“Before anything else, preparation is the key to success.”-Alexander Graham Bell

This is one of our favorite quotes here at College Shortcuts. It’s never too early or too late to set yourself up for college success. Navigating the sea of information can be daunting, to say the least, but the help you need is out there.

An education expo or college fair is an amazing way to familiarize your child and yourself with the application process. For the seventh year, India-West, a very popular weekly Indian newspaper in North America, and McDonald’s brought industry professionals together with eager students and parents to explore the college admissions process on September 8th.

Hundreds of attendees poured into the India Community Center (ICC) in Milpitas, CA to listen to keynote speeches from experts like our very own Neha Gupta, CEO of College Shortcuts. There were several vendor booths as well as an interactive game booth from McDonald’s at the expo.

In addition to college consulting companies and college admissions experts, a few local politicians showed their support at the event: Milpitas councilmember Carmen Montano, Saratoga councilman and congressional candidate Rishi Kumar, and a representative from California state Assemblyman Ash Kalra’s office. The day began with an uplifting address from a McDonald’s representative, Ronald Williams.

Parents and students enjoyed several fun and informative keynote speeches that tackled questions such as:

• “What should I focus on in my application?”
• “Does the application process have to be so stressful?”
• “How do I differentiate myself?”

Founder of College Shortcuts and TEDx speaker, Neha Gupta, touched on recent events related to the college admissions scandal. Purvi Mody, co-owner of Insight Education, spoke on application anxiety in her presentation: How to Ignore the Hype and Truly Help Your Child Achieve Success. Wells Fargo & Company market relations manager for education and financial services, Casey Galindo, broke down financial aid in five easy steps. Marcella de Laurentiis and Pamela Ng, former admissions readers at top universities who are both with HelpwithApps.com, did a keynote address titled, “Think Like a Brand.”

While keynote speeches took place in the auditorium, attendees could also tour the main hall of ICC where there were a number of vendor booths, allowing families to ask questions and learn about various businesses. Some of the vendors were College Shortcuts, Wells Fargo, Insight Education, HelpwithApps.com, C2 Education of Milpitas, Children’s Innovation Center, Futures Academy, and more.

In some of the smaller rooms, students took advantage of one-on-one counseling sessions and personal consultations. Meanwhile, Neha Gupta, who also provided a free copy of her new book “The 4-Year Plan” to everyone attending the event, helped students conquer the dreaded admissions essay with secrets gathered from years of working alongside her writing consultants.

Applying for colleges does not have to be overly complicated. This is an exciting new chapter in your child’s life. With the right resources and support, you can navigate the process with ease and enjoy the ride. Check with your guidance counselor to see if there’s an upcoming education expo or college fair in your area or contact us to schedule an appointment for an academic consultation.