Should You Apply Early Decision?

By |2020-08-24T15:52:24+00:00September, 16, 2019|College Admissions, College Applications, College Research, Financial Aid, Scholarships|

It's fall, which means that high school seniors across the country are busy filling out college applications and writing essays.  Many students also are trying to decide if they're going to apply to a college early decision.  Early Decision (ED) is a binding commitment: students who are accepted to a [...]

Colorado College Becomes More Accessible

By |2020-08-24T15:52:24+00:00September, 3, 2019|College Admissions, College Admissions Tests, Financial Aid, Paying for College|

In late August, Colorado College (CC) announced two policy changes that are likely to make the private liberal arts college accessible to more students, especially those who live in Colorado. First, CC has joined the growing ranks of test-optional colleges, meaning students no longer have to submit ACT or SAT scores [...]

Opening Colleges’ Emails Might Affect Your Admissions Decisions

By |2020-08-24T15:52:24+00:00July, 10, 2019|College Admissions, College Preparation|

High school students, on average, are applying to more colleges than they did in the past.  The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) reported that in 2015, 36 percent of first-time freshmen applied to seven or more colleges, whereas in 2005, 17 percent of freshmen applied to seven or [...]

Be Careful What You Post Online

By |2020-08-24T15:52:24+00:00June, 27, 2019|College Admissions, College Preparation|

You've probably heard about Kyle Kashuv, the student whose admission to Harvard was rescinded after it came to light that he'd made racist comments online two years earlier.  Kashuv didn't post these comments on Twitter or Facebook or any sort of public forum; rather, he sent them in private text [...]

Parents: Help Your Kids Deal with Rejection from Colleges

By |2020-08-24T15:52:25+00:00March, 12, 2019|College Admissions, College Applications|

It's mid-March, which means seniors will soon be hearing from colleges about whether they were admitted, if they haven't heard already.  Most colleges require students to enroll and submit a deposit by May 1, and these schools have to notify applicants of their admissions decisions by April 1.  (The fact [...]

Is National Honor Society “Worth It?”

By |2021-12-09T00:51:20+00:00March, 5, 2019|College Admissions, College Applications|

National Honor Society (NHS) was founded in 1921 and, according to the organization's website, it is "much more than an honor roll."  Rather, "NHS is a distinctive multifaceted learning experience that provides a solid and meaningful foundation for life." To be eligible for membership, students must be in grades 10-12 [...]

You Applied Early; Don’t Forget to Apply for Financial Aid!

By |2020-08-24T15:52:25+00:00November, 5, 2018|College Admissions, FAFSA, Financial Aid, Scholarships|

Most colleges' Early Action and Early Decision application deadlines are November 1, which means many high school students (and college consultants) are breathing a big sigh of relief now that this date has passed. Before you relax too much, though, be sure to check the financial aid application deadlines at [...]

The Importance of Demonstrated Interest

By |2020-08-24T15:52:26+00:00September, 5, 2018|College Admissions, College Applications, College Preparation|

In talking with students and parents, one of the most frequent questions I am asked is, "What can I/my child to do improve my/my child's chances of admission?"  Sometimes people ask this in regard to a particular college, and other times they ask about getting into college in general. Of [...]

Will UChicago’s Decision to Go Test-Optional Start a Trend?

By |2020-08-24T15:52:26+00:00July, 3, 2018|College Admissions, College Admissions Tests, College Applications|

On June 14, the University of Chicago made headlines by announcing its decision to become test-optional.  As explained in this blog post, a college that is test-optional does not require its applicants to submit ACT or SAT scores.  According to The National Center for Fair and Open Testing, there are [...]

Which Activities Look Best on College Applications?

By |2022-12-22T17:38:31+00:00May, 16, 2018|College Admissions, College Applications, College Preparation|

If you're a high school student or the parent of one, that title probably got your attention.  Students (and parents) frequently ask me this question as they contemplate what they (their child) can get involved in that will help them (their child) stand out on college applications.  The answer, which [...]

Go to Top