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We invite you to attend our informative seminars. You'll love the advice and wealth of information!

"Just wanted to let you know that I spoke to several parents on the soccer fields who attended the Thursday evening session and all were so very pleased with your presentation and the wealth of information provided. Such information and the perspectives provided are so very much needed." PTSA President

To schedule EDvantage for a specific school or organization event, please, Contact Us.

For a complete list of our presentation topics, please visit our presentation page.

Building Your Case for College Admissions
In this FREE 60 minute presentation, followed by a Q&A session, Lisa McLaughlin, Founder and Executive Director of EDvantage™ College Consulting, will guide attendees through the important discussion points that should go into your college conversations.

How do colleges evaluate a student's high school curriculum? Are all AP courses equal in the eyes of admissions officers? What GPA do colleges recognize? How will the 2010 college admissions trends affect my child's candidacy for college? Do freshman year grades really matter? What do colleges really look for when examining extra-curricular activities?

Lisa McLaughlin, also an educational columnist for the LA Times, will address many of these FAQ's and share insight into the college admissions process that will empower you and your child for the college admissions process.

DATE:	Thursday, September 23, 2010	TIME:	6:30-7:30pm
LOCATION:	Capistrano Valley High School "Mall" 26301 Via Escolar Mission Viejo, CA 92692
NOTES:	Students and parents of all high school grade levels welcome!
DATE:	Tuesday, October 5, 2010	TIME:	6:30-7:30pm
LOCATION:	San Juan Hills High School Theatre 29211 Vista Montana San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675
NOTES:	Students and parents from all high school grade levels are welcome!

Building Your College List
In this hands-on workshop students and parents will discover the multitude of factors that should go into their college selection decision. They will evaluate the importance of these factors, learn how to prioritize them, answer relevant questions, and learn how to engage in a structured conversation that opens the dialogue about the importance of choosing the right college for the student’s needs. Both students and parents are encouraged to attend. (ideal for juniors and seniors).

DATE:	Wednesday, October 13, 2010	TIME:	6:30pm-7:30pm
LOCATION:	Capistrano Valley High School "Mall" 26301 Via Escolar Mission Viejo, CA 92692
NOTES:	Ideal for high school juniors and seniors AND parents!

Financial Planning for College
Nationally recognized financial expert, William Jordan, will share key strategies to obtaining free money to help pay for college and avoiding the most common financial mistakes in the college planning process.

DATE:	Tuesday, August 17, 2010		TIME:	7pm-8pm
LOCATION:	EDvantage Headquarters 95 Enterprise, Suite 320 Aliso Viejo, CA 92656

School's Out. Now What?
Exclusive client only seminar. Reservations required.

"Experts" will provide unique insights into the college admissions process, do's and don'ts, and lessons learned. Following the panel, your EDvantage team will provide critical college admissions reminders to keep in mind as you head into summer. There will also be plenty of time for Q&A, so bring your college admissions questions.

Building Your Case for Admission
Appropriate for Class of 2011, 2012, 2013
Both students and parents are encouraged to attend this presentation.
FREE SEMINAR, reservations required

Go behind the scenes of a college admission counseling office and get to know how application files are reviewed. Do you have what it takes to gain admission? There are certain attributes colleges look for when reviewing applicants and it's important to understand how to build your case. Learn what matters most in college admissions and examine the application file through the eyes of a college admissions officer. The session will also include a brief overview of the junior and senior timelines for college admission. This seminar is appropriate for rising 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students and parents.

Introduction to College Admissions
In this introductory workshop, students and parents will learn the "Top Ten Myths about College Selection" and gain a stronger understanding about the timeline for preparing for college admissions. A basic overview of the admissions process including when to take and how to register for various college entrance examinations and a general calendar for preparing college applications will be discussed. Various resources will be shared and time will also be reserved for a question and answer session from the audience. GPA or a 4.0 GPA, there are great matches out there-you just need to decide where to apply!

Don't miss the opportunity to see college list building in action!

Deciding Where To Apply: Building the Best College List
Deciding where to apply to college should not be like rolling a pair of dice!

In this one hour seminar, students and parents will learn about how to build the best college list. The college list building process will be demonstrated and resources will be shared on how to construct a well-rounded, yet specific college list, based on student's preferences and priorities. Building the right list means finding more universities where your child will feel happy and successful! There are so many four year college options, for all types of students! Whether your child has a 2.5 GPA or a 4.0 GPA, there are great matches out there-you just need to decide where to apply!
Don't miss the opportunity to see college list building in action!

College Conversations: Prioritizing Factors to Choose the Right College
In this hands-on workshop students and parents will discover the multitude of factors that should go into their college selection decision. They will evaluate the importance of these factors, learn how to prioritize them, answer relevant questions, and engage in a structured conversation that opens the dialogue about the importance of choosing the right college for the students needs. Both students and parents are encouraged to attend. (9-11 grade)

Planning The Best College Visits
Visiting college campuses is more than about evaluating the buildings and what takes place in them. Learn how to make the most of your time on prospective college campuses, how to correctly plan worthwhile visits, what takes place on college Preview Days, and how to analyze whether or not a college is the right "fit."

Open to 9th through 12th grade student & parents.

College Conversations™: Senior Year--It's More Than Just College Applications
Coming in May 2010

90 minutes
Free Seminar, Reservations Required

Both Students and Parents Encouraged to Attend

Explore the college admissions timeline for the senior year, from what students should start thinking about and working on this summer to what the process looks like in the fall, and how things come together in the spring. Analyze your senior academic schedule through the eyes of a college admissions rep., map out a final SAT/ACT/Subject Test schedule and learn about our recommended test prep options, explore different admissions plans: Early Decision, Early Action, Single Choice Early Action, Regular Decision, and Rolling Admission, learn when and how to obtain letters of recommendation and who best to get them from, learn about demonstrated interest and the value of college visits and attending local regional information sessions in the senior year, and gain a better understanding of how colleges evaluate applicants.

Free EDvantage Event: Community Service Night
Learn the importance of volunteerism and how it plays a role in college admissions.
Several local organizations will present their missions, needs, and volunteer opportunities for students and parents

Register today for this FREE event. Space is limited!

Current List of Participating Non-Profits:
The Boys and Girls Club of Capistrano Valley
Operation Showers of Appreciation, Inc.
Laura's House
Volunteer Center of Orange County
Corazon
Lion's Heart
Voice of a Generation
SPIN (Serving People in Need)
Surfrider Foundation

Continue to check back as more South Orange County organizations choose to attend

Junior Year--Standing Out and Stepping Up
Appropriate for Class of 2012
Both students and parents are encouraged to attend this presentation.
FREE SEMINAR, reservations required

Junior year is about learning how to balance the various factors that go into the college admissions process. Studying hard in your classes, developing relationships with teachers, preparing for college entrance exams, focusing on extra-curricular passions, and doing all of this while reflecting on what you want out of a college experience can be daunting. In this 60 minute hands-on workshop, students and parents will get organized and plan for a well-balanced junior year. Evaluate your current coursework and HS transcript to set goals for the junior year, outline a test prep and SAT/ACT test taking calendar using expert advice from our experienced counselors, explore various ways to get involved outside of school, and begin the conversation about how to go about building a diverse and personalized college list. The session will be followed by a Q&A session where you can get your college admissions questions answered.

Senior Year: It's More Than Just College Applications
Appropriate for Class of 2011
Both students and parents are encouraged to attend this presentation.
FREE SEMINAR, reservations required

Explore the college admissions timeline for the senior year, from what students should start thinking about and working on this summer to what the process looks like in the fall, and how things come together in the spring. Analyze your senior academic schedule through the eyes of a college admissions rep., map out a final SAT/ACT/Subject Test schedule and learn about our recommended test prep options, explore different admissions plans: Early Decision, Early Action, Single Choice Early Action, Regular Decision, and Rolling Admission, learn when and how to obtain letters of recommendation and who best to get them from, learn about demonstrated interest and the value of college visits and attending local regional information sessions in the senior year, and gain a better understanding of how colleges evaluate applicants.