Navigating the Chaos in Test-Optional Admissions
In some ways, it might seem like these two announcements just cause even more confusion about test-optional admission. I actually believe they bring some needed clarity.
The Ivy League Academic Index and Student Athletes
Wondering if athletics might give your student the edge they need to get into an Ivy? It’s time to learn about the Ivy league academic index.
What is a College Likely Letter?
What is a college “likely letter” and who is likely to get one of them? What does it mean if you don’t receive one?
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…
What Does It Take to Get Into an Ivy League College?
(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…
College Athletic Recruiting: What You Need to Know to Get Started
College athletic recruiting is a complicated thing and there is absolutely no way to capture all of the nuances in one article. For one thing, it varies by sport! But, I am going to give you an overview to get you started. And then, I’ll provide some further resources for you. Before getting too far,…
Academic Merit Aid – What You Need to Know
An academic scholarship. If you have a good student, you may have always assumed that this will be their free ticket to college. Unfortunately, it’s not that easy. The good news is that there IS merit aid available to academically-talented students. The bad news is that the most highly selective schools in the country…
What Is a CTCL College?
Those of you that know me, know that I’m a fan of CTCL colleges. But not everyone knows what that even means! “CTCL” stands for “Colleges That Change Lives.” The designation came from a book by that name, published by Loren Pope over twenty years ago. His goal in writing the book was to…
Advanced Placement Frequently Asked Questions
Recently, Advanced Placement (AP) classes are back in the news. Eight elite high schools in the Washington DC area announced that they will no longer offer them. This has stirred up new controversy about whether the classes are worthwhile. Did those high schools drop AP classes because they are not challenging and don’t help to…