posts filed in:
College Admissions
Read More
Did you know that when you apply to college can affect how much money you end up paying? Students often focus on whether or not they should apply under a binding Early Decision option, but overlook how applying later in the cycle can limit their chances of receiving certain types of financial aid. Some colleges […]
Read More
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. […]
Read More
If you’re finishing junior year, use the summer to get a head start on college applications. With steady work over the next few months, you could be ready to submit applications shortly after they open in August, well before early application deadlines. Here’s what to work on before school ends and during the summer. Before […]
Read More
Every spring, well-qualified students get turn down letters from colleges they’d hoped to attend. College admissions results are not a measure of how worthy a student is as a person or a strong predictor of their adult success. In spite of what some media outlets and popular colleges want you to believe, studies show that […]
Read More
The Common App essay prompts remain the same for 2025-26 as in the past couple years. 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 as a college student. […]
Read More
Some colleges have returned to requiring test scores for admission. Even at test optional colleges, strong scores can improve your application. Generally colleges will accept the SAT and ACT on an equal basis, converting scores from one format to another. This means students can take practice tests, then register for the format they prefer. Changes […]
Read More
BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) – Don’t fall for the trap, test scores still matter for college admissions. Even though the majority of colleges accept applications without test scores, having strong scores can still benefit students — especially at selective colleges. Don’t miss the table at the end that lays out several possible situations with […]
Read More
Many colleges require supplemental essays in addition to a long personal statement about the student. These additional essays are intended to give admissions more information about the student and what is important to them. One type of supplemental essay that frequently stumps students is the Why Us? college essay. Let’s consider what these prompts are […]
Read More
When students apply to colleges, they may have to choose between Early Decision, Early Action, or Regular Decision. Other options include Rolling Decision and Restrictive Early Action? What is Early Decision and how is it different from other options? Is Early Decision a good choice for you? Let me explain what these options mean and […]
Read More
These are the biggest college admissions trends I noticed during the 2022-23 admissions cycle. Families of this year’s seniors and younger high school students should be aware of these trends, so they can make wise decisions as they apply to college. Note, I wrote this in April 2023, before the SCOTUS decision on the use […]
