Katie asks: What's the biggest waste of marketing money you've ever spent? Well, that's an easy one. In 2004, we developed a new college admissions class we were really excited about. We spent $10,000 to 1) purchase a mailing list, 2) design expensive brochures, 3) drop a direct mailing, and 4) build a storefront for […]
Read More >A story of a legendary guidance counselor
"Acceptance" (A Legendary Guidance Counselor Helps Seven Kids Find the Right Colleges—And Find Themselves)" is the true story of Gwyeth "Smitty" Smith, a public school guidance counselor in a New York City suburb. He's an inspiring example of someone who lives for his job and makes his work all about the kids. What's particularly interesting […]
Read More >College essays aren’t about qualifications
A father asked me a good question at my seminar, "The Art of College Applications" last week. "How do the essays really weigh into the admissions process? Can colleges actually tell anything about a kid's qualifications by reading essays like this?" Here's how I explained it to the parents in the room. Imagine you're a […]
Read More >College applications can be too good
We don’t necessarily want our Collegewise kids to submit perfect applications. Sure, if your application is sloppy, that’s not good. If you fail to follow directions, that’s not good. And if you mistakenly write, “I first became interested in Duke when I was back in the womb”…in an essay for your Georgetown application, that’s really […]
Read More >Do college admissions officers look at your Facebook profile?
At a seminar last week, a parent asked me if college admissions officers will look at the Facebook pages of their applicants. My answer–"Of course they do." No, not all admissions officers. And no college has an institutional policy for admissions officers to check Facebook profiles of all their applicants. But most college admissions officers […]
Read More >Want to help kids get into college?
For the last five years, our counselors have been volunteering at College Summit, a program that helps under-resourced students apply and get accepted to college. And one of the things I like best about them is that you don't need any experience with college admissions to volunteer. Each workshop is staffed by experienced college counselors […]
Read More >I think every teacher should read this book
I don't like most career/personality tests. Maybe that's because the one I took at school when I was sixteen told me I should be a mortician (I swear I am not making that up). I think most of those tests are blunt instruments that either tell you what you already know about yourself, or give […]
Read More >Ask Collegewise: How should we choose a private counselor?
Debbie asks: My daughter is about to start her senior year, and we’re considering hiring a college counselor to help her with her applications, essays, etc. What would your advice be on finding a good counselor for her (credentials, experience, etc)? Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you. Anyone can hang a shingle and call […]
Read More >No more meetings?
Students, how many hours did you spend sitting in meetings last year for your French Club, student body government, yearbook or newspaper staff? Probably a lot. But were all those meetings really necessary? What would happen if your school instituted a "No more meetings" rule for clubs and organizations? Would your club be mortally wounded? […]
Read More >The best news about college essays
Great college essays are equal opportunity employers. They don’t discriminate on the basis of grades and test scores. The “C” student has the same opportunity to write great essays as the kid who’s had straight “A’s” since birth does. Everybody has a story to tell. You just have to find yours and tell it in […]
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