For many families, the stress of paying for college has increased the anxiety level for the entire, already-stressful process. Helping parents navigate this part of the maze has become an ever-more important role for those of us who guide families through the college search and application experience. There’s a flood of information about there … Read more
The tweet in the image to the right is from a high school counseling office. Most people will agree with this generic advice, that the “best time” for students to take the SAT or ACT for the first time is spring of their junior year. But the reality is that the timing depends on a few … Read more
This article was published in the Wall Street Journal today. There’s a lot of discussion about it among our clients, and in college counseling circles. About half of the 100+ seniors our team works with each cycle attend public high schools, and about half attend private high schools. Some private high schools have very specific … Read more
College financial aid can be intimidating. We hope this post will give you some resources to get started, whether you have a current high school senior, or a younger student. If you have a high schooler who’s NOT a senior, start here: watch both videos, click all the links and download all of the resources … Read more
We’re frequently asked by both parents and students, How many colleges should I apply to? Over the last ten years, there’s been a trend towards students applying to a larger list of colleges. While our clients apply to an average of 12-15 colleges, the “right” number is pretty subjective, and the truth is, the growing … Read more
It’s mid-October, verging on late October (where exactly is that dividing line?). You’re looking for things to do to avoid working on your college apps, aren’t you? It’s really just the essays, right? Well there are lots of other ways you can be moving the ball forward as deadlines approach. Here are some suggestions: SEVEN … Read more
Last week, thousands of college admission professionals gathered in Louisville, KY for the annual conference of the National Association for College Admission Counseling. College representatives, high school and independent counselors met for the first time since the Varsity Blues college admission scandal, and to discuss the ongoing issues and challenges in the college admission world. … Read more
Your email inbox is probably overflowing like mine…West Elm’s dining table clearance, DSW’s $5 off coupon, Williams-Sonoma’s newest recipe, about fifty more like this daily. You’ve probably also received invitations to webinars where you’ll learn the ‘secret’ to getting your kid into the Ivy League, or his/her ‘dream’ college. I’m gonna pop that balloon for … Read more
It’s a changing world out there. And colleges and universities, whose admission offices are filled with idealistic, “woke” young people, are on the cutting edge of this change, not following it. We’ve written before about the importance of high school students delving deeply into a handful of extra-curricular activities – a FEW, not a TON … Read more
We’re back to school and you know what that means – it’s time to get those college applications started! So here are just a few tips for high school seniors. Finalize your college list! All of the work flows from the list. You’ll know everything you need to know – essay supplements, deadlines, all that … Read more