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Advice to Parents: Keeping an Eye on the Emotional Well-Being of Your Student
Applying to college can be a very stressful process. Stress, in general—but especially consistent high levels of stress—can have an impact on a student’s brain functions, emotional well-being, and physical health.
My Biggest Regret When I Applied to College
Like a lot of students I work with, I applied to college right out of high school. I was fortunate to be admitted to a place that really fit me, and I was excited to go. College was a great experience for me in many ways. However, in retrospect, there are a lot of things…
“Why Us?” – The Hardest Application Essay You Will Have to Write
Many colleges, especially well-known or highly-selective colleges, request several different essays from applicants. Of those, one of the most important you will have to write is an essay that asks: “Why do you want to go to our college?” Highly-selective colleges are popular and receive a lot of applications from students who are unquestionably qualified…
Are You Making Your College Counselor Cringe?
A small percentage of students and/or their families add additional obstacles to the process that make their experience of applying to college more difficult, less ethical, and less rewarding than it should be.
Visit Early and Visit Often
Of all the steps involved in applying to colleges in a thorough and thoughtful way, perhaps visiting colleges is the most important. In fact, it is never too early to visit a college. Though, it is not a race by any means either. It is not about trying to beat your peers in an attempt to compete…
How to Apply to College With No Volunteer Hours
A student walks into my office and says: “I am in big trouble. I need a lot of help with my college application. My biggest problem is that I have very few volunteer hours and hardly any community service. What do I do? Where can I go? Can you sign me up for some volunteer…
The End of Standardized Testing: Has the Time Come?
In the world of college admissions, few things change frequently. Except in one area—standardized testing* requirements for admission. It has been my observation that, in the last 5 to 7 years, standardized testing requirements have seen the highest rate of change for a significant number of colleges and universities in the United States. Some may…
When Should You Start Applying to College?
The short answer is… as soon as you begin high school. Now, that does not mean that you would actually be filling out applications at that moment or preparing any of your application essays. But what it does mean is that, as soon as you start high school, you have begun phase 1 of 2…
How Long Does It Take to Apply to College?
The short answer to that question is… longer than you think. Ultimately, it does not just take weeks or month—it takes years. The answer really depends on what part of the application process you are working on. To clarify, let me break down the timing.
The Crucial Elements of a Great Personal Statement – Part 2
Remember that quote from my post “The Crucial Elements of a Great Personal Statement – Part 1”? I can only echo the words of the famous novelist Elmore Leonard once again for part two of this subject: “If it sounds like writing, rewrite it!” In that last post, we applied that statement to the 75%…