When we parent-aged people applied to college years ago, we knew that the super-selective colleges were looking for “well-rounded” students with top grades and test scores. There was no holistic admission back then; top grades and scores were the driving factor. The Shift to Holistic Admission However, things have changed. Over the past decade, more … Read more
Have you ever thought about the lessons we can take from musical theatre? It’s not just there for entertainment. Here’s what we think you can learn about college admission from everyone’s favorite Broadway rap musical, Hamilton. The Room Where It Happens No one gets to be in the room where it happens – the college … Read more
Thanks to Coronavirus, we’re all stuck at home right now, and one of the biggest questions we’re getting is this: What do I do about my extra-curricular activities – they’re all cancelled! But there are ways you can spend your cooped-up time advancing the extra-curricular activities to which you’ve already devoted so much time. … Read more
A year ago last week, all we could talk about was Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin. Wow, how things have changed. Felicity’s already done her time, and Lori continues to look for a loophole. And we “real people” don’t really care about that story anymore, as we hunker down in our homes and wonder … Read more
Students who applied early to some colleges may find themselves in the uncomfortable position of having to wait longer than they had expected. Some colleges defer early applicants to the regular pool. “This can’t be good,” you might think, should that e-mail or letter arrive telling you to hold on just a little longer. Not … Read more
“Will my kid get into a good college?” The question we are most frequently asked by parents is, “Will Johnny get into a good school?” Our answer is YES. But today’s college admissions landscape has changed. It’s an entirely different world than it was when you and I applied to college, and knowing the landscape … Read more
We know you don’t believe us. You’ve come to our presentations, and we’ve met privately at your home. You’ve heard us say it multiple times: that Harvard rejects 80% of the valedictorians who apply each year; that Stanford rejects 70% of the applicants with perfect SAT and ACT scores. That Yale could fill its class … Read more
Just a few weeks ago, we published an article highlighting a few ethical issues related to college admissions. Little did we know that in a matter of days, we would all witness an incredible display of how some people crossed huge ethical boundaries, getting their kids into top schools outside of the typical admission process. … Read more
People think engineers are nerdy math and science geeks – but really, they’re creative problem-solvers! This post is for you if you’re considering studying engineering in college. First of all, “engineering” isn’t just one thing! There are so many ways to approach a problem using engineering skills, which is why there are many, many different … Read more
As adults, every now and then, we find ourselves presented with situations that require us to consider the ethical implications of our actions. Teenagers, looking to us to help them define right and wrong, take cues from the choices we make. The college admission process is fraught with examples of ethical issues, as well as … Read more