College Admissions: Now Is the Time To Consider Transferring

~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

In our practice, we are increasingly seeing students who are making the decision to transfer while in their freshman and sophomore years.  Here are some of the main reasons I see why students decide to transfer:

  • They are unhappy:  Why remain in an environment for four years where you will be unhappy and miserable – and pay tuition, room and board that will cost you (or your parents) $200,000 – $250,000.
  • Fresh start:  From time to time, a student may have faced unexpected challenges and they desire a new college environment.
  • Institutional prestige:  You may be attending your safety school and you want a second chance for your preferred school or you were discouraged from applying to your dream school.  In any case, you desire what we call an UPGRADE.
  • Pre-graduate school preparation:  Your current college may not have a strong pre-law, pre-med or pre-business program needed for graduate school admissions preparation or employment.
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College Transfer: Time to UPGRADE to a different college!

Whatever the reason for transferring, the bottom line is that you need to develop an effective action plan to transfer. Consider seeking professional, expert advice:  Why?  In my professional experience, I find that prospective transfer students need to develop individualized, effective transfer plans and implement them.  As a transfer student, you no longer have the assistance of your public high school or private high school college counselor.  You will need an educational consultant who specializes in college transfer admissions.  You’re basically on your own in the transfer process that is even more competitive than when you applied to college the first time!

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Dr. Paul Lowe, Admissions Expert

Dr. Paul Reginald Lowe, founder and managing director of Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors Group, provides comprehensive counseling advice, exclusively for admissions to top private schools; Ivy League and highly-selective colleges/universities; BS/MD programs; graduate and medical schools and top visual and performing arts programs.   The admissions affiliate: Ivy League Admissions Advisors specializes in admissions to Ivy League and highly selective colleges,  Dr. Lowe also specializes in helping students who have been wait-listed, deferred or rejected gain admission into their top-choice schools: College Application Rejected. and student who wish to transfer to another college:  College Transfer Admissions Advisors.  

Dr. Paul Lowe Named Official Admissions Expert

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~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

Dr. Paul Lowe has been named the official admissions expert of Party with Moms, a digital media company celebrating and serving thousands of discerning mothers through relevant content. Each week, a different mom tells her story: entrepreneurs, bankers, authors, artists, marketers, doctors, lawyers, decorators and even some celebrities — ALL are MOMS, first and foremost.  PWM offers a parenting column, an early childhood column, a mindful parenting column and a college and private school admissions blog. 

Dr. Paul Reginald Lowe, founder and managing director of Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors Group, provides comprehensive counseling advice, exclusively for admissions to top private/boarding schools; Ivy League and highly-selective colleges/universities; BS/MD programs; graduate and medical schools and top visual and performing arts programs.   

Dr. Lowe and his team embraces Empirical Analytics by using data science, technology, client-case studies, campus-expert panels, their specialized knowledge and insight, and over 23 years of experience to answer questions, navigate challenges, predict outcomes to help their clients make informed decisions that provide results-based admissions success. 

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No other admissions consulting firm, with their team make up, has the historical, experiential and cultural perspectives that allow their clients to consistently win at the admissions game.

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BS/MD Admissions Program for Middle School Students

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~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

Middle school is the perfect time to start college and BS/MD program planning! Starting the process before high school, gives parents (and students) more time to prepare for the competitive admissions process

Acceptance into BS/MD programs has become more difficult as more students apply and some programs are closing. It’s essential that parents develop pre-high school plans.

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We provide a 3-month enrichment program for parents of middle schoolers (grades 7 and 8) who wish to develop effective college admissions plans prior to their children entering high school. The program includes:

  • Personal Middle-School Comprehensive Assessment & Review.
  • Pre-high school student profile development.
  • High school course curriculum planning.
  • Extracurricular activity planning for high school.
  • Develop plans for possible leadership, research, internship and shadowing opportunities
  • Overview of current BS/MD & Ivy League admissions and current trends.
  • College admissions strategy prior to entering high school.
  • WOW Factor planning prior to entering high school.
  • Parents work directly with Dr. Paul Lowe, M.D., physician-scientist and admissions expert.

Our program helps seventh and eighth grade students prepare for high school before it starts! Remember, once you start high school, courses, grades and activities appear on the college application. You need to correctly plan to navigate the admissions process and avoid making irrevocable mistakes while your child is in middle school.

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Pre-high school planning is essential!
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“Valuable and trusted advice is needed to avoid mistakes” – Dr. Paul Lowe

Dr. Paul Reginald Lowe is the managing director of Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors Group network. He and his team of admissions advisors, through the admissions affiliate, BS/MD Admissions Advisors, help high school students get accepted to BS/MD programs.  Many of Dr. Lowe’s BS/MD Admissions clients are international students who want to attend medical school from high school and then enter U.S. medical residency sub-specialties.

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Our BS/MD Admissions practice is specialized: Dr. Lowe and his team only work with parents who understand that the BS/MD admissions process is competitive, who desire help from an admissions expert and who see the value and investment in paying for expert advice through a detailed and ongoing comprehensive admissions advisory service for their child’s dream of becoming a doctor.  He also specializes in helping international students in the BS/MD process. Parents who chose to use our services want to call their son or daughter – “Doctor” when they are seniors in high school.

College Application Decision: Deferred? Now What?

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~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

High School Seniors have received their College Admissions Early Decision/Early Action results.  The results are producing a mixture of palpable emotions.  While some happy students settle in for the holidays with their acceptance letters in hand, others will be disappointed and distressed in discovering that they have been deferred to the regular decision pool by the college or university.  For those who are deferred, their applications will be re-considered along with the thousands of Regular Decision applicants.  In the Regular Decision pool, the selection process becomes even more competitive and selective..

With only a few weeks left in the application season, I recommend that students scrupulously reevaluate their deferred early decision/early action application and carefully plan a workable strategy in this crunch-time.  You may need to hire an educational consultant who is an expert in post-decision admissions advising. Our team begins to implement a Post-Decision Strategy right away that will continue through regular decision.

For parents who engage our services after the news of deferral, I discover what the student did to be deferred, build upon their current student profile and accomplishments and re-energize their application so that they are removed from the deferred list and placed on the accepted list.

The worst thing a student can do is nothing.  What to do next? Now is the time to evaluate and successfully complete the admissions process by looking at your child through a professional lens. The worst thing parents can do is to try this post-decision process on their own.

Through our Knowledge Network, we know that between 5% – 10% of students who are deferred admissions are accepted to the same college Regular Decision. Those are pretty high odds! Based on our experience and 23-years track record of success, 90% of students who approach us and retain us before January 1, after being deferred are admitted Regular Decision. 

This is the type of letter you want to receive!
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This is how you would like to feel!
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Dr. Paul Reginald Lowe, founder and managing director of Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors Group, provides comprehensive counseling advice, exclusively for admissions to top private schools; Ivy League and highly-selective colleges/universities; BS/MD programs; graduate and medical schools and top visual and performing arts programs.   The admissions affiliate: Ivy League Admissions Advisors specializes in admissions to Ivy League and highly selective colleges,  Dr. Lowe also specializes in helping students who have been wait-listed, deferred or rejected gain admission into their top-choice schools: College Application Rejected. and student who wish to transfer to another college:  College Transfer Admissions Advisors.  

Betting on College Admissions Outcomes

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~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

Do you bet on your child’s educational future?

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The number of students opting to participate in the run for admissions to Ivy League and elite colleges/universities every year hovers around 50,000 to 100,000. With Ivy League schools, more than 90% of applicants, on average, will be rejected.

Yet, year after year, parents bet that they or their children can navigate this process on their own; this, despite affirmations and documentation that students need help with this competitive process.

It’s better not to bet.

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Knowing that the admissions environment changes every year, rather than relying on old data, outdated books, information and tips from chatting with others (“adda”, as it is known in some circles among my clients), you should choose an experienced admissions expert to help.

Don’t’ bet to lose!

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WE DON’T BET: We embrace Empirical Analytics by using data science, technology, client-case studies, campus-expert panels, our specialized knowledge and insight, and over 23 years of experience to answer questions, navigate challenges, predict outcomes, and to help our clients make informed decisions that provide results-based admissions success. 

Dr_Paul_Lowe_Admissions_Advisor_Educational_Consultant

Dr. Paul Reginald Lowe, founder and managing director of Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors Group, provides comprehensive counseling advice, exclusively for admissions to top private schools; Ivy League and highly-selective colleges/universities; BS/MD programs; graduate and medical schools and top visual and performing arts programs.   The admissions affiliate: Ivy League Admissions Advisors specializes in admissions to Ivy League and highly selective colleges,  Dr. Lowe also specializes in helping students who have been wait-listed, deferred or rejected gain admission into their top-choice schools: College Application Rejected. and student who wish to transfer to another college:  College Transfer Admissions Advisors.

College Admissions: Are You Checking Your Social Media Profile?

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~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

It should be common knowledge by now that using social media to display bad behavior or less-than-insightful opinions is easily discoverable. Yet incidents such as these still occur.  

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Your social media profile is an important part of your college admissions journey.  According to a Kaplan Test survey that polled nearly 300 college admissions officers, 36% of them looked at applicants’ social media profiles on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube to learn more about the applicant. 

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When my team and I visit schools and have discussions with admissions they do admit that they review applicants’ social media platforms.  In fact, what students post on social media can greatly affect not only acceptance odds but they can get acceptances revoked if unsuitable and offensive materials are found. When Harvard discovered offensive material being posted to a group chat by incoming freshman, they rescinded acceptance letters to 10 accepted applicants!  And in 2019, Harvard rescinded its admission offer to a student who had made racist remarks in private chats and Google Docs two years earlier.

Even if you believe your social media posts are private, think twice about posting questionable entries, even if you’re just trying to fit in or be funny.  College admissions officers will not laugh and you definitely won’t “fit in”.  Because Ivy League and highly selective colleges and universities receive so many qualified applications, they’re typically looking at social media to see if it tips the scales in anyone’s favor.  So be careful!

We provide a Social Media Review and Analysis (SMRA) as a part of our comprehensive service for our clients and assist them to develop positive social media profiles so that they can standout during the admissions selection process.

Dr_Paul_Lowe_Admissions_Advisor_Educational_Consultant

Dr. Paul Reginald Lowe, founder and managing director of Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors Group, provides comprehensive counseling advice, exclusively for admissions to top private schools; Ivy League and highly-selective colleges/universities; BS/MD programs; graduate and medical schools and top visual and performing arts programs.   The admissions affiliate: Ivy League Admissions Advisors specializes in admissions to Ivy League and highly selective colleges,  Dr. Lowe also specializes in helping students who have been wait-listed, deferred or rejected gain admission into their top-choice schools: College Application Rejected. and student who wish to transfer to another college:  College Transfer Admissions Advisors.

Different_Dr_Paul_Lowe_Admissions_Advisor_different_unparallel_unmatched_unrivaled

Dr. Lowe and his team of diverse admissions experts provide unrivaled, unmatched and unparalleled admissions advisory and educational research services for their clients. Most importantly, you work DIRECTLY with Dr. Lowe and get the benefits of his entire team. By working with Dr. Lowe, one-on-one, you work with his reputation, his expertise, his experience and his success!

Adda is Great in College Admissions (Maybe)

~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

Many of the families we serve participate in Adda.  It’s great for them. Intellectual conversation, exchanging important educational tidbits based on worldly knowledge and information deemed to be exclusive and privileged is used to propel their families forward.  Unfortunately, by definition and practice, Adda equates to collective group thought and perhaps insularity.  Based on diversity and inclusion research, when you are insular in your discussions and decision-making processes, sameness of thought limits your success.

Relying on Adda in the quest to be admitted into highly-selective colleges and BS/MD programs is the antithesis of standing out and is counter to our college admissions Wow Factor concept.  Sounding like everyone else results in rejection decisions.

With Adda, as it applies to college and BS/MD admissions, one might believe that all that is necessary is to call different educational consultants to ask multiple questions, and then share answers.  However, to seasoned professional educational consultants like me, it is obvious that this “strategy” does not work. 

Year after year, tens of thousands of students (other than our clients) are rejected from Ivy League and highly-selective colleges and BS/MD programs.  Perhaps this is what needs to be discussed in Adda.

Dr. Paul Reginald Lowe, founder and managing director of Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors Group, provides comprehensive counseling advice, exclusively for admissions to top private schools; Ivy League and highly-selective colleges/universities; BS/MD programs; graduate and medical schools and top visual and performing arts programs.   The admissions affiliate: Ivy League Admissions Advisors specializes in admissions to Ivy League and highly selective colleges,  Dr. Lowe also specializes in helping students who have been wait-listed, deferred or rejected gain admission into their top-choice schools: College Application Rejected. and student who wish to transfer to another college:  College Transfer Admissions Advisors.

Different_Dr_Paul_Lowe_Admissions_Advisor_different_unparallel_unmatched_unrivaled

Dr. Lowe and his team of diverse admissions experts provide unrivaled, unmatched and unparalleled admissions advisory and educational research services for their clients. Most importantly, you work DIRECTLY with Dr. Lowe and get the benefits of his entire team. By working with Dr. Lowe, one-on-one, you work with his reputation, his expertise, his experience and his success!

What Parents Need to Know to Succeed at College Admissions?

~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

Parents call us to understand how my firm has a continual level of admissions success.  Why are our clients so happy the day decisions are released?  Let me explain.

We embrace Empirical Analytics by using data, technology, client-case studies, campus-expert panels, our specialized knowledge, and over 23 years of experience to answer questions, navigate challenges, predict outcomes, and to help our clients make informed decisions that provide results-based admissions success. 

Simply put, we are the best in the admissions advisory business!  No other admissions consulting firm, with our team make up, has the historical, experiential and cultural perspectives that allow our clients to consistently win at the college admissions game.  We share our perspectives and empirical analytics with our clients which gives them an admissions edge.

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After all, isn’t admissions to Ivy League, highly selective college/universities and BS/MD programs a competition? 

College Admissions is a Competitive Sport.
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Dr. Lowe and his team of diverse admissions experts provide unrivaled, unmatched and unparalleled admissions advisory and educational research services for their clients. Most importantly, you work DIRECTLY with Dr. Lowe and get the benefits of his entire team. By working with Dr. Lowe, one-on-one, you work with his reputation, his expertise, his experience and his success!
Dr_Paul_Lowe_Admissions_Expert_Stand_Out

Navigating the F-1 Student Visa Process with Dr. Lowe

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~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

Coming to the U.S. to get a world class education is the primary goal of international students.  This may be followed by work experience at a top U.S. firm. For many students, continued employment may develop into an immigration opportunity where they actually become U.S. citizens.

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International students who wish to study in the U.S. face two challenges that they have to surmount, (1) They have to worry about being accepted into desirable, credible and competitive programs at U.S. college and universities. (2) They have to convince the U.S. government to grant a F1 Student Visa in order to pursue their studies. According to the U.S. government (Department of Homeland Security SEVP (Student and Exchange Visitor Program), every student visa decision is a national security decision and that’s why there is an extensive screening process for each applicant.  Over 30 percent of students who apply for F1 are rejected annually!  A visa does not guarantee entry into the United States.  A visa only allows a foreign citizen to travel to a U.S. port-of-entry (generally an airport) and request permission to enter the United States. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials at the port-of-entry have authority to permit or deny admission to the United States. 

The Student Visa Process involves 3 parts: 

Part I.  Form I-20: Before applying for a student visa (F1), you have to be accepted at a college or university and have to receive Form I-20 from the U.S. school.  This of course means that you have to understand nuances of the application process. Ivy League and highly selective colleges/universities and their corresponding graduate schools (and BS/MD programs) are extremely competitive.

Part II. Visa Application:  This includes payment of the SEVIS (Student & Exchange Visitor Information System) fee and completion of the DS-160 online Visa Application Form.

Part III.  Visa Interview:  After the student has completed part I and II, the next step is scheduling an appointment for a visa interview at a U.S. embassy or consulate.   You will be interviewed by a consular officer in English.  And you must establish to the consular officer that you are qualified to be issued a student visa.  By answering personal questions regarding your plans for studying in the U.S. The consular officer focuses on 4 factors during the interview: (1) Who are you, what are your ties what is your story? (2) What do you want to do and where do you want to study? Why do you study that major or subject? (3) How will you finance your education? How will you pay for the entire length of your study? (4) What do you want to do when you finish your study?

A visa interview lasts for only a few minutes so you need to be prepared!  You don’t want to be denied a student visa because of mistakes in your interview.

Interviews are extremely important. Don’t walk into your visa interview unprepared.  We offer mock interview sessions and counseling and feedback.  As an admissions consultant and career expert, I have provided interview preparation for over 23 years and can help you with satisfactorily refining your visa interview.  ACE your F-1 Student VISA Interview with Dr. Paul Lowe.

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We interface with families, embassies, consulates and immigration law firms to help our clients successfully navigate the F-1 student visa process. Dr. Lowe attends conferences and symposia where he meets decision-makers from embassies of countries at the forefront of international student mobility.

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Dr. Paul Reginald Lowe, founder and managing director of Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors Group, provides comprehensive counseling advice, exclusively for admissions to top private schools; Ivy League and highly-selective colleges/universities; BS/MD programs; graduate and medical schools and top visual and performing arts programs.   The admissions affiliate: Ivy League Admissions Advisors specializes in admissions to Ivy League and highly selective colleges,  Dr. Lowe also specializes in helping students who have been wait-listed, deferred or rejected gain admission into their top-choice schools: College Application Rejected. and student who wish to transfer to another college:  College Transfer Admissions Advisors.

Affiliates that help International students include: International Admissions Advisors and International Student Career Advisors.

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Helping international students with college and boarding school admissions.
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Helping international students with career planning and development.

Early Decision and Early Action Notification Dates For 2021-2022 College Applicants

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~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

It’s the 2021-2022 Early Decision and Early Action season!   Competition to Ivy League and highly selective colleges remains high.  Therefore, expect many applicants with high SAT/ACT scores, high grades and seemly perfect applications and personal statements to be rejected or deferred to the regular decision pool.

Here are some early decision and early action notification dates for Ivy League and highly selective colleges and universities:

  • Barnard College:  December 14
  • Boston College:  December 15
  • Boston University:  December 14
  • Brown University:  December 17
  • Cal Tech:  December 13
  • Carnegie Mellon University:  December 12
  • Columbia University:  December 15
  • Cornell University:  December 17
  • Dartmouth University:  December 16
  • Duke University:  December 18
  • Georgetown University:  December 13
  • Hamilton College:  December 15
  • Harvard University:  December 17
  • Johns Hopkins University:  December 11
  • MIT:  December 19 (EA)
  • New York University:  December 15 (ED I); (February 15 ED II)
  • Northwestern University:  December 18
  • Purdue University: January 15, 2022
  • Stanford University:  Mid-December 12
  • Swarthmore College:  December 15
  • Tufts University:  December 15
  • University of Michigan:  Late January 2022
  • University of Notre Dame: December 16
  • University of Pennsylvania:  December 16
  • Yale University:  December 16

“Admissions is a competitive sport!  Why gamble with uncertainty?” – Dr. Paul Lowe

“Parents hire us because they choose to pay an admissions expert who will help them avoid making mistakes.” – Dr. Paul Lowe

Dr. Paul Reginald Lowe, founder and managing director of Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors Group, provides comprehensive counseling advice, exclusively for admissions to top private schools; Ivy League and highly-selective colleges/universities; BS/MD programs; graduate and medical schools and top visual and performing arts programs.   The admissions affiliate: Ivy League Admissions Advisors specializes in admissions to Ivy League and highly selective colleges.  Dr. Lowe also specializes in helping students who have been wait-listed, deferred or rejected gain admission into their top-choice schools: College Application Rejected. and student who wish to transfer to another college:  College Transfer Admissions Advisors.  For colleges and universities that recommend or require videos: College Admissions Video Productions.