Almost as soon as a student commits to attending a specific college, their parents will receive information about that university’s parent Facebook group. While the groups can provide valuable information on what to pack in addition to XL twin sheets and how much spending money a student needs per month, [...]
Just in time for the holidays, the U.S. Department of Education is giving families the gift of a new and improved FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Set to be released in December, an exact date has not yet been announced. But before you add "completing the FAFSA" to [...]
It has been nearly four years since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Since then, considerable research has been conducted on the pandemic's impact on students, both in terms of academic performance and mental health. In a previous blog post, we discussed how Covid resulted in learning loss and impeded students' development [...]
Have you ever sent a text or email asking someone two simple questions, such as “What day and time would you like to meet?” only to get a response which provides just one of the answers? It happens to me frequently. Not reading these sorts of questions carefully and failing [...]
I recently attended an event where everyone was asked to introduce themselves and to say their favorite thing about fall. Common answers included changing leaves, cooler temperatures, various types of pumpkin foods, and Halloween. But for high school students (and their parents), fall should bring to mind another important occurrence: [...]
When colleges consider applicants, they are interested in several factors. At the majority of institutions, the most important factors are whether students challenged themselves in high school and took the most rigorous classes available to them, as well as their GPA. But, colleges consider other factors too, such as letters [...]
In July, I wrote a blog post about the Supreme Court decision that ended affirmative action in college admissions. One area impacted by this change is college essays. Because colleges which accept federal funding (almost every public or private institution) can no longer overtly consider an applicant’s race, many are [...]
In a 6-3 decision announced on June 29, the Supreme Court ruled that the use of race in college admissions (a.k.a. affirmative action) is unconstitutional. No matter your opinion, the Court's ruling will impact college applicants, colleges themselves, legacy admissions, financial aid and college essays. This blog post will summarize [...]
Guest blog post by Beth Howland, College Student Success Coach As a parent, you probably are aware that a world of possibilities awaits your college-bound child. While it’s understandable that parents emphasize the importance of students embracing and making the most of opportunities, it’s equally important for students to understand [...]
I recently finished watching the fourth and final season of Never Have I Ever on Netflix. The show chronicles how the main character, Devi Vishwakumar, and her friends navigate the academic, social, and romantic challenges of high school. In the fourth season, Devi is a senior at a public high [...]
