I noticed that after the Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action, colleges were increasingly asking supplemental application questions related to the topics of diversity, community, and identity. I’ve also noticed that many of my students, regardless of their racial identities, struggled with how to answer these questions. Here are some tips on how to tackle these questions that I learned from my colleagues:
Read MoreThe scuttlebutt, especially here in California, home of the UC system, is that it is nearly impossible to get in. Stories about the straight-A honors student with 10 APs, Captain of the baseball team, President of the Mathletes, and founder of a startup who got rejected from every campus abound. Which begs the question, what is up with the UCs?
Read MoreI often see students who feel a lot of pressure about their college essays. Do they need to talk about curing cancer? Or being honored by their head of state? The good news is, no. Normal people can write great essays. Here are some helpful tips for writing college essays.
Read MoreYou’ve probably heard by now that the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action last week in their rulings on the Harvard and UNC admissions cases. Regardless of where you stand on the issue, you might be wondering what colleges will do in a race-neutral admissions process and how it will impact you. Even though the rulings were just formally announced, the admissions world has anticipated this outcome for over a year.
Read MoreI, along with fellow Village coaches Meredith and Suzi, just got back from the annual NACAC (National Association of College Admissions Counselors) conference last week. Thousands of admissions officers, high school counselors, and independent counselors from all over the world converged at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, Texas.
Read MoreWhile a bit surreal for this Los Angeles native to write a blog about ‘summer activities’ while sitting outside in 40 degree weather (I know, I know…downright balmy for some of you), the winter months present the perfect time to start thinking about all things summer related.
Read MoreBuilding a college list can feel overwhelming. I’ve been helping teens do it for over a decade and I’ve got a few pointers that will make your life easier.
Read MoreLately, it seems like a day doesn’t go by where we hear news of another college going test-optional next year or new plans from the College Board to make up for lost test dates because of COVID-19. As high schools throughout the country are staying closed for the rest of the school year, Pass/Fail grades for the most critical semester on the transcript are becoming a reality. It seems like the entire admissions process is turning on its head because of COVID-19.
Read MoreCritics from both inside and outside the admissions profession have long argued that the admission process is broken. Regardless of where you stand on the issue, change is coming. Long-standing debates about standardized testing, holistic admissions, endowments, equity, and more are coming to a head because of COVID-19.
For those of you with teenagers going through the process, you are probably hearing and experiencing real changes that might be worrisome. Yes, there is some uncertainty up ahead, but here are a few things you can expect.
Read MoreI can only speak for myself, but when I warned parents against independent counselors, I did it because independent college counseling can be such a predatory business. There are SO MANY consultants out there whose only qualification is that they went to an Ivy League college or have a child who attends an Ivy League college. Some have even fewer qualifications, but charge obscene amounts of money to ensure your child a spot at a “top” college. I’m sorry, but that sounds unethical and too Varsity Blues-esque for comfort.
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