Weekly Update: June 5

Well, it’s been a minute…but we’re back! Get ready for more regularly-scheduled blog content as we roll into the busy summer season!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

Harvard vs. Trump: The Battle Continues for Academic Freedom

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’re likely aware of the legal and policy battles between the Trump administration and the nation’s oldest and most renowned university…but if you need a quick refresher, here goes! Broadly speaking, President Trump has attempted to freeze over $2 billion in contracts and grants to Harvard unless it agrees to revise its curriculum in a way that reflects Trump-era values. Additionally, following his anti-immigration policies, President Trump is trying to prevent Harvard from enrolling international students and to force current foreign students away or risk losing their student visas. For now, Harvard seems to be winning the fight with an initial court victory protecting international students. But the issue is really a question of whether the federal government has a right to tell universities what they can teach and who they can enroll - a question that has many other colleges concerned.

More Madness in March?

Contrary to earlier statements, it seems like NCAA President Charlie Baker is now pushing to expand March Madness as early as 2026! If his vision comes true – and it seems the Big 12 mostly supports the idea – we might be seeing anywhere between 72 and 76 teams next year. Not everyone is in favor, of course, but I think more competition is generally a good thing! Maybe 2026 will be the year of the underdog (here’s looking at you, Indiana!).

Varsity Blues Part II: USC Coach on Trial…Again

The infamous 2019 Varsity Blues scandal is making news once again here in 2025! It’s been 6 years since the investigation into the criminal college admissions scam in which parents, coaches, and university officials conspired to sneak wealthy students into top schools. However, just this past week, former USC water polo coach Jovan Vavic returned to court over complex legal questions regarding the misrepresentation of evidence during his initial trial. Ultimately, his conviction was reinstated. What it means for Vavic: a possibility of three years in jail. What it means for colleges: a timely reminder to accept students based on merit, not money.

MIT 2025 Class President Banned from Commencement Ceremony after Pro-Palestinian Speech

Tensions can still be felt on college campuses during this year’s commencement period as the war in Gaza continues to divide opinions. MIT’s class president, Megha Vemuri, delivered a commencement speech that called out the university’s complicity in what she described as an “assault on the Palestinian people.” The speech was quite different from what Vemuri had submitted to the university and led to many Jewish students walking out – as well as Vemuri being prohibited from walking at her own graduation.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

It is impossible to think about the future of higher education without considering the impact of the current presidential administration as well as the values of a generation raised amidst economic uncertainty, a pandemic, and social media pressures. From admissions to education, campus life to preparing for life after college, the nature of college itself is changing considerably – and we want to make sure you’re aware.

For instance, while we aren’t sure just yet how many students will be heading abroad for college this year, those who are cite concerns about the presidency as well as issues with diversity and decreases in university funding as the main reasons why they are seeking their college education outside of the United States. The New York Times interviewed several students about their decisions to study abroad, including Aaron Dowd, a Maryland high school senior who will be heading to the University of Toronto thanks to the massive cuts to the National Institutes of Health and other research institutions. 

For others, issues regarding racial and gender identity and the eradication of DEI programs are making international study a more appealing option than ever before - although it might be worth considering what students themselves have to say about the results of the scaling back of DEI on college campuses.

The appeal of studying abroad, fears about the impacts of the current administration on college life and the career world after, and general economic uncertainty have led to some other major changes in the college acceptance process. As New York Magazine points out, “colleges across the country are competing for a shrinking pool of students,” and declining rates in student enrollment have made many schools desperate – even to the point of offering incredibly generous financial aid packages at the very last minute!

One sentence from the article mentioned above really stands out to me: “It appears that this kind of last-minute deal-making will also be the new normal.” While I don’t know that this is true just yet – or that it’s something that should be a factor in determining where to apply – I think it’s an important reminder that you shouldn’t rush to make that final decision. Even if you get a great offer for your #1 choice, wait and see if any other top schools on your list are ready to bargain!

In a slight change of topic, The Washington Post pointed out this week that many colleges are changing the curriculum to help better prepare students for the work environment. While older generations grumble about the younger's lack of basic professional skills – much of which resulted from being stuck at home during the pandemic – Gen Xers and millennials have much to learn from the efficiency of Gen Z as well as their desire for a better work-life balance. So keep an eye out for some of these newer courses on how to behave during a meeting, for instance, but also expect colleges to start investing more in supporting the values of their undergraduates so they can find meaningful work after college.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

And back at DCCC, it’s letter of recommendation season! Our team is working with juniors to prepare letters that will help teachers and counselors boast about them. High school teachers write tons of recommendations, so having the kind of personalized and detailed letter we help our clients create is a great way to ensure that they receive a glowing rec. Admission is based on so many factors, including how well you are going to fit into the college community, and a detailed, specific recommendation letter helps to tell the story of who you are to the admissions folks.  

So as we head into these final few weeks of high school classes, make sure to leave great last impressions on your teachers – but also don’t forget to have fun! It’s so much work at the end, but it’s also exciting to know that summer is right around the corner.

Interested in other changing trends IN COLLEGE admissionS? Check out these other posts!

Weekly Update: April 9

For those of you in the DC area, I hope you had a chance to see the solar eclipse yesterday! (Or maybe felt the earthquake on Friday!?) 

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

MARCH MADNESS COMES TO AN END

On Sunday, it seemed like the entire country (with the possible exception of the state of South Carolina 🙂) was cheering on Caitlin Clark and University of Iowa. Unfortunately, it was not to be, and South Carolina finished their undefeated season by winning the NCAA women’s championship game 87-75. And last night, UConn won the men’s championship game (for the second year in a row!) by beating Purdue 75-60.

NAIA BANS TRANSGENDER WOMEN FROM WOMEN’S SPORTS

On Monday, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics voted unanimously to ban transgender women from women’s sports. “Only students whose biological sex is female” will be allowed to participate. If you haven’t heard of the NAIA, you aren’t alone: the organization is significantly smaller than the NCAA and includes schools that aren’t really on most of our students’ radar. However, this ruling may still be significant for the greater population, as some believe that it could serve as a precedent of sorts for the NCAA.

AT $95,000 PER YEAR, IS COLLEGE A GOOD INVESTMENT?

The annual cost of tuition, board, meals and other expenses at a number of private colleges has exceeded $90,000 this year, which calculates to over $1 million to send three children to college! But don’t let these numbers discourage you: many colleges with large endowments offer generous financial assistance to make attendance affordable, with some students paying just 10% of the advertised rate. Financial aid experts advise making decisions based on the actual cost that you have to pay (after financial aid is factored in), and not the perceived cost.  

Other colleges with price tags now exceeding $90,000 include USC at $95,000; Harvey Mudd at $93,000; UPenn at $92,000; Brown at $92,000; Dartmouth at $91,000; and BU at $90,000. Is college worth the investment? In general, we believe the answer is yes, with the caveat that it is important to borrow in moderation (can’t emphasize this enough!), pay close attention to the ROI of individual majors, and complete degree programs in their entirety.

NEW SURVEYS SHOWS JEWISH COLLEGE CHOICES AFFECTED BY OCT. 7

A recent survey this March by Hillel International, involving over 400 Jewish parents of high school juniors and seniors, showed that 96% are “concerned about the increase in antisemitic incidents on college campuses since October 7.” 19% even said they are questioning whether or not to send their children to college at all. 87% said that October 7 had an “impact” on how they chose a college for their child, and 64% said they are avoiding certain schools altogether because of a perceived rise in antisemitism on that campus.  

Hillel International president and CEO Adam Lehman stated that rather than avoiding certain colleges and “self-ghettoizing,” the Jewish community should focus on fixing the campus climate at schools. Julia Jassey, the CEO of Jewish on Campus, stated: “The last thing that I would ever tell a parent or student is not to go to a certain school because it is antisemitic. All that will do is self-select ourselves out of spaces where we want to be … It’s really more important that when students go to school, they’re educated about what antisemitism is, how to combat it, and what to do when they experience it.”

VANDERBILT IN EARLY DISCUSSIONS TO OPEN CAMPUS IN WEST PALM BEACH

Vanderbilt University is considering opening a second campus in downtown West Palm Beach, Florida, that would enroll around 1,000 students and feature a business school and a college of computer science. Vanderbilt Chancellor Daniel Diermeier has high hopes for this dream campus, and sees an opportunity to capitalize on Palm Beach County’s growing reputation as “Wall Street South” to provide students with jobs in finance. He said that a West Palm Beach campus could “turbocharge” the creation of new businesses established by graduates, creating an innovation industry and transforming the city into a major destination. 

Diermeier envisions that Vanderbilt’s impact on West Palm Beach could be similar to Stanford’s impact on Silicon Valley, resulting in an explosion of business and innovative technology companies. The school is in the preliminary stages of meeting with county commissioners and asking local businesses to co-invest. A recent event attended by Gov. Ron DeSantis raised $100 million for the venture.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Is college football over as we know it?  An article in The Athletic last week said that a group dubbed the “Super League” may be shaking things up in the near future. The group, officially called “College Sports Tomorrow” (CST), is trying to implement a new system that would replace the NCAA and the College Football Playoff, as well as provide a solution for lawsuits involving NIL and transfer portal issues.  The CST structure would eliminate the conference structure and create one entity. 

This centralized college league would negotiate not only for TV broadcasting deals, but also negotiate with any prospective union that would represent players in lawsuits. Colleges are particularly concerned with the House v. NCAA class action lawsuit, which could have the NCAA and power conferences on the hook for billions.  

Some criticize the notion, saying that CST is trying to “buy college football.” Leagues have been hesitant, and some have cancelled meetings with CST so as not to upset their current multi-million-dollar broadcast deals with ESPN and Fox. CST leaders, however, assert that time is of the essence; their goal is to get ahead of foreseeable legal challenges and “lead from the front, not behind.” 

Speaking of college sports, how about North Carolina State!?  Although they lost to Purdue over the weekend, they made it to the Final Four, leaving fans “thunderstruck,” as the New York Times put it. Often referred to by neighboring basketball powerhouses Duke and UNC as the “little brother,” NC State emerged as the country’s Cinderella team, winning nine straight games, including a 26-14 victory over Duke. It was the first time the Wolfpack made it to the national semifinals since they won the national title in 1983. 

In the 1950’s, the team was considered the best in the ACC. Their men’s basketball team was the team that started the tradition of cutting down the net as a victory souvenir. However, a big setback occurred in 1989, when the NCAA placed the team on probation for two years and barred it from the 1990 tournament for violations that included misuse of complimentary tickets and sneakers provided to players. Despite their loss on Saturday, it was thrilling to see an underdog back in the limelight.  

I came across an intriguing article in Forbes that cautioned against college education becoming like a luxury brand – an expensive badge of status reserved for the privileged few. The author wrote that an undergraduate degree (especially one at a top university) provides professional opportunities and upward social mobility, and people are willing to spend a small fortune for it. Luxury products are expensive because they are assumed to be high quality, with intrinsic value, and also carry prestigious, identifiable imagery. These qualities are perceived to be transferred from the products to the person wearing it. In this sense, the author believes, a college education has become very much like a Gucci bag.  

Yet the demand for luxury is slowing, as evidenced by softening sales from brands like Gucci. The brand reported a 20% decline in the first quarter of 2024, due to its out-of-reach pricing and alternative options, which are becoming more culturally valuable. This is a warning bell for higher education: as college tuition rises, more alternatives to college are presenting themselves. 

Social media influencers provide a potentially lucrative career path without school debt, and the massive shortage of trade jobs has led to a premium in salaries for skilled labor (again, without the debt). Some experts think that innovations in technologies like blockchain authentications could gain status akin to a college degree when it comes to hiring. If luxury is any indication, higher ed needs to evolve!

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

Our juniors are continuing to finalize their lists during their second round of college counseling check-in meetings, which just started this week. In case you were wondering, we haven’t seen any particular increase in student interest in UConn or Iowa this year after March Madness (South Carolina and Purdue were already popular options!).

One of the challenges that a lot of our students face involves the difficulty of visiting colleges in person without missing school. It’s particularly tough at this time of year, now that spring break is over and the clock is ticking - college students typically finish up their classes in late April or the first week of May, and the whole vibe changes on campus after that point. Don’t forget that Saturdays are still an option, though! A prospective student will get a much better sense of a campus community on a Saturday during the spring than on a weekday during exam week or the summer.

Have a great rest of the week - we have some amazing weather ahead!

Weekly Update: March 20

We hope everyone had a happy St. Patrick’s Day and a great week!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

MARCH MADNESS UPSETS

March Madness saw a big upset for UVA on Thursday, when Furman scored a 3-point shot in the last 2 seconds of the game to win! And speaking of Virginia, we saw a repeat of their 2018 historic loss to 16-seed UMBC when 16-seed Fairleigh Dickinson beat 1-seed Purdue. On Saturday, the upsets continued with Princeton’s victory over Missouri, marking only the fourth time in history that a team seeded 15th reached the Sweet Sixteen. Despite the upset, Mizzou’s head coach is still one to watch - check out this article, which explores Coach Dennis Gates’s unique and sincere approach to coaching college basketball. 

WELLESLEY STUDENTS VOTE TO MAKE TRANSGENDER MEN AND NONBINARY STUDENTS ELIGIBLE FOR ADMISSION

Students at Wellesley, one of the most highly regarded women’s colleges in the country, voted last Tuesday to make transgender men and nonbinary students eligible for admission. While this is an indication of the direction the student body is leaning, the vote is non-binding, and Wellesley admissions has announced that they will stick with their original policy of not offering admission to trans men. The gender policy at Wellesley states that the school is open to all students who live and identify as women, including transgender women and nonbinary people who were assigned female at birth. Most women’s colleges, including Spelman, Bryn Mawr, and Barnard, are aligned with Wellesley’s policies; some, like Mount Holyoke, already admit students regardless of gender, including trans men and nonbinary students. 

HAMPSHIRE COLLEGE WELCOMES NEW COLLEGE TRANSFERS

New College of Florida, a small progressive college in the Sunshine State, recently experienced a big shake-up with a new board of trustees appointed by Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL). Now, Hampshire College, a similar school in Massachusetts that, like New College, welcomes progressive students and does not assign grades, has opened its doors to any New College student in good standing and offered to match the in-state tuition that many of these students have in Florida. 

So far, one New College student has transferred and four others have applied. Hampshire, which nearly closed in 2019 and in the last several years experienced an enrollment drop from 1,500 students to less than 500, is using this opportunity to increase the size of its student body while serving Florida students who wish to transfer. 

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

We’ve gotten a lot of questions recently from students and parents about the huge numbers of applications to top schools, and it is still going strong post-pandemic! Application numbers at top colleges have increased 32% since 2020. This means that overworked admissions officers are attempting to read nearly one-third more applications in the same amount of time, so colleges are encouraging students to apply early action in order to spread the application review over a longer period. Of course, this often means more deferrals, which is frustrating! For more information about this aspect of the college admissions landscape, as well as a peek behind the curtain at what actually happens in an admissions office after a student is deferred, we recommend this op-ed from Jeff Selingo.  

Shannon attended a session last week on the Princeton Review’s 2023 College Hopes & Worries Survey. The most surprising thing we saw in the survey was that the students’ top concern when it comes to college admissions was SAT and ACT testing - yes, even more than financial considerations, completing applications, or getting in! This is interesting because it shows that while many colleges continue to offer test-optional admissions, students realize that a strong test score can still be a major asset during the application process. 

We’ve always said that college rankings should not be the #1 consideration for undergraduate applicants, but we still understand that they can often be important to students and families. With potential shake-ups in the rankings, including Columbia’s recent withdrawal after a professor discovered inaccuracies in its data, attitudes may be shifting. For a deep-dive into all things college rankings, we recommend this Time article. 

Are you a senior heading to school in the fall and wondering about creating your own major? Check out this student’s story - she may just convince you on the benefits of choosing your own path through college! And speaking of choosing your own path - have you heard about Fairleigh Dickinson’s Jordan Sarnoff, the youngest D1 men’s basketball sports information director in history? We loved this profile on him - what a great example of how taking initiative and pursuing your own interests can pay off in a huge way.

OFFICE HAPPENINGs

I like data, so I always think the connection between college admissions and March Madness is fascinating in terms of predicting application trends in seasons to come. There was actually a fascinating study about this a few years back which found that private schools saw the biggest increase in applications after a Cinderella run, although the impact was just temporary.

Anecdotally, I think that certain private schools in the highly-selective (but not ultra-selective) category see more of a long-term impact, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be a Cinderella run as defined by the researchers. Villanova’s sustained increase in selectivity after the 2016 and 2018 wins is a great example of this. It’s next to impossible to get into Villanova now, if you don’t ED.

On the home front, my son was so excited for the Miami/Indiana game all weekend and I felt sorry for him when he crashed shortly after it began!

What a game, though! After half time I started to get really nervous that he was going to wake up to a loss this morning but thankfully Miami came back strong. Sorry to our Indiana friends out there :) I am hoping for a good game against Houston on Friday but am managing my expectations!