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
What will the coronavirus do to your college plans?
May is typically a time when high school seniors can take a breath, having committed to their college for the next 4 years. Senioritis has definitely set in, with a lot of laughter, happiness, and a sense of accomplishment. High school is at an end. Beach week is around the corner. And soon, they will… Read more
College Admissions and the Coronavirus v.2
April 17, 2020 Since my last newsletter a few weeks ago, a lot has happened to impact high school and college students and their families. Students – and all of us -have never experienced anything like this 2020 pandemic. With schools closed and all events canceled, normal life has ground to a halt. The closing… Read more
Coronavirus & College
The coronavirus has certainly upended all of our lives. These past two weeks have been ones for the record books. Everyone is trying to figure out the best course of action to take to keep everyone safe. We all now know to wash our hands and stay six feet apart when going out. I know… Read more
And Now, We Wait!
It’s that time of the year again – a period marked with increased anxiety and nervousness. I’m speaking of the wait for college decision letters! The applications have been sent, and now it’s waiting time. No doubt this is an extremely nerve -wracking time for everyone involved. What’s a stressed- out student to do during… Read more
Changes to College Admissions Rules May Not all be Positive
At the September meeting of the National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC), changes were made to the ethical guidelines that colleges have to adhere to when admitting students. These changes went into effect at the end of September of this year and may impact your child’s admission experience. The changes include: For years… Read more
Here’s what you need to know about the FAFSA!
It is that time of year again! The 2020-2021 FAFSA and CSS Profile opens on Tuesday, October 1. The FAFSA is required to be completed by any student and parent who intends to attend college in the Fall of 2020 and will need money to pay for college. Listed below are suggestions and facts that… Read more
The Pros and Cons of Summer College Visits
Pro: Add it to your vacation schedule. With most colleges offering two information sessions and tours a day, even in the summer, many families cram visits to several universities over the course of a few days. Big urban schools, like NYU, tend to have robust summer sessions with a lot of students on campus, so… Read more
What to Look For When Hiring a College Consultant
A consultant should help reduce anxiety for parents and students during the college admissions process, according to a recent article in U.S. News & World Report. I recently posted a response to the college admissions scandal, and included valuable information on the credentials parents should look for when considering hiring a college consultant. Here’s another… Read more
What to do AFTER all the College Applications are done
I recently heard this voicemail from one of my students: “I’ve finished all of my college applications. I’m done, right?” I could hear the pride and fear in her voice as she asked the question. She was proud that she had completed all of her nine college applications, including essays, short answers, letter of recommendation… Read more