10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a College Counselor

Maybe you are the parent of an eighth grader wanting to get a jump on high school course selection, or a junior family at the end of your rope with the mounting application stress at home. Wherever you are in the process, you’ve decided that you need some help, and you’re pretty sure that you’re ready to start working with an educational consultant.

It’s not just the college search that can feel overwhelming - the search for the right educational consultant (or college counselor) can be overwhelming too! Educational consulting is a field with a notoriously low barrier to entry, so how do you know if the consultant you’re considering has the knowledge and experience to support you and your family? 

The answer is - do your research and have a conversation! Take the time to make sure you are working with a consultant who can help with YOUR specific goals. To get you started, we’ve compiled some questions to ask before you hire someone to work with you on your college search.

Questions to Ask

1. Who in your office will be reading and reviewing my child’s college applications? Does that person have previous experience working in an admissions office? Does that person have previous experience working in a high school counseling office?

2. Who in your office will be reading and reviewing my child’s essays? Will more than one person review the essays, to get a variety of perspectives on the work? Does someone perform a final proofread of everything?

3. What do you believe is an appropriate level of parent involvement? Will you share my child’s essays and applications with me if I ask to see them? What if my child and I disagree on important matters, such as college choices or quitting a major activity - whose side will you take?

4. How will you help keep my student on track in implementing your college admissions strategy?

5. Do you advertise your services? How do you typically connect with prospective clients?

6. How many students do you work with each year?

7. What services are included in my package? Do I have options to make sure the services will help with my family’s specific needs?

8. What services are NOT included in my package? What will I be responsible for at home with my student?

9. What are your hours? How long will I have to wait for an appointment? 

10. What kind of experience do you have with students like mine? What if I need to pivot or my family’s goals change during the process? Is your experience broad enough to accommodate this or do you only work with students in a particular niche?

A few thoughts

You will notice that some of these answers are relatively straightforward, with clear “right” and “wrong” answers. For example, it’s extremely important to retain a consultant who has professional experience working in an admissions office. Nearly everyone in our field would agree with this… unless they don’t have the right experience :)

On the other hand, most answers relate to individual family preferences, and what is right for one family will not be right for another. For example, one area where our views actually differ from a lot of other consultants has to do with final decision-making power. While we do our best to make the process as student-centered as possible, we feel that parents, not students, should be the final decision-makers in the event of a disagreement.

So while we would not hesitate to let parents know privately if we believe they are making a mistake, we would maintain a neutral position in front of the student and would never contradict their parents. We also tell students off the bat that there should be no expectation of privacy between us and their parents; if their parents want to read their college essays, we will make those available. Other consultants believe that this approach would be completely inappropriate, and that these decisions should be left up to the students.

Again, there’s no right answer, but it’s important to make sure the person you hire has views that align with your own.

FUN FACT

You may have noticed that we use the titles “educational consultant” and “college counselor” interchangeably. An “educational consultant” is a broader term that encompasses a wide variety of professionals helping to support families and organizations with issues related to education. On the other hand, college (and graduate school) counseling is our particular specialty. Either term is correct - you pick!

If you’d like to talk with us about whether we’d be a good match, don’t be afraid to reach out! We also make sure that many of these answers are visible on our website, and pride ourselves in our transparency:

Weekly Update: January 14

Happy Friday! A note that our office will be closed on Monday for MLK, Jr. Day. Have a great long weekend!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

TOP COLLEGES SUED FOR ANTITRUST VIOLATIONS

Sixteen top universities, including Yale, Georgetown, Penn, MIT, Brown, and Northwestern, are being sued for antitrust violations in response to the way that they work together when determining financial aid awards for students. The lawsuit was filed in Illinois this past weekend, and claims that over 170,000 students were overcharged in a financial aid system that amounts to price-fixing by the colleges. 

Though the schools do coordinate their financial aid processes, this system has been exempt from antitrust laws because all of the schools named in the lawsuit are need-blind, so financial need is not considered a factor in their admissions processes. But the lawsuit casts doubt on whether these universities truly do not consider need as an admissions factor. 

This is why we never recommend “applying just to apply” if you already know you won’t qualify for need-based financial aid! For more about this, check out our blog post on the FAFSA.

GO DAWGS!

On Monday night, the University of Georgia beat Alabama in the national football championship. This is the first title for Georgia since 1980. UGA’s campus as well as the city of Atlanta and other areas around Georgia have been celebrating the historic win!

ENROLLMENT CONTINUES TO DROP

This feels like a groundhog-day story at this point, but college enrollment nationwide continued to drop this fall, despite vaccine availability. The decline equals over a million students in the workforce rather than in the classroom, which we can expect to have an impact on the US economy moving forward, especially if this trend continues beyond the pandemic years.

UVA PROVOST BECOMES PENN’S NEXT PRESIDENT

Liz Magill, the Provost at UVA, has been selected as the next president of the University of Pennsylvania. In 2019, Magill became the first female provost at UVA. Magill will begin her new role at Penn on July 1. Ian Baucom, the current Dean of Arts & Sciences, will become UVA’s new provost. 

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

This week’s biggest story is that of Mackenzie Fierceton, a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania. Fierceton was admitted to Penn as an undergraduate, first-generation student - she wrote her senior thesis based on her time in foster care. After Fierceton was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship, however, her story began to fall apart. 

An anonymous informant emailed Penn’s administration to reveal that Mackenzie grew up in an affluent suburb, with her mother, who was a college graduate. The email, sent to both Penn and the Rhodes Trust, included images of Mackenzie from her high school yearbook - skydiving, horseback riding, and whitewater rafting. Both organizations began extensive investigations into her story. Ultimately, Fierceton withdrew from the Rhodes scholarship. Penn is also withholding her diploma until their investigation is complete. 

In December, Mackenzie Fierceton filed a lawsuit against Penn for their handling of her case, and particularly the “unjust” withholding of her degree. The case also raises issues of how victims of child abuse are treated, and whether her essays and descriptions of her childhood are reflective of what she experienced. 

At the center of the controversy was Fierceton’s undergraduate admissions essay, detailing the severe child abuse that landed her in the foster care system. These events have brought to the surface the pressure that some students feel to write about trauma as the topic for an engaging college essay. But as we tell our students every year, you don’t need to have experienced hardship to write an engaging essay - and pretending you did can clearly backfire! Our Wow Writing Workshop process helps students tell THEIR stories in a clear, interesting, and exciting way.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

In our midweek blog this week, we covered your questions about summer opportunities. And yes, you should begin thinking about summer opportunities now! A couple that stood out to us this week were Vanderbilt’s Programs for Talented Youth, which serve students in grades 1-12. Applications are open now for the university’s in-person residential Summer Academy for 7-12th graders, as well as the Virtual Research Experience. 

If you don’t have the money to spend this summer on an impressive-sounding college program, don’t worry! There are plenty of free or even paid opportunities to specialize and develop your niche as an applicant. We’re excited about the course options available through FCPS’s High School Academies, which give the opportunity to specialize in a variety of areas for all FCPS students!

That’s it for today - enjoy the long weekend!

---

Missed a Notification? Check Out Our Recent Posts!

Summer Opportunities Start Now

“What are you doing this summer?”

With freezing temperatures and snow on the ground, it might seem crazy to ask about summer plans. But if you’re hoping for a great summer opportunity, you have to get moving before all the best options are snapped up! Summer break is the perfect time to pursue an internship, sign up for a college course, or volunteer locally. Opportunities are already available for Summer 2022, and believe it or not, a lot of schools and programs have deadlines earlier than you’d expect. So even though it’s January and summer feels light years away, now is the time to start planning! 

Of course, planning isn’t always easy. With so many possibilities, it can be difficult to find the one that’s right for you. That’s why we’re here! Today we’re answering frequently asked questions and sharing tips to help you make the most of your summer. 

Why are summer opportunities so important?

After nine months of classes, homework, and a busy schedule, you probably feel like you need a break. We get it–and we definitely encourage you to relax and have fun! But you can actually have a lot of fun while taking advantage of a summer opportunity. This is your chance to explore new interests that you may not be able to explore during the school year. Have you ever thought about becoming a broadcaster or learning the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, for example? Or maybe you want to delve deeper into your current passion, whether it’s biomedical research or conservation.  You might just discover a future major or career path! Not to mention the new friends you’ll make and the new experiences you’ll have.

Regardless of the type of summer opportunity you pursue, you’re sure to gain critical skills you’ll need for college and beyond. Imagine collaborating with students from all over the world at Wharton Global Youth Program; advocating for climate change through the Chesapeake Bay Foundation; or fundraising for Women Giving Back. There are so many ways that you can enhance your communication skills, leadership, and confidence. 

And we can’t forget to mention that summer opportunities are a great addition to your resume and college applications. Even if you’re a freshman in high school, it’s never too early to start gaining experience. Admissions committees like to see students who become deeply involved in the ares about which they are most passionate. As a bonus, your summer opportunity could end up providing perfect material for use in a college admissions essay later on!

Which opportunities should I pursue? 

The opportunities you pursue will depend on a variety of factors: location, access, program criteria, personal interests, and more. As you explore different options, we encourage you to first consider logistics. How much time can you realistically dedicate to the opportunity? Are you able to commute or travel as needed, or is a virtual position better for you? There are so many possibilities out there, so don’t let time, money, or the lack of a driver’s license keep you from exploring. 

Once you’ve determined logistics, you’ll want to match your interests to available opportunities. The best way to start is by thinking about some of your favorite courses, extracurricular involvement, or possible subjects you’d like to major in. For example, if you loved the marketing elective you took this year, search for business-related courses or programs. If you’re the president of the robotics club, apply to an engineering internship and STEM program. If you know you like to write, take a closer look at journalism classes or internships that would allow you to create blog posts. 

As part of your planning, remember that internships can be especially competitive due to lack of space, and not all academic programs guarantee admission. Look closely at application deadlines and decision dates, and consider applying to a few opportunities that appeal to you.

Where can I find a summer opportunity?

It can take days, even weeks, to sift through thousands of search results and websites. But good news- we’ve done a lot of the work for you! Visit the DC College Counseling Summer Internship Database for a comprehensive list of internships, programs, college classes, volunteer opportunities, and more.

What if I need help applying to an opportunity?

That’s what we’re here for! We support students with applications, essays, resumes, cover letters, recommendation letters… you name it! Visit our website today to schedule an appointment. We promise you’ll forget all about the cold!  

Current Clients: Click Here to Book a Session

New Clients: Click Here to Book a Session

Weekly Update: January 7

We hope you all had a fun and restful break, and we’re excited to be back with our first weekly update of 2022!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

FCPS CANCELLED DUE TO SNOW

An FCPS snow day turned into a snow week as students in Fairfax County, Arlington County, and other local districts had an entire extra week of break due to the weather. We hope that our students enjoyed the extra week off and were able to catch up on some rest before heading back to the classroom next week!

CHICAGO SCHOOLS CLOSE  

In Chicago, it isn’t snow that is keeping the schools closed. Schools have now been closed for three days due to the standoff between the teachers’ union and city officials. Officials want the school year to proceed in person, while the teachers’ union is calling for more COVID-19 precautions and more widely available testing. As of this posting, there is no sign of a resolution to the difficulties, and we expect to see schools continue to be closed next week, leaving some families scrambling to find childcare. 

HBCU CAMPUSES TARGETED WITH BOMB THREATS

Howard and Spelman were two of the eight HBCUs that received bomb threats on Tuesday. The FBI and local police investigated the threats and found no bombs, but the targeted threats caused some anxiety for students and staff on campus. Howard students and staff reported that as one of two HBCUs in DC, they feel particularly vulnerable to these types of threats. 

NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Monday night’s championship game between the University of Alabama and the University of Georgia will be the first game in what George Will calls the “name-image-likeness era.” The players in this game will be the first to benefit from the NCAA’s new NIL regulations that allow student-athletes to profit off of the use of their name, image, or likeness - a reversal of the NCAA’s strong commitment to not paying amateur players.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Jeff Selingo’s latest newsletter offers some ideas on how to make a big campus feel small. What they all have in common is building community. Having a “cohort” on campus is important, whether something formal like a sports team or club or just a group of peers. But building relationships with faculty mentors is also essential, and forced “mentorship” does not have nearly the same positive effect as genuine relationship-building. This was especially interesting to read during the pandemic, as online learning has made these types of connections more difficult to create for college students. 

A couple articles from The Atlantic this week underline this sentiment: that perhaps school closures cause more harm than good, at both the college and K-12 levels. Between struggles with mental health and the learning loss that comes from remote learning, both articles outline the risks that continued school closures pose to students.  

This was an interesting article about the benefits and drawbacks of taking dual enrollment classes during high school. If you are considering a dual enrollment class, we’d encourage you to think about it in the context of what is available at your high school. If you have maxed out your high school’s offerings, particularly in core subjects like math and foreign language, dual enrollment courses could be great options. However, as the article says, they aren’t necessarily a foolproof way to obtain college credits. Just note that most of this information applies to dual enrollment college courses that are taught at community colleges, rather than “college-level” coursework in high school such as AP and IB. 

Wondering what’s going on in your high school teacher’s brain during a typical school day? A high school English teacher sums it up for the Washington Post.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

As we check in with our 10th and 11th grade students in the next few weeks, a big part of our conversations is selecting summer plans. It seems early, but many summer program applications are open right now! If you are looking for enrichment opportunities this summer or even this spring, take a look at our summer opportunities database, updated today. One new opportunity we’re sharing is paid work as a referee for the Great Falls Reston Soccer Club - a way to earn some extra money and round out an activities list for an athlete who is an aspiring education, kinesiology, or sports psychology major! 

We have had a lot to catch up on after the break, and decisions keep coming in for our Class of 2022 students. We are so proud!! We are also working on initial research and application materials with the Class of 2023. To learn more about how we can help your student navigate this coming admissions cycle, book a Meet & Greet.

---

Missed a Notification? Check Out Our Recent Posts!

Your Course Selection Questions, Answered!

It’s January, and for a lot of high school students, that means it's time for course selection! This week we wanted to offer some answers to the most frequently asked questions we get about course selection from our students, to help you build the best possible high school schedule next semester and beyond.

---

“Do I have to take Spanish?”

I’d have to say that this is the number one question we get from students, and we hate to be the bearers of bad news - but YES, you do! Most schools are looking for students to take a language for all four years of high school. If at all possible, plan to take one language throughout high school rather than switching or stopping after junior year. Yes, even if you came in at a higher level after middle school coursework and will have finished Spanish 4 at the end of tenth grade. Yes, even if you really, really, really don’t want to.

“Which is better, Honors Calculus or AP Statistics?”

Most selective schools like to see students on the calculus track, so if you have not yet taken a calculus course, that would be the best option. AP Calculus is better than Honors Calculus (and we love to see students finish AB and BC of possible) but I’d still recommend choosing Honors Calculus over AP Statistics if those are the only two choices. For students that finish their school’s calculus offerings during their junior year, AP Statistics might be a great senior year option - particularly if they attend schools that do not offer Linear Algebra or another advanced math course.

“What if my school doesn’t have those higher-level courses?”

Schools want to see you take the most rigorous course load available to you. Luckily, they have a profile of your high school, along with your counselor letter of recommendation. These documents provide context about the choices you made among the options you had. If your school only offers two AP classes and you’ve taken them both, an admissions officer will evaluate that very differently from a student who has taken two APs at a school that offers eleven. But remember - AP courses alone do not necessarily equate to rigor (as in the math example above). Try to pick the most challenging courses across the board, AP or not.

“Is it better to get an A in a regular class or a B in an AP class?”

This is truly the million-dollar question! Unfortunately, it doesn’t have a simple answer because - it depends. With our clients, we look at the overall strength of the transcript and the student profile before giving advice on this issue. 

In general, it is better to get an A in an AP class! If you are considering dropping down a level in a class, here are a couple of things to consider:

1. Is this a subject area that you are applying to major in, or is it closely related?

2. If you stay in the higher-level class, is there a chance that you will receive a C or below?

3. If you stay in the higher-level class, will your grades drop in your other classes because you will spend so much time on more difficult material? (This is a very important one to consider).

4. If you stay in the higher-level class, will it compromise your time management or mental health?

In the end, this is ultimately a decision that should be made with the help of your parents and school counselor (and, if you are a client, let’s discuss!).

“Which electives should I take?”

One of the first things we do with all of our new clients is talk with them about where they think they might like to specialize. So if you have some open slots on your schedule, take a look at the subjects where you already excel and the extracurricular activities that you love. Are you an athlete who thinks you may excel as a physical therapist? Try out Anatomy & Physiology. Are you a DECA rockstar? See if there is an entrepreneurship or business elective you haven’t already taken. When thinking about adding courses, you want to make sure that they fit into your overall applicant profile and align with your interests. The bonus is that you will enjoy classes much more if they connect to what you already love to do!  

---

If you want to talk more with us about course selection, book a strategy session and we can dive deep into your schedule and come up with a plan for the next two, three, or four years of high school. 

We hope you enjoy the start of the new semester!

Weekly Update: December 31

Happy New Year’s Eve! Our office is closed today for the holiday, but we’ll be back on Monday and look forward to starting the new year with you!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

COLLEGE FOOTBALL BOWL GAMES CANCELLED

At the time of this writing, five college bowl games have already been cancelled, and two others have been rescheduled or rearranged due to COVID-19. As the coronavirus spreads among college football teams (in addition to impacting the wider campuses and holiday travel), we anticipate seeing even more cancellations and changes arise. 

COMMUNITY COLLEGE ENROLLMENT DROP CONTINUES

We all know that community colleges were hit hardest by COVID-related enrollment declines, and those in Northern Virginia are no exception. Enrollment has continued to decline this year at local community colleges, with Northern Virginia Community College enrollment down 5%, Prince George’s Community College down 10%, and Montgomery College down 19%! Statewide, enrollment is down 9% in Virginia and 14% in Maryland.

A strong market for job seekers could contribute to the continuing decline, but it may also be a result of students with limited internet access or caring responsibilities at home who are unable to attend classes remotely. Many schools are now working to up their recruitment and retention efforts.

COLLEGES DELAY SPRING SEMESTER STARTS

Howard and Vanderbilt are some of the latest schools to join Yale, Syracuse, and others in pushing back the start of the semester due to the coronavirus surge. The school is also requiring staff and students to receive booster shots by the end of January.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

I really enjoyed this Buzzfeed piece on secrets from admissions officers. Not only is it funny, some of the advice is EXCELLENT! I particularly liked #s 4, 8, 17 and absolutely, absolutely #19). But read it with a grain of salt if you’re applying to competitive or highly competitive schools - there’s some information that only applies to less competitive schools and could be misleading without that context (#s 3, 7, 21 in particular).

WHAT the heck is happening in Arlington County? I would have expected to read about their new proposed grading systems in the Onion, not the Washington Post! Some of the proposed plans “would, among other things, remove penalties for missing homework deadlines and prohibit grading of what is called formative work — daily assignments.” Another proposal involves unlimited redoes and retakes, according to WJLA. Trust me - this is not going to do anyone any favors from a college admissions standpoint.. it will totally destroy the district’s (quite strong) reputation.

While we’ve written extensively about the detrimental effects the pandemic has had on many two- and four-year colleges, there is one population that has seen a benefit: for-profit institutions. Many already had flexible schedules and online classes, and were able to advertise their business model as one that could meet the moment. After receiving years of bad press for unethical sales methods and disreputable courses, this was an opportunity for for-profit colleges to make a comeback. 

Miss some posts in 2021? Check out this Washington Post article for a recap of the best and worst education news of the year.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

We are closed today for the New Year’s Eve holiday, and looking forward to getting back to meeting with students next week. Enjoy the holiday, and happy New Year!!

---

Missed a Notification? Check Out Our Recent Posts!

A Day in the Life, Part III

For those who have followed our blog for a while, you might remember Colleen and Shannon sharing a behind-the-scenes perspective of life at DC College Counseling. Now Staci is joining us for the third installment in our ‘day in the life’ series.

---

There are just a few days left in 2021, and it’s no surprise to me that this year has gone by so quickly! Taking on a new full-time role at DC College Counseling has kept me very busy. As Colleen once said, there’s truly never a dull moment here, and I wouldn’t want it any other way. Here’s a glimpse into one of my typical days.

---

5:27AM: There are still a few minutes until my alarm is supposed to go off, but I’m already awake. As my coffee brews, I check my email and notice that a former client (now a sophomore in college) has scheduled an appointment later this week. I’m so excited to catch up and help him with a business program application essay. It’s always so much fun to see all of the great things our students continue to do after high school! 

6:30AM: Even though it’s just a few blocks, I’m regretting my decision to walk to the gym. It’s freezing! But I’m sure an hour of hot yoga will thaw me out. Then it’s time to teach Zumba in the dance studio next door. In my spare time, I’m a group fitness instructor, and with this being a holiday week, there are plenty of classes for me to sub. For all of the students who ask me about the secret to my enthusiasm, this is it. Early morning workouts help me stay energized all day.

Interesting fact: I’ve danced since I was three years old, and this was the subject for my college admissions essay.

9:30AM: After a quick shower, I grab my work bag and head to the neighborhood coffee shop. Luckily, my favorite corner table is open. As I sip on coffee #2 of the day and wait for my oatmeal to cool down, I take a look at my tasks for the day on Asana (the greatest project management app, in my opinion!). With six essay coaching meetings scheduled (mostly back-to-back), I start writing ‘to do’ lists for each student in my old- fashioned notebook. I also check in on the progress of their homework assignments and set up a few documents and templates.

Once I’ve organized all of my meetings, I log into our DC College Counseling social media accounts. This is part of my daily morning routine, so I can respond to messages and engage with the latest college admissions news and discussions. Today there’s a lot of talk about declining enrollment at local community colleges, as well as tips for high school seniors to maximize the winter months. We wrote a similar blog post a few weeks back on how to make the most of your winter break. Check it out! 

With my 12pm meeting approaching fast, I finish formatting a resume for one of our clients- a college junior who’s getting ready to apply for summer internships. Then I turn my attention to a similar project–the DC College Counseling Summer Internship Database. Every week, I research and share opportunities for high school students to intern, volunteer, or take enrichment courses. There aren’t many new postings this week, but I expect to see a lot of exciting announcements in the new year. Keep checking our website for the latest updates!

12:00-3:00PM: After trading the coffee shop for the office, it’s time for my favorite part of the day-working with students! Not only do I enjoy getting to know all of our clients, but I also love the chance to be creative and collaborative. Every session is different, and I’m never bored! Today, for example, I’m helping students with business school application essays; script writing and video editing; and a digital artistic portfolio. 

3:00PM: After meeting with three students, I have a short break in my schedule. For the next thirty minutes, I write recap emails and grab a third cup of coffee. Don’t worry, it’s decaf this time! 

3:30-5:30PM: I put on my blue light glasses and kick off a two-hour session with one of our seniors. We work on a letter of continued interest and prepare for an upcoming admissions interview. Students usually look at me like I’m crazy when I suddenly adopt a persona and ask them to tell me about themselves. Today is no exception! There are a lot of laughs and a superior mock interview session.

5:30-6:00PM: I’m supposed to have one more small break before my next meeting, but there are some time -sensitive emails that have just come in. I need to answer them before writing the latest recap email.

6:00-7:00PM: It’s the last meeting of the day, and we’re revising the four- count em’, four- supplemental essays this student has diligently drafted over the winter break. With three minutes to spare at the end of our session, we submit them for final review and discuss homework assignments: one more essay to write and his college application will be complete. 

7:00-7:30PM: I can finally slow down and close out my tasks for the day. I send one last recap email and double check that I’ve answered all time-sensitive messages. It looks like I don’t have as many student meetings scheduled for tomorrow, so I can work on some other projects involving social media and outreach.

8:00PM: I’m craving fresh air, so I take advantage of one of the many outdoor holiday events in northern Virginia. I’ll be in bed soon, though. Tomorrow is another early morning.

Town Hall, Old Town Alexandria (sorry but the carolers aren’t pictured)

Weekly Update: December 24

A very merry Christmas Eve to all those celebrating today and tomorrow! Our office is closed today for the holiday, but we will be open on Monday and Shannon and Staci will be available to help answer any questions :)

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

MORE CAMPUS SHUTDOWNS

We covered the campus closures at Cornell, GW, Stanford, and others last week, and this week brought more to add to the list. Yale has moved finals online, while in Boston Harvard and Emerson have announced that the spring semester will begin remotely in 2022. Seven of the colleges in the UC system have also decided to begin next semester online. Meanwhile, several schools including UVA, Oberlin, and Northwestern have made COVID-19 boosters mandatory for students returning to campus. 

However, one medical expert disagrees with the decision to send students home, saying that the travel required to send students all over the country is more likely to increase the spread of COVID than keeping them in a quarantine situation on campus. We’ll be waiting to see whether more closures are announced in the new year. (P.S. If you are a parent worried about your high school or college student’s exposure over the holidays, check out this article for tips on staying safe)

NEW YORK’S CITY COLLEGE HAS A MYSTERIOUS BENEFACTOR

A physics professor at City College in Harlem received a package in the mail. Inside? $180,000 in cash. A letter included in the package explained that the goal of the gift was to help needy physics and math students at the college. The anonymous letter stated that the donation was from a former physics department student. 

After investigating whether the cash was the result of criminal activity, the college’s Board of Trustees formally voted to accept the gift last week.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Every year, there are always a few students who, despite being accepted into their early decision schools, want to know: Is early decision really binding? This article from the New York Times aims to answer that question - and the answer might surprise some families. The truth is that if you cannot afford to attend the school to which you applied early decision, you can back out of the agreement.

Now keep in mind - this doesn’t mean you can go back to the school and change your mind later if you don’t get a better deal from another school - you can’t. This is why families who want to compare aid offers may decide that early decision is not for them. But at nearly all institutions, no one would penalize a student who decides that they can’t afford to attend and wants to back out. That student would be able to withdraw the ED application with no issue. However, many schools leave this information in the fine print, or say that they will work with students on the financial aspect without directly saying that students can back out. 

You should also remember that this applies only to families who are not able to afford tuition - students and families who are simply not willing to pay the tuition cannot be exempted from their early decision agreements. 

And lastly, students can also ask for more funding to make attendance feasible (whether they are admitted early decision or not!). If you’re a current client, we encourage you to work with us on how to ask for more funding in a polite and respectful way. Negotiating is just one of the ways to hack your college tuition bill - check out this Forbes article for more. 

On a lighter note - after reading (and re-reading, and re-reading) their own college personal statements, we hope students enjoy these personal statements from Shakespeare characters as much as we did!

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

This week we’ve been busy helping some deferred and waitlisted students regroup and write letters of continued interest - if you need to do this as well, check out our blog post for some examples (or book an essay coaching session!). We’re also wrapping up with some graduate school and MBA applications, and keeping our fingers crossed for students still waiting to hear from their schools!

Since the world seems to have shut down over the last several days because of Omicron, I’m hoping to take advantage of my time at home over the weekend to check out “Try Harder!” a NYTimes Critic’s Pick documentary about the pressures facing high-achieving high school students today.

“Try Harder!” follows a group of students at Lowell High School (think the TJ of the Bay Area - new lottery system and all) as they go through their senior year, and by all accounts it’s supposed to be great. It begins streaming on Netflix today!

Have a great holiday!

---

Missed a Notification? Check Out Our Recent Posts!

Best of the Blog: Not the Decision You Hoped For? Read This!

ADVICE SO GOOD, IT’S WORTH REPEATING!

While we love to celebrate with our clients who receive positive decision news, we also know that this can be a challenging time for many students when they don’t receive the news they hope for. In this installment of the Best of the Blog, we’re bringing back our post that provides tips for students and families after defer or deny decisions.

---

It’s Decision Time!

ORIGINALLY POSTED DECEMBER 2020

The decisions began pouring in shortly after last Friday’s blog post was published, and we have absolutely loved hearing more and more good news from our students! Sending a number of kids to UVA and VT as they hoped, yay!

That said, I’m a total stress case while writing this because it’s Tuesday afternoon and we will learn a whole bunch of ED results over the next few hours: NYU, Columbia, Vanderbilt, Davidson, Swarthmore and Villanova. We have multiple ED applicants at some of those schools, so there’s a lot riding on this evening!

Even with a stellar track record, it’s hard not to feel anxious with this particularly unpredictable cycle in an always-uncertain process. As I mentioned in my last post, applications at top schools have continued to skyrocket and it’s statistically inevitable that some kids will learn disappointing news this week.

If you find yourself in that category, read on for more about deferrals, denials, and where to go from here!

---

1. Take a moment to process

If you were denied or deferred from your dream school, you may be feeling a lot of emotions. Whether you are disappointed, sad, angry, or some combination of the three, take a day or two to process those feelings. If it takes some time before you are ready to talk about your decision, that’s okay! Giving yourself the space you need will prepare you to tackle next steps with new energy.

2. Tell the people who need to know

You may not want to shout your denial or deferral from the rooftops - if and how you share the news is your decision. But beyond your parents, there are two people who should absolutely know this decision sooner rather than later: your school counselor and (if you are a client) ME! I will be able to share this news with the rest of our team so that we can immediately help you consider your options and give you some more information on next steps.

3. Strategize

At this point, and this is particularly the case if you are not a client of ours already and put your list together without expert help, you may need to look at your list critically to make sure that the schools you have selected are realistic. Yes, we’re up against the clock, but it’s not too late to consider how you might change your list in light of new information. The longer you wait, though, the more difficult it will be to do this. If you are a current client and want to talk more or rethink your strategy, go ahead and book a session with us immediately. If you are not a current client but want some extra help in the next round, you can book one of our emergency strategy sessions to help get you on the right track.

4. If you were denied, let it go and move forward

It can be tempting to follow up with a school to ask questions or attempt to provide more information, but the hard truth of this process is that a “no” essentially never turns into a “yes” unless a true error was made. While there are certain situations in which asking for feedback can be useful - and we can discuss this individually with students if that is an appropriate course of action - it’s important to know that the chances of reversing a decision are extraordinarily unlikely. It would have to be a “my counselor sent the wrong student’s transcript” type of mistake for something like that to happen - not “you are missing out on the best student ever” kind of mistake! It is a more productive use of your time to let this one go and focus on your other applications. Whatever the decision, it will all work out in the long term, and this one rejection will not define your next four years.

5. If you were deferred, gather more information and make a plan

If you read our blog post from last year about turning a deferral into an acceptance, you know that the first step is to talk to your school counselor. That person will be able to reach out to the school and provide us with more information that we can use to help you come up with a plan. Your plan is going to be specific to your application and the school - some students will need to retest, others will need to work hard on making sure their grades are the best yet, and so on. The only way you will know the best path for success is by understanding the objection you’re trying to overcome.

6. Write your Letter of Continued Interest

Regardless of your strategy, it will likely include a Letter of Continued Interest to let the school know that they are still your top choice. Make sure to talk with us or with your school counselor about writing this letter, and if you don’t know where to begin, you can check out our blog post on LOCIs for a template.

7. Keep going!

Fatigue can definitely set in at this point - you have done the hard work of applying, you aren’t sure whether writing that LOCI will really help or whether applying to another school or two is really worth it. This is not the time to shrug it off or give up, though. You’ve come so far! Focus on your other applications and your deferral strategy, and keep pushing forward. Your hard work will pay off in the end!

---

Questions about defer or deny decisions that weren’t answered in this post? Send us a message or let us know in the comments!

Weekly Update: December 17

We are really thrilled with the good news from so many of our seniors, and look forward to hearing the rest of the decisions as they come out! Our office will be closed for the next two weeks during the FCPS break, but please keep us updated - we can’t wait to celebrate with you!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

OMICRON SPIKES START TO SHUT DOWN CAMPUSES

Cornell made headlines at the beginning of the week after needing to shut down its campus due to coronavirus spikes - the libraries are closed to students, and they will need to take finals online. All activities, including fall graduation, are cancelled. One by one, many other schools began to follow suit with a similar approach, including GW, Princeton, NYU, Tufts, and Middlebury. On the high school side, Georgetown Prep suspended classes until after winter break after 30 students were diagnosed with COVID-19. We expect to see more school closures this winter if Omicron continues to spike. Stanford, DePaul, and others have moved their winter quarters/J term equivalents online, and Penn State issued a statement today cautioning that the “community should prepare to alter plans in case the spring semester must start remotely at University Park.”

COLLEGES BEGIN REQUIRING VACCINE BOOSTERS

Given the closures, it is perhaps no surprise that some colleges have started requiring students to have vaccine boosters. Syracuse, UMass Amherst, Boston College, Northeastern, Wesleyan, and Notre Dame are just a few of the colleges that have started implementing a booster requirement. 

HARVARD ADMISSIONS WILL BE TEST OPTIONAL THROUGH 2026

Harvard announced yesterday that it will continue with test-optional admissions through 2026. We suspect that such an announcement from a leader in higher education will reverberate, with more schools deciding to follow suit. But we don’t expect to see a change from Georgetown - traditionally a huge proponent of testing, they confirm their decision to require tests in order to evaluate students without the risk of grade inflation that accompanies GPAs and transcripts. 

THE RETURN OF THREE YEAR DEGREES

More than a dozen schools, including Harvard and Georgetown, have joined a pilot led by the University of Pennsylvania to create a three-year bachelor’s degree program. The idea is not for students to take the same number of credits in three years, but to include more credit options for summer programs, internships, experiential learning, and other non-traditional opportunities, creating a new and more flexible curriculum.

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FROM FCPS

FCPS students have many different opportunities to take advantage of this year - including Nova’s Early Online College program, which allows FCPS juniors and seniors (and those in neighboring counties) to take up to two tuition-free college courses online this fall. Applications are due January 14. This is a really great way for students to explore their area of interest in-depth, and get some college credits under their belts. 

Freshmen and sophomores can look into other Summer Learning opportunities available to them through FCPS. 

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Does your child have a mindset that will set them up for success? This article explores four factors - Education, Accountability, Self-motivation, and Company kept - that are apparent in childhood and linked to adult success. The good news is that these skills and characteristics are teachable, so young students can start building habits now that will set them up for success later. 

The strict vaccination requirements in New York City prevent high school athletic teams from competing in tournaments that allow unvaccinated athletes - meaning that they cannot compete against local teams from Long Island or Westchester County, as well as students from Catholic or private schools within the city.

This article explores the precautions - including masked practices - that schools are currently implementing for sports like wrestling, and considers whether these policies do more harm than good for young athletes.  

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

One question that comes up for us again and again from prospective clients is “But do you work with students like my child?” - and the answer is likely yes! We work with a wide range of people, from Ivy-League-bound high fliers to recruited athletes and more. If you are wondering if our services are a good fit for your student, check out our new “Who We Work With” page for some examples of typical client profiles that we see here at DC College Counseling!

We have been trying hard to keep up with the ED statistics from as many schools as we can, and sharing our information to help clients make good decisions about ED II and RD applications! UVA, for instance, published a blog with early stats, including a 38% ED admit rate for in-state students and a 25% ED admit rate for out of state. Just over 1,000 students received defer decisions. For more results, check out this list of early admit rates from College Kickstart.

And of course, we have seen so many decisions from our clients come out this week. But keep in mind that whether you were accepted, deferred, or denied, your responsibilities do not end with your decision letter. Deferred or denied students should read our blog from last year for next steps. And for those who got good news, check out this blog post on what to do after your ED acceptance. 

We hope you all have a great holiday, and we’re keeping our fingers crossed for those still waiting on decisions!

---

Missed a Notification? Check Out Our Recent Posts!

Majors to Watch in 2022

A big part of college admissions strategy is choosing the right lens for the application - and that includes choosing a major! If on the fence between various options, we always recommend that students consider newer, growing majors in their field of interest - particularly in niche subject areas, if possible.

Because these programs aren’t as well-known as others that are more common, there may be less competition - which students can leverage to their advantage in terms of both admissions and merit scholarships! For example, if you’re interested in city planning, real estate, or even entrepreneurship, why not check out the University of Michigan’s brand-new B.S. degree in Urban Technology?

Today, we’re sharing some of the fastest-growing majors and programs we’ve been seeing recently at schools around the country - and who knows, your student might just discover their future career on this list!

---

Homeland Security

Traditionally, a major in Homeland Security was only offered as an option in evening or professional school divisions. As the field has expanded, and the need for specialists has grown, a number of schools have begun to offer this option as a traditional undergraduate major.

Programs to Explore:

VCU: B.A. in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness

George Mason: B.S. in Criminology, Law and Society with a concentration in Homeland Security and Justice

Monmouth University: B.S. in Homeland Security

DeSales University: B.A. in Homeland Security, also offered with a concentration in Data Analytics

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: B.S. in Homeland Security

Community Organizing

As social justice-oriented vocations and careers become more popular, majors in community organizing and related disciplines have proliferated on college campuses. These majors are housed in a variety of departments, including Education, Public Policy, and Social Work. 

Programs to Explore:

University of Colorado, Boulder: B.A. in Leadership & Community Engagement

University of Kentucky: B.S. in Community and Leadership Development

Arizona State: B.A. in Community Advocacy and Social Policy

Ohio State: B.S. in Community Leadership

University of Delaware: B.S. in Organizational and Community Leadership

University of Washington: BA in Education, Communities and Organizations

Loyola University Chicago: B.A. Advocacy and Social Change

Supply Chain Management

While not necessarily a new major, the public eye has certainly had an increased focus on the supply chain lately! As this type of problem-solving work becomes increasingly appealing to students, supply chain management programs are becoming more popular. 

Programs to Explore:

RIT: B.S. in Supply Chain Management

Michigan State: B.A. in Supply Chain Management

University of Tennessee: B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Supply Chain Management

Penn State: B.S. in Supply Chain & Information Systems

Ohio State: B.S. in Industrial and Systems Engineering with a concentration in Supply Chain Management and Logistics

In addition to growing demand for students in these fields, these interdisciplinary majors allow students to explore different areas and maybe find a new passion! Do any of the newest majors appeal to you or your student? Let us know in the comments!

Weekly Update: December 10

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

PSAT AND NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP CUTOFFS

After many Class of 2022 students were unable to take the PSAT during COVID-19, we expected to see numbers go up for the Class of 2023 - after all, nearly 50% more students took the test! The prediction for the cutoff for commended students is 208. Here in Virginia, we expect to see National Merit Semifinalists in the 220-223 range, in keeping with the past three years of cutoffs. For a more detailed state-by-state breakdown, this article has some helpful charts and graphs. 

NATIONAL RECOGNITION PROGRAMS APPLICATION REOPENS AFTER ELIGIBILITY ERRORS

Speaking of Class of 2022 students who took the PSAT, it turns out that a number of students were not notified about their eligibility for National Recognition programs. In recognition of this error, College Board has reopened the application until December 15. If you believe that there is any chance that you are eligible, PLEASE go ahead and apply!

• Class of 2023 students with GPAs of 3.5+ and either attending school in a rural area/small town OR identifying as African American or Black, Hispanic American or Latinx, or Indigenous are eligible to apply today if either one of the two bulleted statements apply:

  • Scored in the top 10% of their state in the winter or spring of sophomore year (students scoring in this range on this past fall’s PSAT will be able to apply later)

  • Earned a score of 3+ on two or more AP exams during 9th and/or 10th grade

• Class of 2024 students with GPAs of 3.5+ and either attending school in a rural area/small town OR identifying as African American or Black, Hispanic American or Latinx, or Indigenous are eligible to apply today if they earned a score of 3+ on two or more AP exams during 9th grade (students scoring in the top 10% of their state on this past fall’s PSAT will be able to apply later).

Again, if there is any chance you believe you might be eligible, go ahead and apply. Other counselors have estimated that the “top 10%” number on the PSAT would be around 1200+ depending on the state.

COLLEGE APPLICATIONS CONTINUE TO SOAR ABOVE PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS

We expected college application rates to stay high this year, compared to before the pandemic, and so far that is playing out. Already, applications are up 22% from pre-pandemic levels. As we saw last year, most of the increase is from affluent students applying to a longer list of schools (perhaps as a result of the increased unpredictability in admissions decisions), rather than more students applying. And we expect to see an additional spike as we get closer to those early January deadlines!

VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT’S TRAGIC DEATH

A Fairfax County student at Virginia State University has died after a shooting at a university apartment building last weekend. Daniel Wharton, of Alexandria, was nineteen. As of this writing, a suspect has not yet been identified. 

TRANSFORMATIVE, RECORD-SETTING GIFT TO HOLLINS UNIVERSITY

An anonymous donor just set a record by donating $75 million to the Hollins University endowment. This is very significant - not only is it the largest-ever donation in history to a women’s college, it equates to more than a third of their existing endowment. I visited Hollins back in April 2019 on the way back from Virginia Tech, and I will admit that it did not strike me as a place that many of our students would be interested in - simply because of the size (800 students), rural location, and the fact that it’s a women’s college.

But for a girl seeking a very small, tight-knit community, it could be a great option! They have always offered generous merit aid, and I bet that it will get even better now. Anyone interested should check out the accelerated three-year undergraduate program, as well as the impressive partnerships with institutions ranging from Carnegie Mellon to UVA’s Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. Future students interested in the UVA Batten partnership should also make sure to read up on Hollins’ own Batten Leadership Institute, which offers an undergraduate certificate in leadership studies.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

While many students in our area are continuing to pursue their college goals during the pandemic, a large number of students across the country are putting off college - overall, college enrollment has dropped 8%, with community college bearing the brunt of the decrease. Many in the education space are afraid that with students putting college off for a few years, they are much less likely to return to pursue higher education.

But this New York Times article provides some hope - it’s never too late to go to college! Devon Simmons, who served 15 years in prison for crimes he committed as a teenager, later graduated from Columbia and is now working on a program to help “jailhouse lawyers” become paralegals and create a path to law school after incarceration. 

Shon Hopwood’s book, Law Man, is a great read for those interested in these types of stories. Shannon worked with Shon on events at Georgetown and highly recommends this as a great book for students interested in criminal justice to read over the break (and include in college applications)! 

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

Now is the time when decisions are rolling in! If you are a current client, make sure to keep us updated over the weekend and next week as more and more of those early decisions roll out. And if you are anxiously checking your email, we recommend checking out College Kickstart’s list of application notification dates, which is updated regularly with new information. 

I mentioned in the mid-week post that I had the chance to go see Wash U last weekend. I will admit that I was actually in St. Louis to see the James Taylor concert but it was so much fun stopping by campus while I was there. I met up with a current freshman and really enjoyed hearing about the similarities and differences between our experiences.

It’s crazy how much has changed since my last visit just four years ago - which is a good lesson about the importance of revisiting schools that your student may have seen a few years back with an older sibling. At the rate that new buildings are popping up and new initiatives are rolling out, so many of these schools are completely different places in the span of a few years. And right after I left, they announced the construction of yet another new building, which will create a whole new quad.

Things that have not changed: Ted Drewes!!!

Have a great weekend!

---

Missed a Notification? Check Out Our Recent Posts!

How to Make the Most of Your Winter Break

It may be hard to believe, but winter break is just around the corner! While we know most students are looking forward to taking some time to rest and relax, you may also be wondering how to maximize this time when it comes to the college process. If that’s you, read on!

---

Research colleges

We encourage all of our juniors to do the bulk of their college research over winter break. This allows them to get a head start on building their lists, and usually means they’ll have more time to look at schools than if they saved all of their trips for spring break. But even for sophomores and younger students looking to get a jump on the college process, winter break is a great time!

In addition to visiting schools in person (if possible), students can also use the break to complete virtual visits without using valuable homework or extracurricular time. If you are planning to do some visits over the break, jump back to our posts about in-person and virtual visits so you’re prepared and can make the most of your visits. 

And don’t forget - if you’re traveling to see relatives for the holidays, you may as well swing by any school nearby, even if you aren’t able to schedule an official visit or don’t have any interest in that particular school in the first place! The more schools you visit, the more you’ll learn about your preferences… and can come back and share them with us! For example, maybe you thought you wanted an urban environment, but after walking through Emory while visiting Grandma in Atlanta, you realized you’re open to schools on the outskirts of cities after all!

I got to swing by Wash U last weekend while in St. Louis - yay! More on that in the weekly update, but it was super easy to just walk around. At one point we even tagged on to a tour group!

Do an enrichment activity

Many colleges offer summer programs and courses that allow students to take classes over the summer, but there are opportunities to do so in the winter as well. Cornell’s really fantastic pre-college program offers winter courses from January 3-21 - check those out! Students can also use the time to complete asynchronous, free courses through EdX or Coursera - check out our list of courses for some ideas!

This also may be a great time to complete a volunteer project or other independent work that will help you show colleges your skills and give you some experience in a field you may want to study! Polygence helps match students with university researchers to complete independent research projects, and students who sign up using our link receive 10% off their program (Note: DC College Counseling does not receive compensation from Polygence for referrals - all of the benefits here are just for students!). 

Take some time to plan and reflect

For younger students in eighth or ninth grade, it may feel premature to complete college visits or work on applications. And ALL students could use some time to reflect and plan for their next steps. Check out our Four-Year Plan Template for some questions to consider every year, to help you plan for the college application process and beyond! 

Search for summer internships

Summer may feel far away, but many opportunities and internships have deadlines as early as late January! Winter break is a great time to plan for these opportunities and fill out applications while you don’t have as much schoolwork on your plate. 

If you are a student interested in STEM-related summer opportunities, check out our newly updated Summer Opportunities Database for 2022 (students who are interested in the humanities or business should keep checking back - those pages will be updated soon!).  

And if you do identify a great summer opportunity and would like to apply, winter break is a great time to book a coaching session to work on your resume, cover letter, and application essays - whether you are working with us through a traditional package or not!

Any plans for your family over winter break? Let us know in the comments!

Weekly Update: December 3

December already! We are excited to have heard some good news from our early applicants and are busy wrapping things up with the last of our late-late-start seniors.

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

NC STATE ENGINEERING INCREASES ENROLLMENT

Good news for engineering applicants! NC State is planning to add 2,000 more undergraduate students to its engineering program over the next five years. The College of Engineering at NC State offers sixteen majors, including computer science. Thanks to a state initiative called “Engineering North Carolina’s future,” the school will receive $20 million to hire new faculty and $30 million to upgrade facilities. 

UGA RELEASES EARLY APPLICATION DATA

Congrats to our students who received early acceptances from UGA last week! It was a competitive cycle, with applications up 3% over last year despite the fact that the Georgia system was one of only a handful in the country that required test scores this cycle. 8,900 students were accepted, 9,300 were deferred, and 2,000 were denied. If you received a defer decision from UGA, let us know ASAP so we can help you strategize for next steps. The admissions office notes that “We want to be able to have a more in-depth review of you, including short essays, activities, recommendations, etc.” - so send those requested materials!

CORNELL PRECOLLEGE WINTER COURSES

If you are looking to add to your activities list and take an enrichment course but don’t have the time to spend on it during the summer, Cornell’s Precollege Program has you covered! This is a really great program that we recommend to our clients, and applications are open now for winter courses that run January 3-21. Students can apply here by December 6 (or book an appointment to work on this or any other enrichment opportunity applications!). If you’re not already a current client, use this link instead.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

We all know that students have been through a lot this year. And while most students are now back in school, they may still struggle to adjust to in-person learning after so much time away. This article provides some helpful guidance for parents who want to help their students make the adjustment back to in-person school. In addition to learning loss, students are struggling to develop age-appropriate social skills after being out of school for so long (just think - the last time seventh grade students had a completely normal school year was fourth grade!). 

But the article encourages parents to focus on support, rather than solutions. I know this is tough - after all, as parents, we want to be able to solve problems for our kids! But it is even more important for them to know that we are in their corner and supporting them during a difficult time. 

If you are one of the students who has already received an ED acceptance and knows where you are headed next year, you might be excited to share your plans with family over the holidays! But for most students, hearing “What are your plans for next year?” at every holiday gathering can cause a lot of stress. If that’s you, check out this article for tips on how to deal with this stress-inducing question. 

We’ve written before on the blog about some of the graduate degrees that don’t offer a return on investment - remember those masters students in film at Columbia? Even so, it is still generally accepted that professional degrees, like JDs and MDs, will offer students the opportunity to earn significantly higher salaries.

Surprisingly, the Wall Street Journal found that this is not always the case anymore - even professional degrees in essential fields like dentistry and veterinary medicine are leaving students with high debt that is not relieved by high salaries. The debt is bad news, particularly for medical fields like chiropractic medicine and optometry where practitioners are carrying a lot of debt. 

Everyone in higher ed right now is wondering about the impact of the omicron variant on campuses this spring. While things will certainly change, this Slate piece on the ways that various top schools handled Covid this fall is worth a read. Keep in mind, though - this is written by a student at Yale, and that perspective shines through. I got a laugh at the idea that by limiting the size of on-campus parties, Wash U “forced drunk college students” to go to bars with unvaccinated people from Missouri and therefore “exposed [the students] to higher chances of getting COVID.” I guess that’s one way to think about it… 🤷‍♀️

Finally, an interesting article in New York Magazine this week explored the possibility of “socializing” college sports. We’re not sure we agree with the idea, but it is interesting to explore, particularly the author’s assertion that colleges put caps on coaching salaries, arguing:

“A system like that would mean college football and basketball would no longer be able to compete for coaching talent with the pros. It would instead have to draw from coaches who just want to mentor college students. Would that be worse?”

This is worth considering particularly in light of the news about Lincoln Riley and Brian Kelly, who reportedly received compensation packages in the range of $100 million to coach football at USC and LSU, respectively. 

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

November 30 was the deadline for the UC and CSU system applications - and yes, the application sites crashed. Luckily for applicants, the systems extended the deadline until midnight yesterday - but they had been glitching for quite a while in advance, so even with the deadline, students lost valuable time to work on their applications.

This goes to show that YES, crashes happen! In fact, this kind of issue happens on application websites all the time - just one reason why we encourage all of our students to submit their applications as early as possible (at least two weeks before the deadline!). In case you are wondering, none of our students were impacted - because they all submitted their apps early!

Not surprisingly, Common App is experiencing a similar issue this week - the image below was posted online just before the 12/1 midnight deadline.

Hard to believe it is already December, but we’ve been working this week on holiday cards for all of our amazing clients - we are so grateful for you!!

Plus, some surprises in the works for our very hard-working colleagues in local school counseling offices ;) We love partnering with you to help students achieve their dreams!

Enjoy the weekend!

---

Missed a Notification? Check Out Our Recent Posts!

Weekly Update: November 26

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and was able to spend time with family and friends!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

VIRGINIA COUNCIL ON WOMEN’S 11TH ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL ESSAY CONTEST

The Virginia Council on Women has opened up the 11th Annual Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics, and Healthcare essay contest. Virginia high school seniors who identify as women are eligible for these scholarships and should apply by Monday, January 3 (P.S. Need help with scholarship essays? Book an essay coaching session!). 

2022 RHODES SCHOLARS ANNOUNCED

Check out where this group of Rhodes Scholars are from! A lot of Harvard, Yale, and service academy representation, but some great other schools too - Alabama, Indiana, Clemson and more! This is just proof that ‘best fit’ is really important when it comes to choosing a college - and that students who make the most of their opportunities can end up in the same place after graduation. 

CLEMSON LYCEUM SCHOLARSHIP

Lots of scholarship news today! Clemson’s Lyceum Scholars program was founded by the Clemson Institute for the Study of Capitalism. Lyceum Scholars receive $10,000 over their four years at Clemson. The application deadline is December 11, so students planning to attend Clemson next year should apply now!

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Our students are ALWAYS looking for the “secret sauce” when it comes to letters of recommendation. Some subscribe to the “more is better” approach, while others wonder if teacher recommendations really have that much bearing on the admissions process. This article from Forbes gives a nuanced perspective on recommendations, particularly those optional personal recommendations from coaches, counselors, mentors, or other people that know a student well but have not taught them in the classroom.

A good rule of thumb when it comes to optional recommendations is that they should contain NEW information about the applicant. Admissions officers are reading a LOT of applications this time of year, and they don’t want to read the same thing twice! If you are considering asking for a personal recommendation, make sure it comes from someone who can give a new perspective on you that the counselor won’t get from your teacher and counselor recommendations, essays, or activities list. 

Second and most importantly, PREP YOUR RECOMMENDERS. Most recommenders will appreciate information from you that helps them to put together an effective recommendation - they want you to succeed, after all! Current clients can book a meeting for help with this, or check out the resources in the Membership Vault to help your recommender write the best possible personal recommendation. 

More and more colleges are moving to get rid of legacy admissions, and this article takes a critical look at what that really means for the admissions process. I wrote a few weeks ago about the misconceptions that the general public has about legacy admissions. The bottom line is, the student must already be academically qualified for legacy status to make a difference. From the article:

On hard measures such as G.P.A. and SAT scores, those admitted as legacies already fit within the larger pool of qualified applicants...the benefit they receive works within the softer, holistic section of the college application. Having an alumni parent is less like magically winning several hundred SAT points and more like writing an essay that the assistant dean really admired. Accordingly, the legacies will be replaced not by a clearly smarter bunch of applicants but by ones who were better at getting the admissions readers to like them.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

Colleen attended a virtual session last Friday with the "Metro 5" - liberal arts schools in city settings. Lewis and Clark, Macalester, Rhodes, Richmond and Trinity are all great options to consider for students who seek a "close connection with peers and faculty, but are looking for something a little bit bigger - [the opportunity] to engage in the community in a larger way." The combination of a close-knit liberal arts community and an urban environment really does offer a best-of-both worlds opportunity that some students absolutely love. Our summer intern (and former client!) Tyler wrote a blog post this summer about his experience at Richmond, which is a great read for any students interested in Richmond or any of the Metro 5 schools. Students can download the recording of the student program here.

We wanted to highlight one piece of advice from one of the college representatives about essays. As a whole, the group agreed that they were seeing more and more pieces of writing that clearly weren't written by students or were heavily over-edited. We see these too, when we ask students to turn in an assignment and it's clear that they didn't write it. But please, parents - don't fall into this trap!

"We are professionals, like, this is what we do on a regular basis! We read thousands of essays, we've been teenagers, many of us have teenage children... we have an idea of what a teenage voice is like, and that's what we're looking for!"

We know the feeling - we’ve seen a lot of essays that have been over-edited by well-meaning parents! That’s why we use the Wow Writing Workshop method with our students, to make sure that all of their essays are “seventeen-year-old perfect” - great essays that clearly retain the voice and perspective of a teenager. 

We have been so excited to see some acceptances this week, including our first ED acceptance - yay! That student is so happy to be done and know where he is headed next year :) We love hearing from our clients once they receive their decisions, so if you are a current client, make sure to keep us updated!

Have a great weekend!

---

Missed a Notification? Check Out Our Recent Posts!

Small Business Saturday DEALS!

I usually laugh a little bit when I get an email from a past client, because so often they start like this: “I don’t know if you remember us, but you helped Sally five years ago..”

Of COURSE we remember you! There is literally not a chance that we don’t.

I could probably also tell you what Sally’s Common App essay was about, any major life drama that occurred during her junior or senior year (including that boyfriend you thought was a bad influence!) and I might even know the name of your street off the top of my head (I promise I’m not a stalker - all transcripts, test score reports, and applications typically have the student’s home address listed right at the top, and I end up seeing these addresses over and over and over again!).

But that’s the thing about working with a small business - you are so much more than just a name. We care deeply about each of our students and become so emotionally invested in their outcomes that it can actually get pretty stressful sometimes! You all know how rough it is to be waiting on decisions.. multiply that feeling by 40. But finding out someone got into their first choice school is the best feeling in the world and makes it all worthwhile!

So, in advance of Small Business Saturday this weekend, I wanted to take the time to thank each and every one of you for your support over the last twelve years.

There is absolutely zero chance that DC College Counseling would have turned into what it is today without a steady stream of referrals from all of our amazing clients, and we can’t tell you how much we appreciate the fact that you are not only entrusting us with your children’s future, but also sharing your experiences with your friends and family.

P.S. If you’re interested in learning more about how DC College Counseling came to be (and how we were impacted at the early part of the pandemic), check out this podcast episode from Summer 2020.

---

Lastly, don’t forget about us when doing your holiday shopping this year!

In addition to their own children, of course, we’ve had people give our services as gifts to grandchildren; nieces and nephews; god-children; and family friends! We have gift certificate options across all price points that make it easy to pay in advance and allow the recipient to book at their convenience.

11th-12th Grade Strategy and Planning Session Gift Certificate

8th-10th Grade Strategy and Planning Session Gift Certificate

Academic Coaching Session Gift Certificate -> plan out an approach to achieving success on exams, or get a head start on organization for next semester!

College Admissions Essay Coaching Session Gift Certificate -> for those who don’t have a contracted package with us and need essay help!

School/College Assignment Tutoring Session Gift Certificate -> a perfect gift for high school, college, and graduate students with upcoming end-of-semester assignments!

Meet & Greet Gift Certificate -> to discuss full packages!

And best of all, from now until Sunday evening, you can use coupon code BLACKFRIDAY for a 20% discount on the gift certificates above. This is the only discount code we will offer all year, so take advantage of it and stock up now on coaching sessions!

Weekly Update: November 19

We can’t believe we’re already more than halfway through November - hope everyone stayed warm this week!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

GEORGETOWN LAW RECEIVES APPLICATION INCREASE

As we’ve mentioned before, we expected the COVID-19 pandemic to lead to more students attending graduate school. And right in our backyard is a great metric - Georgetown Law receives more applications than any other law school in the country. And for Fall 2021, applications went WAY up - 41%! As a result, the admit rate dropped from 21% to just 12% last cycle. This is reflective of an increase in law school applications overall, which were up 26% around the country. 

MONTGOMERY COUNTY CHANGES GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Soon, students in Montgomery County Public Schools will have to take 0.5 fewer elective and PE credits - bringing the total number of required credits down to 22.5, just half a credit above the state required 22 credits to graduate. PE teachers are opposing the change, arguing that with the mental health implications of COVID-19, physical activity is more important for students than ever. 

CDC INVESTIGATES FLU SPREAD AT UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

In just over a month, over 500 cases of the flu have been diagnosed at the University of Michigan - an extreme level of spread. Due to the unusual size of the outbreak, the CDC has stepped in to provide support and evaluate vaccine uptake. The university is urging as many students as possible to get their flu vaccines, especially before traveling home for Thanksgiving break and potentially increasing the spread. 

HOWARD PROTESTS COME TO AN END

We’ve been covering the ongoing student protests at Howard University, and now, a month after the student occupation of the Blackburn Center began, the students have reached an agreement with the school administration. The changes promised by the administration include a revision of the school’s sexual assault policy, a review of campus policing, and a food bank for students on campus. 

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Colleges around the country have been dealing with worsening mental health of students, an issue that the pandemic has brought to the forefront. A Fairfax County student, now a junior at UNC, was an integral part of developing the student response to the two suicides at UNC earlier this year. Ethan Phillips was helping to implement “postvention” strategies, to help avoid “suicide contagion” in the wake of campus suicides. This article covers some of the essential steps of postvention, and how students and schools can support their communities after tragedies. 

We mentioned the creation of the University of Austin last week - a new school spearheaded by conservative founders who hope to change the way that colleges admit students and champion free speech on campus. The Washington Post published an op-ed this week that dives into how the school will function. Notable changes include the idea of an entrance exam graded by professors in lieu of a traditional admissions process, which the university’s founders say will increase the role of merit in college admissions. 

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

Now that many of the early deadlines have passed, we are keeping our fingers crossed and our eyes on the list of decision release dates for our class of 2022 students. This time last year, UGA and Tulane decisions were rolling out! While we’re not sure we’ll see such early releases this year, students should expect to start receiving these notifications in early to mid-December - so keep an eye on your email! 

In the meantime, we’ve enjoyed working with our class of 2023 students to start their college lists and plan their research for the holiday breaks (we’ve had some eager class of 2024 students planning visits as well!). This is a great time to spend looking at colleges, so take advantage of it! If you or your student are feeling overwhelmed by putting together a list and completing research, book a Meet & Greet to hear more about how we can help set you up for success over the holiday break. 

Our office will be closed next Thursday - wishing everyone a happy Thanksgiving! 

---

Missed a Notification? Check Out Our Recent Posts!

The Right Fit

Hi everyone, Staci here! As someone who spends all of her time helping students write personal essays, it’s about time I practice what I preach. I’m taking over the blog today to reflect on right fits and share a bit more about my new role at DC College Counseling.

In college admissions, we often talk about finding the right fit--the school that offers (almost) everything you need and want. As I tell students, the search for the right fit can sometimes land you exactly where you hope to be. However, this quest can also lead you to the most wonderfully unexpected places. 

Finding the right college fit was easy for me. I became a proud diplomat at Franklin and Marshall College, where I started planning for a future career in law. But then a year studying abroad changed everything. My literature professors at University of Oxford inspired me so much that I decided to pursue a PhD in English. As part of my program I taught undergraduate writing classes and discovered my love of teaching. I eventually abandoned my dissertation in favor of another graduate degree in education. For over a decade, I taught at the university and high school levels, both in the U.S. and abroad. My experiences were diverse, to say the least. I became a department chair, academic director, and special education teacher; developed curricula and designed e-learning courses (long before the pandemic); crossed into marketing and admissions; and even trained classical ballerinas. I often wondered where my increasingly eclectic skill set might take me in the future. 

And then came that wonderfully unexpected place. When I started my “first semester” at DC College Counseling a few years ago, I found my own grown-up version of the right fit. Having taught high school English, I was well-prepared to step into the role of a part-time essay coach. Each week I looked forward to helping students craft their stories while trying to make college applications (dare I say) fun. Of course the process wasn’t always easy, but there was something really exciting about the challenge of a crazy essay prompt or strict word count. My favorite part, though, was always the final draft- not because we were finished but because I loved seeing the look of pride and confidence on the student’s face. 

Gradually my schedule and responsibilities expanded, and I happily accepted the new title of Student Success Coach- a position that allowed me to work even closer with all of our families and provide support to other essay coaches. Now I’m thrilled that my role is evolving once again as I transition into a full-time position. I’ll still be on the frontline of college essays, but I’ll also be working behind the scenes on our media and outreach. It’s just the right fit! I get to do what I love and put my diverse skills to good use. 

WHAT ABOUT YOUR RIGHT FIT?

In the spirit of the right fit and my new role, I’d love to hear from all of our families, past and present. Why was DC College Counseling the right fit for you? Send us a quick note or video HERE

Weekly Update: November 12

Good luck to everyone submitting in advance of the November 15 early deadline on Monday!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

EARLY APPLICATION NOTIFICATION DATES

College Kickstart has released their list of notification dates for early decision and early action applications. If you submitted an early application, you may want to bookmark this page - they keep it updated regularly with statements from the schools, as well as information on last year’s release dates. Keeping our fingers crossed for those of you expecting mid-December decisions!

UNIVERSITY OF AUSTIN ESTABLISHED

No, not UT Austin - a group of scholars and activists have set the plans for a new college, the University of Austin, which they say will be dedicated to free speech. A soft opening is planned for the new institution next summer with a non-credit discussion course on censorship at institutions of higher education. And this is no online-only university - the plans allow for in-person classes and a campus in Austin. Still, the university aims to reduce tuition costs below the national average. 

But the University of Austin isn’t the only new college opening even as the pandemic continues to wreak havoc on older institutions. Some of these new colleges, like the Roux Institute in Portland, Maine, focus on in-demand disciplines like computer science and technology. Others are aiming to serve underrepresented populations in traditional colleges, or to keep costs down by avoiding the traditional structures of higher education. 

JILL BIDEN KICKS OFF VACCINE CAMPAIGN IN MCLEAN

The first lady and the surgeon general visited Franklin Sherman Elementary School to offer a message to students and parents at the school’s vaccine clinic. So far, over one million children have received the COVID-19 vaccine! 

LOUDOUN COUNTY HIRES FIRM TO INVESTIGATE SEXUAL ASSAULT

Two weeks ago, we wrote about the student walkouts at Loudoun County schools in protest against the school’s handling of sexual assault cases. Now, the school system has hired a firm to provide an independent review of their response to the situation. We will see whether the review leads to any changes in how these events are handled in the future.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

We’ve covered the change in TJ’s admissions policy on the blog before, and this article from NoVA magazine dives deep into the two sides of the argument when it comes to admission. The Coalition for TJ argues that the new admission policy discriminates against Asian American students, and also that it could lower academic standards and lead to deserving students being denied admission. On the other side, the TJ Alumni Action Group believes that broadening the admissions pool will combat inequity and a lack of diversity at the school. And while this issue is salient to those of us in Northern Virginia, it may also set an example for other elite schools around the country. 

Even as new colleges are being created, many liberal arts colleges continue to suffer in the wake of COVID-19 changes. This article explores whether the liberal arts model can survive - especially in a world that rewards research and innovation over teaching, discussion, breadth of knowledge, and other key attributes of the liberal arts. But all hope is not lost - the article lists several ways that liberal arts colleges could innovate in order to stay relevant post-pandemic and beyond. 

Finally, as schools continue to be the focus of political battles, school board members have been facing threats. The threats come as a result of everything from objections about the way children are taught about race in the classroom to COVID-19 restrictions like mask-wearing. While clashes between parents and school board members are not new, the escalation of threats of violence demonstrates just how contentious school-related issues have become.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

We are so excited that Staci has started full time with our team this week! Our students already know and love Staci from all of their essay work, and we are thrilled that she will be able to continue working with our students and helping them to achieve those “17-year-old perfect” essays! Keep an eye out for more from Staci on the blog next week :) 

Right now, our juniors are really focused on the college search process, and we are so excited to get their feedback! It really is like a puzzle, finding a great list for each individual student, and so much fun to hear about the schools that our students feel would be a perfect fit. 

If you are feeling overwhelmed by the choices or unsure how to research schools, book a Meet & Greet to learn more about how we can help!

Enjoy the weekend!

---

Missed a Notification? Check Out Our Recent Posts!

Academic Planning for Middle School Students Part II: Public or Private High School?

A few weeks ago, we published a post about academic planning for middle school students, where we delved into course selection for your middle schooler, and how the courses they take in middle school may affect what is available to them at their high school. 

This week, we are going to focus on public vs. private high schools. Many eighth graders may be in the process of completing those private high school applications, and plenty of parents are wondering - is it worth the time and money?

The answer is… yes and no. Now, we know that may not be exactly what you want to hear, but the truth is that this is a very personal decision, and your ultimate choice will depend on what works for your individual student and family. However, we hope that these considerations can shed some light on the factors at play!

---

Will a public or a private high school help my student more during the college process?

The fact is, top private schools tend to send a larger percentage of their students to highly selective colleges than public schools. But it is important to remember that private school applicants are a self-selecting pool - often more affluent or more ambitious (or both!) than the pool of students at public schools. So whether this is the case because private schools prepare students better for college, or simply because the students who attend private schools are also more likely to attend a certain sub-set of colleges, we can’t say for sure. 

However, private schools do typically offer smaller class sizes and extracurricular activities that enable students to get to know their teachers and school counselors better. This often results in more personalized attention than one would have at a public school where teachers and counselors have many more students to support. This is not a hard-and-fast rule, though, so make sure you do your research when it comes to school selection!

So, you’re saying my child will have less support at a public school?

Maybe. Private schools often have smaller class sizes, as we mentioned, and some have certain religious and social supports in place that are certainly not available at a typical public school. These are all great reasons to look to a private school education for your child. 

However, if your child has a diagnosed learning difference that requires more extensive support, your best option may actually be a public school. Accessibility is more carefully monitored and provided at public schools, which usually have more structures in place to support students with learning differences. 

Where will my child have better teachers?

Again, it depends. As we said above, students at private schools often have the opportunity to bond more with their teachers, and teachers have smaller classes to manage and can give more individual attention to each student. However, public school teachers are required to have a teaching credential, while private school teachers are not. Are there good and bad teachers at all high schools? Definitely. But at a public school, you know that every teacher has a teaching credential. 

My student is an academic high-flier. Won’t she do better at a private school?

We’ll say it again - maybe. Some students who are academically successful LOVE to be in an environment with other smart kids. Seeing other people around them working hard pushes them to perform to their max academic potential - they thrive on that friendly competition. 

Other students like to be the smartest kid in the room, and would much rather be the big fish in the small pond of their public high school than be surrounded by other (maybe more!) successful students at a selective private school. Only you and your student know their personality best and have a sense of which which environment is going to help them succeed.

Another factor to consider is that private schools are sometimes limited in the high-level classes they can offer. Public high schools often have a larger variety of courses, and almost always offer more specialized options for students who want to pursue engineering, entrepreneurship, or another particular academic pathway in high school. And certain school systems go way beyond that - did you know that FCPS offers options ranging from veterinary science to fashion marketing (held at a mall - how cool is that!). This chance to specialize can definitely be helpful in the college application process!

---

The bottom line is: do your research. The above are just some of the things you’ll want to consider, but the available curriculum and level of support for students varies from school to school. Look up the course progression and opportunities available at your local public high school, so you can directly compare with any private schools you are considering. 

You may also want to consider an important factor we haven’t mentioned here: social influence. This is heavily specific to each individual school community and less about whether the school happens to be private or public. For example, public schools aren’t the only ones with drug problems - certain private schools struggle with substance abuse much more than their public school counterparts!

So as you weigh all of the options, don’t forget to carefully examine the culture of every school on your list to try to get a better sense of what your student’s peer group will look like. This is often the single most important factor that will influence your student’s choices relating to risky and undesirable adolescent behavior.

If you want more help in the high school search, book an 8th grade strategy session with us and we’d love to talk more about you and your family’s goals. And if you are interested in a presentation about academic planning for middle schoolers for your club or group, email Shannon to get on our calendar!

---