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For me, the goal is not to leave my kids money, but rather to leave them opportunities… and to make available to them the tools and resources necessary so they can make those opportunities work for them. I would rest easy knowing that they took something that we built and grew it, expanded it or made it better… Or if they were to take the knowledge that they received from growing up in our home and started something from scratch. I would absolutely hate it if any of my kids lived off of the income, if any, that was left to them. To work and to be a productive, contributing member of society, is the most rewarding thing that you can do outside of building a family. Especially if, through […]

Well, it is official, Alexa is a writer for UCLA’s Daily Bruin newspaper. This is her first published article as a freshman in college. The topic is not the most interesting to me, but the writing is superb. I’m completely unbiased of course. Alexa is a political science major and plans to go to law school.

As working moms, we all know that one of the most difficult things to manage is “shape-shifting” all day. One moment we are making important decisions about finances, strategy, or hiring decisions, and then the next we are taking a call from a teacher about behavior issues at school. Then when the evening hits, we have to change gears and switch out again. Homework, after school activities, and making dinner. I think that for me trying to adjust and shift gears all day is probably one of the more difficult things I have to do, at least regularly. I tend to be very mentally preoccupied in spaces where I shouldn’t be… like when I’m watching my son’s basketball game or playing dolls with my daughter. Being an entrepreneur you don’t […]

Dr Steven Cyr talks about his journey, academics and why he feels that education is the key to changing the course of your family’s future.

The most important decision you’ll ever make, even more important than what college you go to or the career you choose, is your life partner. They can either propel your career forward or stifle you. Choose wisely and be sure that you are choosing someone that has the same goals in life that you do and sees the future the same way. Working together, especially as entrepreneurs, can be complicated but if you choose wisely, you can go further faster together!

A good interview is just a good conversation. Here are 10 amazing tips on how to have a good conversation: 1. Do not multitask (Be present in the conversation.) 2. Don’t pontificate (If you wanted to state your opinion without any opportunity for debate or growth, write a blog. Enter every conversation assuming you have something to learn.) 3. Use open-ended questions (Everyone you will ever meet knows something that you don’t. Use questions that open up the conversation.) 4. Go with the flow (Thoughts will go into your mind and you need to let them come out…pay attention to the conversation without going off on a tangent mentally.) 5. If you don’t know say you don’t know (Don’t claim to be an expert, err on the side of caution.) […]

Are you graduating from college and looking for your first job? Or are you stifled in your career and wanting a promotion or to move companies? Do not underestimate the importance of a well-written resume! It’s more than just a document; it outlines your background, skills, accomplishments and education so that a potential employer is quickly able to see how your individual experiences can contribute to their workforce. If you’ve never written a resume, don’t worry, we can teach you how to format your resume, which information to use, and much more. There are several different types of resumes: functional resumes, chronological resumes, and combination resumes. Choosing and preparing the right type of resume will help you stand out!

One of the more difficult decisions that Alexa had to make earlier this year was choosing between Berkeley and UCLA. The major issue was that Berkeley was offering her a scholarship, the “Generation Change Scholarship” and even doubled her scholarship after one month of their initial offer. UCLA, on the other hand, did not offer her a scholarship. From what I hear, they are more conservative with scholarships because so many people apply to their school. They receive the most applicants of any university in the country, over 110,000 annually. Nevertheless, we decide to go with UCLA for a lot of different reasons; some related to work and the opportunities that LA presented. That said, Alexa was just informed that she received the Stevens House Scholarship managed by the UCLA […]

When I was 13 years old, I was reading a very ambitious book for my age… I don’t recall the exact name, but it had something to do with the rise of Christianity in Western Civilization. My uncle, a Doctor of Theology, saw me at the kitchen table and immediately walked over and picked the book up from my hands. He turned to the back of the book and began to read about the author. After about five minutes, he handed the book back to me. I asked him what he was looking at and he explained to me the importance of understanding the “perspective” of the person whose book you’re reading. You see, the title of the book was ambiguous enough that it could have been written by an […]

How can I overcome my fear of public speaking? Fear of public speaking is a common form of anxiety. It can range from slight nervousness to paralyzing fear and panic. Many people with this fear avoid public speaking situations altogether, or they suffer through them with shaking hands and a quavering voice. But with preparation and persistence, you can overcome your fear. ✅Know your topic✅Take some time to consider what questions the audience may ask and have your responses ready✅Get organized✅Practice, and then practice some more✅Consider making a video of your presentation so you can watch it and see opportunities for improvement✅Challenge specific worries✅Visualize your success✅Do some deep breathing✅Don’t fear a moment of silence✅Recognize your success✅Get support (Answer From Craig N. Sawchuk, Ph.D., L.P.)

This story is one of my favorite illustrations of a self-fulfilling prophecy. As an Educator, I’m not big into “labels” and this is why… One day, as a small child, Thomas Edison came home from school and gave a paper to his mother. He said to her “Mom, my teacher gave this paper to me and told me only you are to read it. What does it say?” Her eyes welled with tears as she read the letter out loud to her child … “Your son is a genius. This school is too small for him and doesn’t have good enough teachers to train him. Please teach him yourself.” Many years after Edison’s mother had died, he became one of the greatest inventors of the century. One day he was […]

5 tips on dressing for Professional Interviews: 1. Dress in a way that is professionally appropriate to the position. This allows the interviewer to visualize you in the job. 2. You should wear a suit to interviews. If you want the job, wear a suit. 3. Your suit should be comfortable and fit you well. Consider a good suit an investment in your future. 4. Avoid loud and flashy colors. In other words, you don’t want to be upstaged by what you’re wearing. 5. You should be neat, clean, and well-groomed. After all, you are potentially representing the organization.

Due to COVID, my pre-college course was cancelled, what should I do? Answer: Do not fret, many of the Universities offering pre-college programs will have online options available to students who have been accepted into their programs. Typically, the cost is less, but be sure you are truly interested in the subject matter as you’ll be missing out on the university setting experience. That said, the actual course material and your interest level becomes especially important in terms of helping you make future goals and decisions.

Are high school internships important? They can be for a multitude of reasons. Mainly, they show Admission Counselors that you are willing to put in the extra time and effort to learn about a field that you are interested in. Most internships are unpaid at this level which shows even more commitment and sacrifice on your part to go the extra step. There’s also a secondary gain for you as an individual in terms of creating connections and learning more about what you want and don’t want career-wise.

How important are High School clubs in the College Admission process? Answer: High School clubs are as important as you make them. How you spend your time outside of the classroom does matter as it tells the Admission Counselors a lot about who you are beyond your grades. According to the Princeton Review, here are 11 tips regarding High School Clubs: Tip #1: Know your options Tip #2: Choose quality over quantity Tip #3: Understand that colleges know you can’t be everywhere all the time Tip #4: Deepen your engagement over time Tip #5: Try to gain professional experience Tip #6: Don’t try to game the college admissions process Tip #7: Consider giving back to your community Tip #8: Strengthen your time-management skills Tip #9: If you can’t find clubs […]

Congratulations to all the 2020 graduates!! Although your circumstances were different than you may have expected, remember that every day is the first day of the rest of your life. Make it count! 🏆❤️🙏 “It’s never too late to become who you want to be. I hope you live a life that you’re proud of, and if you find that you’re not, I hope you have the strength to start over.” ~The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

At Le Cyr Consulting, we draw on the unique experiences of business, medical and legal professionals, as well as former Higher Education Counselors to bring you a holistic approach to the college application process. Whether you are applying to an elite institution, graduate or medical school, or a competitive state university, we have experienced experts to guide you along the way Our Process:1. We get to know who you are2. We review your information3. We develop a short and long term plan4. We schedule the appropriate sessions with your assigned Consultant5. We will oftentimes assign work for you to do between sessions

Your test scores can be the deciding factor in admissions decisions as your score on the SAT, the ACT, or another college entrance exam is easier to quantify, compared to your other application materials, which can be more subjective than a standardized test. The test gives college admission counselors an objective means for comparing you to another applicant, at least on one level. Test prep helps you pull together everything you’ve studied to date and measures your ability to apply that knowledge. Additionally, your test prep gives you a chance to sharpen your skills in math, reading, and writing. This in turn gives you the tools you need to deal with math and language arts on the next level at a university.

“Why didn’t I get into my top choice school when my stats met the qualifications?” This is frequently a big question this time of year and can be extremely frustrating for many students. Oftentimes, the decision has less to do with you or your qualifications, assuming you are in the school’s range, and more to do with the mix of student profiles they are looking for to create a diverse and balanced incoming class. Diversity in student profiles for a freshman class is extremely important; SES, first-generation college graduates, legacy students, athletes, geographic region or underrepresented minorities are all factors that are considered by admission counselors to balance out their student profiles. Very often, there are more qualified applicants than spaces.

Going through the situation that we all are facing has reminded me of the unique qualities that we as Americans have in terms of our desire to work, progress, and wake up every morning with a sense of purpose. Years ago I read a book called “The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism” by Max Weber. Although he was not necessarily a proponent of capitalism, he acknowledges and chronicles the importance of Protestant ideals, such as hard work and discipline, as the basis for the formation of our capitalist society. According to him, it is the spirit of hard work and progress that formed the underpinnings of Western culture. Whether you agree with Weber or not, I think it has been made clear through our current situation that people […]

This has been one of the most important decisions that Alexa has had to make in her 17 years. Although she was accepted and given scholarships to many prestigious universities, including UC Berkeley, the George Washington University Presidential Scholarship, and the Victors Award at the University of Michigan (all were academic-based), she has decided on and committed to UCLA. I wanted to thank a few people that have helped her along the way: Amy Christopher Rowe and Wendy Vick for your constant guidance and encouragement. You both always made her feel like she could do literally anything. Natalie Baker Williams and Jordan Williams, Kelly Jones Sargeant, Heather Bassham Sumlin, Melissa Trawick-Sullivan, and JJ Smith. As you know, pageants were one of the themes on her resume and the whole purpose, […]