Trends and Themes: January 2024

January is always a good time to reflect on the trends and themes of the most recent application cycle and look ahead to what’s coming in the 2024-2025 admissions cycle. As chair of the Committee on Current Trends and Future Issues of PCACAC (Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling), Sally and the committee have been keeping track of the following trends:

ChatGPT made a splash in 2022 and since then more generative artificial intelligence programs have been released. Throughout 2023, many people in college admissions questioned how these chatbots would impact the college admission essay and supplements and how institutions would respond. Some schools have instituted new policies to address this issue; for example, the University of California system includes a Statement of Application Integrity in which they state that the “UC conducts regular screenings to verify the integrity of the responses” and “may request authentication of the content or writing as the student’s.” Our March 1 blog post, Rejected! How ChatGPT Destroys the College Admissions Essay, offers an in-depth look at the risks of using AI chatbots to write college essays.

The Supreme Court decision on race consideration in college admission released at the end of June 2023 had a significant impact on the way that colleges are reading applications this cycle and changing their internal processes. Many schools changed their supplemental essays in order to comply with the ruling, including the University of Virginia. Their new prompt asks students: “What about your individual background, perspective, or experience will serve as a source of strength for you or those around you at UVA?” Other schools added on more essays.

In December 2020, Congress passed legislation requiring the Department of Education to update and simplify the FAFSA (the application which determines eligibility for federal student aid) by December 31, 2023. The Department of Education has begun a “soft launch” of the redesigned FAFSA and students and families can begin to complete their applications. We have yet to see the impact of the changes in the formula the government uses to calculate the Student Aid Index (SAI). One of the more significant changes is the removal of the number of children a family has attending institutions of higher education in a given year. 

Changes relating to standardized testing have continued to emerge as a trend. While many schools saw an increase in applications and an increase in applications from historically underserved populations, other schools have decided to return to requiring either the SAT or the ACT. Two great examples are CalTech and MIT. Based on data from their internal review, CalTech has extended their moratorium on standardized test scores through the fall of 2025 and will no longer consider test scores in the admissions process. Conversely, MIT’s internal research demonstrated the need for test scores to be used in conjunction with a holistic review, to properly assess an applicant's preparedness to succeed given MIT’s curriculum. MIT requires students to complete a minimum of two semesters of calculus and two semesters of calculus-based physics regardless of their major. 

In addition to institutional policies based on internal research, the 2023-2024 admission cycle saw an increase in some state schools returning to requiring standardized test scores or considering test scores in specific cases such as below a certain GPA or for consideration for scholarships. For example, the University System of Georgia announced that they would continue the temporary test score waiver for schools not including the University of Georgia, the Georgia Institute of Technology, and Georgia College & State University. 

The increase in both state and federal government oversight and involvement grew over the past year to include: a congressional hearing on antisemitism on the campuses of Harvard University, Yale University, and the University of Pennsylvania; Department of Education investigations in response to alleged incidents of antisemitism and Islamophobia; the North Carolina state legislature appointing board of directors; and proposed federal legislation introduced by Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA) to ban legacy admissions. We anticipate that such oversight and proposed changes will continue through 2024 and will keep our readers abreast of any changes and their impact on students in the college application process.

Finally, the mental health of college students remains a priority for institutions across the country. Many schools are in the process of increasing access and resources for students who are struggling with issues ranging from anxiety and depression through substance abuse education and addiction counseling.

Weekly Update: March 6

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

COLORADO COLLEGE WITHDRAWS FROM ANNUAL RANKINGS

Colorado College made a groundbreaking decision last week! It became the first college since 1995 to withdraw from the U.S. News & World Report’s annual undergraduate rankings of best colleges. Representatives from the school claim that the annual report is based on a “flawed methodology” and doesn’t objectively measure the quality of education. Instead, according to Colorado College, the rankings favor schools with lower student debt. Although Colorado College will no longer submit data to the U.S. News & World Report, the publication will continue to rank the school based on publicly available data. Meanwhile, Colorado College officials say they are committed to studying the ramifications of this big decision and sharing that information with other schools.

COLUMBIA AND WILLIAM & MARY ARE REMAINING TEST- OPTIONAL…INDEFINITELY 

Columbia University and William & Mary College announced last week that they will remain test-optional indefinitely - Columbia being the first Ivy League school to do so. Since spring of 2020, over 1700 colleges and universities have gone test-optional in response to the pandemic. While some schools have begun to reinstate their testing requirements, others are extending their optional policies to allow for greater flexibility and freedom in how students showcase themselves in an application. Following these two announcements, more schools are expected to update their testing policies soon. We will continue to provide updates as information is released; in the meantime, remember that test-optional admissions and test-blind admissions are not one and the same. In a test-optional situation, the student with test scores typically still has a real advantage. I still really like my pool analogy from 2020!

THE FEDERAL RESERVE OF NY RELEASES DATA ON COLLEGE MAJORS AND INCOME POTENTIAL

The Federal Reserve of New York recently released its findings on college majors and earnings potential. Not surprising, the highest incomes are those in STEM-related fields, while social services and education are fixed at the bottom of the list. What is interesting about the data- and perhaps a bit surprising- is the comparisons of early career salaries and mid-career earnings growth. For example, all engineers have similar early-career salaries, but those who choose chemical engineering are likely to earn ten to twenty thousand more per year mid-career. Fascinating! Experts believe these numbers are quite useful for young adults, who can use the data to make informed decisions about the paths they’ll pursue within a particular field or interest. Along the same lines, I absolutely love these TikTok videos from Salary Transparent Street - check them out!

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Your teen might have been trained in CPR, but are they certified in Mental Health First Aid? With the sharp increase of mental health problems in children and teens since the onset of the pandemic, schools are finding it difficult to fully support their student populations. There are so many students in need and not enough trained professionals to go around. To combat the problem, many schools are turning to Teen Mental Health First Aid. The program trains teenagers to recognize the symptoms of a mental health concern and respond appropriately. Topics cover those that are most pertinent to the age group, from anxiety and depression to eating disorders and addictions. Although the training certainly doesn’t replace professional support, Mental Health First Aid can help create a community-centered approach to wellness. 

To some, Robert Allen is known as a super yacht lawyer. To others, he’s a Facebook troll. However, Allen would like to be recognized as the mastermind behind Governor DeSantis’ conservative takeover of New College in Sarasota, Florida. An alumnus of New College, Allen allegedly helped Governor DeSantis recognize the potential of the school to be a “jewel of the South” and make sweeping changes to its board of trustees. According to alumni members of the New College community, Allen has been very vocal about his ties to DeSantis via social media and has even engaged in arguments with more liberal-leaning alumni on Facebook. Many are less concerned with Allen himself and more with what these changes could imply–that New College is a “testing ground for larger efforts by DeSantis on his road to the presidency.”

High salaries, great benefits, lots of vacation time- you might think these are the most important factors recent college graduates are looking for in a job. However, it turns out there’s something even more valuable to new twenty-something employees: stability! A recent report by Handshake- a career website catering to college students- indicated that Gen Z is craving security. Even though young adults have become experts at adapting to major changes (i.e. a global pandemic), they are ultimately looking for a secure environment in which they can invest themselves. The report also found that recent grads are still optimistic about job potential-even though many say a recession is ahead- and fully understand their worth. This generation is more informed than ever about earnings potential (the data is everywhere!), and they aren’t afraid to have honest conversations about salary. 

There are so many considerations that drive the college decision-making process, but for LGTBQ students, the choice often comes down to one big factor: rights. In response to recent legislation in several states, students in the LGTBQ community are rethinking their college plans. Families are prioritizing safety more than ever, as students worry about the potential for discrimination and hate crimes. And for many LGTBQ young adults, they are focusing just as heavily on the political implications of a school and state just as they are on academic programs and campus life. If you are interested in learning more about LGBTQ-friendly college campuses, check out Campus Pride and The Princeton Review.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

We have been busy kicking into high gear now that Common App essay prompts have FINALLY been released for our Class of 2024 juniors! All of our students should have received an email from Shannon last week with instructions on next steps to begin.

Since these prompts are normally released in January, we typically encourage students to take their time in terms of scheduling meetings and deciding exactly when to start. However, this year’s delayed prompt release has left us with a much shorter window. If students want to stick to our typical “Finish by September” timeline, we recommend getting started on these Common App essays right away. Please email our admin team if you have any questions about the timeline!

In other news, there’s an exciting opportunity this month that Fairfax County Teens looking for a job won’t want to miss! The Fairfax County Teen Job Fair is a great chance to look for a summer job, network with local businesses and organizations, and/or attend career-building sessions to enhance your skills. The event is conveniently being held on three Saturdays in March: the 11th, 18th, and 25th. You can register for one of the dates here.

Weekly Update: January 3

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

COLLEGES BAN TIKTOK

Some college students are in for a big surprise when they return to campus after winter break. One of the world’s most popular social media apps will now be off limits at some US colleges and universities. Several schools in Georgia, Alabama, and Oklahoma have recently blocked TikTok from campus computers and networks in response to state executive orders, which banned the app on state-issued devices. Growing cybersecurity concerns have also prompted many schools to delete their university-administered TikTok accounts in favor of other platforms. Students are vowing that the bans won’t stop them from using the popular platform, though. There’s a convenient workaround: they can still access TikTok from the comforts of their personal devices and phone plans. 

PROSECUTORS REQUEST SIX YEAR SENTENCE FOR VARSITY BLUES MASTERMIND

Last Wednesday prosecutors filed a sentencing memorandum, asking that William Singer- the “mastermind” behind the Varsity Blues scandal- serve six years in prison and pay over $10 million in restitution. This request is in stark contrast to what Singer’s attorneys have proposed: community service and three years of probation. So why the disparity? Prosecutors claim that Singer’s fraud was “staggering in scope” and “breathtaking in its audacity and the levels of deception it involved.” Singer responded by issuing a statement of apology and remorse to the court. We will continue to track this story, as Singer is scheduled to be sentenced on January 4. 

IDAHO PROFESSOR FIGHTS BACK AGAINST TIKTOK MURDER ALLEGATIONS

TikToker Ashley Guillard made headlines this past week for her psychic attempts to solve the University of Idaho murder case. Guillard, a tarot card reader, created over 40 posts on her social media platform implicating Idaho professor Rebecca Scofield in the tragedy. Professor Scofield’s attorney issued two cease and desist letters before filing a lawsuit for defamation. Guillard doesn’t seem worried, though, about the lawsuit. According to reports, Guillard said she’s “gleaming with excitement” at the chance to share her ideas in court.

IDAHO MURDER SUSPECT ARRESTED

On Friday, officials arrested a suspect in the University of Idaho quadruple homicide case. Bryan Kohberger was apprehended in Pennsylvania, after officials confirmed his DNA was a match to evidence found at the scene of the crimes.

NATIONAL MERIT AWARDS GO UNRECOGNIZED AT TOP VIRGINIA HIGH SCHOOL

There’s a “war on merit” at Fairfax County’s Thomas Jefferson High School (more widely known in our area as TJ). The school has been accused of failing to notify or recognize students named as Commended Students by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. As a result, nearly 1,200 students missed the chance to bolster their college applications with this honor. Many parents are calling this a “criminal act” and are insisting that the school take responsibility. According to a recently released statement, Fairfax County Public Schools is “looking into the matter” and will correct the notification process going forward.

CAUSE OF PRINCETON STUDENT’S DEATH REVEALED

For months, many have speculated about the cause of a Princeton University student’s death. In October, the body of Misrach Ewunetie was found near campus tennis courts, just two days after Ewunetie was reported missing. Although there were no indicators of foul play, many wondered what happened and why. This past week investigators revealed that Ewunetie died by suicide: a fatal mixture of antidepressants and anxiety medication. 

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

$60,000 college tuition price tags, tens of thousands in student loans, raging debt: how did we get here? That’s the question David Love is posing, as he traces the history of the American student loan crisis. He examines the shift from college education being perceived as a “public good” to an individual “private endeavor.” Love also looks at the politics and policies that have informed access to college education over the past forty years, making it a luxury for those who can afford the soaring costs. Ultimately, Love calls for an ideological shift back to college as a public good “rather than a profit center.”

Teachers got an unwanted holiday gift this year: a new technology that makes cheating even easier for students. ChatGPT is a newly released AI bot that provides well-written, almost “human-like” answers to any question the user may pose. While this may be a handy app for the curious, it’s anything but for teachers and professors who are concerned about academic integrity. Gone are the days of checking for plagiarism via a Google search. Many educators are worried that ChatGPT will make it impossible to determine originality in student work. And with ChatGPT’s refined features, which include the ability to script paragraphs in different writing tones, teachers will have to work extra hard to distinguish a student’s authentic writing style from an AI response. ChatGPT is aware of the potential for cheating and has offered teachers advice: educate students about cheating; provide them with support so they won’t cheat; and change up typical essay or exam questions to make them more sophisticated. We’re not convinced that these measures will solve the potential problems of AI and cheating. But students beware: your teachers know about this technology, and they’re on the watch! 

A recent New York Times opinion piece delves into a topic that comes up quite frequently in our office: whether or not to disclose mental health issues in college applications. As the author found, this type of disclosure can be a red flag to admissions officers and can have a significant negative impact on admissions decisions. All things being equal, we do not recommend disclosing. However, sometimes all things are not equal - if it’s obvious from other aspects of a student’s application that something serious was going on, it can be better to go with the truth instead of leaving admissions officers to make guesses that are often times worse than the reality.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

It’s a new year, and we have a new collection of Summer 2023 opportunities for high schoolers! Visit our database to see the latest internships, pre-college programs, and volunteer experiences available. And don’t delay! There are several opportunities with January application deadlines.

If you need help with summer program applications, resumes, or cover letters, book a session with us. Meeting times in January are filling up fast!

Weekly Update: September 2

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

TRAGEDY AT LEWIS & CLARK COLLEGE

A column collapse at Lewis & Clark College killed one student and injured two others on Monday, the first day of classes for the semester. The three students were lying in hammocks when the brick column collapsed. We’re keeping these students and families in our thoughts, and hoping that everyone returning to school stays safe!

YESHIVA UNIVERSITY PETITIONS SUPREME COURT

In June, the New York County Supreme Court ordered Yeshiva University, a Jewish university in New York City, to officially recognize the YU Pride Alliance. Now, Yeshiva is petitioning the Supreme Court, arguing that its religious beliefs prevent it from recognizing the group. We will have to see if the results of this case have an impact on LGBTQ+ groups at other religious universities.

W&M OPENS FALL INTERVIEW SLOTS

Seniors who have been waiting for W&M interviews, you’re in luck! The college opened up new slots for interviews this fall, and there are a few times still available - interested students can register on their website.  

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

It seems like there are articles everywhere these days about the mental health crisis for teens and young adults - but though the pandemic certainly exacerbated this issue, it had been worsening for several years before any of us had ever heard of COVID-19. For a deep dive into the mental health crisis among teens, check out this episode of the New York Times’ The Daily podcast. 

We regularly see the tension between “town and gown” in some college towns in the news, but colleges and universities are now being judged more often by their relationship with their communities. This article argues that Muncie, Indiana’s Ball State University is a great example of how university leaders can integrate their institutions with the town and surrounding community. 

Curious about campuses that bring art to their communities? Check out some of the cool architecture and art installations in the world’s quirkiest campuses.   

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

If you are a high school girl interested in social justice and making positive change, the ChangeMaker’s Institute may be a great program for you! Students in this virtual program have the opportunity to connect with mentors and work with experts in social impact to think critically about problems in their communities and the world. The program is enrolling now for the fall class (held on Saturdays). 

I (Colleen) headed back to school myself this week - I posted last week about being chosen for Goldman Sach’s 10,000 Small Businesses Program and we began this past week with our orientation!

Now we are all back in school and ready for a great year! I’m excited to learn and connect with other entrepreneurs, and can’t wait to bring what I’ve learned to you all!

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Weekly Update: June 17

Happy Father’s Day this weekend to all the dads being celebrated! And I apologize that we are posting on Saturday instead of Friday - I was basically going nonstop all day every day last week with rising senior meetings!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY PHASES OUT “COLONIALS” NAME

GW has committed to doing away with the “Colonials” moniker by the 2023-2024 school year, in response to criticism that the name glorifies colonialism. The announcement is the result of two years of committee deliberations on the name, as well as the name of the Student Center on campus (which was renamed last year). The change won’t impact only the sports teams, but also services on campus like the “Colonial Health Center” and “Colonial Cash” dining dollars. 44% of students voted against the name, versus 43% who voted in favor.

FINAL VARSITY BLUES VERDICT

The final parent charged in connection with the Operation Varsity Blues scandal was acquitted yesterday of charges that he bribed the Georgetown tennis coach with $200,000 cash to treat his daughter as a recruit. This is a surprise in the string of Varsity Blues trials that have led to guilty verdicts earlier this year.

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR 529 ACCOUNT

As college tuition bills start to come due, many families are finding smaller balances in their 529 accounts after the stock market decline. This article provides some strategies that you can use if you are looking at a 529 balance that is no longer sufficient to fund your student’s education.

COLLEGE ENROLLMENT ISSUES AREN’T GOING AWAY

Though many colleges hoped that pandemic enrollment drops were temporary, it appears that the pandemic has changed how students think about their college education. Fewer high school students are choosing to pursue higher education immediately following school. In some states, including Indiana and West Virginia, less than half of 2020 graduates chose to pursue full time education after high school. We will have to keep an eye on how these trends affect future numbers in the workforce. 

UVA ESSAY PROMPTS OUT!

As promised on social media, I wanted to take some time to discuss the brand-new UVA essay prompts that were released earlier this week. I’m focusing on the ones that Arts and Sciences students will have to write, becuse that’s where most of our students apply.

First, I have to mention that these new essays serve as a great example of why students should never begin writing until a school has confirmed their essay prompts for the upcoming cycle. You never know when a prompt will change for the coming year, and you don’t want to waste your time and effort drafting an essay for an outdated prompt. UVA has used more or less the exact same Arts and Sciences mandatory prompt since the beginning of my career and probably even earlier, so this was definitely not an essay that anyone expected would change - but it did, out of nowhere!

Next, remember that every essay you submit should be used as a tool to share something new about you that the admissions committee doesn’t already know. So when you’re writing about a college course that all UVA students should take, don’t just write about something you think is cool. Make sure it’s relevant - that you are clearly linking it to your background, life experiences, or personality. This way, the admissions committee can learn something new about you that would reflect positively on your candidacy.

Here’s an example - let’s say I’d like to learn more about how to make TikTok videos. If I wrote about how I want to make TikToks because I think TikToks are cool and I really like watching them in bed on my phone before I fall asleep, the admissions committee would learn nothing about me. But if I wrote about how watching TikToks on my phone before I fall asleep every night led me to realize that I could incorporate them into my business’s social media strategy, the admissions committee would start to learn more about what I do and who I am. I could then go into my history of success with content marketing and why I believe that other budding entrepreneurs at UVA could benefit from instruction in this area too.

Regarding the “choice” prompts, I would recommend avoiding the “topic you could speak about for an hour” and “expert-level skill” options, because I think that those are too similar to the Arts and Sciences essay. On the other hand, I think the “favorite word and why,” “website the internet is missing,” “happy place” and “message on Beta Bridge” prompts are probably going to lend themselves more easily to sharing new information to the committee. Those would allow students who know they want to write about something specific to come in and tie that information directly to a message, word, happy place or nonexistent website!

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

In his latest newsletter, Jeff Selingo dives into the importance of the student experience when it comes to choosing a college. A survey of over 100 institutions indicates that the student experience is one of the main fears in the college world today. Selingo shares a story that is common to many college students - a student looking to get his questions answered and moving from the registrar’s office, to the financial aid office, to the career center, to his academic advisor, and finally to an academic dean, repeating his story each time. Selingo argues that colleges need to improve their service infrastructure and enable students to get their questions answered - through technologies like chatbots and smart speakers - so that services catch up with the physical infrastructure that so many colleges have been investing in for the past several years. 

The third and final installment of Forbes’ series on college admissions encourages students and counselors to become “data scientists,” delving into schools’ admissions data in order to maximize their success and better understand the process. We AGREE! While some of the statistics mentioned in the article aren’t readily available, students and families interested in pursuing some of this data can Google “[School Name] Common Data Set” to find the latest statistics that the college has released on its admissions and class makeup. This is a wise move for anyone looking to assess their chances of admission at a particular school. 

I particularly recommend using Common Data Sets to calculate the difference between ED and RD acceptance rates, for schools that have both. Here’s how we explain this in our early decision guide, available to clients through our vault:

It takes some math, but you can quickly determine the acceptance rate of ED applicants by dividing the number accepted by the number who applied. When determining non-ED numbers, you’ll need to subtract the ED folks (applied and admitted) from the total numbers and then again divide the number accepted by the number who applied. Now you can compare these rates and determine the importance of ED to a school. 

Here’s an example from the 2019-2020 Common Data Set for the University of Pennsylvania. Most Common Data set numbers are split by gender which requires an additional step in calculations. After adding the male and female numbers together, we learn the following on page 8:

Total Number Applied: 44,961 // Total Number Admitted: 3446 // Total Number Enrolled: 2400

Then we scroll down to page 13, where we learn the following about the ED numbers:

Total Number Applied ED: 7109 // Total Number Admitted ED: 1280

We can then use this information to calculate the following statistics:

Total Acceptance Rate = 3446/44961 = 7.66% // Percentage of Class Filled ED = 1280/2400 = 53%

ED Acceptance Rate = 1280/7109 = 18% // RD Acceptance Rate = (3446-1280) / (44961-7109) = 5.72%

You can also see that students applying ED have a very clear advantage over those applying RD - it’s practically a lost cause at a 5.72% acceptance rate - and this was using number from several years ago!

Finally, this interview with the current president of USC (and former president of Dartmouth and UNC), Carol L. Folt, explores the experience and importance of students who move from community college to a four-year university. The subject is personal for Folt, who got her bachelor’s degree at UC Santa Barbara after beginning her education at a community college, and her perspective is an interesting way to look at both sides of this issue.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

I (Colleen) am writing this post on a plane to Greece! I’ll be out of the office for the next two weeks, and Shannon will be holding down the fort. Families with college counseling questions should email her while I’m away, and of course Courtney and Donna are there as always to help out with administrative and scheduling needs!

We hope our students are also getting some time to relax, too! But if anyone out there is still looking for summer opportunities, don’t miss our mid-week post on last-minute Summer 2022 options for high school students.

We’ve also got a couple of opportunities to share this week for current college students! If you are a student interested in sharing your college experience with others, College Scoops is seeking student ambassadors willing to film a video about their college for high school students to use as they try to get a feel for the campus culture (particularly difficult when travel is limited). If you’d like to create a video for your school, reach out to moira@collegescoops.com for more information. 

And if you are a current college student looking to pursue a mental health career, the Chesapeake Center for ADHD, Learning, and Behavioral Health is looking for you! Interns for their Fall 2022 internship will have the opportunity to co-facilitate group programs and sit in on various other meetings, receiving valuable hands-on experience working with clients as well as marketing & programming. Interested students should send their resume to communications@chesapeakeadd.com. 

Enjoy the weekend!

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Weekly Update: May 26

We were shocked and saddened by the tragedy in Texas this week, and our thoughts are with the victims and their families. I have a fourth grader too, so it hit especially close to home for me. As we prepare for Memorial Day weekend, we are also thinking of the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country - as well as the incredible sacrifices made by their families and friends left behind.

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

SUMMER AND FALL 2022 SAT REGISTRATION IS LIVE

The College Board typically opens registration each June or July for the entire following school year (I.e. in June 2022 for August 2022-June 2023 test dates). This year, they changed things up and just released the ability for students to register early for the August 2022, October 2022, November 2022, and December 2022 test dates. All students planning to take one of these tests (or even considering it) should register as soon as possible! The August and October administrations are already filling up quickly.

2022-2023 COMMON APPLICATION UPDATES

The Common Application held a session yesterday to share upcoming changes in advance of the 2022-2023 application release. They confirmed that application rollover will take place on August 1, as in previous years. Students’ login information will remain the same, and all of the information in their profile, family, education, testing, activities, writing, and courses and grades sections will roll over.

(Remember: It’s great to take advantage of the rollover function - definitely get started early and fill all of this out in advance. But MAKE SURE to print/save PDFs of each individual page in case there is some type of rollover error. This does happen occasionally and it would be so awful if all of your hard work was lost!)

Some new changes: “Mx.” and “Other” are now prefix options, and the order of the gender, pronoun, and name questions have moved. There will also be some adjustments to the order and criteria of the questions relating to fee waivers.

PRINCETON FIRES JOSHUA KATZ

In 2018, Princeton University suspended Professor Joshua Katz, pending an investigation into a relationship he had with one of his undergraduate students. On Monday, the school fired the tenured professor, citing a lack of cooperation with this investigation. This is a particularly unusual occurrence, as Katz was a tenured professor at the university. Katz argues that the firing came on the heels of an article he published that criticized the school’s anti-racist policies, and is not an issue of his relationship but instead a blow to free speech. 

GEORGETOWN SENIORS SHUT DOWN LINCOLN MEMORIAL

The Lincoln Memorial was shut down on Saturday morning after hundreds of Georgetown University seniors left broken bottles and spilled wine and champagne covering the monument’s steps. The site was open to the public again by 11:00 am on Saturday. 

COLLEGES REIMPOSE INDOOR MASK MANDATES

As COVID cases spike, colleges around the country have started to reinstate their mask mandates on campus, including the University of Delaware. Public school systems in Philadelphia, PA and Providence, RI have also reinstated their mask mandates in response to cases in the area. 

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

We shared an article a few weeks back with one professor’s opinion of how the pandemic has affected student’s learning ability and focus in the classroom once they arrive in college. Now, a disability rights advocate has published a response, citing mental health issues rather than online learning as the reason why so many students are struggling. Several other letters to the editor continue this dialogue, offering remote learning and mental health related responses to the perceived crisis in students’ engagement. 

Price hikes at a number of colleges have reinvigorated the conversation around whether college is really worth the cost. Enrollment continues to drop, even with the worst of the pandemic (hopefully!) behind us, and in a recent Boston Globe poll, only 10% of respondents felt that college was definitely worth the investment. Spring 2022 college enrollment has dropped nearly 5% from last year - in addition to the overall pandemic drop of almost 10%. This is a surprise to some colleges that expected enrollment to bounce back this cycle.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

We’ve offered up our own lists of fiction and nonfiction reads for students to check out this summer, and we’d like to add these three career-focused books for college graduates! If you want even more info on summer reading, current members and clients can check out our Membership Vault summer reading guide.

Pro Tip: We also recommend reading a newspaper or two regularly this summer - this will definitely help you out in interviews when you are asked to talk about a recent news story or political issue that interests you, as well as on applications (like Princeton’s!) that may ask about which publications you read regularly. 

Still looking for more summer opportunities? Gettysburg College’s inaugural Civic Engagement Camp is still accepting applications until Friday, June 3. The program aims to teach students about American democracy and the importance of civic engagement, all against the background of Gettysburg’s history (and with a day trip to Washington, DC).

Have a great weekend!

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Weekly Update: May 20

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

AP PRECALCULUS!

Yes, you read that right. College Board announced this week that it will be offering an AP Precalculus option in the 2023-2024 school year. The announcement comes in the wake of numerous articles (including some we shared on this blog) that cover the lack of math preparation for high school students during the pandemic. College Board asserts that the new course offering will better prepare students for college math, particularly STEM-related majors. 

PUBLIC SCHOOL ENROLLMENT FALLS

I’ve shared on the blog before about my decision to pull my daughter out of her public school and it turns out I’m not alone! Since 2020, public school enrollment is down by over a million students. Many of these students moved to private or parochial schools, or were even homeschooled, while others dropped out of school due to job loss, homelessness, lack of Wi-Fi access, or other financial issues during the pandemic. The enrollment drop has particularly affected schools that had long periods of remote instruction. And since school budgets are tied to enrollment, public schools will likely be dealing with a drop in funding as well. This may be a contributor to some school districts’ reluctance to reinstate mask mandates or vaccination requirements for fear of losing even more students. 

MENTAL HEALTH DAY OF ACCEPTANCE

Here in our office we were excited to join in on today’s Virginia-wide American Academy of Pediatrics “Wear Green Day of Action” for Mental Health acceptance! (Can you tell that none of us really have green in our wardrobes?! We tried…)

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

We love summer reading in our office, and not just because we’re book lovers! “What is a great book you’ve read recently?” or “What are you reading right now?” or “What is your favorite book?” are very common interview questions for students, and summer is a great time to learn something new AND prepare your answers at the same time. Not sure where to start? Check out our nonfiction summer reading recommendations from the blog this week, or take a look at this Atlantic article for reviews of books based on college campuses or other educational settings.  

When it comes to paying for college, looking at a private vs. a public school is often one of families’ first considerations. But despite the popular wisdom, there are cases where a scholarship to a private school makes it more affordable than a public option - and many cases where an out-of-state public school can be as expensive or even more expensive than a private one! This Forbes article provides a run-down of the tuition costs for the most expensive public colleges by state, and might be a good place to start if public college is on your student’s list (and yes, UVA is #1 on this list).

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

The hot weather lately definitely reminds us that summer is coming! We are still adding to our Summer Opportunities Database every week. Most recently, we featured an opportunity for juniors and seniors in high school to join Mount Vernon’s Student Advisory Board. This is an awesome leadership opportunity for students interested in art, history, museum curation, education, or just networking and gaining experience!

And one more thing on the summer to-do list for juniors - essays! We are so excited to welcome McClain back to the office this summer - she will be available starting in mid-June for students to work with on their essays. Our calendar has been updated and students can now book appointments for June and July with McClain or Staci. If you have a busy summer ahead, we recommend booking those meetings now to make sure that you get the time slots that work best for you! 

McClain has been busy since last summer - check out her adorable new baby Theo, born in January!

Have a great weekend, and stay cool!

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Weekly Update: October 15

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

NEW ASPIRE RESIDENCE HALL AT ST. JOSEPH’S UNIVERSITY

Students on the autism spectrum will have the opportunity for a typical college living experience at St. Joseph’s University. The new Aspire Residence Hall will assist students with personal care, problem-solving, and the social skills necessary for dorm life. If you or someone you know are looking for this level of support in college, the hall is now accepting applications for next year’s class!

SIT-IN AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY

Howard students staged a sit-in and protest on campus this week. They were protesting the lack of COVID-19 testing on campus in addition to other residential safety concerns, including mold in the walls of residence halls. The students’ current demands include an improved housing plan for incoming freshmen, as well as representation on the university’s Board of Trustees. 

TENURE CHANGES IN THE GEORGIA UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

The concept of tenure for college professors is an often-controversial one - with some arguing that it is necessary to protect academic freedom, while others argue that it is an outdated method of retaining professors. Now, the Board of Regents for the Georgia university system has given its universities, including UGA and Georgia Tech, the power to fire tenured professors without faculty input. 

Faculty argue that the move limits academic freedom, and may also prevent the state university from attracting and retaining top professors, given the higher risk of termination under the new policy.  

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Considering going back to school for a graduate degree? This article explores the master’s degrees that give the biggest increase in salary. Topping the list is a master’s degree in biology - professionals with the graduate degree make on average 87% more money than those with a bachelor's degree! Other top master’s include business, education, and communication. Surprisingly, finance and accounting were at the bottom of the list - professionals with a master’s in accounting make only 4% more on average than those with a bachelor’s degree. 

On a much more difficult note, UNC gave students a day off for mental health this week following two suicides and at least one attempt on campus this semester. The tragedies and UNC are just an example of the mental health challenges that many students are encountering during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic has only exacerbated what was already an issue of limited mental health resources on many college campuses. 

Note: if you are struggling with mental health, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255. 

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

We’re wrapping up the last of those early applications this week, and crossing our fingers for all of our readers with 10/15 deadlines - UNC and UGA early action applications are due today! SAT results from the October test were also released today, and we have been excited to get some good news from our students - especially since some of those applications, like UGA, require test scores this cycle. 

Enjoy the weekend!

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William & Mary: #4 for College with the Happiest Students

NOTE FROM COLLEEN:

SHANNON IS TAKING OVER TODAY WITH A TOPIC THAT I’VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT FOR YEARS. I’M ALWAYS FASCINATED BY THE FEEDBACK I HEAR ABOUT WILLIAM & MARY FROM KIDS IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA. I HONESTLY DON’T UNDERSTAND IT!

SO MANY STUDENTS HAVE SOMETHING NEGATIVE TO SAY BEFORE THEY HAVE EVER SET FOOT ON CAMPUS, YET THE ONES WHO END UP ACTUALLY GOING THERE JUST LOVE IT - I HAVE MULTIPLE STUDENTS THERE NOW AND THEY COULDN’T BE HAPPIER.

AND WHEN I ATTENDED A COUNSELOR DAY ON CAMPUS A FEW YEARS BACK, I COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE IMPRESSED. SO I WAS GENUINELY CURIOUS TO GET THE REAL SCOOP FROM SHANNON! HOPE YOU FIND IT INTERESTING TOO :)

HERE IT IS…

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As a proud College of William & Mary alumna, I’m always excited when I hear good news about my alma mater. And last week brought some fantastic accolades for W&M from the Princeton Review - we are now ranked #4 for Happiest Students and #15 for Best Quality of Life! 

When I first learned about William & Mary, I was just beginning my own college search process at my New England prep school - I probably googled something like “medium-sized colleges East Coast” and went from there.

I was drawn to the gorgeous campus and the warmer Virginia weather, but what sealed the deal for me was the feeling, from the moment I stepped on William & Mary’s campus, that it was a place where I could be the “real me.”

So much of my application process felt disingenuous to who I was as a person (hence my passion at DC College Counseling for making sure each application is authentic and unique to the student!) that it was a relief to walk into a place that seemed accepting of every part of me, not just the skills I tried to emphasize on my application. 

I still remember meeting everyone at orientation, listening as student after student introduced themselves and said they were from “Nova.” Wow, I thought, how are all these kids from the same town?

It wasn’t until after I had moved in, met my (still) best friends and hallmates, and discovered that Nova wasn’t just a single town that I learned about the rumors that plagued William & Mary from the in-state students - students at William & Mary are terrible overachievers, the quality of life is horrible, no one is having any fun.

I was completely shocked by the rumors because they were so far outside of my William & Mary experience. I don’t want to dwell on “suicide rates” in this post, because I don’t want to reduce a widespread mental health issue to a statistic, but rates for students at William & Mary, while deeply tragic, are the same as the national average.

I think that W&M has come to bear the brunt of rumors that speak more to a general concern for the mental health and well-being of high school and college-age students than to any particular aspect of the William & Mary community.

I don’t mean to diminish the problem - it is essential that W&M, like every higher education institution, put more emphasis on mental health resources for students. I am hopeful that the campus’s new McLeod Tyler Wellness Center, home to mental health services including the new Center for Mindfulness & Authentic Excellence, is a step in the right direction by a school that is committed to caring for its students.

I met my best friends in this dorm freshman year, so we had to come back and take a photo before graduation!

The new Princeton Review rankings are much more representative of my time at William & Mary than any rumors I have heard. The idea of “Authentic Excellence” is a way of life for the Tribe, and throughout my four years of college, I was never dissuaded from the knowledge that my authentic self was accepted at W&M.

That sense so many students experience in high school, of feeling “uncool”? You will never feel it in Williamsburg. W&M students are unabashedly uncool. Everyone is nerdy about something: pop music production, marine biology, obscure 18th century literature, MLB statistics, you name it and someone on campus is willing to geek out with you about it. The tight group of friends I made during college have a wide variety of interests and experiences, and I love hearing about their passions because I never fail to learn something new. And I promise - we had a lot of fun too! 

Even though COVID-19 means that I have to miss homecoming this year, I will always consider William & Mary my home, and I’m counting down to the day when I can step back onto campus and visit all of my favorite Williamsburg places.  

In our William & Mary gear, making sure Thomas Jefferson is ready for Mardi Gras!

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COLLEEN AGAIN! IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN W&M, CHECK OUT THIS INCREDIBLY HELPFUL SLIDE FROM THE COUNSELOR DAY I ATTENDED:

I KNOW IT’S A LITTLE HARD TO READ, BUT HERE GOES - IT’S ABOUT QUESTIONS THAT W&M ADMISSIONS STAFF CONSIDER WHILE REVIEWING APPLICATIONS:

• IS THE STUDENT PREPARED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN OUR ACADEMIC COMMUNITY?

• HOW DOES HE OR SHE COMPARE TO OTHERS IN OUR POOL?

• HAS THE STUDENT GONE ABOVE AND BEYOND TO PURSUE A RIGOROUS CURRICULUM IN A WAY THAT DEMONSTRATES AN INTEREST IN DOING SO IN COLLEGE?

• DOES THE STUDENT HAVE A MATURE WRITING VOICE?

• IS THE STUDENT INTERESTING WITH A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE ABOUT THE WORLD?

• DOES HE OR SHE HAVE SPUNK, ZEST, OR AN INTERESTING ATTITUDE THAT WOULD ADD A NEW DIMENSION TO CAMPUS LIFE?

• WHAT IS THIS PERSON GOING TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY?

• WOULD HE OR SHE BE AN INTERESTING ROOMMATE, CLASSMATE, LAB PARTNER?

Productivity Tips for All Ages: Family Kanban Boards

Well, it’s week four of quarantine and I think the reality has started to set in for most families that we are in this for the long haul. I’m trying not to complain but wow, this has just been very hard for everyone! When we’re not stressing about the things we can’t control, like the economy, we’re stressing about the things we theoretically can control, like accidentally letting a microscopic germ inside the house from a cereal box that wasn’t sanitized enough!

One common theme I keep hearing from a lot of parents - whether my friends with young kids or my clients with teenagers - is that motivations are dwindling, everyone has cabin fever, and nobody wants to sit down and do what they are supposed to be doing. This is excellent timing (just kidding) given that FCPS is about to re-start next week after a month off!

I know from my work life that parental nagging is usually ineffective and most often just results in everyone fighting with each other. Children (and even teenagers, I promise!) naturally want to please, but it usually turns into a power struggle at home. So the more that parents can distance themselves from the “taskmaster” role, the more likely it is that the tasks will actually be completed… as long as there’s a different type of accountability structure in place. This is exactly where my team and I shine in the college admissions process and why we are so big on the constant follow-up.

So, I decided to practice what I preach to everyone else and stop with the power struggles. Keep in mind, my kids are very young, so it’s not like I really care whether they are formally learning or not. I am not sitting here and pretending we are formally homeschooling - we are definitely not. I have bigger fish to fry, like running a business in the middle of a global pandemic! But I do want them to have a structured day with as little screen time as possible.

Enter Kanban boards!

These can be used by anyone of any age. For adults (see mine below for today) - I use a very simplified version. If you use Trello or the boards setup in Asana, this will look familiar.

Starting out, I put my to-do list in the backlog section to the left. Note that I have chosen only to include one-time tasks, for my purposes. I don’t include things like “responding to email” or “following up after essay coach meetings,” since I do those all day long.

Then I move the tasks that absolutely needed to be completed today to the “To Do” section. I move a task into “Doing” while it’s in the process of completion and “Done” after it’s finished. I personally LOVE the visual reminder of what I’ve accomplished - or what I haven’t accomplished!

I handled it a little bit differently with my kids and attempted to color-code their tasks while giving them some choice. Everything orange (for my daughter) and yellow (for my son) was non-negotiable and needed to be completed. In the morning, they were able to select six of the pink/blue tasks of their choice to add to the agenda for the day. Some of the tasks didn’t apply to today - for example, there’s no girl scout meeting or sewing class. So we skipped that.

My son is only three and can’t read, so if I had more time I would probably have drawn a little picture or something on his tasks for him to understand what they mean instead of having to rely on an adult.

The idea is that THEY get to decide when and how they want to do everything, as long as everything is done properly and according to the task (so 30 min of independent reading really does need to be 30 min), but it can happen whenever. And once the tasks are done - screen time!

For my kids, I will move all the post-its back to the backlog for tomorrow - but for me, I will have a totally different set of tasks, so I just throw mine out at the end of the day and start fresh.

Note: While this is useful for anyone, it can be especially helpful for kids with ADHD or anxiety who need to know what’s ahead and/or have trouble completing tasks and/or focusing on an end goal.

If you are inspired to step on the Kanban bandwagon, the large post-its that stick to the wall are available for curbside pickup at the Office Depot in Reston - that was the only place anywhere near Vienna that had them in stock.

Stay healthy!

Let's not forget about the juniors

On the morning of September 9, 2001, I woke up as my flight from New York was landing in London. I was a junior in high school and my best friends and I had finally arrived to start our “term abroad.” We were SO excited for everything ahead. I’ll never forget excitedly rushing to aol.com to sign in two days later when our group finally got internet access. I was the first one to make it to a computer. Before I could even enter my screen name (ha), there it was: a photo of the planes hitting the WTC.

BOOM! Life changed. In an instant. Forever.

Junior year is a tough time for anyone; that was true twenty years ago and it will be true twenty years from now. Your grades are all of the sudden incredibly important, you’re struggling with test prep, you’re trying to squeeze in college visits, you might be managing a handful of AP classes - it’s just so incredibly stressful in the best of circumstances.

Now, add a global crisis as the cherry on top of the pre-existing stress. That’s just a really, really difficult situation. I’ve been there. I get it.

So, as I see post upon post on social media about how sad it is that seniors are losing all of their end-of-high-school milestones - and don’t get me wrong, I feel terrible for the seniors too - I also think we need to remind ourselves: let’s not forget about the juniors. The seniors were already mentally checked out on high school well before this happened. But when the juniors look back in twenty years, these are the months they will remember. COVID-19 will probably define their high school experience, just as 9/11 defined mine.

Most of our seniors were admitted ED - so with school out, we’ve essentially spent the last couple of weeks with juniors, all day long. I can tell you firsthand that most of these kids are incredibly worried and scared about what the future will hold. They don’t know when they’re going to get to take the standardized tests that are hanging over their heads; they don’t know what’s going to happen to the coveted summer internships they worked so hard to land back in January and February; they don’t know if their schools will be back in session next fall. But they do know that their actions during this time will be judged by college admissions officers in less than a year - and the clock is ticking.

All of this on top of the fact that the “teenage brain is wired with an enhanced capacity for fear and anxiety, but is relatively underdeveloped when it comes to calm reasoning.” YIKES.

Here is some advice to help parents of juniors support their kids right now:

Try to be open and honest about any concerns with which your family is struggling, from finances to illnesses. Teenage imaginations will almost always create situations that are far worse than reality, so look at this as an opportunity to build trust that will come in handy during the college years ahead.

Watch for signs of depression and serious anxiety. When we meet with students on a regular basis, we can see shifts that might not be obvious to parents who see their children every day and aren’t actively looking out for this type of thing. Obviously, we share concerns when appropriate but every parent should be paying attention right now as well.

Pick your battles. Avoid power struggles. Cut them slack in all the areas that don’t really matter - but at the same time, set non-negotiable rules that emphasize health and wellness. Everyone needs to be getting an adequate amount of sleep right now to keep their immune systems functioning as well as possible, and it’s totally unacceptable for kids to be leaving the house to socialize.

Remind them about the silver linings of this situation. As terrible as this is, there are also a number of unexpected advantages. Kids who have been working like crazy all year can relax a little bit without worrying about messing up their perfect GPAs. Kids who haven’t been working like crazy can take advantage of a rare opportunity to positively influence their grades for the year. There are a million cool courses they can take online to explore different fields and now they actually have time to pursue them!

Celebrate their successes and accomplishments. We have a whole bunch of kids who just finished their Common App essays or are about to finish them within the next week. They are also making incredible headway on their teacher and counselor recommendation prep work, they finished their Common Applications long ago - we even have one girl who has written five supplemental essays already in addition to her main Common App essay! We are so proud! It’s important to recognize your kids’ hard work - and remind them how the upcoming months will be so. much. easier. as a result of buckling down now (here’s our list of suggestions for spending this time productively in case you haven’t read it yet).

And on a lighter (but totally serious!) note -

We at DC College Counseling are taking the official stance of no pandemic essays for the Class of 2021.

So, please don’t encourage this - NOT a good idea, Mom and Dad, NOT A GOOD IDEA AT ALL! This is going to sound terribly morbid, but if an immediate family member passes away, we will find a way to work that in. Otherwise, we need to show the admissions committee that there is more to your student than a pandemic that every single kid on the planet (literally!) is dealing with right now. Wasting valuable essay space on a topic that will not differentiate your student from any other student is not a good idea, no matter how life-altering this period of time will be for all of us.

More like 12,500th. 125,000th? Seriously, I would not be surprised if 75% of applicants write about this.

NOT UNDER OUR WATCH, PLEASE!

P.S. While it kills me to admit this, I actually did write the 9/11 version of the above for my college essay. Ughhhh. I know, I know. And my mom thought it was fantastic. Of course she did. It probably had two spaces after the periods, too. What can I say, we live and learn, right?!

Relying Upon Natural Instincts with Kolbe Indexes

I jumped headfirst into the world of podcasts this past year. I have a whole bunch that I love, and it’s actually incredible how much I can learn while driving or getting ready in the morning.

While I was driving from the University of Wisconsin - Madison to Chicago last month, I listened to a podcast about the value of the Kolbe A Index. I’d never heard of it before but by the end of the episode, I was completely sold. I was dying to get to my hotel so that I could take it myself!

This index measures a person’s instinctive way of doing things in order to identify their strengths. Essentially, there are four categories: Fact Finder, Follow Thru, Quick Start, and Implementor. After taking the short assessment, a person is rated on a 1-10 scale in each category to learn about their instinctive action pattern in that particular category.

The key, though, is that none of this is “bad” or “good.”

A person who has a low score in the Fact Finder category might be great at looking at the big picture without needing to deal with details. On the flip side, a person with a high score in that category might be great at research, collecting information and making meaning of that information (data analysis, basically).

The objective is to use the findings to make sure that the person has a career and relationships that align with their natural instincts - this is what will lead to their happiness and success.

Don’t read into the actual names of the categories too much, because they aren’t as directly linked as you might expect (this is actually my only criticism - I find the names confusing).

For instance, Implementor isn’t about a person’s instinctive ability to implement, as I would guess; it’s about tangibles, and measures mental vs. physical implementation. Along the same lines, Follow Thru is more about adaptability and the need for processes.

Here are my results:

In news that did not surprise me one bit, I am a middle-to-high Fact Finder and have the second-highest Quick Start score possible- meaning that in addition to my obsession with data, I have a natural tendency to innovate and problem-solve. I have a low Implementor score, so I’m good at figuring out ideas in my head and useless when it comes to fixing or setting up physical items.

My report actually advised that I’d be unhappy if I had to “take responsibility for maintaining equipment, demonstrate the use of mechanical stuff, or take apart small appliances.” You do not have to tell me any of that twice!

I also have a low Follow Thru score, meaning that I enjoy “cut[ting] through bureaucracy” and would be unhappy if I had to “adhere to redundant systems.” YES!

what I thought was really interesting is that parents can use this information TO IMPROVE THEIR DAY-TO-DAY INTERACTIONS WITH TEENAGE OR ADULT CHILDREN.

How often do we hear ourselves (and other parents) saying things like “I just don’t understand why she makes the same mistakes over and over again” or “Why isn’t he willing to visit colleges”? Well, this will help you understand exactly what’s going on - and how your child’s natural instincts impact their actions.

Instead of trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, parents can compare their own Kolbe A Index score with their child’s Kolbe Y Index score to learn about how the two align and how they can most effectively communicate and interact with one another.

We can also work with teenagers’ Kolbe scores to help them try to figure out which careers could be the best natural fit.

The idea is that if you force someone into a behavior or role that goes against the person’s natural instinct, they won’t succeed.

I learned that my score report above suggested that I would find success and happiness as a combined subject matter expert and entrepreneur.

Pretty cool, right?

(Note: This is not a sponsored post at all - I just really think Kolbe scores could be helpful for families!)

Coming Home to Stay

I recently came across The New York Times article When a College Student Comes Home to Stay and felt it necessary to add my two cents, given my experience working with so many families and students over the years.

In previous generations, everyone looked forward to college. Arrival on campus for freshman orientation represented freedom, new friends, and a major step towards adulthood. Today, the lead-up to college has spiraled out of control, and arrival on campus represents so much more: a sought-after prize that justifies a decade (or more!) of sacrifice.

As students work tirelessly to perfect their college essays and try desperately to increase their ACT scores following years and years of pressure, they often can’t help but develop very unrealistic expectations about the end goals that they are trying to achieve with so much hard work. This idealized version of college certainly doesn’t leave room for imagining days caught in the rain without an umbrella, courses with terrible professors, evenings missing family and friends from home, or poor scores earned during the first round of exams.

When the bad days come - and there will be bad days, even at Harvard - students are stunned and surprised. They often start thinking something is wrong with them or that they cannot handle college altogether.  95% of the time, nothing is wrong at all; they are simply experiencing the ups and downs of daily life. Because this happens so often, I find it increasingly important to guide families during the college application process to maintain a realistic viewpoint, and I encourage parents to have discussions with their children about the realities of college and the “real world.”  

The better perspective these students bring with them to their freshman year of college, the less likely they will feel as if the world is crashing down around them when they are no longer in the top 10% of their class, get their first C in a course, or aren’t getting along with their roommate. 

Of course, there are also situations when something more serious is at play. Should a student come home from a break or their first year and not want to return, or transfer to another school, all is not lost.  Here at DC College Counseling, we not only serve high school students and their families that are embarking on the college application process for the first time, we also enjoy working with students who would like to transfer to a better-fit school.  Every year we assist students from a variety of backgrounds who were unhappy with their first college selection.  

Many of our clients are interested to learn that countless schools, such as UVA, have much higher acceptance rates for transfer students than incoming freshmen.  In fact, we find that students who do transfer schools often have better and more options available to them than when they applied to college during high school.  No matter what your family seeks or needs, always know that many options exist and we are here to help.