Navigating College Decision News Series Part 1: What to Do When You've Been Accepted

“Welcome to the Class of 2026!”

And just like that, the long college admissions process has come to an end, right? Well, not quite - there are still some decisions to navigate and tasks to complete! So after you’ve finished celebrating and basking in the glow of your excitement, follow these steps to ensure you put your best foot forward into your future:

Weigh your options–carefully!

As thrilling as it may be to receive your acceptance notifications, don’t let the adrenaline get the best of you. There are a number of factors that can influence a final decision, so slow down and take your time weighing your options (unless, of course, you’ve applied early decision and are bound to attend one particular school). Some students even find it helpful to create a spreadsheet to keep information organized. We especially encourage you to:

• Look carefully at your offer letter and take note of any conditional acceptance details. Some schools may accept you BUT with adjustments to your start date, intended major, etc. If you need help making sense of a conditional acceptance, read last week’s blog where we explain the most popular conditional programs and offer our expert opinion on each.

• Conduct more research using online resources, your college counseling office, etc. 

• Go over finances with your family, especially if you have financial aid and/or scholarship packages. Don’t forget to compare the different types of aid offered - grants are different from loans!

• Visit or revisit the school to experience what life is like on campus.

• Talk with current students who can share their experiences and provide you with details and insights that you can’t get anywhere else.

• Attend an admitted student day event. This is a fantastic opportunity to get a preview of your potential classmates, professors, and new home. 

While we certainly want you to consider the practical elements, we also want you to relax and reflect on the bigger picture. Where can you see yourself living and thriving? Which environment feels ‘right’ to you?  These answers may not appear on a comparison chart or spreadsheet, but they can guide you toward your final decision.

Formally accept an offer

Once you choose a school, you’ll need to make it official! Be sure to follow your school’s specific instructions for submitting your deposit and providing any documents needed to secure your spot in the incoming class. 

The deadline for the majority of schools across the US is May 1- also known as National College Decision Day. As we mentioned in our previous post, some schools now offer incentives to those who deposit early, such as advanced access to course registration or priority housing. So if you know where you want to go, it may be to your benefit to send in the deposit now. It’s also important to note that you can typically request an extension to the decision deadline BUT ONLY IF you have a legitimate reason.

Decline your other offers

We get it. You may be so overcome with eagerness and relief about making your college decision that you forget other schools have admitted you–and they’re awaiting your reply! As soon as you make your selection, decline your other offers. Not only is this the polite thing to do, but it also helps the school rescue eager applicants from the waitlist.

You can typically decline your offer by following a link or set of explicit instructions in your acceptance notification. Alternatively, log into the school’s portal, where you’re likely to find a decline option. In most cases, it’s as easy as the click of a button.

If you can’t seem to find a decline option, send a message to the admissions office through their main email address (which will be listed on the school’s website). The email can be short and sweet. There’s no need to write a novel explaining your decision. In fact, here’s a general template you can use.

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is X, and I recently received your offer of admission. I am very grateful for the time you invested in my application, but after carefully considering my options, I have decided not to enroll. 

Insert a few sentences about how much you liked the school and mention any specific staff members that were particularly helping during the process (ex. an admissions counselor, a professor who may have interviewed you, etc.) 

Kind regards, 

X

Contact your recommenders

This is the fun part! Reach out to anyone who wrote you a letter of recommendation and share the good news. They will be eager to offer you congratulations! Not to mention, this is the perfect opportunity to thank them for their time and support.

Stay motivated

Okay, let’s point out the obvious– senior year isn’t over just because you submitted a deposit. And you can’t actually attend your selected college or university UNLESS you receive your high school diploma. As tempting as it may be to ‘slack off’ after receiving your acceptance letters and submitting a deposit, don’t! Go to class, keep your grades up, and stay motivated. It’s not a good look to drop courses or let your G.P.A. plummet in the final weeks of the school year. Plus, we don’t want anyone to become a cautionary tale!

Keep up with college communications

Don’t want to miss out on information about orientation and course registration for your first year of college? Well, then you better check your email! Once you pay the deposit, your selected school will start sending you important communications about everything from setting up your student account to requesting a roommate. Make sure you thoroughly read these communications and complete your action items by the deadlines! No reminders from Donna anymore :)

You also might consider following your school on social media platforms to keep up with the latest news and information. Just be sure that your social media account is private AND appropriate before you connect. You don’t want to give off the wrong impression.

Stay tuned!

In part 2 of our series, we’ll share what to do when you’ve been waitlisted.

Weekly Update: March 25

We were excited for peak bloom this week - hope you got to spend some time admiring the cherry blossoms before the rain!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

UVA’S ACCEPTANCE RATE HITS RECORD LOW

UVA regular decision results are out, and the university’s acceptance rate dropped to just 19% this year. Offers were extended to approximately 9,000 students out of the 50,000+ who applied (the acceptance rate for in-state students, who make up two-thirds of the university, was 28%). We have seen demographic changes anecdotally, and the results play that out as well - 52% of admitted students were students of color, a record high for UVA. And if you’re wondering whether applying early is really worth it, keep in mind that over 7,000 of those 9,000 acceptances were handed out to early decision or early action applicants. 

USC PULLS OUT OF U.S. NEWS RANKINGS

More ranking controversy this week when USC withdrew its Rossier School of Education from the U.S. News & World Report rankings. The school made this choice after determining that it had provided inaccurate survey data to U.S. News for the last five years. An investigation into the data is now underway. 

CHAIR OF USC’S BOARD RUNS FOR LA MAYOR

In the second piece of USC news, the former chair of the Board of Trustees Rick Caruso is now running for mayor of LA. He is leaning on his record of “cleaning up messes” at USC. Caruso stepped in when USC was reeling from sexual abuse allegations, and has since installed the university’s first female president, new football coach, and several reforms to the Board of Trustees. However, some students and professors took issue with Caruso running the university like a business, saying that he was not transparent enough about the allegations against the school’s gynecologist or later scandals, including Varsity Blues. At the end of the school year, Caruso is expected to step down as he pursues his mayoral bid. 

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

The new digital SAT may be a win for neurodiverse students. The shortened test will require less sustained concentration, and with more time per question, processing speed becomes less important. However, there are still some potential drawbacks, including unfamiliarity with the new testing layout. Once the SAT rolls out, we will be back with more tips to help students get comfortable with this new format (if you are applying now, don’t worry - we won’t see the digital SAT for a few more years!). 

Have you ever wondered, “What’s the difference between a college and a university?” If so, you’re not alone! Traditionally, a college does not offer graduate programs, while a university does. But if you’re thinking about schools like the College of William & Mary, or Boston College, you’re probably realizing that this old rule of thumb doesn’t exactly hold true anymore. This article is an interesting read for those hoping to understand more about the “college” vs. “university” name, and how some schools are choosing to make changes. 

This Wall Street Journal piece by Tarren Bragdon, president and CEO of the Foundation for Government Accountability, explores the in-depth “My Florida Future” database and shares how his own children have benefited from it. Created as a result of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ “student right to know” bill, the database empowers families to make data-driven decisions when it comes to college choices. It compares a number of metrics across all 12 state universities, including earnings for each degree program, cost, and loan burdens, and Virginia is the next state slated to offer a similar system.

A number of WSJ readers shared their dissatisfaction with this system, writing that college isn’t just about ROI (I loved the one from the guy who suggested a franchise instead!). I personally think this is a good thing - knowledge is power, and families who want to make their decisions based on ROI will now have the opportunity to do so.

My only caution would be to remember that correlation does not equal causation. For example, Bragdon writes that his son recognized that Florida Gulf Coast University business graduates make approximately 10% less within a year of graduation than their peers at Florida State, and suggested that this may impact his son’s decision-making. But what about the fact that it’s significantly harder to be admitted to FSU than FGCU? We’re comparing students of different achievement levels, and it’s natural that higher-performing students would have higher earnings. I’d still pick Florida State, but at the same time, let’s be realistic.

Finally, Jeff Selingo, one of the top voices on admissions today, wrote an article in the Atlantic this week titled “The College Admissions Process is Completely Broken.” As applications rise, admissions offices are forced to spend less time reading the applications, and to reject more students than ever - to Selingo, a sign of a broken process that gives officers just minutes to scan an application.

His solution includes many interesting reforms to the college application process, including eliminating unnecessary essays at schools that make decisions using primarily the high school transcript and test scores (yes please!). He also recommends eliminating the binding early decision process, arguing that it requires students to choose “just one” college too early. But we disagree!

If used properly, the choice about where to apply ED is one of the most powerful strategic decisions that a student can make, during a process where so many other factors are already decided for them. Plus, as Selingo himself mentions at the start of the article, you can only attend one school when all is said and done - so there’s no real harm in making that decision early! 

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

Still looking for summer plans? If you live in Loudoun County, we HIGHLY recommend applying for the Loudoun Young Entrepreneurs Academy. This is an amazing program that gives great experience to students interested in business, entrepreneurship, or social impact. Students must be Loudoun County residents, although they can attend any school. (We used to love the Arlington version of this program that was available to all students, regardless of residency - bring it back, please!)

We have started getting some of our first finished Common ApplicationⓇ essays in from students this week! Even though completed drafts still undergo several rounds of revision from our team (and of course the student and parents), it is still a HUGE relief for those students who have this major task off their plates! More of our students will finish up in the next few weeks - those who stick to our timeline usually have those essays wrapped up by spring break! 

Enjoy the weekend!

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An Introduction to Our Three-Part Series on Navigating College Decision News

It’s that time of the year again: colleges and universities across the country are releasing regular decision notifications (or will be soon). For high school seniors, this marks the finish line in their college admissions journey–or so you might think! However, there are still decisions to make and important steps to take, whether you’ve been admitted, waitlisted or denied. 

We know that navigating decision notifications can be confusing, even downright stressful for some families. That’s why we’re kicking off a three-part series today! We’ll break down the different types of decision notifications (there are more than you might think!) and share our expert tips on what to do after you receive the news.

TYPES OF DECISION NOTIFICATIONS

Acceptance:

Congratulations, you’ve been admitted! Unlike early decision, a regular decision acceptance does NOT bind you to that particular school or college. You can choose whether or not you’d like to accept the offer. This is a big decision, so take your time*! Weigh your options and carefully consider the factors that are most important to you. Some students especially benefit from attending accepted student days, visiting (or revisiting) campuses, and talking with current students.

*Most schools require that students accept their offers of admission by May 1 in order to enroll. However, it’s typically possible to get an extension on this if you need one for a legitimate reason. On the other hand, some schools have begun to offer special perks to students who deposit earlier - first-come-first-serve housing, parking spots, course registration, and so forth. So don’t rush the decision, but once you know, go ahead and send in the deposit.

Conditional Acceptance Programs:

Some schools may admit applicants - but with a catch! This typically occurs when the school would like to accept students whose qualifications are not quite as high as the rest of the incoming class - or when the university feels an obligation to keep third parties happy (i.e. donors, alumni, coaches) by offering a particular applicant a spot.

Conditional acceptance programs come in many forms, as you can see below, and they can be very complex. We encourage families to read conditional acceptance letters carefully, do their research, and ask for help if they need it. 

Here are three major categories of conditional acceptance programs: 

REIMAGINED CALENDAR YEAR

Summer session contingency: A school offers admission to students who are willing to begin their college experience earlier than usual. Summer session admission can be less competitive, especially at larger universities. For example, if you want to increase your chances of admission at Penn State’s main campus, indicate that a summer start date is an option for you. You begin in the summer, take a few classes, and then join the rest of the freshman class in the fall.

I love programs like this and see great advantages in them - students have the opportunity to make friends and familiarize themselves with college-level work before the chaos of the fall semester begins. In some ways, this can be even better than traditional fall admission!

Second semester admission: You’re admitted, but not until the spring semester of your freshman year. Therefore, you can use your gap semester in the fall to work, travel, and/or volunteer. Programs like Middlebury’s Febmester are well-known for their mid-year enrollment approaches that ensure students can easily integrate into the community when they arrive on campus. 

Personally, I’m not as big of a fan of these. It can be socially isolating and sort of depressing to be stuck at home during first semester, which often-times is what ends up happening. Students see all of their high school friends having fun on social media at their new colleges, and it can be easy to make comparisons and feel down about their own circumstances.

Second semester admission WITH required fall program: While some schools give you the freedom and flexibility of a gap semester, others require you to complete a structured fall program before moving onto campus in the spring. Northeastern’s N.U.in Program, for instance, admits a small group that spends their fall semester studying abroad at partner locations around the world. Students earn credits, just as they would if on campus, while getting the added benefit of a cultural experience. 

Even though there’s less flexibility, I like this option because it still offers an exciting experience for students. They are making friends with others who will be in their class year, and have the opportunity to start their college years off on an exciting note!

Gap year: Much less common than second semester start dates, gap year admission defers your start date by a full academic year. That means you have twelve months to pursue your interests and gain experience in whatever path you choose. Harvard is one of the few schools to offer this type of admission with their Z-List (which has faced some criticism in recent years).

This shares some of the same disadvantages of second-semester admission - unless the student has a concrete plan for the year that they happen to be very excited about. It is also worth noting that a typical condition of a gap year is that students are not permitted to take for-credit classes at a different college or university. On the positive side, at least the student is starting at the beginning of freshman year, so the transition is not as difficult socially as starting in the winter might be. But they will be a solid year older than their peers, which is something else to consider.

MAJOR CHANGES

General education program: A school offers you admission, but with a slight twist. Instead of immediately jumping into your major course of study, you’ll enter a general education program where you’ll complete prerequisites first. NYU’s Liberal Studies Core, for example, provides a successful program where students can take advantage of small class sizes and study abroad opportunities before transferring into their specific major program.

I like this! It may not be the path students had initially envisioned, but they typically have to take all of these general education requirements anyway - so if taking them all at once can get them into the school of their dreams, why not?!

A different major: A school may not admit you to your first choice major for a variety of reasons. But don’t worry if you’re not sure about the alternate major to which you’ve been granted admission. Schools like UC Santa Barbara will allow you to submit a change of major request. 

This is usually a great option, because so many students switch their major anyway! Just make sure to check eligibility requirements and admissions statistics for internal transfers. For example, if you are trying to ultimately graduate with a specialized finance or engineering degree, your chance to transfer into one of these programs may not be a given.

TRANSFER OPTIONS

Community college bridge program: Bridge programs provide admitted students with greater support and preparation as they transition between high school and college. Admission is typically contingent upon a student successfully completing one to two years of coursework at a community college. Of course colleges and universities don’t want students to miss out on the typical college experience, so some even offer a community living component. Participants in the Bridge to Clemson Program live right on campus and benefit from the structure and support of the resident advisors.

I love programs like this! Remember, it’s not where you start, it’s where you finish. And this doesn’t have the social disadvantages of starting at a local community college for two years and living at home.

Conditional transfer: Unlike a structured bridge program, a conditional transfer includes a set of ‘conditions’ that students will need to meet for transfer admissions. This might include initially earning a certain number of undergraduate credits and maintaining a particular GPA at a different institution. Some schools consider other conditions as well. For example,  Georgia Tech’s Conditional Transfer Pathway Program allows applicants who were not admitted as first year students AND have a family member associated with the school to benefit from guaranteed transfer admission as long as they meet some basic GPA and course requirements. Notre Dame’s Gateway Program allows students to enroll after spending a year at nearby Holy Cross (remember Holy Cross from Rudy??).

Some of these programs have a few social drawbacks, but they aren’t a bad deal when you consider how selective these schools have become! The more structured ones, like ND’s program, minimize the social impact.

Waitlist:

A waitlist notification means that you’re on hold. You haven’t been rejected, but you haven’t been accepted either. Instead, the particular college or university will offer you a spot on the waitlist, and if you accept the invitation, you might be considered for admission. Of course, there are no guarantees, and a variety of factors must be considered. More on this in a future post!

Deny:

A denial notification indicates that a student was not accepted into the institution.  If you think you have a legitimate reason to appeal the decision, you might be able to do so (we’ll talk about this in an upcoming post, too). But beware! Not all institutions allow for appeals, and the chances of a college or university changing their minds is pretty slim.

Check back next week!

Check back next week for the second part of our series. We’ll share our expert advice on what to do when you’ve been admitted!

Weekly Update: March 18

We hope everyone had a happy St. Patrick’s Day and a great week (and isn’t too tired from springing ahead)!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

REGULAR DECISION RELEASE DATES

It is that time of year again - many of our students are receiving regular decision news from colleges! American, Notre Dame, Bucknell, Northeastern, and MIT were among the colleges to release decisions this week, and we expect to hear from UVA, Johns Hopkins, UGA, Villanova, and Swarthmore today! 🤞🤞🤞 For more updates on release dates, we recommend following College Kickstart’s list - it is updated almost every day with new information. 

CHANGES IN LAW SCHOOL RANKINGS ON THE HORIZON

U.S. News will be updating its law school rankings on March 29, and this year could be a surprise for the T-14 schools that consistently top that list. The organization has changed its metrics for ranking schools - including putting more weight on bar passage rates and far less weight on things like number of books in the library or ratio of full-time librarians to students. With these changes, we expect to see unprecedented movement on the U.S. News list - and it will be interesting to see the impact.

I’m particularly curious to see if Georgetown will get its coveted T14 slot back - there was a big shake-up last spring when they moved down to #15. As Above the Law joked, “Not since the NCAA tournament has Georgetown been so hyped and so disappointed.” Only time will tell!

UC BERKELEY ENROLLMENT CUTS ON HOLD

We wrote last month about the impending cuts that would require UC Berkeley to shrink its incoming class by 3,000 seats, and this was certainly scary news for many applicants. But on Monday, California legislators passed a bill to halt the cuts and preserve Berkeley’s size and intended growth. Don’t get too excited, though, unless you’re a California resident. Berkeley, UCLA, and UC San Diego are still reducing their out-of-state population by approximately 22% (moving from 23% of the student body to 18%).

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again - by and large, U.S. News rankings are not the best way to determine which school to attend as an undergraduate (it should carry more weight for law and business school applicants).

For students and families still looking for proof that the rankings are somewhat arbitrary, a Columbia University math professor published an extensive critique of Columbia’s new #2 ranking, arguing that the university provided inaccurate or inflated data about class sizes, spending, and other categories. Columbia agrees that the data could be interpreted in different ways, but stands by the data provided to U.S. News. The controversy has reignited the wider debate about whether rankings really offer an accurate way to think about the value of a college education. 

We know that for many students and families, paying for college is the most difficult and confusing part of the admissions process to navigate. For those looking for a free resource, check out The Wall Street Journal’s Guide to navigating college debt.

Upper-middle class families often complain about finding themselves in a college funding “donut hole” - they don’t qualify for financial aid, yet can’t afford to pay full tuition at a private or out-of-state school. What remains? In-state public options. Of course, not every state has top-tier public institutions, so some families actually relocate (!) to places like North Carolina, Virginia, Texas, Michigan or California to give their children a chance.

With so much on the line, you can understand why Californians exhibited such “rising fury” about the Berkeley enrollment cuts - Virginians would probably have done the same! You can learn more about the background here: California NIMBYs learn a lesson: Don’t mess with college admissions. It does a great job of explaining the housing crisis that led to the cuts in the first place.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

Calling all budding entrepreneurs, especially students interested in environmental science, food policy, social justice, or business - the Seeds Pitch Competition is a great way to win up to $500 for the best pitch for a solution to a problem in the community. Plus, this will look great on college applications!

This week, we had such a sweet surprise visit from a graduating senior! Like we said last week, it’s crazy that we’ve gone through so much with these students and never met some of them in person, so it was great to have a check-in from her and her family at our office. We are so excited to hear all about her journey at Cornell this coming fall!

I think we can all relate to this!!! ^

We’ve also been thinking a lot about opening up the office again - I feel like it’s just one deja vu moment after the other. As soon as we start to think “okay, it’s really over this time,” another variant pops up out of nowhere. We actually did bring students back in the office last summer for a few days before we had to revert back to remote work as a result of Delta - then we started making plans to reopen again and had to stop because of Omicron - and here we go again with BA2. Enough already!!!

Have a great weekend and enjoy the weather! We’ll be keeping our fingers crossed for all those students waiting to hear from regular decision schools tonight.

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The Return of Campus Tours

Just as the weather is changing, so are college campus policies. As we first reported back in January, more and more schools are offering in-person campus tours again. We thought it would be the perfect time to brush off our social isolation and offer some tips for visiting colleges and universities!

First of all, why are campus tours important?

Over the past two years, colleges and universities have become very good (and creative) at providing virtual options for prospective students. Webinars, 3D tours, and Zoom meet-and-greets make it easier than ever for you to learn about a school with just the click of a button. While we love the flexibility of these virtual opportunities—and definitely encourage students to take advantage of them—we also recommend visiting college campuses whenever possible.

Campus tours allow you to experience the campus environment in a way that a screen just can’t capture. As you walk the pathways, meet current students, and visit the array of buildings, you’ll hopefully be able to sense whether or not you can picture yourself there. These visits also give you a chance to talk to faculty, staff, and undergrads and discover details about the school that might never be posted online. 

Pro Tip: Look for any type of protest signs, if you can find them. There are students with grievances everywhere, and complaints can generally offer insight into campus culture.

The most memorable graffiti I’ve ever seen on a college campus. It says: “Keep Baylor Baptist!” This gives an indication that there’s some secularization occurring, which could be a good or bad thing depending on an individual student’s preferences!

When should I tour a college?

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: start early! Winter and spring of junior year are great times to start researching schools and touring campuses. Visits can help you refine your college search and determine the factors that are most important to you. 

Summer is also a popular time for families to travel and visit colleges. Just be aware that college campuses can look different when school’s not in session. If possible, consider booking your tour for late August when many colleges and universities have already begun their fall semester. Or visit all of your schools during the summer so that you are at least making apples-to-apples comparisons.

One caveat about timing - if you are a student that anticipates a major shift in grades or test scores, either tour on the later side or err on the side of caution as you decide which schools to visit. A 300-point increase on the SAT is certainly possible, but you can’t bank on it until you have that score report in hand.

How do I prepare for a tour?

First of all, you’ll need to book your tour. We recommend scheduling your visit as far in advance as possible to ensure you get a spot. As you can probably imagine, high school spring break weeks are popular times for campus tours, and these slots fill up quickly! 

You’ll also want to do your research! Spend some time learning about the school, taking a virtual tour, and writing down any questions you want answered while you’re on campus. Yes, we know that this might sound repetitive since you’ll tour campus in person and get all of the facts then, but trust us! Your preparation can help you keep track of the things you want to focus on during your visit and prevent information overload. 

As part of your research, learn about the town or city that surrounds the campus. It’s always a good idea to either walk or drive through the local area to get a sense of how the school is integrated into the community. 

Finally, don’t forget the often overlooked logistical details! College campuses can be confusing spaces to navigate, so make sure you know where to park (if applicable) and where you need to go once you arrive on campus. Plan to arrive early, just in case you get lost, and consider downloading a campus map on your phone. Also, confirm any COVID-related policies with the school, so your family has any necessary masks, proof of vaccination, etc. 

Pro Tip: Most schools run multiple tours at the same time, so that there are less prospective families per tour guide and the experience feels more personal. Consider splitting up your group; if you are with a parent, each of you go with a separate tour guide. It’s win-win: you gain two different perspectives, and you can both ask your own questions without risk of embarrassing the other :)

What should I wear?

We wrote on this topic back in 2019, and the advice and styles remain the same. Think business casual with a teenage twist. For the ladies: a sweater or blouse that fully covers your stomach with nice dark wash jeans (no holes or rips, please!) is a smart choice. Gentlemen, opt for nice looking jeans or khakis with a sweater, button down shirt, or polo. Since fashion trends have changed a bit since our original post, I feel the need to point out that it would be wise to avoid the “grunge” look that’s so popular right now!

What if you’re touring a campus when it’s 89 degrees and humid? Well, ditch the jeans and opt for cooler, lightweight options, like khaki shorts, polo shirts, and modest dresses. Ladies, avoid denim shorts, too-short dresses, and spaghetti straps. 

We can’t forget the footwear. You’ll be walking a lot, so comfort is key! It’s perfectly fine to wear casual sneakers, but if you plan to meet directly with an admissions officer or professor, you’ll want to bring along a pair of nicer shoes to change into. 

Here’s our list of biggest campus tour fashion faux pas:

1. High heels: They aren’t comfortable for anyone, and you’ll look like you’re trying too hard.

2. Suits: Undergraduates are notorious for dressing casually. If you show up in a suit, you’ll look out of place. 

3. Wrinkles: Creases and wrinkles can make even the nicest outfit look messy. Invest in a steamer or trip to the dry cleaner before your visit! 

4. Advertisements: Your outfit should not be a space to advertise, whether it’s a favorite band or political affiliation. Stick to neutral clothing and accessories. 

5. Mask Misfit: Chances are you’ll need to wear a mask during your campus tour. Oversized masks (like the gaiter look) can make your speech muffled and leave you quite sweaty. Opt for a light-weight disposable mask instead.

Is there proper campus tour etiquette?

While there’s no special etiquette book for campus visits, good manners still apply! Arrive early–and without coffee or snack in hand. Be sure to silence your phone and put it away. A campus tour is NOT the time to check your texts. Greet everyone with a warm smile and a confident “nice to see you.” Not everyone is comfortable with a handshake yet, so take a cue from the other person.

My etiquette faux pas - I showed up to Madison on game day against Michigan wearing a gold sweater and navy pants. Total accident!!! I am lucky I got out of there alive!

During the tour, listen to your tour guide and avoid side talks with your family or other prospective students. Ask questions when appropriate. For example, if your guide is telling you about the science building in front of you, don’t interrupt with questions about the dining hall. Don’t worry- you’ll get to the dining hall eventually. And you can always ask questions at the end of the tour as well. 

We also highly suggest taking notes during the tour. This will help you keep track of information AND will show your engagement and interest. If you can’t take notes, snap pictures. Scrolling through them later will jog your memory.

Before you leave campus, be sure to get contact information for the people who were a formal part of your visit, such as admissions officers, tour guides, etc. Follow up with thank you notes. This is also a great space to share what you liked best about the school and ask additional questions. If you need help putting together a letter, you can book a session with us. 

Are you ready to start planning your campus tours?

Visit College Kickstart for an updated list of colleges and universities that are offering on campus tours and start planning your visits today!

Weekly Update: March 11

We hope everyone has been enjoying the beautiful weather!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES COULD LOSE AP STATUS WITH BANNED CONTENT

The College Board has announced that courses that are classified as Advanced Placement will need to teach the entire AP curriculum in order to retain AP designation. In the wake of discussion and litigation around banned topics, this provides a new consideration for schools - they risk losing AP status for classes if AP-specific materials are banned. This may have a particular impact on AP U.S. History classes, which have come under scrutiny before for course content.

IMPACT OF THE WAR IN UKRAINE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

The news has been saturated this week with stories from the invasion of Ukraine, and the ripple effects of the war have begun to be felt by U.S. colleges. Many colleges are pulling students out of study abroad programs in Russia, ending research partnerships, and cutting any financial ties with Russian institutions. At the same time, most colleges are making an effort to protect and support both Russian and Ukrainian students on campus. 

NEW MEXICO MAKES PUBLIC COLLEGE FREE

A new initiative in New Mexico will waive tuition for state and tribal colleges, including community colleges. This follows similar initiatives, at the community college level, from states like California and North Carolina. However, we don’t expect to see state systems with more demand for in-state education (like Virginia) make this change any time soon.

HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY ADDS NEW SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES

With the help of private donors, High Point has raised around $500 million for new initiatives on campus. The university will open a law school, announcing the new dean in May, and also embark on major campus improvement projects including a new library, new student housing, and a brand new parking garage. Since 2005, the number of academic schools at High Point has jumped from three to 14!

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

A UVA senior published an essay in the New York Times opinion section this week grappling with free speech and censorship on campus. The essay describes how even students that hold “mainstream” views are often self-censoring for fear of social recriminations on campus. It is a nuanced piece that is definitely worth a read, no matter which side of the debate around campus speech you support. 

There has certainly been a shift in recent years toward more entrepreneurial emphasis on college campuses, with new dedicated spaces and coursework meant to empower young entrepreneurs (that High Point fundraise we mentioned earlier? One of the new schools they add will be a School of Entrepreneurship). This opinion piece by the founder of Best Buy supports the movement toward emphasizing creativity, courage, and innovation as essential parts of a valuable college education. 

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

We had such a fun lunch today with this adorable NYU freshman who is killing it at school and home for spring break! She and I had already worked together in person for about a year pre-Covid, but she reminded me today that she had never actually met Staci or Shannon in person before!!

I had completely forgotten that, particularly with Staci because they worked so closely together for so long. Anyway, it was a lot of fun and I hope we get to do it again when she is back over the summer :)

And speaking of the summer… if you’re still looking for summer plans or just hoping for some resume and interview tips, check out this year’s FCPS Teen Job Fairs! The fairs will be held at West Springfield High School on March 12 and at Chantilly High School on March 19. 

Lastly, now that essay season is upon us- we are hiring again and LOVE referrals! If you know any talented teachers or writers who would be interested in helping to serve our students as essay coaches this summer, please let us know. 

Have a great weekend!

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Trend Watch: College Dorms Reimagined

“Back in our dorm days…”

Some of us climbed up on our desks to get into our bunks each night and endured our feet hitting the wall (a very real residential problem for tall people like Staci and Shannon). It was normal to share a single, tiny closet with a roommate and a bathroom with thirty others. Cinder block walls were often covered with “Starry Night” posters and cork board picture collages; there was no Pinterest to inspire decor. Waking up early to avoid shower lines was essential, as was stockpiling quarters for the laundry room.

For decades, college dorms had a reputation for being small, no-frills spaces. They were, by definition, simply a collection of rooms for sleeping. In fact, the discomforts of dorm life were often viewed as a rite of passage for young adults.

But that’s not the case anymore. In recent years, dorms have taken on much more importance in the college experience. Traditional dormitories have morphed into dynamic living communities, complete with modern amenities and the comforts of home–or in some cases, comforts much greater than home.

Why the shift?

In a world of staying six feet apart, COVID is having a significant impact on how colleges and universities reimagine communal living spaces. There is a recent push for germ-reducing technology, such as keyless entries and state-of-the-art air purification systems, in addition to blueprints that allow for social distancing. For many schools, this means overhauling the standard 2-3 person room set-up and reducing overly-shared bathroom areas.

But it’s not just the pandemic restyling college dorms. With depression, anxiety, and stress on the rise, colleges and universities are focused on mental health more than ever. Schools aren’t just expanding counseling services and offering new wellness programs - they’re also creating more residential options. Special interest housing, living-learning communities, and a variety of suite-style living arrangements are allowing schools to better address student diversity while empowering undergrads to select the living environment that’s right for them.

Trends in campus housing:

Here are just a few of the changes we are tracking as college dorms are reimagined

More privacy:

Let’s face it. Living in such a small space with a complete stranger isn’t always ideal–even if you love your roommate. Colleges and universities are embracing the call for more ‘me-time’ (and fewer germs) by adopting suite-style layouts and offering more single-room options. At schools like Wash U and High Point University, first year students can even end up with their own private bathrooms!  

More community:

Although students might be craving more privacy, that doesn’t mean dorm living has to be a solitary experience. Several schools, like Franklin and Marshall College, have taken a page from Harry Potter to institute new residential college systems.  No, this isn’t a new idea– Yale has had their residential college system in place since the 1930s- but there’s definitely a trend in building distinct community identities where students feel a sense of belonging (and a bit of competition).

And of course there are plenty of other ways colleges and universities are tightening residential bonds. Living-learning communities and special interest housing, in particular, are increasing in popularity. These housing options connect students with shared interests who want to live, collaborate, and maybe even advocate with other enthusiastic undergrads. To spark even more passion, many schools provide theater rooms, workshop spaces, and an exhaustive list of activities and field trips to unite students. At RIT’s Engineering House, for example, students take part in ski weekends and plan projects for the ImagineRIT Festival. 

We also love the creative (sometimes outrageous) ways colleges and universities are using common spaces to bring people together. MIT is famous for Simmons Hall, where students can create lounges, play video games, and even successfully propose the installation of a ball pit!  And in the Callaway House at University of Texas, Austin, friendships are formed at the rooftop pool and arcade room.

More comfort:

As dorms modernize, they are becoming more comfortable. Clunky wooden furniture is  being replaced by sleek, minimal styles, and rooms are being rearranged to include living areas–even in the privacy of their own rooms. Many schools are adding culinary options to dorm buildings as well, from stainless steel kitchens to organic markets. If you’re lucky enough to reside at Loyola University’s Newman Towers, you might even get your own walk-in closet! 

More choice:

Gone are the days of the one-size-fits all approach. Students come to campus with a  unique range of needs, interests, and lifestyles, and schools are acknowledging this diversity. We’re glad to see so many more options for undergrads as they make important decisions about where, how and with whom to live. 

Tell us about your dorm in the comments below!

Weekly Update: March 4

Happy March! We hope you’ve all been enjoying some warmer weather this week.

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

JUDGE CALLS TJ ADMISSIONS CHANGES UNFAIR

Last Friday, a federal judge halted the changes to TJ’s admissions process, saying the new rules were unfair to Asian American students. The new rules dropped the percentage of Asian American students at TJ from 73% to 54%, a dramatic shift. This is the latest move in the ongoing debate about racial diversity at TJ. 

FCPS says that it is considering an appeal of the ruling, arguing that the new admissions process meets all legal requirements for admissions without discrimination

EFFECTS OF OMICRON CLASSROOM CLOSURES

As COVID-19 precautions continue to lessen, several outlets this week are exploring the impact of classroom closures on student learning. At many schools, if one student is exposed to COVID-19, the entire classroom remains at home. However, this stop-start schooling means that students around the country missed up to a week of school in January alone. This Atlantic article dives deeper into the ripple effects of keeping health students home from school. 

DC SCHOOLS DROP OUTDOOR MASK MANDATE

The indoor mask mandate for many spaces in DC was dropped on March 1, but not in schools. While students and staff are still required to wear masks in DC public schools, masks are now optional in outdoor spaces on school grounds.

TRANSPARENCY BILLS APPEAR AROUND THE COUNTRY

In many state legislatures, as well as in the House of Representatives, bills are appearing that would demand transparency for parents when it comes to lesson plans and curricula. Under these new laws, teachers would be required to post all of their instructional materials online for parents to review, including books, articles, handouts, and videos. While teachers say that most of this information is already available, either via parent-teacher conferences or portals like Canvas and Google Classroom, some parents argue that they should have more ability to easily review these materials. Here in Virginia, a bill was recently passed that will allow parents to review sexually explicit material before it is taught in the classroom.   

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

We really liked this article in The Atlantic this week about the impact of mask mandates on students who require speech therapy. This is a population that has really struggled over the past two years, but this is an issue that we haven’t seen covered very much in the news. Remote therapy caused learning loss for many students who struggle with speech, and in-person therapy was also hindered by mask mandates. 

Debates are always ongoing about the role that grading plays in the classroom, but after the struggle of remote learning and a lot of grading policy changes, the idea that letter grades may not be the best way to assess students’ progress post-pandemic has returned to the spotlight. We think that there is a good chance we’ll see more school districts change and adjust grading policies in response to changes in curriculum and the return to in-person learning. 

We say often that students and families should take college “rankings” with a grain of salt, particularly when looking at undergraduate programs. The factors that go into these rankings may not be factors that actually appeal to students (we’ve never had a student say that one important factor for them when looking at a school is the number of books in the library!), and they don’t always reveal a lot about what the student’s college experience will be. However, there are some students and parents who want to focus on highly-ranked, highly-selective schools - and that is also an approach we understand! This article explores more of the debate about whether or not it is worthwhile to focus on highly-selective schools during the admissions process. 

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

First and foremost, our thoughts continue to be with people in Ukraine this week, and we feel so lucky to have learned about Ukrainian culture and heritage through our clients.

On an entirely different note, Fall 2022 has been on our minds a lot this week. We had a bunch of students who decided to send out some transfer apps at the last minute and we tried to accommodate them as best as possible. They were/are due on 3/1, 3/15, and 4/1, so it’s been a little crazy to try to get all of those out on time, but so far so good - hopefully they will have lots of choices for the upcoming fall semester!

And speaking of choices… it’s undergraduate course registration time again! I had my first Fall 2022 course registration planning session yesterday with a rising college senior. We focused on balancing out the rest of her upper-level major and minor requirements with some cool electives, and made some solid headway. It never ceases to amaze me how unnecessarily complicated course registration has become. I really think we could start a whole business helping with course registration alone.

Lastly, we were thrilled to find out on Monday that a few of our second-year students at UVa were admitted into the Commerce School, yay! They will start their 2-year program in the fall and graduate with the rest of their class during Spring 2023. Congratulations!!!

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Maximizing Your Spring Break

It’s finally March, and the countdown is on to some of our favorite spring traditions: the National Cherry Blossom Festival, March Madness, and St. Patrick’s Day parades. But for high school students, there’s an even more exciting event on the calendar–spring break! 

We know that you might be going on a beach vacation, training for sports, or may even just want to relax at home. However, if you’re looking for things to do during your time off, take a look below. We’ve got plenty of suggestions that are sure to spark your interests, enhance your college process, AND still put the’ break’ in spring break.

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Plan your summer:

Would you love to investigate a crime scene or work in a STEM lab? Or maybe take a course in digital media and advertising? We know - you are sick of us mentioning summer planning - but there are hundreds of summer opportunities available for high school students, and now is the perfect time to apply for internships, academic courses, or volunteer programs. 

Check out our Summer Opportunities Database for an extensive list of opportunities. We update it every week with new postings! And if you find yourself needing help with an application, resume, or essay, book a session with us during your week off.

Tour a college campus:

We’re thrilled to see that so many colleges and universities are offering live campus tours again! Consider scheduling a visit or two, especially if you’re interested in schools that are a reasonable drive away. But even if you aren’t interested in nearby schools, visits could still be useful because they will help you develop a general sense of your preferences.

If you tour GW and realize that you would feel uncomfortable in an urban environment without a close community feel - congratulations! You just saved yourself trips to New York and Boston to check out NYU and BU. Or if you drive down to Lexington to visit Washington & Lee and feel isolated, Williams might not be a great fit either.

Don’t worry, though, if you’re not able to work tours into your schedule. You can experience just about any college or university from your home, thanks to the virtual information sessions and tours that became very popular during the pandemic-related shutdowns.

Brush up on old skills or explore new interests:

With resources like Khan Academy, Coursera, and Edx, it’s easier than ever to improve your academic skills and develop new talents. Spring break is a great time to review math concepts or prepare for the SAT using Khan Academy; learn the foundations of programming through one of Coursera’s most popular courses; or make your dream of becoming a comedy writer come true with Edx. We promise that there is a course for just about every subject or skill out there! PS: our database also includes a list of ongoing, self-paced courses as well.

Lend a hand:

With warmer temperatures on the rise (pun intended), you might be craving some fresh air. Why not make a difference while you’re soaking up the sun? Many local organizations are looking for volunteers to help with one-day service projects, like cleaning up Rock Creek Park or setting up a mobile market with Food For Others.

If you’re not able to participate in a local opportunity, consider helping virtually. Record an audio book for struggling readers, offer tech advice, or write letters to elderly members of the community in need of communication.

You can search for more volunteer opportunities in our database.

What are your plans for spring break? Share in the comments below!

Weekly Update: February 25

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS IN UNIFORM

In some striking images this week, the New York Times covered the use of the National Guard as substitute teachers in New Mexico schools, where the teaching staff has been severely impacted by COVID-19. 

While New Mexico is the only state to use the National Guard as substitutes, National Guard members have also driven school buses in Massachusetts, and police officers in Oklahoma have also served as substitute teachers. 

FLORIDA CONSIDERS FINANCIAL LITERACY REQUIREMENT

Virginia is one of a few states around the country that require students to learn personal finance in the classroom - including balancing a checkbook and completing a loan application. Florida may be the latest state to add a financial literacy requirement for high school graduation. We are big fans of practical coursework like this - and find that students are always more engaged when they know that they will use the material later in life.

VIRGINIA MASK MANDATES LIFT

Most Virginia counties have made mask mandates optional in schools, in response to Governor Youngkin’s recent executive order. In fact, Fairfax County is the last holdout - the only county that has not committed to switching to a mask-optional policy by March 1. 

Update! Earlier today, FCPS announced that masks will be optional starting Tuesday. You can read more about that here.

For an interesting exploration of how politics has played into parenting, both when it comes to mask mandates as well as curricula and vaccinations, check out this Atlantic article.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Yale professor Laurie Santos, instructor of the famous “Yale Happiness Class” and host of The Happiness Lab podcast, gave an interesting interview this week discussing her own feelings of burnout, as well as the anxiety that her students are experiencing. This is a useful interview for anyone trying to support college students - and anyone just looking to lead a happier life!

Based on a recently released Common ApplicationⓇ report, the number of applications has continued to increase this cycle, now up nearly 14% since before the pandemic. The report identifies nine key findings from applications up until the February 15 deadlines (p.s., these findings are all listed on the first page, so no need to read all 19 pages unless you’re admissions nerds like us :) 

Finally, we’re so excited to share this article, which includes some really important information about affording college. We often hear from students and parents that are cost-conscious that they prefer to look at public universities. But as the editor-in-chief of the Princeton Review says, “Never cross an expensive school off your list… by sticker price alone.” If you consider the possibilities of merit aid, whether schools consider financial need in admissions, and other factors, it is possible that a private education can end up being less expensive than a public one. 

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

February has FLOWN by and we are so excited to start reading student essays as they work through the STAGE Program with Staci. If you are a junior who has not yet booked your essay coaching meetings, make sure you get on the calendar to begin this process! 

Learning students’ personal stories is one of the best parts of this job - in fact, all week I have been thinking about an essay that one of our students wrote about his Ukrainian heritage (during a different application cycle). Such a devastating situation and we have been watching the news nonstop along with the rest of the world.

On a (much) lighter note, we have also been enjoying the end of the college basketball season! As some of you saw on instagram, my kids and I got to see Virginia beat Miami over the long weekend - so fun! Hopefully we will see another win against Florida State this weekend.

Have a great weekend and stay warm!

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5 Tips for Securing Strong Teacher Recommendations

There are over 1,700 reasons why it’s important to secure strong teacher recommendations for your college application. How did we come up with such a large figure? Well, that’s the current number of colleges and universities that are test-optional or test blind. 

Teacher recommendations have always been an important element of a college application, but with so many schools changing their testing policies in response to the pandemic and seeing record numbers of applications as a result, recommendation letters are more important than ever! Yes, even for students who plan to submit test scores! Letters provide admissions committees with important insights into your academic performance, as well as your personal qualities and overall attitude. A well-written recommendation will tell a story that your GPA (and scores) cannot.

So how do you secure a strong teacher recommendation? After all, you can’t control what a teacher writes about you. Or can you? There are actually specific steps a student can take to ensure two (sometimes three) quality recommendation letters, even in the age of online learning and hybrid classes. 

1. Be Present

Be present. Sounds easy, right? But we’re not just talking about being physically present in the classroom or via Zoom. One of the best ways to ensure strong recommendations is to be an active and engaged student. Participate in discussions and ask questions. This will show your teacher that you’re curious, you take initiative, and you do your work. Pitch in when it comes time for group projects, and don’t be afraid to take the lead when there’s an opportunity. If you’re struggling, reach out for help. And if you’re doing well, reach out anyway. You can strike up a conversation about the topics that interest you most in the class.

Being present is a habit you’ll want to establish early in your high school career. However, if you haven’t been as engaged as you’d like–perhaps because of the pandemic or shyness or a lack of confidence–you can start now. Make one conscious effort per day to engage, whether it’s raising your hand or staying after class to ask a question.

2. Build Connections

Investing in your classes is important, but so is creating connections and relationships within your school community. It’s much easier for you to request a recommendation if you feel comfortable with the teacher, and it’s much easier for them to write the letter if they have a connection with you.

We know that it can be challenging for some students to get to know their teachers, but there are plenty of small actions you can take. Say hello when you pass by teachers, and don’t be afraid to ask how they are doing. Visit teachers during their office hours or study halls, and consider coming to class a few minutes early. This is a great opportunity to strike up conversation and discover shared interests, like sports or music.  You can also join an extracurricular activity they are leading (but only if you’re actually interested in the activity). If you’re in an online or hybrid setting that limits your interactions with teachers, make use of Zoom chat boxes, email, and other forms of digital connection. Trust us, they will be thrilled to see you making the effort to become more than just a face behind the screen. 

3. Choose Recommenders Wisely

Before you start asking for recommendations, take some time to strategize. It’s not as simple as choosing your favorite teacher or the one who gave you the best grade. Think about teachers who can speak to your strengths, as well as your growth over time. It’s also important to pick recommenders who will offer different perspectives about your performance and qualities. Otherwise, you’ll end up with two repetitive letters. 

Subject matter is also a consideration. Ideally, one of your recommenders should connect to your area of interest. For example, if you’re applying as a business major, consider asking your math teacher to write one of your letters. 

Finally, do your best to pick current teachers who can reflect on who you are right now. As much as you might have loved your ninth grade history teacher, you’ve matured a lot (both academically and personally) since then.  We highly recommend trying to secure letters from junior year teachers. If this is truly not possible, it is okay to have a letter of recommendation from a sophomore year teacher that you will also have as a senior. Remember: sophomore year seems recent now, when it’s February of junior year, but the colleges will be reading these letters an entire year later! At that point, sophomore year is ancient history and your choice will raise a red flag about your relationships with junior year teachers.

4. Ask early…and politely give an out. Back off at the first sign of hesitation!

Be sure to secure your recommenders early, so your teacher has plenty of time to write a quality letter. We highly suggest asking for recommendations before the end of your junior year - after spring break is a great time. Many teachers limit the number of letters they write, so you want to make sure you secure a spot before the crowd rushes in during the fall semester of your senior year. 

Don’t just assume that a teacher will agree to write you a recommendation. Formally ask them, and in person if possible. We recommend using the wording: “Do you think you know me well enough to write me a supportive letter of recommendation?” This gives the teacher an out. If the teacher is in any way hesitant, they can decline with the excuse that they don’t know you well enough, and everyone can save face.

If there is any sign of hesitation at all, immediately abort the mission and find a new teacher! And certainly, never, ever argue with a teacher about this. Honestly, the kindest thing a teacher can do for a student is to show hesitation or decline to write a letter. This person is telling you in so many words that they are unable to write you a great letter … listen to that feedback! No letter is much better than a mediocre letter, which is basically the kiss of death to any college application.

5. Create a highlight reel

Regardless of how well your teacher knows you, they don’t know EVERYTHING. That’s why it’s extremely helpful to create a ‘highlight reel.’ Provide your recommender with information about your personal strengths, achievements, and interests. Of course you’ll  want to share highlights about your performance in their class, and the more specific you can be, the better!

Jog their memory about the cool project you spent months researching; the really challenging science labs you mastered; or the improvements you made to your study habits. And if the subject relates to your career interests or intended major, let your teacher know! It’s also a good idea to share your related involvements outside of the classroom, so your teacher has the ‘full picture’ and can speak to your contributions in other areas of school life that may relate to their subject matter.

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HOW WE HELP STUDENTS SECURE STRONG TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONS

As part of our college counseling services, we work closely with students to develop a strategy for teacher recommendations and set specific goals well before it’s time to actually ask the teachers. We check in on the teacher recommendation strategy throughout the year, and ultimately help students create ‘highlight reel’ narratives for each teacher through a multi-step process that begins with our customized questionnaires.

If you would like to learn more about our services or schedule a session, please visit our website.

Weekly Update: February 18

We hope everyone has a great holiday weekend! A quick note that we will be closed on Monday for Presidents’ Day.

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

UC BERKELEY MAY CUT INCOMING CLASS

An Alameda County judge ruled last August that Berkeley was under an enrollment freeze, in response to complaints by residents in the area about the school’s plan for expansion. Last week, Berkeley lost its appeal in the case. This makes it likely that they will need to cut one-third of the freshman class - over 3,000 seats! This development will likely make an already ultra-selective school even more so - particularly given that it comes on top of Berkeley’s cuts to out-of-state enrollment. Along with UCLA and UC San Diego, they are cutting their out-of-state population by approximately 21% (going from 23% of the overall population to 18%).

UC APPLICATION OPEN PERIOD EXTENDED

In other UC news, the window during which students can submit their application, which has always began on November 1, is set to begin a full month earlier next year - students can submit their applications as soon as October 1. The deadline for submitting the application will remain November 30 (though given the UC website’s history of crashing on that date, we highly recommend getting the application submitted much earlier!) 

US DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION COLLEGE SCORECARD UPDATED

New changes to the Department of Education’s database allow students to see at a glance each school’s graduation rate, annual cost, and the median salary of graduates. Students can also see the percentage of graduates from any given college that earn more than a typical high school graduate. 

SCHOLARSHIPS AND FINANCIAL AID

We’ve written before about the need- and merit-based aid processes for schools, but there are a variety of scholarships available for students from outside organizations, and it is important to be on the lookout for options like these (Shannon once applied for a college scholarship granted to tall students!). 

This week, we’re highlighting scholarships from the National Center for Learning Disabilities. These scholarships are open to students with a specific learning disability or a diagnosis of ADHD.

And if you’re more focused on the financial aid application process, a great free resource is College Access Fairfax - check out their webinars for step-by-step help through this very complicated process. 

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

In his newsletter this week, Jeff Selingo dives into colleges’ responsibility for graduate outcomes. Specifically, he notes that Black and Latinx students are often enrolled in majors with lower earnings, and this leads to underemployment after graduation. Selingo asks whether colleges are responsible for extending their diversity and equity goals to students’ lives after college as well as while they are at school. 

We just spent a lot of time in strategy sessions and meetings with our classes of 2023 and 2024 students to discuss course selection, and some of the news that gets the biggest groan from students and families is that yes, you have to take calculus. Yes, even you, hopeful English/history/political science major. This report from Inside Higher Ed concludes that a statistics class is often a better choice for high school students, academically. We agree! Unfortunately, until admissions offices start to see the light, students should still plan to take calculus.

Tj is once again in the national news. This New York Times piece covers a federal lawsuit from a group called Coalition for TJ, which alleges that the school’s new admissions processes are discriminatory towards Asian students. A group called the Pacific Legal Foundation is providing support to the TJ group in hopes that the case could potentially set precedent for other highly selective magnet schools. This reminded me of a different article I read last week from New York Magazine, entitled The Left Is Gaslighting Asian Americans About College Admissions. The author supports affirmative action in general but believes that the “dishonest propaganda” regarding the impact of affirmative action on Asians needs to stop. Feelings on affirmative action aside, I can 100% attest that Asian-Americans are discriminated against in high school, college, and graduate school admissions. It’s really awful and the term “gaslighting” sums it up perfectly. Why are we denying that this is happening? Come on - like the author says, it’s not only dishonest but insulting.

When it comes to graduate schools, like law or MBA programs, “brand names” tend to carry more weight than in the undergraduate admissions process. Nearly all students we work with are aiming for the top programs in their field. While attending a top school is extremely beneficial from a networking standpoint, these may not be the only schools that can prepare students for their future. This ABA Journal study lists the law schools whose graduates routinely overperform on the bar exam - and (surprise!) some of them aren’t ranked at all (P.S., shout out to UVA, Washington & Lee, and Liberty as the Virginia schools that made the list!). 

Finally, if you’re wondering how your major choice stacks up against other students in your class, check out this Forbes article for lists of the most popular majors for each class. For current high school seniors, the most popular intended majors include biology, business, nursing, and engineering.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

We’ve been busy this week as Colleen and Shannon continue check-ins with current clients and strategy sessions, and Staci dives right into Common ApplicationⓇ essay work with students. It is so much fun to watch our students generate their essay ideas, and we’re really excited to see how this latest batch of essays turn out!

We also heard back about ED II results! We’ve hit the ED II lottery over the last few years; if I'm not mistaken, every single one of our ED II applicants in recent memory have been admitted. Given the selectivity and unpredictability of this process, I know this streak is bound to end soon... but we made it through another application cycle with our perfect track record intact!!! Yay! Our three ED II applicants were all admitted to their top choice schools - one to Johns Hopkins and two to Wake Forest! They are all amazing kids and we are so happy for them. 

On a related note (no pun intended!), we have noticed lately that we've been working with SO MANY sets of siblings and first cousins, and that ED II group is a perfect example. Of the three I mentioned, one is a younger sibling of a past client and two are older siblings of current clients. And we'll see even more of that in next year's graduating class, because our percentage of "legacy" clients is the highest it's ever been for the Class of 2023 - over HALF of them are either younger siblings or first cousins of former students! 

It's really fun to get to work with the same families over and over again throughout the years - and even more so when the older ones come back to work with us for grad school admissions!

Have a great long weekend - we’ll be back in the office on Tuesday!

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What We're Loving Lately...

 As college counselors, we’re often asked about our favorite books, schools, and strategies. We undoubtedly have a passion for college admissions and education, but our interests don’t end there.  Since love is in the air this week, we want to share the things we’re loving lately, from podcasts to food to binge worthy shows.

Anything from Cookie & Kate! Kate's site is my favorite for vegetarian recipes, and I love her cookbook as well. 

Yoga with Adriene. Adriene's classes really blew up during the pandemic - I've been doing yoga with her daily for almost five years! I really recommend it for beginner classes or people who want to get started with yoga. 

Gastropod. I recently discovered this podcast, and I'm loving binging the back catalog! If you are interested in the science and history of food, it's a must-listen. 

Wheel of Time on Amazon. I enjoyed this fantasy show so much that I've also started reading the (14-book) series it is based on!

Daily Harvest. I cook at home most of the time, so I wasn't sure about trying these frozen meals, but they have been a life saver in a pinch or with no time to cook. I like to keep one or two of their bowls in the office freezer too. 

Bloom Planners. I particularly love their daily to-do books to keep track of everything in my day, and I love that they're undated so I can only use them when I need to.  (P.S. they have some great winter sales right now).

Kate McLeod's "Daily Stone.” It's a no-mess way to keep your skin hydrated during the winter. I read about it online and added it to my Christmas list, and it ended up being my favorite gift of the season!

One Medical. With inflation skyrocketing, everything seems to cost more than it should - except for One Medical! This is a subscription-based primary care model that provides members with many aspects of what one would expect from a concierge medical practice. They have an office in Tysons as well as 24/7 immediate care available through their app. These people have come to my rescue a million times and I honestly have no idea how it costs $200/year - it's worth multiples of that!

The Sex Lives of College Girls on HBO Max. You will find me staring in horror at the screen during at least half of each episode - while entertaining, this is not an easy watch for a parent of a girl! But in all seriousness, I do think it could spark some important (albeit awkward) conversations for parents and their college-bound seniors. 

Jeni's ice cream. My son and I love going to their Boro location in Tysons and recently tried the Maple Soaked Pancakes flavor on National Ice Cream for Breakfast day. He was a big fan; I love their new Pineapple Upside Down Cake flavor. Fun fact, Jeni's is originally from Ohio and I first tried it while visiting Ohio State back in 2017!

Flowkey. I played the piano from age 3 through college, and then never played once for about fifteen years. I am sad to report that it is not like riding a bike, at least for me, because I can't even read music anymore. But after my daughter got a piano for her birthday (thanks, grandma!), I started teaching myself how to play again on Flowkey and am really enjoying it! 

Rains Tote Bag.  This is the perfect bag for college students and commuters! It keeps all of your belongings safe and dry with its unique raincoat material. I first bought the small tote when I was living overseas and had to walk to work everyday. It’s become my go-to, especially for travel, because I can easily wipe off and disinfect the bag. If you’re not a tote person, there are plenty of other designs. I like the new backpacks and gym bag! 

Everywhere Oil –the name says it all. This clean beauty product is meant for all ages and skin types and can help with everything from eczema to split ends. But what I love most is the story behind this product. It was formulated by a stay-at-home mom who couldn’t find anything gentle enough for her skin during cancer treatments. Now she has an online shop, Paris Laundry, where she sells all- things clean and organic. To me, there’s nothing better than supporting a small business and one woman’s dream. 

Young Space. Despite being an English major in college, I ended up interning at an architecture museum in England. My work inspired me to write a book on British Georgian architecture (geeky, I know!), and I’ve loved following art ever since. One of my favorite ways to keep up with the latest artists is by following Young Space. This online community promotes emerging contemporary artists and their work while creating a space for art-enthusiasts to connect. 

Desktop wallpaper organizer. I was always one of those people with a messy desktop full of stray files and pictures. Not anymore, though! This desktop wallpaper organizer streamlines your files AND makes your desktop look impressively clean and stylist. And it’s only $5! 

Making sweet potato waffles for breakfast, lunch or dinner. I’ve conjured up my own paleo-friendly recipe based on some of my favorite Instagram health accounts. Blend two cooked sweet potatoes and about 6-7 eggs in a food processor or blender.  Then sir in 2 cups of almond flour, ⅔ cup of tapioca flour, ⅓ cup of water, and teaspoon of baking soda baking powder. Sprinkle the batter with as much cinnamon as you’d like. Each batch makes about 12 waffles, which you can easily freeze. Add bacon and a fried egg for a hearty breakfast sandwich or top with chicken and spinach for a quick dinner. 

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Weekly Update: February 11

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

DOLLYWOOD LATEST EMPLOYER TO PAY FOR COLLEGE

Dolly Parton’s theme park announced this week that it will pay for full college tuition for employees, as well as books and fees. The perk is available to seasonal, part-time, and full-time employees. We love seeing stories like this about how employers support their employees’ pursuit of higher education!

LONGEST SENTENCE YET PASSED DOWN ON VARSITY BLUES

Trials continue for parents involved in the Operation Varsity Blues scandal, and the longest sentence yet - one year and one day - was handed down this week. Gamal Abdelaziz was one of the first parents to face trial in the case (others, like Lori Laughlin, pleaded guilty and did not go to trial). Meanwhile, two-thirds of parents charged have received sentences of three months or less. Abdelaziz’s lawyers intend to appeal the decision.

DONOR AND LEGACY PREFERENCE IN JEOPARDY DUE TO H.R. 6559

Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) introduced a bill last week to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965. He seeks to prevent colleges and universities from giving preferential treatment to donors and/or legacies - with the caveat that the ban on legacy preference could be waived if it is “in the best interest of students who have been historically underrepresented in higher education.” You may remember that when Colorado banned legacy preference last year, we mentioned it was a big deal because of the precedent it set. We’re particularly interested to follow this bill in light of the upcoming Supreme Court case on affirmative action.

SCHOOL MASK MANDATES STILL IN FLUX

The Virginia Supreme Court dismissed a parent lawsuit contesting Governor Glenn Youngkin’s mask-optional executive order this week. Currently in many counties in Northern Virginia - including Fairfax, Alexandria, and Arlington - mask mandates can remain in place while the order is on hold. On Thursday, Fairfax County announced that it would make masking optional once COVID transmission reached “moderate levels.” We expect to see more changes to mask orders in the coming weeks, in Virginia as well as around the country.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

As debates around the country continue over banned books and school curricula, there have been several interesting articles this week that shed some light on these issues. This article argues that the purpose of higher education is “critical inquiry,” while The Atlantic this week explored the nuances of discussing versus using offensive language in the classroom. (Side note: If you’re particularly interested, FCPS community members can actually review and weigh in on elementary language arts instructional materials here until the end of February).

We also enjoyed this personal essay about how the author nearly “ruined” her daughter’s talent show - with the message that in some cases, it is important to allow children to be bad at something in order for them to learn and grow.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

In case you missed it, we wrote a blog post earlier this week about UVA’s (very surprising!) EA decisions. If you, like us, are scratching your head at some of the decisions you’ve seen or heard about recently, this is worth a read!

Have you checked out our Summer 2022 Internships Database recently? If not, you might be missing out on some great opportunities! We update this page every week with local and virtual internships and college courses. Now is the time to get your plans set for this summer! If you are an employer with an internship or job opportunity for high school students, let us know - we would love to feature your posting on our page. 

Lastly, some of you hit 100 days of school this past week - whether you’re a senior getting ready to graduate, or a junior getting ready to be done with this difficult year, it’s all downhill from here! Well, except for the 10th graders… buckle up :)

Our first student from the HS Class of 2035 dressing up like a 100-year-old to celebrate 100 days of Junior Kindergarten this week! :)

Enjoy the weekend!

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Class of 2022 UVA Early Decision/Early Action Results

I’m sure that most of you have read Dean J’s blog post by now with the EA admissions statistics for UVA’s Class of 2026. I love how she breaks the numbers down between in-state and out-of-state, by the way. That is so helpful and I wish other flagship state universities would follow suit.

The Early Decision numbers for in-state applicants didn’t change all that much from last year, except there was more of everything: total applicants, accepted applicants, deferred applicants and denied applicants. It all balanced out, though. 38% accepted as compared to 39% last year; 29% deferred as compared to 26% last year; and 33% denied as compared to 35% last year.

Early Action followed a similar pattern for in-state applicants - the raw numbers for each group were up, but percentages were actually exactly the same as they were the year before: 30% accepted, 27% deferred, and 43% denied.

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But here’s the interesting thing. The percentages staying constant do NOT mirror what we are seeing and hearing anecdotally from kids here in Fairfax, Arlington, and even Loudoun County. Not at all. To the point that I checked my math about five times (I really hope I didn’t make a mistake)!

I am not going to perpetuate the rumor that UVA has quotas, because they don’t. Yet I would really love to know the breakdown of these in-state numbers by county or region. Is it possible that even though the in-state numbers as a whole don’t show a significant difference, the county-by-county breakdown would? It’s just really hard for me to wrap my head around the idea that the percentages stayed the same this year when so many of us counselors (independent and high school) are observing a different scenario with our Northern Virginia students:

Here’s what we noticed in particular:

1. Over the past two years there has not been a huge difference in terms of the quality of the admitted student pool between the ED and EA rounds. Statistically, ED is slightly easier, but it’s also a different applicant pool - there are typically more legacy students and recruited athletes in any school’s ED applicant pool. This can often balance out a moderate differential. Anyway, in terms of our internal data (which is admittedly statistically insignificant and from a similar demographic), it did not seem like the ED advantage was anywhere near as substantial as it is for some other schools. Other independent and high school counselors noticed the same.

2. This year was different, starting with ED. We had some students admitted in that round that I was very surprised (but thrilled, don’t get me wrong!) were admitted. These were not kids with any particular connections, either. And of course we also had students admitted ED that were extremely qualified. As well as a couple that we thought should have been admitted. But overall, it was a significantly easier ED year.

3. We did not have that many EA applicants this year, because so many of our students had UVA as their first choice and applied ED. We also had a lot of ED kids admitted to other schools who later pulled out their UVA EA apps. But of the remaining applicants we had in the EA pool, there were some really shocking decisions. Kids who 100% should have been admitted were not. If I shared their stats, which I can’t for confidentiality reasons, you would be shocked. And you can’t blame it on essays or teacher recs or something else, because these ultra-qualified kids have been admitted to other schools that are in some cases significantly more competitive than UVA. And SO MANY OTHER COUNSELORS are noting the same. I can’t tell you how many conversations I have had this week about it.

4. A number of students (not our clients, actually) were not admitted even though they had already advanced in the rounds for the Jefferson Scholarship. This is WILD to me. Understandably, these students were more focused on the scholarship at this point and assumed that admission itself was more or less a done deal, since, hello! They are supposed to be the top students in the applicant pool! The reason this is so interesting to me is because the admissions committee does not make the decisions for Jefferson Scholars - it's a separate committee from the Jefferson Scholars Foundation. And my assumption is that the Jefferson Scholars committee is free to make decisions based on merit, while the admissions committee has to take other factors into consideration about shaping the class.

Again, I don’t want to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but the stats do not add up with what we observed from other years with our admittedly-not-representative-of-the-state-as-a-whole student group.

SO - My advice for Class of 2023 juniors interested in attending UVA? Apply early decision, and for the love of God, please PLEASE continue foreign language during your senior year!!! 😃 I HATED IT TOO SO I FEEL YOU BUT THIS WILL COME BACK TO HAUNT YOU!

Weekly Update: February 4

Happy February! We hope everyone is staying dry :)

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

UVA EARLY ACTION DECISIONS RELEASED TONIGHT

So many of our students are on the edge of their seats waiting for UVA early action decisions to come out tonight. Make sure to check those applicant portals this evening, and we’ll be here with information on statistics for this year as soon as those are released. Fingers crossed for all of our students waiting on UVA decisions!

GEORGETOWN LAW PLACES ILYA SHAPIRO ON LEAVE

Ilya Shapiro, who was expected to take over as the executive director at Georgetown Law’s Center for the Constitution this week, has instead been placed on administrative leave in response to his tweets about Biden’s commitment to nominating a Black woman to the Supreme Court. Shapiro is on leave pending an investigation into whether the tweets violated Georgetown’s non-discrimination and anti-harrassment policies. 

TRINITY COLLEGE WORKSHOP WEDNESDAYS

Trinity’s College Decoded webinar series will walk students step by step through the college process, from the search to the essay to the campus visit. This is a great resource for juniors as they start on the active part of the college application process!

NATIONAL CATHOLIC COLLEGE ADMISSION ASSOCIATION SCHOLARSHIP

Are you a senior attending a Catholic college next year? Don’t forget about the opportunity to apply for a National CCAA scholarship! The application only takes a few minutes to complete, and winners are chosen by random drawing, so this is a scholarship application that takes relatively little work for a potential $1,000 award.

NATIONAL GIRL SCOUT ADVISORY BOARD

GSUSA is accepting applications for up to ten seats on the National Girl Scout Advisory Board. Girl Scout members of the advisory board work with teams in the National Office on projects aligned with the national strategy, including DEI/RJ, older girl engagement, research, marketing and more. The Girl Advisory Board makes recommendations, contributes to key initiatives and gains valuable experience and professional development. Girl Scouts who will be in grades 7 through 11 in Fall 2022 are eligible to apply. This is a great leadership opportunity for students to take advantage of this year! Applications are due by February 21.  

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Several interesting articles this week that focus on the cost of college - and how it can be a major deterrent to some students. This article from The Conversation explores why students drop out of community college, even when they are close to a degree. There are a variety of reasons, but the top three have to do with cost: tuition is too high, living expenses are too high, and running out of financial aid. 

And even small expenses can contribute to this strain. This Washington Post article opens with the story of a student who was forced to drop out of college because he couldn’t afford the $25 bus ticket to get to campus. Now, colleges and educational nonprofits are looking for ways to help students pay for transportation, lodging, textbooks, housing deposits, and other expenses that, while they may seem insignificant to typical middle-class students, can be prohibitive for some would-be college graduates. 

Cancel culture has been a salient conversation when it comes to college campuses for years now, but the conversation is all too often dominated by politicians, professors, administrators, and other adults. This Atlantic article explores self-censorship and the notion of cancel culture through the students’ point of view, and is an interesting look at how self-censorship is working on college campuses. 

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

If you read our earlier blog this week, you know that the Common App prompts for this cycle have been released! Our class of 2023 students can now begin their essay work, and will receive an email from us today with next steps. Now, we expect that most students will be able to wrap up those essays by spring break - and be ready to get started on their supplements!

As I mentioned on last week's blog, the Coalition Application announced an integration with Scoir and Slate. The Scoir counseling platform is used by students and counselors on the high school level, and Slate is a CRM used by colleges and universities to track applicant information (all that demonstrated interest data we talk about!). The webinar started with Gerry McCrory, the CEO of Scoir, who discussed the rationale for the integration. The whole thing sort of "clicked" for me when he explained that this will essentially be the TurboTax of the college admissions process. Love that analogy!

Here's how it will work: students and high school counselors will record student information in Scoir across the student's high school years, the way most already do anyway. When students begin their Coalition Application at the start of senior year, they will realize that they are 75% done already! They just have to answer the last few questions and then they can submit their applications. He explained that the goal is to make applying to college less transactional, and that they aren't building a new application, just a different way to apply.

In theory, I like the sound of this and I think that if it operates as planned, it does have the potential to simplify the process for some groups of students (primarily those applying to less-selective schools that have fewer school-specific questions and supplemental essays). However, given the experience I've had over the last five years or so with the Coalition Application, I do not have a high level of confidence in the organization's ability to carry this out as planned.

I also have another big concern - yes, this process makes it much EASIER for students. But sometimes the easier process is not what will get them the results they want. If there aren't any essays or short answers, and the application mostly contains information regarding demographics and academic data, how will colleges be able to differentiate applicants from one another? The process will become much less holistic... which will likely hurt the very students this partnership seeks to help. It's hard to say how this will turn out, but we will continue to keep everyone posted as we learn more information. 

Have a great weekend!

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College Essay Tell-All

Finally, what our office has been waiting for–the official release of the 2023 Common App essay prompts! And in the true spirit of Groundhog’s Day, these prompts are a repeat of last year’s menu of options. 

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Even though we are facing six more weeks of winter (according to Punxsutawney Phil), we’ll soon be kicking off essay writing season here at DC College Counseling. After all, it’s never too early for juniors to begin thinking about their college essays. 

As we all know, essay writing isn’t an exact science, and if you search for advice to guide you through the college essay process, you’ll find a plethora of myths and misinformation. That’s why we’ve decided to do a tell-all today. We’re confronting some of the biggest college essay rumors and exposing the real truth.

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Rumor #1: The topic of your essay should be extraordinary. 

The Truth: The majority of teenagers haven't been to the Olympics or climbed Mt. Fuji. That's okay! What makes a topic extraordinary is the way in which a student gives meaning to a particular experience, no matter how big or small. 

Rumor #2: The essay should sound like a professional wrote it.

The Truth: Of course a college essay should be polished and error-free, but it is very important to edit carefully so that the student's authentic voice is not lost. Admissions committees know applicants are high school students, and they want the essay to sound like a teenager wrote it.

Rumor #3: The admissions committee won’t actually read your essay.

The Truth: The admissions committee WILL read the essay, because they matter. A great essay can help a student stand out and will increase the likelihood of acceptance.

Rumor #4: It’s okay to ‘stretch’ the truth.

The Truth: College essays ask students to reflect on personal experiences and offer their genuine perspective on the world. There's no such thing as an authentic essay if it's not honest - and the committee will see right through it.

Rumor #5: A five-paragraph structure will earn you an A on your college essay. 

The Truth: The college essay doesn’t have any steadfast rules about structure, and there’s certainly no grading rubric by which students are scored. By definition, this essay is personal and creative. Be organized, but don’t be constrained by the traditional academic mold (it would actually be very odd to have a traditional five-paragraph structure for a personal essay - no thesis, either!).

Rumor #6: Never show weakness. 

The Truth: Applicants should always ‘put their best foot forward,’ but that doesn’t mean trying to appear perfect. Discussing a weakness can actually make for a reflective and relatable piece of writing–if it’s done correctly. Students should use their weakness as the starting point for positive growth and transformation, not as a negative excuse or limitation.

Rumor #7: Lead with your achievements.

The Truth: The college essay is the one space where a student can show who they are beyond grades, test scores, and titles. So instead of wasting these precious 650 words repeating information the admissions committee can find elsewhere in the application, students are better off telling an actual story that reveals something new about them. 

Rumor #8: If you don’t have a good idea, borrow one from someone else. 

The Truth: There are literally thousands of sample college essays available online, and it might be tempting to ‘borrow’ an idea, especially if a student is suffering from writer’s block. Remember, though, that the college essay is a PERSONAL essay. A student can’t possibly write a successful personal essay if the feelings and experiences are real.. it just won’t seem authentic. Oh and did we mention that plagiarism is never a good look!?

Rumor #9: Bad writers need not try or apply.

The Truth: Just because a student struggles with writing doesn’t mean they can’t produce a strong college essay. They just need the right structure and support. That’s why it’s so important for students to follow an organized writing process–one that involves brainstorming, drafting, and revising– and carve out enough time for each part of the process. Enlisting the help of trusted adults (like us or parents!) is also recommended. We just went through some of our recent student essays to pick some examples that we thought were particularly excellent, and it struck me that two of the three were from boys whose parents were very concerned about the college essay process. And now we just chose them as some of the best!

Rumor #10: The college essay process is stressful. ‘I’m a terrible writer. Nothing exciting has ever happened to me. This is the most important essay I’ll ever write, so it has to be perfect.’

The Truth: The college essay process is often anxiety-inducing for students, but it doesn’t have to be! We encourage students to shift their mindset. Instead of treating the college essay as a high-stakes, mandatory assignment, approach it as a creative opportunity to show off who you are. The writing process will still take time- there are no magical shortcuts- but with the right attitude, it can actually be fun. And the skills you gain during the process will be a tremendous asset in college and beyond!

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Weekly Update: January 28

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

THE SAT GOES DIGITAL

Some of the biggest news this week has been around the SAT, which announced a major change this week - the SAT will go fully digital in 2024, and the length of the test will shorten to just two hours. 

If you are preparing to take the test now, this likely won’t have an effect on your planned test administrations, but ninth graders and younger students should be aware of the big changes to come!

This article is helpful as a clear breakdown of what we currently know and don’t know about this new SAT, and one of the SAT tutors that we work with also published a blog this week about how these changes could affect students’ preparation. They might even impact whether the students choose to take the ACT or SAT!

SCOIR ANNOUNCES COALITION INTEGRATION

While the Common App is fairly, well, common to our students, some of those who haven’t yet started the application process may have never heard of the Coalition for College Access. The Coalition Application operates much like the Common App (though we find it way more confusing!) in that it allows students to apply to multiple colleges through the same site. There are a few schools that will only accept the Coalition App, and others that take both, but in general the majority are Common App-exclusive and do not opt for a Coalition affiliation.

This week, the admissions software Scoir (which many high schools have begun to use as an alternative to Naviance) announced a partnership that will allow students to apply to Coalition schools directly through Scoir’s platform. The Scoir integration will take the place of the Coalition’s own application. 

This is a controversial move and we definitely have some concerns. Colleen will be attending a webinar next week to learn more about how this will impact students, and we will give you an update.

ON-CAMPUS VISITS ARE BACK

Many of our students are planning spring break trips to see schools, and we’re excited that some are open again for on-campus tours! If you’re trying to plan your college visits, check out this list from College Kickstart of schools offering on-campus tours. The list covers the top 50 national universities and the top 50 liberal arts colleges, so this is a great starting point for your spring break.

SUPREME COURT HEARS AFFIRMATIVE ACTION CASE

The anti-affirmative action cases against Harvard and UNC’s admissions processes have made their way to the Supreme Court. This is the first time the Supreme Court will make a ruling on affirmative action since upholding the practice in 2016. Most universities do consider race as a factor in the admissions process, so if this practice is overturned, it will likely have far-reaching consequences in the admissions world. The Supreme Court is expected to hear the case during its next term, beginning in October. 

FCPS UPDATES

FCPS’s live virtual career fair will run from February 14-February 17. This provides a great opportunity for students to learn about different careers and get connected to local professionals for networking opportunities. Don’t miss it!

And for parents and educators of special needs students, the Annual FCPS Special Education Conference is coming on March 26 - registration will open in March.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

After TJ removed a testing component as part of its admissions process, the school was hit with a lawsuit (which is still pending). But other highly selective, public technical high schools may soon be facing the same situation. This article explores the testing requirements for entry to schools like TJ, New York’s Brooklyn Tech, and San Francisco’s Lowell High School. This is a long read, but worth it for anyone interested in the nuances of how testing affects (or doesn’t) the diversity of the student body at these selective public schools. 

The general counsels for UVA and George Mason have been fired by the new Virginia attorney general. So far, we don’t know whether general counsels for other Virginia public colleges have also been let go. A statement from the attorney general’s office says that they hope to appoint new counsel that will be more in line with the goals of the office rather than the philosophy of the universities. 

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

It is hard to believe how fast this year has gone, but as we keep emphasizing - it is already time for high school students to start thinking about their summer plans! The process continues to be uncertain this year, so we recommend that students have a summer option they’d like to pursue if the pandemic allows, and then a backup option that would make them equally happy if Omicron necessitates that they choose a virtual experience this summer.

Still not sure of your summer plans? Check out our Summer 2022 Virtual Opportunities Database for some ideas! We will continue to add new in-person and virtual opportunities in the DC area and around the country on a weekly basis, so bookmark this page to stay up-to-date on all of your summer options. 

Enjoy the weekend - stay safe in the snow!! And good luck to all our first-year girls at UVA finishing up formal recruitment this weekend!!

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What's on Your Shelfie?

Today we are celebrating one of our favorite holidays: library shelfie day! Now we realize that this day probably isn’t marked on most peoples’ calendars, but with an office full of English majors, we can’t resist taking some shelfies.

So what exactly is a shelfie? It’s simply a selfie for book lovers. On the fourth Wednesday of January each year, readers from all over the country photograph themselves with their personal bookshelves or favorite texts. Some even make special trips to local libraries to get creative with their shelfies in the stacks before posting their photos for the world to see. #libraryshelfie

The New York Public Library started this tradition in 2014, not just because selfies were trending but because e-readers were too. Many feared the disappearance of libraries and good old-fashioned paper books. Shelfie Day celebrates the role libraries continue to play in communities and the great books that shape us.

So in the spirit of Library Shelfie Day, here are some of our favorite titles and recommended reads.

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COLLEEN

One of Colleen’s favorite books of all time is Random Family by Adrien Nicole LeBlanc. It's a New York Times Editors’ Choice book, and it will leave you thinking about urban poverty in a completely new way. It's also a page-turner - She taught it to a class of reluctant 11th grade readers over 15 years ago, and they loved it as much as she did!

Colleen’s other favorite, which is on her kindle, is Chris Voss’ Never Split the Difference. In fact, she’s recommended it on the blog before as a good summer reading choice that students can list on their applications. It’s written by an FBI agent and teaches practical negotiation techniques for use in everyday life using a concept called “tactical empathy.” Colleen says it’s the most impactful book she’s ever read, and she uses Voss’ techniques constantly. They really work!

SHANNON

Shannon took to the DC College Counseling bookshelves for her shelfie. One of her favorite professional titles is the Fiske Guide to Colleges, which she recommends to our families. It’s a fantastic book for college research, providing plenty of facts and data all in one place (instead of 15 open tabs on your computer!). 

Shannon also likes Your Turn: How to Be an Adult, which just so happens to be the book we gifted to our graduating seniors last year. It’s written by Julie Lythcott-Haims, a former dean at Stanford, who raises the very important question: what does it actually mean to be an adult? You might be surprised by the answer, so definitely add this one to your bookshelf!

STACI

Staci first read Brain Rules: 12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School several years ago when she became a speed reading trainer and needed to apply these rules to her classes. The book is written by a molecular biologist who explains rules for cognition, memory, and learning in a simple, entertaining style. No Ph.D. needed to understand how these brain rules can enhance your everyday life!

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LOOKING FOR A RECOMMENDED READ?

If all this talk of books and libraries has left you eager to delve into a new text, here are some titles we recommend to teens preparing for college.

There’s nothing better than an inspirational story to get you motivated. We love Canyon Dreams: A Basketball Season on the Navajo Nation, a recently published story of culture, American dreams, and high school sports. David Goggin’s Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind and Defy the Odds is also a great option, especially for those who like a mix of autobiography and coaching. 

When it comes to college admissions, we always stress goal setting and productivity, so it’s no surprise that we recommend Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (or the teen version, Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens) along with Atomic Habits. 

We also like Malcolm Gladwell’s Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know. It explains the psychology behind our communication techniques and the things we assume about the people we meet. This is an interesting text for anyone who’s on the cusp of building their professional network! 

Finally, we have some picks to help you explore your favorite subjects even more. Shoe Dog: A Memoir by the Creator of Nike will take you through the trials and tribulations of building a business (perfect for any young entrepreneur!). I Want More Pizza: Real World Money Skills For High School, College, And Beyond explores the basics of financial literacy for young adults–through pizza! It puts an entertaining spin on important skills students should have before they enter college. We also like Humble Pi: A Comedy of Maths Errors- a text that shows how math is always working behind the scenes in our world, even when it makes mistakes. And we can’t forget a great new work of literature: Klara and the Sun. Author Kazuro Ishiguo takes a look at the role of AI and technology through the eyes of a truly unique narrator. 

If you want to participate in National Shelfie Day, snap a picture and don’t forget the hashtag: #libraryshelfie

Weekly Update: January 21

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

GOVERNOR YOUNGKIN’S MASK ORDER

Governor Youngkin issued an executive order this week that gives parents the final say on whether or not their children wear masks in schools, even if the schools have a mandatory mask policy in effect. Many school districts, including FCPS and Arlington County, are still requiring masks for now, and several parents have filed lawsuits in response to the order. The biggest impact we will see in our area will likely be at Catholic schools, as the Diocese of Arlington has opted to follow Governor Youngkin’s lead. With a child in one of those schools, I’m a Iittle nervous to see how this plays out…

MARYLAND UNIVERSITIES REQUIRE KN95 MASKS

Meanwhile, several colleges and universities in Maryland are requiring everyone on campus to wear high-grade masks. Johns Hopkins is requiring N95 or KN95 masks or two surgical masks, while UMD and Towson will require KN95 masks in classroom settings. 

“CALIFORNIA FOR ALL COLLEGE CORPS” LAUNCHES PILOT PROGRAM

Governor Newsom recently announced a pilot program that will cover $10,000 of tuition costs at 45 California colleges and universities, including UC Berkeley and UCLA, for students who complete at least 450 hours of community service. Students can volunteer for one year to serve in high-need areas like climate action, K-12 education, and COVID-19 recovery. 

BOSTON COLLEGE MERGER WITH PINE MANOR

During the pandemic, many smaller colleges faced financial hardships that required school closures, including Pine Manor college in Massachusetts. Luckily, the school merged with Boston College and is now launching the new two-year Messina College, with the goal of recruiting, retaining, and graduating underrepresented and first generation students. The institute will have housing for students on its campus, and BC’s president said that he hopes students graduating from Messina will be able to transfer to Boston College. 

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

We are picking up now with law school admissions for juniors in college this spring - this is really the time to start preparing to apply to law school! One myth that many students come to us with is the idea that law schools only care about GPA and LSAT score. While GPA and LSAT score are very important in this process - in fact, we’d argue that these numbers are more important overall in the law school process than for undergraduate applications - they aren’t the only factors. This article covers six important factors in law school admissions, including life experience, work and volunteer experience, and motivation. 

Of course, these factors definitely play a role in admissions. However, it is important to consider them in the context of your application. If you are applying to law school straight from undergrad, your GPA is going to be a very important factor. If you are applying to start a second career after 10 years in the working world, your work experience is going to carry more weight! 

Most of our students and families are familiar with Naviance - the software that helps two-thirds of American high school students with their college research. This article explores how Naviance collects data on applicants and allows colleges and universities to advertise directly to a certain pool of students, basing targeted ads on criteria like geographic location and race. This is definitely something that students and parents should be aware of - and be careful to think critically about the schools that Naviance suggests to them! 

This article takes a deep dive into the establishment of Florida International University, from its origin on an abandoned airfield to its recent receipt of a $40 million donation from MacKenzie Scott. The school now has the number 6 ranking for social mobility among all universities in the country, and jumped 22 spots in the U.S. News rankings in 2022 compared to 2021. If you are interested in the rise of a newer college to the public eye, it is definitely worth looking into FIU. Especially if you want to say goodbye to this awful weather!

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

We’ve used the space in the last few weeks to spotlight extracurricular and summer opportunities that students can use to improve their communities and their college applications. This week, we’re sharing an opportunity to become a student board member of McLean Community Center. There are two board slots available for teens who are residents of the MCC’s tax district (Small District 1A-Dranesville) and will be 15-17 years of age on May 21, 2022. One slot is for a student living within the Langley HS boundary, and one slot is for a student living within the McLean HS boundary, although neither student needs to actually attend the schools. Candidate petitions are due by March 11. For more information, check out the Community Center’s website. 

We have these opportunities in mind because we are spending a lot of time this month with our current juniors, discussing high school course selection, testing plans, extracurricular activities, teacher recommendations, and more! This is a perfect time to get started on the undergraduate or law school admissions process - for more information, book a Meet & Greet to chat with us. 

Lastly, we are also working on trying to reduce student stress and anxiety as much as possible. Just when everything felt like it was going back to normal again, the omicron variant came in with a fury and did a number on adolescent mental health. if you are noticing your student’s anxiety becoming an issue at home, you should check out this week’s parent workshop by the highly-sought-after Dr. Dan Shapiro. There are so many families who could benefit from some help in this area, and we think Dr. Dan is great!

You can register here for Thursday’s program.

Have a great weekend, and stay warm!

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