College Admissions Competition (Who Are Students Really Competing Against?)
The perception is that it’s a college admissions competition among applicants. But applicants are not competing against who they think they are.
-
-
6 Common App Mistakes to Avoid
If your student is finishing up their college applications on the Common Application platform, congratulations! Before hitting “Submit,” your teen might want to review some of the most common, Common App mistakes to make sure their application is ready to go. And if your senior has not yet begun working on their applications, it might…
-
The 8 Best Ways Parents Can Offer College Admissions Help
I’ve said before that not everyone needs to hire a college admissions consultant. I stand by that. The information you need to know is all out there (even on this website) for those families that want to save some money and are willing to do the work themselves. But sometimes, the challenge is actually that…
-
Which College Size is Best? Small, Medium or Large?
It is true that college size matters. A small college feels very different than a college in the large category. And sometimes, students hope that they can have the best of both worlds at a medium-sized school. Before going into more detail, it’s important to break down the numbers for each size, for comparison. Small…
-
Are Selective Summer Programs for High School Students Worth It?
Each year, thousands of high school students are flattered when they receive an invitation in the mail to apply to various competitive pre-college summer programs. Or maybe they’ve even gotten an email from the college itself, suggesting that they should apply to their summer program. And each year, I am left to explain to families…
-
Is It Worth Hiring a College Admissions Consultant?
My answer to the question in the title may surprise you. Of course I think a college admissions consultant brings value. But my answer to the question about whether it’s worth hiring one is — it depends! Whether or not college admissions consulting services are right for your family depends on things ranging from your…
-
Should Students Agree to the FERPA Waiver for College Recommendations?
Most families have never been asked to waive their FERPA rights for any reason throughout their children’s years of school. And then suddenly, college applications contain a FERPA waiver that asks students to specifically give up their right to see a piece of their college application – their teacher recommendations. It may seem alarming. The…
-
Does Listing a Major on College Applications Help or Hurt?
Does the major listed on college applications play a role in whether or not a student is accepted? If you answered, “yes,” you are correct! And too often, students don’t know that. Many teens are not sure what to list as a major. In fact, sometimes, they’re overwhelmed by the possibilities when they check out…
-
6 Important Life Skills Teens Learn Through Applying to Colleges
It’s fall of your teen’s senior year of high school. They are busy. They are stressed. They are up late at night doing homework and working on their college essays. As a parent, you want to help, but feel like there is not much you can do. So, to relieve some of the burden, maybe…
-
What Does It Take to Get Into an Ivy?
(And Other Super Selective Schools) Know that the information I’ll talk about in this article does not only apply to Ivy league colleges. It will be true for any college that accepts only a small percentage of applicants, Ivy or not. But, since the question in the title is, “What does it take to get…
