I became instantly afraid for one of my students as I read his essay last Sunday. He was writing in response to the optional Covid question, which reads: Community disruptions such as COVID-19 and natural disasters can have deep and long-lasting impacts. If you need it, this space is yours to describe those impacts. Colleges… Read more
Denison University: Charming and Impressive
On a Wednesday in August, I traveled with a colleague to visit Denison University in Granville, Ohio, about five hours from my home in Maryland. Granville is charming and picturesque, reminding me of a small New England community. Plus, Denison’s campus is impressive and beautiful. What is equally impressive and exciting are the academic opportunities… Read more
Insights for Empty Nest Parents
The day has finally arrived. Your child is packing her bags for college. You have supported, guided, encouraged, nudged, and loved her through her childhood and teenage years. During the past 17-plus months, you have helped her through all of the changes, frustrations, and tears that Covid-19 has brought to our lives, including canceled test… Read more
Congratulations to My Class of 2021!
A BIG congratulations to all of my students that I worked with this past year who got into many of the colleges on their list! Many of them got into most, if not all, of the schools on their list. I even had one student share that she wishes she had dreamed bigger! You reached… Read more
Class of 2022, Watch for the Increased Importance of These College Requirements
Now that many of my students this year have been accepted and know where they are going in the fall, I am reflecting on what will be required for the class of 2022 and what parts of the college application have increased in importance. In considering a student for admission, colleges can review the application,… Read more
Read This Before You Decide on Test Optional!
One of the biggest changes in the college admissions’ process for the class of 2021 was the drastic number of colleges who adopted test-optional policies. For those of you who aren’t aware of test optional, this term means that reporting SAT or ACT scores is optional to a college application. Prior to Covid-19, 77 percent… Read more
Ethical Parenting in the College Admissions Process
Here’s an excellent article from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. I believe this is a very well-written and thought-provoking article that speaks to the ethics needed for all of us in this process. Parents and other primary caregivers shape their children’s moral development in myriad ways. They also often influence every phase of the college preparation,… Read more
An Action Plan for Your Junior Year of High School
It is February 2021 and a question I have answered many times this winter is: “Is it too late for my junior to begin the college process?” I always applaud the parents who contact me now as this is a perfect time to begin the college search and admissions’ process. There is a lot of… Read more
What Do I Do if I Am Deferred?
One of my students recently called me, frantic as he had been deferred from Duke, which is his dream school. “Does this mean I am not getting in? Why? What should I do?” The questions came fast and furious. I could feel his anxiety and worry over the phone. I asked him to take a… Read more
The Uncertain Future of Testing
Twenty twenty has been a difficult year for the standardized testing industry, specifically the SAT and ACT. Over the spring and summer, the ACT and SAT cancelled tests and hundreds of colleges, including highly selective ones, joined the test optional movement, at least for the 2020-2021 season. Jeff Selingo, author of the NY Times Bestseller… Read more