High School College Counseling – Page 4

Category: High School College Counseling

The Best and the Worst Letters of Recommendation I Have Ever Read

As a former college admission officer, I was at the receiving end of hundreds of letters of recommendation. And, obviously, as a college counselor and independent educational consultant, I frequently talk with students about their letters of recommendation. I have seen good ones, bad ones, and anything in between. For… Read more

two girl with "volunteer" tee shirts taking a selfie

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

two competing lacrosse players in action

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

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

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

Advice to Parents: How Not to Be Involved in Your Child’s College Application Process

In my last blog post, “Advice for Parents: How to Be Involved in Your Child’s College Application Process,” I have discussed what parents can do to be involved in this important process the best way. In this post, I will talk about what not to do and why. … Read more

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

College Application Essay: The Biggest Mistake You Can Make and How to Avoid It

The importance of writing an authentic college application essay CANNOT be underestimated! The biggest mistake students make in this instance is submitting an essay that is not or does not sound like it was written by a high school senior.… Read more

Building a College List: 4 Common Mistakes

Choosing a college is a highly individualized process. It is also a decision that deserves time, investigation, and thoughtful consideration. Deciding which colleges to actually apply to is one of the most important parts of this process. Many students make mistakes when they compile their list of colleges because they… Read more

Extracurricular Activities: The Different Roles They Play for First-Year vs. Transfer College Applicants

Most high schools provide a plethora of extracurricular activities for their students. Exposure to a wide range of such special interests—sports, drama, dance, painting, singing, scouts, volunteer work, debating, etc.—brings many benefits. It can help you develop new skills, discover talents, and even assess possible careers for your future. As… Read more

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