I loved the simplicity of Seth Godin’s message in his recent post. You can either do what you’re good at, or get really good at what you do. But, as he puts it, “It makes no sense at all to grumble and do something poorly.” It’s couched as career advice, but following it would get […]
Read More >Applying vs. needing
There are certain questions that pop up annually during application season. And one of them appeared last week with one of our Collegewise counselors. We tell families that applying for need-based financial aid can’t hurt your chances of admission. But once again, a family heard from a friend that certain schools are “need-aware” or “need-sensitive,” […]
Read More >Strike the balance
Some families find it absurd to suggest that the college admissions process can actually be taken too seriously. They wonder how anything could be more important than their children’s education. I don’t actually disagree with their priorities, just with their approach. Our children’s education is important. Coupled with the rising cost of college, it’s hard […]
Read More >Let your brain take over
I’ve seen many previously calm and resilient parents spiral out of control during college application season. They add 10 colleges to the list at the last minute, rewrite their kid’s essays, repeatedly call admissions offices on behalf of their kids, etc. This almost always does more harm than good, but it might help parents to recognize […]
Read More >What if it counted toward your grade?
I think too many high school students are over-scheduled and over-measured. Too many commitments. Too much strategizing about whether or not your choices will help you get into college. Too much emphasis placed on the outcomes rather than the effort. And far too little time spent relaxing, having fun, and just being kids. Time off—and […]
Read More >Salespeople, not scientists
Parke Muth is a former associate dean of admissions at University of Virginia and an independent college counselor. His take on the US News rankings, as quoted in this article in the Yale Daily News, sums up the problem with choosing your college based on a purported ranking. “'[The US News ranking] wasn’t done by […]
Read More >Should you apply early decision?
The Tufts admissions blog is one of my favorites for two reasons: (1) they write about things applicants care about, and (2) they regularly serve up unvarnished admissions truths. Tufts’ Meredith Reynolds’s recent post, Should I Apply Early Decision?, offers what I thought was an honest, helpful take for any applicant pondering that question. And […]
Read More >Should you take a gap year?
Gap years have gotten a lot of press since Malia Obama announced she’ll be taking a year off before heading to Harvard. For the uninitiated, a gap year is planned time off—usually one year—before attending college. It can be an appealing option for students who intend to work, travel, or otherwise engage in something they […]
Read More >Three egregious FAFSA mistakes
Today, October 1, the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) goes live. Here are the three most egregious FAFSA mistakes a family can make, all which are easy to avoid. 1. Not filing the form. Every family with a student applying to college should file a FAFSA unless you (1) can painlessly write a […]
Read More >Financial aid? It’s on your tab
Meredith in our Columbus, Ohio office shared this helpful update for seniors yesterday. The Common App recently added a “Financial Aid” tab to the application that includes not just helpful resources, but also a link to the financial aid page of each college an applicant has decided to apply to. Here’s why that’s important. No […]
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