Greek Life

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: 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: June 27

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AWAIT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION DECISION

The Supreme Court could issue a ruling on whether schools can continue to consider race in college admissions as soon as tomorrow, and colleges and universities are preparing. While no school has yet released a concrete plan for how they might respond if affirmative action is abolished, we suspect that this will impact whether or not schools remain test optional, as well as whether those that consider legacy as part of admissions will continue to do so. 

DESANTIS CHALLENGES COLLEGE ACCREDITATION

Last week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration sued the U.S. Department of Education, claiming that it was disrupting the efforts of Florida public universities to switch accreditors. DeSantis says that accreditation boards have too much power over Florida schools, and are undermining decisions made by his administration. Florida’s current accreditor is the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACS), but more than half of Florida public schools are expected to change accreditors in the next two years. 

DUKE UNIVERSITY OFFERS FREE TUITION

If you are a Carolina resident, you might be in luck - Duke University is offering free tuition to students from North and South Carolina whose families make less than $150,000 per year. Duke is already need blind and meets 100% of students’ demonstrated need, but the full tuition grant is designed to encourage more applicants from the Carolinas, who can apply with the knowledge that if admitted, they will be able to attend without financial hardship. 

FLORIDA GATORS SCORE MOST RUNS IN COLLEGE WORLD SERIES HISTORY, BUT STILL LOSE

During a 24-4 game against LSU on Sunday, Florida scored 24 runs - breaking the previous record of 23 runs, scored by Notre Dame in 1957 and by Arizona State in 1984. But don’t feel too bad for LSU - they had a comeback on Monday evening and won the College World Series!

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Last week, we shared an Atlantic opinion piece from a Princeton professor who believes that universities should not take political stances. This week, the opinion comes from a Princeton student - a rising senior who argues that when university departments take a political stance, it alienates some of their students. In the coming months, Princeton’s faculty will vote on a proposal that would prevent departments from taking positions on controversial issues. The student offers examples of the kind of official communications, from condemnation of the Kyle Rittenhouse verdict to the support of Roe v. Wade, that would be limited under the new proposal. 

The recurring question - is college worth it? - has a new answer. According to an analysis from the Institution for Higher Education Policy released last week, college is worth it for 93% of students. The report is meant to identify colleges that provide a “minimum economic return” for their students. In other words, college is “worth it” if students earn at least as much as a high school graduate, plus recoup their investment in college tuition, within 10 years after graduation. Public universities provide the best economic return, likely due to lower tuition costs, while for-profit colleges and private colleges are least likely to help students reach the threshold. 

Not a fan of Greek life? Check out U.S. News’ list of 10 Colleges with No Fraternities or Sororities, which features schools like Princeton, Middlebury, and Virginia’s own University of Mary Washington.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

I (Colleen) was featured last week in U.S. News’ list of 18 Ways to Prepare for Your Freshman Year of College, sharing some of my top tips. If you are a Class of 2023 student, I highly recommend using at least a few hours of your summer to refresh yourself on topics from your high school courses, especially courses like math and foreign language that build on themselves year to year. This is also a great time to take a look at the list of clubs and organizations on your campus, so you can make a plan to get involved - without getting totally overwhelmed at the club fair! 

Shannon, Staci, and Ian led our second research session for clients last week. Performing college research is an essential skill for students as they think about writing “Why This School?” essays this summer. Wondering how the research session came to be? We noticed that our students have so much trouble with these types of essays and wanted to give them a little bit of extra help. After brainstorming ideas, we decided to offer all rising seniors two different opportunities to join a special session on research at no additional charge.

We covered: 

  • Parsing the prompt to really understand what the school is asking you to write about in your essay

  • Identifying aspects of the school that are unique and relevant to your interests - and which attributes aren't unique at all!

  • Using the ASC Method for performing research focused on academics, student life, and community

  • Choosing where to get started with your research and how to fact-check when you are done

Current clients who weren’t able to attend a session can, of course, work on these skills one on one during regular essay coaching meetings with their coaches! Our schedules are now posted throughout the summer, and we encourage our current clients to book meetings ASAP to ensure they get their preferred times to complete their essay work this summer. 

Have a great week!

Weekly Update: May 30

We hope you enjoyed the long weekend! We want to honor the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our country - as well as the incredible sacrifices made by their families and friends left behind.

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

VIRGINIA PUBLIC COLLEGES RAISE TUITION

Most Virginia colleges have voted to approve tuition increases of 3% or more for the 2023-2024 school year. The tuition hikes come on the heels of several years of little to no change in tuition during the COVID-19 pandemic. Virginia Tech, George Mason, and Christopher Newport have all said that their increases depend on the state budget, and they may cancel the tuition increase with enough state funding. The state budget will not be released until June at the earliest, in part because of the ongoing national debt ceiling negotiations. 

GEORGE WASHINGTON REVOLUTIONARIES

Following student objections, GW changed its nickname from the “Colonials” to the “Revolutionaries” this past week. The committee working on the name sifted through 8,000 suggestions to find the new name, which will go into effect during the 2023-2024 academic year. 

U.S. NEWS CHANGES RANKINGS METHODOLOGY

The U.S. News rankings have been under a lot of scrutiny recently, as schools critique the rating standards and even decline to participate in the popular ranking. In response, U.S. News has announced that it will alter its criteria. Metrics that track alumni giving, class size, faculty with the highest degree in their fields, and the high school standing of the entering class will be removed from the ranking (though still reflected on the U.S. News college profiles). Instead, the rankings will emphasize diversity and “success in graduating students from different backgrounds.” The first round of rankings with these revised criteria will be released this fall. 

529 CONTRIBUTIONS INCREASE

With rising inflation last fall and early this year, contributions to 529 accounts have been on the decline - about $3 billion total late last year and early this year, compared to around $7 billion in the same time period last cycle. However, as inflation eased in recent months, contributions appear to be rebounding close to last year’s levels. Check out this article for more information - not only about recent changes, but also about 529s in general and how they work.

COURT UPHOLDS TJ ADMISSIONS PRACTICES

The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that TJ’s new admissions policies do not discriminate against Asian-Americans, and that the changes help create equal opportunity for all applicants. This means that TJ’s new admissions process, which includes increasing the minimum GPA and coursework requirements, increasing the class size, and eliminating the standardized testing requirement, will stay in place. Many expect the decision to reach the U.S. Supreme Court on appeal - only time will tell!

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Wondering which college majors make the most money after graduation? Top of the list is one you’ve probably never considered: operations research. Computer science, computer engineering, and veterinary medicine also crack the top ten. These stand in contrast to the most popular majors: business, nursing, and psychology. Where you go to school also has an impact, with computer science majors from schools like Harvard, Carnegie Mellon, Princeton, and Penn making over $200,000 four years after graduating. P.S. curious about the lowest-paid majors? The bottom of the list includes fields like music, dance, drama, and religious studies. 

After #bamarush went viral on TikTok last year, HBO (I am struggling to get on board with the Max terminology!) followed with the Bama Rush documentary, which follows four students through sorority recruitment. The documentary highlights some of the highs and lows of the process - and while some students are happy with how it explores the complexities of sorority life, others feel that its representation of Greek life at Alabama is too negative. Check it out - but keep in mind that Greek life at Alabama is unique, and the recruitment process will look very different at different schools!

It may be hard to imagine any college student taking a voluntary technology fast and month-long vow of silence, but that is exactly what students do in Penn’s Living Deliberately class. Students learn about different monastic practices in class before putting them into action - yes, including waking up at five am and making arrangements to do their homework for other classes silently and without a computer. Believe it or not, the class has a wait list. The article argues that this should be more common, with colleges introducing a low-tech first year program that allows students to take a break from phones and computers and do a lot more reading and contemplation.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

I finally graduated from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program after spending last week at their headquarters in New York. Pursuing this program on top of running DC College Counseling definitely kept me busy this past year (understatement!) but it was worth every minute.

It’s been a while since I have walked across a stage, that’s for sure!

I bet most people have no idea how much Goldman invests into the small business landscape nationally - it’s absolutely incredible and I just feel so grateful to be the beneficiary of their generosity. In addition to learning a ton of content knowledge - I can make financial projections now! - I also really enjoyed getting to know the other entrepreneurs in my program.

The BEST group!

We came from so many different demographics and I just have so much respect for each of them. I actually started tearing up at our graduation just thinking about how lucky we are to live in a country where people with nothing can build a legacy for their families and truly change the course of so many lives in the process. Entrepreneurship is an amazing thing.

Lastly, I can’t write about the week without mentioning what was perhaps my favorite moment of the program! We were at a reception and one of the Goldman employees saw my name tag and got really excited, saying she had been trying to find me. Wait for it - she was one of my former students, an Oakton HS graduate!

How crazy is that - talk about things coming full circle!! She graduated from Notre Dame, which she loved, and of course now has an incredible job. It made me so happy to see how she has built a fantastic life for herself over the last decade, and that just put everything else all into perspective :)

Weekly Update: October 14

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

FEDERAL JUDGES BOYCOTT YALE LAW GRADUATES

A U.S. Circuit Court judge called for a boycott of hiring law clerks from Yale Law School in a speech to the Federalist Society in September. Last week, a second judge signed onto the boycott. The judges argue that the boycott is a result of what they call the “lack of free speech on law school campuses,” particularly at Yale. 

UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI FRATERNITY CHAPTER CLOSED

The Miami chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon was closed last Friday following an investigation of a party the fraternity held. The investigation was started after student reporters in the school newspaper, the Miami Hurricane, interviewed multiple female students who suspected they may have been drugged. The Hurricane also reported that a video taken at the party showed a crowd singing a song with disturbing sexual content. 

GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY STUDENT GOVERNMENT ELECTIONS

With so many Georgetown students interested in government and politics, we might expect a lot of attention on their student government elections. But this year, the battle between insider candidates with significant student government experiences and two outsiders who want to shake things up has some parallels to the current political landscape of the country- which this article explores in depth.

MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT RESIGNS

Samuel Stanley Jr. is Michigan State’s third president to resign in the last four years. The resignation was in response to pressure from the board of trustees after what they saw as the mishandling of a Title IX reporting case against the dean of the university’s business school. Sanjay Gupta, the dean of the business school, resigned in August after he allegedly did not follow university guidelines for reporting sexual misconduct.

STANFORD PRESIDENT ISSUES APOLOGY

Stanford created a task force earlier this year to investigate the history of Jewish admissions and experience, and recently released the finding that the university actively undertook efforts to limit the admission of Jewish students in the 1950s. In response to the findings, Stanford’s president released an institutional apology, along with a plan from the task force for steps that the university will take moving forward.      

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

At least a dozen college students are converging in Hawaii this week for the Ironman World Championship, more than ever before. Typically, these races are difficult for younger people to have the time and financial resources to complete - but the COVID-19 pandemic has given college students much more time for training. And with over 40 NCAA schools now offering triathlon as a sport, this may be a change that we continue to see in the future. 

This expose on the troubled teen industry - the “wilderness camps,” boot camps, boarding schools, and other institutions that cater to students with mental illness - reveals that many of the methods that are used to help these kids may actually be causing harm. Powerful interviews with former patients and experts reveal the negative impact that these types of treatment centers can have. 

This interesting article argues for a so-called “no-limit tuition” approach, in which students from very wealthy backgrounds would pay significant portions of their income to attend college. I don’t personally agree with this approach, but it is an interesting method to contemplate when it comes to college tuition reform. 

Looking for some final tips to finish up your college essays? Check out this article to read about why it’s important to maintain your unique voice - not those overly descriptive literary techniques from 9th grade English class. 

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

We’re wrapping up the last of those early applications this week, and crossing our fingers for all of our readers with 10/15 deadlines - UNC, UGA, U of SC, and Clemson early action applications are due tomorrow!

Important PSA for any Clemson applicants who waited until today’s SAT score release to decide whether they’d apply test optional - you need to submit that application TODAY because they are sending the portal access overnight. Then you need to go into the portal in the morning to confirm that your file is complete by tomorrow’s deadline. Operating this way is just the worst - we are all about sending apps as early as possible - but this year some students didn’t have a choice because of the SAT score release date.

Also this weekend, don’t forget about the FCPS College Fair this Sunday, October 16! This is a really great opportunity for seniors to demonstrate interest in the schools on their list, and for younger students to ask questions and learn more about colleges as they start to put their lists together. 

If you are completing the FAFSA, College Access Fairfax provides some great resources and personalized help with completing this form - check out one of their Completion Events to get the FAFSA completed and submitted this month. 

Finally, if you are interested in hiring a tutor for your child, this article will cover everything you need to know - plus, see a shout-out to our own pro bono program at the end!

Enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend!


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Weekly Update: August 12

This is going to be a shorter-than-usual blog post because OMG we are swamped!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

COLLEGE MOVE INS BEGIN

College freshmen all over the country are beginning to move into their dorms, and I thought it was cute to see Angelina Jolie moving her daughter Zahara into Spelman College this week. Good luck to Zahara and everyone else kicking off their first weekend in college! (Be safe!)

UPDATED COVID GUIDANCE FROM THE CDC

We’re all hoping for a more normal academic year now that the CDC updated guidance for handling Covid in schools. Although am I the only one starting to get a little nervous about Monkeypox?!

INFLATION IMPACTING TUITION RATES

Tuition rates are rising substantially as a result of inflation, which is less than ideal timing considering the state of everyone’s college savings accounts! It’s going to be interesting to see whether the economy has an impact on the college admissions process overall - my guess is that we will see many more students choosing state universities with lower price points.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

I am not sure whether I’ve heard more about Bama Rush this week from my 17-year-old clients or 37-year-old peers, but it sure is the talk of the country right now. Remember that all of these stories are really for entertainment purposes and that sorority recruitment (as well as greek life in general) at most schools is nothing like what’s been unfolding on TikTok this week. Check out the New York Times coverage here.

Rush (or maybe Bid Day?) 2006 at Wash U!

As Inside Higher Ed explained, the number of part-time application readers is skyrocketing this year and it’s important to understand that context when describing specific activities or other application information that a reader may not know if they are unfamiliar with a particular school community. Check out my TikTok on the subject!

Some colleges are taking their consideration of race in the admissions process to a new level, according to the Wall Street Journal. A test group of six colleges, including our neighbor down the street George Mason, is proactively contacting applicants who meet certain criteria to let them know that they are guaranteed a spot in the freshman class if they apply. Their study showed “a particularly strong effect” on the way this type of proactive notification influenced the behavior of underrepresented students.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

Then 2nd week of August is now in the books with another 86 appointments taking place. Since there are many tasks and essays that students can’t start until August 1, the three weeks before FCPS begins on August 22 are without question the craziest three weeks of our year. I swear it feels like a race against the clock (and our sanity)! One more week to go, and then it will calm down a little bit after the Fairfax kids are back in session.

On a happy note, our students are making AMAZING progress. There are a few who are already in the final stages of reviewing PDF copies of their applications and we have our first student scheduled to submit his early decision application next week! If you are a parent of a senior and still need help, don’t hesitate to put your name on our Late Start Waitlist - we will be able to take at least five new students early enough for them to be able to complete all of their early applications with us.

Have a great weekend!


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