Weekly Update: November 4

And.. we’re back!

RECENT COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS

DIVORCED FAMILIES TAKE ON ELITE UNIVERSITIES OVER ALLEGED ANTITRUST SCHEMES

A lawsuit filed in federal court accuses the University of Pennsylvania, Villanova, and 38 other private universities of colluding to make college more expensive for students with divorced parents. The schools require financial aid applicants to include income from both parents through the CSS Profile (as well as their spouses, if they are married), even if only one parent provides financial support. The suit alleges that this approach, which began in 2006, increased tuition costs by an average of $6,200 per student. It claims that this practice violated antitrust laws by limiting competition and making college less affordable, causing stress and financial strain for families. 

This year’s FAFSA redesign has been tough on divorced families, too. Previously, the custodial parent (defined as the parent the student lived with the most during the past year) was responsible for completing the FAFSA. The new FAFSA will now require financial information from the parent who provides the most financial support – and that parent’s spouse, if they are married. If parents provide 50/50 financial support, the FAFSA will require financial information from the parent/spouse pair with the highest income and assets – regardless of custody arrangements or willingness to pay for college.

A WHITE COAT WITH DARK INTENTIONS AT MIAMI

When reflecting on the professionals that students should be able to trust most in a university setting, it’s hard to think of positions higher on that list than professors and doctors. And yet, a professor (and medical doctor) from the University of Miami’s medical school was recently arrested for trafficking and distributing GHB, according to police reports. GHB is widely known as a common date-rape drug; rapists put it in beverages so their victims will lose consciousness. This horrifying incident has raised significant concerns and discussions among students, staff, and the local community about campus safety and ethics at the U. So far, his name has been removed from the school’s website - and we will definitely continue to follow this case to monitor the university’s response.

RECORD-BREAKING DONATIONS ELEVATE W&L AND VILLANOVA

Washington and Lee University received a record $132 million donation from alumnus Bill Miller, the largest in the school’s history (and one of the largest financial aid-related gifts in history for any liberal arts college). It will enable the school to institute a brand new need-blind admissions process, as well as a no-loan financial aid policy. Similarly, Villanova University just announced a $40 million gift - its second-largest ever. This anonymous gift will support the President’s Strategic Initiative Fund, allowing investments in academic programs, campus improvements, and student needs. The gifts to both schools underscore efforts to increase access, affordability, and the overall student experience.

THE NEW RUTGERS ROOMMATES NOBODY WANTED

Gross! Rutgers University students have raised very understandable concerns about bed bug infestations at their residence halls on the main campus in New Brunswick. They are urging the university to take more effective action to address the problem, as it continues to be unresolved over six months (!) after the outbreak began. The situation has prompted calls for better pest control and more transparency from the administration. We caution prospective students to be aware of these concerns - bed bugs could theoretically happen anywhere, but in our opinion, it’s unacceptable that this has gone on for six months.

IS MINNESOTA THE NEW DC?

Wondering which college had the highest voter turnout among students during the last presidential election? Nope, it’s not Georgetown, George Washington, or American - it’s St. Olaf College in Minnesota! The student body achieved an incredible 87% voter turnout during the last presidential election, an impressive feat driven by the college’s strong culture of civic engagement. This commitment to voting reinforces St. Olaf’s dedication to nurturing socially responsible and active citizens. Students interested in a campus that values civic involvement and leadership should make sure to check out St. Olaf - you can even read our thoughts about the school in our college profile (we’ve created these for a huge number of schools to help our students!).

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

While W&L and Villanova administrators are likely thrilled about the recent donations to their respective schools, their colleagues on other campuses are having a bit of a harder time. This Town & Country article explores the challenges that can occur when long-time wealthy donors begin to disagree with institutional policies. 

The piece discusses the recent wave of "donor revolts" at schools including Harvard, Penn, and Columbia, where formerly-generous alumni have threatened to withhold (or have already withdrawn) their support due to disagreements over campus policies - especially those related to political and social issues. This became a particular issue over the last year, as the donors reacted strongly to what they felt were failures to address antisemitism and other political stances.

These conflicts show the powerful influence that major donors can have on universities, sometimes pushing for actions or policies aligned with their beliefs. Critics argue that this kind of influence undermines academic freedom and the mission of higher education, while others believe it holds institutions accountable. One thing is for sure, though: the growing reliance of universities on these donations means that the disputes can significantly impact campus operations.

–

SMU in the ACC? UCLA in the Big Ten? The recent changes in college football conferences - motivated by financial opportunities, media rights deals, and the pursuit of higher visibility - have become downright confusing to prospective students. However, as The New York Times discusses, no one feels the impact more than the actual players. Yes, they are racking up all kinds of frequent flyer miles (and bonding opportunities!) but jetting across the country takes a major toll on their mental health, academic priorities, and ability to live a well-balanced life. 

The realignments have also impacted traditional rivalries, travel logistics, and the overall college sports landscape. They also reflect how college football - and many other college sports, like basketball - have become increasingly driven by business considerations. In combination with all of the NIL controversy, it’s no wonder that long-time coaches are leaving, one after the other. Everyone seems to agree that change is needed, but when will it happen? And how? We’re following this closely.

–

Data science has some competition for the position of “hottest new degree” - and the subject matter couldn’t be further away from anything quantitative! Strange as this may seem, a new trend has emerged for mid-career professionals to leave their established careers for a stint at … divinity school! From Wall Street analysts to singer-songwriter Maggie Rogers (yes - the Maggie Rogers who played at Madison Square Garden this past month!), twenty-somethings are flocking to Harvard, Duke, and more to pursue the country’s hottest graduate degree. Confused? You’re not alone, but this Town & Country article provides some helpful insight. 

No, most of the students aren’t trying to pursue careers in religion. Instead, they want to explore deeper questions of ethics, purpose, and morality. The trend reflects a desire for intellectual growth and a break from traditional career paths, with some seeing such degrees as unique credentials that distinguish them in fields valuing empathy and understanding. The programs offer flexibility, allowing students to pursue personal and interdisciplinary interests, impacting their careers and perspectives in unexpected ways. Impressive, yes - but if it were me, I’d still go the data science route. Think about the ROI!

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

It’s been a minute! I know we say this every year (and it’s true every year), but August-October was just beyond hectic in our office. Something that was a little bit different about this particular year was that a lot of colleges released their essay prompts later than usual. 

Most years, about half of the essay prompts are released in advance of the Common Application® refresh on August 1. This year was very different - we had a much smaller percentage of school-specific supplemental prompts in advance and it impacted the ability of our students (and staff!) to use the early summer months for specific prompts. 

Fortunately, we made sure that our students were done with their Common Application® and generic supplemental essays*, which made things as easy as possible for them once the school-specific supplemental prompts were released - but it was still a lot of work for us with many, many late nights spent editing! 

As a result, we made the executive decision to put the blog aside for a few months to focus on our seniors - but we’re excited to be back as things have calmed down! Onward to transfer apps :)

*Wondering what generic supplemental essays are? Stay tuned for an upcoming post..

Weekly Update: July 29

Our last blog post before the 2024-2025 admissions cycle formally begins on Thursday!!!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

W&M TO OFFER VIRGINIA’S FIRST B.S. DEGREE IN MARINE SCIENCE THANKS TO BATTEN GENEROSITY

Every year, a handful of our former clients work with us on their “Batten School” applications during their second year at UVA. And by “Batten School,” I mean the Frank Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy (which, as an aside, has some great undergraduate opportunities - check it out!). Now, the Commonwealth has a new Batten School on the horizon, thanks to Frank Batten’s wife, Jane Batten: the Batten School of Coastal and Marine Science at the College of William & Mary. Mrs. Batten’s “transformational” $100 million gift is the largest in William & Mary’s history, and will result in truly incredible opportunities for students interested in marine science and related fields — including the first Bachelor of Science degree in marine science at a public university in Virginia. We’re really excited to learn more details about the Batten School’s offerings in the months to come — or should we refer to it as the Batten School 2.0?

SCHEV APPROVES BRAND-NEW WILLIAM & MARY SCHOOL OF COMPUTING, DATA SCIENCES AND PHYSICS

It has been quite a week for STEM programs at William & Mary! The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, more commonly known as SCHEV, just approved the College’s first new undergraduate division in fifty years: the School of Computing, Data Sciences, and Physics. This new school will bring together four of W&M’s top-performing programs: applied science, computer science, data science, and physics. These areas are seeing tremendous growth and are critical for preparing students for the future. Think machine learning, AI, and computational modeling — the skills of tomorrow! This move represents a huge leap forward for the university. The school will be housed in the heart of the campus, within the new Integrated Science Center. Set to open in Fall 2025, the cutting-edge space is designed to foster interdisciplinary learning.

DEFERRALS ARE BACK AT UVA

We have some news out of Charlottesville this week, too. Long-time blog readers may remember that UVA stopped deferring ED and EA applicants to the regular decision pool during this past admissions cycle. Instead, all ED and EA applicants were either admitted, denied, or placed on a waitlist. My understanding is that putting the students on a waitlist right off the bat was meant to help them achieve realistic expectations of their (very low) chances of eventual admission. I really liked this, personally! Especially for kids who applied early decision, it was nice to help them come to terms with the fact that they had already exhausted their best shot at admission and should move on. Well, in an unexpected pivot, deferrals are now back! Check out UVA's updated Admissions FAQs for more details.

VARSITY PICKLEBALL IS NOW A THING

Have you caught the pickleball bug? I feel a little behind the curve because it seems like everyone is playing and I never have! That’s especially the case in Montgomery County: MCPS is officially the first school system in the country to introduce pickleball as a varsity sport! MCPS officials hope that students of all abilities can pick up pickleball as a stress reliever and lifetime sport. “Across all ages [and] demographics, pickleball is fun and it leads to lifelong health and well-being,” noted Dr. Jeff Sullivan of MCPS.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Bloomberg Businessweek published a really fascinating piece called the Miseducation of America’s Nurse Practitioners (Apple News subscribers can get past the paywall!). Nurse practitioners are able to operate like doctors in many ways — they can make diagnoses and prescribe medications — but they have significantly less training. And in many cases, they are simply unprepared to be doing what they are doing. Bloomberg blames this on a “surging number of programs” that do not have a standardized curriculum and often accept more or less anyone who applies. “The former director of the largest NP program in the country says she can’t recall denying acceptance to a single student,” the article reads. Even worse, many of these new online programs take place asynchronously, with outdated lectures. Patients are suffering, and in some cases, dying, as a result. Awful! Full disclosure, I see a NP myself who I love, and my kids see the most amazing NPs as well. But it sounds like nursing may ultimately become the type of career in which college/graduate school choices could have long-term professional implications.

Have you caught the Olympics bug? Check out NCAA footprint at the Olympics, which details the significant impact that 1100+ current and former NCAA athletes are making at the 2024 Paris Olympics. They represent a substantial portion of the Olympic roster across various sports and countries, although USA is dominating: Team USA’s 385 NCAA athletes make up 65% of its roster! Southern California, Stanford, and Michigan have the greatest representation.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

It’s the calm before the storm in our office as we wrap up everything we need to do before August 1! This has been a strange year as colleges are so, so slow to release their respective school-specific essay prompts. Never in my career have I seen anything like this before. We normally have about half the essay prompts available to us by July 15, and here we are on July 29 with a very small fraction of essays!

I suspect that this is a result of individual schools considering additional changes to their essays in the wake of last year’s Supreme Court ruling. As we discussed at length last year, the timing of the ruling was such that many colleges did change their prompts after the fact and made last-minute adjustments, but the changes could not go through the typical supplemental essay review process involving lots of different stakeholders.

Now that a full cycle has passed and admissions offices were able to assess the prompts more comprehensively, we are likely to see a number of changes again. Stay tuned!

Weekly Update x2: July 22

We have been absolutely swamped getting ready for August 1, when the 2024-2025 Common Application (R) goes live and the (controlled) chaos begins :)

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE LAST WEEKS

BIG CHANGES AHEAD FOR THE ACT

Rising juniors, take note! Starting in the spring of 2025, the ACT is getting a makeover of sorts. Test-takers can expect a shorter test, trimmed down from three hours to two. Additionally — and this is the big one — the science section will be optional, just like the writing section. But don’t throw away your science books just yet! Colleges may require students to submit an ACT science score, the way they did with the writing section for a long time. Our advice is to plan on taking the science section unless every single college on your list confirms that they will consider your ACT score without it.

FAIRFAX COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD PASSES UNPOPULAR POLICY 8130

Major news coming out of Fairfax County — the School Board has approved a new measure that many parents are up in arms about. They’ve decided to implement Policy 8130, which means every five years, they’ll review and possibly redraw school boundaries to tackle issues like overcrowding and equity.

For those who don’t live in Fairfax County, we have a unique situation in that the perceived quality of the schools varies tremendously based on individual school pyramids within our very large district. As a result, the exact same homes in the better pyramids can cost twice what they would cost in the worse pyramids. Beyond the fact that students will be forced to transfer to lower-performing schools, which does not seem particularly fair to those children, redistricting also creates the potential for an economic nightmare. Home values in the top pyramids would plummet in this kind of situation. Yet at the same time, it’s not fair to the other children to be attending the lower-performing schools in the first place. It would be great to find a way to improve the lower-performing schools so that all schools are equally great — that would be a win-win for everyone.

NEW GRADING POLICY IN FAIRFAX COUNTY SCHOOLS

In more controversial news out of Fairfax County, a new policy will allow students to retake assessments for full credit and will add a D- to the grading scale. Some feel this will allow for a more fair and consistent grading system, but others believe it will be hard to implement and will lower expectations of students. Previously, students could get up to 80% on a re-take, but now it will be up to the full 100%. Opponents of this move believe that it will not encourage students to study, as they feel they can simply take the test (or redo assignments) again in order to “game the system”. From a college standpoint, I can see this continuing to perpetuate the (very real) problem of grade inflation in high-performing schools — a situation that contributes to unpredictable admissions decisions, because it leaves admissions officers with no real way to make meaning of transcripts.

KIDS STILL SUFFERING MATH LOSSES FROM THE PANDEMIC

Educators are concerned as they continue to see evidence of math learning losses in students since the upheaval of the pandemic. Schools are seeing that students are still behind in math even though they have been making ground in reading. Colorado has been using the SAT to take some measurements, but are left to wonder if the new SAT digital format is having an effect on those numbers after seeing a “significant” drop in math scores. States across the country are still grappling with overall losses and wonder what that will mean as students head off to college.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE LAST WEEKS

When I grew up, a lot of kids I knew tended to follow their parents’ political beliefs without really thinking for themselves. Needless to say.. a lot has changed! This Washington Post piece profiles a conservative mother, Jennifer, who sent her son, Mike, to a liberal-leaning school that she believes “indoctrinated” him. Mike, however, “decided the ‘indoctrination’ he underwent actually took place at home” and that his school engaged in “counter-indoctrination.” Ouch! Ultimately, Jennifer and Mike were able to put their differences aside and find some common ground. However, no matter where on the spectrum your political views fall, this is a good reminder for parents and students to think about the campus political climate as a factor to consider during the college search.

Did you earn a high score on your AP U.S. History exam this year? You’re not alone. Anecdotally, I have never seen so many students score 4s and 5s on this particular test. Do we just happen to be working with a class of history buffs? As much as I wanted to believe the answer was yes, I suspected that something else was in play as more and more of our students began submitting their score reports. It just didn’t make any sense. But when I read “The Great Recalibration of AP exams”, it all clicked. As it turns out, the Advanced Placement program is making some major changes. Over the past three years, the College Board has been "recalibrating" several AP exams, meaning about 500,000 more students will score a 3 or higher on their exams this year than before. As a graphic in the article shows, the percentage of students scoring 4s or 5s on the AP U.S. History exam in particular rose from approximately 25% in 2023 to approximately 45% in 2024.

Like fashion and music, slang is a reflection of society and the world at large. Post-WWI saw hemlines go up, the rise of the flapper, jazz and a celebration of youth and life – it was the bee’s knees. Not surprising after the horrors of the type of war the world had never seen! Things got groovy and skirts became mini 50 years later. So what are the kids saying these days that reflect on the current state of affairs? This opinion piece from The New York Times takes a nice dive into the words kids are using today — cringe!

As recent graduates are enjoying their last summer before heading off to college, parents are trying to capture quality time, thinking about dorm-necessity packing lists, and trying not to think about their “babies” heading off on their first independent steps. It’s also the time to have serious conversations about the college social scene, including alcohol. It’s unlikely that your soon-to-be college fresh-person will not attend a party, and that party will probably be within the first week of school. This article offers a few things to think about in terms of overall family dynamics around drinking and how to support your teen so they can make good decisions when they are on their own.

And lastly, as we gear up to begin meeting with our Class of 2026 juniors, we’re about to start having a lot of conversations about extracurricular activities and involvement. We always tell our students that it’s better to find one or two really compelling interests and dig into those than to be a jack-of-all-trades dabbling in a lot of little things that don’t really amount to much. And the best types of compelling interests are the ones that truly do interest a student - not ones that they think will “look good” to colleges or that their parents think are worthwhile. What actually looks good is authenticity, passion, and commitment! With this in mind, we loved reading “The life secret Jerry Seinfeld learned from Esquire,” an opinion piece in The Washington Post. The author actually dug up a 1987 copy of the magazine to read the insight that Jerry found to be so powerful! If you want to learn how to become good at one thing in particular, you won’t want to miss it.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

Essays, essays, more essays!

Each year during the month of July, we try to identify prompts as early as possible so that our students can get as much work done as possible before the mass release in August that turns into a free-for-all. This year has been especially anxiety-producing for students in Fairfax County, who return back to school earlier than ever before — on August 19! It is important to our families to try to make as much headway as possible on essays and applications before school starts.

So our coaches are working around the clock and we are editing around the clock, too — whether we are on vacation or not! Here I am on the way home from the ERAS TOUR! in Milan last week. My friends and family always take funny pictures of me working in random places and we have a whole collection... mainly because I am constantly working at this time of year! I can’t help but start laughing when I see the camera come out :)

#wherecolleenworks

For more on THE ACT, check out these posts!

Weekly Update x2: July 7

Schools are out now and summer is well underway! While I might not want to go back to being a kid, I do miss days when it seemed like summer lasted forever! Time really did move at a different pace then. Hope everyone can stop and savor the special moments of their summer.

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

UNC FIRES PROFESSOR THEY SECRETLY RECORDED

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill gave notice to Professor Larry Chavis that his contract would not be renewed. In April, they notified him that they had recorded his lecture without his knowledge or permission. When Professor Chavis asked for a meeting to discuss the matter further, and wanted to know the reasons why he was under investigation and his contract was not renewed, the university said they would schedule a meeting, but never did. Professor Chavis is a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina and an advocate for Indigenous and LGBTQ rights.

EMERSON AND HAMPSHIRE COLLEGES ANNOUNCES SERIOUS CUTS

Blaming the student protests, the botched FAFSA roll-out and implementation, and low enrollment numbers, Emerson College announced layoffs of faculty and staff and cuts to any new hiring. College president, Jay M. Bernhardt, said in an email that the incoming class that deposited was “significantly below what we had hoped.” Hampshire College in Amherst, MA, also announced cuts to their staff benefits, citing many of the same reasons. Small colleges across the region face some of the same threats, simply because there are fewer and fewer students as the population of graduating seniors declines across the country.

SAT AND GRE TEST ADMINISTRATION COMPANY FLOUNDERING

ETS (Educational Testing Service, the long-time administrator of the SAT, AP, GRE, and TOEFL exams) has offered all employees who have been there a minimum of two years a buy-out. The decline in both SAT and GRE test-takers have caused serious problems for the company, and they recently signed a new contract with the College Board in which they would no longer administer the SAT. Originally, that was 30% of their revenue. An anonymous source said that employees were devastated, noting that “folks [were] earnestly sharing self-harm and suicide-prevention hotlines” within hours of the news.

MORE CONCERNING SHENANIGANS HAPPENING WITH THE  TESTING COMPANIES.

Two weeks ago, we shared the news that the Department of Education has hired the president of the College Board to oversee the continued work on the FAFSA. Well, we have since learned that a second College Board executive, Chief Information Officer Jeff Olson, is joining the DOE team. Like Jeremy Singer, Jeff Olson will take a leave of absence from the College Board for the duration of his time at DOE, and then will return to the company. Many are concerned about how student data and privacy will be handled, given how the College Board hungers for such information to do its business. There are also concerns related to possible conflicts of interest related to the College Board’s financial aid platform, the CSS Profile. Many private colleges and universities use the CSS Profile alongside the FAFSA to determine student aid packages.

CONSTRUCTION OF 25K-SQUARE-FOOT RECREATIONAL FACILITY BEGINS AT GMU

George Mason University has broken ground on an $11 million new recreational facility, set to be open by the Spring 2025 semester. The Activities Community Wellness Center will be home to the Green Machine pep band, and will also contain a full-sized basketball court for intramural games, other activity courts, yoga and exercise spaces, offices, conference rooms, and storage.

VILLANOVA BEGINS RENOVATION OF NEWLY ACQUIRED CABRINI UNIVERSITY CAMPUS

Villanova University will begin work at Cabrini University after officially assuming ownership of the 116-acre campus on June 28th. The Radnor, PA campus will be closed for a minimum of two years before reopening as the "Villanova University Cabrini Campus.” Villanova announced their plan to take over Cabrini University last November, after the small, 67-year-old school was unable to bounce back from financial woes as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Cabrini held their final commencement this spring. Founded by the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and named after the first American naturalized citizen, Saint Mother Frances Cabrini, the university had a core curriculum centered on social justice and was one of the first schools to make community service a graduation requirement.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

We have talked a lot about teens and social media. Its pervasiveness and brain-rewiring algorithmic powers are not really in dispute any longer, but there is a deeper and darker side to it than most adults know — and that’s quite terrifying. This article from Rolling Stone provides an in depth look at Snapchat, the role it plays in connecting teens (and young children) to the world of drugs and sex, and how there is almost nothing law enforcement can do. Cute filters aside, it seems that Snapchat may offer a very different experience for its users based on age, dangerously so.

Some busy high school students can only fit campus visits into their calendars over the summer. These can still be valuable experiences, even though the campus environments may not be teeming with students as they are during the academic year. Almost every college has summer school, and so visitors will still have the chance to observe some sense of the student experience that way. It’s also important to note that there may not be as many tours during the summer, however, as that tends to be when admissions staff take their vacations. And, depending on the school, visitors might not be able to see a specific building like a particular dorm or lab, so it’s important to ask the school how a summer visit may differ from a fall or spring visit.

This article offers a nice guide to how to get the most out of a visit and also shares a great point that sometimes a visit will come after being accepted — and that’s ok. As always, no matter when the visit takes place, try to make it an official one. This means signing up with the admissions office and attending school-sponsored programming, not just taking a casual walk around. After your tour has concluded, though, we often recommend asking random students you come across why they chose that school, what they like about it, and what they would change. Most students are happy to give you a fair and honest assessment based on their experiences.

A new study has come up with a list of some of the best choices of majors that are most likely to snag students a stable job post-graduation. It will be of no surprise that majors like engineering, nursing, medical technology, plant and animal sciences and education lead to some of the most reliable jobs. Students majoring in the humanities ended up struggling to find work and often the work found is relatively low-paying. Sadly, art history majors had the highest rates of unemployment.

But what the study also found was that the jobs in industries with low employment rates were also ones where people became burned out and people were simply less satisfied because of the lack of work-life balance. Choosing a major can be challenging because of the pressure to have a “good job for a stable future”, but it’s important to also spend time thinking about what will bring contentment. Of course, there is no reason a teenager would know the answer to this question now, especially when adults don’t even know that for themselves!

So how can we let students know that it’s ok to not have the answers; to be able to sit with the unknown? The future is made up of things — jobs, careers, professions — that don’t even exist yet, so maybe we give them space to learn not only a specific trade, but also critical thinking and problem solving skills. Maybe we do everything we can to instill true love of learning and discovery — a genuine “growth mindset” so that when they need to pivot in the future (and I have no doubt that they will need to!), they can. As quickly as things are changing, I suspect that the ability to turn on a dime and head in a new direction will be the gold standard of a truly educated person — or perhaps it always has been.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

As schools have ended for the year, juniors might now be thinking of themselves as seniors — or “almost seniors”! We have been busy finishing up the Rising Senior Meetings with students and their parents. This is when a student finalizes their college list, with their parents’ blessings, and we help make sure it’s a solid and balanced list of schools. Students are also very busy working on their Common App(R) essays and preparing for their supplemental essays. We love seeing the creativity and self-reflection that our students are finding within themselves!

To read more about testing and the college board, check out these posts!

Weekly Update: June 20

Hope everyone is finding a way to stay cool this week; it’s a hot one!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

COLLEGE BOARD PRESIDENT TO OVERSEE THE FAFSA

In some rather shocking news to the educational community, the Department of Education has tapped Jeremy Singer, president of the College Board, to oversee the continued development of the new and “improved” FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona called Singer’s appointment part of the “transformational changes” they are bringing to the FAFSA. Singer will not be stepping down from the College Board, merely taking a leave of absence. Students, families, and colleges alike will wait with bated breath to see if the FAFSA will be ready for use by October 1, as promised.

FOUR U.S. COLLEGE INSTRUCTORS STABBED IN CHINA

Four instructors visiting from Cornell College were stabbed by a man as they strolled through a public park in Jilin, China. All four are doing fine and the suspect was arrested, though there is no known motive shared by the police or the Chinese government, and the footage on social media has been mostly censored. Cornell College, a private liberal arts college in Iowa, is known for their innovative “One Course at a Time” block-schedule, similar to Colorado College. It is also one of the Colleges That Change Lives.

USC OFFERS TUITION-FREE MASTERS OF FINE ARTS DEGREE

The University of Southern California School of Dramatic Arts will now be offering tuition-free Masters of Fine Arts programs. Beginning this fall, those pursuing MFAs in acting and dramatic writing will have their tuition waived. This move reflects USC’s “investment in the future of storytelling and the performing arts,” as well as the school’s commitment to making “top-tier training” affordable to future professionals who often face financial barriers, according to Dean Emily Roxworthy.

GRAND CANYON UNIVERSITY ACCUSED OF RACKETEERING SCHEME

Doctoral students at Grand Canyon University have filed a class action lawsuit claiming that the school “intentionally defrauded [them] out of thousands of dollars through what attorneys claim was a racketeering scheme.” The suit alleges that they were charged more than they were originally told tuition would be and for classes added on at the end that they suddenly needed in order to graduate. This is not the first time the university has faced scrutiny. Last year, the Department of Education fined Grand Canyon University $37.7 million dollars for “deceptively marketing its doctoral degrees.”

ANOTHER UNIVERSITY FORCED TO MAKE CUTS DUE TO FINANCIAL CONCERNS

The University of North Carolina at Asheville will be cutting four academic programs and reducing a fifth in cost-cutting measures. This is a move seen more and more around the country as financial woes continue to cause concerns across the higher education landscape. The four programs slated to be cut are Ancient Mediterranean Studies, Drama, Philosophy, and Religious Studies. Languages and Literature will be “curtailed” under the current plan, to reduce a $6 million dollar deficit. Tenured and tenure-track faculty in those departments will get six to 12 months notice of their loss of employment, but others will only receive 30-90 days notice.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Roger Federer, retired Swiss tennis legend, gave an inspiring commencement speech at Dartmouth University’s graduation ceremony this year. With many words of wisdom and thoughts shared, one that is important for all folks to keep in mind is that it’s okay not to know answers about their future. That might relate to what happens after students graduate from college, what they might want to study in college, and especially the dreaded, “what do you want to be?” question! The future doesn’t need us to know everything right now, despite the fact that so many people spend significant time dealing with worry and fear about just that. Federer sagely pointed out that “negative energy is wasted energy.” How might students be more ready for the future by focusing on the here and now? Nobel winning chemist Louis Pasteur observed that “chance favors the prepared mind.” I take this to mean learn all you can, follow your curiosity, and engage with the world around you physically, mentally and spiritually (as you define it). Then when an opportunity pops up, you are ready to grab it!

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose, by any other word, would smell as sweet.” The Bard did have a way with words, but the reality, when it comes to college scholarships, is a different matter! This article in the Wall Street Journal tells of several last-name specific scholarships that are out there, some searching desperately for a recipient. Are they calling your name?

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

In 2017, the American Psychology Association conducted the Stress in America Survey and found that teens are very stressed. 83% of teens, it noted, felt stressed about getting into a good college or what to do after high school. In 2020, they conducted another survey, this time at the end of the first year of the COVID detection. Needless to say, the stresses in teenagers’ lives did not go down! It is probably not a surprise that issues about academics, life after high school, leaving home for college (hoping you get into one, of course), and fears about the future were still the number one stressor. And, from what we have been sensing as we work with students this year, the trend has not shifted. 

One of the pillars of DC College Counseling is working with families and students to manage the stress of the college search and application process. We can’t take it away, nor should it all be removed, as learning how to successfully manage stress in a healthy way is an important part of growing up. What we do provide is the structure, scaffolding, and safety net to help our students get through this process without being derailed by stress. We do this through our meetings, our strategically-paced timelines, and gentle reminders of what needs to happen when. But we are only focusing on one of many common stress points a teen faces today, and more support is out there, if needed. The information below comes directly from an email from Fairfax County Public Schools, and we encourage any FCPS student or family in need of support or assistance to reach out:

This summer, the FCPS Office of Intervention and Prevention Services will offer virtual Mental Wellness Consultations from June 24, 2024 through August 2, 2024. Any Fairfax County parent or secondary student will have an opportunity to schedule a 45-minute consultation with a school psychologist or school social worker by phone or videoconference. Consultations will be offered in two ways:

1. Directly to parents of students in any grade level. This consultation provides an opportunity for parents to receive guidance on how to support their child’s social, emotional, and academic success. Information about community resources will also be provided.

2. Directly to students in middle or high school. This consultation provides an opportunity for middle and high school students to receive guidance and support for concerns related to anxiety, mood, behavior, peer or family interactions, or school transitions and changes. Strategies and tools can also be provided to address academic challenges such as organization and time-management.

What a great opportunity! Click here to request a consultation. Families may also leave a message at 703-503-2520.

For more about mental health, check out these posts.

Weekly Update: June 12

HAPPY LAST DAY OF SCHOOL, FAIRFAX COUNTY! Catholic schools finished up yesterday and most of the independent schools have been out for a little while already — so we are officially on summer break!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

FAFSA DEBACLE CAUSES PROBLEMS FOR THOSE WHO NEED AID THE MOST

The rollout of the new FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, has been a nightmare for students and colleges this year. As we have mentioned in previous posts, this had led to students not being able to receive their financial aid packages, compare offers and pick schools at which to matriculate. And it also means that colleges are not sure who and how many students will be enrolling for the coming school year! One latest development as a result of the chaos: more students than ever are not even bothering to complete the FAFSA due to the ongoing issues and lack of guidance and support. The University System of Maryland’s 12 schools and three higher education centers saw a decrease of 15.6% in form completion; the University of Wisconsin had 14% fewer students complete; and UVA’s Board has been informed that thousands of returning students are still waiting for their packages. Plus, the entire state of Virginia is down almost 13% in completed FAFSA forms. Unfortunately, it’s the colleges which serve those with the highest need that are also seeing the highest non-complete numbers.

THE COLLEGE MERGER TREND CONTINUES

The California State University system is waiting on Board approval for Cal Poly-San Luis Obisbo to merge with the California Maritime Academy in a bid to strengthen both of their financial challenges. If approved, the Cal Maritime students would become part of the Cal Poly student body in the 2026-2027 school year. Cal Maritime has seen a drop of over 30% of their student body in less than a decade and now serves just over 750 students. The Board will consider the plan in its November meeting.

STANFORD WILL REINSTATE TEST SCORE REQUIREMENTS NEXT YEAR, DESPITE THE FACT THAT CALIFORNIANS HAVE FEWER OPPORTUNITIES TO TEST

Beginning next year in fall 2025, students hoping to become part of Stanford’s Class of 2030 will be required to submit a standardized test score (in other words, students currently finishing their sophomore year of high school). Students applying during the upcoming admissions cycle for the Class of 2029 (those currently finishing their junior year) will still be grandfathered into the current test-optional admissions process. It is somewhat ironic that trying to take the required tests, or at least the SAT, has become harder than ever to do in the state of California. The June 4th test was abruptly canceled in Oakland due to internet issues, leaving approximately 1,400 students high and dry! Unfortunately, this lack of testing sites is not unique to Oakland. College Board, the company that makes the test, reports that there are now fewer than half as many SAT testing sites in CA as there were before the Covid pandemic. Across the country, the fact that the test has now gone digital means that students who attend schools without adequate internet infrastructure will have even less access to the tests.

COMMUNITY COLLEGE MIGHT BE THE BEST RETURN ON INVESTMENT

As student debt climbs, students and families are looking at how to get the most out of the huge financial investment that college could be. The debate about whether college debt is “good debt” these days is raging, given that it can take a student 20+ years to pay off a loan or even get close to just paying off the interest of a loan. This Forbes article sheds some light on 16 high-paying jobs that you only need an associates degree to get, making them some of the best for a true return on that educational investment. The jobs on their list all pay over $70K/year and averaging more than $100,000. Who knew?!

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

While people usually feel the power of empathy, they may not always be aware of how it is taught or gained: it is often considered a trait that a person simply has or doesn’t have. However, a new study sheds light on the practical impact that empathic parenting can have on teens. Parents who practice empathy are actually giving their adolescents the tools to developing their own capacity for empathy, both in the moment and lasting through their adulthood. The study is part of  an ongoing project called KLIFF/VIDA (Kids, Lives, Families, Friends/Virginia Institute for Development in Adulthood) at the University of Virginia. The research shows that with a grounding in empathy, “[t]eens […] start to depend less on their parents, discover their own identities, become interested in understanding the perspectives of others and learn how to navigate social situations independently.” 

If you’re solidifying summer plans, check out this piece by a former admissions officer, weighing in on the benefits of summer jobs and internships. Sure, college applications will be enhanced by these activities, but the students themselves will also learn important life skills such as time management, networking, interviewing and financial responsibility. These are all important aspects of growth and maturation that will help them successfully navigate college as well. PRO TIP: When it comes to internships, a lot of students think that unless they are at some “big firm” or nationally known company, it’s not worth it, but that just isn’t the case. Covid taught both students and colleges that creative, “out of the box” thinking can lead to some amazing opportunities. More on that below!

Recently, our essay coaches were discussing how to best guide students if they wanted to write about their learning differences or mental health challenges. This opinion piece in Scientific American, “Neurodivergent Kids Flourish When They’re Taught How Their Brain Works,” was so on point that we decided to share it anyway, even though it’s a few weeks old! When students understand their own learning styles and needs, they naturally become better self-advocates — and this leads them to truly own their education. Deeper understanding also plays a role in the college search as students grasp what successful classroom and educational environments look like for them. Not every school may have that perfect classroom or professor, but students who know what they need are better equipped to seek out supportive accommodations. A sense of empowerment will go a long way in having a fulfilling college experience.

High school students feel a great deal of pressure in their junior and senior years. It’s not just because their classes may get harder, their hormones are raging, and they are trying to figure out who they are — though all three of those things do make up a bulk of that pressure! It’s that the world suddenly begins to start asking them seemingly impossible questions about their future. What do you want to study? What are your plans? What will you be? Who will you be? Some students are on a pretty decent path towards finding out. But not everyone is. For many, the best years of their lives were not in high school, despite what all the movies, television shows and society in general promised. And life did not – is not – playing out the way they hoped. This opinion piece in the New York Times reminds us that everything can still turn around. That late bloomer can still bloom; that kid who made some bad choices, can also make good choices, too — that “[your] destiny is not shaped in high school.

Every time I am in Connecticut, I go by my high school - Choate Rosemary Hall. It was such a pressure cooker, and I have so many mixed emotions about my experience there. Ultimately, it was good for me, and helped me grow in ways that were critical later in life. However, I would most certainly NOT classify those years as the best of my life!

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

As we mentioned above, sometimes the most valuable summer and/or extracurricular opportunities do not come in the form of fancy internships. We have spent a lot of time talking about this with our students lately — especially those finishing their freshman and sophomore years of high school, as many of them are still on the hunt to find something meaningful to do this summer. They often ask us for examples of projects or undertakings that our former students have pursued, and we have a great one to share with our readers today!

While working at an international school in Thailand during the pandemic, Sonya had a student (let’s call her Jes) who used imagination and persistence to create a unique opportunity. As you may remember, the summer programs and internships dried up everywhere; some went virtual while others just hit the pause button, hoping to resume the following year. With all her original plans canceled, Jes tried to think of something she could do that would have a positive impact on people even at a time when we were all socially isolated.

Jes had read stories of older people in care homes and assisted living residences who could no longer see their families because of Covid and it broke her heart. In Thailand, there aren’t “old folks homes” or the equivalent as families live in multigenerational households. Being half Dutch, Jes tried contacting some places in Europe, hoping she could “volunteer” via Zoom or Skype, but it was not received well. She then decided to try places in the US, cold-calling nursing homes — and she struck pay dirt! She was connected with a woman named Elizabeth at a care home in the midwest, and the two began chatting virtually. Despite the 12-hour time difference, every Saturday, around midnight they would talk. This went on throughout the summer and all through Jes’s senior year.

Jes is now a junior at Duke and is still in touch with Elizabeth, who thinks of her as another granddaughter. This level of persistence, creative-thinking, and long-term commitment was something that really impressed the schools on Jes’ list. We encourage all of our students to think about how they can spend time identifying needs and using their intellectual curiosity to find solutions!

Want more on Learning differenceS? Check out these posts!

Weekly Update: June 6

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

ART SCHOOLS SUFFER FROM TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES AND LOW ENROLLMENT

Columbia College Chicago and the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, two well-respected arts schools, have both come into economic difficulties recently. With just a week’s notice, the University of the Arts sent out a message stating that the school would be closing June 7th, catching students and faculty completely by surprise. The university, home to approximately 1,125 students, had just enrolled next year’s new class. Area universities such as Temple University, Drexel University, and Moore College of Art and Design have all reached out to try and assist current and incoming students with transfer opportunities. 

Columbia College Chicago, also with little notice, laid off 70 faculty members and eliminated 32 vacant staff positions due to financial worries and declining enrollment. The concerns of the college were not a secret, though; last month they announced that first-year enrollment was down 46% from last year and transfer deposits down 36%. “The advising office, library, admissions and enrollment, career center and the counseling services office were among the departments affected by layoffs,” said Lillian Gecker, co-membership chair of the Columbia staff union.

HARVARD WILL NO LONGER WEIGH IN ON GLOBAL AFFAIRS

A new policy is being put into place at Harvard, in which the university will no longer share an official opinion on issues that are “not relevant to the core function of the university”. While it will no longer share “statements of empathy” as it did for Ukraine and the attacks on October 7th by Hamas, it is also not becoming “neutral” on global issues, like the University of Chicago. Others, of course, believe that it’s impossible for a school such as Harvard to have true “institutional neutrality”. 

FAFSA ISSUES AND CHANGES IN JOB MARKET IMPACT COLLEGE  ENROLLMENT

Fewer job postings are listing formal educational requirements as employers have trouble filling positions. Listings with no degree requirements have gone up 4% over the last 4 years. A cascade of problems with the FAFSA, or Free Application for Federal Student Aid, this year, have seen a drop in the number of completed financial aid forms by almost 16%. The worry is that these two issues will have a stalling or even backsliding effect on what had been an increase in college enrollment over the last few years. While the numbers are not back to pre-pandemic rates, they are up 2.5% this spring after decades of decline. Some of the overall decline is due to lower birth rates and fewer students who may be attending college, but the increased price of four-year institutions has meant that the majority of that 2.5% increase is happening in community colleges. People are less willing to take on what can turn into life-long crippling debt just to attend a 4-year university.

WOMEN MAKE “FIRSTS” IN LEADERSHIP ROLES AT TWO UNIVERSITIES

Both Yale University and Winston-Salem State University hired their first female leaders in either school’s history. Dr. Maurie D. McInnis, former head of Stony Brook University, will become the new president of Yale University starting in July. She will be the first permanent female president of the school since its inception in 1701. 

The University of North Carolina Board of Governors elected Bonita J. Brown, an attorney,  to be the new chancellor of Winston-Salem State University. The HBCU, founded in 1892, is ranked as the number one school in the state for economic and social mobility (by the New York Times and US News & World Report. It is also considered a healthcare education powerhouse in the region. Congratulations to both!

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY ADDS EARLY ACTION

For students starting in the Fall of 2025, American University will offer Early Action application plans alongside their Regular, Early Decision I and Early Decision II plans. Unlike ED, EA is not binding; however, it allows applicants to apply early and get decisions early. This, in turn, suggests that students are interested and that they have done their research. For American University, EA will be due November 1 and EA applicants will receive their decisions by January 31.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Sonya recently reflected that she is so glad she didn’t grow up with social media or a smartphone. The pressure to conform at lightning speed and at such a granular level that apps like Snapchat and “Insta” apply to young people seems like such a daunting and bloody gauntlet to traverse, she explained. And to do it at the age when a person is probably at their most vulnerable and unsure of who they are and what they believe makes it a scarier prospect still.

(P.S. How do you even know if you grew up with social media or a smartphone? It’s not a completely cut-and-dry answer. I attended high school from 1999-2003, so I would think I qualify as having grown up with social media in its earliest forms, like AOL profiles and MySpace. Facebook came out during my freshman year of college, 2003-2004, and my peers were all just starting to get smartphones right around the time of our college graduation. This is on my mind right now because I am in the middle of reading The Anxious Generation, which you will find on our summer reading list soon!)

In any case, we found an interesting article which looks at teens around the country whose parents resisted pressure from the outside and inside the house to give their teen a smartphone, despite some being shown up to four slide deck presentations about the merits of doing so! Some had “dumb” phones for communication, but others didn’t even have that. I know that now it’s almost unimaginable to be out in the world without a smartphone, but this article suggests that their experience shows them to be more independent, more able to problem-solve and more capable of handling being bored and entertaining themselves. One of the more slightly ironic differences is that those without a phone also were able to be more “sociable” and had better coping skills when dealing with the public. Just the opposite seems to be the case for kids addicted to social media!

And staying on the theme of being sociable, dating as a teenager is also quite different now, in the age of smartphones, than it was ‘back in the day”: for better and/or worse. In this article about his son’s first girlfriend, the author talks about the generational differences in how we consume social media versus today’s teens; the impact that has had on attention spans; and ultimately how this has changed how young people communicate, compared to us “olds”!

In the last few posts we have talked about teens and summer jobs (and sometimes their first job) along with helping them navigate this new, adult responsibility. Nothing screams adult responsibility louder than taxes! Sometimes the expected amount of that first glorious paycheck and the reality of learning what net pay is can be stunning. This MarketWatch article shares the importance of talking to your teen about taxes and how this knowledge can lead to better overall personal financial management in the future.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

Since many of our juniors have finished drafting their Common App (R) personal essays and are now on to their supplemental work, we started putting together our Class of 2025 Supplemental Essay Database this past week!

A number of colleges have already finalized their essay prompts for the coming application cycle, including Georgetown and the University of Georgia. As a reminder, we are vigilant about checking for updated prompts on a nearly-daily basis throughout the summer so that our students can write their essays earlier than the official August 1 release date.

And of course, we are still deep in behind-the-scenes Common App (R) essay edits — just because the juniors are done with their work doesn’t mean we are all done with ours! I say this every year, but there is nothing more exciting to me than the moment when the essay really clicks into place.

Usually, the man responsible for that amazing-ness is none other than Alan, our essay coach who works solely behind the scenes helping those final edits be just a little bit more sparkly than they otherwise would be. We are super lucky to have him on our team!

He has this magical ability to shift a student’s own writing and voice around into different and unexpected ways — it really is an art! I could never do as good of a job as he does.

Have a great rest of your week, everyone!

WANT MORE ON HBCUs? CHECK OUT THESE POSTS!

Weekly Update: May 30

Not long now, everybody! The end of the school year is almost here! Just hang on a little bit longer!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

NORTHEASTERN: NYC STYLE

Marymount Manhattan College, a small liberal arts school in New York City known for their theater programs, just announced a merger with Northeastern University. After the merger, Marymount Manhattan will be renamed Northeastern University-New York City. This will probably open up more opportunities for Northeastern applicants, who are often given the option to begin their studies at Northeastern at an alternate campus if they aren’t admitted through the traditional process. The merger still needs approval from regulators and accreditation agencies, which could take up to two years.

WANTED: COLLEGE PRESIDENTS

It’s not a job for the “faint of heart”, says Rev. John I. (or as students know him, “Father”) Jenkins, head of the University of Notre Dame for the past 19 years. As he gets ready to step down next month, the school will be looking for new leadership — as are many schools across the country! Along with Harvard, UPenn, Yale, Cornell, and UCLA, among others, 12 of the 58 private colleges in Massachusetts are currently without a president. The pressure to be as politically savvy as possible and of the highest academic caliber as possible is a tough blend to find, but seems to be what is now needed to qualify. Few will make the cut, but will even fewer apply?

THE PRICE OF PROTESTING

The administration at Trinity College Dublin has now rescinded a bill they presented to the Student Union. They had originally claimed that students had cost the university €214K ($232K) in “lost revenue” due to student protests. The university asserted that the protests blocked the entrance to the Book of Kells, a 1,200 year old illustrated manuscript, which attracts over half a million tourists each year. Student groups decried the school’s attempt to silence student voices.

A COLLEGE AND IT’S PROTESTORS COMPROMISED AND CONGRESS DIDN’T LIKE THAT

After a week of protests at Northwestern University with an encampment on the school’s green, the president and the students found a compromise and the protest ended. Unlike many other campus’ protests, this one was fairly peaceful. Students disbanded, removing all the tents except for one aid tent, and no arrests were made. Apparently, the U.S. Congress did not like this and demanded that Northwestern’s president, Michael Schill, present himself before Congress this Thursday. Evidently, “some members are expected to rake him over the coals for making a deal with students instead of bringing the hammer down.”

COLLEGE ATHLETES MAY FINALLY GET THEIR DUES

We’ve covered issues relating to NIL (name, image, and likeness) for years, and the latest update comes in the form of an agreement stemming from three antitrust lawsuits alleging $2.8 billion in damages. Now, however, current and former athletes may soon get paid! That said, details are still in the works with the lawyers, and it could take months before the agreement is finally considered settled. The agreement does not take on the issue of employment — the NCAA will likely continue to try and persuade Congress to pass a bill that would keep athletes from becoming employees.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

What does it mean to be a “sell out”? For a long time, the term had the connotation of being someone who has traded in their moral values or integrity in exchange for more immediate gratification — perhaps money, or something else just as vulgar. But, like all human thoughts and ideas, meanings change with time. This article in the New York Times points a post-structuralist finger at young people and examines how they are re-defining the notion of “selling out”. If you go straight for the big bucks in order to position yourself in a place of power and influence to someday help make the world a better place, have you really sold out?

And to rebel against the “old” ideas of what it takes or requires to make the world better — or even to decide what “better” is — is all part of dismantling the false notion of structuralism in the first place. And kids these days do seem to be doing just that!  Paging Foucault and Derrida! But seriously, given the instability in the world for the past 20+ years — 9-11, wars, recessions, political divisions, a pandemic, more economic uncertainty — it’s not unreasonable for young people to try and do everything they can to establish a little bit of security for themselves while also trying to balance their strong desire to also create something better. While this article focuses on “elite” college students, I would posit that the desire to have stability and the power to change things for the better is not only limited to the students who attend “highly rejective” schools.

Sticking with the idea about jobs after college, Jeff Selingo’s latest newsletter reflects on how now, more than ever, people are debating the “value” of college — perhaps even to the point of wondering if college could ever guarantee a job as part of their education!

As summer gets closer, are you lining up your summer reading? Are they beach books? Romance? Something with some international intrigue or an adventure to the other reaches of the solar system? Maybe it’s the time when you are free to dig into some dense classics or the long list of “should’ve read” books you keep tacked to your bulletin board. This piece in the Washington Post is a lovely ode to the joy of reading — something we hope everyone finds time to do.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

Speaking of summer reading — did you know that some college applications ask students to share lists of books they’ve read recently? This is also a common interview question! The beginning of summer is a great time for rising seniors to get a head start and make sure they have a few books to discuss if needed.

Students shouldn’t just mention any books, though — It’s always really helpful if at least a few of the texts can be connected to their individual interests, as a way to strengthen their narrative. To make sure all of our rising seniors are prepared, we have been working on putting together our 2024 Summer Reading List, with recommendations broken down by interest — stay tuned for that!

Lastly, as this year’s admission cycle winds down, college offices around the country are already thinking about next year and what it will bring. As we have already mentioned a number of times, this year’s FAFSA nightmare (still ongoing) and last year’s Supreme Court ruling are likely to change the way admissions officers shape their incoming freshman classes.

One aspect that has become significantly more relevant in recent months involves geography, and zip codes in particular. I have never heard so many admissions officers discuss the impact of applicant zip codes as I have lately! No kidding, it’s a huge topic right now. I would bet that the average parent has absolutely no concept of what a big impact zip codes are having behind the scenes (the thought process is that students from certain zip codes have distinct advantages over those from other zip codes, and that incorporating zip codes into the decision-making process is a legal way to achieve a more diverse class).

I was happy to weigh in on this for U.S. News readers last week — check out How Your Hometown Could Affect Your College Prospects — it explores how colleges will use geographic methods to grow a diverse student body.

This is so Vienna-specific, but every time I hear the zip code discussion I think about the nuances of 22182 and it makes my head spin. For what it’s worth, the admissions officers have been very clear about how they are assessing applicants in the context of their home zip code, not their school zip code.

As a 22182 resident, I’m zoned to Colvin Run, Cooper, and Langley. Arguably some of the best schools in the state. I chose to live here specifically for the schools and the opportunities for my children.

Yet there is a whole other part of 22182 on the other side of Tysons that is so, so, different in terms of racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity. And some students from that area attend an elementary school that is ranked 3/10 on GreatSchools. But it’s the same zip code!

While this is a local example, there have got to be so many other places like this across the country. It really makes me wonder about the consequences of this newfound emphasis on zip code and how it will impact students in zip codes like 22182. Only time will tell!

Can’t wait to start your reading? Look at some of these past posts; you’re sure to find a book you love!

Weekly Update: May 22

A long weekend is on the horizon. Wishing everyone a peaceful Memorial Day as we remember the men and women of our armed forces!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

APPLICATION CHANGES AT UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

The University of Michigan is always a popular choice for our students, and the school just announced some changes to the upcoming 2024-2025 application process. In addition to introducing a new B.S. program in Pharmaceutical Sciences and a new timeline for Urban Technology students, the change that will have the biggest impact on our applicants has to do with direct-entry admission to the Ross School of Business.

For those who are not aware, admission to Ross is VERY competitive. Previously, students were required to apply simultaneously for first-year admission to the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts and preferred admission to Ross. Those accepted to LSA would then undergo the Ross review process, but a student would not be rejected from the university as a whole if they were otherwise admissible to LSA. Now, students who are not directly admitted to Ross will not be admitted to LSA–they will simply be outright denied from the university.

This was just announced yesterday, and my understanding is that we do not yet know if the Ross application will continue to require a business portfolio, or if first-year applicants that didn’t initially apply to Ross will continue to have a leg up in the internal transfer process. Personally, I would suggest that first-year out-of-state applicants bypass Ross unless they have extremely high grades, test scores, and course rigor, as well as extensive business experience.

ANOTHER VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE AT A HIGH PROFILE UNIVERSITY

Columbia University President Minouche Shafik received a vote of no confidence from a portion of the undergraduate faculty. While there is no legal penalty, it does show that support for her is waning. The faculty who voted were from the school of Arts and Sciences, the largest of the 21 schools at the university, and make up about 20% of the full-time faculty. Faculty who did not support the vote of no confidence believe that Shafik did the best she could in a difficult situation.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA WORKERS AUTHORIZE A CALL TO STRIKE

The 48,000-member union that encompasses ten UC campuses and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory authorized their union to call for a strike in response to their disapproval of how the university handled the recent student protests. The strike authorization vote, which passed with 79% approval, came two weeks after student protesters were attacked by counter protesters without any police intervention or arrests. Later, riot police tore down the student encampment and arrested over 200 of those protesters.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS BUTKER FACES BACKLASH AFTER COMMENCEMENT SPEECH

NFL kicker Harrison Butker delivered a stunning commencement speech at Benedictine College, in which he declared that a woman’s sole vocation was to be a wife and mother, among other things. The Sisters of Mount St. Scholastica, the founders and sponsors of the college, released a statement in response that surprised many. The nuns left no doubt that they wholeheartedly disagree with Butker, not only about his views on women and their role in society, but also with his views of what it means to be Catholic.

UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT MAKES A CHANGE

So far, it has been mostly private colleges and universities that have allowed students to declare their love for a particular school through their willingness to forsake all others if admitted Early Decision. Only a very small handful of public universities across the country offer the Early Decision option. And now we can add one more to that small handful: The University of Connecticut. While UConn is not a typical choice for students from our region, it is a great school–considered one of the top public research institutions in the U.S. As an out-of-state student, ED can be a significant advantage! As a refresher, ED is considered a “binding” in that students and their parents sign legally-binding contracts in the application materials, promising to attend the school if admitted.

WHAT DID YOU CALL ME?

Students graduating from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia last week had a slightly confusing time as they waited to walk up on stage to collect their diplomas. The person reading their names managed to mangle them so badly that students didn’t always recognize when they were being called up! The university official was reading from a list of phonetically spelled names that seemed to have no relationship to the actual names. One of the mis-pronounced names: Thomas! 🤷

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

As the school year comes to a close and students make their summer plans, a number of students will begin a summer job. For some, it may be returning to a place they have worked before, and for many others, this will be their first “real” job. Having a job will teach teens a lot of wonderful skills and life lessons about responsibility, time management, customer service, and how to take direction and constructive criticism in a mature manner. But sometimes the experience can be far more dangerous and scary. This article in the Wall Street Journal, The Surge in Young Workers Has a Dark Side: Sexual Harassment of Teens on the Job brings home the harsh realities some of our kids experience. “Young workers ‘often don’t know they have a right to say, ‘This isn’t OK,’ ‘ said Kimberly Rauscher, a professor of public health at Boise State University and one of the authors of the study." Even more concerning, Raucher noted that some teenagers feel “that sexual harassment is simply an odious but inevitable part of the job, especially in customer-facing roles.” As employers rely on more young workers, it’s important to have a serious discussion with your teen about what to do if they feel unsafe in their workplace. Encourage them to speak up, either to their supervisor or a trusted family member, without fearing that adults will not believe them.

As young people reflect on their future, some may be thinking about our robot overlords (kidding!) or at least about the role artificial intelligence will play in their lives. It’s already bumping up against so much of what we know and do right now–literature, research, art, science, manufacturing–and so it’s only natural to believe that it will become even more entwined in our lives in the future. Some schools have tried to ban the use of AI and software like ChatGPT in the classroom, and other schools have embraced the technology in an effort to help students learn how to wield it as an effective tool: beyond a way to simply get a robot to do their homework! AI has the power, if used right, to make peoples’ lives better and richer, perhaps even keeping bits of humanity from disappearing altogether.

As this years’ admission cycle comes to an end and students have chosen which institution they wish to attend–though thanks to the FAFSA snafu, some are still waiting to make that decision–thoughts are turning towards next year’s cycle and beyond. Each year, colleges and universities decide their criteria for admission, some of which they share (how they use holistic review to read an application) and some of which they hold a little closer to the vest–their “institutional priorities”. One of those items that they do share is their stance on standardized tests, the SAT and ACT. Right now, many schools are still test-optional, and some even test-blind, meaning that they don’t even accept or look at tests, but some are now once again requiring tests as part of a student’s application. The latest of these schools are several public colleges and universities in the state of Georgia. The University System of Georgia Board of Regents voted to rescind the temporary waiver of test scores they had put in place during the height of Covid-19. There will now be a minimum SAT and ACT score required at seven schools: the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, Georgia State University, Georgia College and State University, Augusta University, Kennesaw State University, and Georgia Southern University. This requirement will begin in the fall of 2026. 

It was unfortunate that just a few weeks prior, Georgia State University in Atlanta accidentally sent congratulatory admissions letters to 1,500 applicants who were not admitted, at least not yet. The same university made this same error with 1,300 students in 2018. Talk about a roller coaster of emotions!

The question of whether test scores help or hinder a student’s application or how colleges use scores in the admissions process is part of an ongoing debate as colleges ponder their testing policies. This article offers a deeper dive into that debate and asks questions about the future of test-optional admissions. Bob Schaeffer, public education director at the standardized testing reform organization FairTest, points out that with “over 1,900 schools extend[ing their] test-optional or test-free policies” and another “1,700 institutions hav[ing] test-optional and test-free policies with no expiration date”, it’s a question worth asking.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

I started my college counseling career working at an independent school in a New York City suburb, and I still find it interesting to reflect on how regional preferences can impact college choices. There are certain “go-to” schools for kids in that area that students here rarely consider, and vice versa.

A great example of one of those schools is Fairfield University — in the Northeast, this is a practically given on every college list for kids who are interested in schools like Georgetown, Boston College, Notre Dame and Villanova - particularly if they want to pursue business or nursing. Yet for some reason, it doesn’t make a lot of lists here. When I was in Connecticut at the IECA conference, I decided to tour Fairfield for the first time in a number of years, and I have to say — this is really a hidden gem for DC students.

With approximately 5,000 students, Fairfield is a mid-sized Jesuit institution located in a beautiful New York City suburb. As are other Jesuit schools, Fairfield is dedicated to educating the whole person; however, it does a great job of blending that commitment (alongside its core curriculum) with excellence in pre-professional fields.

Rankings aren’t everything, but Fairfield is consistently named among the top 30 schools in the country for “Best Undergraduate Teaching” by U.S. News & World Report - it’s currently tied at #28 with Tufts and UNC-Chapel Hill. They have a similar placement in the publication’s “Best Undergraduate Business Programs” rankings, in the fields of Business Analytics (#16), Marketing (#17), Finance (#17) and Accounting (#28). There are approximately 20 students per class, so everyone really does get a lot of individualized attention.

Students live on campus for their first three years, and I found the campus to be particularly pretty — it’s not the newest you’ll see, but it’s so well-maintained and pristine, with lots of grass, trees and red flowers everywhere. And in addition to the ability to get into Manhattan in just over an hour, the best part of Fairfield’s location is the proximity to the BEACH! It’s located less than a mile from the Long Island Sound beaches, and students have so many fun traditions involving the beach — yes, even in the winter! Seniors traditionally live in beach houses off campus, which they all love (I took this picture at Jennings Beach, right near where most of the seniors live).

If you’re interested, check out the “Why Fairfield?” video on the school’s website and consider attending a virtual information session!

Interested in more about standardized testing? Check out these posts!

Weekly Update x2: May 15

Coming in with a double weekly update since we didn’t post last week!

The end of the second week of AP exams draws near, and we wish good luck to all who took or are still getting ready to take their exams! We know that some students will also have their own schools’ exams to look forward to in the coming weeks. Here’s to happy and productive studying for everyone! 🤞🍀

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE LAST 2 WEEKS

COLLEGES STRUGGLE WITH HOW TO PROCEED WITH GRADUATION CEREMONIES

As campus protests continue, many colleges faced challenges in determining how to hold graduation ceremonies without the chaos – or if that’s even possible! Columbia University canceled their main commencement event and instead held smaller ceremonies for each of their colleges - but a few protesters were present regardless.

From the University of Virginia, to the University of Michigan, to Indiana University and beyond, clashes between police and protesters mean that university administrators are walking the line between free speech and campus safety. For some, this involved carrying on with ceremonies despite clashes, and others, like University of Southern California, canceled them altogether. 

FRATERNITIES TAKE UNEXPECTED CENTER STAGE AT SOME COLLEGE PROTESTS

At the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity found themselves defending the U.S. flag as protesters attempted to replace it with a Palestinian flag. They were successful in doing so the first time, but the fraternity brothers managed to hoist the U.S. flag back in place and keep it from being taken down a second time. The White House called their actions admirable, and a gofundme by an independent source unrelated to UNC or the fraternity has raised over $500,000 to throw a “rager” for them.

On the campus of Ole Miss, a student who was captured on video making racist taunts at a Black student was expelled from the Phi Delta Theta fraternity. They found that “the action in question was offensive, outside the bounds of this discourse, and contradictory to our values.” 

ARRESTS CONTINUE ACROSS US COLLEGE CAMPUSES

The tally of how many arrests have taken place on US college campuses in the past weeks vary, with estimates around 2,800 at the time this post was written. Many professors have also been arrested.

The police in Hanover, NH released a statement about the 90 Dartmouth students arrested, while over in Durham, NH, a reluctant Chief of Police also made arrests at the University of New Hampshire.

WHO ARE THE CAMPUS PROTESTERS, ANYWAY?

Protests continue on campuses around the country and as arrests are made, university administrators and local police forces are finding that not everyone involved in the encampments, building take-overs, or marches are actual students or part of the school at all. Of the 112 arrested two weeks ago at Columbia University, 29% were not affiliated with the schools. At City College in Manhattan, 60% of 170 people arrested were not members of the school community. This makes us wonder how actions taken by the police and administrations may change going forward, if at all.

ANOTHER COLLEGE LOSES ITS PRESIDENT

Cornell University is the fourth Ivy League university, after Harvard, UPenn, and Yale, to lose their president within this past year. Dr. Martha Pollack recently resigned, in a move that seemed to surprise everyone at the university, and she will depart July 1. The search is on at all of these institutions for new leadership, a process that can take months or even years to complete.

MORE COLLEGE PRESIDENTS ARE UNDER THE MICROSCOPE

As colleges end their semesters and graduation ceremonies take place, some in altered forms or alternative settings, people are probing the methods used by university administrations, campus safety officers and local police forces in dealing with protestors on their campuses.

The president of the University of Virginia is defending his approach to use the local police to arrest a number of protestors even as others, including some faculty, express concern that it was too aggressive.

Across the country, it appears that faculty are placing their university presidents under greater scrutiny, as more members are holding “no-confidence” votes. UCLA faculty will continue to deliberate this week on the matter and Columbia University faculty are considering whether to make a “no-confidence” motion. University of Southern California, Barnard, UMass, and Emory faculties have all come down with a no-confidence or censure vote for their presidents in the past few weeks.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE LAST 2 WEEKS

As college counselors, we tell students to find schools that “fit” them — explaining that the time and effort spent searching and researching will lead to the right institution that will be their home for the next four (or maybe more!) years of their lives. Unfortunately, sometimes students get fixated on finding the “perfect” school and then panic when they fail to hear an angelic choir and heralding trumpets go off — even though they have toured dozens of amazing schools.

The reality is that there is no one perfect school! In fact, there may be several fantastic schools for each student, all a bit different and each with their own unique attributes, opportunities, and challenges. And the “challenges” part is just as important to a great college experience as the other two. Very often it’s when students are outside their comfort zone that the real growth happens: where they can expand their horizons and push themselves in new directions. This New York Times piece does a nice job of talking about the way some students can surprise those around them as they reveal how multifaceted they are. We encourage all students to find the schools that will make them feel comfortable, yet also just uncomfortable enough to grow in new and exciting ways. 

Paying for college these days is no joke! With questions about return on investment, the value of a college education, and the realization that college-related debt is proving to be a life-long albatross around a whole generation’s neck, it’s important to find new degree paths. For a long time, community colleges have been that path.

Unfortunately, they have also been looked down on and seen as “not good enough” for someone who did well in high school; it just wasn’t seen as a truly “academic” path. But the good news is that this stereotype is finally being overcome and the myth: busted!  This article shares how a California student with a 4.5 GPA chose the community college path for her first two years of college before transferring to a four-year school. The author notes, “[s]having two years off the costs of a four-year degree can save a student anywhere between $65,000 to $180,000 or more. That’s life-changing money for someone starting out.”

We actually live in one of the best areas in the country for guaranteed transfer opportunities, with NOVA's Guaranteed Admission Agreements in Virginia and University of Maryland’s Transfer Advantage Program. Both of these offer smart ways for students to be able to earn degrees from highly selective schools that may not have been realistic options directly out of high school. Additionally, for other students, these programs can make the attainment of a four-year degree a reality perhaps otherwise thought out of reach. We encourage our students to consider all of their options: both where they can get in today, and where they can graduate down the road.

Almost all of us have smartphones. And teens these days have never known a world without social media, selfies, or the algorithms that control their daily feeds. We are also at a time where mental health is at the forefront of our news, our culture and our health care. The question is: are all these things related? This author wonders if it really is the phones, as new data shows some changes in that line of thinking. However, it also shows how some of the more distressing news — an increase in suicide in teens and adults — seems to be a uniquely American trend. What is the role of culture on how we consume and relate to social media, our mental health and each other?

Visiting college campuses can be a fun, exciting and sometimes daunting experience. What are you looking for? Ivy covered brick? Expansive green quads? Modern buildings? Large, leafy trees? What makes a college campus beautiful is very much in the eye of the beholder, but see if you agree with this list of 37 of the Most Beautiful Campuses in the World! Did your favorite campus make the cut?

As a student and family research schools, an important question to ask is what new and innovative programs are they developing for an ever-changing future? How are they preparing students for jobs that may not even exist yet? Lehigh University has announced an exciting new undergraduate major that will begin taking applicants in Fall 2024 for admission in 2025: a BS in Integrated Business and Health. Housed jointly in the College of Business and the College of Health, the new Lehigh program is described as: The inter-college interdisciplinary program in Business and Health, Integrated Business and Health (IBH), trains students to become leaders in the health industry by developing an understanding of the core principles of business alongside an in-depth knowledge of health economics and policy. The program prepares future leaders of the health industry to better understand and address the vital conditions that shape community health and promote health equity.

“No,” is a complete sentence, but saying no to your child can be hard. So how do you have the conversation that the college your son or daughter wants to attend is just too expensive? This Washington Post article offers some strategies for having this difficult conversation. Working with your child to see the long-term benefits and get past the more immediate gratification can be a challenge, but chances are, they will thank you in the long run. Being able to graduate with little to no debt could shape their future for the better.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

I spent last week in Connecticut, attending the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA) Annual Conference. This is a great opportunity for professional development and networking with some of the country's best educational consultants, in addition to many undergraduate and graduate admissions officers. Fun fact: I currently serve on the organization's finance committee and in past years have served on the business practices committee.

In addition to attending breakout sessions including "Out of the Mouths of Deans: An Interview With Admissions Leaders from Selective Colleges" and "How to Stand Out When A is an Average Grade," I have also been making time to visit colleges. Fairfield ended up to be a surprise favorite - I’ll be back next week with a recap of everything I learned!

—

Lastly, I wanted to mention that William & Mary just released their interview slots for the upcoming summer. If you plan to apply to W&M, you should definitely take advantage of this opportunity and sign up. They fill VERY quickly, so don’t wait!

Interested in reading more on ROI? Check out the posts below!

Weekly Update: May 1

It’s National Decision Day!

May 1 used to mark the end of the college admissions cycle in a given year, but not this year — everything is just completely up in the air because of all of the FAFSA issues.

And the most interesting part is the widespread nature of the impact: most of our clients don’t apply for need-based financial aid, so you’d think it wouldn’t matter for them, right? Wrong. The drawn-out timeline and increased reliance on waitlists is impacting everyone.

Not to mention the fact that colleges and universities across the country are experiencing absolute chaos right now in terms of student protests (more on that below). There’s only so much tear gas and riot gear that high school seniors can see on tv before they begin to reconsider the type of school community with which they’d like to affiliate. And that goes both ways - the protests are very appealing to some and very unappealing to others!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

COLUMBIA CRACKS DOWN AFTER BUILDING TAKEOVER

The situation at Columbia escalated significantly over the last week as professional protest consultants worked to exacerbate (and, it is suspected, to fund) the encampment of student protesters. The group then ultimately occupied, vandalized, and blockaded a campus building, Hamilton Hall.

Mayor Eric Adams issued a “shelter in place” order on campus and brought in over 100 NYPD police officers dressed in riot gear, who arrested over 230 students at Columbia last night. These students now face expulsion from the university. He explained: “This is a global problem, that [the] young are being influenced by those who are professionals and radicalizing our children. And I'm not going to allow that to happen.”

At this point, the campus is closed to everyone except for essential staff and students who live in residence halls, with only one campus access point.

HUNDREDS OF ADDITIONAL PROTESTS CONTINUE AROUND THE COUNTRY

While we are hopeful that the situation at Columbia will begin to improve over the next few days, similar demonstrations continue to rage on at many other campuses around the country. From state troopers in riot gear at the University of Texas at Austin to UCLA to UNC and more, nearly 400 demonstrations have taken place and continue to occur at schools all around the country. These have resulted in consequences ranging from suspensions, expulsions, cancelled classes and disrupted graduation ceremonies — a particularly unfortunate situation for a cohort of students that missed their high school graduation ceremonies during the Covid-19 outbreak in the spring of 2020.

STILL NEED A HOME FOR NEXT YEAR? YOU’RE IN LUCK

Whether you’re dealing with waitlist uncertainty, financial aid confusion, or protest fear, more students than ever have begun to reconsider their college choices for the upcoming year. We definitely don’t recommend making hasty decisions about this kind of thing, but there are a few circumstances in which a pivot may make sense. Fortunately, the National Association for College Admission Counseling posts a list of colleges with spaces remaining this fall. The list has over 200 options at the moment, although it is updated daily. Check it out - there are some good choices here, including Colorado State, Ithaca, Rollins, St. Joseph’s and more!

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Shout out to my mom for sending me this article, which was a great one! Noting that "something feels distinctly off on Ivy League campuses” after years of increasing student entitlement that culminated in the recent protests, Forbes announced a list of twenty “New Ivies,” universities “producing the hard-working high achievers that employers crave.”

But students and parents shouldn’t get too excited — the acceptance rates at the private schools on the list are still extremely low, and the public school acceptance rates incorporate individual state legislation that makes the shared statistics largely non-representative for most applicants.

On the private side, they seem to have forgotten to include a certain school in St. Louis, but I’ll forgive that: the list includes many great options, ranging from Vanderbilt and Emory to Notre Dame, Georgetown, Boston College and more. I was also somewhat surprised that Duke and NYU were not on the list (probably too many protesters). The public institutions include all the usual suspects, including Michigan, UNC, Florida, Wisconsin, and of course our DMV favorites UVA and UMD. The only one that surprised me a little bit was SUNY Binghamton, a school to which we rarely have any students apply. I would have expected to see a mention of Indiana or UGA over Binghamton.

Speaking of public schools - Nate Silver is no exception to everyone singing their praises this year. In a recent blog post, he too reflected on the idea that state schools are often a better choice for most students than top-tier Ivy League programs (especially those going to “find themselves”).

One item that I wanted to clarify: he gave a few exceptions of students who might benefit from going to top-tier Ivy League programs, and one of those had to do with students planning to study law: “I’d … tell them to go with the elite private college,” he wrote, “If (i) they had a high degree of confidence in what they wanted to do with their degree and (ii) it was in a field like law that regards the credential as particularly valuable.”

He’s referring to law school here, not undergrad — students planning to attend law school later are actually one of the prime examples of those who do not need to pick an undergraduate school based on name, but their law school name is very important.

And lastly — I have tried to stop posting the generic articles that discuss how crazy this year’s college admissions process was, because we have covered all of the reasons for the craziness quite a few times already and I know that all of you get it by now. This morning, however, I read a great take in the New York Times and just couldn’t help myself from sharing it, so here we go: This Is Peak College Admissions Insanity.

I really agree with the idea that institutional certainty and applicant certainty have a negative correlation, with the events of the last several years increasing the potential to manipulate institutional certainty like never before. Unfortunately, this has left applicant certainty at an all time low.

Additionally, I think it’s eye-opening to recognize that even with advantaged “applicants … whose parents had taken the wise precaution of being rich,” their wealth wasn’t enough to get them where they wanted to be! Yes, the Visi student they profiled was ultimately admitted to Dartmouth, her father’s alma mater, which is amazing. She had some other great options as well. Still, look where she wasn’t admitted - even as a full-pay student with “stellar grades” at one of the top high schools in the D.C. area and a perfect ACT score. And we can’t even chalk this up to demonstrated interest, because she applied ED to Duke. Yet it wasn’t enough!

The uncertainty is out. of. control., and the truth is that we just don’t know where a student will get in anymore. We typically know where they won’t get in, but when it comes to qualified applicants, we have no clue. Could we have predicted that this girl would not have gotten into Duke ED but that she got into Johns Hopkins RD? No way. All we can do is make sure they have an ironclad strategy and do every single little thing right, and then we just have to let the chips fall where they may. But an important part of that strategy is making sure that students’ lists are extensive and balanced enough to have choices, no matter what happens.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

I posted on social media this morning about a new interview trend that’s giving me a lot of pause. A new question making the rounds asks students about their go-to Starbucks order, with the idea that (a) they would not have prepared for this question in advance, and (b) an excessively-complicated order is likely to reflect a high-maintenance, entitled personality.

As a loyal Starbucks consumer, you can find me almost every morning dropping by one of the Vienna/Tysons locations: Spring Hill, Pike 7, or Maple Ave. So I have really thought about this quite a bit since I learned about the trend — probably too much for my own good — and I am just not down with the idea that a Starbucks order can always be an accurate measure of personality.

First, like I mentioned, I just don’t think there’s any truth to it, at least anecdotally. Some of the most high-maintenance people I know have very simple Starbucks orders. And some of the most easygoing people I know have rather complicated orders.

But beyond that, I think that one of the reasons I’ve continued to feel bothered by this trend is that it’s just another reminder that nothing is sacred anymore! It’s frustrating that today’s high school and college students have to come up with a strategy for their COFFEE ORDER so as not to offend or rub someone the wrong way. As if ordering an $8 latte every morning isn’t bothersome enough to lots of people in its own right.

And the choices feel pretty lose-lose: if you order oat milk, you’re suddenly identifying as a liberal environmentalist (I just like the taste..). If you prefer a skinny vanilla latte, you might be accidentally fat shaming someone. If you say you just like plain coffee, they know you’re lying. Ultimately, I decided the safest approach is to respond that your order is an iced coffee with sugar or stevia. It’s plain, but not too plain. Relatively inoffensive, as far as these things go. NO MENTION OF OAT MILK!

P.S. When Starbucks got rid of sugar-free hazelnut in 2017 (such a sad time that was) I got sick of having sugar-free vanilla all the time. So I began to mix various seasonal sauces and syrups with sugar-free-vanilla — like two pumps of each — to incorporate some variation while cutting down on the calories. Only in the fall and winter, because I don’t love the spring/summer seasonal flavors. You can call me high maintenance, but I’d like to think it makes me an out-of-the-box problem-solver :)

Weekly Update: April 22

Our thoughts are with all of the students impacted by the situation at Columbia today and over the past few days.

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

OVER 100 ARRESTED, CLASSES HELD REMOTELY AFTER PRO-PALESTINE PROTESTS AT COLUMBIA 

At least 108 protesters were arrested on Thursday after Columbia University called the police to clear an encampment of pro-Palestinian demonstrators on its South Lawn. The protestors set up tents on Wednesday morning in violation of university policy that allows peaceful demonstrations in certain areas of campus and with two days of notice to the university. Protestors were eventually released and issued summonses for trespassing; two were charged with obstruction of governmental administration.

The protests continued through the weekend and have yet to conclude, despite many Jewish students at Columbia reporting harassment and an unsafe environment: on Sunday, a Columbia University rabbi even pushed students to return home for safety reasons. Columbia’s president, Nemat Shafik, made the decision today to hold classes remotely. She also asked students to stay off campus unless they live there. 

The start of the protests came the day after Shafik spoke at a Congressional hearing on antisemitism on college campuses, where she vowed to keep students safe. After calling in the police on Thursday, Shafik stated that safety is her “top priority” and that the encampment “creates a harassing and intimidating environment for many of our students.” Columbia is no stranger to student protests. The weekend’s events had echoes of a much bigger revolt in April of 1968, when Columbia students seized five campus buildings, took a dean hostage and shut down the university in protest to the Vietnam War. 

NATIONAL SPIKE IN CRIME ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES

According to the Department of Education statistics, the number of on-campus crimes has reverted to pre-pandemic highs. Federal data reports 38,303 crimes on college campuses in 2022, compared to 21,200 crimes in 2020. In February, four college students were murdered in three separate on-campus incidents in Kentucky, Georgia and Colorado in just a 10-day span.  Experts haven’t reached any definitive conclusions about what is fueling this increase, but many point to a full return of on-campus learning as a contributing factor.

NEW VIRGINIA LAW ALLOWS COLLEGES TO PAY ATHLETES DIRECTLY FOR NIL 

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed a bill last week that will allow Virginia universities to pay athletes directly for NIL endorsements. As we have previously shared, NIL is short for "name, image and likeness." A NIL deal means that a student athlete is able to enter into contracts to endorse products and make money off their personal brand. Youngkin said that the new policy, which takes effect on July 1, will help schools be competitive in athletics and provide a level of oversight. It would also nullify certain NCAA rules on NIL deals. Florida was the first state to pave the way for college athletes to be compensated within an NIL context back in June 2020, and some foresee that the new Virginia law could incentivize other states to follow suit.

CORNELL ANNOUNCES CHANGE TO STANDARDIZED TESTING POLICY

This change is different from some of the other recent announcements, both because of the timeline and the scope. First, it should be noted that Cornell was one of the few universities in the country to enact test-blind policies during the Covid-related shift to test-optional admissions.

A test-blind admissions system means that the admissions committee will not consider an applicant’s test scores, even if the applicant wants them considered. As far as the admissions committee is concerned, the test scores effectively do not exist. Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, the College of Architecture, Art and Planning, and the SC Johnson College of Business have been test-blind since 2020 while the rest of the university’s undergraduate programs have been test-optional.

Cornell announced the following policy change today: applicants to the test-blind undergraduate programs mentioned above will still go through a test-blind process during the upcoming application cycle for Fall 2025 admission. Applicants to other undergraduate divisions for Fall 2025 admission, which are currently test-optional, will be “encouraged” (but not required) to submit their SAT and/or ACT scores. However, when it comes to Fall 2026 admission, all students - to all programs - will be required to send SAT or ACT scores.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Should freshmen be allowed to choose their roommate? An article in The New York Times last week said no, pointing out the important life lessons learned and the many benefits of not choosing your own roommate. The author argues that forcing kids from widely diverging backgrounds, ethnicities and economic classes to live in close quarters offers its own education: preparing young people for the world by learning to get along. 

Many colleges give students the option of choosing a roommate, through social media or a campus matching service. Qualities like resilience, risk-taking, and navigating differences across identity and ideology are exchanged for comfort and control. When kids choose their own roommates, they tend to go with people exactly like themselves, the author says. Dartmouth economist Bruce Sacerdote stated that his research shows a clear advantage to a randomized process. “Universities work so hard to achieve diversity… and the most powerful tool universities have to foster that is through roommate matches,” he said.

In light of this kind of research, Duke has stopped letting first-year students self-select. According to the article, the freshman roommate experience is about getting kids out of their bubble, interacting with different kinds of people, and learning to adapt.

In our office we can see the pros and cons of roommate self-selection in a general sense, but have always advised students against choosing a roommate they know from home - especially someone with whom they are close friends. Roommates often experience conflict with one another during their first year in college as they learn to live in a shared environment. When this occurs with a friend from home, it can result in long-term social consequences that go way beyond the residence hall. Much better, in our opinion, to stay close with the friend from home and live separately.

I read an opinion piece last week on campus freedom of speech stating that fear and paranoia have descended onto college campuses. There are increasingly tougher penalties and new rules for students wanting to speak out on Palestine and Israel, with some schools banning indoor protests or preventing students from posting political messages on their residence hall doors. Student activists report feeling like they are being watched by university officials, believing that the administrators may be monitoring student Wi-Fi or watching students through campus cameras. Since October 7, there have been increased allegations of antisemitism and Islamophobia on campuses, and some schools have responded with tougher disciplinary stances, such as the threat of academic probation. 

The author opined that college protest isn’t antithetical to the mission of higher education, but rather, it is central to developing critical thinking skills and a moral philosophy of life. What do students on both sides of the aisle think? A recent Harris Poll conducted for Axios found that 77% of college students “said campus speech should be protected even if some feel the language is deeply upsetting,” – and these opinions were shared equally by young Democrats and Republicans.

Last week, we shared the news that ACT, Inc. is partnering with California-based private equity firm Nexus Capital Management after being slammed by financial losses. Since then, the private equity buyout has set off a lot of alarm bells for education advocates. Many are concerned that the move from non-profit to for-profit status will decrease transparency in the testing process. This is because non-profits are subject to regulatory oversight and disclosure requirements, which help ensure transparency and maintain public confidence. When it comes to test-taking, people need to be able to trust that there is a fair evaluation process. And while ACT says it will not immediately raise test prices, only time will tell if that, too, will ultimately change.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

In between helping our juniors make progress on their lists, we’re still continuing to help our seniors make their final choices! I wanted to share one tip I gave a student last week that seemed to help her, in case any of our readers could benefit.

While it’s not particularly ground-breaking, I do want to acknowledge that this is not my original idea and I can’t remember where it came from - probably one of my former colleagues. I have used it with students for many years, though, and sometimes I even use it myself when I’m trying to make a hard life decision!

Here it is: once you’ve narrowed your list down to two or three schools using all of the traditional decision-making methods, pretend that you’ve chosen one of them and live in that space for a few days.

Wear the sweatshirt, tell friends and teachers that’s where you’re going, start engaging in admitted student groups and putting winter and spring break vacation dates in your calendar. Read about freshman course selection and start researching professors to differentiate between options in the online course schedule. When you go to sleep at night, think about everything you’ll experience “next year.” Are you excited for the football games? Can’t wait to explore your new city? Which aspects of your new life will be easy from an acclimation standpoint, and which may present a learning curve?

Take notes during this period. What surprises you? Do you feel a sense of relief or a sense of regret? Sometimes our body sends us signals after we make decisions - listen to those and write them down!

Next, repeat the entire process with the other final contender school(s). After you’ve had the chance to reflect on the differences between your experiences from school to school, discuss them with a trusted adult. See if this process provides new insight or helps your decision move along!

Good luck to all of the seniors out there - remember, you chose to apply to these schools for a reason, and there’s typically no “wrong” choice. Most students will be happy at any school on their list!

Weekly Update: April 16

Finally, a full week of school for all the Fairfax County parents out there! 👏👏👏

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

HARVARD & CALTECH WILL REQUIRE TEST SCORES 

On Thursday, both Harvard and Caltech announced they will reinstitute standardized testing as a requirement for admission. Test-optional policies were instituted with the intent to help low-income students; however, as we have mentioned before, a new study by Opportunity Insights found that test scores help admissions officers identify highly talented students from low-income groups who would have otherwise gone unnoticed. Harvard and Caltech join a growing number of schools that have reversed their test-optional policies, including Brown, Yale, Darthmouth, MIT, Georgetown, Purdue and University of Texas at Austin. If you ask me, the timeline in which these changes have been announced seems a little unfair. Most of our juniors have had their testing plans in place for 9-12 months already, and it’s a little late for schools to be pivoting like this. At this point, we recommend that all students applying to highly selective schools should operate as if they will need test scores for next year.

PRIVATE EQUITY IS TAKING OVER THE WORLD, COLLEGE ADMISSIONS EDITION

When I first read this article, I thought it was a late April Fool’s joke - but it wasn’t! ACT, Inc., the company behind the ACT, announced last Wednesday that it is shifting from a non-profit to a for-profit company. The new company will be majority-owned by Nexus Capital Management, a Los Angeles-based private equity investment firm. This comes after years of struggling to break even. The non-profit reported a net loss of $12 million and a 44% decrease in assets at the end of the 2022 fiscal year. At the height of the pandemic in 2020, it reported a net loss of $60.5 million. The new for-profit is describing itself as a “public benefit” corporation.” It will not have tax-exempt status, but its board is supposed to take the public good, as well as shareholders’ interests, into account.

What does this mean for families? No one really knows quite yet, but in the meantime, test pricing will NOT change as a result of the new partnership. Currently, ACT costs $93 with the writing portion of the test, and $68 without. This includes the option to send the test score to four colleges, but we recommend that students wait to see all of their scores before making the decision about which scores to send where.

CAITLIN CLARK: “THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER 22”

University of Iowa announced last week that they are retiring Clark’s No. 22, the number she wore in her four years with the Hawkeyes. No women’s basketball player at Iowa will ever wear a jersey with that number; it will always belong to Clark. “There will never be another 22,” the team wrote on social media. I’m not crying, you’re crying!

To add to the excitement, Clark was named the #1 WNBA draft pick yesterday and selected by the Indiana Fever! We’re excited to watch her career play out.

BIDEN AUTHORIZES ANOTHER ROUND OF DEBT FORGIVENESS 

The Biden Administration stated last Friday that it will cancel an additional $7.4 billion in student debt, coming to a total of $153 billion in student loan forgiveness from the administration. Biden’s income-driven repayment plan, known as SAVE (Saving on Valuable Education), will erase student debt after 10 years of payments, compared with the 20-plus years in other existing plans. It will also wipe away the accrued interest for loan balances that are bigger than the amounts that were initially borrowed. Republicans have criticized the program, and assert that Biden is circumventing the Supreme Court, which struck down another version of it last year. They also argue that it is unfair to transfer the cost of repaying these loans to American taxpayers who chose not to go to college or worked to pay for it themselves. With the November elections approaching, this national conversation is just heating up.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

As I mentioned in last week’s update, the cost of college education has risen to $95K at some elite colleges. A Bloomberg piece suggested that students who are not accepted to Ivy League schools are better off considering public flagship universities, rather than enrolling in the next-most prestigious school that accepted them. Public schools can be a much better investment than one of the private, elite “Hidden Ivies.”

Their study of more than 1,500 non-profit colleges found that the return on investment (ROI) at many of these elite, private institutions is 9% less than the ROI at the states’ public flagships. Those who paid less by attending a public school had an advantage when it came to building wealth by saving for a house or retirement. Some experts pointed out, however, that success should not only be considered in terms of dollars and cents.

Looking for insight into your brooding or anxious teenager’s mind?  A new documentary called “The Teen Brain” came out yesterday. It’s a ten minute video, and may be worth watching! Top neuroscientists and a slew of teenagers were consulted for the project, which shares medical reasons that explain why teens feel and experience emotions more deeply compared to adults.  Experts said the amygdala, the part of the brain that processes emotions, becomes sensitive and grows in size during adolescence. This documentary comes at a time that teens in particular are facing a mental health crisis, CDC data shows. Last year, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued an advisory warning of an urgent public health issue regarding social media usage and youth mental health.

FAFSA has done it again! Just when we thought that colleges could finally start putting together aid packages for students, schools are reporting major errors in the tax information that was automatically populated in the FAFSA form. The Education Department has at last processed and released FAFSA forms to colleges, but they are fraught with mistakes, leading financial aid offices to distrust the data and to manually correct the information themselves. 

For example, some fields in the forms processed by the Department were blank, had the wrong codes, imported incorrect or partial tax data from the IRS, or incorrectly calculated the students’ eligibility for federal grants. Some of these errors will require the applicants themselves to correct them. Many institutions have pushed back their May 1 enrollment deadline to help students.  Some institutions like University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill are being even more flexible, and will allow students to decide once they know their financial situation. My guess is that we will see a lot of waitlist movement this summer as a result of these extended deadlines.

And lastly - I almost didn’t post this, but this New York Times piece entitled The Troubling Trend in Teenage Sex is one of the most disturbing and shocking articles I have ever read (and this is coming from someone who has curated articles relating to adolescents every single week for years!). It was almost unbelievable.

I decided to go ahead and post it because of the seriousness of the issue, and I really do think all parents should make time to discuss it with their high school and college-age children. I sent the link to some girlfriends yesterday, and one of them responded: “each line in this article gets more and more crazy.” That was my exact reaction, too. I was stunned by the percentages quoted, and by the time I got to the brain damage part I was in absolute disbelief. At the end of the day, kids need to be educated about the long-term impact of the choices they are making - and my guess is that most of them simply have no idea.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

We are having a blast helping our seniors navigate through their acceptances to make their final college choices - this is the hardest part of the process in many ways, but definitely the most fun!

In the meantime, our juniors have been BUSY! We are in our second week of spring check-in meetings and they are all hard at work on their essays. A few are nearly finished at this point! It’s so amazing to cross that major milestone off the list early - not only does it get the actual work out of the way, it leaves them with a well-deserved feeling of accomplishment and motivates them to continue making headway in the application process.

Have a great week!

Weekly Update: April 9

For those of you in the DC area, I hope you had a chance to see the solar eclipse yesterday! (Or maybe felt the earthquake on Friday!?) 

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

MARCH MADNESS COMES TO AN END

On Sunday, it seemed like the entire country (with the possible exception of the state of South Carolina 🙂) was cheering on Caitlin Clark and University of Iowa. Unfortunately, it was not to be, and South Carolina finished their undefeated season by winning the NCAA women’s championship game 87-75. And last night, UConn won the men’s championship game (for the second year in a row!) by beating Purdue 75-60.

NAIA BANS TRANSGENDER WOMEN FROM WOMEN’S SPORTS

On Monday, the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics voted unanimously to ban transgender women from women’s sports. “Only students whose biological sex is female” will be allowed to participate. If you haven’t heard of the NAIA, you aren’t alone: the organization is significantly smaller than the NCAA and includes schools that aren’t really on most of our students’ radar. However, this ruling may still be significant for the greater population, as some believe that it could serve as a precedent of sorts for the NCAA.

AT $95,000 PER YEAR, IS COLLEGE A GOOD INVESTMENT?

The annual cost of tuition, board, meals and other expenses at a number of private colleges has exceeded $90,000 this year, which calculates to over $1 million to send three children to college! But don’t let these numbers discourage you: many colleges with large endowments offer generous financial assistance to make attendance affordable, with some students paying just 10% of the advertised rate. Financial aid experts advise making decisions based on the actual cost that you have to pay (after financial aid is factored in), and not the perceived cost.  

Other colleges with price tags now exceeding $90,000 include USC at $95,000; Harvey Mudd at $93,000; UPenn at $92,000; Brown at $92,000; Dartmouth at $91,000; and BU at $90,000. Is college worth the investment? In general, we believe the answer is yes, with the caveat that it is important to borrow in moderation (can’t emphasize this enough!), pay close attention to the ROI of individual majors, and complete degree programs in their entirety.

NEW SURVEYS SHOWS JEWISH COLLEGE CHOICES AFFECTED BY OCT. 7

A recent survey this March by Hillel International, involving over 400 Jewish parents of high school juniors and seniors, showed that 96% are “concerned about the increase in antisemitic incidents on college campuses since October 7.” 19% even said they are questioning whether or not to send their children to college at all. 87% said that October 7 had an “impact” on how they chose a college for their child, and 64% said they are avoiding certain schools altogether because of a perceived rise in antisemitism on that campus.  

Hillel International president and CEO Adam Lehman stated that rather than avoiding certain colleges and “self-ghettoizing,” the Jewish community should focus on fixing the campus climate at schools. Julia Jassey, the CEO of Jewish on Campus, stated: “The last thing that I would ever tell a parent or student is not to go to a certain school because it is antisemitic. All that will do is self-select ourselves out of spaces where we want to be … It’s really more important that when students go to school, they’re educated about what antisemitism is, how to combat it, and what to do when they experience it.”

VANDERBILT IN EARLY DISCUSSIONS TO OPEN CAMPUS IN WEST PALM BEACH

Vanderbilt University is considering opening a second campus in downtown West Palm Beach, Florida, that would enroll around 1,000 students and feature a business school and a college of computer science. Vanderbilt Chancellor Daniel Diermeier has high hopes for this dream campus, and sees an opportunity to capitalize on Palm Beach County’s growing reputation as “Wall Street South” to provide students with jobs in finance. He said that a West Palm Beach campus could “turbocharge” the creation of new businesses established by graduates, creating an innovation industry and transforming the city into a major destination. 

Diermeier envisions that Vanderbilt’s impact on West Palm Beach could be similar to Stanford’s impact on Silicon Valley, resulting in an explosion of business and innovative technology companies. The school is in the preliminary stages of meeting with county commissioners and asking local businesses to co-invest. A recent event attended by Gov. Ron DeSantis raised $100 million for the venture.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Is college football over as we know it?  An article in The Athletic last week said that a group dubbed the “Super League” may be shaking things up in the near future. The group, officially called “College Sports Tomorrow” (CST), is trying to implement a new system that would replace the NCAA and the College Football Playoff, as well as provide a solution for lawsuits involving NIL and transfer portal issues.  The CST structure would eliminate the conference structure and create one entity. 

This centralized college league would negotiate not only for TV broadcasting deals, but also negotiate with any prospective union that would represent players in lawsuits. Colleges are particularly concerned with the House v. NCAA class action lawsuit, which could have the NCAA and power conferences on the hook for billions.  

Some criticize the notion, saying that CST is trying to “buy college football.” Leagues have been hesitant, and some have cancelled meetings with CST so as not to upset their current multi-million-dollar broadcast deals with ESPN and Fox. CST leaders, however, assert that time is of the essence; their goal is to get ahead of foreseeable legal challenges and “lead from the front, not behind.” 

Speaking of college sports, how about North Carolina State!?  Although they lost to Purdue over the weekend, they made it to the Final Four, leaving fans “thunderstruck,” as the New York Times put it. Often referred to by neighboring basketball powerhouses Duke and UNC as the “little brother,” NC State emerged as the country’s Cinderella team, winning nine straight games, including a 26-14 victory over Duke. It was the first time the Wolfpack made it to the national semifinals since they won the national title in 1983. 

In the 1950’s, the team was considered the best in the ACC. Their men’s basketball team was the team that started the tradition of cutting down the net as a victory souvenir. However, a big setback occurred in 1989, when the NCAA placed the team on probation for two years and barred it from the 1990 tournament for violations that included misuse of complimentary tickets and sneakers provided to players. Despite their loss on Saturday, it was thrilling to see an underdog back in the limelight.  

I came across an intriguing article in Forbes that cautioned against college education becoming like a luxury brand – an expensive badge of status reserved for the privileged few. The author wrote that an undergraduate degree (especially one at a top university) provides professional opportunities and upward social mobility, and people are willing to spend a small fortune for it. Luxury products are expensive because they are assumed to be high quality, with intrinsic value, and also carry prestigious, identifiable imagery. These qualities are perceived to be transferred from the products to the person wearing it. In this sense, the author believes, a college education has become very much like a Gucci bag.  

Yet the demand for luxury is slowing, as evidenced by softening sales from brands like Gucci. The brand reported a 20% decline in the first quarter of 2024, due to its out-of-reach pricing and alternative options, which are becoming more culturally valuable. This is a warning bell for higher education: as college tuition rises, more alternatives to college are presenting themselves. 

Social media influencers provide a potentially lucrative career path without school debt, and the massive shortage of trade jobs has led to a premium in salaries for skilled labor (again, without the debt). Some experts think that innovations in technologies like blockchain authentications could gain status akin to a college degree when it comes to hiring. If luxury is any indication, higher ed needs to evolve!

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

Our juniors are continuing to finalize their lists during their second round of college counseling check-in meetings, which just started this week. In case you were wondering, we haven’t seen any particular increase in student interest in UConn or Iowa this year after March Madness (South Carolina and Purdue were already popular options!).

One of the challenges that a lot of our students face involves the difficulty of visiting colleges in person without missing school. It’s particularly tough at this time of year, now that spring break is over and the clock is ticking - college students typically finish up their classes in late April or the first week of May, and the whole vibe changes on campus after that point. Don’t forget that Saturdays are still an option, though! A prospective student will get a much better sense of a campus community on a Saturday during the spring than on a weekday during exam week or the summer.

Have a great rest of the week - we have some amazing weather ahead!

Weekly Update: April 2

Hope those who celebrate had a happy Easter this past weekend!

This picture makes me laugh, but we successfully got the golden egg out of its hiding spot! Teamwork makes the dream work, right? :)

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

UPDATED ADMISSION RESULTS NOW AVAILABLE

The results are in! All applicants have now heard back from their regular decision schools, and a list of reported acceptance rates for the Class of 2028 is now available here. This list will be frequently updated as more institutions report their results, so if you don’t see your college on the list, check back again in a few days.

Remember - these statistics often involve rates that are combined between multiple rounds of admission. In other words, they are not necessarily representative of what occurs in any given round.

Schools that offer binding early decision plans will typically have a higher acceptance rate ED and a lower acceptance rate RD, so the “average” rate ends up somewhere in the middle, but applicants are not actually accepted at that rate.

ACT OFFERS SHORTER (EXPERIMENTAL) TEST 

Students taking the June ACT will have the option to participate in a pilot offering, with fewer questions and more time per question. This is part of a study, and we do NOT recommend this to our students because their test prep has been geared towards the traditional version of the test. That said, we are curious to learn what the results of the experiment will show us!

PRINCETON SETS NEW ENROLLMENT GOALS FOR SOCIOECONOMIC DIVERSITY

Princeton’s Board of Trustees announced a new enrollment goal: The university will aim for an undergraduate student body that is at least 70% eligible for need-based financial aid and at least 22% Pell Grant eligible.  

In response to the Supreme Court affirmative action ruling last June, Princeton established an ad hoc committee tasked with examining its admissions policies and procedures. This new enrollment goal comes as a result of the committee’s recommendations. Currently, 67% of Princeton’s undergrads are eligible for aid, and 20% are Pell Grant eligible.

Princeton also examined its policy on legacy preference, which they explained operates as a “tie-breaker” between equally qualified applicants. About 10% of undergrads are legacies. Princeton asserted that "the legacy preference benefits so few applicants, its impact on socioeconomic and racial diversity of the student body is small.” Considering the special bond between the school and its alumni base, the committee recommended that the legacy preference be carefully monitored and not expanded.

When it comes to athletic recruitment, Princeton will continue its current enrollment practices, so long as the athlete population is “representative of the broader student body in terms of academic and other criteria.”

BIRMINGTON-SOUTHERN COLLEGE TO CLOSE IN MAY

Birmingham-Southern College, a private liberal arts college in Alabama, will close after 168 years at the end of May. The college faced years of financial difficulties after the financial crash of 2009 caused a $25 million loss to the value of the college’s endowment. A 2010 audit also uncovered significant accounting errors in budgeting federal student financial aid. Finally, Moody’s Investors Service downgraded their bonds after revenue declines caused the college to draw heavily on its already-decreased endowment.  

Last year, the Alabama Legislature created a loan program to provide financial help to struggling colleges. The college applied for a loan through this program, but their application was denied.  New legislation that would have provided financial assistance was introduced this year, but it failed to pass. As a result, the College Board of Trustees unanimously voted to close.   

ELEVEN STATES FILE LAWSUIT TO BLOCK BIDEN’S STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS 

Last Thursday, Kansas was joined by Alabama, Alaska, Iowa, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, South Carolina, Texas and Utah in filing a lawsuit against the Biden Administration, seeking a temporary injunction to block the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) program. Missouri will be filing a related lawsuit.  

These Republican states argue that the President has overstepped his authority by enacting a sweeping policy without congressional input, implementing another version of the program that was struck down by the Supreme Court last year. They also argue that it’s unfair to force American taxpayers, who did not go to college or saved to pay for it, to pay the loans “of those who ran up exorbitant debt.”

The Biden Administration asserts that SAVE is markedly different from the program rejected by the Supreme Court, arguing that SAVE is authorized under the Higher Education Act, whereas the failed plan was created under a different law. The administration stated that “it has been fighting to fix a broken student loan system, and part of that is creating the most affordable student loan repayment plan ever.” 

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Over the last few weeks, we’ve already discussed that certain schools are beginning to reinstitute their requirement for applicants to submit ACT and SAT scores. However, we wanted to share a unique take on the issue from The New York Times, from author Emi Nietfeld: How the SAT Changed My Life.

Nietfeld wrote that many colleges embraced the test-optional policy because they assumed it would increase equity and diversity. However, a Dartmouth study revealed just the opposite: test-optional policies actually harm low-income and minority applicants. Many such applicants had strong scores that would have helped them from an admissions standpoint; but they mistakenly assumed their scores were not competitive enough, and unfortunately chose not to report them.  

As one of these disadvantaged students, the author described the SAT as their “one shot to prove our potential, despite the obstacles in our lives or the untidy pasts we’ve had.” Nietfeld wrote about her journey through the college application process while she was in foster care and homeless, transferring to four different high schools and having no opportunity to take AP classes. She pointed out that the SAT is objective, and that objectivity helped her to be judged on her merits. The exam is “the one door [she] could unlock that opened into a new future.” Nietfeld penned a compelling narrative with a happy ending – thanks to the SAT! I recommend taking a look.

I really enjoyed another New York Times piece, as well - an Op/Ed about personal branding in the admissions process: Elite College Admissions Have Turned Students Into Brands. The author, Sarah Bernstein, finds it frustrating that many college consultants stress the importance of personal branding to help students show a consistent narrative throughout the application process. “Instead of finding their passion and values through experience,” she writes, “students are encouraged to select a passion as early as possible and then rack up the experience to substantiate it.”

She points out that this not only puts under-resourced students at a disadvantage, but also puts an unnecessary amount of pressure on resourced students to make impactful and significant decisions before they are ready. While I agree that this does put under-resourced students at a disadvantage, I don’t think the concept of personal branding is otherwise necessarily a negative.

I would actually argue that it’s significantly more enjoyable for students to develop a narrative and brand around their actual interests at the moment (even if those interests may change down the line) than to try to maintain involvement in activities they hate just to check the box. How many parents my age grew up believing they had to play a sport, had to play an instrument, etc? It’s incredibly freeing for today’s teenagers to learn that they can stop playing piano and throw the lacrosse stick back in the garage in order to take a deep dive into what appeals to them most. The key is just maintaining involvement in that area until they’ve been admitted - but then they are almost always free to change their mind in college and explore different types of passions.

On a completely different note, I wanted to share a TikTok video from a Duke student that I saw this past weekend. I am sharing this for a few reasons: First, it provides valuable insight on the social scene at Duke in a way that could be useful for students who hope to become involved in Greek life and/or attend these kinds of parties.

Next, it demonstrates the importance of having relevant and up-to-date information about schools, instead of relying on a school’s long-standing reputation without research to back it up. The social scene that Sarah describes in the video is a result of a post-Covid shift from 2021-2023, when nearly all IFC and NPC fraternities and sororities chose to disaffiliate from the university. The organizations are now operating independently and without much oversight. But if a prospective student was relying on experiences from older friends or siblings to determine if Duke would be a good fit, they would never know about any of this.

Lastly, I felt like the video was a good example of a relatively fair and balanced approach. TikTok has come up so much this year with our students - on one hand, these videos can offer applicants a great way to feel like they are getting an inside view on life at a given school. On the other hand, they can also be a little misleading, because they are so dependent on the individual perspectives of the creators - not to mention the fact that they are made for entertainment purposes. When watching, try to take “extreme” creators with a grain of salt - those who say their school is terrible or amazing with nothing in between.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

FCPS is wrapping up their 11-day spring break today - that has to be some kind of record, right? We’re continuing to help our juniors make significant progress on their college essays with all of this time off!

But the real exciting news of the past week is that “Ivy Day” is now behind us and most of our seniors know where they’re headed next year! I know I am biased, but this group is going to some pretty amazing schools.

Congratulations, seniors! We can’t wait to follow your paths in the years to come - and hopefully work with you again down the line when it comes time to apply for graduate school!

Weekly Update: March 26

Hope those of you on vacation this week are enjoying yourselves and staying safe! It’s hard to keep all the different spring breaks straight - I know most independent schools are back at school already, the public schools are out, and the Catholic schools are still in session for a few more days!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

UNIV. OF FLORIDA LAUNCHES NEW EARLY ACTION PLAN

University of Florida just announced that students who submit early action applications by November 1, 2024 will be notified of admission status by January 24, 2025.  Unlike early decision, these students will have the advantage of getting an early response without having to make a commitment until the regular decision deadline on March 14.  UF officials stated that their goal in this strategy is to “attract more of the nation’s very best students,” “reduce stress” and give families “more time to prepare.” 

CALIFORNIA LAWMAKERS MOVE TO END LEGACY AND DONOR ADMISSIONS

California is considering a bill that would prohibit colleges and universities from receiving state financial aid through the Cal Grant program if they give preferential treatment in admissions to legacy and donor family member applicants.  USC, Stanford and Santa Clara are the largest providers of legacy and donor preferences in California.  In 2022, 13-14% of their admitted classes were legacies and donors. The UC system, Pomona, and the Cal State system, on the other hand, do not give any preference to legacy and donor applicants.  

At USC, 2,972 students received $26.6 million in Cal Grant financial aid in 2021-22.  At Santa Clara, 507 students received almost $4.6 million that year.  Stanford received $3.2 million in Cal Grant funds in 2022-23.  Opponents of the bill have argued that disqualifying these schools from the Cal Grant program could deprive low-income students of needed financial aid.  In response, Assemblymember Phil Ting, who introduced the bill, said that schools continuing legacy and donor admissions “have plenty of money” and can “offer those students scholarships.”

ALABAMA LAW BANS STATE FUNDING FOR DEI AT PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES

Alabama is the next state to prohibit the use of state funds for diversity, equity and inclusion programs at its public universities and schools. The new law, which goes into effect on October 1, additionally bars students, employees and contractors from being required to attend mandatory DEI “training, orientation or course work that advocates or requires assent to a divisive concept.” However, it does not prohibit students and staff from hosting DEI programs, so long as no state funds are used. The law also requires bathrooms in public universities to “designate restrooms on the basis of biological sex.” Just as we have seen in Florida in the recent weeks, we can expect to hear about the closures of all the DEI programs in state universities and schools across the state of Alabama in the coming months.

MARCH MADNESS CONTINUES

The men’s Sweet 16 begins on Thursday and all four #1 seeds are still in the running! There have been some fun highlights, including JMU beating Wisconsin and Yale beating Auburn - although the absolute best part for me was seeing the University of Idaho band stepping in for the Yale band when the Yale band couldn’t make it to the game. Unfortunately, though, it wasn’t enough to get them a win against San Diego State. And on the women’s side, it seemed like the entire country was holding their breath when West Virginia briefly tied Iowa last night, but Caitlin Clark came through and led the Hawkeyes to victory. She also set (another) record last night for scoring the most points in a single season.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

I came across an insightful article in The Atlantic last week, reflecting on the rise of computer science in academia, its role in our society as a whole, and whether or not these phenomena are better or worse for us as human beings. The author stated that a whopping 18 percent of Stanford seniors graduated with degrees in computer science last year, more than double from what it was a decade ago. This trend is widespread.  The number of CS majors in the U.S. and Canada TRIPLED in a span of just ten years from 2005 – 2015 and has been growing ever since. 

The very nature of computer science as an academic field is changing.  The author put it well when he said, “culture moves through computation these days.” As the younger generations seek to gain professional advantage in our technological society through CS degrees, universities are faced with the question of whether CS is its own academic field or not. Some universities have said yes, with MIT, Cornell and UC Berkeley each creating a “College of Computing” in recent years. Usually, universities house CS majors either in their electrical engineering program under a school of engineering, or in a school of liberal arts under mathematics. 

But SHOULD computing be elevated to a status of “college”? In the hierarchy of academia, is CS a higher-order domain of knowledge? Is it a super-field that lords over others, or a sub-field to serve others?  Waxing philosophical, the article poignantly states, “This is, by no happenstance, also the basic question about computing in our society writ large.” Our author makes the case for wisdom, drawing a distinction between what can be done vs. what should be done. The fast-moving computing industry is exciting, but it is also reckless. 

We might be better off if ambitions were held back, even just a little, to “slow down bad ideas” when they arise, and to operate “with a deep understanding or respect of law, policy, justice, health, or cohesion.”  The centralization of computing runs the risk of empowering a generation of professionals who are disengaged from consequences. Computer scientists can forget that computers are tools to help people – as a means of self-expression or achieving justice, for example – and not just a way of making new software or money. The author leaves us to ponder: Are computers a means to an end, to a greater good, or are they an end in themselves? Before doing something, should you pause and consider if it is worth doing? What do you think?

This was a fun one from The Atlantic: “Don’t Tell America the Babysitter’s Dead.”  Despite its humorous title, the article brings up some serious subjects that are very relevant in raising the modern teen. A generation ago, babysitting was a step toward adulthood – a first job and a rite of passage. It gave teens an opportunity to make pocket money and to practice responsibility. It was the symbol of American girlhood, and “a reflection of the cultural emphasis on hard work, discipline, and financial independence.”  

It seems that the teen babysitter, as we knew her, has all but disappeared.  This is a result of both how adults perceive teens and how they are being raised.  Our society no longer trusts teens, believing them to be children in need of babysitting, rather than the ones doing the babysitting. Kids are often seen as fragile and in need of constant oversight. “Intensive parenting” has been adopted as an ideal across classes. Parents prefer their younger children to participate in scheduled adult-led activities, rather than be at home with a teen babysitter, and Model UN, SAT prep and internships have filled our would-be babysitters’ every waking hour. Remember the Baby-Sitters’ Club? The recent Netflix re-boot was a total bomb, simply because the experience of babysitting isn’t relatable to teens anymore.

The article stated that Americans tend to trust people less these days. Forget asking the high-schooler on your block to babysit, because chances are you’ve never even met your neighbors down the block. It takes a village to raise a child, but there is no village. Parents are turning to professionalized child care, or at least older, more experienced caregivers, leaving teens with fewer opportunities for responsibility.  

That said, caregiving IS serious work that requires skill and maturity. So where does that leave our teens?  They need opportunities for growth. First jobs are extremely formative and empowering; they give teens a sense of pride in their work and earning ability. The article urges us to strike a balance. A woman at Oregon State University’s community partnership program has started a program that trains teens in caregiving and then connects them with families. We need to build our villages; meet our neighbors, trust one another more, and show more faith in our teens – they can be capable of a quite a bit!

New York Magazine published an article last week highlighting the challenges of this year’s college admissions cycle. We’ve seen so many of these this year! Last week, I wrote about how FAFSA delays and other issues have impacted college admissions.  This article comes with a slightly different angle, offering some additional thoughts from the admissions officer’s point of view.  

College admissions offices have seen an enormous increase in the number of college applications submitted in recent years. At Duke, the number of applications has quadrupled over the last 30 years, and is up 37 percent in the past five years. Since 2000, the number of applications to the 67 most selective colleges in the nation (including Duke), has tripled to nearly 2 million a year. This has created a stressful work load for admissions offices.  

One Duke admissions officer described his method of sorting through applications and deciding – in 15 minutes – which ones will go on to the next round. He scans the overview page that shows high school attended, GPA, tests scores (if any), intended major and gender. Then he moves on to the full transcript, recommendations, essays and extracurriculars, in that order. “It all floats in the air above me…[A]s I read the application from beginning to end, it coalesces into an image of the child,” he said. Two-thirds to three-fourths of all applications are eliminated during this initial pass. 

Applicants focus on showing what they have accomplished in the past, but the admissions officer’s job is to make a judgment call on their future potential, what they will do in the next four years. From the applicant’s point of view, the goal is to be accepted. But from the admissions officer’s point of view, the ultimate goal is to meet their diversity, enrollment and revenue numbers. In addition to deciding who to admit, they must strategize on how to “lock students in” and maintain “yield” – that is, the percentage of students who actually enroll. 

NY Magazine said that this year “is already shaping up as the craziest ever.”  But that’s what we’re here for! We’re so proud of how our students have navigated this season, and we have continued to enjoy hearing the good news as acceptances have rolled in!

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

We’re thrilled that so many of our students have been taking time over spring break to squeeze in sessions with our essay coaches, Staci, McClain, Joseph and Stephanie! It takes so much pressure off when this HUGE milestone is done!

In other news, the March SAT scores are in, and Libby has been reaching out to our juniors to remind them to submit official copies (screen shots are fine) to our office! If you are a client and took the March SAT, you can submit the score report using our multi-purpose submission form and navigating to DCCC Forms and Information -> Test Scores, Report Cards, or Transcripts.

Weekly Update: March 19

Happy (belated) St. Patrick’s Day! For those of you in the DC area, I hope you get a chance to enjoy the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin this week – they’re finally here!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

SURVEY FINDS COLLEGE STUDENTS PREFER CAMPUS GUN POLICIES

A new Gallup survey showed that 81% of current and prospective college students consider campus gun policies to be “at least somewhat important” in their decision to enroll, and 34% say they are “extremely important.” Notably, the results are similar across various demographics, regardless of age, gender, race/ethnicity and political party affiliation. The largest gap among subgroups is a nine-percentage-point difference between Democrats and Republicans. Despite that difference, however, the study still reflects a majority favoring campus gun policies, with 77 percent of Republican students considering gun policies to be important in their enrollment decisions, and 26 percent saying they are extremely important. In light of recent acts of gun violence on college campuses in North Carolina and Michigan, these results do not surprise me!

NAACP LETTER ASKS BLACK STUDENT-ATHLETES TO RECONSIDER ATTENDING FLORIDA COLLEGES

NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson sent a letter to the National Collegiate Athletic Association last week, asking Black student-athletes to reconsider their decisions to attend public colleges and universities in Florida. As I mentioned in my weekly update earlier this month, the University of Florida just closed down its diversity, equity and inclusion programs in order to comply with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ law prohibiting the use of state funding for DEI programs. Other public institutions in Florida, including Florida State University, have also followed suit.

FONTBONNE UNIVERSITY CLOSES, WASH U TO PURCHASE ITS CAMPUS

Fontbonne University in Clayton, Missouri, will be closing its doors next summer after struggling with declining enrollment and a shrinking endowment. Originally founded as a women’s college in 1923, the school has a history of being one of the country’s most diverse Catholic institutions of higher education; as of 2021, more than a quarter of its undergraduates are African-American.  After its Summer 2025 term, the property will be acquired by Washington University in St. Louis. Interestingly, the Fontbonne campus is located on the other side of Wash U’s “South 40,” where the residence halls are located.  As such, it is located closer to most of the students’ residence halls than the current Wash U academic buildings.  Although it is sad to see Fontbonne close, this will be a great expansion opportunity for Wash U!

MARCH MADNESS BEGINS

Selection Sunday is behind us and the NCAA tournament games kick off this evening with Wagner vs. Howard and Colorado State vs. Virginia. The First Four will finish up tomorrow with Grambling vs. Montana State and Colorado vs. Boise State… and then things will really kick into high gear on Thursday! We’ve written before about the impact of “Cinderella runs" on the admissions process, and it will be interesting to see what this year holds!

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

It’s been a challenging year in the college admissions world, to say the least, but we are making our way through it! I just read a Wall Street Journal article that summed it up this way: “This might be the most chaotic, frustrating, uncertain college-admissions cycle in recent history.”  

The WSJ highlighted three major factors that created this “perfect storm”: First, the Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action, which restricts how schools can consider an applicant’s race. As a result of this ruling, college applications cannot directly ask about race, but they can provide an opportunity in the essays for this information to be included. This has left many students uncertain whether disclosing their race and ethnicity would be beneficial or not to their application. On top of that, they have to figure out how to weave this information into their essays.

(Here at DCCC, we work with every single one of our students to write content on how their own unique and diverse backgrounds have impacted the person they are today. We then try to incorporate that particular content to fit college-specific supplemental essay prompts whenever possible, because colleges are looking for a class with diverse experiences and backgrounds. Sometimes these cover topics like race, ethnicity, and religion — but many times they don’t. Our students’ past essays on this topic have discussed the impacts of experiences as varied as frequent childhood relocations, to growing up with food allergies, to parental addiction and mental illness — and so many more. Everyone has something that has shaped their background in a unique way, even if it’s not immediately obvious.)

The second factor: test score confusion. We’ve heard it all – test-blind, test-optional, test-recommended, test-flexible and test-required. Understanding these new terms has added a layer of complication to the college application process, especially when students apply to colleges that require tests for certain majors or programs but don’t require them for others. Another consequence of schools not requiring test scores is that some students believe they don’t have to put any effort into prepping for them, only to realize too late that certain scholarships are tied to strong scores - or even worse, learning of last-minute policy changes at institutions that have begun to require them again. So: study for the SAT and ACT, kids! 

And lastly, the most impactful factor in upending this year’s college admissions cycle is the delayed Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) process. Usually by this time of year, students are sorting through and comparing their financial aid offers. This year, however, due to a delayed release of the new FAFSA online application and an avalanche of technological glitches, the federal government is extremely delayed in sending colleges information about applicants’ family finances and how much federal aid they qualify for. This financial information is critical for colleges in calculating need-based aid and creating financial aid offers.

Absent these offers, students are facing the possibility of blindly deciding on colleges to meet enrollment deadlines without knowing the tuition costs in advance. Or, even worse, they may not be able to enroll at all, since many students cannot seriously consider college without financial aid. This could lead to enrollment decline, which, as we have seen, can impact the very existence of certain less-selective colleges. It is ironic that the very system that was designed to help lower-income students has been their biggest bar to college enrollment.   

How did we get here? I came across a recent New York Times article that had a good breakdown of how this happened.  In 2020, Congress ordered the Education Department to streamline the FAFSA process to make it easier and more accessible. The notoriously long and complex form was whittled down from over 100 questions to fewer than 40. Unfortunately, though, it was not released until the end of December, almost three months later than the regular October timeframe. In addition to technical malfunctions that locked students out of their applications, the new FAFSA required social security numbers for both students and their parents. Students with mixed-status families have been disproportionately affected, as FAFSA delays may cause them to miss scholarship and aid deadlines. 

Two weeks ago, when the Education Department came up with a resolution to the social security issue, they discovered 70,000 emails from student applicants sitting in an inbox, unread and unanswered. The Department is now faced with processing a landslide of applications and handling 70,000 emails…and counting. Yikes.

Despite these setbacks on the national level, our DCCC students have been able to navigate this year’s application process with success! We have been hearing good news from so many colleges, and we’ve managed to stay on track thanks to the tireless work of our dedicated counselors, students and families. We can’t wait for more good news to pour in. Way to go, everyone!

On a completely different note, I want to share an excellent article from the New York Times discussing the purpose of universities, and it had me nodding my head in agreement. According to the article, an “understanding,” or something like an unspoken contract, has always existed between American universities, the government, and the people. Universities provide education with the help of government funding and tax breaks, and faculty are given academic freedom when it comes to what and how they teach and research; they are – or should be – insulated from external pressures of politics and industry.  In return, universities cultivate a pluralistic democracy and produce an educated citizenry, allowing for economic mobility and a capitalist economy. 

Stanford international studies professor Anna Gryzmala-Busse stated that “if universities are not fulfilling these missions, and are seen as prioritizing other missions, that political bargain becomes fragile.” The article points out the dangers when universities stray from their essential duty by pushing a political agenda, consequently stifling intellectual discourse and freedom of thought among its faculty and students. A social justice mentality is counter-productive to the university’s work of fostering open dialogue with multiple perspectives. Universities are increasingly forced to quickly make official statements on polarizing, political issues; issues that scholars spend years studying and continually discussing. Political interference in a university destroys its academic freedom. 

The last paragraph stuck with me: “When universities become overly political, and tilt too far toward one end of the spectrum, they’re denying students and faculty the kind of open-ended inquiry and knowledge-seeking that has long been the basis of American higher education’s success.” Well, there’s food for thought!

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

I’m excited to share an article from Northern Virginia Magazine, in which I provide advice on making your final college decision! Decision day is just around the corner for many of you, and all of us at DCCC want to make sure you are as prepared as possible.

Scholarships, location, campus culture, post-graduation jobs – there are so many important factors weighed in the balance as you narrow down those college acceptances and decide which college is the right fit for you. So, mark May 1 on your calendar (unless your colleges delayed their deadlines due to the aforementioned FAFSA problems!) and check out the article!

Anybody else go to the ACC tournament in DC last week/weekend? The Virginia games, both of which went into overtime, were insane! Especially Friday, wow. For those of you who didn’t catch it, they had a five-point lead in the last fifty seconds of regulation, and a three-point lead in the last five seconds. Despite ESPN indicating that their chances of winning at that point were over 98%, it was not to be: a very unfortunate series of events ended up resulting in a loss to NC State.

Fingers crossed for a win against Colorado State tonight!

Weekly Update: March 12

It’s finally starting to feel like spring in the DC area, and we’re wishing a happy Ramadan and easy fast to those who are celebrating this month!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

FIRST DIGITAL SAT ADMINISTRATION TAKES PLACE

The first official (non-pilot) nationwide administration of the digital SAT took place on Saturday, and reports from students have been pretty positive so far! In addition to being online, the test is now adaptive — meaning that the difficulty of students’ questions will be impacted by their performance as they proceed through the exam. The new version is also significantly shorter than it was in the past, coming in at just over two hours with only two sections. I’m so glad it went well!

BROWN, PENN, AND UT AUSTIN ANNOUNCE TESTING POLICY UPDATES

Last week, Brown announced that they will reinstate the standardized testing requirement for the Class of 2029 (current high school juniors). The announcement also reaffirmed their decision to continue offering early decision and recognizing legacy applicants — for now, anyway. The University of Texas at Austin made a similar announcement about reinstating test scores yesterday, citing strong data-backed evidence pointing to the predictive power of standardized test scores on undergraduate performance. Penn, on the other hand, has chosen to buck this testing trend: the university will remain test optional for the upcoming admissions cycle.

LEGACY ADMISSIONS OFFICIALLY BANNED IN VIRGINIA

We knew it was coming, but Gov. Glenn Youngkin signed bills on Friday to ban legacy admission in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a move that is expected to impact applicants most at UVA and William & Mary (read the article’s quotation from William & Mary carefully, as it’s misleading, in my opinon — while everything stated is technically true, it seems to suggest that they haven’t historically given legacy applicants special treatment. I’m not even a critic of legacy admissions, but if that’s what they are suggesting… well, it’s just plain inaccurate). In other news, U.S. Senators Tim Kaine and Todd Young are now embarking on a bipartisan effort to ban legacy admissions on a national level.

PROVIDENCE COLLEGE STUDENTS SEND CAMPUS SECURITY GUARD HOME TO VISIT FAMILY

Such a sweet story out of Providence College! A group of students learned that one of their campus security guards had not returned to his native country, Nigeria, in over 11 years — and had not seen his son since he left. They organized a GoFundMe that raised money for him to take a trip home, and ended up with over $15,000!

SPELMAN LAUNCHES INNOVATIVE PROGRAM TO CREATE FUTURE BEAUTY INDUSTRY LEADERS

Did you know that Black beauty brands only make up a tiny 2.5 percent of the cosmetics and personal care market, despite the fact that Black women spend billions of dollars each year on those items? Spelman College did, and administrators and faculty are stepping up to flip that script. The Atlanta HBCU just announced a significant expansion of their cosmetic science program, including a minor in cosmetic science and a special concentration in “cosmetic chemistry” for chemistry majors. SO COOL!

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

I really enjoyed last weekend’s New York Times piece entitled “We Tried to Create a Diverse College Class Without Affirmative Action,” in which researchers presented interactive visual models depicting the differing impacts of various policies on admitted student diversity, in an effort to create a diverse class without traditional affirmative action policies. The findings were interesting: giving low-income students an admissions advantage resulted in a significant amount of economic diversity, but a very small increase in racial diversity. Giving an additional advantage to students from low-performing schools helped some, but not much. So what worked best? A two-part process that (a) identified “outlier” students that performed significantly better from their peers in the same environment, no matter what that environment was; and (b) an expanded recruiting strategy that targeted students who may not have otherwise chosen to apply to highly selective colleges.

We’ve shared a number of recent articles about why certainly highly competitive schools have made the decision to reinstate standardized testing, but this piece from The Atlantic does a great job of delving more deeply into why test-optional admissions policies hurt disadvantaged students in particular. Some of the analysis here aligns closely with the findings mentioned in the New York Times article above, too - especially the Michigan example.

I have worked with teenagers for my entire career — well before I had children. Yet as my oldest inches closer and closer to her teenage years, it’s been so interesting to see how my experiences as a parent have impacted my professional perspective. I really felt torn as I read “The Parents in My Classroom”, a Slate piece written by a teacher who complains about parents trying to maintain constant contact with her high school students during the school day. She writes that “increased parental surveillance has blurred the boundaries between home and school so much that students are not developing into independent thinkers,” and the professional in me knows she’s absolutely right. But the mom in me … well, I see the other side too — in a way that I probably wouldn’t have before. I guess the best we can do sometimes as parents is to educate ourselves about the “right” thing to do while still keeping practicality in mind.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

There’s been a ton going on in our office lately - from RD decision releases to college essays to hiring a new counselor (more on her later!). And the ACC tournament is in DC this week! Is anybody going?

Have a great week!

Weekly Update: March 5

It’s Super Tuesday - hope our public school families are enjoying their day off!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

COMMON APPLICATION ® ESSAY PROMPTS RELEASED!

YAY! The Common Application ® finally released their 2024-2025 essay prompts shortly after I hit publish on our last weekly update post - and despite the very long wait, they actually didn’t change at all from the previous year. For any readers who are less familiar with college essay requirements, this particular essay is what is more commonly known as “the college essay” - it’s the main essay, up to 650 words in length, that students will submit to nearly every college on their list. Most colleges also require additional supplemental essays, as well.

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA FIRES ALL DEI STAFF

To maintain compliance with Gov. Ron DeSantis’ law to prohibit state spending on DEI programs, the University of Florida let go of 28 faculty and staff members this past week: every single employee whose job was related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in some way. This will result in a $5 million cost savings for the university, which will be re-allocated to support faculty recruitment. As Gov. DeSantis himself remarked, “Florida is where DEI goes to die.” 😳

LATINA WOMEN CONTINUE FACING SIGNIFICANT WAGE GAP DESPITE MAJOR GAINS IN EDUCATION

This is a bittersweet update - on one hand, kudos to the population of Latina women who have made enormous gains in pursuing higher education over the last two decades. The percentage of Latinas with bachelor’s degrees has quadrupled since the year 2000, from 5% to 20%, rising faster than any other demographic group. However, this doesn’t seem to be paying off as much as it should from a salary standpoint, as Latina women with college degrees still earn the lowest median income of any demographic. This is probably wishful thinking, but I wonder if some of the disparity could be attributed to the fact that the more recent increase in degrees earned means they are, on average, a younger cohort with less work experience? We will learn more in the years to come.

WAKE FOREST CONGRATULATES WAITLISTED APPLICANTS BY MISTAKE

Word on the street is that a number of Wake Forest applicants who were waitlisted through the early decision rounds received a email last week that was actually meant for accepted students. In addition to congratulating them on their admission, the message invited them to an event meant for accepted students. So, naturally, the students thought that they had been accepted from the waitlist…. until they received an apology email from Wake, who shared that they were not accepted after all! Instead, the email was sent to the wrong group of students by mistake. Can you even imagine?!

MAJOR GREEK LIFE ISSUES AT VIRGINIA AND MARYLAND

No matter which side of the Potomac you call home, it was not a good week for Greek life at your flagship state universities. At UVA, a Kappa Sigma (fraternity) pledge is said to be in a coma after drinking to excess and falling down a flight of stairs and hitting his head. The university has since suspended the chapter in addition to temporarily banning sponsored social events from all fraternity chapters. It’s less clear as to what specifically happened at the University of Maryland, but the administration has reason to believe that multiple fraternity and sorority chapters have been “conducting activities that have threatened the safety and well-being of members of the University community." After an initial warning that took place at an emergency meeting with Greek leaders, the university continued to receive complaints. The following day, a “cease and desist” order was announced. All social events for Interfraternity Council (IFC) and Panhellenic Council (PHA) groups were banned for the forseeable future. Additionally, members are not allowed to have any contact whatsoever with new members or potential new members.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Have you wondered whether college is really “worth it,” financially? This New York Times article asserts that college is, in fact, worth it, when it comes to future earnings. However, it’s important for students to realize that other factors impact earnings too. What students choose to study makes a huge difference, and sometimes the choice of school also really matters (approach for-profit colleges with caution!).

A Washington Post editorial from last week emphasized that the potential end of test-optional admissions is “the right move.” The piece called it a “social experiment by necessity,” as a result of Covid, but one that provided colleges and universities with hard data to support whether or not test scores are truly needed to differentiate between candidates - and whether or not test scores resulted in an admissions bias against students of color. I agree with the Washington Post’s assessment - while diverse students do perform worse on standardized tests than their white counterparts, that is something that can be taken into context by an admissions officer.

And at the end of the day, every student who takes one of these tests still has to earn the actual scores - they can only be impacted so much. On the other hand, there are many other parts of the admissions process that can be manipulated far more easily. From advising on extracurricular activities and choice of major, to providing in-depth essay help, to assisting with teacher recommendation strategy - yes, I realize I’m basically outlining the services our company provides, but there’s no denying that students really benefit from this.

If you’re looking for a comprehensive look at how all of the recent changes may impact the college admissions process for students this year, check out Town & Country’s piece Has College Admissions Returned to a Normal Level of Crazy?. It reports that “the SCOTUS decision has so far not led to a major shift in acceptance letters for white and Asian students,” and I agree. I believe this is a direct result of the fact that race is still allowed to be considered when it is mentioned in essays. So has anything really changed after all, except the fact that students now need to write even more essays? The verdict is still out. The article does mention “a loosening of the selectivity noose due to some prestigious schools taking a PR hit this year,” which relates to the treatment of Jewish students on highly selective college campuses. Finally, it covers the anecdotal observation that deferrals seem to be up this year, and that while students often consider this to be positive, that might be an overly optimistic viewpoint. I personally think that the increase in deferrals was very school-specific - we saw unique situations at certain institutions, but did not notice any particular blanket shift.

On a lighter note, any podcast junkies out there? You’ll want to check out NPR’s “10 Best College Podcasts in America.” I’m particularly excited to listen to Brandon Kondritz’ The Day I Ditched my Devices. This Northwestern student embarked on a one-day “digital detox” and chronicled the experience. Not sure I could do it!

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

I am thrilled to report that our juniors got right to work after the Common Application ® essay prompt release and started booking their coaching meetings right away. A couple of students have even had their first essay coaching meetings already, and they should be on target to finish this major milestone in April!

On another note, if you’re an FCPS student looking for a great leadership role next year - we highly recommend checking out the role of 2024 Student Representative to the School Board. This coveted opportunity is open to FCPS students in grades 9, 10, and 11 who live in Fairfax County or Fairfax City. Check out the experiences of the current Student Representative, Rida Karim.

Weekly Update: February 27

Happy Tuesday!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

ATHENS COMMUNITY SHAKEN AFTER UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA AND AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY STUDENT DEATHS

Two tragedies occurred over the past week in Athens, Georgia. On Wednesday, a UGA freshman died by suicide in his dorm room. The following day, a former UGA student who had transferred to Augusta University’s College of Nursing (also in Athens) was murdered while out for a morning jog. Fortunately, a suspect is in custody. It’s incredible to think about how this poor girl was attacked while just getting some exercise in broad daylight. Our thoughts and prayers are with these students’ families, friends, and the entire Athens community.

YALE UNIVERSITY REVERSES COURSE TO BEGIN REQUIRING STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES AGAIN

Yale announced the results of an internal study which demonstrated that standardized test scores are the best predictor of undergraduate student success on their campus. More importantly, these results have led Yale to join Dartmouth in requiring SAT or ACT scores during the upcoming application cycle.

UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN ADOPTS NEW TEST-OPTIONAL POLICY

Just as Yale decided to pivot back to test scores, University of Michigan formally adopted a test-optional policy that replaces their previous test-flexible policy. If you can’t keep these policies straight, you aren’t alone! The main difference seems to be that the test-flexible policy offered candidates the chance to substitute their AP or IB scores for SAT or ACT scores, if they chose to do so. Now, their AP or IB scores will be evaluated separately from their choice to apply with (or without) SAT or ACT scores. Half of the internet seemed to get this wrong - and understandably so, given how confusing the shift is. Many online posts incorrectly announced that Michigan was not going to consider AP or IB scores at all anymore. This is a good reminder to always confirm policy changes directly with the school!

SYRACUSE INCORPORATES MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE INTO BUSINESS CURRICULUM

Kudos to Syracuse for recognizing the importance of teaching future business professionals about the importance of mental health and wellness. As part of the Nass Mental Health Initiative, undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in the Whitman School of Management will now be better equipped to handle the challenges associated with their future careers. Through coursework, guest speakers, special seminars and more, students will learn to use tools to help manage stressors and also learn when to seek help.

“COURT STORMING” THRUST IN THE SPOTLIGHT AFTER DUKE PLAYER INJURED

Immediately after Duke’s surprising loss to Wake Forest this past weekend, player Kyle Filipowski was injured by enthusiastic Demon Deacon fans storming the court. As everyone watching the game on television saw, Duke coach Jon Scheyer was absolutely furious and has since called for the ACC to ban the practice. Wake coach Steve Forbes agrees, and has shared his own concerns about player safety.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

So you know that NIL stands for “name, image, and likeness.” But what exactly does that mean in real-world terms? What’s the relevance? Why does everybody care so much? Whether you’re NIL-savvy or have never even heard the acronym before, check out this Washington Post article for a deep dive into all things NIL. As a word of caution, you might end up just as confused by the end of the piece as you were at the start - but maybe that’s the point?

Back in November, we wrote about the extent of the financial mismanagement at the University of Arizona. The New York Times has now explored the full impact of the situation, as well as the potential effects on various stakeholders. The article also delves into the long-term impacts felt by the greater community in the city of Tucson.

Lawmakers in the state of Massachusetts are pushing for a potential change to higher ed taxation that is both very significant and could set precedent for the rest of the country. In “Ending The Ivy League’s Tax Dodge,” The Lever provides background into a situation that has mostly flown under the radar of mainstream media so far. As the piece details, private colleges and universities don’t have to pay state or federal income taxes right now. This allows their endowments to build at a rapid rate, which in turn allows them to “give back” by providing generous financial aid packages, and in some cases, by conducting research.

But is this fair, when many of these schools have acceptance rates so low that the general population does not resasonably have any chance of benefiting from the financial aid packages? Or would the general population benefit more from simply taxing these schools on the value of their endowments? That’s what the state’s House Committee on Revenue will need to decide by April 30. A proposed bill hopes to levy a 2.5% annual tax on university endowments larger than $1 billion (on the full amount of the endowment, not just the income it generates).

The tax would then be allocated towards a fund called the Educational Opportunity for All Trust Fund, which would be used “exclusively for the purposes of subsidizing the cost of higher education, early education and child care for lower-income and middle-class residents of the commonwealth.” I can see both sides, but one thing is for sure: the outcome has the potential to have major long-term implications for financial aid at private colleges and universities nationwide.

Speaking of policy shift implications, The Dartmouth provided its readers with an inside look at some of the aftermath of the recent campus-level policy shift that reinstated the standardized testing requirement. Campus safety officers were present at a “tense” meeting between 50-70 students and President Sian Beilock, during which the students discussed their (negative) reactions to the recent decision. However, it is important to note that this group of students does not necessarily represent the entire 4,500 student body.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

Where oh where are the Common Application ® essay prompts? We have now passed last year’s record-breaking late essay release date and our juniors are ready to get started! Some communication from the Common Application ® organization as to what to expect moving forward would be appreciated 😊

In other news, I’m continuing our first round of winter check-in meetings with juniors and helping them finalize some of their upcoming college visits. Virginia public school students have an upcoming day off on March 5 as a result of the presidential primary, and this is a great time for a college visit. After all, there are relatively few opportunities to see colleges in session without having to miss school!

One of the other topics we discuss at these check-in meetings is standardized testing progress, and we got some frustrating news last week - one of the high schools that a lot of our students attend has a prom date conflict with the April ACT. I absolutely hate when this happens (we see it more often with the May SAT), and it’s a great reminder for all students to look up the dates of any special end-of-year events in advance to check for standardized testing conflicts. Remember that there’s the April ACT, May SAT, May AP exams, the June SAT, and the June ACT!

Have a great week - fingers crossed that we have essay prompts on which to report in our next blog entry!