Woman holding tablet while speaking on phone in front of building
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The College Application Tips You Need: College Admission Counselors Answer Your Questions

Recently, I had the opportunity to ask questions of a couple of college admission counselors. I wanted to get the scoop about what they are really thinking as they read through applications from high school students. Originally, I was hoping to just pick up a few college application tips I could pass along to my…

closeup of student hand on computer keyboard
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How to Write the Best College Admission Essay

I’ve written dozens of articles about college admission, ranging from beginning the college search to financial aid. I recently realized that for some reason, the one topic I have never written much about is this one – the college admission essay. Without a doubt, it’s the part of the application that students seem to dread…

undergraduate college admissions sign with sky background
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How to Answer the Common App Question About Covid-19

The Common Application platform for applying to college, has announced that they will be adding an optional question for students about COVID-19.  Students are allowed to use 250 words to respond to this question: Community disruptions such as COVID-19 and natural disasters can have deep and long-lasting impacts. If you need it, this space is…

Red brick building with white pillars on college campus
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The Impact of Covid-19 on College Admissions: An Update

Two weeks ago, which now seems like a year ago, I wrote about the preliminary anticipated impact of Covid-19 on college admissions.  Since then, there have been daily developments and the picture has become much clearer.  So I thought it was time to check back in here and attempt a round-up of what we now…

empty college dorm room
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Coronavirus and College Admissions – 7 Impacts

As we are currently immersed 24/7 in news about COVID-19 here in the United States, I considered whether anyone could stand to read one more word about it.  But, I also know that the families I work with have questions about coronavirus and college admissions impacts.  And, as I sit in my home like many…

teen girl looking into distance
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How to Handle a High School Suspension on College Applications

Let’s face it – teenagers make mistakes for all kinds of reasons.  Our best hope is that the mistakes they make won’t be life-changing ones.  Sometimes, the mistake they make will result in disciplinary action from their high school.  And usually, that means that it will wind up on their transcript, which will be sent…

report card with pencils next to it
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High School Courses: Calculating High School GPA for College Admissions

It’s time to talk about something that many families don’t discover or understand until it’s college application time.  Sometimes, families don’t even realize it then.  But application time is often when you discover that your student’s high school GPA (Grade Point Average) is not necessarily the same GPA that colleges will look at for admission. …