AI, Authenticity, and Mission Fit: Understanding Virginia Tech’s New Admissions Move

Virginia Tech just rolled out a major update to how it reviews applications – and every rising senior should be paying attention. The university has framed these changes as a response to rising application volume and a push for faster turnaround times, and that’s likely true. But in our view, there’s almost certainly more happening beneath the surface.

A Quick Note on Deadlines

First, a quick logistical update: Virginia Tech has bumped its Early Action deadline up from November 15 to November 1. That’s worth noting, but it’s not the headline here. If you’re applying, just be sure to adjust your timeline accordingly.

Note that Virginia Tech also has a materials deadline of December 1.

What’s Actually Changing: Human + AI Essay Review

Starting this fall, every essay submitted to Virginia Tech will be reviewed by both a human admissions officer and an AI tool built by the university’s own researchers. If the two scores are close, that’s it – the essay moves forward. If the scores are more than two points apart on a 12-point scale, a second human reviewer steps in.

It sounds straightforward, and from a logistics standpoint, it is. Virginia Tech received more than 57,000 applications last cycle, and this new process helps them move more quickly without sacrificing fairness or a standardized approach.

Why This Matters (and Why It’s likely Bigger Than They’re Letting On)

In my opinion, there are an additional two significant, unspoken reasons why Virginia Tech has turned to AI for essay review:

1. They want to detect AI-written essays.

I’ll be honest: this has become a huge problem in our work with students. About a year ago during a Meet & Greet, a parent asked whether many of our students were turning to AI to help with their essays. At the time, my answer was a clear no – it just wasn’t something we were seeing.

What a difference a year makes! Since then, we’ve seen a sharp uptick in students experimenting with AI tools to “draft” their college essay work between their meetings with our essay coaches. For some, it’s turned into a bit of a cat-and-mouse game – they try to pass off AI-generated content, and we step in to explain why that’s not just inappropriate, but extremely harmful to their chances of admission. And we’re catching it. When something feels off, we pause, ask hard questions, and help the student re-draft. It takes time, and yes, it can be frustrating – but the alternative is far worse.

So, while Virginia Tech hasn’t officially said that its new AI-assisted review system is meant to detect AI-generated essays, we’re almost certain that’s exactly what it’s doing. They’ve created a process that quietly flags essays that don’t feel quite right – and we know other colleges are doing the same, even if they’re not saying so publicly.

2. They want essays that reflect Virginia Tech’s mission and values.

Since Juan Espinoza’s leadership began approximately eight years ago, Virginia Tech has shown time and time again that they care deeply about mission fit. And they’ve been very clear about what that mission is! Guided by their motto Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech describes itself as “an inclusive community of knowledge, discovery, and creativity dedicated to improving the quality of life and the human condition” – both in Virginia and around the world.

They really live this out. You can feel the ethos in their supplemental prompts, which ask students to reflect on service, curiosity, impact, and community. So, our guess is that this AI model was trained to evaluate how well a student’s essay speaks to those values – not just in what they say, but in how they say it. Does the writing reflect a sense of purpose? A desire to contribute? A curiosity about the world and a willingness to serve others? Do the examples and anecdotes sound like a 17-year-old wrote them?

In other words, authenticity matters A LOT for Virginia Tech!

So, What Should Students Do?

Nothing different, if they are already writing their own essays, being thoughtful about their responses, and avoiding AI shortcuts. This new system only reinforces what we already teach: essays should be authentic, specific, and rooted in the student’s voice.

For that reason, I don’t mind this change. It gives students who are playing by the rules an edge. Because while some applicants will get flagged for using AI, and others might turn in essays that feel detached or surface-level, students who’ve taken the time to write with purpose will stand out even more.

Final Thoughts

Virginia Tech is the first college we’ve seen openly announce the use of AI in its essay review process – but we’d be shocked if they’re the only ones. Other schools are almost certainly using similar tools behind the scenes without public recognition of it. That’s why it’s more important than ever for students to stay grounded in their own voice.

If you’re guiding your student from the dining room table, here are a few steps to help keep things on track:

• Stick with a structured outline and encourage real-time drafting. Try not to skip straight from brainstorm to final draft.

• Use Google Docs and enable Revision History to ensure the process stays transparent – it’s a great way to see how writing evolves. If your student is copying and pasting large amounts of text, that’s a big sign that something is not right.

• If something feels “off” in tone – too polished, too generic, or just not like your child – that’s a sign to pause. Go back to the outline and have your student write with you present.

• Check drafts with multiple AI detection tools. They’re not perfect, but if one of them flags the writing and it doesn’t feel authentic, don’t take the risk.

We’ve heard from some parents who assume it’s fine to let ChatGPT write from a student-created outline, believing that the end result will “sound human” and pass through unnoticed. But colleges and their tools are getting sharper! What may have worked quietly last year will likely carry serious consequences this fall, including automatic application denial in addition to contact with the student’s high school about a potential academic integrity violation.

So, you don’t need to be an English teacher or tech expert. Just be present, ask questions, and help your student reflect on what they want to say/how they want to say it.

And of course, if you want backup, we’re always here!

Weekly Update: July 2

July has finally arrived – time for fireworks, family barbecues, and hopefully some time to relax! It’s also blazing hot and muggy in the DMV (and beyond), so stay cool and hydrated.

And speaking of soaring temperatures, the heat around higher education continues to build, too! Here’s your updated deep dive:

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

President of the University of Virginia Resigns

On June 27, 2025, Jim Ryan stepped down as President of the University of Virginia after months of federal pressure over the university’s diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs. The U.S. Department of Justice had accused UVA of failing to fully dismantle its DEI infrastructure, and the institution was under investigation for potential civil rights violations of anti-discrimination laws. In a public letter printed in The New York Times, Ryan said he believed staying on could put federal funding, research grants, student aid, and international student visas at risk. He chose to resign rather than jeopardize those resources.

Reactions were sharply divided. Virginia Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine called the move a politically motivated overreach, and more than 100 UVA faculty members signed a letter warning about threats to academic freedom. However, many others felt the resignation was long overdue and necessary to bring UVA in line with federal law with regard to DEI initiatives. Ryan also faced significant criticism regarding his response to reports of antisemitism on campus, particularly during pro-Palestinian protests.

No matter which side of the spectrum you fall, this is a good reminder to families evaluating colleges: look beyond rankings and consider how a school is navigating the social and political pressures shaping student life.

University of California System Under Investigation

The University of California system is now under federal investigation over concerns that its efforts to boost enrollment among underrepresented students may violate the Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling against race-based admissions. At issue is the U.C. 2030 Capacity Plan, which lays out goals for improving access to under-represented students to reflect California’s diversity. While the Department of Justice has major concerns about this plan, a university spokesperson says U.C. will work “in good faith” with federal officials – and insists that the plan follows the law because it doesn’t use quotas.

Florida Proposes Alternative Accreditation Body

Meanwhile, other states are challenging the accreditation process by which colleges and universities receive federal funding. Spearheaded by the state of Florida and Gov. Ron DeSantis, five Southern states are creating a new group, the Commission for Public Higher Education. This would provide an alternative approach to reviewing schools in the hopes of promoting more conservative educational practices. Their 2023 lawsuit to overturn the current setup didn’t succeed, but supporters are optimistic that the Trump administration might approve the new Commission. The plan already has the President’s endorsement.

Unemployment Impacting Recent Grads Continues to Soar

Picking up from last week’s update, unemployment among recent college grads is still making headlines – and the numbers aren’t great. For degree holders between the ages of 22 and 27, jobless rates have hit a 12-year high. When the economy gets shaky, companies often pull back on entry-level hiring, which puts new grads in a tough spot. Add in concerns about tariffs and the rise of AI, and you’ve got an especially uncertain job market for popular degree fields like IT and law. Some people are starting to question whether college is still worth it – but here’s the thing: the Associated Press points out that college grads consistently earn more and face less unemployment over the course of their lives. So if you're debating whether higher ed is a smart move, the long-term payoff still makes a pretty strong case – even if things feel a little rocky right now!

Princeton Review Drops Best Value Colleges of 2025 List

We always say to take rankings with a grain of salt, but Princeton Review’s annual Best Value Colleges list is one we actually like. Why? Because it looks at cost and long-term return on investment – not just prestige. It also recognizes that “best value” can mean different things depending on your financial situation. According to the just-released 2025 list, MIT tops the charts for students who aren’t applying for financial aid, while Williams College is the standout for those who are. Georgia Tech also shines as a top value across multiple categories for public schools. If you’re narrowing down your college list, it’s definitely worth comparing tuition costs against likely career outcomes.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

The Washington Post recently spoke with university faculty and recent grads to put a personal lens on the tough job market. With entry-level hiring largely paused and AI reshaping the workplace, many young adults feel like their side-hustles taught them more than their actual coursework (and honestly – I bet a lot of parents could identify with the lack of relevance of their undergraduate coursework, too). As one grad put it: the career path they’d prepared for just isn’t hiring. Still, others are forging ahead, taking leaps of faith – and we’re rooting for every single one of them!

In the face of all this, many grads are landing in roles that don’t quite match their expectations. And while it’s normal to take a job to pay the bills, it doesn’t mean the work has to feel meaningless. A recent article in The Atlantic outlines how you can turn any job into a calling by:

1. Looking within – focus on the fun or fulfilling parts of your job.

2. Following your curiosity – seek out tasks that genuinely interest you.

3. Being that person – help others; it's one of the most reliable ways to feel purpose.

For anyone feeling off-course – or just getting started – it’s a refreshing take on how mindset can shape experience.

On a lighter note, SFGate recently reported on Chapman University’s unique appeal to Disney fans. Thanks to its location near Disneyland, students can see nightly fireworks from campus – and yes, Disney-themed classes and projects are a thing! Some professors have even integrated park visits into their syllabi, and there's talk of launching an actual Disney Studies program. For families visiting colleges this summer, it’s a great reminder that location and local culture can seriously enhance the student experience. If you like the idea of combining a campus tour with a Disneyland visit, check out our post on Colleges with the Coolest Summer Events – we have lots of other fun combinations for you to consider!

Finally, while we're on the topic of tours – a wild story out of Virginia Tech serves as a quick reality check. Last week, 10 prospective students on a tour fell through a utility grate! Thankfully, no serious injuries were reported, but it's a reminder that even the most scenic campuses come with their hazards. As always: be curious, be observant – and maybe watch where you walk!

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

As many of our students dive into writing those all-important supplemental essays, we’re encouraging them to think about the unique communities and activities that have shaped who they are. Sports and summer camps are great – but leadership experience can be even more powerful (and essay-worthy!).

For our FCPS families, here’s a fantastic opportunity: Fairfax County Public Schools is now accepting applications for student members to serve on School Board Community Advisory Committees (CACs) for the 2025–2026 school year. This is a great chance to make a real impact while gaining experience in civic engagement, public service, and collaboration.

Student committee members must be current FCPS high schoolers (rising 9th–12th graders) and will serve a one-year term from August 1, 2025 to July 31, 2026. Members engage with their respective committees and provide feedback to the incoming Student Representative to the School Board, Faith Mekonen.

Available Committees include:

• Adult and Community Education Advisory Committee (ACEAC)

• Advanced Academic Programs Advisory Committee (AAPAC)

• Advisory Committee for Students with Disabilities (ACSD)

• Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee (CTEAC)

• Minority Student Achievement Oversight Committee (MSAOC)

• School Health Advisory Committee (SHAC)

Interested? Apply here. The priority deadline for interview consideration is July 7, 2025 – so don’t wait!

Enjoy the rest of your week - and don’t forget to book more meetings, rising seniors! School-specific supplemental essays keep dropping!

For More Higher Ed News, Check Out Our Other Recent Weekly Updates:

Weekly Update: January 8

Is everyone enjoying the extended winter break? Day 19 and counting…

via GIPHY

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

UT AUSTIN PRESIDENT JAY HARTZELL PONIES UP!

Southern Methodist University has become more and more of a hot school each year, but we’ve never seen a level of interest quite like we have during this current 2024-2025 application cycle. Whether it’s joining the ACC, waiving application fees this year, or simply providing a great mid-sized environment with a beautiful campus, good weather, and excellent career placement, SMU is becoming increasingly popular. UT Austin President Jay Hartzell must agree, because he just resigned to become SMU’s newest president. It will be interesting to see how his new leadership impacts the campus environment and student experience. Our prediction? SMU will continue to become more and more selective with each application cycle. Go Mustangs!

LOS ANGELES-AREA COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IMPACTED BY WILDFIRES

As of this writing, four major wildfires in the Los Angeles area have destroyed over 1,000 buildings, and the situation is becoming increasingly dire as firefighters reportedly face water shortages. Fortunately, some of the colleges and universities in Greater Los Angeles have not yet been impacted; as of 2:00 p.m. local time on Wednesday, campus operations have not yet been impacted at USC, UCLA, and Loyola Marymount. The Caltech campus is closed as a result of the Eaton fires; however, it’s not under an evacuation order yet. Pepperdine is is heavily impacted by the Palisades fires. Students won’t be evacuating, though! Check out this fascinating CNN piece that explains why. It makes sense, but wow - I cannot imagine how scary that must be for them!

$250+ MILLION DOLLAR TECH HUB OPENS AT GEORGE MASON

Virginia’s largest public research university, George Mason, is stepping up its game with the new Fuse at Mason Square, a cutting-edge tech hub on its Arlington campus. Located between Ballston and Clarendon, this building is now open for commercial use and will be ready for students in Fall 2025. It will house GMU’s new Institute for Digital Innovation and a number of programs from the new School of Computing, and the top-notch facilities include 12 advanced labs for students to collaborate with industry leaders. We highly recommend George Mason to STEM-oriented students who are willing to consider staying local! The university has transformed over the past five years, with a significant increase in students enrolled in computer science, computer engineering, and applied computer science programs.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

In “College in 2025? Buckle Up For a Wild Ride,” Town & Country writer James S. Murphy writes that “the upcoming year in higher education promises to be anything but boring.” His predictions include the following:

• The Department of Education will likely remain operational, regardless of Trump’s campaign messaging. (As an aside, even if it were to be shut down, this would not be the end of FAPE - a Fair and Appropriate Public Education via IEPs and 504 plans). 

• After quite a lot of hiccups, the FAFSA is now more user-friendly and will provide a better experience for families seeking federal financial aid. 

• Enrollment has continued to decline nationwide due to a variety of factors, and less-selective colleges will need to adapt in order to survive.

• Lastly (you knew it was coming), the college admissions process will be increasingly selective, but also increasingly difficult to predict.

Only have a minute? read the very end of the article, because it provides critically important information that families struggle to understand. While we've shared this information previously, hearing it from an external source can be beneficial. Published acceptance rates no longer provide information that can be used in a meaningful way to determine whether a student might be accepted. (Emphasis mine because this is SO TRUE).

I think the reason that families have so much trouble believing this because it defies all logic. However, because students are applying to more colleges than ever before, the calculus has changed in terms of the metrics that colleges use to admit students.

Highly selective schools are not accepting the absolute most qualified applicants. Instead, they are prioritizing applicants who are “most-qualified-who-might-actually-attend-based-on-predictive-data-that-is-often-wrong” 🤦‍♀️ I would also add that the impacts of socio-economic and geographic diversity have also changed dramatically.

This creates wonky stats that simply cannot be trusted. I really like the author’s comparison of Northeastern, Duke, and Cornell. For example, Northeastern had an acceptance rate of 70% in 2001. In 2023, it became 5.7%. There’s no doubt that Northeastern is really, really hard to get into now. But it’s certainly not harder to get in than Duke (6.8% acceptance rate) and Cornell (8.2% acceptance rate).

Finally, it’s important to recognize that test score data in the wake of the test-optional shift has continued to inflate averages at schools that are still test-optional, while admissions rates continue to plummet. The article’s example of Emory University is a great one - a 1480 at Emory is now under the 25th percentile, for instance. It can be extremely difficult for families to make the right decisions about whether to submit “good” or even “fantastic” scores that are still well below average. And the truth is that this is an incredibly nuanced decision: it’s not straightforward for even the most experienced college counselor.

On to an unrelated topic.. if you’ve had kids attend a Fairfax County middle school, you know that start times have been a hot topic for many years and are currently under formal study by the school board. I will admit that I did not follow this issue as closely as I should have before it began to impact me directly, but it’s pretty absurd what these kids have to deal with. My daughter has to be at school by 7:15, which requires being at the bus stop by 6:35. It’s awful for everyone - students, parents, and I can’t even imagine how bad it must be for the teachers!

If this is on your radar, too, check out the recent Time essay on the subject by a leading expert on the matter. Lynne Peeples is the author of The Inner Clock: Living in Sync with Our Circadian Rhythms, and she shares that these early school start times are very much not in sync with our circadian rhythms! She makes some good points that I had not actually considered, including the fact that the proposed national move to end daylight savings time will potentially undo any progress made on this issue. There has got to be a better way… 😴😴😴

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

We’ve continued working with a lot of younger students this week on course scheduling, and it’s funny to me how the same issues come up year after year. Can anyone guess what the single most hated high school course seems to be? Spanish. Without fail. Every year.

Interestingly, we don’t see the same hatred of other world languages (although Spanish is by far the most common language students take, so it may not be a fair comparison). It makes me wonder what’s happening in these classrooms that kids are so adamantly opposed! They would happily double up on all kinds of challenging courses to be able to get out of Spanish.

Unfortunately (as much as we hate to be the bearers of bad news for them), most colleges consider world language to be a core subject area, and students can’t just drop it without facing potential consequences in the college admissions process. It would be like dropping English or math.

Moreover, on a “life experience” note that has nothing to do with college admissions, I truly think that Spanish is one of the most practical subjects anyone can take in high school. When I think about all the random stuff I learned in high school that I never used again, it’s depressing. So many wasted hours. But Spanish? You can go right outside and start using it immediately, for the rest of your life! Just my two cents..

Weekly Update: January 25

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

VIRGINIA SENATE VOTES TO BAN LEGACY PREFERENCE IN ADMISSIONS

Virginia Tech got rid of legacy last summer, and it looks like we’re about to see the other Virginia schools follow suit. Here’s my unpopular opinion of the day: I am really bummed and disappointed about this. And I say that as someone who did not have the benefit of legacy preference to any schools I wanted to go to, when I applied to college - so I have no personal skin in the game here. But after so many years hearing incredibly heartfelt stories from students who have grown up watching basketball games with their parents in the JPJ for the previous 18 years or similar - these people live and breathe for their schools. I could share so many fun stories I’ve heard over the years - college-themed Christmas trees, family pets named after coaches, and more! Why shouldn’t those kids, who are already loyal members of a community, be able to get some preference to strengthen and formalize their role in that community? I assure you that unqualified legacies are not being admitted to these places anyway, so it just feels very unfair to me. My guess is that the average person on the street - or average lawmaker - does not realize that legacies still have to be exceptionally qualified applicants in order to get in under the current climate.

FAIRFAX COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO HOST ANNUAL GAP YEAR FAIR

On Tuesday, January 30, 2024, from 6:00 to 8:30 pm, FCPS School Counseling Services is partnering with Go Overseas to host the 2024 Gap Year Fair at Marshall High School (inclement weather plan: Thursday, February 1, 2024, 6-8:30 pm). A gap year is a break in schools between completing high school and beginning college which is typically a year-long break. The program begins at 6:00 pm with Gap Year 101, where an expert gap year counselor will present a general overview and then open up to questions. The fair itself begins at 7:00 pm. Students and families will be able to speak with gap year program providers, trip leaders, advisors, and gap year alumni and explore programs ranging from outdoor and experiential opportunities to travel and language immersion to community service and internships. Students should register using this link.

AN ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDSET CAN TEACH PERSISTENCE

The most recent “Teaching” newsletter in the Chronicle of Higher Education discusses a recent study that took a look at how an entrepreneurial mindset can help students who experience challenges, setbacks, or negative emotions to persevere through rather than disengage. Eliana Crosina, an assistant professor of entrepreneurship at Babson College in Massachusetts and her team document four ways in which professors can support students and teach them to persist. One of those actions suggests professors work with their colleagues to create a community to support both students and faculty. The newsletter’s author also brought into the discussion the dichotomy between a movement to deemphasize grades known as “ungrading” and the traditional classroom, in which students receive a final grade for the course.

SENSE OF COMMUNITY IS CRITICAL TO BLACK MALE COLLEGE COMPLETION

Katelynn Jarrells’ article “Building Belonging to Benefit Black Male Students” focuses on advice for college faculty and staff in addressing the significant drop in the rate of black male students who complete a bachelor’s degree. Research demonstrates that efforts to create a sense of belonging are more effective in supporting black males to degree completion than an emphasis on individualism has been. Virginia Commonwealth University’s success with their Men of Color Initiative is a model for other institutions of higher education in ways to help students feel connected to a community. This article argues that DEI training (diversity, equity, and inclusion) is inadequate and calls on colleges and universities to refocus on building community and engaging diverse students.

DIRECT-ADMISSION PROGRAMS ON THE RISE

Direct-admission programs have increased significantly over the past three years. State legislation in Idaho, Minnesota, and Georgia guarantees admission to specific state colleges or universities to students who meet specific criteria. A new collaboration between the Common Application and Niche, a college search website, allows students to input their information into an account, and participating colleges - including George Mason University, locally - can view and respond with an offer of admission for students who meet their criteria.

COLLEGES INVOLVED IN FINANCIAL AID ANTITRUST LAWSUIT CONTINUE TO SETTLE

An antitrust lawsuit filed in January 2022 accused 17 colleges and universities of acting as “a price-fixing cartel” when they collaborated on financial aid formulas. The lawsuit contends that the 17 schools violated the terms of the federal antitrust exemption that prohibited them from taking a family’s ability to pay into account when making admission decisions. University of Chicago was the first defendant to reach a settlement in August 2023, while Emory, Rice, and Vanderbilt followed in September, October, and November respectively. Brown, Columbia, Duke, and Yale settled earlier this week.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

A study released this week reports that 86 percent of college and university faculty and staff support implementing new learning models which focus on skills and competencies. The survey also assessed the use of “comprehensive learning records” (CLRs) to document students’ mastery of these skills or competencies. More community and technical colleges are taking the lead on the shift to map learning to the skills employers are looking for in their employees. 

The cost of college has been in the news frequently over the past month. The New York Times article, “Why Is Paying for College So Complicated?” provides an overview and history of the financial aid system in American colleges and universities. Ron Lieber, the author, provides insight into the rise of merit aid and federal and state grants, savings, and loan programs. In our January 16 Weekly Update we shared an article about the College Cost Reduction Act introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives, and in our January 5 Weekly Update, we included an article about the launch of the redesigned FAFSA, which has been plagued by delays and other issues. Last week, a different New York Times article chronicled the choices recent college dropouts have faced and why some young people are questioning whether or not a degree from an expensive school is worth the debt.

Financial concerns are not just affecting high school and college students, but also having an impact on higher education institutions across this country. The University of Redlands in southern California west of Los Angeles announced its third merger with a floundering school—nearby Woodbury University located in Burbank, just north of LA. In 2019, Redlands merged with San Francisco Theological Seminary, and, in 2022, they began the merger process with the Presidio Graduate School in San Francisco. In 2023 alone, 15 colleges and universities closed, merged with another school, or were acquired by other schools. 

Amid renewed controversy over the role of the SAT and ACT in college admissions, the Commonwealth of Virginia has initiated funding for tutoring for students in grades three through eight who performed poorly on the reading and/or math SOLs (Standards of Learning). An article in The Washington Post details the plans to implement the requirements of ALL In VA, the education plan announced by Governor Youngkin in September in response to learning loss as a result of the pandemic. Tutoring efforts have begun in Fairfax, Arlington, Alexandria, and Loudoun counties. Each district has the authority to determine who is eligible for the tutoring, how the tutoring will be implemented, and how families will be notified. 

And in the feel-good story of the month, the Oakton High School marching band learned that they were the winners of the high school small band division of the first ever “For Whom the Band Tolls!” competition, in which marching bands were challenged to create performances using the songs and sounds of Metallica. Over 450 high schools and colleges entered the competition in one of five divisions, and the marching band will receive a customized package of musical equipment with a value of $15,000. Performances by each of the winning bands, including the Oakton High School Marching Cougars, can be viewed on YouTube. Congratulations, Cougars!

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

Do you want to build a snowman? Across the northern Virginia, DC, Maryland region, students enjoyed two snow days last week! Sally’s 9th grade daughter and her friends found enough snow to build a little snowman. Whether it was sleeping in, reading a book, playing outside, or enjoying some family games, we hope our students and their families were able to enjoy the days off.

In other news, we are busy gearing up for a meeting with all of our essay coaches this weekend to get ready for the upcoming 2024-2025 Common Application (R) essay prompt release! It will be nice to have our entire team together, albeit virtually!

check out our most recent weekly updates in case you missed any!

Weekly Update: NOVEMBER 2! We made it!

We made it past 11/1! It is hard for me to even wrap my head around the fact that 6/29, the day of the Supreme Court decision, was a smidge over four months ago. These have been the longest four months of my life! So. Many. Essays! Predictably, the Common App (R) glitched a ton last week and early this week. If you’re reading this and you haven’t submitted all of your 11/15 apps yet - do it NOW! Don’t wait.

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE LAST FEW WEEKS

HORRIFIC ANTISEMITISM ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES

Some of the recent antisemitic incidents on college campuses are so awful that I am honestly having a hard time wrapping my head around how they are possible in today’s world. Even if people are horrible enough to want to do these things (which I struggle with understanding, in and of itself) - how could they be so stupid to think that they can behave this way and get away with it? I really do not get it. When I first started drafting this post, the FBI was investigating the incidents at Cornell, and I’m so glad they were able to identify the person allegedly responsible, Patrick Dai. I hope this sends a strong message to students nationwide - no one will get away with this behavior.

VIRGINIA PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES ROLL OUT GUARANTEED ADMISSION PROGRAMS

No, not those Virginia public universities 😀 But these are great options for students, nonetheless! George Mason recently announced guaranteed admissions agreements for seniors at Alexandria City High School (formerly T.C. Williams) as well as Osbourn High School in Manassas. Students with grade point averages of 3.25 are automatically admitted - no applications, fees, essays, recommendations or test scores. VCU announced a similar initiative, except that any qualifying student in the state is eligible - regardless of high school. Students need GPAs of 3.5+, or must rank in the top ten percent of their high school class.

LIBERTY AND HILLSDALE FACE EXTREME BACKLASH

Liberty University is in hot water (to put it mildly) for their alleged violations of the Clery Act. According to the Washington Post, “Liberty failed to warn the campus community about gas leaks, bomb threats and people credibly accused of repeated acts of sexual violence — including a senior administrator and an athlete.” Several days later, Hillsdale College alumnae filed a federal suit alleging that the school violated state law and Title IX by by failing to address sexual assaults on campus. These allegations are very serious, and a good reminder to do your due diligence on any litigation involving schools on your student’s college list.

LOTS OF CHANGES AT UVA

UVA has now changed their approach to early decision and early action applications. Starting with this 2023-2024 application cycle, students will no longer be deferred to regular decision - just admitted, wait-listed, or denied. I think this is a great thing, by the way. The chances of admission post-deferral are so low - particularly with early decision - and it’s so much easier for students to be able to move on with their lives and make the best decisions possible without holding out for something that will likely never happen. Another change - UVA’s commerce (business) major will now be a three-year program instead of a two-year program. This is great for students who are hoping to have a more comprehensive, longer-term approach to business. And lastly, SCHEV approved UVA’s data science major last month, opening the door for undergraduates to move beyond the data science minor and pursue the much-desired major option.

SRAR PROBLEMS

More and more schools are requiring the SRAR, or Self-Reported Academic Record. In fact, Sally has spent quite a bit of time over the last few weeks helping our seniors complete and submit these after they submitted their actual applications. However, a number of problems have emerged over the past few days. Rutgers applicants had trouble accessing their applicant portals due to technical issues, and couldn’t link their SRARs to their Rutgers applications. Fortunately, Rutgers extended their materials deadline (and for SRAR completion) to 11/10 for students who submitted their application on time. Applicants to other schools have reported logging into their SRAR to find that it is pre-populated with inaccurate information. Make sure to check everything over with a fine-tooth comb!

BEST ARTICLES OF THE LAST FEW WEEKS

While it’s nice to see that top law firms are putting pressure on colleges and universities to make sure the anti-semitic behavior referenced earlier in this post is addressed appropriately, I am with Bill Ackman - it’s really unfortunate that the pressure has to happen in the first place. BTW, I really like the way the law firms included Islamophobia in their letter, too. This kind of hatred is just totally unacceptable across the board and makes me sick.

The last place I would have expected a mass shooting is Lewiston, Maine, home of top liberal arts school Bates College - but Bates students had a really rough time last week. Students at Bowdoin College and Colby College were also impacted, as well as local campuses of the Universities of Maine and New England. One of Sally’s children is a student at one of these schools (keeping it vague for privacy!) and it just sounds like it was a terrifying situation all around for them.

On a more positive note, researchers from UVA’s School of Education and Human development recently developed what they call the Portrait of a Thriving Youth. This is a great read for parents, teachers, and anyone else working with or supporting an adolescent or young adult - it helps us identify needs and challenges as well as milestones and competencies. As a parent, I find this kind of thing so helpful, because I constantly remind myself that adolescent behavior is developmentally normal, despite the fact that it makes me want to pull my hair out. I have to literally repeat it to myself over and over in my head: “This is developmentally normal, this is actually a good thing, it would be bad if this behavior was not happening.” Whatever works, right?!

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

Fortunately, all of our 11/1 applications were submitted well in advance of the deadlines and almost of our students have submitted all of their regular decision applications as well. Things have started to settle down for a minute and we are giving our full attention to the juniors, transfers, and grad school applicants. And all of our former clients registering for their Spring 2024 classes over the next few weeks - we’re helping with course selection!

Hope everyone had a great Halloween! Several hours in advance, my son bailed on HIS plan 😀 for our Travis/Taylor costumes in favor of wearing last year’s Pokemon costume again - so I just went with it!

Have a great weekend and enjoy the slightly warmer weather after this week’s cold front!