Weekly Update: March 6

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

COLORADO COLLEGE WITHDRAWS FROM ANNUAL RANKINGS

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

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

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

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

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

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

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

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

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

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

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

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

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

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

Weekly Update: January 18

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

CYBER ATTACK SHUTS DOWN SCHOOL DISTRICT

Students in Des Moines, Iowa, received two unexpected days off of school last week. The Des Moines school district canceled classes following a cyber attack. Specific details about the attack have not been released, but the district has been working hard to restore the network. On Thursday, students returned to school, although families were warned that wi-fi would not be available yet.

SEVEN FCPS HIGH SCHOOLS NOW UNDER FIRE IN NATIONAL MERIT CONTROVERSY

The situation has continued to unfold over the past few weeks, and seven different high schools in Fairfax County have now admitted that they did not provide timely notification of National Merit Commendations. I want to share what we do with our own students as a matter of course each year, in case this helps anyone. Instead of waiting for official notification, we just compare the student’s selection index on their 11th grade PSAT with the score cutoffs online. I would never have a student submit an application with this award until they receive official notification, but the selection index should provide an indication as to whether official notification should be imminent. And if it doesn’t come automatically, the student knows to ask! [Note: I find that Compass Prep typically has the best information on cutoffs, but their site appears to be down on the date this post was written!].

VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION SUBMITS NEW PLAN FOR HISTORY AND SOCIAL STUDIES STANDARDS

Two months after its revised proposal was rejected, the Virginia Department of Education submitted yet another draft of its K-12 history and social studies standards. Although the practice of updating standards is usually smooth, Virginia’s history and social studies draft came under attack in the fall of 2022. Many believed the standards “diluted” topics related to cultural diversity and racism. The Board of Education is now tasked with reviewing the new 68-page proposal.

LANGUAGE CONTROVERSY AT USC

Last week, USC made headlines when its School of Social Work announced that it will be replacing the term ‘field work’ with ‘practicum’ in its curriculum. The change, which was explained in a letter to the Suzanne Dworak-Peck Practicum Education community, is part of an effort to promote more inclusive language. As the memo noted, “Language can be powerful, and phrases such as ‘going into the field’ or ‘field work’ may have connotations for descendants of slavery and immigrant workers.” The announcement has caused some confusion and outrage for some. In response,  Elizabeth A. Graddy, interim provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, clarified, “The university does not maintain a list of banned or discouraged words. We will continue to use words – including ‘field’ – that accurately encompass and describe our work and research.” 

IDAHO MURDER SUSPECT APPEARS IN COURT

Bryan Kohberger, the man accused of murdering four University of Idaho students, made a brief court appearance last Thursday. He waived his right to a speedy trial and will now await his next court date, scheduled for late June. To date, Kohberger has not spoken publicly about the tragedy or entered a plea. If convicted, he could face the death penalty.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Before heading off to college, most teenagers are warned about the dangers of drugs, alcohol, and partying. But there’s another risky behavior that could leave undergrads in jeopardy: gambling. Thirty-six states have legalized sports betting in recent years, according to the American Gaming Commission, and gambling companies often seek out college students as their target customers. Several universities have even made deals with sports gambling companies, leaving young adults vulnerable to addiction and financial ruin. To help students avoid the alluring trap of sports betting, experts insist that parents look out for certain markers of behavior and encourage universities to do their part in providing education and support for this lesser-known danger. 

We’ve got bad news for students who plan to study psychology or marketing in college. Last week Business Insider revealed a list of 12 most useless college majors, according to career experts. With the cost of higher education continuing to rise, the list considers subject areas that won’t have the best return on investment. Perhaps not surprising, the arts- theater, acting, and film- all made the list. Some may be shocked, though, by other subjects in the top ten. Psychology was listed because students often require a graduate degree to forge a career in the field. And English took the number eight spot. Career experts argue that it’s probably more practical to major in business over English, unless you want to be a teacher or writer. What does our office of English majors think about this? A bachelor’s in English might not pave the way for one specific job, but that’s what we love about our degrees–you can do just about anything with it!

For the majority of Americans, the University of Idaho murders are a tragedy. For some however, the night of November 13 is pure entertainment. The increasing popularity of true crime shows and podcasts has led to a surge in amateur investigations of this horrific incident, especially on platforms like TikTok. Thousands of videos have been posted, including some from psychic mediums, who revealed their theories on the mystery murders. Seems harmless, right? Wrong! Many of these videos shared misinformation and accused innocent individuals of involvement in the murders. As a result, members of the University of Idaho community- a professor, victims’ friends and a surviving roommate- have all come under attack. And it’s not just online fury. Some have received real-life death threats. These safety concerns call into question the “wild west”-like nature of social media platforms and ethical concerns over exploitations of true crime and tragedy.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

We’ve been carefully following the issue of compensatory education for FCPS students during the pandemic period, and I attended the first school board session on the subject last week on January 10. I actually asked a question at the end of the meeting - I wanted to know whether or not private school tuition reimbursement would be allowed, but didn’t get a clear answer. The lack of clear answers seemed to be a pattern…

Interestingly, I found out later that the FY 2024 budget only allocates $2 million towards this ENTIRE compensatory education fund. That makes a little more sense to me in terms of the lack of clarity - there’s just not enough money available to provide adequate compensation. We don’t know exactly how many students were impacted, but if we use the estimated 25,000 number provided by the district (another estimation provided was 26,500, so I am trying to be conservative), we end up with $80/student. If half of those families do not pursue any type of compensation, that leaves us with $160/student.

As a taxpayer as well as a parent of a student impacted, I have mixed feelings on this entire issue, but I do think that every family should know what their rights are. I have personally found the Fairfax County Parents Association to be a great source of information and would recommend them to other families who want to stay in the loop.

On another note, we recently learned about an exciting opportunity for high school STEM students in the greater DC area. If you’ve conducted original STEM research, submit your work to the Junior Science and Humanities Symposium. You might just have the chance to present your work and compete for scholarships. For more information, please visit the JSHS website.

Have a great [short] week!

Weekly Update: November 11

We want to thank all of our veterans for their service 🇺🇸

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

LEARN BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING AT SIX FLAGS

Every year, over 100 first year students in biomedical engineering and physics at Johns Hopkins have a unique learning experience - riding roller coasters at Six Flags. The program - really an experiment - has been running for 20 years, with students measuring acceleration, heart rate, altitude, and other metrics on the amusement park rides. It also serves as a bonding experience for these future biomedical engineering majors. 

ABA VOTES ON TEST SCORES IN LAW SCHOOL ACCREDITATION

In one week, the ABA’s Council of the Section of Legal Education will vote on whether to continue to require standardized testing be used in law school admissions in order for law schools to remain accredited by the organization. Currently, law schools must use a “valid and reliable” test for admissions - a category that grew to include the GRE in November 2021. 

Even if the measure passes next Friday, it will still need to go before the ABA’s House of Delegates in February for final approval. In a 2018 attempt to eliminate the requirement, the measure was withdrawn before that approval process began. 

“VARSITY BLUES” YALE COACH SENTENCED TO FIVE MONTHS

The former Yale women’s soccer coach, who pled guilty to a charge of wire fraud in 2019 for his involvement in the Varsity Blues scandal, was sentenced to five months in prison on Wednesday. The coach, Rudy Meredith, was the first to tell authorities about Rick Singer, after Meredith was caught soliciting a $450,000 bribe from a father in April 2018.

SENATOR BEN SASSE APPROVED AS UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA PRESIDENT

Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE) will leave the Senate in January in order to assume his new position as the President of the University of Florida on February 6, 2023. The Board of Governors approved Sasse’s appointment during a regular meeting on Wednesday despite the ongoing controversy related to his selection.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

A group of college students move into a convent… It may sound like the beginning of a punchline, but this is what happened at Neumann University in Pennsylvania. Neumann, a Catholic university, wanted more housing for students - and the convent on the edge of campus, once home to 1,600 nuns and now with a population of only about 300, had some extra bedrooms. While the nuns and students have separate entrances to the building and eat in separate dining halls, they have bonded over dorm pizza parties, painting pumpkins, and even learning a TikTok dance. Neumann anticipates moving even more students into the sisters’ home in the future. 

What does buying tickets to Taylor Swift’s tour have to do with college admissions? According to Jeff Selingo, buying concert tickets and applying to college have a few similarities. In his latest newsletter, Selingo explores the impact of early admissions, particularly early decision, on college admissions. At some schools, it is basically impossible to be admitted without applying early - and this phenomenon is only increasing. With ED becoming the new RD, we expect this trend will only be exacerbated by an economic downturn. During the Great Recession, colleges relied heavily on ED, so there is precedent to this increase. 

Lastly, don’t miss the Washington Post’s concerning expose about Yale’s handling of students with mental health challenges. I know that dealing with these struggles is sort of a lose-lose situation from an institutional standpoint- the colleges are of course very concerned about the students’ welfare, but still need to minimize their own liability. Still, this does not feel like a good solution to me at all - there has to be a better way.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

I just finished the 2nd to last week of the intensive part of my Goldman Sachs 10KSB program! (we will still meet during 2023 and have our “graduation” in May but the commitment will be substantially smaller than the 20+ hour weekly time commitment this past fall).

Anyway, we were working on operations and processes this past week (which I am truly passionate about) and had a fun exercise in which we had to work with our groups to provide instructions to build a PBJ sandwich. I led my group and it turned out we were only the 7th in the entire history of the program to wind up with an actual sandwich at the end! The other groups wound up with a peanut butter jar on the bread and so forth, but I helped my group create a detailed standard operating procedure to ensure a consistent product with no room for error.

This is exactly how I run DC College Counseling, and I have to say I am very proud of what a great job we do from an operations standpoint. We are not figuring things out on the fly - from college essays to proofreading applications to course registration - even for providing reminders and updating status charts - we have a well-thought-out system for every single thing we do. This gives us the opportunity to provide a consistently amazing client experience that reduces stress for our families and yields the positive outcomes they want.

(Ok - done bragging - now I will go back to struggling through financial statements, which are 100% NOT my superpower).

In other news - our juniors are really focused on the college search process right now, and we are so excited to get their feedback! It really is like a puzzle, finding a great list for each individual student, and we have so much fun working with our students to find their perfect fit(s)

If you are feeling overwhelmed by the choices or unsure how to research schools, book a Meet & Greet to learn more about how we can help!

Lastly, if you’re a high school student who loves to read, or is looking for a volunteer opportunity, become a member of the Fairfax Library’s Teen Advisory Board. The position will allow students in grades 7-12 to share ideas to improve teen programming at the libraries, as well as gain volunteer hours. Email alisha.hasson@fairfaxcounty.gov for more information or to apply. 

Enjoy the weekend!

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Weekly Update: November 4

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

AFFIRMATIVE ACTION BEFORE THE SUPREME COURT

Like many in the higher education world, we were glued to Monday’s arguments in the Supreme Court! After the arguments, it seems likely that the Court will decide to eliminate race-consciousness in college admissions at the end of this term. This is likely going to have a reverberating impact on many aspects of the process, so we’ll be keeping a close watch on this one!

VIRGINIA’S FIRST COLLEGE OF PUBLIC HEALTH

The school itself has been around for a while, but George Mason recently announced it will be renaming its College of Health and Human Services, instituting the George Mason College of Public Health as the first college of public health in Virginia. The College, which houses several schools at GMU including the School of Nursing, will offer both online and in person classes to graduate and undergraduate students.

FORDHAM INSTITUTES BOOSTER SHOT REQUIREMENT

On Tuesday, Fordham University’s policy requiring a mandatory fourth dose of the COVID-19 vaccine went into effect. This vaccine mandate, one of the strictest in the country, sparked backlash - with a group of Fordham Law School students announcing that they will file a lawsuit in the Bronx Supreme Court against the mandate. 

STRUGGLING ECONOMY IMPACTS UNIVERSITY ENDOWMENTS

Many schools are seeing the largest dip in their endowments since 2009 as assets continue to decline. Wash U, for example, lost over 10% of its endowment this fiscal year - slightly more than the average 7.8% loss across schools. For wealthier colleges, however, the impact has been less intense - with Princeton and Harvard losing just over 1% of their endowments. A continued decrease could impact faculty salaries and hiring, new projects on campuses, and more. 

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

The affirmative action case in the Supreme Court is generating a lot of articles around college admissions this week. We were especially intrigued by this article from The Atlantic, which explores the multitude of factors that go into the admissions process (as we always tell families, at a certain level, it doesn’t actually have much to do with how wonderful the student is!). And CNN dives into the specific relationship between Asian-American students and affirmative action - a particular issue as the cases currently before the Court allege that UNC and Harvard are discriminating against Asian-American students. 

Plus, yet more evidence of gaps in learning for students who attended high school virtually during the pandemic - particularly in classes like math, where foundational concepts clearly affect mastery of more complex material down the line. Math professors are faced with the dilemma of giving out more poor grades and failing more students, or changing their curricula and focusing more on fundamentals (we’re in favor of the latter!). 

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

Shannon got back from a trip to Richmond recently to see VCU and the University of Richmond. Here’s what she had to say:

After visiting both schools at the same time, I was reminded of what a great microcosm of college variety they are! For sophomores or juniors just beginning their college search, Richmond is a great trip to take. Students will be able to experience and figure out whether they prefer an urban or suburban school; a big or small school; a public or private school… having two schools so close together that are such opposites is a really wonderful opportunity to start to figure out what works for you. 

November 1 deadlines may have passed, but things are still busy over here! We are focusing on wrapping up applications for our late-start seniors, as well as law school applications. We’re also getting started on military academy applications (remember to start these early!) and brainstorming college lists with our Class of 2024 juniors. Finally, we are continuing to finalize course selection as well as scholarship applications with our college experience coaching students. Phew! One of these days we will take a vacation ;)

Enjoy the beautiful weather this weekend!

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Weekly Update: October 28

Happy Halloween!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

HALF OF STAFFORD HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS OUT SICK

1,000 students at Stafford High School in Fredericksburg, nearly half of the student body, were out sick today with “flu-like and gastrointestinal symptoms.” The school is investigating the cause of the illness, and currently plans to be open on Monday. 

ELI LILLY CREATES NEW PURDUE SCHOLARSHIP

Eli Lilly has committed a $92.5 million gift to Purdue University, nearly half of which will fund a new pharmaceutical manufacturing scholarship program. The 75-100 students who receive the scholarship each year will receive full tuition, in addition to guaranteed internships or co-ops with Eli Lilly. The school expects to award the first of these scholarships next fall.

The remaining $50 million will go towards extending the established research partnership between Eli Lilly and Purdue. 

UMD MAKES NEW “TERRAPIN COMMITMENT”

UMD pledged this week to invest $20 million in need-based aid. The program will help fill in the gaps for low-income students who receive federal Pell Grants, to make tuition and fees more affordable for these students and families. The “Terrapin Commitment” joins programs such as UNC’s “Carolina Covenant” and Michigan’s “Go Blue Guarantee” in making it easier for low-income students to attend public universities. 

NC STATE COPES WITH STUDENT DEATH BY SUICIDE

This week, NC State suffered the third reported death by suicide of a student in the last two months. With 1,100 deaths on college campuses per year, suicide is the second leading cause of death for college students, and this is another harsh reminder of the mental health crisis that all schools continue to face. 

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

This article from The Atlantic explores the income gap at colleges and universities, in light of the affirmative action case coming before the Supreme Court. The author, Richard D. Kahlenberg, is serving as an expert witness for Students for Fair Admissions, the plaintiff in the case. He argues that striking down affirmative action is a progressive move, because it will require universities to give an “admissions boost” to economically disadvantaged applicants, rather than doing so along racial lines. Kahlenberg notes that while Harvard’s classes reflect America in racial diversity, the school has 15 times as many students from the top quintile of wealth distribution as from the bottom quintile. Likewise, UNC has 16 times as many students from the top fifth as the bottom fifth. He argues that a more authentic way to achieve racial diversity, after affirmative action is struck down, will be by admitting more economically disadvantaged students, noting that this is the case at schools like UC Berkeley and UCLA, which do not use race in admissions. 

Penn’s doctoral program in higher education management - a class for aspiring professionals hoping to become top-level administrators and university presidents - dedicated an entire weekend to discussing college sports and the NCAA. The importance of this subject matter is a clear sign of the impact that athletics have at the top levels of college administration. Students were asked questions about various aspects of athletic policy and budgeting - for example, if they were presidents of Big Ten schools, what would they do with the income from the conference’s new media rights deal? These types of questions are becoming increasingly more important for college presidents to answer as college sports continue to grow in popularity and revenue.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

Those November 1 deadlines are right around the corner - good luck to those submitting this weekend and CONGRATULATIONS to all of our seniors who have submitted their early applications! We are so proud of all of you. Enjoy the Halloween weekend!

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Weekly Update: October 21

Hope everyone is staying calm this week - those early deadlines are coming up fast!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

CLEMSON’S NEW 10/15 DEADLINE CAUSES PANIC NATIONWIDE FOR HS SENIORS (EXCEPT OUR CLIENTS)

Back in May, when Clemson announced that they were moving to a 10/15 EA deadline by which student files had to be complete, I posted online that I knew it was going to be a disaster and I was right! A complete file means that all materials must be received and processed by the deadline, which is highly unusual - almost every school in the country has a materials deadline a week after the actual deadline.

That new policy, in combination with the 10/15 deadline (which only a handful of other colleges share - the rest are 11/1 or later) and the fact that students had to log in post-submission and submit a Self-Reported Academic Record before 10/15 was a recipe for disaster. We were ON IT and basically spent last Friday and Saturday hunting down every last one of our Clemson applicants to make sure every SRAR and file was complete by 10/15. And they all were!

Meanwhile, all hell broke loose a few days after the 15th! Tons and tons of applicants (my best guess is thousands) across the country were notified by Clemson that they were no longer under consideration because they missed the deadline and OMG they were furious. After a lot of social media bashing, Clemson ultimately buckled and responded by giving them another week, but wow - lots of needless stress. Moral of the story, read the directions or work with counselors who will read them on your behalf! 😀

LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS DO NOTHING

No, seriously. In an effort to improve student mental health on campus, the university created a “Do Nothing” course, where students learn about mind-body techniques including sleep hygiene and Tai Chi. The course has the highest enrollment out of any non-required course at the university. 

BODY OF PRINCETON UNIVERSITY STUDENT FOUND

Misrach Ewunetie, a Princeton student, had been missing for six days when her body was found on the campus’s facilities grounds yesterday. Police note that the tragedy does not appear to have been a result of suspicious or criminal activity, and both the university and Misrach’s high school have issued statements of mourning and support for her family.

TJHSST REGISTRATION OPENS SOON

Middle school students interested in applying for admission to TJ should note that registration opens next week, and will close in mid-November. Students can review the eligibility requirements and apply on the FCPS website. 

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

In this week’s Next newsletter, Jeff Selingo considers the “content” and “distribution” model as it applies to colleges. Many technology companies that he uses as examples started out as distribution channels only - think Netflix - and then went on to become content creators, while others (he mentions Disney) went the other way around, moving from creating content to controlling distribution (hello, Disney+). Selingo asks what the content is that universities uniquely create - their professors, curriculum, residential experience, etc. - and how it is distributed. As colleges move more and more content online, these questions will continue to resonate.

This is an idea that comes up nearly every year, but one that is worth considering for students and families - the way that niche sports can provide the typically white, wealthy students that excel in them with a path to admission at selective colleges. We’ve heard about the private squash and tennis courts at Connecticut homes, and this article dives into the world of fencing. But this path to admissions may be short-lived - if affirmative action is struck down by the Supreme Court, expect colleges to overhaul their admissions processes. 

If you’ve been reading the blog for a while, you may remember MIT’s controversial reasoning behind reinstating test scores as part of the admissions process - that this metric, long considered a source of bias in the process, actually made it more equitable. A study from a Vanderbilt professor shows that MIT may have been onto something. Admissions officers find it much more difficult to evaluate students fairly when test scores are optional, and overall it has made the admissions process much more subjective than when scores were more widely used. 

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

Some local news - Fairfax County health and medical science students are gaining valuable immersive experience through a partnership with GW, which provides access to the university’s Mobile Learning Center. The learning center includes AI aspects, virtual demonstration, and simulation activities. 

I was quoted in U.S. News and World Report this week in an article about how to know that you’re truly ready for college and all it entails! Check that out here.

We are excited to be wrapping up applications with most of our seniors! We know that the waiting is often the hardest part of the process, but hope that everyone submitting for the 11/1 deadline gets a chance to relax and celebrate a job well done. 

P.S. If you are interested in working with us for those regular decision deadlines (they are coming up faster than you think!), we have space! Please book a Meet & Greet!

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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: October 7

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

CAMPUS TRAGEDIES

There were, sadly, multiple acts of campus violence this week. A Purdue University student is in custody and charged with the murder of his roommate, who was killed just after midnight on Wednesday. Also on Wednesday, a professor at the University of Arizona was shot and killed - a former student is in custody. Both campuses have since reopened and there are believed to be no further threats to students or staff. Our thoughts are with those who were affected by these tragedies. 

COLLEGE ENROLLMENT CONTINUES TO DECLINE…

Though many facets of life are coming back to normal after the pandemic, college enrollment continues on its decline. The enrollment decrease is caused by a combination of factors, including cuts to state funding for public colleges, students questioning the value of a four-year degree, and the rise in online learning. Many colleges are shutting their doors in response to these issues. 

…BUT NOT AT SELECTIVE INSTITUTIONS

Right now, you might be wondering, “If enrollment is going down and colleges need more tuition dollars, why are things so competitive for my student?” The answer is that the enrollment declines and financial burdens have fallen mainly on community colleges and less selective institutions - at the elite colleges most of our students apply to, things are actually on the increase! The University of Michigan, for example, broke its enrollment record this fall, enrolling over 50,000 students at the Ann Arbor campus for the second year in a row. Don’t get too excited, though - this doesn’t come close to compensating for the 28% increase in applicants over the last several years. And for elite colleges that don’t plan to expand enrollment, the landscape is even worse.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

If you’ve been reading the blog for a while, you’ll know we aren’t the biggest fans of the U.S. News rankings for undergraduate schools. But we know that families continue to use them, and it is easy to see why! With SO MUCH information out there, it can be tempting to look for a definitive ranking that helps simplify the college search process. But the U.S. News rankings don’t often answer the most important questions that students and families should consider during the college search. Check out this article for the questions you should ask instead!

In his most recent newsletter, Jeff Selingo addresses the issue of what students are actually learning at college - and its value. He explores the disconnect between higher education and industry, arguing that while students can often present their “hard skills” easily on a resume, they have difficulty translating the “soft skills” that they learn in college - like writing, collaboration, creativity, management, and initiative - when interviewing for positions that require these types of skills. Students can develop these types of skills through experiential learning opportunities, like research and field work, as well as internships and other types of work experience during college. 

Fortunately, the job market these students are preparing for is a good one! This article notes that the types of things students want from their jobs post-pandemic - like flexibility and work-life balance - are different from what companies offered in the past. The average student finishes college with at least one job offer, and many career counselors speak of having to help students consider multiple offers. To take advantage of the job market, students should make sure to speak with their career services office - yes, even freshman and sophomores! Take advantage of the resources your school offers to set you up for success.

With many college students living away from home for the first time, it’s no wonder that they have a lot of questions for mom - from how to get a stain out of the laundry, to how to handle difficult issues, to just wanting a homemade cookie and cuddle from the family dog. That’s exactly why two moms set up their “Ask A Mom” booth on Penn State’s University Park campus! Students (as well as faculty and staff) can stop by to pet the dog, have a cookie, and ask any questions that they have to these two local moms. This is such a great example of a small act of kindness in this college community - we’d love to see it happen at more schools!

While this section is supposed to cover the best articles, I have a “worst” article of the week to share because it bothered me so much and it’s been on my mind. First of all, there are no "big tricks" to getting into elite colleges anymore. There are actions that applicants can take to raise or lessen their chances, but the idea of a (legal) "big trick" is silly and false. Secondly, while there are many reasons to go to private school, a leg up in the college admissions process is one of them anymore. All things being equal, elite colleges would rather NOT have students from private school - they want diversity!

Lastly, I had to mention the image in the article that explained how JFK went to Choate before going to Harvard. I actually laughed when I saw that - is that supposed to suggest that Choate students today have an easy path to Harvard? JFK graduated from Choate in 1935! A thing or two has changed since then. I graduated from Choate almost 20 years ago and I can assure you that only the absolute best and the brightest went to Harvard in the early 2000s. And the college admissions process today is a million times more competitive than it was then! Give me a break…

And on a lighter note, SO many people emailed me the Town & Country piece Why Are More and More Northern Kids Heading South For College? this past week that I finally broke down and bought a subscription so I could read the whole thing! It’s true - the percentage of our students looking at Southern schools grows by leaps and bounds every single year. The article’s findings support what we have seen anecdotally: students are drawn South by the sense of community and school spirit; the weather; the perception of more fun; and yes, the politics. “For some conservative-leaning families,” the article reads, “many Southern schools’ literal and figurative distance from what they describe as the ‘woke’ wave in parts of the country has become a huge selling point.”

SMU: One of the most beautiful campuses in America!

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

We’re wrapping up those applications for early deadlines, and many of our students have submitted and are finally able to rest and celebrate! We’re so proud of all of our seniors. 

This is the time of year when we hear from MANY students and families about how relieved they are to have their essays completed early, while their peers and friends are still stressed about working on college applications. If you are a junior who wants to Finish by September too, now is the perfect time to book a Meet & Greet with us and hear about how we can help you get on the right track to be clicking that “submit” button next fall!

Enjoy the weekend!

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Weekly Update: September 30

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

TRACKING HURRICANE IAN

Our thoughts are with everyone who has been affected by Hurricane Ian this week. Several schools, including the University of Florida, have been closed for several days and are expected to resume normal operations next week. The storm is making its way up the East Coast this weekend, so stay safe!

THE FAFSA OPENS TOMORROW

The FAFSA will open on October 1, and if you intend to complete the form, we encourage you to do it as soon as possible. If you are unsure whether or not you should complete the FAFSA, you can check out our earlier posts here and here to help make the best decision for you and your family. There are a lot of myths about the FAFSA that circle around every year, so if any of our current clients have questions about the process, make sure to reach out to us so we can help you make this decision.

NEW EXCELENCIA SEALS AWARDED

Since 2019, Excelencia in Education has given the Seal of Excelencia to schools that serve Latino students. The organization is dedicated to Latino college completion, and this year honored six institutions including UC Santa Cruz and UT Arlington. Nine schools were also recertified this year, including Arizona State, the University of Arizona, and Florida International University. 

COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK FIVE

Lots of college football news this week, including a potential breakthrough for NC State and the challenges that UGA will face in the SEC. Are you following the college football season? Let us know your team in the comments!

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

This article explores the (somewhat bleak) reality of declining in-state students at flagship state universities. According to a report from the Brookings Institute, Alabama now has 34% in-state students to 66% out of state - a big flip from its 2002 ratio of 75-25. Clemson (though not the flagship) has about 50% out of state students. These numbers stand in contrast to some other states, like North Carolina, which limit the percentage of out-of-state students to 18% at all public colleges and universities. But for many of these schools, taking more (high-paying) students from out of state is a financial necessity - Alabama, for instance, receives only 10% of its funding from the state, and needs to make up a shortfall with out of state tuition dollars. 

If you are looking for statistics on price, admission, or really anything else to help you get a sense of the college landscape, our clients know that your best bet is generally a school’s Common Data Set. These can often be buried on a school’s website, but you can usually find them by Googling the school’s name and “Common Data Set.” For more about the type of data you’ll be able to find on the CDS, check out this New York Times article. 

This is not an article per se, but I have been REALLY enjoying the Gatecrashers podcast and would highly recommend it. It’s about the history of anti-semitism at Ivy League schools (I’m still on Episode #1 about Columbia) and it’s just amazing how much I’m learning.

I had no clue that routine aspects of the process as we know it today are actually a result of anti-semitic practices from long ago- for example, questions about parent occupations on college applications were originally included to try to identify Jewish students and keep them out. Anyway, this is definitely worth a listen!

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

It has been a flurry of submissions for us this week, especially for students applying to UGA, U of SC, Clemson, UNC, and other schools with 10/15 deadlines! A huge congratulations to those students who finished up their submissions this week. 

This is also the time of year when we hear from our students how happy they are that they finished up most, if not all, of their essay work over the summer. Every July, students and parents wonder why they need so much time for essay work, and every September they are thrilled to be done and able to focus on schoolwork and enjoying senior year! If you’re a junior and want to be the first one of your friends to finish up applications next fall, don’t forget to book a Meet & Greet - now is the perfect time to start working on your applications.

Stay safe and dry this weekend! My daughter is supposed to cheer at the Madison homecoming game tonight with her VYI team and we are all crossing our fingers it doesn’t get rained out!

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Weekly Update: September 23

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

FLORIDA A&M STUDENTS SUE THE STATE OF FLORIDA

Six students from Florida A&M, an HBCU in Tallahassee, FL, are suing the state of Florida for what they say is unequal funding and resources. As a public institution, Florida A&M receives state funding, but the students allege that FAMU does not receive fair funding compared to other state schools, like Florida State. The lawsuit is another example of how the issue of underfunding at HBCUs is becoming more and more salient across the country.

BOMB THREAT AT NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY

Students at Northeastern were instructed to shelter in place last night while police addressed a bomb threat at the Curry Student Center. And Northeastern wasn’t the only school facing threats this week - a University of Utah student was arrested on Wednesday after she threatened to detonate the nuclear reactor located on campus if Utah’s football team lost to San Diego State last Saturday. If you were wondering, Utah won the game 35-7. 

YESHIVA UNIVERSITY LGBTQ CLUB FINDS A COMPROMISE

We shared a couple of weeks ago about Yeshiva University’s attempt to bring a case to the Supreme Court against a Pride club on campus, arguing that recognizing the club would be against the university’s religious affiliation. The Supreme Court did not block the lower court’s order, meaning Yeshiva is still required to recognize the club. In response, Yeshiva put all undergraduate club activities on hold.

On Wednesday, the YU Pride Alliance agreed to a stay of the original court order in order to allow other student clubs to resume activities on campus.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Many families don’t realize when they initially start working with us that helping students ask for and receive excellent letters of recommendation is a core part of our process! We help all of our ongoing clients with everything from which teachers to the best way to phrase the question to preparing information for an awesome recommendation. Even if you’re not an ongoing client, though, you can pick up some tips from Colleen in this U.S. News article!  

With all the news about college football picking up this week (another sign of fall!), we found this WSJ article about college football eligibility an interesting read. 

A study published in Nature, the premier scientific journal, found that 20% of U.S. colleges and universities produce 80% of tenured college professors. In fact, one in eight professors got their degrees from Berkeley, Harvard, Michigan, Stanford, or Wisconsin. The study demonstrates that there is unequal access to faculty jobs and a lack of intellectual diversity among college professors. It also proves that as with many graduate degrees, including law and business, where you get your Ph.D. matters!

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

We highly recommend that students register for the College Fair on Sunday, October 16 at GMU’s EagleBank Arena. This is a great way to demonstrate interest and chat with representatives from more than 250 colleges and universities, including service academies. Check it out if you can!

We hope you have a fantastic weekend!

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Weekly Update: September 9

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

OBERLIN PAYS LOCAL BAKERY $36.59 MILLION

Oberlin College settled a years-long legal fight this week with a $36.59 million dollar settlement to a local bakery. The payout came after Oberlin sided with students who accused Gibson’s Bakery of racial profiling after a Black Oberlin student was caught stealing wine from the baker. After the incident, several hundred students protested outside of Gibson’s. The lawsuit emerged because members of Oberlin’s administration, including the dean of students, attended the protest. Oberlin hopes the payout will help to resolve and strengthen its relationship with local businesses. 

PRINCETON EXPANDS FINANCIAL AID POLICY

Princeton announced this week that it will cover tuition, room, and board for all students whose families make less than $100,000 per year. This new policy is expected to cover about a quarter of Princeton’s student body, who will now attend the university at no cost. The university has also expanded its “Miscellaneous Expenses” estimate from $3,500 to over $4,000 per year. Additionally, the expansion will help students from more affluent families, especially those who have multiple children in college at the same time. 

UVA STUDENTS PROTEST NEW BOARD MEMBER

Bert Ellis, one of Governor Youngkin’s picks for the UVA governing board, is receiving pushback from students. Ellis received his bachelors and masters from UVA, and is also the leader of the Jefferson Council, a UVA alumni group. The Cavalier Daily, UVA’s newspaper, recently published an article about Ellis’ efforts as an undergraduate to bring a prominent eugenicist to speak on campus, which led to student leaders objecting to Ellis’ appointment to the board. 

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

If there is one thing that intimidates many of our students, it is picking a college major! And while we reassure our juniors and seniors that their majors are not set in stone yet, if you are looking for tips on choosing a major, check out this article. The article’s author advises students to focus on a subject they love rather than a major that they think will be most financially profitable. While this is great advice for some students, for others, financial considerations are a huge part of their college degree choice! There are also certain careers that depend much more on degree than others. We encourage our students to talk with their parents and advisors (and us!) to figure out the best major path for them. 

I for one never took a film class in college, but if you’ve been wondering which movies your aspiring Film Studies major will be watching, check out this list of the most commonly assigned movies and directors in college classrooms! You’ll be surprised at the top choice. The article also provides data on the biggest drivers of “brain drain” - when students from public colleges move out of state to work. But D.C. is the biggest winner of brain drain by far, with 302% more college graduates living in D.C. than the city generates.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

Shannon and I have a ton of webinars and tours of various schools these next few weeks (Shannon is in Richmond today exploring UR and VCU). We’re excited to share our tips and impressions with all of you. Keep an eye out for a future post here with a list of virtual info sessions for students to attend as well! 

No matter where you are applying this year, we are in the home stretch of this process! If you are feeling overwhelmed by all of the upcoming deadlines, it’s not too late to set up a Meet & Greet - students who start this week should still be able to have their applications submitted by November 1. 

Have a great weekend!

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Weekly Update: September 2

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

TRAGEDY AT LEWIS & CLARK COLLEGE

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

YESHIVA UNIVERSITY PETITIONS SUPREME COURT

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

W&M OPENS FALL INTERVIEW SLOTS

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

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

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

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

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

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

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

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

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

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Weekly Update: August 26

We hope our FCPS students had a great first week back at school!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

BIDEN RELEASES DEBT RELIEF PLAN

The new debt relief plan that the White House announced this week will forgive $10,000 of debt for college graduates making less than $125,000 per year, and $20,000 of debt for Pell Grant recipients. For students who are wondering how this plan will affect the loans they take out for college in the future, the plan also lowers the cap on how much of your income can be spent on debt payments - down to 5% of discretionary income, just half of the previous cap of 10%. We will be interested to see how this plan plays out and what the impacts will be on students taking out loans now and in the future.

UT OFFERS TAYLOR SWIFT ENGLISH CLASS

You may remember that we featured the Harry Styles class at Texas State on the blog a few weeks ago, and we’re realizing that Texas is clearly the place to go if you want to study pop stars in college! Now, UT Austin will offer “The Taylor Swift Songbook,” a class that covers poetry techniques in connection with Swift’s lyrics. Even if you aren’t headed to UT, you can keep up with the class and answer Taylor Swift trivia by following @swiftieprof on Instagram. 

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY FOR CLEMSON STUDENTS

Clemson’s Lyceum Scholars Program offers $10,000 scholarships to incoming freshmen from any major. Students who will start at Clemson in Fall 2023 are now eligible to apply for the scholarship, and we recommend that seniors apply as soon as they know they will attend - this is a great opportunity for incoming freshmen to not only receive the scholarship money, but also access to high-level seminars and connections with professors!

IMPACT OF CRIME SURGES ON COLLEGE STUDENTS

Some students at big-city universities are expressing concern about rising crime rates near campus. This is definitely something to keep in mind for students interested in major urban universities (like the University of Chicago and Georgia Tech, both mentioned in the article). Different students and families have different priorities when it comes to safety around campus, so we recommend visiting the campus and surrounding area if at all possible so you can make sure that you feel comfortable on your college campus - after all, it will hopefully be your home for four years! 

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

While it is true that a college degree often increases students’ earning potential, this is not always the case. This article explores the colleges and degrees that don’t necessarily provide additional earnings for students, who tend to earn roughly the same amount as high school graduates six years after graduation. While earning potential shouldn’t be the be-all, end-all of college choice, it is an important consideration and one to which students and families should pay some attention. 

We’ve gotten some questions from parents recently about whether college admissions is “bouncing back” to pre-COVID experiences, as some other industries have. The short answer is: no! COVID has had a huge impact on higher education, and we honestly doubt that admissions at some schools will ever go back to the way it was pre-COVID. Check out this article from Jeff Selingo for more details on the ways that COVID-19 has changed higher education - and how permanent these changes might be. 

Finally, we want to share a tip for students who are heading off to college this fall (many of you are already there!) - start networking! It isn’t too early to be thinking about your career and future after college, and now is a great time to lay the groundwork for your next steps. If you are wondering how to start networking as a freshman, check out this article for some practical suggestions. 

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

GOOD LUCK to those students taking the SAT this weekend - we are keeping our fingers crossed for all of you! If you are a client NOT taking the SAT, but still want to get some weekend college prep in, we had two last-minute cancellations and now have both 10:00 and 11:00 essay coaching sessions available on Saturday. The sessions are first-come, first-serve, and are not available for online booking - so let our admin team know ASAP if you are interested!

If your student is heading back to school, now is the perfect time to check out academic coaching. Many students and families don’t think they need a coach when the workload hasn’t started up yet, but really, this can be the most effective time to start working with a coach! Shannon can help your student go through their syllabus, plan out major projects and assignments, and work on figuring out what organizational systems and study skills work best for them - before things get too crazy later in the semester.

Book an academic coaching Meet & Greet to talk more about how we can help your student succeed. Trust me, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and you don’t want to be scrambling to bring up grades and complete late work during finals week! 

And lastly… I’m headed back to school! Yikes!

I posted back in May about being invited to the next round of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program. After a lengthy process, I was recently chosen as one of 170 small business owners across the United States to complete what’s sort of like a “mini MBA,” fully funded by Goldman Sachs. I am so appreciative of the opportunity and look forward to continuing to grow DC College Counseling!

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Weekly Update: August 19

We made it through our crazy three weeks of August! Yay! Good luck to everyone starting back at school on Monday.

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO GEORGE MASON!

Did you know that George Mason is turning 50 this year? Check out Northern Virginia Magazine’s profile of the school’s transformation during that time.

BEST “SUMMER JOB” EVER

A 20-year old USC student just made $110 million on Bed, Bath, and Beyond stock. He explained in a post on Reddit: “The significant appreciation of BBBY’s share price combined with the fact that I am leaving for school tomorrow played critical roles in closing the Position.” That’s some experiential education right there!

CHANGES ON THE HORIZON AS LAWSUITS CONTINUE

We have an update on the financial aid lawsuit we mentioned back in January in which top colleges are being accused of antitrust violations: it looks like it’s moving forward! A federal judge in Chicago is requiring the universities named as defendants to respond to the plaintiffs by September 9. If you’re interested in continuing to learn more about the upcoming Supreme Court case on affirmative action, check out this week’s article from Politico.

PRINCETON REVIEW RANKINGS ARE OUT

My favorite rankings! I love these because of the specific categories in which schools are ranked. This is so much more helpful than a blanket ranking with methodology that may not be relevant to a particular student. Instead, you can pick the categories that matter to you! These are really worth a read. Proud of my alma mater Wash U for once again killing it - #1 in the country for best dorms, #3 for best food and financial aid, #9 for most beautiful campus and #11 for best run colleges. And a whole bunch more but I will stop bragging now :)

COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS LESSEN BUT MONKEYPOX CONCERNS RISE

From WPI to VCU, colleges are continuing to lessen their Covid-19 restrictions. Instead, many colleges have shifted focus and are working hard to educate their students about Monkeypox prevention as the outbreaks spread.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

A Little League player suffered a traumatic brain injury after falling off his bunk bed this week at the Little League World Series. This tragedy has brought bunk bed safety to light, and it’s a particularly timely topic this week as college students are heading back to school. Did you know that there are 36,000 injuries per year related to bunk beds? I think about all the years in boarding school that I slept on top bunks without rails - scary. If you have a student sleeping in a top bunk, make sure to purchase safety rails for them.

The Washington Post offered some great advice to parents this week about making college admissions less stressful. Some of these really resonate with me, although the best piece of advice I would give to parents is to always watch your commentary about various schools. The reality is that you may very well have no concept of where your student can get in today, and a guaranteed way to make a kid feel like a loser is for them to end up at a school their parent badmouthed six months earlier.

We write a lot about the ways that colleges use data to track applicants - but the tracking doesn’t necessarily stop after matriculation! The Wall Street Journal covered the many ways that schools are beginning to use data to change the student experience, from academic advising to identifying at-risk students.

And speaking of data - WalletHub recently put together a set of community college rankings based on methodology that considers cost in relation to career and academic outcomes. You can check out how individual community colleges performed as well as entire state systems.

If you’re wondering our how local options stacked up, Northern Virginia Community College came in at #165 and Montgomery College came in at #7 (impressive!) out of 936 community colleges nationally. Honestly, I think that both NOVA and MC offer INCREDIBLE opportunities for students who want to save some money or take a non-traditional path. Students can land guaranteed admission agreements to UVA, Georgetown, and a number of other great schools - pretty amazing if you ask me.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

Shannon helped one of our students submit what I believe was our first binding early decision application of the year at the beginning of this past week, which was very exciting! We are all crossing our fingers for him.

Most students in Fairfax County have their senior year schedules now - so it’s a great time to cross-check with the Common App and list of planned AP tests to ensure that none of that information needs to be updated.

Have a great weekend - I will be supervising lots of last-minute summer reading, can’t wait :)

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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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Weekly Update: August 5

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

THE BRAND-NEW COMMON APPⓇ

The Common AppⓇ has rolled over! Not too many changes to report this year in the main part of the application, though the application continues to tweak where and how students report their legal sex, gender, and preferred pronouns. There is also a slight change to the section about fee waivers. If, like our clients, you started working on the application before the rollover, make sure you are going back to confirm that everything has carried over properly and all the questions are answered! 

LOTS OF NEW COMMON APPⓇ SUPPLEMENTAL ESSAYS

Along with the new application come new supplemental essays! It seems like more schools changed their longtime prompts this year than ever before, with major changes at UVA (we covered these in an earlier post), Penn, NYU, and more!

UVA’S NEW DEAN OF ARTS AND SCIENCES

UVA’s College of Arts and Sciences will welcome a new dean this September. Christa Acampora grew up in Virginia, and currently serves as deputy provost and professor of philosophy at Emory University. She previously worked within the CUNY system. Dr. Acampora will arrive on Grounds on September 1. 

MIT’S NEW ALGORITHM FOR COLLEGE-LEVEL MATH

A team of researchers at MIT has designed a new model that is capable of solving college-level math problems. Students and faculty from MIT as well as Columbia, Harvard, and the University of Waterloo, have been working on the system for the past two years. The team hopes that, though the algorithm won’t be replacing university professors, it will help improve math education at the college level.  

“YOU’RE THE DEAN” AT TULANE

Tulane is offering students a mock application review session to help them experience what goes on “on the other side of the desk” in the admissions office. We highly recommend students take advantage of this fantastic opportunity! The session takes place on Monday, August 8 at 5:00 pm ET and students can register here.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

If you are a rising senior going back and forth on whether applying Early Decision is worth it (it usually is!), check out this chart for more information on the acceptance rates of ED versus RD students at a variety of schools.

Every year as we work with our juniors on their activities section (which we will start for the Class of 2024 next month!), we have students who hesitate when they say that they’ve never had an internship or research experience because they were working. But having an after-school or summer job can be a great experience to share with colleges! This opinion piece from the New York Times agrees: jobs teach a number of lessons, including managing your time and interacting with an employer. 

After the activities section, our juniors move on to brainstorming for their college lists. For the majority of students, a traditional green campus is a must-have. But this opinion piece argues that the institution of the college campus actually separates colleges from “the real world” - and not in a good way. It is certainly an interesting perspective to consider. 

Navigating all of the big changes of early adulthood has always been tough, but for this generation in the midst of the pandemic, it is even more of a challenge. We liked this article with tips from psychologists on navigating a “quarter-life crisis,” which would be a great read for many high school and college students. 

Finally, many of our students are starting on the head-scratching UChicago prompts this week - and luckily, we have a system for tackling these “Quirky Topics” essays! If you are interested in some of the wackiest essay questions for the 2022-2023 cycle, check out this WSJ article. I just love that Ben & Jerry’s prompt!

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

Week 1 of August is done, with 73 appointments (that is not a joke!) and I believe 4 different application guides behind us. Many of our students have rolled over their Common ApplicationⓇ, our essay coaches continue to work through supplemental essays, and we are so impressed with how hard our students are working. For many of them, this is the final stretch - and they will definitely see their hard work pay off this fall! 

Finishing up with our current seniors this month also means that we will have plenty of space opening up in the fall for Late-Start Seniors. If you are interested in working with us this fall, check out our Late Start Waitlist page for more information.

And finally, we’re on TikTok! Follow me for more insight and information about the college admissions process - including the five things I DEFINITELY wouldn’t do if I were applying to college in 2022. 

(P.S. I need some more video ideas!)

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Weekly Update: July 29

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

COMMON APPLICATION® RELEASE

The 2022-2023 Common Application® will be released Monday, August 1, after a several-day shutdown period.  We’re excited! We will be hard at work on Monday updating all of our application guides, and our clients and membership vault subscribers will have access early next week!

BERKELEY HAAS ANNOUNCES FOUR YEAR BUSINESS PROGRAM

The undergraduate program at Berkeley’s Haas School of Business has been extended from two to four years, thanks to a $30 million dollar donation from a Haas alumnus. The first class will enroll in the new four-year program in August 2024. For applicants, this means that rather than applying as Berkeley sophomores to begin the business program during junior year, they will apply as high school seniors to enter the program as freshmen. 

CALTECH ANNOUNCES ADMISSIONS UPDATES

In other California news, Caltech announced several updates to its admissions process this week. The school will continue to be test-blind for two additional years - meaning that they will not consider test scores even if students do submit them. This brings the moratorium on test scores to five years total. The university is also replacing its current Early Action program with Restrictive Early Action beginning this fall - the REA deadline will be November 1. The program will also be open to international students with financial need for the first time.

CLARENCE THOMAS LEAVES GW LAW 

Clarence Thomas announced this week that he will not be returning to teach at George Washington’s law school this fall. After ten years of teaching constitutional law, Justice Thomas made his decision to leave in the wake of student protests against the overturning of Roe v. Wade. 

COLLEGES IN ALABAMA AND MISSISSIPPI FACE BOMB THREATS

On Wednesday, at least 13 colleges in Alabama and 5 in Mississippi faced bomb threats, including Auburn University and Mississippi state. Four campuses were evacuated. The threats affected universities all over both states, but as yet no suspect or motive has been identified.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Slate published an article this week exposing the process of institutional financial aid at many colleges (not to be confused with federal college aid) - calling it a “scam.” While some elite colleges, like the Ivy League, provide need-blind admissions and meet 100% of student need, this is not the case at most colleges and universities. But many schools instead use algorithms to identify how likely students are to attend the college and how much they or their families are willing to pay. The article encourages students to think of paying for college like they would another commodity, rather than trusting colleges to have their best interests at heart. 

It makes sense that with the price of college and the size of loans rising, some Americans are questioning whether college provides value to the country. While 73% of Democrats think higher education provides value, the number of Republicans is only 37%. But despite being divided on value and who should pay for college, about half of people in both parties think that it isn’t possible to receive an affordable college education in the U.S.

The next emerging market sector appears to be the metaverse, and it might be a good idea for students hoping for jobs in the field to begin thinking about the best programs to pursue. This Forbes article identifies degrees in computer science, game design, and virtual reality as some of the best programs to pursue for skills that will be applicable to the metaverse. 

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

I (Colleen) was featured in a U.S. News article this week about high school GPA scales. Most students know that GPA is a major factor in the admissions process, but colleges consider GPA in the context of the rigor of curriculum, the reputation of the high school, and other factors like the idiosyncrasies of recalculating GPAs. In theory, colleges will have information from school counselors that allows them to understand the context of a GPA - but this isn’t always the case in practice. 

I was away from the office this past week (see below!) and will work through my email this weekend - thanks in advance for your patience! As always, anyone with urgent needs should contact Donna/Courtney or Shannon.

And lastly - it is hard to believe this is already our final weekly update of July! The Common App is rolling over this weekend, and we will hit the ground running on Monday with our class of 2023 students. August is our busiest month of the year, but it’s also the most fun - we love seeing our students’ hard work all come together!

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Weekly Update: July 21

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

UW WILL ACCEPT THE COMMON APP

So new we don’t even have a link - but the Washington State flagship UW-Seattle, one of the last Common App holdouts, will now accept the Common Application for the upcoming admissions cycle. Yay! Come on, Rutgers - time to get on the bandwagon!

STUDENTS WANT COLLEGES TO PROVIDE THE ABORTION PILL

While college health centers have long provided a variety of reproductive care for students, including birth control and STD screenings, they do not typically provide abortion care. Some colleges are responding to student demands to provide the abortion pill - UMass Amherst will begin to provide it in the fall, and California law requires all UC schools to provide medication abortion by January 2023 (some, like Berkeley, already do). 

But many public and private universities, especially those with strict or changing abortion laws, may not be able to legally provide this to students. Colleges also cite security and privacy concerns around providing these services on campus. 

COLLEGE TAKEOVERS INCREASE

The pandemic has seen a number of colleges go out of business, and several of these struggling schools have merged with larger universities. Northeastern, which put together a special M&A team to handle acquisitions, has absorbed Mills College, a Silicon Valley women’s college that went under during COVID-19. Northeastern hopes the opportunity to study in Silicon Valley will better prepare its students for future careers in the tech industry. This is just the latest of 95 college mergers in the last four years - more than in the previous 18 years combined. 

STUDENTS WORK TOWARD HERBICIDE-FREE CAMPUSES

In response to growing climate anxiety and powerlessness on college campuses, some students have turned to areas where they can make a difference - like stopping the use of toxic pesticides on school grounds. Toxic chemicals are often used at universities to keep up the picturesque green quad and vibrant landscaping, but the organization Herbicide-Free Campus is working to end that practice. 

The organization now has chapters at Brandeis, Emory, Indiana, and Berkeley, among others. Students who belong to HFC spend time working on their campus grounds, pulling weeds alongside the campus grounds team. 

Some schools, like Harvard, have already transitioned to fully organic lawn care - a practice that HFC says has reduced irrigation needs by 30%. HFC hopes to see every campus go organic by 2030.

WANT TO STUDY HARRY STYLES?

Starting in Spring 2023, Honors College students at Texas State will be able to do just that, in a course titled “Harry Styles and the Cult of Celebrity.” Students will study both Styles’ solo albums and the albums of One Direction in a contemporary history class that explores gender, sexuality, fandom, the internet, and consumerism, among other themes. 

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

If you watch movies or read the newspaper, it may seem like an athletic scholarship is the key to a full ride to college. Pop culture is rife with examples of students beating the odds and heading happily off to their dream school, which their parents could never afford without the coveted football scholarship. But only one in 100 top high school athletes actually receive a full ride, and the process of competing for one can often be nearly as expensive as in-state tuition! If you’re considering spending money on camps, equipment, or recruiting services, check out this article first - you may be tempted to put the money into a 529 account instead. 

In expectation that the current Supreme Court is likely to end affirmative action in college admissions, check out this opinion piece to learn why this might actually be a good thing. The writer argues that instead of focusing our efforts on admitting students to colleges when they may not be academically prepared, we should instead help students at younger ages receive the support they need to be successful at elite universities later on. 

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

We have so many swim coaches working with us this year and the NVSL season is coming to an end this weekend - good luck, everybody!

A few cool things to share this week:

• If you’re a class of 2022 student gearing up for your freshman year, check out this free webinar - illustrating how to build the habits that will help you transition into college life. The event - Tiny Habits for College Success - takes place next Wednesday 7/27 at 2:00 pm ET. The event is also open to parents with current or future college students in their lives :) 

• If you’re younger and/or will be in DC next year, have you heard of the Kennedy Center’s MyTix program? I just learned about it this year. Students from kindergarten through I believe graduate school are able to purchase two deeply discounted tickets to lots of performances- one for the student and one for a companion of their choice (parent, etc). They sent out an email this morning about the “MyTix Mix” subscription package for next year- it’s such a great deal if you enjoy the arts, and some of the seats are surprisingly decent! Tickets range from $15-$35 per show. If you don’t want to commit, sign up for MyTix emails anyway and you’ll get new offers every Monday morning for individual shows.

Have a great weekend! I’m out of the office next week, but Shannon will be back and holding down the fort.

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Weekly Update: July 15

We’ve got plenty of news for you from the past two weeks after taking the holiday week break!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK(S)

PENN’S EARLY EXPLORATION PROGRAM

Penn has announced two great programs for high school seniors, serving students from historically underrepresented backgrounds in order to underscore their commitment to a diverse class. The Early Exploration Program is a month-long program will allow students to meet with current students and admissions staff to learn more about Penn and participate in workshops on writing essays and preparing for interviews. If you are a low income and/or first generation student, you should definitely take advantage of this opportunity!

BOSTON COLLEGE ENDOWS HEAD SKIING COACH POSITION

BC received a gift of $1.25 million this week from an alumnus, in order to endow a head coaching position for BC’s skiing program. BC’s ski team sent its first student to the NCAA Championships in 2018, and has sent seven other skiers to national championships in the years since. 

CAMBRIDGE OPENS INQUIRY INTO STUDENT DEATHS

Five students at Cambridge University have died in the last five months, and the school is now opening an investigation into these tragedies, one of which has been confirmed as a suicide. While the university is not releasing information in order to protect the students’ privacy, a spokesperson said that they do not believe there is any connection between these incidents. 

NEW CHANGES TO B-SCHOOL ADMISSIONS

Dartmouth, Duke, and Michigan have all made announcements about changes to their MBA application process for the MBA class of 2025. Duke has announced a new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion concentration to the program, for a total of 17 concentration options that students have during the application process. The university also created the new Fuqua Impact Scholars Program, which will award merit scholarships to incoming Fuqua School students. 

Michigan’s Ross School added an additional short essay to its application, and will offer students the option of submitting a standardized test waiver in lieu of a test score. And the Tuck School at Dartmouth will now offer virtual interviews to all students who apply in Rounds 1 and 2!

MORE CHANGES IN STORE FOR NCAA CONFERENCES

After the announcement two weeks ago about USC and UCLA’s move to the Big Ten conference, there is a lot of speculation about the creation of “Super Conferences,” in which the Big Ten, SEC, and possibly Big 12 conferences jump out ahead of other teams, creating a new tier of college football that will leave behind the ACC and the Pac-12 with teams that didn’t make the cut for these new super conferences. 

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK(S)

We like this short list as an easy guide for rising seniors as they work on their college applications this summer. Many juniors who start with us in the fall have already done most of these things by now, but if you’re just getting started, it’s not too late to get a jump on the college process before school is back in session (P.S. our Late-Start Waitlist opened last week for rising seniors who want some help tackling this list - you can join here). 

Larry Arnn - president of Hillsdale College - created controversy this past weekend when he remarked at a conference that teachers are “trained in the dumbest parts of the dumbest colleges in the country,” calling the Education Department the “dumbest part” of any college. Ouch. Hillsdale has helped to open a network of charter schools around the country, and argues that students will receive a better education from teachers at these schools than those at public institutions. 

If you are going on college tours this summer, you may be surprised to learn that campus tours “keep college presidents up at night.” But the college tour, often led by a current student, is one part of the admissions process over which the college administration has the least control. Often, students’ experiences on a tour are shaped by their particular tour guide, who is hanging around campus that day, even the weather! If you are a student touring colleges this summer, this article is a really good reminder that the tour shouldn’t be the be-all, end-all of your college search - because so much depends on luck, this isn’t necessarily the most representative piece of your college research!

I really enjoyed this piece from the Washington Post about self-deprecation in the college essay! I definitely agree with the author - do NOT overdo it. But if you can do this in a way that still shares positive characteristics and/or personal growth with the reader, go for it!

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

Many of our students are moving onto their school-specific essays, and we love reading more about them! Students who stick to our timeline will usually knock out about half of their supplemental essays before August 1, which makes the work in August a bit more manageable and sets them up to finish their applications by September. If you are looking to get a head start on your essays as well, don’t forget to check out our essay prompt database, which we update weekly with new prompts for the class of 2023 as they are released. 

Speaking of essays - we just had two cancellations come through for appointments with Staci if anyone wants to snap them up! One is for Monday, July 25 at 4:00pm and one is for Tuesday, July 19 at 11:00am., and you can go ahead and book here.

Have a great weekend!

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Weekly Update: July 1

Lots of college news to share before the holiday weekend!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

JOHNS HOPKINS SUMMER PROGRAMS CANCELED

The three-week academic summer programs run by Johns Hopkins’ Center for Talented Youth were canceled at the last possible minute last week - while some students were already enroute to the campus. Hopkins made the announcement on Friday at 3:30 pm, with the programs scheduled to start on Monday morning. 

Hopkins said that lack of staffing was the reason for the cancellation, which affected 870 students prepared to attend the prestigious summer program. Today, the director of the program’s employment was terminated. Hopkins’ CTY has hosted celebrities like Mark Zuckerberg and Lady Gaga, and is open to students from grade 2 to grade 12. 

OUR USC DREAMS ARE (SORT OF) COMING TRUE

For years it has been a rude awakening for students who love USC to realize that the school does not accept Early Decision or Early Action applications - and will review every student, even the most interested in the school, as part of the Regular Decision pool. While we’re still holding out for an ED option, we’re excited that USC will now offer an Early Action option to students applying to programs that do not require portfolio submissions. 

It seems like USC will follow Georgetown’s lead in deferring ALL EA students to the Regular Decision pool if they are not accepted, without sending any rejections during the EA round. EA students will receive either an admit or defer decision in mid- to late January. 

USC AND UCLA LEAVE THE PAC-12

Speaking of USC, in 2024, USC and UCLA will move from the Pac-12 conference to the Big Ten. The schools received notice that their applications to join the Big Ten were accepted on Tuesday night. The Big Ten says that the conference unanimously voted to allow the Los Angeles schools to join. The Pac-12 says that they are disappointed with the loss of these two schools, the biggest brand names in the conference.

UGA STUDENT RECEIVES CARNEGIE MEDAL

Last summer, Tucker Shields, a UGA student, was completing an internship at a DC law firm. While waiting for an Uber near Nationals Park, Shields saw a young couple being harassed by an armed assailant. Shields tackled the man, dodging a gunshot that left him deaf in one ear for a month. Now, the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission has honored him with the Carnegie Medal for his actions. 

COLUMBIA STOPS PARTICIPATION IN U.S. NEWS RANKINGS

Dedicated blog readers may remember several months ago when a professor at Columbia cast doubt on the data that the school provides to U.S. News & World Report - data which has led to Columbia capturing the number two spot in the prestigious rankings. Today is the deadline for schools to submit data this year, and Columbia has announced that it needs more time to review the allegations about its data and will not be submitting.

In addition to Columbia, the School of Education at USC will also be absent from the rankings, having pulled its data due to years of inaccuracies. 

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Curious about the new digital SAT, which will be available to US students in spring 2024? We recommend this blog post, which covers all of the recently announced specifications and sample questions provided by College Board. 

The outgoing superintendent of FCPS, Scott Braband, was interviewed about all of the major moments during his tenure - including the COVID-19 pandemic, hiring challenges, the changes in admissions at TJ, and diversity initiatives. Braband’s last day was yesterday, and Michelle Reid has taken over as the superintendent of the largest public school system in the state. This interview is an interesting retrospective of the upheaval over the last few years.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

I (Colleen) was interviewed by U.S. News this week about the biggest mistakes that a new college student can make - check it out here to find out why you shouldn’t join too many clubs, why you should get a random roommate, and the real reason not to skip class! 

We will be closed on Monday for the July 4 holiday - enjoy the long weekend!

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