Staying Out of Trouble

Yes - it was still below freezing when I woke up this morning, but the first week of March means spring is just around the corner! The warmer temperatures and exciting news in the mail can always induce some senioritis, and this year we expect that the loosening coronavirus restrictions and increased vaccine availability will make it even more tempting for students to relax. 

And for the most part, that is great! In fact, we hope our seniors are able to relax a bit in the classroom and enjoy the end of the year safely.

But students should still be making good decisions throughout the spring and summer to ensure that years of hard work toward those college acceptances do not go to waste. 

This includes monitoring your social media posts carefully - keep an eye out for our guest blog next week from recruiting and hiring guru Jayana Garvey for more about making good decisions on social media.

Before you post or message, ask yourself, “Would I be okay with explaining this to my college of choice?” If the answer is no, don’t put it online!

Last year, more than a dozen colleges, including Clemson, the University of Richmond, and the University of Florida rescinded offers of admission to students based on their social media posts. And in 2017, Harvard rescinded offers to ten students who wrote offensive posts in a private Facebook group (yes, even in a closed group, this can happen!). In the last three years, 14% of private schools and 4% of public schools have rescinded admissions offers based on social media activity from incoming students. Whether schools should have the right to do so is up for debate, but as things stand now, it is much better to never find yourself having to make the argument. 

Remember, perception is reality, so try to avoid situations where others are behaving inappropriately or breaking the law. Yes, even if you are not doing it with them. Ask yourself, “If a video of this was posted on social media, would I be okay with that?” If not, do your best to get out of the situation before it becomes a larger issue. 

Of course, the most common reasons that offers of admissions are revoked are academic in nature.

As a general rule of thumb, if your grades slip in one or two classes, it shouldn’t pose a problem - especially if the classes aren’t related to your major. If you are typically an A student, a grade of C or below may raise red flags, and you will likely be asked to explain your downwards trend in academic performance to the colleges.

You don’t want to change your senior year schedule, either. Dropping some AP classes may seem like an easy way to relax a bit during senior year, but colleges will notice. If you have a true conflict and need to make an adjustment, contact the schools on your list in advance of making the change. This is not the type of situation where you should act now and beg forgiveness later - far from it.

More serious academic issues include plagiarism or cheating - don’t do this! Violations of academic integrity are likely to result in revoked admission. 

That said, this might be the most important thing we say in this post: don’t lie! If you do have a major disciplinary or legal issue, report it to your colleges.

For current clients, we can help you do this, and you may also want to consult a lawyer - especially for cases involving criminal misconduct. On the other hand, if colleges find out that you lied or withheld information, they will not be willing to work with you. It is much better to get any issues out in the open and control how they are presented instead of having your college find out through the grapevine from someone else.

(And don’t think that doesn’t happen - your classmate Johnny down the street was waitlisted at your school of choice, and his mom could not have been more excited to learn about your suspension. She’s going to place an anonymous call to the admissions office first thing tomorrow morning to make sure they know!)

We don’t say any of this to scare you - we want our students to enjoy their senior year! But make sure to stay safe, stay productive, and stay out of trouble. If you have questions about anything we’ve covered here, please let us know and we are happy to help! 

Weekly Update: February 26

It may be late February but it has felt more like April this week. SUCH a nice treat to have this beautiful weather - we hope all of you were able to get outside and enjoy it!!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

HARVARD ADMISSIONS LAWSUIT REACHES THE SUPREME COURT

Back in 2019, Judge Allison D. Borroughs rejected the argument presented by the “Students for Fair Admissions,” stating that while the Harvard’s admissions process is “not perfect,” the university did meet the constitutional standard for considering race.  She argued that universities need to consider race in college admissions so that they can foster greater diversity, “tolerance, acceptance and understanding that will ultimately make race-conscious admissions obsolete.” The group brought their case to the Supreme Court yesterday.

It’s important to recognize that back in 2003, Sandra Day O’Conner wrote in the majority opinion for Grutter v. Bollinger that race-base admissions was not meant to be permanent:

The Court takes the Law School at its word that it would like nothing better than to find a race-neutral admissions formula and will terminate its use of racial preferences as soon as practicable. The Court expects that 25 years from now, the use of racial preferences will no longer be necessary to further the interest approved today.

Well, it’s been almost 18 years, so this will be interesting - it has the potential to shake up college admissions in a very big way. Stay tuned for more as we watch it closely!

VIRGINIA TECH EARLY ACTION DECISIONS RELEASED

After we posted our Friday blog last week, Virginia Tech released early action decisions. They had a 35% year over year increase in early action applicants (nearly 30,000 this cycle compared to just over 20,000 last cycle), and decisions revealed that this was a significantly more difficult cycle than we have seen in the past. We also suspect that demonstrated interest may have played a larger role at VT this year, as it appears anecdotally that they may have tried to fill the class with students most likely to attend. Congratulations to all of our seniors who received good news last week!

INFLUX OF APPLICATIONS AT TOP COLLEGES

This pandemic admissions cycle has felt particularly long for many of our students - and for us as well! But one thing that we’ve increasingly noticed as more data is released (and written about again and again) -is that while college applications across the country have dropped, applications at top universities and big state schools have gone way up. That means that most of our students will be experiencing the most competitive admissions cycle in history (not exactly a claim to fame you want, right?). But it also means that smaller mid-tier colleges may be struggling to fill their classes and suffering budget shortfalls.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

The Varsity Blues scandal illuminated some of the ethical issues with athletic recruitment at top colleges. This article further considers that relationship, digging into the relationship between Sean Hannity and the tennis coach at Wake Forest, where his son is a senior and varsity tennis player. Though an investigation did not find any illegal actions in this case (unlike Varsity Blues), it still raises some ethical questions and is a great read to help think about where the lines are drawn for NCAA recruitment.

Not exactly an article, but I recommend this Twitter thread for anyone looking to understand a bit more about the trends we’ve been seeing in applications this year, and how school officials are thinking about this admissions cycle.

This article from the Chronicle of Higher Education digs into the CSS Profile, one of the most frustrating forms for students and families to submit during the admissions process. About 300 colleges and universities require this form in addition to the FAFSA for students seeking financial aid. For many students and families, this extensive (and confusing!) form can be a serious barrier to entry for institutional grants from top colleges and the article honestly broke my heart to read! The CSS Profile is just one example of the challenges that low-income students have to overcome when applying to college. The pandemic has only exacerbated this challenge, and led to a decrease in applications overall from low-income and first-generation students. If you are struggling with this form, don’t forget that College Access Fairfax provides great free resources and can help!

High Point University is definitely a school that has recently come into the consciousness of many students and families due to its luxury amenities, including a concierge, multiple swimming pools, and an on-campus steakhouse. This article explores some of the wildest amenities at elite colleges, and how schools use luxury as a way to attract wealthy applicants.

Speaking of luxury, there’s no walking on the High Point tour - your tour guide drives you around on a cushy golf cart! I was six months pregnant in the photo above and THRILLED for a break after trudging around Duke, UNC, Wake, and Elon during a very hot July week!

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

February has flown by and we are so excited to start reading student essays as they work through the Wow Writing Workshop with our essay coaches. Hearing students’ personal stories is one of the best parts of our job! If you are a Class of 2022 student who has not yet booked your essay coaching meetings, make sure you begin the process by reviewing what’s ahead and scheduling your meetings! (And don’t forget to share your thoughts on in-person services with us!)

Interested in medicine? Check out this STEM workshop tomorrow morning! The office of Rep. Jennifer Wexton is hosting a workshop for high school students from 10:00-11:15 am tomorrow to allow students to hear from medical professionals, researchers, and health policy experts about how the healthcare field has transformed during COVID-19. 

Have a great weekend!

Weekly Update: February 19

Hope everyone is staying safe and warm this week!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

ACADEMIC INFLUENCE RANKINGS

A self-described “team of academics and data scientists" at an organization called Academic Influence recently released a brand-new set of rankings that they deem wholly objective and free from outside bias. What are the rankings based on? Influence. The researchers divided the number of influential alumni by the school’s undergraduate population to come up with a term called “Concentrated Influence.”

The rankings allow you to examine a school’s overall influence or even sort by field, which is pretty cool. I thought it was very interesting that they separate alumni field from area of academic study, acknowledging that people are often influential in fields in which they did not earn their degree. Love that! It’s so true. They use the example of Princeton, explaining that it has produced some very influential alumni in the legal field without having a law school.

If you are wondering how a person is deemed to be influential, you are not alone - I was wondering the same thing, but they seem to have a pretty sophisticated process that uses AI.

Check out the rankings here. Most won’t be surprising, but I did find the order to be interesting. For example, NYU is ranked #11 in concentrated influence while Penn is ranked #15 and Caltech is ranked #23. University of Wisconsin-Madison (which I might have called under-rated a few years ago, but I think everyone in our area has caught on by now) comes in at #27 just after Carnegie Mellon at #26, but UVa is #35 and Georgetown is #39. My alma mater, Washington University in St. Louis, was ranked #61. Ouch!!

NCAA DEAD PERIOD EXTENDED THROUGH 5/31

Ughhh - again?! I feel so badly for high school athletes going through the recruiting process right now. The NCAA Division I Council announced yet another extension on the in-person recruiting ban that has been in place since last March. Word on the street is that this will be the last extension, but who really knows. It is insane to think by the time this is over, we will be looking at a minimum of fourteen months without official campus visits. I was sharing observations with a few counselors this morning about how coaches really seem to be prioritizing transfers as a result of this extended dead period.

RELEASE OF 2021-2022 COMMON APP ® ESSAY PROMPTS

We covered this earlier in the week, but the Common Application ® finally released the prompts for current juniors (Class of 2022). I’m not a fan of the changes, as I explained, but our whole team is really excited to start the process with our juniors. All current clients should have received an email last night with instructions to begin, followed up by their Wow Writing Workshop login information this morning!

Staci is our Student Success Coach and manages the essay process for each of our students! She’s AMAZING!

Speaking of essays, we have some exciting news to share! One of our all-time favorite coaches, McClain, is going to come back this summer! YAY! We are so excited. She wrote a great guest blog a few years ago about maximizing the high school experience - check it out here. McClain is able to leverage her experience as a teacher, coach, and member of an independent school admission team into her essay coaching, and we’re so fortunate to have her back.

SHAKESPEARE’S BEEN CANCELLED

Boy would this have been welcome news in my life twenty years ago - I hated the mandatory Shakespeare class I had to take as an English major! In any case, some teachers are now refusing to teach Shakespeare or encouraging their students to view his work through a different lens. They are making these decisions on the basis that his work is anti-semitic, misogynistic, homophobic and more. Others are offended by the idea that his work is “universal.” After reading the article, I do vaguely remember writing a paper in college on anti-semitism in The Merchant of Venice. It will be interesting to see if this catches on.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

A New York nonprofit, the National Education Equity Lab, has offered thousands of underprivileged students the opportunity to take for-credit coursework at Ivy League schools during high school. The program began with a 300-student pilot, and has shown that 89% of participants are able to pass the courses, which are graded at the same level as coursework for traditional undergraduates.

This sounds like a fantastic program, and I agree that graded coursework from an Ivy League institution will offer these students another data point in their application materials. But this line from the article made me laugh: “the students’ success has raised questions about how elite university gatekeepers determine college prospects.” Really? Their success raised questions? I think we’ve all had questions on this topic for a little while now :)

On the flip side, and I actually had to read this a few times to make sure I was understanding properly because it sounded so wildly discriminatory to me, the Faculty Senate at Stanford just voted to adopt two policies to de-emphasize wealth in the undergraduate admissions process. It seems like one of the main goals is to help prevent Varsity Blues-type situations with rogue admissions consultants, and I would support that. As the article states, though, close to 70% of students use college admissions counselors - it’s not a service limited to the wealthy. And “surveys to track the distribution of income and wealth levels for parents and undergraduates” seems highly inappropriate in my opinion. I’m honestly shocked that Stanford is publicly sharing their plans to do this. Anyway, it’s yet another reason to skip filling out that FAFSA if you know you won’t qualify for financial aid.

This won’t surprise most of us, but 18-to-29 year olds are having a particularly difficult time struggling with the isolation we’re all experiencing as a result of Covid. I get it - it’s so hard and it’s sad to think about years lost from their lives that they won’t get back. It’s actually my au pair’s 22nd birthday today and when I was writing her card earlier this morning, I was thinking about how most of the time she was 21 - a milestone year - basically disappeared. It is really sad!

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

Shannon took a much-needed vacation this week and let’s just say I cannot wait for her to come back! :) We are finishing up a number of transfer and grad school applications, in addition to helping some undergraduate clients with honors program applications at their respective schools, and things were very busy!

If you are a current junior client, please don’t forget to take our in-person services questionnaire to help us understand your priorities as we move forward with plans for the spring and summer.

Have a great weekend and stay warm!

2021-2022 Common Application ® Essay Prompts Released for the Class of 2022

It’s about time!

This year’s Common Application ® essay prompts were released much later than in years past, and it sounds like a lot of thought went into them- two committees were involved, and experts in psychology and gratitude were consulted.

That said, there were ultimately only two shifts from last year:

Shift #1: The long-standing “problem-solving” prompt was phased out.

Describe a problem you've solved or a problem you'd like to solve. It can be an intellectual challenge, a research query, an ethical dilemma—anything that is of personal importance, no matter the scale. Explain its significance to you and what steps you took or could be taken to identify a solution.

Shift #2: A new prompt, meant to “validate the importance of gratitude and kindness,” was added.

Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

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I think the new prompt is adorable… for a social media post, conversation with friends, or maybe a therapy session. But not a college essay!

It’s cute, and would be fun to write - especially during such a depressing year.

Our friends at the Common App ® wrote that the experts who helped develop the new prompt “believe the new choice will generate stories that students are inspired to write and that colleges are excited to read.”

They continued: “An essay prompt can’t erase the loss and anxiety of the last 12 months, but it can validate the importance of gratitude and kindness. We hope students see the new prompt for what it is intended to be: an invitation to bring some joy into their application experience.”

Totally fair. In fact, I actually could not agree more.

An essay on this topic would be inspiring to write and exciting to read, and who wouldn’t feel a little more positive after spending time brainstorming examples of nice things that other people have done to make them happy or thankful?! I certainly agree that writing this essay would be enjoyable.

I think that the gratitude experts may have missed a critical piece of information here, though - we don’t write college essays for the enjoyment. We write them for a purpose.

That’s not to say that we don’t want the experience to be enjoyable, too; we definitely do. We make it as fun as we can - but the two don’t need to be mutually exclusive. And let’s be honest, people don’t come to us for entertainment purposes.

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Revisiting the Purpose of a College Essay

The first thing our juniors do in the essay writing process is learn about the purpose of a college essay, which I covered at length last year in a blog post on the topic:

Focus on the message, not the story. The #1 concern I hear from students and parents is that they just don’t know what to write about. This is especially the case from students in Northern Virginia, who have often just lived a normal, suburban lifestyle - no huge tragedies or adversity to overcome. The good news is that with a few exceptions (we’ll get to those), it honestly doesn’t matter what you write about. I swear. An amazing topic is not what makes an amazing essay.

What will make an amazing essay will be an authentic snapshot into your personality - a characteristic that you can share about yourself that really captures who you are. Maybe it’s a cool way you think, an odd quirk, or an interesting habit you have. If you are working on this alone without our help, talk to your parents, siblings, friends, and teachers about characteristics that make you unique. What are you “known for”? It doesn’t have to be fancy or impressive!

Once you have something in mind, back into a story that clearly showcases the characteristic. Again, it’s not really about the story itself (caveat to come!); instead, it’s about how well the story showcases the characteristic… how authentic it sounds!

That said, try as hard as you can to try to avoid cliche, overused, and/or inappropriate topics. If you feel like you HAVE to write about a cliche story, write about one that is loosely related to it (so you are able to reference or mention whatever it is without having your whole essay revolve around it).

End by considering how you will be able to apply that characteristic in the short-term and/or long-term future, to be able to make a difference in a positive way.

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Revisiting What the Purpose of a College Essay is NOT

• A way to bring joy into a student’s application experience

• A way to validate gratitude and kindness from others

• A way to appreciate what may have been overlooked in a student’s life

• A way to inspire students to write

Don’t get me wrong. These are all great things, and they’d make great journal entries, conversations with friends, or topics to cover in therapy. And if a student can emerge from the application process as a more joyful or grateful person (or feel more validated), no one would be happier than me. Truly.

But we’ve got to keep our priorities straight here! Even if the essay turns out to be very exciting for an admissions officer to read, that doesn’t mean that the admissions officer learned anything new about the candidate or that the candidate is more likely to be accepted.

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With that said, here’s the full list of 2021-2022 Common Application ® Essay prompts

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

2. The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

3. Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

4. Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

5. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

6. Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

7. Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

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Pro Tips on Prompt Selection

• As I keep reiterating, the purpose of the essay is to share a message. Go with the prompt that offers the best way to get that message across - whether it’s the new prompt or an old prompt! That being said, I’ve been doing this for a while and I don’t think it’s going to be easy to accomplish this goal with the new prompt, even if it provides a more enjoyable essay writing experience.

• I actually found the “retired” prompt about problem solving to be a great way to demonstrate some very positive characteristics - critical thinking skills, creativity, and so forth. That was probably my second-favorite prompt and I’m pretty bummed that it’s not going to be an option anymore.

• The prompt that is my all-time favorite, though, is still here: Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. Remember, what’s right for one student is not going to be right for another, so I’m not suggesting that this is a good choice for everyone. But for most students, this prompt offers the easiest way to share a unique characteristic in the context of an interesting story while also looking forward to the future by showing growth.

• I also really like this one: The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? That said, you need to be careful. Writing about overcoming a “failure” that shows persistence, creativity, or out-of-the box thinking is awesome - but writing about what you learned from the time you got in trouble for smoking pot in the parking lot of your high school? Not so much.

• My least favorite is the last one: Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design. Never say never, but I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a response to this one that I liked. Essays that respond to this prompt are typically sort of direction-less and don’t share a clear message.

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Our Class of 2022 students will begin their essay writing process later this week or next week, and almost all of them will wrap up right around spring break. Like we always say, it’s going to feel so amazing to have that done and out of the way with very little stress. Our juniors will then be able to shift their focus to working with us to prepare information for their teacher and counselor recommendations, along with writing supplemental essay material.

If your family isn’t working with us yet, sign up for a no-obligation Meet & Greet to learn how we can help your student - and why an amazing college essay and an enjoyable writing experience do not have to be mutually exclusive! We make the process as easy as possible for our families while still keeping the right priorities at the forefront!

Weekly Update: February 12

A quick note that we will be closed on Monday for Presidents Day. We hope everyone has a great holiday weekend!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS AND DEADLINES

We’ve written before about the need- and merit-based aid processes for schools, but there are a variety of scholarships available for students from outside organizations, and it is important to be on the lookout for options like these (Shannon once applied for a college scholarship granted to tall students!). 

Scholarships that have been announced this week include the National Catholic College Admission Association scholarship, which is awarded to 16 randomly selected students who are attending National CCAA member colleges like Boston College, Villanova, or Notre Dame. 

The Cameron Impact Scholars application is also now open - the early deadline for the Class of 2022 to apply for this full-tuition merit scholarship is May 21.

JILL BIDEN PROMISES FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Dr. Biden said on Tuesday that she would work to ensure free access to community colleges and training programs for all students. Those who are local to Northern Virginia are very fortunate to have guaranteed admissions agreements in place between Northern Virginia Community College and over 40 colleges and universities, including William & Mary, GW, Virginia Tech, UVA, and JMU. All students who graduate from NOVA and meet the requirements of the agreement are guaranteed admission to the college of their choice - a great deal for Virginia students! Dr. Biden is an instructor at NOVA.

CHANGES FOR THE CLASS OF 2022

We wrote last week about some of the changes we are seeing to the AP exams, and expect to see even more changes going forward now that the College Board has done away with subject tests. The College Board is offering three administrations of AP tests: the first wave in early May will be in-school only, while the late May and early June test dates will be available in school and at home. Schools, not students, will make the decisions about exam dates and administration methods, so check in with your school for information.

Changes have also been made this cycle to the citizenship section of the Common App. The question about citizenship will now offer different options for international students and undocumented/DACA students. All questions related to geography will now be optional, as will questions about parents and family. Questions about student visas have also been changed. In general, we recommend that students include as much information as possible, even for optional questions, but we encourage clients to reach out to us if you have any questions about your particular situation!

Here’s how the new visa questions will look for international students this cycle.

STUDENTS PROTEST SEXUAL ASSAULT ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES ACROSS THE US

College students at Boston University, Minnesota State, Gettysburg College, and more participated in socially-distanced demonstrations to support survivors and raise awareness of sexual assault on campus. Students argue that schools have deprioritized sexual assault issues amidst the focus on the COVID-19 pandemic.  

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

We had hoped that with more college students back on campus this spring, lessons learned from the fall semester would improve safety. But with the new coronavirus variants now spreading, there are already outbreaks at many schools around the country, including Michigan, Berkeley, and Tulane. Some of these outbreaks are linked to the new variants, while others arose because students did not follow quarantine rules upon the return to campus. As we’ve said before, it is not worth the trouble of a disciplinary violation to flout COVID restrictions on campus - you will set yourself up for success by following the rules as closely as you can!

Though we don’t necessarily agree with every single point made in this article from the Wall Street Journal, there were parts of it that definitely resonated with us as interesting as food for thought with the new changes to the SAT and the admissions process this cycle. The author argues that by focusing less on merit and data like grades and test scores in the admissions process, colleges shift their focus from excellence to “mediocrity.” Definitely makes us think about how schools and colleges (and the rest of us!) define excellence for ourselves and our students. 

If you need a feel-good story to counteract all the negative news lately, check out this Washington Post article. It profiles a Houston high school senior who used the money she had saved to attend Barnard College in the fall to pay her family’s rent after her mother lost her job due to the pandemic. This particular story has a happy ending - the student was able to raise the money after her story was featured on Good Morning America - but it is a reminder that during this difficult time, there are a lot of students forced to make challenging financial decisions. 

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

We have been busy discussing how we might reopen in person in our office - we miss seeing all of you! Given the current Phase 3 restrictions for small businesses in Virginia, this would look very different than it has in the past. Of course, students who want to remain fully virtual would still have this option! If you are a Class of 2022 student or family, please fill out our in-person services questionnaire to help us understand your priorities as we move forward. We really want to serve our clients in person, but we also want this to be safe and successful for everyone - it is a tricky balance!

Have you checked out our Summer 2021 Internships Database recently? If not, you might be missing out on some great opportunities! We update this page every week with local and virtual internships and college courses. You can also see information about registration for the virtual Fairfax County teen job fairs coming up next month on March 13 and March 20. Now is the time to get your plans set for this summer! If you are an employer with an internship or job opportunity for high school students, let us know - we would love to feature your posting on our page. 

Enjoy the long weekend!

In-Person College Visits During COVID-19

Whether we’re meeting with Class of 2021 seniors who are making their final decisions, Class of 2022 juniors who are hoping to squeeze in some visits before finalizing their lists in June, or Class of 2023 sophomores who don’t know where to start with their college search during such a strange time, everyone’s asking the same question:

When WILL SCHOOLS OPEN FOR IN-PERSON VISITS AGAIN?

We don’t have a crystal ball, so the answer for many colleges and universities is that we simply don’t know. But there are a number of institutions that have reopened for prospective students already - yes, you could theoretically tour one of these schools this weekend if you felt like it!

That said, the offerings vary greatly from school to school - and many won’t be the typical campus tours of years past. Keep reading to learn more about what’s being offered right now and how to make the best out of each opportunity!

1. Traditional Campus Tours

Some schools are offering relatively traditional visit opportunities. In general, these tours are offered through one of two approaches.

The first, at schools like Tulane, American, the University of Alabama and Loyola University Maryland, are small-group tours. These are very similar to pre-COVID tours, except that the schools typically require advance registration and the use of face coverings. Some schools doing small-group tours will also limit the number of guests that the student can bring, and others may limit the scope of the tour (Tulane will only take tour groups through outdoor areas of campus, for example). 

The second option is an individual tour and meeting with an admissions representative. Smaller schools, like the University of New England, will allow students to register for a visit that consists of a one-on-one meeting with an admissions counselor as well as a private tour for the student and family. These events typically also require face coverings, limit the number of guests, and may take extra precautions such as requiring visitors to fill out COVID-19 symptom questionnaires. 

Pro Tips:

• If you do your research and find out that the school you want to see is offering tours, try to book sooner rather than later! You will get the best sense of the campus while school is in session, so you can see what the day-to-day really looks like. On many campuses, you will see a very different school after May begins, and this is even more true during an already unusual time! 

• Even if you are able to snag a tour reservation, take your own “unofficial” tour to see even more of the campus (mostly, the parts that the tour doesn’t show off!). See the section below on informal tours for more tips. 

• Finally, take notes! Just like virtual tours, in-person tours will blur together after a while, and you want to make sure that you write down your thoughts and feelings about the school during and soon after your visit. And make sure that you send an email afterward to thank your regional admissions representative for the experience. Clients who want more help on the thank-you email should reach out to us and we can provide a template!

2. Hybrid Campus Tours

Other schools offer opportunities for students to come to campus in some form, but with elements of self-guided or virtual tours to supplement a safe visit.

The University of Richmond, for example, offers both a self-guided walking tour and a self-guided driving tour of campus. They provide students with a map, written descriptions of the buildings on campus, and driving directions, in addition to audio about each building that you can play from your car! This is a great option for local students to take a day trip and see the campus. 

And while you’re driving, head on down to Virginia Tech - they also offer a driving tour map and audio to help you get to know the campus safely. GW, right in our backyard, has a self-guided walking tour brochure that you can pair with audio from their student-run podcast tour as you walk around campus. William & Mary has a walking tour brochure as well that will allow students to read along - keep in mind that masks are required at all times while on campus! 

Pro Tips:

• Maximize your walking or driving tour by arranging an outdoor lunch or coffee with a friend who attends that school. Don’t know anyone personally? Ask your school counselor if there are any alumni there who would be comfortable meeting with you. Make sure you check out the local area as well, and track down a Starbucks, community park, beach, or whatever is important for you to have nearby. 

• You’ll notice that all of the examples in this section are local to DC-area residents. If you are unable to travel to see the school of your dreams, you can still develop an understanding of the type of school you are looking for from our many excellent Virginia schools. For example, you know how Georgetown is a green campus near the city, while GW is in the city? Same goes for University of Richmond (green and suburban) vs. VCU (extremely urban), even though both schools are in Richmond. Once you have an understanding of the differences, you might be able to form an educated opinion on whether Columbia or NYU is more your speed - even if you can’t make it to New York! 

3. Informal Walk Through Campus

Other schools, like Johns Hopkins or UVA, are not offering tours at all. There are a few ways you can combat this if you really want to get a better sense of a school by visiting in person. One is to show up on campus for an informal walk or drive. This is an especially good solution for nearby schools that do not require a lot of travel. 

Again, this is also a great time to reach out to friends or other contacts at the school to see if they’ll meet you for a socially-distanced conversation about their experience. 

Pro Tips:

• Make sure to check university regulations to confirm that you will not be breaking any rules by visiting campus and walking around or driving through. Some schools are not open to visitors at this time, and you can reach out to the Public Safety department to inquire.

• While you won’t likely have access to dorms or academic buildings on an informal walk, pay attention to everything you see outside - do students hang out on the quad? Is there a popular dining hall or coffee shop? Do you see flyers or posters hanging up around campus for events that interest or excite you? Remember that even if you are not able to step foot on campus itself, you can still look online to find an off-campus spot that’s popular with students. For example, grab bagels at Bodo’s!

• Finally, don’t be afraid to wander “off the beaten path” to find the less desirable parts of campus - if the gym is outdated or the math building is really far away (and you’re a math major!), you want to find out sooner rather than later.

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Whether you choose to visit in person or virtually, take careful notes and do a gut check by envisioning yourself on campus. Not sure where to begin with your visits? Current clients should reach out to us for more tips, or leave a question in the comments and we’ll answer it in a future post!

Note: DC College Counseling does not encourage or advise students to visit campuses in person during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each family needs to make the decision for themselves about whether or not this is safe based on current conditions, vaccination status, and individual comfort level. If you are not planning to visit schools in person just yet, take a look at our blog post about virtual visits to make the most out of your virtual experience!

Weekly Update: February 5

Happy February - we hope everyone enjoyed the snow this week, and it sounds like there’s more ahead!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

UVA EARLY ACTION DECISIONS RELEASED TONIGHT

So many of our Class of 2021 students are on the edge of their seats waiting for UVA early action decisions to come out tonight. Dean J already published the statistics, so you can check those out now - and don’t forget to let us know the results after you check your applicant portals this evening. Here are our initial observations when compared to last year’s statistics:

• The number of EA applications increased, but the year-over-year jump was nowhere near as high as some other peer schools have experienced - it was only about 13% (although I believe it’s closer to 20% when looking at their overall numbers, i.e. not just EA). The percentage of applicants that increased increases were about the same from Virginians and those applying out-of-state.

• On top of the increased number of in-state applicants, less in-state students were accepted this year than last year. This resulted in an acceptance rate drop from 35% to 30% for that applicant group (remember, this reflects the entire state of Virginia and is not meant to be representative of Northern Virginia).

• Interestingly, more out-of-state students were accepted than last year - about 40% more, if my math is correct! Wow. Even after accounting for the increase in applications, the out-of-state EA acceptance rate increased from 15% to 18%.

• Overall, the spread between in-state and out-of-state acceptance rates narrowed substantially, from 20 percentage points to 12. I know the cynics will say that this was an intentional decision meant to increase revenue, but I wonder if it’s more about the fact that UVA is predicting a bigger spread between in-state and out-of-state yields this year than last year? If I had to guess, I would say that’s probably it.

FCPS RETURN TO SCHOOL AND REDISTRICTING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Yes, you’ve read this before, but FCPS began to implement the return to school plan this week, with priority groups returning to school buildings. If the plan continues as scheduled, high school students will be returning to classrooms in early March.  Not five days per week, but something is better than nothing, right?

In other FCPS news, the school board voted last night to redistrict sections of the McLean HS boundary to Langley HS. My neighborhood was one of the ones impacted and I’m really happy about this! While I actually like McLean HS a lot and would have been very happy to send my children there for a variety of reasons, I think split feeders are so hard on the kids and I’m very glad that Colvin Run won’t be one anymore. Split feeder elementary schools, for those who don’t know, are ones that split the class among different middle and/or high schools.

MID-YEAR REPORTS

Our own seniors have already heard from us twice this week on the topic, but it’s important for all seniors to understand that they are responsible for ensuring that their mid-year grades (also known as “senior grades” or “mid-year reports”) reach all colleges on their list with applications still in play. In other words: unless you have been denied from a school, turned the school down, or were specifically informed that the school does not require mid-year grades, you need to make sure that the grades are submitted. Some schools want students to submit these, and most want counselors to submit them. Please check your individual school portals for more information about the individual school requirements and modes of submission, and then contact your school counselor as appropriate.

And if you are one of the unlucky students whose counselor quit this week (no, we aren’t going to name your school, but there’s a bunch of you…) we suggest reaching out to the Director of Student Services at your school until you are re-assigned a new counselor.

COLLEGE BOARD ANNOUNCES NEW AP EXAM FORMAT

After the struggles that many students had last year with the hastily-assembled digital AP exams, it is no surprise that the College Board has reworked the digital exam for this year. Some changes include security features that block students from returning to a question they have already answered or from toggling back and forth between questions. This is very different from the paper AP exam, and important for students to keep in mind as they prepare! 

GOVERNOR NORTHAM RELEASES EXPECTATIONS FOR VIRGINIA SCHOOLS

Governor Northam announced during a press briefing this morning that Virginia schools will be expected to have in-person learning options for students in place by March 15. He also announced a mandate for in-person summer learning options. Summer programs will not be required, but schools are expected to have them in place this summer for students who want to take advantage of them.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

The Virginia House passed a bill yesterday that requires public universities, including UVA and William & Mary, to identify and memorialize enslaved people who worked on institutional property. The bill also requires that the schools establish scholarships or economic development programs for individuals or communities with historic connections to slavery. Schools cannot use state funding for these projects, but must use private funds. This process has already begun at many Virginia schools, with William & Mary’s Lemon Project and UVA’s recently completed Memorial to Enslaved Laborers. 

An Indiana University professor wrote in The Atlantic this week about IU’s largely successful response to the coronavirus pandemic. While we’ve heard a lot of news (and featured it here) about the negative impacts of students returning to campus during COVID-19, this article shows how some schools were able to bring students back to campus successfully. IU’s example may offer insights for other schools as well as cities and towns across the country about how to manage the pandemic safely. Other schools, like UC Davis, have also provided important services to keep their communities safe.

This NBC News report provides a lot of useful information about how the merit aid system works at many colleges and universities. Keep in mind that super-selective schools, like Harvard and Stanford, will not offer merit aid at all. But for mid-tier schools, merit aid is an important enrollment management tool, and families should know how the process works.  

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

Shannon presented this week at William & Mary’s Center for Gifted Education annual conference. In addition to a session on finding the right college fit, she also spoke with middle school students about academic planning for high school and beyond. We’ve said before that the best money you’ll ever spend on the college admissions process is our one-hour strategy session for 8th grade students - and we stand by it! Starting off on the right foot will ensure that you ultimately begin the active stage of the admissions process in a position of strength, because you won’t be frantically trying to make up for mistakes you didn’t even know you were making.

I discovered Clubhouse this week and got to sit in on part of a session yesterday afternoon between meetings (thanks for hosting, Bob!). I am obsessed! It’s sort of like a cross between twitter, slack, and a podcast, and I love it so far, although I’m still figuring out how the clubs work vs. the chats. Either way, it’s fun to listen in while working at my desk and I highly recommend it!

Enjoy the Super Bowl this weekend!

Breaking Down School Counselor & Independent Counselor Differences (and Misconceptions!)

We <3 School Counselors

Did you know that this is national school counseling week? Here at DC College Counseling, we love school counselors and try to collaborate with them as much as we can! We also enjoy providing consulting services for counseling staff at private and public schools. 

We get this question all the time - what will you do for my daughter that her school counselor won’t? Or, from some of our clients, why doesn’t my son’s school counselor do what you do?

The answer is that being a school counselor is a very different job from being an independent consultant, with very different responsibilities. Luckily, both can work together to make sure families have maximum support during the admissions and application process!

In fact, we believe that the best outcomes are more likely to occur for any student when that student’s parents, school counselor, and independent counselor(s) approach the process together as a unified “Team Student” front - along with any other supplemental service providers such as therapists, tutors, or academic coaches!

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My Daughter’s School Counselor is Lazy

I hear this a lot and cringe every time. While there are of course bad apples in every profession, most school counselors aren’t lazy at all - they are just busy! In Fairfax County, for example, the average school counselor is responsible for over two hundred students. TWO HUNDRED! And that’s actually considered to be a great ratio - nationally, there’s an average ratio of five hundred students per counselor.

And they do a lot more than just college counseling - often, that’s just a very small part of their job. Public school counselors are typically responsible for ensuring students’ academic, personal, and social growth, and are usually assigned to students with a wide variety of needs, sometimes across multiple grade levels.

Due to the scope of their roles, most public school counselors report spending only 20% of their time on college admissions and the application process. This makes sense when you consider that less than half of high schools in the US have dedicated college counselors!

The landscape is very different at private schools (and particularly independent schools) where school counselors have much smaller caseloads that usually consist of between 30 and 40 students. These school communities often do have a dedicated college counseling team that is fully separate from the “personal counseling” team. With fewer competing job duties and many fewer students, there’s no question that private school counselors are able to provide much more one-on-one assistance for their students than their public school counterparts.

Still, it’s a misconception that private school counselors can do everything. They can’t!

Did you know that Colleen spent eight years working as an independent school college counselor after working in college admissions? Here she is with her co-counselor Whitney on Twin Day during their former school’s spirit week!

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Sometimes our public school families are surprised to learn that a majority of our students actually attend private schools. However, it’s not a coincidence that so many of these private school families come to us for the first time with their second child, after realizing the first time around that they needed more help than their school counselor could reasonably provide! In total, our staff will spend an average of 70 work hours per student - on top of the school counselor’s work!

The reason we have time to do this is that we only engage with a maximum of 20 students per counselor; moreover, our students are also supported by our amazing team of essay coaches and administrative staff. We are able to allocate resources ourselves to be fully focused on the process for each individual student, whereas school counselors answer to school boards, trustees, and other individuals with a stake in the college counseling process. Lastly, we don’t spend our time writing recommendation letters or sending transcripts, so we’re able to spend more of our day in a student-facing capacity.

How will the admissions process look with each type of counselor?

In addition to our standard services, we also provide what we like to call “professional nagging” - following up with students to ensure that they are completing everything to the best of their ability well before the deadline. 

This is one of the main reasons why we are so popular with families with second children - first-time parents often do not realize that this process is much more complex than it initially appears. Even the most amazing, experienced school counselors are not able to take on the role of managing and facilitating every aspect of the process for students and families. 

They just don’t have the time to do this type of personalized project management, which is why working with both a school counselor and independent consultant might be the best choice for families that need help each step of the way. It can also be a great option for families with students who are not likely to self-advocate and seek out help from a busy school counselor. No one is able to hide when working with our team. When students don’t respond to us, we seek them out! On the other hand, most school counselors have students lining up who are need immediate help - it’s not realistic to expect them to bypass students with immediate needs to track down unresponsive ones.

There are a few major takeaways here:

• A student’s school counselor plays an essential role in the college admissions process. An independent counselor can by no means replace a school counselor’s value in this process, from the letter of recommendation to advocacy calls and everything in between.

• An independent counselor’s role is not essential to the process, but can certainly make it much easier on everyone involved. However, a dedicated and knowledgeable parent with a lot of free time to commit to college admissions-related tasks can substantially lessen the value add of an independent counselor.

• It’s very important for families to manage their expectations of school counselors. They simply cannot provide the same level of support that a paid independent consultant can, and it’s not right to suggest that they are bad at their jobs because family expectations are off base.

• While school counselors and independent counselors have different roles, they can work together to provide students with the dedicated support they need to put their best foot forward in the admissions process!

Don’t forget to say thank you to your school counselor this week!

Weekly Update: January 29

2021 is already flying by - can’t believe this is our last blog post of January!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

SCHOOLS CONTINUE TO ANNOUNCE TEST-OPTIONAL ADMISSIONS FOR 2021-2022

Every week brings more test-optional updates, and BC, Penn, and the College of Charleston are the most recent schools to announce that their test-optional policy will continue for the Class of 2022 - phew! But this also serves as a good reminder to read the fine print - Penn, like the other Ivy League schools, has not yet decided what test requirements will be for athletes, for example. Wondering whether to submit test scores with your application? Check out our blog post from earlier this week for considerations. 

VA SCHOOLS REPORT RECORD APPLICATION NUMBERS

If you’ve been keeping up with the blog, you already know that highly selective schools have seen a huge rise in application numbers this cycle, and our local universities are no exception! William & Mary received 17,400 applications, a 23% increase over last year and the first time the school had 15,000 applicants. Virginia Tech also received a record-breaking 42,084 applications this cycle, a 36% increase over last year! We will be waiting to see whether this rise in applications drives admissions rates down at our in-state schools. 

WHAT MATTERS FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS IN THIS ECONOMY

Job postings for new graduates with bachelor’s degrees fell by 40% last spring due to the COVID recession. Now that a new crop of college graduates is about to enter the job market, competition for these jobs will be even more intense. A student who is overqualified for their first job out of college is likely to still be in a job they are overqualified for after five years in the workforce, so it is more important than ever to job search carefully and network well. Our advice for all college students - yes, freshmen too! - is to get connected with your career services office early and take advantage of everything your school has to offer to help you find a career. For more career advice, I encourage you to read Jeff Selingo’s latest article, Good Jobs in Bad Times. Current college students should also check out Denison University’s Launch Lab, a cutting-edge career center that is open to all liberal arts students! 

ARE YOU A DARTMOUTH APPLICANT WITH ATHLETIC TALENT? YOU MIGHT HAVE JUST WON THE PROVERBIAL COLLEGE ADMISSIONS LOTTERY!

Are you a men’s or women’s golfer, swimmer, or diver, or a men’s lightweight rower? Did you happen to apply RD to Dartmouth? If so, you should reach out to the varsity coach for your sport immediately.

Dartmouth initially canceled their men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s swimming and diving, and men’s lightweight rowing programs... but in a surprise turn of events, the university made an announcement today that these programs will be reinstated in the fall as a result of Title IX compliance issues.

However, as anyone familiar with athletic recruiting knows, these coaches are going to be scrambling to fill their rosters. They likely did not follow the typical recruiting schedule as they believed that the teams would no longer exist in the fall, and the application deadline has now passed. In our opinion, any RD applicants who may be able to play for one of these teams are going to go straight to the top of the institutional priority list over the next few weeks.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

We shared this New York Times article about merit aid on Facebook this week, but it is so important it is worth sharing again! Take the time now to have an honest conversation with your 8th or 9th grader about how their high school grades will be used in the scholarship process. Talk to your student about how much you have saved for their college, what you are willing to pay, and how that will impact their school choices. It is so much better to have these conversations early, before students get their hopes up about specific schools that may just not be an option! Yes, conversations about money with your teenager may be uncomfortable, but it is important for them to know how their performance now could impact their opportunities later. If you’re looking for more guidance in strategizing with your 8th or 9th grader, book a Class of 2023-2025 Strategy Session and we can help!

A high school English teacher in Cliffside Park, NJ, had the great idea to collect student essays about their experiences with COVID-19 and publish a series of memoirs. Students were able to use the book to process the physical, mental, and emotional effects of the pandemic, and it is a great reminder to all high school students who are struggling right now that they are not alone. All the proceeds from the sale of the book will go toward a scholarship fund for the students. 

And after the memoirs, lighten the mood by sharing this “applicant’s guide” from McSweeney’s - some of these made us laugh out loud! Poor Florida State ;)

Lastly, if you are applying to college from outside the United States, check out this piece from U.S. News & World Report with a to-do list for prospective international applicants during the upcoming cycle. Perfect timing as one of our own international applicants just received his first acceptance letter yesterday!

We received this email this morning from our applicant’s father - it’s been a LONG JOURNEY and we are THRILLED for their family!

Let me tell you - if you think we’ve had it hard here in the U.S., it’s been nothing compared to what these kids abroad have been navigating. We could not be happier for this very deserving student who will now be studying at a top school in the U.S. next year!

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

It is hard to believe how fast this year has gone, but it is already time for high school students to start thinking about their summer plans! The process is more uncertain this year than ever, so we recommend that students have a summer option they’d like to pursue if the pandemic allows, and then a backup option that would make them equally happy if COVID-19 necessitates that they choose a virtual experience this summer.

Still not sure of your summer plans? Check out our Summer 2021 Virtual Opportunities Database for some ideas! We will continue to add new in-person and virtual opportunities in the DC area and around the country on a weekly basis, so bookmark this page to stay up-to-date on all of your summer options.

Have a great weekend, and stay warm!

Is "Test-Optional" a Trap?

It seems like all we’ve done this past week is talk about testing, testing, testing!

But these conversations go beyond the College Board’s recent decision to cancel the SAT Subject Tests. The bigger conversation this cycle, just like the last cycle, will be about that ubiquitous “test-optional” designation. 

We’ve seen some students and families this year dismiss the “test-optional” language as a trap, going above and beyond to make sure their student is able to produce test scores for fear of being disadvantaged in the process. And we’ve also seen the other extreme - students who take “test-optional” at face value and neglect to test, even with easily accessible test dates. So who is right?

What does “test optional” really mean?

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The short answer is, unfortunately, it depends. As we’ve documented over and over, admit rates have dropped to shockingly low levels this year at the most selective universities, in large part because the applicant pools were so much bigger than in previous years. Without a testing requirement, it became easier than ever to apply to these schools. Furthermore, students with high test scores were more likely to apply, because they felt their test scores would make them stand out, and students with low test scores were also more likely to apply - because they didn’t have to submit the scores! 

Less selective schools, however, are seeing the opposite effect. Our local neighbor George Mason was one of many institutions that extended its application deadline from January 15 to February 1. While this is a nice way to cut students some slack in a difficult time, it is also a sign that the school was low on applications. The University of Rochester saw early decision applications drop 47% year over year, leading them to extend their ED I deadline from November 1 to January 20. This is evidence that students who in previous years may have applied ED to Rochester instead chose to “shoot for the stars,” helping to make up the huge applicant pools at schools that are more selective.

All this to say, test-optional policies are going to be treated very differently at the high volume, highly selective schools than at the vast majority of institutions that are not seeing this increase.

Stanford, for example, has said that it will require test scores from the Class of 2022 if it is possible to do so, while Baylor and Penn State have already committed to remaining test-optional.

In the past 48 hours alone, two different Ivy League schools, Cornell and Columbia, have announced their plans to move forward with a one-year extension of test-optional admissions for the Class of 2022.

Cornell’s, as it was this past year, is actually more of a unique hybrid between test-optional and test-blind depending on the undergraduate division in question, but the school points out that the policy is only due to “the extraordinary circumstance” of the pandemic and students will face “increased scrutiny” with the rest of their application materials, including “evidence of commitment and effort to pursuing other challenging learning experiences” outside of school.

At Michigan, Swarthmore, and Rice, students will be able to self-report PSAT or pre-ACT scores - a sign that scores are still important to the admissions committees!

Northwestern’s website notes that they “will still find value in scores,” while Georgetown has similar language, noting that they “value the information provided by standardized testing.” At these schools, nearly every applicant is highly qualified, and those who submit test scores, even if test-optional continues, will have very high scores to report. Most high-scorers will still submit test scores to these institutions, and admission will be just as difficult, if not more so!

Selective state schools have more encouraging language for students who are unable to tesk, with Michigan and Wisconsin both specifying that students who do not submit scores “will not be disadvantaged” in the application process. These still-competitive schools will probably see strong test scores as an advantage in the process, but not submitting test scores will not be disqualifying for an otherwise strong applicant. For clients considering submitting scores, chat with us first and we can help you decide how to present the strongest application!

Feedback from a current senior parent whose student decided to follow our advice and go test-optional. For what it’s worth, the student had amazing grades with a rigorous course load, very strong activities, and followed our advice to the letter by differentiating herself during the lockdown with a community leadership role related to Covid. Most of her list was comprised of selective public schools. All of these factors played a role in the advice we gave her!

On a related note, we have heard about some exciting developments are on the horizon that relate to at-home testing. The ACT is currently beta-testing an at home, computer-based test, and while there is no date scheduled for wide release, the system could be operational as early as this fall. The SAT is also working on a computer-based model that will reroute a student to different questions based on previous performance, much like the GRE. This will certainly make test-taking strategies different in the future, but students have plenty of time to plan, as the test is not anticipated to be released until 2023. 

Bottom line: while testing will be very useful, there are also plenty of circumstances in which submitting test scores will not be the right choice.

So if it is truly impossible for you to take a standardized test without risking your health, rest assured that over 500,000 students this cycle were unable to test. The admit rate for students who didn’t submit test scores was roughly equal to the rate for those who did at most schools that have released that data so far, with the (somewhat substantial) caveat that we do not know any details about demographic differences between the two groups.

On the other hand, if you do have the option, make sure you consider all of the factors when deciding whether to submit your scores.

Overwhelmed by the decision? Book a Meet & Greet or Strategy Session to learn how we can help!

Weekly Update: January 22

Another Friday, another weekly update!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

TEST OPTIONAL ANNOUNCEMENTS CONTINUE FOR THE CLASS OF 2022

We know that a lot of current juniors have been anxiously waiting to see if their dream school will require test scores next cycle. The test-optional announcements keep rolling in, with Penn State and Amherst recently announcing that they will continue test-optional admissions through at least 2023. These schools join others, including Baylor, in committing early to remaining test-optional. BU and Cornell are among the schools that are still undecided, while other super-selective schools like Stanford have announced that they hope to resume considering test scores if possible. We’ll keep you updated!

Looking for a school that won’t accept test scores at all? Check out “test blind” schools like Caltech, Dickinson, Reed, the University of San Diego and the University of California system (Berkeley, UCLA, etc). But remember: a lack of test scores does not mean “easy admissions process.” It simply means that the other factors count more.

FREE FCPS WEBINARS

The FCPS Parent Resource Center is offering four webinars for parents in February about supporting students emotionally during this difficult time. Webinar topics include Teen Depression and Social-Emotional Learning. It’s free to register for these events, which will also be available for replay later on Youtube. In light of the mental health challenges that the pandemic has exacerbated among students, this is a timely and helpful series for any parent!

HOWARD UNIVERSITY BAND ACCOMPANIES HARRIS AT INAUGURATION

Students in the Howard University band had the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity this week to escort Vice President Kamala Harris, a Howard alumna, in Wednesday’s inaugural parade. Despite social distancing challenges and the fact that only some members of the band were able to perform, the band’s director commented on the personal importance of Harris’s election for Howard students. 

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

I’m so glad someone finally wrote this article for NPR - yes, you CAN ask for more money from your college! This is true of undergraduates and especially graduate students. In this tumultuous year, if the FAFSA doesn’t accurately capture your financial situation, reach out to your school to see if you can receive additional help. Your first financial aid offer is not final!

Before we started this application cycle, many in the higher education industry thought that enrollment at community colleges would rise, as students chose to spend less on Zoom classes and wait out the pandemic before returning to four-year colleges. But the truth has been very different. Community colleges are seeing a steep decline in enrollment, and students at two-year colleges who have taken a break from education during the pandemic are less likely to return to full-time schooling. Meanwhile, the price tags at highly selective colleges are not dropping - on the contrary, Stanford, Yale, Dartmouth, Brown, and Harvard have all raised tuition despite continued online learning. While community college isn’t for everyone, it’s always worth checking out Northern Virginia Community College’s guaranteed transfer agreements. When you think about what it takes to be admitted to UVA as a freshman and just how competitive that process has become, the possibility of a guaranteed spot for spending two years at NOVA can look pretty appealing.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

It is always exciting and nerve-wracking for us as we wait for our students to receive decisions, but we had a longer wait this cycle as many EA/ED decisions were released late - and we are still waiting on many of them, from UVA to Michigan to Wisconsin. The trend is likely to continue for RD decisions - all of the Ivy League schools have announced that their decisions will be delayed, and they will give students until May 3 to deposit. This gives less time to students who may have to make other decisions by May 1, which will only add more pressure during a year when it is difficult to visit campuses to make decisions. Trying to get to know a college virtually? Check out our post for tips!

As we covered already this week, the SAT has canceled the essay section as well as the subject tests. We expect that the ACT Writing section will soon follow suit, and honestly do not foresee a big change for our students with this change, as most schools do not consider the essay. 

The bigger change, as we mentioned several days ago, is for the subject tests. We pinpointed certain groups of students who will be more likely to be impacted, and there’s no question that STEM-oriented students in each of those groups will feel the greatest impact. Did you know that one particular subject test comprised over 70% of the subject tests administered this cycle? The Math II test was particularly common for students hoping to demonstrate higher-level math abilities for an edge at highly selective schools (though historically they have not been a strong predictor of student success, as those students were all scoring so high that there really was not much variation in test scores!).

The College Board is likely to push AP exams now as an admissions tool, and it is possible that highly selective schools will place more emphasis on AP scores in the absence of Subject Tests. We anticipate seeing schools respond to pressure from the College Board by making AP exams more accessible for all students, including freshmen and sophomores. Already, the deadline to sign up for AP exams has been extended to March 12, but don’t run out and sign up just yet! As we mentioned in the last post, AP exams are meant to be taken after an official College Board-approved AP course. If you are a client, talk with us before changing your exam strategy.   

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And lastly - this really has been a very busy week! - I was able to attend the Independent Educational Consultants Association’s Professional Member Retreat. This is geared specifically for more experienced educational consultants like me, as opposed to their normal conferences (which are great too) that are open to anyone. I got so much out of it, and Shannon and I have already met about ways we can incorporate new ideas into our practice!

I was invited to co-present a session on Client Experience that took place yesterday, and enjoyed facilitating ideas with my colleagues around the world. It was great to share best practices about the ways to “make happy clients” and I was honored to be asked! I do think our clients are pretty happy! ;)

Keep an eye out for upcoming posts on what you need to know about testing (yes, even more!) and a bit on the differences between the function of an independent school college counselor and an independent college counselor.

Have a great weekend!

Breaking: SAT Subject Tests and the SAT Essay Cancelled!

The big breaking news for the world of college admissions this week is that the College Board has decided to do away with the SAT Subject Tests as well as the SAT Essay.

Wondering about the impact? Keep reading for everything you need to know..

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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: THE ESSAY

The essay will still be part of the test until June, but we recommend that students skip it if they can, as it will likely no longer be part of admissions considerations at any school.

For what it’s worth, we’ve been recommending that our students bypass the SAT Essay for a while now. We haven’t recommended it since before Covid, and even then, only for those for students interested in attending a school in the University of California System - they were the lone holdouts that required it. Once the UC System schools shifted to a test-blind system in Fall 2020, there was no reason for any applicant to pursue the essay.

If you’re currently registered for it, the College Board is waiving change fees for students who would like to eliminate the essay portion from their SAT registration, though students registered for a School Day SAT will likely still have to complete the essay. 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW: SUBJECT TESTS

While the dropped essay is not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, the lack of subject tests could have more of an impact on some of our students’ overall strategy.

First, know that even though the essay will still be offered for a few more months as stated above, SAT Subject Tests will no longer be offered in the US effective immediately, and all existing registrations for the tests will be cancelled.

Subject tests will still be offered internationally for the May and June test dates this summer, but we do not recommend students going abroad to take the test during a pandemic!

That said, if you have already taken these tests, you will still be able to send those scores to colleges (and if you are a client, please make sure to discuss this option with us before deciding to send). 

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We know that a lot of students are celebrating right now - one less test to take! Not so fast, though. For certain applicants, this is not necessarily welcome news.

The lack of subject tests could hurt students in DC-area schools with little grade inflation who typically perform better on these tests than students in less competitive settings.

Other students who fall into the categories below have typically benefited from taking subject tests:

• Homeschooled students

• Students from less competitive or relatively new high schools that hope to attend highly selective colleges or universities (that’s not a typo - this change could hurt students at the most and least competitive schools)

• Students at independent schools that do not offer AP coursework

All of those applicants can benefit from providing additional data points to colleges, who can use that data to measure academic achievement across students from different high schools with varying levels of known rigor.

How else could a college compare an A from TJ to an A from Potomac to an A from Ballou High School in Southeast DC to an A from a homeschool course graded by Mom or Dad?

Here’s the issue:

• Students at highly competitive high schools like TJ or Potomac who worked harder than their counterparts at less competitive schools for the same (or lower) grades will have a difficult time proving that their version of the course was more challenging and work-intensive.

• Students at less competitive high schools like Ballou who worked very hard to master the material despite their environment will have a difficult time proving that their school offered an equally competitive version of the course.

• Don’t even get me started on homeschool students. Along with students at brand new high schools without established reputations (to a lesser extent), it’s going to be really hard to be able to standardize their achievement in a comparable way to students at any high school, competitive or not.

AP Exam scores will now the be the only source of data points to measure classroom achievement.

It’s not as simple as switching to an AP Exam instead of a subject test, even though some students will likely do just that. AP Exams are longer and much more comprehensive, and are meant to measure performance in standardized AP courses that share a common curriculum.

And that’s why it will be difficult for students at independent schools who have veered away from the AP program in recent years to avoid “teaching to the test.” While students from these schools may actually gain a deeper understanding of the subject matter than other students enrolled in the AP course equivalents, they are not typically as prepared to sit for the AP exams.

For example, the U.S. History Subject Test has always been a popular choice for 11th graders. This measured U.S. History knowledge and could theoretically be taken by students enrolled in a U.S. History course of any level at any school; on the other hand, the AP Exam in U.S. History is more appropriate for students who took a course that followed the standardized Advanced Placement U.S. History curriculum.

This shift will also likely have a larger effect on students interested in engineering and other subjects where more specialized standardized testing can be a more substantial factor in admissions.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

I’ve already taken the SAT with an essay, and while I was happy with my reading/writing and math scores, my essay score wasn’t great. Does this mean I should retake the test?

NO! Do not put yourself through that. One of the primary reasons that many colleges stopped requiring the essay a while ago - well before Covid - was that the scoring was highly flawed. We’ll tell you when to worry about something, but this is not something you need to worry about one bit. Colleges will not blink an eye when they see a low essay score, and it won’t be held against you. It will just be as if you didn’t take it in the first place. If you’re happy with your score otherwise, stick with it!

What does this mean for the ACT with writing?

Nothing has changed on our end - we don’t see any particular reason for students to take the writing section anymore now that the UC system has dropped this requirement. Whether the ACT goes the way of the SAT and drops it entirely or not, it doesn’t really matter: there’s no direct advantage or disadvantage to taking it. However, it does lengthen the amount of time that students need to spend at the test center - and that in and of itself arguably provides an indirect disadvantage as it could impact the student’s performance on other test sections. If you’ve already taken it, no problem, but if you’re registered, drop the writing section.

Why would College Board have gotten rid of SAT Subject Tests if they were so important?

They were important for specific groups of applicants - not the average American college-bound high school students that hope to attend their moderately selective flagship state universities. Those students would likely never have taken these tests, Covid or not.

Of the types of students who did regularly take these tests pre-Covid, hardly any in the HS Class of 2021 took them because subject tests have to be taken on the same test day as the actual SAT, and everyone was consumed with finding a slot for that instead.

With different strains of Covid spreading and a lot of unknowns about testing for the HS Class of 2022, it sounds to me like the College Board may have decided to double down on the more profitable AP test by getting rid of the subject tests.

Why could this be an issue for high schools?

Since this move eliminates a potential positive data point for applicants and may lead to to increased pressure on students to take AP exams, high schools may in turn face increased pressure to offer AP courses.

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We will be paying close attention as colleges and universities update their testing policies in light of this change, and of course the ongoing challenge that the pandemic presents to testing. For more updates, see Friday’s blog!

Weekly Update: January 15

Happy Friday! A note that our office will be closed on Monday for MLK, Jr. Day. Have a great long weekend and be safe!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

PROTECTING COLLEGE CAMPUSES FROM COVID-19

A new study this week found that combining social distancing, mandatory mask-wearing, and routine testing would prevent 92-96% of COVID-19 infection on college campuses. Interestingly, the report asserts that this method would be more effective than online-only classes, which would only prevent about 63% of cases. It is worth noting, however, that this study used a computer model to make its predictions - and actual college students are likely to follow these rules imperfectly. 

COVID-19 FUNDS RELEASED TO COLLEGES

The Department of Education released over $20 billion in new funds for colleges and universities yesterday. Even more funding could be on its way, as Biden’s new COVID-19 relief plan includes $35 billion in aid for these institutions. This round of relief will enable schools to implement safety measures, as well as providing more flexibility for emergency grants to individual students. Unlike the last round of funding, it will also be available even to students who are not academically eligible for federal financial aid. Curious about how much funding your school will get? The CDC released a list of aid received by each individual institution.

NEW COVID-19 DISCIPLINARY MEASURES AT MICHIGAN

The University of Michigan released a plan to hold most classes remotely during the winter semester - and as you know, we will continue to share these new plans with you as colleges decide on their new schedules. But in addition to the changes for classes, Michigan’s plan also outlines stricter disciplinary measures for students who do not follow social distancing and masking rules on campus. College students should make sure that they are familiar with the disciplinary measures at their own institution - we have seen COVID-19 disciplinary measures cause issues for many students, and you don’t want to be one of them!

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Those who were paying attention to college news in 2016 may remember Emma Sulkowicz, the Columbia University student who protested Columbia’s handling of her alleged rape by carrying a mattress around campus. Around the same time, Ben Feibleman, a Columbia student, was accused of sexually assaulting a female classmate. He was found guilty and expelled without a diploma. But as this New York Times article recounts, Columbia recently settled a lawsuit with Feibleman by restoring his diploma, even as the university stood by its initial verdict in the case. This complicated case reveals the implications of changing rules surrounding sexual assault on campus - Feibleman’s case was made possible by Trump administration’s regulations for due process for those accused of sexual assault, and this is an interesting case to consider for the incoming Biden administration as they debate whether to roll back those regulations. 

This article from Jon Boeckenstedt for the National Association of College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) is a must-read for all those involved in the college admissions process. Boeckenstedt dispels a lot of the myths that surround college admissions and gives an honest look at how the process works. He acknowledges both the humanity in the admissions process as well as the hard financial and institutional realities that admissions officers need to contend with as they try to select the most successful incoming class. 

Jeff Selingo, who wrote my new favorite book on college admissions, made some interesting predictions in his most recent newsletter for the college landscape in 2021. Here are some of them:

1. Student experience will take center stage. After a year when we all realized that college is so much more than just attending classes, colleges will bring more focus to the student experience, improving the relationship between student-facing offices like advising, career services, and financial aid. 

2. Improving the academic experience will be a top priority. Parents and students alike are realizing during this time that online classes are not providing the best value for their tuition dollars. Selingo expects that academic departments will work to integrate in-person and online learning and personalize the learning environment for each student. 

3. Humanities may see a comeback. As we know only too well, after the Great Recession, students and parents were interested in STEM subjects and focused on majors and programs that would lead to successful careers. Selingo hopes that the pandemic will show the importance of thinking, writing, synthesizing information, and developing a growth mindset, and allow a resurgence in studies in the humanities.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

While we’re busy advising on course registration for younger students (#yesyouhavetocontinueSpanishsenioryear #sorry), helping Class of 2022 students put together their college lists, and helping Class of 2021 students wrap up, we are also busy with other types of applications! We’ve got applications for Ph.D. programs, MBAs, law school, transfers, even primary and secondary schools!

Speaking of, it’s actually going to be really interesting to see how the independent school admissions process will play out this year - I have never seen such a competitive landscape. So many families are looking for spots and the spots just aren’t there in the non-entry years.

In any case, one of the things we love about this work is getting to know students across all grade levels and stages of education! If you want to learn more about what we can do for you and your student, book a Meet & Greet or Strategy Session to fit your needs.

Oh, and we also just celebrated our one-year anniversary in the not-so-new-anymore office this week!

Probably should have taken down that little Christmas tree before I took the photo :)

While it’s not unusual for us to never meet clients in person when they live outside of the DC metro, it’s wild to think that some of our current seniors who live right here in Vienna have already finished up the process without stepping foot in our office.

That said, I see the light at the end of the tunnel with the vaccine and I’m really hopeful that we will be back up and running normally in a couple of months.. although it will be interesting to see how many kids prefer working over Zoom for convenience! I do miss the human interaction, but I am pleased at how well it all worked out this past year and I could see some students wanting to continue that way.

Enjoy the long weekend!

What Does the COVID-19 Stimulus Package Mean for Financial Aid?

With most of the focus on stimulus payments, unemployment funding, and the second round of PPP, most mainstream media coverage either completely missed or barely touched upon the fact that the latest stimulus package included major changes to the federal student aid process as we know it.

While some families will celebrate the changes - such as Pell Grant recipients and those whose students have had drug convictions - others may be see their tuition bills rise substantially, including large families with multiple students in college at once, small business owners, and divorced parents. These changes will go into effect in 2023, and will impact families completing the 2023-2024 FAFSA.

Keep reading to learn more about what to expect:

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1. The FAFSA is going to be a whole lot shorter

While the FAFSA form originally contained 108 questions, the new legislation reduces it to about 36. But the so-called FAFSA Simplification Act doesn’t actually make everything simpler, as you’ll soon learn.

2. The EFC will be replaced by a new calculation

The Expected Family Contribution (EFC) will be replaced by the Student Aid Index (SAI). This name change replaces what was a bit of a misnomer - families often pay more than the EFC, either because colleges do not meet full need (providing loans rather than grants) or because the college recalculates the contribution and requires more than the federal calculation suggests. 

3. Large families and small business owners could see their tuition bills increase substantially

The biggest impact will probably be felt by large families with multiple students in college at once, as the parent contribution of the EFC/SAI will no longer be divided by the number of family members in college at once. This will greatly reduce the amount of financial aid that families paying multiple tuition bills at the same time currently receive. Depending on the number of students in college, this could be a high five to six figure difference per family per year! Small business owners will also see a potential increase in the cost of attendance for their children, as the values of those businesses will now count towards parental assets.

4. Pell Grant recipients will have an easier, more consistent process

For Pell Grant recipients, the SAI will automatically be set to zero. Students can also receive negative SAIs, of as low as -$1,500. Changes to Pell Grant criteria will make it easier for incarcerated prisoners and students with single parents to be eligible for grants. 

5. Students with past drug-related offenses will no longer be barred from receiving federal aid

In a move that is consistent with our society’s evolving attitudes on drug use and addiction, students with drug convictions in their past will now be eligible for federal aid. They have not been eligible since the Higher Education Act of 1998 was passed, and a Government Accountability Office report in 2005 found that up to 40,000 students were impacted each year as a result.

6. Divorce-related strategizing will be a thing of the past

Divorced parents have long been able to make strategic decisions about financial aid eligibility by modifying sleeping arrangements, as the parent with whom the dependent child spends more overnights is currently responsible for completing the form (regardless of legal custody arrangement). However, this will change with the new legislation, which requires the parent who provides the greater portion of the student’s financial support to complete the form. When both parents provide equal support, the form must be completed by the parent with the greater income. Step-parent income will still be included in the calculation if the parent completing the form has remarried, regardless of whether the step-parent plans to contribute to the child’s education. In fairness, many families have already had to release non-custodial parent financial information through the CSS Profile’s non-custodial parent form, so this change will have the greatest impact on students who attend schools that do not require the Profile in addition to the FAFSA.

7. Cost of attendance may look very different

There are many changes to the cost of attendance calculation in the new FAFSA. Some of the biggest include the separation of room and board into separate allowances for housing and meals, and the requirement that the meal allowance account for three meals a day. Institutions must also include loan fees on federal loans in the calculation (this is currently optional), and there will be no allowance for private loan fees. The cost of obtaining professional licenses or certifications will also be mandatory rather than at the discretion of the institution.

8. IPA rises in line with inflation

The Income Protection Allowance (IPA), which shelters a portion of parent and student income to provide for basic living expenses, has been raised and will continue to be adjusted for inflation. The 2023-2024 IPA for parents is 20% higher than 2021-2022, and for students, the 2023-2024 IPA is 35% higher.

9. Demographic changes

The FAFSA will now include a question that asks about the applicant’s race or ethnicity. Male applicants are also able to complete the FAFSA without registering for the Selective Service, a welcome change with the new legislation. 

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We hope that this rundown of major changes is helpful! It will definitely be a very different landscape in the coming years, especially for families that have more than one student attending college at a time.

For more information about all of the changes made in the FAFSA Simplification Act, we recommend this Forbes article, which also provides a list of the changes to the appeals process once families complete their financial aid applications, as well as this Q&A from the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators.

Weekly Update: January 8

We hope you all had a fun and restful break, and we’re excited to be back with our first weekly update of 2021!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

FCPS BOARD DELAYS SCHOOL REOPENING

The FCPS School Board voted to indefinitely pause the Return to School plan and reevaluate in early February. In more hopeful news, Governor Northam announced that K-12 educators are now in group 1B and may receive vaccines later this month, which is very promising for the return to the classroom. YAY! Edit: A press release went out late this afternoon indicating that educators in Fairfax County will be able to get vaccinated as early as Monday, January 11!

BETSY DEVOS RESIGNS

The Secretary of Education submitted her resignation on Thursday, following the riots at the Capitol this week. DeVos is the second cabinet-level official to step down in the wake of recent events. She’s not the most popular name in town, but she did do quite a bit of work to push school choice and keep schools open during the pandemic. We will keep an eye on how those policies might be affected in the coming months. 

COLLEGES CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE WITH SPRING SCHEDULES

With the five deadliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic taking place over the last two weeks, colleges are struggling with how to plan for spring semester. Syracuse, which laid out its spring semester plans in September, announced on Monday that it will start and end the term two weeks later than planned. UNC will start the semester on time but remotely, delaying in-person undergraduate classes for three weeks. Georgetown is facing backlash for keeping students remote during the spring semester, while nearby schools like American and Catholic will be returning to in-person instruction. We are watching closely, as more schools are likely to change their plans for the spring in the coming days.

CHALLENGING ADMISSIONS YEAR FOR STUDENTS AT TOP COLLEGES

As we have said many times on this blog, the overall decrease in college enrollment in the US is not reflective of the landscape at highly selective schools. Early applications at Harvard are up 57% over last year, and the early admit rate was cut nearly in half, from 13.9% to 7.4%. Yale apps are up 38%, and acceptances down to 11%, and the trend continues at Penn and Dartmouth. The Ivy League schools aren’t the only ones impacted, either - UVA and UGA also saw increases in early applications. 

NORTHEASTERN BEGINS COVID-19 VACCINATIONS

Northeastern University, an authorized Massachusetts vaccine provider, became one of the first colleges in the country to issue COVID-19 vaccines this week. About 1,500 people at Northeastern, including 1,000 students who work in direct patient care, are eligible for Phase 1 vaccinations, and 88 people have been vaccinated so far. The university plans to begin Phase 2 vaccinations in February.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

The CDC and the Department of Health and Human Services released a report this week that reveals an average of a 56% rise in COVID-19 cases in counties where colleges and universities had in-person learning. The report does not indicate whether the spread was as a result of in-person learning, or other sources of spread in the community. 

Students and faculty at DC area colleges spoke out this week about their relationships with the U.S. government and their reactions to the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. Their statements underline D.C.’s status as a “college town,” and the links between Washington and the D.C. educational institutions. 

The New York Times is inviting students to share their college essays about experiences and issues that defined 2020. Submitters will have a chance to be interviewed or have their writing featured. Of course, we encouraged our own students to steer clear of Covid-related topics in their college essays, but there were so many major issues this past year that I am sure some would qualify. We always say that the hardest part about working on essays is that we can’t share our students’ amazing progress, so this would be a great opportunity for students to have a wider audience for their stories!

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

So many people send us emails this time of year saying “You’re probably so relieved to be done with the admissions season…” but did you know that the month of January is probably our third-busiest of the year, after August and September?

Not only are we working with Class of 2021 students on follow-up work such as additional interview prep or LOCIs, we’re also assisting with initial research and application materials with the Class of 2022, who are putting together college lists at a very difficult time. The rate at which colleges are changing their requirements and deadlines is keeping us on our toes! Class of 2022 families who want to learn more about our ongoing services can book a Meet & Greet.

That said, what really makes us crazy busy this time of year is not actually our work with juniors or seniors (or our grad student or transfer applicants, for that matter). Why are we so swamped? Two words: course registration. As soon as the new year hits, FCPS course registration for the following academic year begins in full force, and this January is no exception.

Are you struggling over whether it’s better to earn a B in an honors course or an A in a regular course; wondering which electives to choose; or wondering about the credibility of your 15-year-old son who swears up and down his school counselor said it was no problem at all to go ahead and drop Spanish since he already met his foreign language graduation requirement in 10th grade? You are not alone!

Pro tip: the best money you’ll ever spend on the college admissions process (truly!) is our one-hour strategy session for your 8th, 9th, or 10th grade student. You’ll walk away knowing exactly which courses to choose, which tests to take and when, and what your student needs to be doing (and NOT doing) at this very moment if they want to be one of our success stories down the line.

Whether your family ever sees us again after the meeting is totally up to you, but starting off on the right foot will ensure that you ultimately begin the active stage of the admissions process in a position of strength, because you won’t be frantically trying to make up for mistakes you didn’t even know you were making.

Like dropping Spanish :)

Writing an Effective Letter of Continued Interest: Instructions and Samples

If you read our blog post from a few weeks ago about the best actions to take after a deferral, you know that Letters of Continued Interest (LOCIs) are typically a central part of most deferral strategies. Of course, it’s important to remember that some schools do not actually want LOCIs.

UVA, in particular, has specifically indicated that they do not want to receive these letters this year - so don’t send them! That said, for schools that do consider demonstrated interest, this is the best way to let them know you are still interested and provide any updates since you submitted your early application.

We’ll start off with sharing some steps to get started before moving on to sample letters. Remember, don’t copy these directly (or even indirectly!). These are just examples that we hope will be helpful as sit down to write your own letter.

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1. Introduction

Start the letter by introducing yourself and letting the admissions officer know that you appreciate their continued consideration in the regular decision round, if applicable. The introduction is also a great place to reiterate your interest in the school and confirm that you will attend if admitted (only if that is truly the case!)

2. Personal Connection

It is helpful to include a personal story to demonstrate your interest in your top-choice school. This should not be something you’ve mentioned in the application, but if you were able to visit campus since you applied, or speak to a current student or alum, this is the place to mention that interaction. Your goal here is to demonstrate how your values align with the school’s values, and why you think you would be a good fit. You might also mention a specific program or organization that interests you, especially if your application did not include a “why this school” essay.

3. Updates

Try to include 1-3 updates along with your LOCI. You likely submitted your application between August and October, so now is the time to let them know how the last couple of months went for you. If you earned an award or became president of a club, great! But even if you don’t have a big accomplishment to share, you can still let the college know how you have been spending your time. Are you working hard to participate in online classes? Did you do any volunteer work over the holiday? Admissions officers understand that updates will look different during the pandemic, so don’t be afraid to include activities that you have worked on at home, virtually, or on your own.

4. Conclusion

Finish the letter by reiterating your interest in the school, particularly if it is your first choice. You can also offer to include additional materials, meet with the admissions office, or answer additional questions if appropriate - if you do, make sure to include your contact information as well. Finish the letter off with your name, high school, and applicant ID number (usually available through your applicant portal) to make it easier for the admissions officer to quickly add the letter to your file. 

Here are a couple examples of LOCIs from different types of students to help guide you through your draft:

This student mentions clearly that the school is her first choice, and has some impressive accomplishments to share!

This student doesn’t mention that the school is his first choice, but still expresses his interest and updates the admissions officer on his last few months!

As we have also mentioned in past blog posts, if you are a student who is not working with us directly as a client, you should make sure to reach out to your school counselor about your deferral. They will be able to let you know whether or not a specific school accepts LOCIs, and they can also make a call to the school to see if there are any particular areas that you should focus on improving or emphasizing in your application. This information will help you to tailor the LOCI to a specific school. 

For our own clients, we will instruct you to contact your school counselor if appropriate, depending on the college involved (some schools will provide useful information to school counselors and others will not). Don’t forget to book a meeting with us so that we can discuss the situation and help you write your LOCIs.

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Questions about LOCIs that weren’t answered in this post? Send us a message or let us know in the comments!

What To Do After Your ED Acceptance

This was a historically competitive early application cycle, so we know that not every student got the decision they wanted - if you were deferred or denied from your early decision school, read our post from two weeks ago for next steps. 

That being said, we are very proud that SO MANY of our students were admitted to their first choice schools! If you received the early decision acceptance you were hoping for, you may be busy celebrating and sharing the news, but the work isn’t over just yet. Read on for your next steps after receiving that ED acceptance!

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1. Accept the Offer

This would seem to go without saying, but it is important to officially accept the offer and pay your deposit to the school. This process will look a little different for each school, but can usually be completed through your applicant portal. Make sure you take the time to re-read the decision letter carefully and make sure you are following any instructions from the school about how to confirm your acceptance. Your deposit officially holds your place in the class, so make sure to do this soon!

2. Withdraw Other Applications

We get it - we also want to see whether our students were admitted anywhere else! But after an ED commitment, it is important that you let other schools know that you will be attending college elsewhere. Many schools will allow you to do this through your applicant portal - you just click to withdraw or cancel your application and usually fill out a short form or comment box. For those that don’t, you will need to send an email. You can send this email to the school’s main admissions address (found on their website). Here is an example:

3. Contact Your Counselor and Recommenders

If you have not already, let your school counselor know your decision. Then, make sure that you also let anyone who wrote you a letter of recommendation know that you were admitted. They have been rooting for you! This is a great time to write a thank-you note or email thanking them for their help and including your big news. 

4. Keep Up Your Grades

With the acceptance letter in hand, it is tempting to sit back and coast through the rest of senior year. But remember, your acceptance is contingent on you keeping up your academic performance! While it is okay if your grades slip a bit in one or two classes, a big drop or a drop in every class is reason for the school to be concerned, and you absolutely don’t want to end up in a difficult situation due to your senior year grades. 

5. Check Your Email

IThe school you’ve committed to is likely to continue to communicate with you by email throughout the spring. Make sure you are checking regularly for information about housing, orientation, course registration, and any other important deadlines. You may also join an admitted student group on social media to get to know other students who will be attending. 

6. Celebrate!

While it is important to do everything on this list, don’t forget to take some time to celebrate, share your news, and buy a school sweatshirt. You did it! Take a deep breath and get excited for the next four years!

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We hope that you all are having a happy holiday season and a restful winter break!

What is a Legacy?

In the college admissions world, the word “legacy” gets thrown around a lot, and you may have heard that one kid at your school talking about how he’ll be going to Harvard because he’s a legacy - as if being a legacy gives you a secret password for admissions at a top school! 

Spoiler alert: legacy status is not a golden ticket for admission at any school. That said, the concept of “legacy” can mean very different things to different institutions, and admissions committees handle legacy applicants in different ways.

In general, know that the vast majority of schools will not consider applicants to be legacies if their connections are through extended family members (aunts and uncles, cousins, so forth). Most schools do not even extend legacy preference for siblings! While every school will consider an applicant to be a legacy if their mother or father received an undergraduate degree, that legacy status does not always mean that the student will receive any kind of preferential treatment in the admissions process.

Want to know where you can get more legacy bang for your buck? Keep reading to learn more about the various types of policies that exist and examples of schools in each category.

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1. Schools that only consider “primary legacy status”

These schools limit legacy preference to only those applicants with parents who graduated from the institution. It’s also important to note that elite schools will also grant more weight to a parent who attended the undergraduate school, rather than a graduate program. And the more involved a parent has been since graduation, the more likely it is for their legacy status to help out their child as an applicant.

Schools that use this definition include:

• UVA - “A legacy student is defined by the Office of Admission as a child of a degree-holder. Step-children are also considered legacy applicants if they reside with a step-parent who has earned a UVA diploma.”

• Stanford - “At Stanford, “legacy” applicants are defined as the children of Stanford graduates at either the undergraduate or graduate level.”

• UNC (only for out-of state applicants) - “For non-resident children of alumni (those whose mother, father, step-father, or step-mother attended Carolina), family ties to the University may be used in our final admission decision. Please note that legacy status cannot be derived from siblings, grandparents, or other extended family. There is no formal preference for resident applicants who are children or step-children of alumni.”

• Columbia - “Applicants are considered to be "legacies" of Columbia only if they are the children of Columbia College or Columbia Engineering graduates.”

2. Schools that consider children and grandchildren to be full legacies

A number of schools consider applicants to be legacies if their parents or grandparents are alumni. Make sure that you think about where your grandparents went to school, and look into whether any of the schools to which you are applying use this definition. Penn, for instance, admits around one-third of legacy applicants - more than double the overall admissions rate!

Schools that use this definition include:

• Cornell - A legacy applicant is “a student whose parents or grandparents — or great-, or great-great, etc. — hold a degree from Cornell University.”

• Duke - Legacy applicants are “the children and grandchildren of alumni."

• Penn - “Legacy applicants are defined as those whose parents or grandparents graduated from any affiliated school or graduate program.”

3. Schools that extend legacy consideration to siblings of current students and alumni

Do you have an older sibling applying to college anytime soon? Pay attention to this category, because some schools sweep siblings into the definition of legacies, right along with grandparents and parents. Yes - that mean’s that your brother or sister’s college choice could give you a real leg up in the process when it comes to your own chances!

Schools that use this definition include:

• Emory - “In the admission-review process, “legacy” status is for applicants whose immediate relatives have graduated or are currently enrolled in an academic division of Emory University. This includes grandparents, parents, and siblings.”

• Northwestern - A legacy applicant “has a sibling, parent, or grandparent that graduated from Northwestern.”

• Georgia Tech - “We define legacy as having a parent, sibling or grandparent who attended Tech.”

• University of Southern California - “Those applicants with a parent, grandparent, or sibling who graduated from USC (or is currently enrolled) are considered a legacy for admission purposes.”

4. Schools where legacy matters a lot

At certain schools, legacy status can make an enormous difference in your chances of admission, because of the very strong preference extended to these legacy applicants. Georgetown, for example, had a 30% admit rate for legacy students in the class of 2021 - significantly higher than the 15% overall admit rate. It’s important to note that for schools without early decision programs, legacy status can be seen as an indication of demonstrated interest - legacy students typically already have stronger emotional ties to a school, and so colleges may admit more legacies in order to increase yield overall. There is also a higher likelihood of alumni giving down the line when it comes to a candidate with a well-established family ties.

Schools that show substantial legacy preference include:

• Baylor- 32% of the freshman class

• Notre Dame - 22% of the freshman class

• Georgetown - 10% of the freshman class

5. Schools where legacy does not matter at all

At the opposite end of the spectrum, some schools do not consider legacy status at all when it comes to admissions. At certain schools, your legacy status (or lack thereof) won’t make one bit of a difference when it comes to the manner in which your application is reviewed.

Schools that do not extend preferential treatment to legacy applicants include:

• Johns Hopkins

• MIT

• Caltech

• Texas A&M

• University of California system institutions (UCLA, UC Berkeley, etc)

• University of Georgia

6. Schools where legacy only matters if you apply early

We have always been fans of applying early decision for the strategic advantage that it gives an applicant, but for legacy applicants, this may be even more important. Some schools only consider legacy status for early round applicants. This is just one example where legacy status in and of itself will not help a student who doesn’t take advantage of other strategic choices in the admissions process. And if you are not in the middle 50% for test scores and GPA for a college, legacy status is unlikely to give you a huge boost. But that combination of legacy + ED can seal the deal for an otherwise-qualified applicant.

While many schools operate this way behind the scenes and only provide maximum legacy consideration in the early round, those who come right out and state this policy include:

• Penn

• Cornell

If my daughter was applying to college today and was dead set on an Ivy League school, I’d encourage her to think about ED’ing to Cornell - because of their legacy policies, she could leverage her great-grandfather’s degree with their legacy ED preference for a much better shot!

7. Schools that have expanded legacy status in the interest of social justice

Georgetown most notably expanded legacy status to include the descendants of enslaved people who were sold by the Jesuits who founded the school. It is not the only school who has made a similar move to make the legacy factor in college admissions more equal across race and socioeconomic status, and we may see continued shifts like this change the definition of “legacy” further as more schools reckon with systemic issues.  

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Whether you are a legacy or not, having the background knowledge about how a school will view legacy status will be helpful as you make strategic decisions about college admissions!

Weekly Update: December 18

We are really thrilled with the good news from so many of our seniors, and look forward to hearing the rest of the decisions as they come out! Our office will be closed for the next two weeks during the FCPS break, but please keep us updated - we can’t wait to celebrate for you!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

EARLY ACTION/EARLY DECISION RESULTS

We have posted so many times about how much we love College Kickstart’s list of early decision and early action release dates, which is updated nearly every day and can be really helpful for students still anxiously awaiting decisions. But for data on those decisions that have already come out, the site also released this list of initial early admission rates. We can see the impact of increased applications at selective schools like Columbia, which saw a 49% increase in ED applications, and Dartmouth, which saw a 29% increase. Stats have not been released yet on MIT’s early action, but some sources are predicting a 60% increase in applications this cycle!

DEFERRALS MAY IMPACT RD ADMISSION AFTER ALL

As we have been saying for months, most colleges assured students that the increase in Class of 2020 deferrals would not impact Class of 2021 applicants. However, in the last week, we’ve begun to see some evidence of policy shifts on this topic - it sounds like some of the most selective schools are beginning to rethink that approach (and not in a good way!). This interview with Dartmouth Dean of Admissions Lee Coffin suggests that while the office did not take deferrals into account during the ED cycle, it will do so during the RD round. Yikes! Along the same lines, Harvard admitted an historically low number of students during the early action round to compensate for deferrals. And that’s despite a 57% increase in applicants year over year! This is really concerning news for RD applicants, and is yet another reason why students who were not admitted in this round should seriously consider applying ED II. 

RECORD NUMBER OF MED SCHOOL APPLICATIONS THIS CYCLE

The pandemic has changed everything about college and grad school admissions, but may have been particularly influential in medical school applications, which are up 18% over last year. Top schools like Stanford have seen a 50% increase in applications in what medical school admissions offices have started to term the “Fauci Effect.” The senior director of the American Association of Medical Colleges likens this wave to the large numbers of young men and women who entered into the military after 9/11.

MACKENZIE SCOTT DONATES MILLIONS TO COLLEGES 

MacKenzie Scott, ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has donated nearly two billion dollars to small colleges and universities that tend to serve low-income or minority students, including more than a dozen HBCUs as well as technical and community colleges. Recipients included Prairie View A&M University, which received $50 million, and Borough of Manhattan Community College, which received $30 million. For many schools, these were the largest single gifts they had ever received. Ms. Scott made the gifts after her team interviewed the presidents of the colleges about their mission and goals. 

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

As previously mentioned, we experienced an unprecedented early admissions cycle this year in terms of skyrocketing numbers of applicants, and the WSJ did a great job of covering the “dramatic growth” today. We knew it was going to be messy, but this past week was just insane.

Binding early decision applications rose by 22% at Brown University, 23% at the University of Pennsylvania, 29% at Dartmouth College and 49% at Columbia University. At Yale University and Harvard University, applications under the restrictive early-action option jumped by about 38% and 57%, respectively.

The massive jumps—and resultant declines in acceptance rates—illustrate just how chaotic this admissions cycle is shaping up to be.

We can’t say that all of our news was perfect- we had two decisions in particular that were very frustrating. That said, we’ve been totally. blown. away. by how well our students have done on the whole despite these crazy increases. Offhand I would say that about 80% of our students who applied ED were admitted to their top choice schools, and we’re talking about some extremely selective institutions, several of which are Ivy League schools that were mentioned in that article. Congratulations, guys!

This piece from the Chronicle of Higher Education makes a radical proposal - that instead of employing human beings to read applications and make admissions decisions, students should be matched with schools using an algorithm that takes into account the preferences of the applicant as well as those of the program. The article cites the racial and socioeconomic disparities in traditional admissions as the reason why the system needs such a drastic overhaul. The system would also help struggling colleges to meet enrollment goals, a goal that is even more salient as colleges go into debt during the COVID-19 crisis. We’re not sure that they will ever be able to fully replace admissions readers, but it is definitely an interesting proposition! 

There have been multiple articles this week about the difficulties that students and counselors face during the admissions process this cycle. The LA Times notes that school counselors have often been unable to reach their students through remote learning platforms, but the lack of technology isn’t the only issue. Students and families contending with unemployment, anxiety, and illness are not motivated and are sometimes unable to complete the time-intensive work of applying to colleges. NPR stresses how these effects are even more profound for first generation and low-income students, who are left with fewer resources than past cycles in what has become the most challenging and capricious cycle we have ever seen.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

We have been trying hard to keep up with the ED/EA statistics from as many schools as we can, and sharing our information to help clients make good decisions about ED II and RD applications!

Shannon attended a Best of Boston session with Tufts, BU, and Northeastern this week and learned that Tufts is admitting fewer students early this year (only 18% of the entering class), and that interestingly, they have seen a HUGE increase in applications from Virginia. Figures, right?! We know that many of our students have become interested in Tufts, and are keeping our fingers crossed for them in a cycle with a lower admit rate and stiff competition! 

And of course, we have seen so many decisions come out this week! But keep in mind that whether you were accepted, deferred, or denied, your responsibilities do not end with your decision letter. Deferred or denied students should read our post from earlier this week for next steps. And for those who got good news, keep an eye out for next week’s blog post on important steps to take after your ED acceptance. 

We hope you all have a great holiday, and we’re keeping our fingers crossed for those still waiting on decisions!

Not the Decision You Hoped For? Read This!

The decisions began pouring in shortly after last Friday’s blog post was published, and we have absolutely loved hearing more and more good news from our students! Sending a number of kids to UVA and VT as they hoped, yay!

That said, I’m a total stress case while writing this because it’s Tuesday afternoon and we will learn a whole bunch of ED results over the next few hours: NYU, Columbia, Vanderbilt, Davidson, Swarthmore and Villanova. We have multiple ED applicants at some of those schools, so there’s a lot riding on this evening!

Even with a stellar track record, it’s hard not to feel anxious with this particularly unpredictable cycle in an always-uncertain process. As I mentioned in my last post, applications at top schools have continued to skyrocket and it’s statistically inevitable that some kids will learn disappointing news this week.

If you find yourself in that category, read on for more about deferrals, denials, and where to go from here!

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1. Take a moment to process

If you were denied or deferred from your dream school, you may be feeling a lot of emotions. Whether you are disappointed, sad, angry, or some combination of the three, take a day or two to process those feelings. If it takes some time before you are ready to talk about your decision, that’s okay! Giving yourself the space you need will prepare you to tackle next steps with new energy.

2. Tell the people who need to know

You may not want to shout your denial or deferral from the rooftops - if and how you share the news is your decision. But beyond your parents, there are two people who should absolutely know this decision sooner rather than later: your school counselor and (if you are a client) ME! I will be able to share this news with the rest of our team so that we can immediately help you consider your options and give you some more information on next steps.

3. Strategize

At this point, and this is particularly the case if you are not a client of ours already and put your list together without expert help, you may need to look at your list critically to make sure that the schools you have selected are realistic. Yes, we’re up against the clock, but it’s not too late to consider how you might change your list in light of new information. The longer you wait, though, the more difficult it will be to do this. If you are a current client and want to talk more or rethink your strategy, go ahead and book a session with us immediately. If you are not a current client but want some extra help in the next round, you can book one of our emergency strategy sessions to help get you on the right track.

4. If you were denied, let it go and move forward

It can be tempting to follow up with a school to ask questions or attempt to provide more information, but the hard truth of this process is that a “no” essentially never turns into a “yes” unless a true error was made. While there are certain situations in which asking for feedback can be useful - and we can discuss this individually with students if that is an appropriate course of action - it’s important to know that the chances of reversing a decision are extraordinarily unlikely. It would have to be a “my counselor sent the wrong student’s transcript” type of mistake for something like that to happen - not “you are missing out on the best student ever” kind of mistake! It is a more productive use of your time to let this one go and focus on your other applications. Whatever the decision, it will all work out in the long term, and this one rejection will not define your next four years.

5. If you were deferred, gather more information and make a plan

If you read our blog post from last year about turning a deferral into an acceptance, you know that the first step is to talk to your school counselor. That person will be able to reach out to the school and provide us with more information that we can use to help you come up with a plan. Your plan is going to be specific to your application and the school - some students will need to retest, others will need to work hard on making sure their grades are the best yet, and so on. The only way you will know the best path for success is by understanding the objection you’re trying to overcome.

6. Write your Letter of Continued Interest

Regardless of your strategy, it will likely include a Letter of Continued Interest to let the school know that they are still your top choice. Make sure to talk with us or with your school counselor about writing this letter, and if you don’t know where to begin, you can check out our blog post on LOCIs for a template.

7. Keep going!

Fatigue can definitely set in at this point - you have done the hard work of applying, you aren’t sure whether writing that LOCI will really help or whether applying to another school or two is really worth it. This is not the time to shrug it off or give up, though. You’ve come so far! Focus on your other applications and your deferral strategy, and keep pushing forward. Your hard work will pay off in the end!

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Questions about defer or deny decisions that weren’t answered in this post? Send us a message or let us know in the comments!