What’s New On the Common Application?

As one admission cycle comes to an end, a new one cannot be far behind. The Common Application, one of the more popular methods of applying to college, is slowly releasing what’s new, and, in some cases, what is improved with the 2021-2022 application. The Common Application announced the first big change a few weeks ago with the prompts for the personal essay for the 2021-2022 cycle which include the following:  Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, [...]

What’s New On the Common Application?2021-03-02T18:04:20+00:00

Decisions they are coming!

Congratulations to all seniors who are receiving amazing news from your Early Decision, Early Action, and Rolling Decision schools! You worked hard and your efforts have paid off.  But please remember that not everyone is on the receiving end of such good news. Some of your peers were unable to apply to an Early Decision school because of financial constraints while others are unfortunately receiving  disappointing news. All too often there seems to be no rhyme or reason why one applicant is accepted over another which makes it an even harder pill to swallow.  A few recommendations for those of you who now know where you will be headed in the fall: Be kind and considerate on social media.   As soon as you accept your [...]

Decisions they are coming!2020-12-20T21:34:10+00:00

Turn Your Camera On and Get Engaged!

It’s time for current high school  juniors to begin thinking about their college admission journey. At this point, there are still so many unknowns. Will the class of 2022 be able to secure testing? Will schools across the country continue to adopt a test optional policy? How will this year’s cycle impact next year’s cycle? What remains constant in the review process is the weight that letters of recommendations hold. These letters written by teachers and counselors provide an additional lens for admissions officers to get to know the applicant, putting the broader application packet into context. And they can speak to a student’s character - something that test scores will never be able to do. But with so many schools either operating remotely or [...]

Turn Your Camera On and Get Engaged!2020-12-01T20:32:04+00:00

Standardized Testing in the Era of COVID

COVID 19 has wreaked havoc across every industry in this country. And  higher education has not been spared. Universities across the country are grappling with not only moving classes online, figuring out how to manage virtual graduations, enrolling students for the class of 2024, but they also have to look ahead at the upcoming admission cycle for the class of 2025 whose landscape changes daily.  Here are some things admission officers need to consider. Grading. Some high schools have moved online and some have decided to implement a Pass/Fail or a Complete/Incomplete grade. How will this factor into the student’s GPA? Testing.  Advanced Placement tests have been completely reformatted. A test that was once three hours has been condensed to a 45 minute online short [...]

Standardized Testing in the Era of COVID2020-04-16T17:59:38+00:00

Campus Visits in the Era of Covid-19

With college campuses shut down across the country, it is impossible for prospective students to visit campuses and attend information sessions. They will be unable to observe the school’s culture, get a sense of the academic rigor, and talk to current students. All of these would have ultimately determine if a school would be a good fit. It is disappointing for the student. Plans have to be changed, and their spring break is not at all what it was supposed to be. All common feelings that most of the world is feeling right about now.   But, while the students are home, and they have the time, there are so many resources that they can turn to to help them understand what makes each university unique. [...]

Campus Visits in the Era of Covid-192020-03-24T19:07:32+00:00

Landscape Replaces Adversity Scores

It wasn’t too long ago that the College Board, the company that administers the SAT, announced that it would be implementing a new change in the scores that are sent to colleges. In addition to the students’ test scores, an Environmental Context Dashboard (known as the Adversity Rating) would be included. The basic gist of the ratings is the following:  On a scale of 1-100, the College Board would score students based on the adversity they have faced in their lives. Scores above 50 would indicate that a student comes from a more disadvantaged neighborhood with higher crime and poverty rates. The score would also include the relative quality of the student’s high school and the percentage of students eligible for free lunch. The adversity [...]

Landscape Replaces Adversity Scores2019-08-29T21:46:55+00:00

College Board Announces New Initiative: Adversity Ratings

Each year over two million students sit for the SAT, an exam that tests for aptitude in both math and English.  The scores are then reported to colleges and universities and added to the applicant’s file which also include transcripts, letters of recommendations,  and the Common Application itself. This past week the College Board, the company that administers the test, has announced that it will be adding an adversity rating to its report.  The College Board will collect this data based on an algorithm that has yet to be shared with the public. The basic gist of the ratings is the following:  On a scale of 1-100, students will be scored based on the adversity they have faced in their lives. Scores above 50 will [...]

College Board Announces New Initiative: Adversity Ratings2019-05-21T20:56:17+00:00

What is an Alternative Decision?

As if the college application and admissions process is not daunting enough, there is a new trend in what college counselors around the nation are calling “alternative admission decisions.” Instead of following the traditional trajectory of a college pathway which typically begins the fall semester of freshman year, colleges and universities across the country are offering a select group of students a different path.  Some schools are offering a spring semester admission while others are offering a guarantee transfer for sophomore year all contingent on maintaining a certain GPA . We see schools that are offering admission to a satellite campus freshman year with a guarantee of a transfer to the main campus should certain requirements be met and other schools offer a guarantee admission [...]

What is an Alternative Decision?2019-04-10T12:59:16+00:00

And the Decisions Are Rolling In…

Decisions are starting to roll in. Along with this comes waves of emotion from  applicants and their parents.  The tension and anticipation is palpable and the reality is that it is out of our hands. The internet is flooded with articles and with words of advice on how to navigate this unmapped territory of a deferral or even a rejection. I am a big fan of Rick Clark who is not only a seasoned admission officer, but also a talented writer.  Read his most recent blog where he dissects what a deferral may mean. His advice is concrete and his message is clear.  I hope his words resonate with you. They did for me! Preparation Day by Rick Clark Listen to the audio version here! On [...]

And the Decisions Are Rolling In…2018-11-29T20:16:29+00:00

Parenting During the College Admissions Season

I spend a lot of my day reading articles and following blogs of admission officers at universities who always give helpful advice and a new perspective at which to look at the college admission process. One of my favorite bloggers is Rick Clark, an admissions officer at Georgia Tech. He writes with passion and always leaves the reader with an important message. His most recent blog resonated with me, and I thought I would pass it along to you. If you are an athlete, the analogies he uses are concrete, practical, and powerful.  Happy reading! The Coach’s Guide to College Admission by Rick Clark A few months ago I wrote about no longer coaching my son’s soccer team. This fall I have moved on from that 9 year-old boys’ [...]

Parenting During the College Admissions Season2018-10-25T14:51:06+00:00
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