There are certain tests that are required in order to apply to some colleges. You may know these as your ACT and SAT. In addition to these more general tests that test your understanding of reading, writing, and math, there are SAT Subject Tests that are offered in specific topics. Not all schools require them in the application process. So, should you take the SAT II Subject Tests?
Acceptance: Why Did I Get Rejected and What Do I Do with Myself Now?
Getting that letter can be really tough. You worked your butt off this year. You spent countless hours studying for standardized tests. You came early to school and stayed late for sports practices and club meetings. You spent time and money visiting colleges with the hopes that they would see in your essays what you, yourself, know you are capable of and yet, it didn’t work out. We know. We’ve been there, too.
Does Attending a School’s Summer Program Increase my Chances for Freshman Admission?
Though what students do during the academic year is important, there are also 3 months out of the year where students aren’t in school. These months are additionally important because they illustrate how students use their free time. Colleges consider this chunk of time an opportunity, as do we. As should your student. Many top tier colleges offer summer programs for students to participate in and we often get the question: “Does attending Brown’s (Harvard, Penn, Princeton, etc.) summer program increase his chances of getting in?”
Hidden Gem: Skidmore College
For our next Hidden Gems spotlight, we are focusing on Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY. As a school of about 2,600, Skidmore stands out as a true hub of liberal arts brilliance. We spoke to a number of Skidmore alums to write this article and based on our conversations with them we’re focusing on the following aspects: the faculty, location, and unique academic departments.
How to Build a College List for Guaranteed Admission Success
Building a college list is one of the most challenging things that you’ll do during the college process. The good news is that it can also be quite fun. There are thousands of colleges in the U.S., so it can feel intimidating. We’ll break it down into 8 easy steps to help you start your journey. There are a few key questions that are necessary to ask yourself as you put together your list of colleges that you plan to apply to.
What Is Committee-Based Evaluation?
For the past several admissions cycles, college applications have mostly been on a steady incline. To meet the supply, colleges have streamlined the admissions process departing from a multi-step review to, in some cases, a single, committee-based selection meeting. Whereas in the past, college matriculation was almost exclusively a practice among America’s white, wealthiest class, today, more than half of Americans across racial and socio-economic lines opt to attend at least some college. That means that the rising generation of college-aged students will not only be the largest in American history, but also the most well-educated. Yet, in spite of a massive (30 percent since 2000) increase in applicants, universities have been slow to expand their admissions teams. So, what does this mean for applicants now vying to capture the attention of admissions counselors against millions of others?
What Are Yield Rates and Why Do They Matter?
Admissions headlines would lead us all to believe that every year for the past several years was the “Hardest Year to Get into College Ever,” but college rankings are not always what they seem to be. In order to crack the code of hard-to-reach universities, one must first understand the “yield rate.”
What Other Materials May I Submit in Addition to the Common Application?
We had a student who had a particular obsession with baking. He specialized in creating these incredibly intricate lattice tops for pies. This student also designed and executed those kinds of pie crusts that have various cookie cutter shapes on top, layered in such a way that is so impressive. A true sight to behold. This was a passion of his and when it came time to submit their college application…he wanted to send a pie. Listing “avid pie crust designer” in the additional information section just wasn’t going to cut it. We were a little bit stumped but ultimately decided that sending an actual food item to an admissions office might result in being flagged for anthrax or something insane. Instead, we helped this student create an art portfolio of sorts, but instead of photographs of human subjects or still life paintings, we staged a photo shoot for his pie crusts. The photos came out wonderfully and we submitted all of the photos along with his application. He got into his top choice school. Maybe it was because of the pie crusts, maybe it had nothing to do with them. What we are pretty sure about is that it at least caught the admissions readers’ eyes. Because who else could have submitted a photography portfolio filled with images of beautifully designed pie crusts? We’d venture to say literally not one other applicant.
How To Write a Standout College Admissions Essay
It’s easy to write a college admissions essay that makes you stand out. We promise. All you have to do is: 1. be interesting, and 2. tell a really wonderful story. Easy enough. End of article. Thanks for reading.
Should I Take a Gap Year and/or Defer Enrollment?
Probably. Gap years can be incredibly transformative in terms of focus, motivation, and interest. We believe and always advise our students that if you are thinking critically and are contemplating a gap year, then you probably should take the gap year. A gap year, regardless of what you do (as long as you don’t spend it holed up in your bedroom--though if you’re a thoughtful student, you aren’t thinking along these lines), can inject you with a sense of perspective, a broader understanding of the world, and a boost in concentration going into your first year of college that you wouldn’t have had otherwise.
Deferred from Early Decision: A Guide to Freeing Yourself from the Upside Down
Getting deferred can make you feel like you’re in the Upside Down, but we have some tips on how you to get out:
A Letter to Students About to get Deferred
What to Do If You Get Rejected from Your Early Decision School
Getting rejected from your Early Decision school can be heartbreaking. You’re 17 or 18 years-old. This is probably the first big rejection of your life and even if it’s not, it’s the first time you’ve been rejected by something so recognizable in society. Losing your student government race can be crushing, too, but getting rejected from a place you’ve heard of since you were a little kid can be rougher and you know what? It’s okay to be heartbroken.
5 Steps to Take If You Get Deferred
Deferrals can be rough. In fact, we find that they can be rougher than flat-out rejections because at least rejections provide closure instead of thrusting you into Deferral Limbo. While few of our students get deferred, we have developed a step-by-step backup guide for kids who find themselves in Deferral Limbo.
How to Get Into College With Bad Grades
We receive a lot of questions from parents and students alike that have to do with GPA, grades, scores, school choice, and likelihood of admission. What everyone really wants to know, though, is this: can my kid get into his dream school if he has less than stellar grades/scores? Let’s not beat around the bush. The answer is: YES. But there are some caveats to that yes, so read on.
How to Write the Princeton Supplement: A Practical Guide to Getting In
Some students struggle with the Princeton supplement because there are a number of questions and infinite ways one could answer them. But don’t get caught up in the pressure of thinking you have to sound sophisticated for the Ivy League. As we’ve said before, the supplement is your chance to show your dream school who you really are. It’s personal. So, think of each part of the supplement as a chance to show Princeton a unique side of you.
How to Write the Lafayette College Supplement
How to Write the Mount Holyoke Supplement
Mount Holyoke is an all-women’s liberal arts college in South Hadley, MA. With about 2,100 undergraduates, Mount Holyoke is small and has a significant focus on research. If you apply to Mount Holyoke, we encourage you to visit and do a lot of research on the school. As for their supplement, here’s how to approach it:
What Are the Most Important Criteria in the Admission Process?
What Do I Do If I Get Rejected from My Early Decision School?
We know. Just seeing this headline makes you want to slam your computer shut and call in sick from school. Take a deep breath. We’re not saying you’re going to get rejected or even deferred. While, every year, kids do get rejected from the ED schools, most of our students get in where they want to go. However, we always recommend a contingency plan because the only thing worse than not getting in is not getting in and having no backup plan. Let’s call this insurance.