Posts by Dr. Steven Mercer
Transparency Is Key for Transfer Students
Myths About Extracurricular Activities – Part 2 (Summer Activities)
In my last post, I talked about some of the misconceptions about extracurricular activities in general and the place they have in your education and college application. In this article, I will address summer extracurricular activities in particular.
Summertime—when most students are off school—provides you with an abundance of free… Read more Read More
Myths About Extracurricular Activities – Part 1
Extracurricular activities can certainly be fun and educational at the same time.
Some people, though, seem to think these activities possess some sort of extraordinarily miraculous powers when it comes to college applications.
They do not.
Nevertheless, throughout my years as an admission officer and independent educational consultant, I have… Read more Read More
The Rigor of Your Curriculum: What Level of Difficulty Is Enough?
The rigor—or difficulty—of the classes you take in high school (honors, AP, or International Baccalaureate) is a crucial piece of information colleges use to make admission decisions.
In fact, rigor is one of the top three most important factors that college admission officers regularly consider. The annual State of College… Read more Read More
Why Start College Counseling Early?
“Early” is a somewhat relative term.
For some, starting college counseling early means one week before the application deadline. For others, a year or even earlier in advance.
What I mean by “early” when it comes to the college counseling process is considering college requirements at the very beginning of… Read more Read More
The Different Flavors of Standardized Tests
When most people hear the expression “standardized tests” they automatically think of the SAT and ACT exams.
The simple reason is that those are the two most prominent standardized tests almost everyone who is applying to college has to think about.
However, they are by far not the only tests… Read more Read More
How Do You Really Know a College Is the Right One for YOU?
“That is easy,” some may say in response, “I can tell you a lot of information about a college.”
What they usually mean is that they can give you statistics about a specific college, such as its location or history, and information about its faculty or the admission process.
With… Read more Read More
Advice to Parents: How Not to Be Involved in Your Child’s College Application Process
Advice to Parents: How to Be Involved in Your Child’s College Application Process
For families, the process of children applying to college is not always easy.
Naturally, parents want to be involved because there is a lot at stake. But children may not always perceive a parent or guardian’s involvement in a positive light.
As a result, conversations at home about college can… Read more Read More
