Dr. O’s Blog
GPS College Guidance has launched!
After years of telling family and friends about my vision of establishing an organization with a mission to encourage as many students as possible to pursue a college education, I have finally done it!
I am proud to announce that GPS College Guidance, my new venture, has been founded to fulfill that mission and to fulfill a personal goal of “paying it forward.”
I developed GPS College Guidance to provide comprehensive college admission counseling services for college-bound students. This includes high school college-bound students as well as college students and graduates pursuing a graduate or post-graduate degree.
Our Comprehensive Package (most common package requested by families) is a one- or two-year plan designed for junior and senior high school students and includes:
Consulting with the student and family to learn about the student’s personality, skills, and ambitions. It includes working collaboratively with the family throughout the entire college admission and decision process
Working with the student to identify academic interests and possible majors, and explore colleges and universities that match these interests in order to develop a short list of schools to begin the application process
Providing guidance and support throughout the personal statement and admission essay writing process
Providing families with a customized cost of attendance analysis for all college acceptances to help with the process of selecting the best school for them
Meeting face-to-face (or virtually) with the student and family at each critical milestone of the process; everyone will always know what to expect and how to prepare for each step in the process
Ongoing communication and guidance throughout the entire college application, admission and enrollment process
A personal coach and educational advisor working collaboratively with students and their families to maximize the chances of being accepted into the college(s) of their choosing
To ensure a smooth transition into college, the guidance provided to students by GPS extends beyond the acceptance decision and continues into the start of college enrollment.
The post-acceptance guidance includes submitting enrollment confirmation, registering for orientation and classes, securing desired housing, and ensuring any prior college credits earned have been applied towards the degree.
GPS also offers other service packages for first- and second-year high school students, college transfer students, and graduate students.
Why College Admissions Counseling?
More than 25 years ago, I began my career in higher education recruiting the inaugural freshman and sophomore classes for a university in Texas that had expanded to become a four-year comprehensive university.
Those were exciting times for the community. The most rewarding part for me was knowing that a college education would certainly make a positive impact on the lives and futures of the students who attended. I continue to believe this is true today as well.
Throughout my career in higher education I gained invaluable experience leading undergraduate, graduate and international admissions operations, financial aid, academic advising, and continuing education. The sum of all of these experiences led me to the realization that helping students succeed in college was my calling, and a role that has been truly rewarding on a personal and professional level.
A sense of pride and joy overcomes me each time I hear about a student’s life I have impacted in a positive way, either by encouraging education or providing the academic support needed to succeed in college. And, seeing how many of the students I’ve worked with go on to lead successful careers also brings me great personal satisfaction.
My wonderful mother, Elida F. Ortegón, always encouraged me to get a college education. She often said, “la educacion, nadie te la quita,” which translates to ‘an education is something that can never be taken away from you.’ I followed her advice and earned an education, including my doctorate in education, and want to continue helping others to do the same.
Launching GPS College Guidance allows me to continue expanding my experience doing something I truly enjoy and find personally rewarding. GPS College Guidance allows me to pay it forward.
Paying it Forward
Like many students entering college, I was a first-generation college student. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES), 61% of Latinx students and 41% of African-American students that enrolled in undergraduate studies are first-generation college students.
Research has revealed that first-generation college students encounter many obstacles when pursuing higher education, which can stop them from obtaining the degree they want.
To encourage first-generation and underrepresented students to continue their education, GPS College Guidance has established the Elidia F. Ortegon College Grant. This grant will be awarded to deserving students who will benefit from the services offered by GPS College Guidance and have a genuine desire to attend college.
Please share this information with middle or high school students considering college, or who should be considering college. To be considered for the grant, students simply need to submit a brief online grant application and include a 225-250 word essay.
Partner with GPS College Guidance
Our mission at GPS College Guidance is to encourage and support as many students as possible to continue their education. The Elidia F. Ortegon College Grant was established to honor GPS’s mission of promoting higher education by supporting first-generation and underrepresented students to get equal access to higher education that might otherwise be out of their reach.
We welcome all partners with open arms to join us in our efforts to help as many students as possible achieve their potential.
We are looking for socially responsible and civic-minded individuals or organizations that are interested in helping to improve educational opportunities for students.
Grants sponsored by individuals or organizations can be awarded to students selected by the sponsors, or to students who successfully apply for an Elidia F. Ortegón College Grant.
To discuss partnership opportunities that will allow us to pay it forward for first-generation and underrepresented students, please contact us by submitting the form below.
Dr. O’s Blog
This blog is GPS’s inaugural blog introducing Dr. O’s Blog series! The blog series will include helpful and timely information about college admissions, as well as updates and current events impacting higher education.
Dr. O’s Blog series will also include diverse subjects and interviews with colleagues and college representatives about the many opportunities and services available on college campuses to help students navigate the college environment and succeed academically, as well as on a personal level. You won’t want to miss these!
Individuals with expertise or advice in the fields of college admissions or higher education matters, as well as students going through or having completed the college admission process will also be invited as guest bloggers.
If you or someone you know is interested in contributing to Dr. O’s Blog, simply email me. I would love to hear from you!
Let me hear from you!
I would like to hear from you. Even though I bring a lot of experience to this new role, I am learning new things every day. After all, education is a journey, not a destination.
If you have ideas or suggestions you would like to share with me, or if you know of organizations that can partner with GPS to encourage more students to go to college, please reach out to me.
Together we can all make a difference by paying it forward!
Sincerely,
Dr. Ricardo Ortegón
Founder & President
GPS College Guidance
