College Admissions with Calm, Clarity & Confidence
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College application essays give students an opportunity to show who they are beyond their courses, grades, and test scores. When they turn to an AI to draft their essay, it creates something that is grammatically correct, but tends to sound like what an average student might write. This is the opposite of what they actually […]
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For many years, selective colleges required supplemental essays in addition to the long Common App personal statement. Recently, many colleges announced they would no longer require their own supplemental essays. Colleges like University of Virginia, Tulane University, Georgia Tech, University of Georgia, and Washington University in St Louis have dropped all or some of their […]
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Some students’ stories don’t fit neatly into the standard sections of the Common Application. They may need to share background details about academics, grades, or activities outside the classroom. The Common App Additional Information section offers an opportunity to provide this extra context and detail. Use it wisely and not just as a bonus essay. […]
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The Post 9/11 GI Bill is a major veterans educational benefit that includes money for tuition, housing, and books. In some cases it can cover the full Cost of Attendance for a degree. But misunderstanding the details of eligibility and benefits for Post 9/11 GI Bill (also called Ch 33) can devastate veteran and military […]
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These are some of the best college admissions books I’ve read. They will help parents understand the modern college admissions landscape, from how colleges pick students to how to pay for college. We often focus on sensational articles about a handful of colleges. This can lead to a lot of doom-casting and despair. In fact, […]
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The Common Application essay prompts remain the same for 2026-27 as in the past couple years. Keep in mind that these essay prompts aren’t a list of questions to answer. They are designed to help you think about what’s important to you, who you are as a person, and what you would bring to campus […]
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Typically the first question families ask after their kid gets an offer of college admission is: How much will this cost? Unfortunately, there is no uniform format for delivering financial aid offers. And some colleges have confusing ways of labeling grants, scholarships, and loans. So understanding college financial aid offers takes time and attention to […]
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After months waiting for admission results, decision day finally arrives, and…your application is deferred or you are offered a spot on a waitlist. As an Independent Educational Consultant, I believe “clear is kind.” It’s important to take appropriate action if you’re still interested in this college, but you also need to consider that a deferral […]
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What most high school students know about military life tends to come from movies or books. Even those who grew up in military families may wonder what it would be like to personally serve under military restrictions and responsibilities. Military academy summer programs offer students a taste of life as a cadet or midshipman. This […]
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A few years ago, the US Air Force has changed its Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) scholarship program. These changes affect who is offered scholarships and how much money they receive. Overall, there are fewer scholarships offered to students straight out of high school, but more Air Force cadets will receive scholarships for at least some […]
