We get this question a lot. The college process is long and winding. As such, people always want to know which year matters the most. This likely comes from a desire to wrap one’s head around putting all of their effort into a short spurt. Thinking of the process in this way, instead of as a holistic four-year process, might feel more manageable to some. However, college applications aren’t a test a student can cram for. The reality is, all four years matter for kids who want to get into, say, Stanford.
Transferring Colleges During Covid-19
Earlier this summer, we wrote this blog post as part of our Coronavirus Question series. And because we’ve been getting emails and questions about transferring during Covid-19, we wanted to update our readers and provide more context.
What is a Philosophy, Politics, and Economics Major?
The Philosophy, Politics, and Economics major, which is commonly referred to as “PPE,” is an up and coming major at a few schools including , , and . We often hear schools say that their curriculum lends itself nicely to interdisciplinary studies, but the PPE major takes a truly interdisciplinary approach by packaging the best aspects of several majors into one program.
Is Sophomore Year of High School Important?
There is a notion that what colleges like to see above all else is an improvement from freshman and sophomore to junior year, but the application process actually begins the moment you enter high school. It’s built over the course of four years and if you plan to get into a great school, you’ll have to work hard sophomore year and begin focusing on how you’re going to plan the next few years. In this post, we’ll help you map out what you should be doing sophomore year to build a strong foundation for your college applications.
Best Test Optional Colleges 2021
In light of Covid-19, we saw all colleges put test-optional policies in place for the class of 2025. For those that are looking ahead to next year, this blog post is meant to highlight schools that will still be test-optional. We’ll update our blog when more information comes out about whether or not additional schools will extend their test-optional policies for the class of 2026 and beyond.
When to Hire a College Consultant
For those who choose to do it, hiring a college consultant is a really important step in the college admissions process. For nearly every high schooler who embarks on it, the application process is completely new. A college consultant is your guide to unlocking all of the unknowns and helping you map out a realistic and strong plan to achieve your goal of getting into your top choice schools. So, when is the right time to hire someone?
Should I Tour Colleges During COVID?
College tours are one of our favorite parts of the college admissions process. When we first take on students, we begin by having them learn their likes and dislikes about colleges, from university size to location, and that is usually rooted in a visit to campus. But like just about everything else in our routine lives, the pandemic has upended university campuses. In this post, we talk about how you should get to know different schools in the time of social distancing.
A Guide to Planning Summer 2021 for Rising Seniors
2020 has been no normal year. And while we’re all ready to be done with it, it’s proving challenging to plan a different future. A lot of kids might be wondering what their options are for summer 2021. We always encourage students to plan well in advance, to get a leg up on competitive summer programs, and secure good jobs and internships. Our advice for summer 2021 is as unusual as the year itself: while we do recommend getting a head start (more on that below) you’ve got to be a little flexible, too.
Should I Apply Early Decision 2 To Syracuse?
Submitting an Early Decision 2 application is a good option for those students who didn’t get into their ED1 pick and/or missed the ED1 deadline at their dream school. Over the past few years, we’ve seen more and more schools add in Early Decision 2 options, and it’s worth taking advantage of if you’re serious about attending Syracuse.
How Do I Know Whether To Transfer Colleges?
If you’ve been wondering whether or not you should transfer, that itself is a sign that you might want to consider doing some research. It’s probably safe to say that the “Should I Transfer” question pops into student’s minds at least once or twice throughout even the best college experiences. Your roommate keeps microwaving salmon, that one professor doesn’t seem to see that you’re trying, or saying goodbye to your parents was a little harder than you thought it might be. These are all reasons to think, even momentarily, that you’re better off elsewhere. If you’re experiencing singular experiences of doubt, don’t freak out! That is the college experience.
Standardized Test Strategies for Class of 2025
Signing up for the SAT and/or the ACT was no easy feat this year. We saw hundreds, if not thousands, of tests cancelled month after month in light of the Coronavirus. Some people gave up entirely, especially after the huge influx of colleges opting to go test-optional for the class of 2025.
Transferring College After One Year
If you’re considering transferring, now is the time to start the process. Crazy, we know. This will vary by school, but generally speaking, transfer applications are due in March. It’s just about time for the holiday break, and before you know it will be January 1st, 2021. This means that you should do all of your research now so that you’re in a good place to start the process by the start of the new year. We understand that time makes no sense this year, but it’s time to set the wheels in motion. Keep reading for the three big ticket items you have about three months to accomplish:
6 Ways Coronavirus Changed College Admissions
The Covid-19 global pandemic has affected most aspects of our day to day lives. We know by now that these changes will be felt for years to come, and the college admissions process is certainly not immune to the impact of the Coronavirus. In hopes of updating our blog readers as to how the college admissions process might change, here are six things to keep in mind as you consider the application process:
How to Write the Macalester Supplement Essay 2020
Macalester is a small liberal arts school that has around 2,000 undergrads and is located in St. Paul, Minnesota. It’s incredibly picturesque and, yes, St. Paul is a real city. It’s bustling! The school itself has gotten increasingly popular because of its academic rigor combined with school spirit and strong community. It has everything and is on a lovely campus placed in a larger city with lots of cool internships, cultural landmarks, and work opportunities. It’s also the perfect size if you want to be able to recognize and run into people you know all of the time while you walk across campus. It’s the ideal “cozy liberal arts” moment.
How to Find the Best College Application Consultant
Finding a college admission consultant to work with is a very personal decision. While it might seem like just another item on your college to-do list, it’s basically the decision to partner with someone who’s going to shepherd you through the entire application process, oftentimes, from beginning to end. This is someone who is going to be in your life for a year or more and who will likely need to really get to know you (your interests, your personality and your potential) in order to help you match with your perfect, top-choice college. Needless to say, this is also someone who should be very knowledgeable about what the college landscape looks like. There are different types of consultants. Some offer an in-depth experience, others are more hands-off and can just provide some light editing to existing essays. Whatever you decide, you should first know what it is you need in a consultant.
Is the Essay on the ACT/SAT Optional for Colleges?
According to , the demand for college tests remains high in spite of the fact that most schools have opted to go test-optional this year. Even those who do sit for either (or both) tests might have further optional sections. While the writing test on both exams is technically optional (and not at all required at most top-ranked universities) some schools still do require students to submit them, while others would consider them as supplemental material. Some, like the UC schools, won’t look at them at all. Naturally, the pandemic is changing everything.
How To Create A College List For Regular Decision
Creating a college list is hard work. On the one hand, you want to be open-minded. But if you’re too open-minded, you run the risk of applying to schools that don’t make much sense. You also want to make sure that you’re streamlining the process and creating a college list that isn’t random or too aspirational. No one is expecting you to have everything figured out at 18 years old, but you do need to do a serious amount of research before you solidify your school list.
Bad Opening Lines for College Essays: an Explanation
Yesterday we published this blog post detailing 10 bad opening lines for college essays. After much thought, we’ve decided to go through the examples individually and explain exactly why they don’t work. Keep reading for our breakdown:
10 Bad Opening Lines for College Essays
The best college essays tell stories. Small, zoomed-in stories about you and your personality. Some of the best essays we’ve read are about what happened on a random Tuesday, how much you love making dinner for your family, or that time you tried to build a computer. This blog post isn’t about what to write your common app essay about, but if you’re looking for help with that-- check here, and here.
Regular Decision Strategies for College Essays
It’s almost December, which means that you have about a month to finish both your common app essay and your supplements. We’re often asked about strategies for early decision and regular decision, and the truth is that our approach doesn’t change depending upon when you apply. We work with our clients to brainstorm, write, and edit essays (common app and supplements) that stand out, no matter what time of year. The rest of this blog post will provide three tips for getting through the rest of the year: