COVID-19 is Changing College Admissions, Here's What You Should Know
COVID-19 is Changing College Admissions, Here's What You Should Know

Critics 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.

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collegeCathy ChenCOVID-19, college admissions
How to Pick a College Consultant: The Advice I Always Wanted to Give as a Prep School College Counselor But Couldn't
How to Pick a College Consultant: The Advice I Always Wanted to Give as a Prep School College Counselor But Couldn't

I 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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college, parentingCathy Chencollege admissions, parentingComment
When It Comes to Syndromes, Dogs > Ducks
When It Comes to Syndromes, Dogs > Ducks

Thanks to some Stanford undergrads, Duck Syndrome has come to mean a person (usually a young person) who is working furiously behind closed doors while maintaining a cool and calm exterior. I periodically ask the teens I coach to rate their stress levels on a scale of 1 to 10. 1 = not stressed, and 10 = stressed to the max. They'll look at me calmly, with a smile on their face and say "12".

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parenting, academics, wellnessCathy Chenstress, anxiety, parenting, teens
“You Do You,” and Other Ways to Stay Sane During Your Child’s College Process
“You Do You,” and Other Ways to Stay Sane During Your Child’s College Process

I often tell the teens I work with “you do you,” which for all you non-Millennials out there essentially means do what’s right for you and don’t worry about what other people are up to. This is especially true when it comes to the college process - for teens and their parents.

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Cathy Chen
How to Get Into Your Dream College: Advice From a Former Admission Officer
How to Get Into Your Dream College: Advice From a Former Admission Officer

Get ready. I’m about to tell you the secret of how to get into your dream college. The answer is much simpler than you think. 

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Cathy Chen