans, and gifting to children and grandchildren.  We will expand this topic to include finding the right college fit for your student, preparing for SAT & ACT tests, writing the college essay, how to maximize aid and scholarships, planning for the unexpected, and protecting family assets.

Open to the Public – Friends and family members are welcome to attend. Advisors are also welcome to bring their clients. Light dinner will be served.

Host: Pierro Law Group, LLC

Presenters: Dean Skarlis & Lou Pierro

Programs: 5:30pm – 7:00pm | Refreshments Served

Location: 43 British American Blvd., Latham, NY 12110

Cost: Free – But Seating is Limited – Reserve Early

Registration: Call 518-459-2100, or email btromans@pierrolaw.com

(Please indicate the number of attendees.)

College Planning Maximizing Your Child’s Future & Protecting Your Own

This workshop will feature Dr. Dean Skarlis founder and president of the College Advisor of New York and Lou Pierro of the Pierro Law Group. Join us to learn how to form concrete steps that lead to a secure future for your children, and peace of mind for you. The focus of education planning for parents is saving for college, using 529 plans, qualifying for student aid and loans, and gifting to children and grandchildren. We will expand this topic to include finding the right college fit for your student, preparing for SAT & ACT tests, how to maximize aid and scholarships, planning for the unexpected, and protecting family assets.

The workshop is free but seating is limited, so please reserve early by calling 518.459.2100.  It will be held at the Pierro Law Group, 43 British American Blvd., Latham, NY 12110 at 5:30 p.m.

 

College Success, with a little help from us

By Deb Coco

I don’t believe we have posted one blog without stating that the landscape of college admissions is changing.  At our staff meeting last month, we had a round table discussion to wrap up the 2014 admissions season.  We all put our two cents in and we all have different experiences to discuss based on the students we worked with, but the one prevailing theme was this . . .all bets are now off.  What do we mean?  As one counselor stated  “I used to be able to predict with much more accuracy which students would be accepted to which schools; now I cannot do that. I can’t guarantee a family that their student will absolutely get in when they ask me point blank.”

The structure of acceptances has changed dramatically.  Now, more than ever, we believe that finding the right college admissions assistance is imperative.  At the College Advisor of New York, we tell families in our first meeting that we are committed to finding the “right fit” and we work extremely hard to achieve that.  Our students complete assessments and questionnaires with pointed and thought provoking questions that get to the bottom of who they are as a student and lifelong learner.  We all learn differently and what works for one student (a small class with individual instruction vs. a large lecture hall – college vs. university? ) does not work for another.  Our process whittles down all the options so that the campuses our families visit are accurate representations of where we feel kids will flourish.  This is a huge time and money saver because let’s face it – everything about college is expensive, including visiting them!

It is our belief, and our success rate bears this out, that by engaging in our process,  admissions success will improve dramatically.  The national average for admissions is 64%; at the College Advisor of New York, we can boast a 91% acceptance rate.  Our graduation rate is just as impressive; the national average lies around 52% and ours is 88%.  So although many bets are off, working with us as your college consultant will greatly increase your student’s ability to get admitted and graduate from college.

Our year end client surveys are beginning to come back to us, and we are thrilled by the difference we have made for our families.  We “helped make the process manageable”; “you challenged us to look at schools we might not have known about with wonderful results”; “you saved us time and money”; “we got a note in our daughter’s acceptance stating her essay was top notch!”  . . . and the list goes on.  As counselors, we can’t ask for more.  It is our goal to not only help our clients through this process but our hope is that they actually enjoy it.  Our students are asked to dig a little more deeply and explore more options than the average high school student.  Do they complain?  Sometimes .  Does it pay off?  Ask about our transfer rate.   That is our low statistic.

So, the take away from the staff meeting was that we can’t promise our families that we can get their child into the school of their choice.  Don’t trust a counselor who does. However, we can GREATLY increase your chances and, in the process, add some self discovery and give you peace of mind.  That we can guarantee.