I’ve met students (or more often, their parents) who wanted to send extra materials along with their applications, like copies of press clippings, certificates, CDs of original piano compositions, art projects, etc. I once worked with a student whose mother wanted to send a copy of the poem he wrote for her when he was […]
Read More >Applications in the wings
Last fall, I wrote this post recommending that seniors who’d applied to early decision programs should complete and submit the remainder of their applications before the early school sends its decision. Many early applicants don’t want to work on those applications that would be rendered unnecessary if a binding offer of admission comes through in […]
Read More >Don’t fix problems–copy success
“What’s working, and how can we do more of it?’ Sounds simple, doesn’t it? Yet, in the real world, this obvious question is almost never asked. Instead, the question we ask is more problem focused: ‘What’s broken, and how do we fix it?’” Switch–How To Change Things When Change is Hard Chip and Dan Heath If you’re looking to […]
Read More >Five to-do’s for freshmen and sophomores
Freshmen and sophomores still have a few years before submitting applications and picking where they'll go to college. Here are a few to-do's to start on now. 1. Start taking charge of your high school education. Visit your teacher after class when you need help. If you have a scheduling question, make an appointment with […]
Read More >Lose the complaints
I missed an “A” by two points in Spanish, but my teacher refused to raise it. Our neighbor got into Amherst, but it’s because his dad is an alumn. I wasn’t named starting catcher on softball team because of politics. I got a “C” in AP Euro, but it’s because my counselor wouldn’t let me […]
Read More >Parents’ most important college admissions-related job
A lot of parents of college applicants take on all the stress of the process. They're trying too hard to control the outcomes. You can’t make Yale say, “Yes,” no matter how badly your student may want it. That's why it’s not your job to make all your student’s college dreams come true. A parent's […]
Read More >If you’re a bad test-taker
The worst thing about standardized tests is that they make kids who don’t score well feel badly about themselves. Standardized tests measure how well you take standardized tests. That’s about it. There are good test takers and bad test takers, and they sometimes have wildly overlapping levels of academic achievement. But bad test-takers can still […]
Read More >“We’ll worry about how to pay for it later”
“First, she has to get in. We’ll worry about how to pay for it later.” I often hear parents say that, usually when the family is in the throes of college application-related stress. It’s not a bad strategy if used correctly. Students don’t know their financial aid packages until they actually apply and are accepted. […]
Read More >No storm = no deadline extension
Many colleges are extending their early application deadlines because of the storm on the East Coast. If your family has been affected, check your schools’ websites to see if the deadline has changed. And if you’re without power and just can’t get that information, talk to your counselor as soon as you can—he or she […]
Read More >Obama-Romney guide to great college essays
No matter which way you lean politically, candidates never appear more relatable and likeable than they do on those rare occasions when they make fun of themselves. Jay Mathews has a great post today about just how effective self deprecation is for candidates…and college applicants.
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