Michael Berlau is the co-founder of College Funding and Planning, headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas. At the firm, Michael Berlau holds workshops to help college-bound students and their families plan for college. The workshops cover numerous topics, including how to network to get into college.

1. How to Tap into Your
Network and Get Admitted
to Your Dream College
Michael Berlau

2. Introduction
• Michael Berlau is the co-founder of College Funding and Planning, headquartered in Overland
Park, Kansas. At the firm, Michael Berlau holds workshops to help college-bound students and
their families plan for college. The workshops cover numerous topics, including how to network
to get into college.
As a student, you can reach out to people in your network to help you get into college. For
example, if you have a teacher in high school who knows you personally (your strengths and
weaknesses and how well you work with others), you can ask him or her to write a
recommendation letter to the college for you. You might also ask your high school principal.
Persuading him or her to write a recommendation may be difficult, but if you succeed, the letter
will carry a lot of weight.
Outside of school, you can ask your employer for a letter of recommendation. Your employer can
speak to things that your teachers may not be able to see, such as your work ethic or your ability
to work under pressure.
Civic or religious leaders are other good options for recommendations. They can speak about
your character, and their recommendations can carry a lot of weight.
Lastly, if you have an influencer in your network, someone who can sway others because of his
or her achievements or standing in the community, a recommendation from this person will give
you a huge advantage over other applicants.