Industry insights for academic advisement, private school placement, and college planning.
Colleges value recommendations because they reveal qualitative data (personal opinions about an applicant’s character, family dynamic, and reputation) rather than merely quantitative data. We share who to ask, how to ask, and what to ask for to ensure you receive a strong letter of recommendation.
Read MoreIf colleges on your best-fit list are reopening and you’re planning a visit, there are a few steps students can take to make the experience as impactful as possible.
Read MoreOne of our most widely FAQ is “when do we start?” So much of an intentional answer is grounded in each student’s needs, academic strengths, goals, and timeline. Yet, because we subscribe to the philosophy of “beginning with the end in mind,” we strategically partner with parents and students to develop a personalized College Application Roadmap that works best for them.
Read MoreSo many schools have opted to go test-optional this year. Here’s an updated (as of 8/2/20) curated list from FairTest—separated by Liberal Arts schools and regionally ranked universities.
Read MoreFor recruiting and judging students, colleges face the reality that they may not be able to visit high schools or rely on their rubrics. But in the last week, a new issue has emerged for colleges: high schools. Whether it's the announcement of online learning or a hybrid model, these decisions have a profound consequence on college admissions.
Read MoreCollege Board announced on Friday that updates to AP exams are coming. To combat the changes, College Board is committed to supporting schools and students at home by providing free remote learning resources (with AP teachers providing instructional content) and developing a new at-home testing option. New time constraints within the education community (namely, high school seniors) have caused College Board to react accordingly and in doing so, their press release last week outlined AP changes that high-schoolers can expect this year.
Read MoreWhew. What a difference a few days can make. We are committed to equipping our parents and students with accurate news information regarding #COVID-19. At what's shaping up to the most difficult college admissions season yet, we will continue to share information on testing, deadlines, and application processes as we learn more.
Read MoreIf you’re in the throes of college admissions season, chances are you’ve heard of the various deadlines available for high school seniors to completely submit their application. These universal deadlines, mandated by each college, can be conveniently managed on universal application portals such as the Common Application or the Coalition Application. However, though of these application deadlines require that all supplemental components are submitted in conjunction with the application (transcript, essays, letters of recommendation, etc.), by leveraging the odds that are associated with each application deadline, we believe that we can leverage a student’s best foot forward in the competition
Read MoreThis is my favorite time of year to take the opportunity to assess ways to get ahead before the frenzy of fall (and a new school year) even hits. Today, we’re sharing 4 ways to get ahead in the college application process. Tackle these 4 items on the checklist and you’ll be feeling like a superhero by Labor Day!
Read MoreWhat does an ancient personality assessment tool have to do with school choice? It goes without saying that confidence in your student’s decision and ultimately, his or her school experience will be that much more impactful if it aligns with your student’s personality. In the noise of entrance scores, essays, interviews, and applications, I’ve witnessed families often lose sight of the “right fit” school for their student.
Read MoreHow to Get the Best Letter of Recommendation: It all comes down to how you ask. Today, we share tips on who to ask and what to specifically ask to include on your behalf.
Read MoreThe college experience is more than purely academic. This 4-year adventure can offer lifelong friends and contacts and often, several adventures to check off the bucket list. Clearly, the experience at college is a transformational one. When families go on college tours (sometimes, all over the country), some initial reactions always have to do which how a campus looks and feels—a reaction that can’t be manufactured merely by scrolling on a school’s website or even on a virtual tour. Amidst the stress that all too often comes along with college applications and admissions, sometimes one of the most “fun” filters to factor into a campus tour experience is the ultimate curb appeal and location of the campus itself
Read More“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Ben Franklin got it right. Developing a preparation plan for standardized testing can keep you and your student on top of logistics and offer more flexibility (and less headaches!) throughout the high school season. Learn more about 2018-2019 testing dates and how to determine the best timeframe for your student.
Read MoreThis year’s Common Application (and swanky brand new platform) was unveiled on August 1st and in a rather underwhelming announcement, reinstated the same seven personal essay writing prompts that we’ve seen in years past. Why would they repeat the same prompts? After annually poling admissions officers, applicants, parents, and counselors, the powers that be at the Common App have deemed these seven essays options the most effective in accurately understanding the applicant.
Read MoreThe college application season is in full swing. With that comes an understanding of using the Common Application, a universal platform that rolled out some enhancements and improvements for the 2019-2020 application season. Stay ahead of the curve so you know what to expect—even before school starts. We unpack the History, the Changes, and the Impact so you can make the Common App work for your individual application story.
Read MoreAt this year’s ActNow Summit (hosted at Emory University), I had the opportunity to speak to a dynamic group of seniors about how to build resilience and finish strong—in high school, in college, and beyond.
Read MoreA 2005 NACAC report discovered that the average college counselor spends just 38 minutes with each student altogether over the course of four years in high school. What that means for your student this year.
Read MoreA number of top schools have already released their supplemental essay questions for this year’s application season. Leverage this intel to begin drafting and revising essays now! Read more to check out this year's essay prompts for several top schools.
Read MoreThis year’s Common Application was unveiled on August 1st. Here, we’ll share this year’s seven choices (which door will you choose?), the most popular selections, and how this affects the Class of 2022.
Read MoreEvery business wants to provide exemplary customer service. Yet sometimes, we fall short of truly understanding how best to serve our clients. Disney cast members are frequently asked “What time is the three o’clock parade?” The answer, "Three o'clock," by the way, is the wrong answer. Why? Because that is not really what guests are asking. Rather, guests are asking: “When do I need to find a spot to watch? Exactly what time does it pass by right here? Where is the best place to watch? Where will my kids be able to best see the parade?”
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