Best of the Blog: Not the Decision You Hoped For? Read This!

ADVICE SO GOOD, IT’S WORTH REPEATING!

While we love to celebrate with our clients who receive positive decision news, we also know that this can be a challenging time for many students when they don’t receive the news they hope for. In this installment of the Best of the Blog, we’re bringing back our post that provides tips for students and families after defer or deny decisions.

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It’s Decision Time!

ORIGINALLY POSTED DECEMBER 2020

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!

Weekly Update: December 17

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 with you!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

OMICRON SPIKES START TO SHUT DOWN CAMPUSES

Cornell made headlines at the beginning of the week after needing to shut down its campus due to coronavirus spikes - the libraries are closed to students, and they will need to take finals online. All activities, including fall graduation, are cancelled. One by one, many other schools began to follow suit with a similar approach, including GW, Princeton, NYU, Tufts, and Middlebury. On the high school side, Georgetown Prep suspended classes until after winter break after 30 students were diagnosed with COVID-19. We expect to see more school closures this winter if Omicron continues to spike. Stanford, DePaul, and others have moved their winter quarters/J term equivalents online, and Penn State issued a statement today cautioning that the “community should prepare to alter plans in case the spring semester must start remotely at University Park.”

COLLEGES BEGIN REQUIRING VACCINE BOOSTERS

Given the closures, it is perhaps no surprise that some colleges have started requiring students to have vaccine boosters. Syracuse, UMass Amherst, Boston College, Northeastern, Wesleyan, and Notre Dame are just a few of the colleges that have started implementing a booster requirement. 

HARVARD ADMISSIONS WILL BE TEST OPTIONAL THROUGH 2026

Harvard announced yesterday that it will continue with test-optional admissions through 2026. We suspect that such an announcement from a leader in higher education will reverberate, with more schools deciding to follow suit. But we don’t expect to see a change from Georgetown - traditionally a huge proponent of testing, they confirm their decision to require tests in order to evaluate students without the risk of grade inflation that accompanies GPAs and transcripts. 

THE RETURN OF THREE YEAR DEGREES

More than a dozen schools, including Harvard and Georgetown, have joined a pilot led by the University of Pennsylvania to create a three-year bachelor’s degree program. The idea is not for students to take the same number of credits in three years, but to include more credit options for summer programs, internships, experiential learning, and other non-traditional opportunities, creating a new and more flexible curriculum.

LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FROM FCPS

FCPS students have many different opportunities to take advantage of this year - including Nova’s Early Online College program, which allows FCPS juniors and seniors (and those in neighboring counties) to take up to two tuition-free college courses online this fall. Applications are due January 14. This is a really great way for students to explore their area of interest in-depth, and get some college credits under their belts. 

Freshmen and sophomores can look into other Summer Learning opportunities available to them through FCPS. 

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Does your child have a mindset that will set them up for success? This article explores four factors - Education, Accountability, Self-motivation, and Company kept - that are apparent in childhood and linked to adult success. The good news is that these skills and characteristics are teachable, so young students can start building habits now that will set them up for success later. 

The strict vaccination requirements in New York City prevent high school athletic teams from competing in tournaments that allow unvaccinated athletes - meaning that they cannot compete against local teams from Long Island or Westchester County, as well as students from Catholic or private schools within the city.

This article explores the precautions - including masked practices - that schools are currently implementing for sports like wrestling, and considers whether these policies do more harm than good for young athletes.  

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

One question that comes up for us again and again from prospective clients is “But do you work with students like my child?” - and the answer is likely yes! We work with a wide range of people, from Ivy-League-bound high fliers to recruited athletes and more. If you are wondering if our services are a good fit for your student, check out our new “Who We Work With” page for some examples of typical client profiles that we see here at DC College Counseling!

We have been trying hard to keep up with the ED statistics from as many schools as we can, and sharing our information to help clients make good decisions about ED II and RD applications! UVA, for instance, published a blog with early stats, including a 38% ED admit rate for in-state students and a 25% ED admit rate for out of state. Just over 1,000 students received defer decisions. For more results, check out this list of early admit rates from College Kickstart.

And of course, we have seen so many decisions from our clients 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 blog from last year for next steps. And for those who got good news, check out this blog post on what to do 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!

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Majors to Watch in 2022

A big part of college admissions strategy is choosing the right lens for the application - and that includes choosing a major! If on the fence between various options, we always recommend that students consider newer, growing majors in their field of interest - particularly in niche subject areas, if possible.

Because these programs aren’t as well-known as others that are more common, there may be less competition - which students can leverage to their advantage in terms of both admissions and merit scholarships! For example, if you’re interested in city planning, real estate, or even entrepreneurship, why not check out the University of Michigan’s brand-new B.S. degree in Urban Technology?

Today, we’re sharing some of the fastest-growing majors and programs we’ve been seeing recently at schools around the country - and who knows, your student might just discover their future career on this list!

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Homeland Security

Traditionally, a major in Homeland Security was only offered as an option in evening or professional school divisions. As the field has expanded, and the need for specialists has grown, a number of schools have begun to offer this option as a traditional undergraduate major.

Programs to Explore:

VCU: B.A. in Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness

George Mason: B.S. in Criminology, Law and Society with a concentration in Homeland Security and Justice

Monmouth University: B.S. in Homeland Security

DeSales University: B.A. in Homeland Security, also offered with a concentration in Data Analytics

Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University: B.S. in Homeland Security

Community Organizing

As social justice-oriented vocations and careers become more popular, majors in community organizing and related disciplines have proliferated on college campuses. These majors are housed in a variety of departments, including Education, Public Policy, and Social Work. 

Programs to Explore:

University of Colorado, Boulder: B.A. in Leadership & Community Engagement

University of Kentucky: B.S. in Community and Leadership Development

Arizona State: B.A. in Community Advocacy and Social Policy

Ohio State: B.S. in Community Leadership

University of Delaware: B.S. in Organizational and Community Leadership

University of Washington: BA in Education, Communities and Organizations

Loyola University Chicago: B.A. Advocacy and Social Change

Supply Chain Management

While not necessarily a new major, the public eye has certainly had an increased focus on the supply chain lately! As this type of problem-solving work becomes increasingly appealing to students, supply chain management programs are becoming more popular. 

Programs to Explore:

RIT: B.S. in Supply Chain Management

Michigan State: B.A. in Supply Chain Management

University of Tennessee: B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Supply Chain Management

Penn State: B.S. in Supply Chain & Information Systems

Ohio State: B.S. in Industrial and Systems Engineering with a concentration in Supply Chain Management and Logistics

In addition to growing demand for students in these fields, these interdisciplinary majors allow students to explore different areas and maybe find a new passion! Do any of the newest majors appeal to you or your student? Let us know in the comments!

Weekly Update: December 10

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

PSAT AND NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP CUTOFFS

After many Class of 2022 students were unable to take the PSAT during COVID-19, we expected to see numbers go up for the Class of 2023 - after all, nearly 50% more students took the test! The prediction for the cutoff for commended students is 208. Here in Virginia, we expect to see National Merit Semifinalists in the 220-223 range, in keeping with the past three years of cutoffs. For a more detailed state-by-state breakdown, this article has some helpful charts and graphs. 

NATIONAL RECOGNITION PROGRAMS APPLICATION REOPENS AFTER ELIGIBILITY ERRORS

Speaking of Class of 2022 students who took the PSAT, it turns out that a number of students were not notified about their eligibility for National Recognition programs. In recognition of this error, College Board has reopened the application until December 15. If you believe that there is any chance that you are eligible, PLEASE go ahead and apply!

• Class of 2023 students with GPAs of 3.5+ and either attending school in a rural area/small town OR identifying as African American or Black, Hispanic American or Latinx, or Indigenous are eligible to apply today if either one of the two bulleted statements apply:

  • Scored in the top 10% of their state in the winter or spring of sophomore year (students scoring in this range on this past fall’s PSAT will be able to apply later)

  • Earned a score of 3+ on two or more AP exams during 9th and/or 10th grade

• Class of 2024 students with GPAs of 3.5+ and either attending school in a rural area/small town OR identifying as African American or Black, Hispanic American or Latinx, or Indigenous are eligible to apply today if they earned a score of 3+ on two or more AP exams during 9th grade (students scoring in the top 10% of their state on this past fall’s PSAT will be able to apply later).

Again, if there is any chance you believe you might be eligible, go ahead and apply. Other counselors have estimated that the “top 10%” number on the PSAT would be around 1200+ depending on the state.

COLLEGE APPLICATIONS CONTINUE TO SOAR ABOVE PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS

We expected college application rates to stay high this year, compared to before the pandemic, and so far that is playing out. Already, applications are up 22% from pre-pandemic levels. As we saw last year, most of the increase is from affluent students applying to a longer list of schools (perhaps as a result of the increased unpredictability in admissions decisions), rather than more students applying. And we expect to see an additional spike as we get closer to those early January deadlines!

VIRGINIA STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT’S TRAGIC DEATH

A Fairfax County student at Virginia State University has died after a shooting at a university apartment building last weekend. Daniel Wharton, of Alexandria, was nineteen. As of this writing, a suspect has not yet been identified. 

TRANSFORMATIVE, RECORD-SETTING GIFT TO HOLLINS UNIVERSITY

An anonymous donor just set a record by donating $75 million to the Hollins University endowment. This is very significant - not only is it the largest-ever donation in history to a women’s college, it equates to more than a third of their existing endowment. I visited Hollins back in April 2019 on the way back from Virginia Tech, and I will admit that it did not strike me as a place that many of our students would be interested in - simply because of the size (800 students), rural location, and the fact that it’s a women’s college.

But for a girl seeking a very small, tight-knit community, it could be a great option! They have always offered generous merit aid, and I bet that it will get even better now. Anyone interested should check out the accelerated three-year undergraduate program, as well as the impressive partnerships with institutions ranging from Carnegie Mellon to UVA’s Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy. Future students interested in the UVA Batten partnership should also make sure to read up on Hollins’ own Batten Leadership Institute, which offers an undergraduate certificate in leadership studies.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

While many students in our area are continuing to pursue their college goals during the pandemic, a large number of students across the country are putting off college - overall, college enrollment has dropped 8%, with community college bearing the brunt of the decrease. Many in the education space are afraid that with students putting college off for a few years, they are much less likely to return to pursue higher education.

But this New York Times article provides some hope - it’s never too late to go to college! Devon Simmons, who served 15 years in prison for crimes he committed as a teenager, later graduated from Columbia and is now working on a program to help “jailhouse lawyers” become paralegals and create a path to law school after incarceration. 

Shon Hopwood’s book, Law Man, is a great read for those interested in these types of stories. Shannon worked with Shon on events at Georgetown and highly recommends this as a great book for students interested in criminal justice to read over the break (and include in college applications)! 

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

Now is the time when decisions are rolling in! If you are a current client, make sure to keep us updated over the weekend and next week as more and more of those early decisions roll out. And if you are anxiously checking your email, we recommend checking out College Kickstart’s list of application notification dates, which is updated regularly with new information. 

I mentioned in the mid-week post that I had the chance to go see Wash U last weekend. I will admit that I was actually in St. Louis to see the James Taylor concert but it was so much fun stopping by campus while I was there. I met up with a current freshman and really enjoyed hearing about the similarities and differences between our experiences.

It’s crazy how much has changed since my last visit just four years ago - which is a good lesson about the importance of revisiting schools that your student may have seen a few years back with an older sibling. At the rate that new buildings are popping up and new initiatives are rolling out, so many of these schools are completely different places in the span of a few years. And right after I left, they announced the construction of yet another new building, which will create a whole new quad.

Things that have not changed: Ted Drewes!!!

Have a great weekend!

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How to Make the Most of Your Winter Break

It may be hard to believe, but winter break is just around the corner! While we know most students are looking forward to taking some time to rest and relax, you may also be wondering how to maximize this time when it comes to the college process. If that’s you, read on!

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Research colleges

We encourage all of our juniors to do the bulk of their college research over winter break. This allows them to get a head start on building their lists, and usually means they’ll have more time to look at schools than if they saved all of their trips for spring break. But even for sophomores and younger students looking to get a jump on the college process, winter break is a great time!

In addition to visiting schools in person (if possible), students can also use the break to complete virtual visits without using valuable homework or extracurricular time. If you are planning to do some visits over the break, jump back to our posts about in-person and virtual visits so you’re prepared and can make the most of your visits. 

And don’t forget - if you’re traveling to see relatives for the holidays, you may as well swing by any school nearby, even if you aren’t able to schedule an official visit or don’t have any interest in that particular school in the first place! The more schools you visit, the more you’ll learn about your preferences… and can come back and share them with us! For example, maybe you thought you wanted an urban environment, but after walking through Emory while visiting Grandma in Atlanta, you realized you’re open to schools on the outskirts of cities after all!

I got to swing by Wash U last weekend while in St. Louis - yay! More on that in the weekly update, but it was super easy to just walk around. At one point we even tagged on to a tour group!

Do an enrichment activity

Many colleges offer summer programs and courses that allow students to take classes over the summer, but there are opportunities to do so in the winter as well. Cornell’s really fantastic pre-college program offers winter courses from January 3-21 - check those out! Students can also use the time to complete asynchronous, free courses through EdX or Coursera - check out our list of courses for some ideas!

This also may be a great time to complete a volunteer project or other independent work that will help you show colleges your skills and give you some experience in a field you may want to study! Polygence helps match students with university researchers to complete independent research projects, and students who sign up using our link receive 10% off their program (Note: DC College Counseling does not receive compensation from Polygence for referrals - all of the benefits here are just for students!). 

Take some time to plan and reflect

For younger students in eighth or ninth grade, it may feel premature to complete college visits or work on applications. And ALL students could use some time to reflect and plan for their next steps. Check out our Four-Year Plan Template for some questions to consider every year, to help you plan for the college application process and beyond! 

Search for summer internships

Summer may feel far away, but many opportunities and internships have deadlines as early as late January! Winter break is a great time to plan for these opportunities and fill out applications while you don’t have as much schoolwork on your plate. 

If you are a student interested in STEM-related summer opportunities, check out our newly updated Summer Opportunities Database for 2022 (students who are interested in the humanities or business should keep checking back - those pages will be updated soon!).  

And if you do identify a great summer opportunity and would like to apply, winter break is a great time to book a coaching session to work on your resume, cover letter, and application essays - whether you are working with us through a traditional package or not!

Any plans for your family over winter break? Let us know in the comments!

Weekly Update: December 3

December already! We are excited to have heard some good news from our early applicants and are busy wrapping things up with the last of our late-late-start seniors.

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

NC STATE ENGINEERING INCREASES ENROLLMENT

Good news for engineering applicants! NC State is planning to add 2,000 more undergraduate students to its engineering program over the next five years. The College of Engineering at NC State offers sixteen majors, including computer science. Thanks to a state initiative called “Engineering North Carolina’s future,” the school will receive $20 million to hire new faculty and $30 million to upgrade facilities. 

UGA RELEASES EARLY APPLICATION DATA

Congrats to our students who received early acceptances from UGA last week! It was a competitive cycle, with applications up 3% over last year despite the fact that the Georgia system was one of only a handful in the country that required test scores this cycle. 8,900 students were accepted, 9,300 were deferred, and 2,000 were denied. If you received a defer decision from UGA, let us know ASAP so we can help you strategize for next steps. The admissions office notes that “We want to be able to have a more in-depth review of you, including short essays, activities, recommendations, etc.” - so send those requested materials!

CORNELL PRECOLLEGE WINTER COURSES

If you are looking to add to your activities list and take an enrichment course but don’t have the time to spend on it during the summer, Cornell’s Precollege Program has you covered! This is a really great program that we recommend to our clients, and applications are open now for winter courses that run January 3-21. Students can apply here by December 6 (or book an appointment to work on this or any other enrichment opportunity applications!). If you’re not already a current client, use this link instead.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

We all know that students have been through a lot this year. And while most students are now back in school, they may still struggle to adjust to in-person learning after so much time away. This article provides some helpful guidance for parents who want to help their students make the adjustment back to in-person school. In addition to learning loss, students are struggling to develop age-appropriate social skills after being out of school for so long (just think - the last time seventh grade students had a completely normal school year was fourth grade!). 

But the article encourages parents to focus on support, rather than solutions. I know this is tough - after all, as parents, we want to be able to solve problems for our kids! But it is even more important for them to know that we are in their corner and supporting them during a difficult time. 

If you are one of the students who has already received an ED acceptance and knows where you are headed next year, you might be excited to share your plans with family over the holidays! But for most students, hearing “What are your plans for next year?” at every holiday gathering can cause a lot of stress. If that’s you, check out this article for tips on how to deal with this stress-inducing question. 

We’ve written before on the blog about some of the graduate degrees that don’t offer a return on investment - remember those masters students in film at Columbia? Even so, it is still generally accepted that professional degrees, like JDs and MDs, will offer students the opportunity to earn significantly higher salaries.

Surprisingly, the Wall Street Journal found that this is not always the case anymore - even professional degrees in essential fields like dentistry and veterinary medicine are leaving students with high debt that is not relieved by high salaries. The debt is bad news, particularly for medical fields like chiropractic medicine and optometry where practitioners are carrying a lot of debt. 

Everyone in higher ed right now is wondering about the impact of the omicron variant on campuses this spring. While things will certainly change, this Slate piece on the ways that various top schools handled Covid this fall is worth a read. Keep in mind, though - this is written by a student at Yale, and that perspective shines through. I got a laugh at the idea that by limiting the size of on-campus parties, Wash U “forced drunk college students” to go to bars with unvaccinated people from Missouri and therefore “exposed [the students] to higher chances of getting COVID.” I guess that’s one way to think about it… 🤷‍♀️

Finally, an interesting article in New York Magazine this week explored the possibility of “socializing” college sports. We’re not sure we agree with the idea, but it is interesting to explore, particularly the author’s assertion that colleges put caps on coaching salaries, arguing:

“A system like that would mean college football and basketball would no longer be able to compete for coaching talent with the pros. It would instead have to draw from coaches who just want to mentor college students. Would that be worse?”

This is worth considering particularly in light of the news about Lincoln Riley and Brian Kelly, who reportedly received compensation packages in the range of $100 million to coach football at USC and LSU, respectively. 

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

November 30 was the deadline for the UC and CSU system applications - and yes, the application sites crashed. Luckily for applicants, the systems extended the deadline until midnight yesterday - but they had been glitching for quite a while in advance, so even with the deadline, students lost valuable time to work on their applications.

This goes to show that YES, crashes happen! In fact, this kind of issue happens on application websites all the time - just one reason why we encourage all of our students to submit their applications as early as possible (at least two weeks before the deadline!). In case you are wondering, none of our students were impacted - because they all submitted their apps early!

Not surprisingly, Common App is experiencing a similar issue this week - the image below was posted online just before the 12/1 midnight deadline.

Hard to believe it is already December, but we’ve been working this week on holiday cards for all of our amazing clients - we are so grateful for you!!

Plus, some surprises in the works for our very hard-working colleagues in local school counseling offices ;) We love partnering with you to help students achieve their dreams!

Enjoy the weekend!

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Weekly Update: November 26

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and was able to spend time with family and friends!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

VIRGINIA COUNCIL ON WOMEN’S 11TH ANNUAL HIGH SCHOOL ESSAY CONTEST

The Virginia Council on Women has opened up the 11th Annual Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics, and Healthcare essay contest. Virginia high school seniors who identify as women are eligible for these scholarships and should apply by Monday, January 3 (P.S. Need help with scholarship essays? Book an essay coaching session!). 

2022 RHODES SCHOLARS ANNOUNCED

Check out where this group of Rhodes Scholars are from! A lot of Harvard, Yale, and service academy representation, but some great other schools too - Alabama, Indiana, Clemson and more! This is just proof that ‘best fit’ is really important when it comes to choosing a college - and that students who make the most of their opportunities can end up in the same place after graduation. 

CLEMSON LYCEUM SCHOLARSHIP

Lots of scholarship news today! Clemson’s Lyceum Scholars program was founded by the Clemson Institute for the Study of Capitalism. Lyceum Scholars receive $10,000 over their four years at Clemson. The application deadline is December 11, so students planning to attend Clemson next year should apply now!

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Our students are ALWAYS looking for the “secret sauce” when it comes to letters of recommendation. Some subscribe to the “more is better” approach, while others wonder if teacher recommendations really have that much bearing on the admissions process. This article from Forbes gives a nuanced perspective on recommendations, particularly those optional personal recommendations from coaches, counselors, mentors, or other people that know a student well but have not taught them in the classroom.

A good rule of thumb when it comes to optional recommendations is that they should contain NEW information about the applicant. Admissions officers are reading a LOT of applications this time of year, and they don’t want to read the same thing twice! If you are considering asking for a personal recommendation, make sure it comes from someone who can give a new perspective on you that the counselor won’t get from your teacher and counselor recommendations, essays, or activities list. 

Second and most importantly, PREP YOUR RECOMMENDERS. Most recommenders will appreciate information from you that helps them to put together an effective recommendation - they want you to succeed, after all! Current clients can book a meeting for help with this, or check out the resources in the Membership Vault to help your recommender write the best possible personal recommendation. 

More and more colleges are moving to get rid of legacy admissions, and this article takes a critical look at what that really means for the admissions process. I wrote a few weeks ago about the misconceptions that the general public has about legacy admissions. The bottom line is, the student must already be academically qualified for legacy status to make a difference. From the article:

On hard measures such as G.P.A. and SAT scores, those admitted as legacies already fit within the larger pool of qualified applicants...the benefit they receive works within the softer, holistic section of the college application. Having an alumni parent is less like magically winning several hundred SAT points and more like writing an essay that the assistant dean really admired. Accordingly, the legacies will be replaced not by a clearly smarter bunch of applicants but by ones who were better at getting the admissions readers to like them.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

Colleen attended a virtual session last Friday with the "Metro 5" - liberal arts schools in city settings. Lewis and Clark, Macalester, Rhodes, Richmond and Trinity are all great options to consider for students who seek a "close connection with peers and faculty, but are looking for something a little bit bigger - [the opportunity] to engage in the community in a larger way." The combination of a close-knit liberal arts community and an urban environment really does offer a best-of-both worlds opportunity that some students absolutely love. Our summer intern (and former client!) Tyler wrote a blog post this summer about his experience at Richmond, which is a great read for any students interested in Richmond or any of the Metro 5 schools. Students can download the recording of the student program here.

We wanted to highlight one piece of advice from one of the college representatives about essays. As a whole, the group agreed that they were seeing more and more pieces of writing that clearly weren't written by students or were heavily over-edited. We see these too, when we ask students to turn in an assignment and it's clear that they didn't write it. But please, parents - don't fall into this trap!

"We are professionals, like, this is what we do on a regular basis! We read thousands of essays, we've been teenagers, many of us have teenage children... we have an idea of what a teenage voice is like, and that's what we're looking for!"

We know the feeling - we’ve seen a lot of essays that have been over-edited by well-meaning parents! That’s why we use the Wow Writing Workshop method with our students, to make sure that all of their essays are “seventeen-year-old perfect” - great essays that clearly retain the voice and perspective of a teenager. 

We have been so excited to see some acceptances this week, including our first ED acceptance - yay! That student is so happy to be done and know where he is headed next year :) We love hearing from our clients once they receive their decisions, so if you are a current client, make sure to keep us updated!

Have a great weekend!

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Small Business Saturday DEALS!

I usually laugh a little bit when I get an email from a past client, because so often they start like this: “I don’t know if you remember us, but you helped Sally five years ago..”

Of COURSE we remember you! There is literally not a chance that we don’t.

I could probably also tell you what Sally’s Common App essay was about, any major life drama that occurred during her junior or senior year (including that boyfriend you thought was a bad influence!) and I might even know the name of your street off the top of my head (I promise I’m not a stalker - all transcripts, test score reports, and applications typically have the student’s home address listed right at the top, and I end up seeing these addresses over and over and over again!).

But that’s the thing about working with a small business - you are so much more than just a name. We care deeply about each of our students and become so emotionally invested in their outcomes that it can actually get pretty stressful sometimes! You all know how rough it is to be waiting on decisions.. multiply that feeling by 40. But finding out someone got into their first choice school is the best feeling in the world and makes it all worthwhile!

So, in advance of Small Business Saturday this weekend, I wanted to take the time to thank each and every one of you for your support over the last twelve years.

There is absolutely zero chance that DC College Counseling would have turned into what it is today without a steady stream of referrals from all of our amazing clients, and we can’t tell you how much we appreciate the fact that you are not only entrusting us with your children’s future, but also sharing your experiences with your friends and family.

P.S. If you’re interested in learning more about how DC College Counseling came to be (and how we were impacted at the early part of the pandemic), check out this podcast episode from Summer 2020.

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Lastly, don’t forget about us when doing your holiday shopping this year!

In addition to their own children, of course, we’ve had people give our services as gifts to grandchildren; nieces and nephews; god-children; and family friends! We have gift certificate options across all price points that make it easy to pay in advance and allow the recipient to book at their convenience.

11th-12th Grade Strategy and Planning Session Gift Certificate

8th-10th Grade Strategy and Planning Session Gift Certificate

Academic Coaching Session Gift Certificate -> plan out an approach to achieving success on exams, or get a head start on organization for next semester!

College Admissions Essay Coaching Session Gift Certificate -> for those who don’t have a contracted package with us and need essay help!

School/College Assignment Tutoring Session Gift Certificate -> a perfect gift for high school, college, and graduate students with upcoming end-of-semester assignments!

Meet & Greet Gift Certificate -> to discuss full packages!

And best of all, from now until Sunday evening, you can use coupon code BLACKFRIDAY for a 20% discount on the gift certificates above. This is the only discount code we will offer all year, so take advantage of it and stock up now on coaching sessions!

Weekly Update: November 19

We can’t believe we’re already more than halfway through November - hope everyone stayed warm this week!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

GEORGETOWN LAW RECEIVES APPLICATION INCREASE

As we’ve mentioned before, we expected the COVID-19 pandemic to lead to more students attending graduate school. And right in our backyard is a great metric - Georgetown Law receives more applications than any other law school in the country. And for Fall 2021, applications went WAY up - 41%! As a result, the admit rate dropped from 21% to just 12% last cycle. This is reflective of an increase in law school applications overall, which were up 26% around the country. 

MONTGOMERY COUNTY CHANGES GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS

Soon, students in Montgomery County Public Schools will have to take 0.5 fewer elective and PE credits - bringing the total number of required credits down to 22.5, just half a credit above the state required 22 credits to graduate. PE teachers are opposing the change, arguing that with the mental health implications of COVID-19, physical activity is more important for students than ever. 

CDC INVESTIGATES FLU SPREAD AT UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

In just over a month, over 500 cases of the flu have been diagnosed at the University of Michigan - an extreme level of spread. Due to the unusual size of the outbreak, the CDC has stepped in to provide support and evaluate vaccine uptake. The university is urging as many students as possible to get their flu vaccines, especially before traveling home for Thanksgiving break and potentially increasing the spread. 

HOWARD PROTESTS COME TO AN END

We’ve been covering the ongoing student protests at Howard University, and now, a month after the student occupation of the Blackburn Center began, the students have reached an agreement with the school administration. The changes promised by the administration include a revision of the school’s sexual assault policy, a review of campus policing, and a food bank for students on campus. 

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Colleges around the country have been dealing with worsening mental health of students, an issue that the pandemic has brought to the forefront. A Fairfax County student, now a junior at UNC, was an integral part of developing the student response to the two suicides at UNC earlier this year. Ethan Phillips was helping to implement “postvention” strategies, to help avoid “suicide contagion” in the wake of campus suicides. This article covers some of the essential steps of postvention, and how students and schools can support their communities after tragedies. 

We mentioned the creation of the University of Austin last week - a new school spearheaded by conservative founders who hope to change the way that colleges admit students and champion free speech on campus. The Washington Post published an op-ed this week that dives into how the school will function. Notable changes include the idea of an entrance exam graded by professors in lieu of a traditional admissions process, which the university’s founders say will increase the role of merit in college admissions. 

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

Now that many of the early deadlines have passed, we are keeping our fingers crossed and our eyes on the list of decision release dates for our class of 2022 students. This time last year, UGA and Tulane decisions were rolling out! While we’re not sure we’ll see such early releases this year, students should expect to start receiving these notifications in early to mid-December - so keep an eye on your email! 

In the meantime, we’ve enjoyed working with our class of 2023 students to start their college lists and plan their research for the holiday breaks (we’ve had some eager class of 2024 students planning visits as well!). This is a great time to spend looking at colleges, so take advantage of it! If you or your student are feeling overwhelmed by putting together a list and completing research, book a Meet & Greet to hear more about how we can help set you up for success over the holiday break. 

Our office will be closed next Thursday - wishing everyone a happy Thanksgiving! 

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The Right Fit

Hi everyone, Staci here! As someone who spends all of her time helping students write personal essays, it’s about time I practice what I preach. I’m taking over the blog today to reflect on right fits and share a bit more about my new role at DC College Counseling.

In college admissions, we often talk about finding the right fit--the school that offers (almost) everything you need and want. As I tell students, the search for the right fit can sometimes land you exactly where you hope to be. However, this quest can also lead you to the most wonderfully unexpected places. 

Finding the right college fit was easy for me. I became a proud diplomat at Franklin and Marshall College, where I started planning for a future career in law. But then a year studying abroad changed everything. My literature professors at University of Oxford inspired me so much that I decided to pursue a PhD in English. As part of my program I taught undergraduate writing classes and discovered my love of teaching. I eventually abandoned my dissertation in favor of another graduate degree in education. For over a decade, I taught at the university and high school levels, both in the U.S. and abroad. My experiences were diverse, to say the least. I became a department chair, academic director, and special education teacher; developed curricula and designed e-learning courses (long before the pandemic); crossed into marketing and admissions; and even trained classical ballerinas. I often wondered where my increasingly eclectic skill set might take me in the future. 

And then came that wonderfully unexpected place. When I started my “first semester” at DC College Counseling a few years ago, I found my own grown-up version of the right fit. Having taught high school English, I was well-prepared to step into the role of a part-time essay coach. Each week I looked forward to helping students craft their stories while trying to make college applications (dare I say) fun. Of course the process wasn’t always easy, but there was something really exciting about the challenge of a crazy essay prompt or strict word count. My favorite part, though, was always the final draft- not because we were finished but because I loved seeing the look of pride and confidence on the student’s face. 

Gradually my schedule and responsibilities expanded, and I happily accepted the new title of Student Success Coach- a position that allowed me to work even closer with all of our families and provide support to other essay coaches. Now I’m thrilled that my role is evolving once again as I transition into a full-time position. I’ll still be on the frontline of college essays, but I’ll also be working behind the scenes on our media and outreach. It’s just the right fit! I get to do what I love and put my diverse skills to good use. 

WHAT ABOUT YOUR RIGHT FIT?

In the spirit of the right fit and my new role, I’d love to hear from all of our families, past and present. Why was DC College Counseling the right fit for you? Send us a quick note or video HERE

Weekly Update: November 12

Good luck to everyone submitting in advance of the November 15 early deadline on Monday!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

EARLY APPLICATION NOTIFICATION DATES

College Kickstart has released their list of notification dates for early decision and early action applications. If you submitted an early application, you may want to bookmark this page - they keep it updated regularly with statements from the schools, as well as information on last year’s release dates. Keeping our fingers crossed for those of you expecting mid-December decisions!

UNIVERSITY OF AUSTIN ESTABLISHED

No, not UT Austin - a group of scholars and activists have set the plans for a new college, the University of Austin, which they say will be dedicated to free speech. A soft opening is planned for the new institution next summer with a non-credit discussion course on censorship at institutions of higher education. And this is no online-only university - the plans allow for in-person classes and a campus in Austin. Still, the university aims to reduce tuition costs below the national average. 

But the University of Austin isn’t the only new college opening even as the pandemic continues to wreak havoc on older institutions. Some of these new colleges, like the Roux Institute in Portland, Maine, focus on in-demand disciplines like computer science and technology. Others are aiming to serve underrepresented populations in traditional colleges, or to keep costs down by avoiding the traditional structures of higher education. 

JILL BIDEN KICKS OFF VACCINE CAMPAIGN IN MCLEAN

The first lady and the surgeon general visited Franklin Sherman Elementary School to offer a message to students and parents at the school’s vaccine clinic. So far, over one million children have received the COVID-19 vaccine! 

LOUDOUN COUNTY HIRES FIRM TO INVESTIGATE SEXUAL ASSAULT

Two weeks ago, we wrote about the student walkouts at Loudoun County schools in protest against the school’s handling of sexual assault cases. Now, the school system has hired a firm to provide an independent review of their response to the situation. We will see whether the review leads to any changes in how these events are handled in the future.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

We’ve covered the change in TJ’s admissions policy on the blog before, and this article from NoVA magazine dives deep into the two sides of the argument when it comes to admission. The Coalition for TJ argues that the new admission policy discriminates against Asian American students, and also that it could lower academic standards and lead to deserving students being denied admission. On the other side, the TJ Alumni Action Group believes that broadening the admissions pool will combat inequity and a lack of diversity at the school. And while this issue is salient to those of us in Northern Virginia, it may also set an example for other elite schools around the country. 

Even as new colleges are being created, many liberal arts colleges continue to suffer in the wake of COVID-19 changes. This article explores whether the liberal arts model can survive - especially in a world that rewards research and innovation over teaching, discussion, breadth of knowledge, and other key attributes of the liberal arts. But all hope is not lost - the article lists several ways that liberal arts colleges could innovate in order to stay relevant post-pandemic and beyond. 

Finally, as schools continue to be the focus of political battles, school board members have been facing threats. The threats come as a result of everything from objections about the way children are taught about race in the classroom to COVID-19 restrictions like mask-wearing. While clashes between parents and school board members are not new, the escalation of threats of violence demonstrates just how contentious school-related issues have become.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

We are so excited that Staci has started full time with our team this week! Our students already know and love Staci from all of their essay work, and we are thrilled that she will be able to continue working with our students and helping them to achieve those “17-year-old perfect” essays! Keep an eye out for more from Staci on the blog next week :) 

Right now, our juniors are really focused on the college search process, and we are so excited to get their feedback! It really is like a puzzle, finding a great list for each individual student, and so much fun to hear about the schools that our students feel would be a perfect fit. 

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

Enjoy the weekend!

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Academic Planning for Middle School Students Part II: Public or Private High School?

A few weeks ago, we published a post about academic planning for middle school students, where we delved into course selection for your middle schooler, and how the courses they take in middle school may affect what is available to them at their high school. 

This week, we are going to focus on public vs. private high schools. Many eighth graders may be in the process of completing those private high school applications, and plenty of parents are wondering - is it worth the time and money?

The answer is… yes and no. Now, we know that may not be exactly what you want to hear, but the truth is that this is a very personal decision, and your ultimate choice will depend on what works for your individual student and family. However, we hope that these considerations can shed some light on the factors at play!

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Will a public or a private high school help my student more during the college process?

The fact is, top private schools tend to send a larger percentage of their students to highly selective colleges than public schools. But it is important to remember that private school applicants are a self-selecting pool - often more affluent or more ambitious (or both!) than the pool of students at public schools. So whether this is the case because private schools prepare students better for college, or simply because the students who attend private schools are also more likely to attend a certain sub-set of colleges, we can’t say for sure. 

However, private schools do typically offer smaller class sizes and extracurricular activities that enable students to get to know their teachers and school counselors better. This often results in more personalized attention than one would have at a public school where teachers and counselors have many more students to support. This is not a hard-and-fast rule, though, so make sure you do your research when it comes to school selection!

So, you’re saying my child will have less support at a public school?

Maybe. Private schools often have smaller class sizes, as we mentioned, and some have certain religious and social supports in place that are certainly not available at a typical public school. These are all great reasons to look to a private school education for your child. 

However, if your child has a diagnosed learning difference that requires more extensive support, your best option may actually be a public school. Accessibility is more carefully monitored and provided at public schools, which usually have more structures in place to support students with learning differences. 

Where will my child have better teachers?

Again, it depends. As we said above, students at private schools often have the opportunity to bond more with their teachers, and teachers have smaller classes to manage and can give more individual attention to each student. However, public school teachers are required to have a teaching credential, while private school teachers are not. Are there good and bad teachers at all high schools? Definitely. But at a public school, you know that every teacher has a teaching credential. 

My student is an academic high-flier. Won’t she do better at a private school?

We’ll say it again - maybe. Some students who are academically successful LOVE to be in an environment with other smart kids. Seeing other people around them working hard pushes them to perform to their max academic potential - they thrive on that friendly competition. 

Other students like to be the smartest kid in the room, and would much rather be the big fish in the small pond of their public high school than be surrounded by other (maybe more!) successful students at a selective private school. Only you and your student know their personality best and have a sense of which which environment is going to help them succeed.

Another factor to consider is that private schools are sometimes limited in the high-level classes they can offer. Public high schools often have a larger variety of courses, and almost always offer more specialized options for students who want to pursue engineering, entrepreneurship, or another particular academic pathway in high school. And certain school systems go way beyond that - did you know that FCPS offers options ranging from veterinary science to fashion marketing (held at a mall - how cool is that!). This chance to specialize can definitely be helpful in the college application process!

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The bottom line is: do your research. The above are just some of the things you’ll want to consider, but the available curriculum and level of support for students varies from school to school. Look up the course progression and opportunities available at your local public high school, so you can directly compare with any private schools you are considering. 

You may also want to consider an important factor we haven’t mentioned here: social influence. This is heavily specific to each individual school community and less about whether the school happens to be private or public. For example, public schools aren’t the only ones with drug problems - certain private schools struggle with substance abuse much more than their public school counterparts!

So as you weigh all of the options, don’t forget to carefully examine the culture of every school on your list to try to get a better sense of what your student’s peer group will look like. This is often the single most important factor that will influence your student’s choices relating to risky and undesirable adolescent behavior.

If you want more help in the high school search, book an 8th grade strategy session with us and we’d love to talk more about you and your family’s goals. And if you are interested in a presentation about academic planning for middle schoolers for your club or group, email Shannon to get on our calendar!

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Weekly Update: November 5

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

ELECTION DAY IMPACTS

The results of this week's elections will definitely have an impact on the local educational landscape. First, the 2021 School Bond Referendum was passed, providing Fairfax County Public Schools with an additional 360 million dollars to fund a number of projects. One of the most controversial of these projects is the acquisition of land for the new "Western High School" that may impact the boundary lines for Langley HS. The good news for the Langley-zoned families reading this blog is that your children will likely not be impacted, even if the Langley boundaries change - we're looking at a solid decade before the high school would open.

On the other hand, we'll likely see the impacts of the gubernatorial election very soon, as Youngkin's commitment to education reform played a major role in his win. NBC4 put together an easy reference list of the changes we can expect to see.

NEW COLLEGE COMPARISON TOOL

The Gates Foundation released a new tool, called the Equitable Value Explorer, which will allow users to compare colleges on factors such as the percentage of students who receive Pell Grants, cumulative net price, completion rate, and even percentage of STEM majors. While the tool still has some gaps, the foundation hopes that it will enable students to make better choices about where to attend colleges - and help college leaders and administrators strive for more equity at their institutions. 

JMU LEAVES THE COLONIAL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION

JMU is moving up to the Sun Belt, leaving the CAA conference. JMU is one of the league’s founding members, and is the latest school to leave for a higher-level conference. Unfortunately, the CAA has ruled that JMU’s athletes will not be able to compete in conference championships this year as a result of the change. This article explores the impact that decision will have on student-athletes who have been working hard to compete. 

UNEMPLOYMENT DOWN, WAGES UP FOR NEW GRADS

The Fed released new data today on the labor market for recent college graduates. The unemployment rate for new grads fell to 5.4% in September and wages are up too. This is great news in our office, because it means less competition with grad school applications!

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

We wrote in a recent blog about registering for college courses (and how college experience coaching can help!), but what about law school? This article contains some advice from law school professors at the University of Virginia on which courses students should take - a great read for any future lawyers out there!

Not a ton of great articles this week (maybe everyone was focused on Election Day!)… stay tuned for more next Friday!

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

November 1 deadlines may have passed, but things are still busy over here! We are focusing on wrapping up applications for our late-start seniors, as well as law school and MBA applications. We’re also getting started on military academy applications (remember to start these early!) and brainstorming college lists with our class of 2023 juniors.

Finally, we are continuing to finalize course selection and scholarship applications with our college experience coaching students. UVa freshmen enrolled in spring courses today and it was like the Hunger Games of course registration... even the fourth and fifth backup choices were full for some students! If ever log into SIS again, it will be too soon! But everyone has a solid spring semester planned now - phew! One of these days we will take a vacation ;)

Have a great weekend!

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Best of the Blog: Post-Submission Emails and Grade Updates

Now that first quarter grades have been released, we are receiving a ton of questions from seniors who want to know if they should be sending those grades to colleges - and if so, how do they do it?

We decided to share our post from last fall on this topic to provide some insight! Keep reading to learn more about whether you should send grades, how to follow up with colleges, and what a sample email would say!

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We are so excited to be DONE with submitting all of our early applications! But as our clients know by now, the work does not stop when you click “submit!” Not only is the post-submission portal tracking extremely important, as we have mentioned before, but some students may also want to consider sending follow-up communication to the various admissions representatives to share first quarter grade updates.

Let me start by mentioning that this is not a one-size fits all approach. Some schools specifically indicate that they do not want follow-up emails with grades.

If that’s the case, don’t send them! While schools that track demonstrated interest are generally the ones to whom these emails should be directed, it’s important to note that there’s a fine line between an enthusiastic update and over-the-top bombarding.

We do not recommend sending repeated emails. Down the line in a deferral or waitlist situation, depending on the school - possibly. But definitely not at this point in the admissions cycle. You do not want to annoy anyone, and repeated emails will be annoying - no two ways about it.

With that warning out of the way, we suggest that if you do have new grades to report that reflect positively on your candidacy, you take the initiative to reach out to the admissions office and let your assigned admissions officer know.

A handful of high schools will send out first-quarter grades as a matter of course, but most will not do so unless asked - especially this year, when school counselors are already overburdened. So if you believe your first-quarter grades will improve your application, it is up to you to take on the responsibility of sharing them with the admissions office!

One more note of caution: while I would not recommend proactively sharing poor first-quarter grades (or even ones that are relatively strong, but do show a downwards trend), it’s also important to recognize that it’s not necessarily possible to hide them, either.

I think that many applicants believe that admissions offices are too busy to follow up on particular aspects of a single application - but this is not necessarily the case! For a student who has had a shaky math score in 11th grade, the admissions officer is definitely going to want to see how that student is doing in math at the beginning of 12th grade. 

So, now that you know why to send a post-submission email, here’s how:

1. If you can, address your email to your regional admissions officer. At many schools, you can find this information on the website with just a bit of research. Your email is more likely to be read by the right person if you address it directly. You can also ask your school counselor if you’re not sure.

2. Identify yourself by name and indicate that you have applied to the school already.

3. Show that you have done your homework. This is a place to address any questions that you have that were not answered by the school’s website. You can also ask if the representative is planning a virtual visit to your school this semester, or reference a previous visit if you have met them before. 

4. Report your grades. Tell the admissions officer that you want to update your application with your first-quarter grades, and provide them in a clear way that is easy to read. 

5. Close your email by thanking the admissions officer for their time and reiterating your interest in attending their school. If this is your top-choice school, make sure to let them know!

Remember: keep it concise and simple. Here is a sample:

Congratulations to all of the students who have submitted their remaining early applications this week! Comment to let us know if you will be following up with your first-quarter grades! 

Weekly Update: October 29

Happy Halloween!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

LORI LOUGHLIN PAYS TUITION FOR TWO COLLEGE STUDENTS

After being released from prison for her role in the Varsity Blues scandal, Lori Loughlin paid more than $500,000 in tuition for two college students. There haven’t been any details released about the students yet, but the amount is roughly the same as Loughlin and her husband paid to have their daughters admitted to USC as recruits for the crew team. 

HOWARD’S PRESIDENT RESPONDS TO STUDENT PROTESTS

As the student sit-in at Howard University’s student center entered its third week this week, the president of the university released a letter calling for an end to the “occupation” of the Blackburn center. The president called the sit-in a health and safety risk that impeded essential student services on campus. Students insist that they will continue to occupy the center until their demands are met for improved housing on campus.

SCHOOL CURRICULA AT THE CENTER OF VA GOVERNOR’S RACE

As election day for the Virginia governor’s race draws closer, the issue of public school curricula has become central to the campaign. After Youngkin’s campaign released an ad this week featuring a mother who fought for parents’ rights to veto certain books after her son read Toni Morrison’s Beloved in his AP English class, parents’ rights and curriculum decisions have become notable issues for both candidates. 

STUDENTS HOLD WALKOUTS AT LOUDOUN COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS

On Tuesday, students at several Loudoun County schools held ten-minute walkouts on Tuesday to protest the schools’ handling of sexual assault cases. The walkouts were a response to two incidents allegedly perpetrated by the same student at two different high schools, one in May and one in October. Parents and students are demanding more transparency from the school district when it comes to sexual assault cases.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

A controversial piece in The Atlantic explored Amherst’s decision to end legacy admissions, and the “fairness” of college admissions. The author doesn’t believe that ending legacy admissions will suddenly make the process fair for under-served populations, but it’s a great start, he feels. “Amherst took one step closer to it this week. And for that, I’m happy to light a sparkler.”

One note about this article and legacy admissions in general: I personally believe that the general public has a TON of misconceptions about the impact of being a legacy candidate. Whether you’re for it or against it, it’s important to recognize that the student must already be qualified for legacy status to make a difference. This is just fact.

So nobody’s getting into a school because of legacy status if they aren’t qualified, I promise. To the dismay of their parents, they are rejected just like everybody else that’s not qualified! Development legacy cases are different, but those kids are being admitted because of the development part, not the legacy part. Where legacy can make a big difference, though, is when it comes to narrowing down a pool of highly qualified applicants. Especially when it comes to those who choose to apply to the school through a binding Early Decision plan.

Speaking of qualified applicants… according to a Washington Post poll, about half of high school students said the pandemic had a negative impact on their academics. That is by far the largest group, with a third of students saying that there was no impact, and ⅙ who felt that the pandemic actually improved their academics. Some of the positive impacts that students saw were a closer relationship with their parents, as well as less stress and a less intense workload than during in-person classes. 

Undergraduate college enrollment is still down due to COVID-19, particularly when it comes to low income students or non-traditional students with children and families. Unfortunately, it seems like last year’s huge decline in enrollment wasn’t just a blip - and we may soon be faced with a large population of students who did not complete their college degrees. Especially now that the labor market is strong and wages are going up, it is likely that low income students may choose to enter the workforce rather than go to college. 

In the past two years of the pandemic, college enrollment has fallen a total of 6.5% - the largest two-year decrease in fifty years. But the decline is not spread equally - selective schools are bouncing back, while community colleges are continuing to see declining enrollment.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

It’s that time of year again - lots of speaking engagements! Shannon had the opportunity yesterday to speak at a College Selection webinar through the office of the DC Student Loan Ombudsman. The Ombudsman’s role is to help make higher education available and affordable for all DC residents, and Shannon was really excited to participate and talk to students about what they should consider when selecting a college, essay preparation, and application timelines. And timehop reminded me that I spoke at a junior parent night at Marshall HS two years ago today!

The shift to online events has presented a challenge for a lot of organizations during COVID-19, but it’s been almost 20 months and we’re virtual presentation pros at this point! From moms’ groups, to school-sponsored presentations, to community and religious organizations, to sports teams - we’ve done it all! If you have a group whose members could benefit from our (free!) guidance, please reach out and we’ll do our best to fit you into our calendar for the upcoming year. 

I also wanted to mention that the office of the Student Loan Ombudsman is an excellent resource for DC families with questions about paying for college. College Access Fairfax provides resources for Nova families as well - if you need help with the FAFSA, CSS profile, or other financial aid issues, I really recommend attending one of their free virtual seminars. These events are open to anyone and can be really helpful in figuring out financial aid questions. 

CONGRATULATIONS to all of our seniors who have submitted their early applications! We are so proud of all of you. Enjoy the Halloween weekend!

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College Experience Coaching - Applications & Special Programs

Last week, we covered the ins and outs of the course registration process and how college experience coaching can help. While course registration is often one of the most complex and nuanced parts of the first few years of college, it is by no means the ONLY challenge that students will come upon their first year (and beyond!)

College experience coaching can also help when students find themselves needing to complete internal applications within their college or university. Unfortunately, these have become a common part of the college experience!

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What do you mean, more applications?

Yup. As a college student, there are two main types of applications that we help students complete (while ensuring they put their best foot forward!).

The first is an academic application for a special program, school, or course experience that interests them. Many schools offer selective programs within the university that students can potentially enter in their second or third year. These are often pre-professional programs; for example, both the McIntire School of Commerce at UVa and the Robins School of Business at William & Mary will only accept students through a selective internal application process. And this is quite common elsewhere, too. There may also be scholarship opportunities, honors colleges, or even research funding for which students can apply while at school.

The second type is actually an extracurricular application. Believe it or not, many clubs and organizations also require (sometimes extensive!) applications and even interviews from students looking for leadership opportunities or membership in campus organizations. Frankly, this can be a pain, but these experiences are worth the effort; not only do they help students develop practical skills they need for the workforce, they are very useful when it comes to building resumes for job or internship opportunities. We help students stay on track to put together the best possible application packages - all while balancing their academic work.

What type of applications can you help with?

Applications are our expertise! Here are just some of the application types that we’ve successfully provided coaching to help students complete:

• Honors College applications

• Internal applications for selective schools or majors within the institution

• Study abroad applications

• Internship applications

• Research or grant funding applications

• Internal and external scholarship applications

• Leadership positions, including those in greek life

• Campus organizations requiring applications for baseline membership

• Student government, student ambassador, and other institutional applications

Does my student’s school even have these types of opportunities?

Most likely, the answer is yes! But many of them may not be highly publicized, or your student may not know about the deadlines for some more selective programs. It can be really disappointing to realize junior year that research funding would have been possible, if only you’d taken a one-credit research seminar that is only offered to sophomores! We can help students investigate the possibilities on their campus and make sure they are on track to achieving their goals and making the most out of their experiences.

Can’t I just help my student with this stuff?

Yes! For some families, this works well and parents can help and encourage their students to make the most of the college experience. If that is you, college experience coaching may not be the best fit.

However, if any of the following sounds familiar, this may be a good investment for your family: “I don’t think she has any idea what she wants to do.” “I’m worried that he’s not thinking about his future.” “I’m not sure how to support her without imposing my own ideas.” “He says he’ll apply but the deadline is in two weeks and I don’t see how that’s possible.”

We hear issues like these from parents all the time. You want to support your student, but you also want them to have their own college experience. Or you think they need someone to talk to about their future plans, but you just can’t get them to talk to you without feeling like you’re nagging every time you get a phone call! A check-in with a professional can provide a sounding board outside of the family for both you and your student, giving you peace of mind and helping to keep your relationship intact.

Have an upcoming application deadline?

Reach out to Shannon today to learn more about college experience coaching, and check out our Packages and Fees page for more information on costs.

Weekly Update: October 21

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

AMHERST COLLEGE DOES AWAY WITH LEGACY ADMISSIONS

Amherst is the one of the first highly selective colleges to announce that it will no longer take legacy into consideration during the college admissions process. Other top-tier schools that do not consider legacy include MIT, Johns Hopkins, and CalTech. 

If the announcement has left you with questions about what exactly legacy is, which schools consider legacy, and how it might impact your college process, check out our blog post on the topic!

MIZZOU SUSPENDS FRATERNITIES ON CAMPUS

After a freshman at the University of Missouri was found unresponsive following a frat party, the university has announced that all fraternity activities on campus are suspended. The school also intends to complete a review to determine if any changes need to be made to Greek life on campus. The last such review at the university took place in 2016, after a hazing incident. 

HOWARD UNIVERSITY PROTESTS CONTINUE INTO A SECOND WEEK

Last week, we covered the student sit-ins in protest of living conditions on campus at Howard. Students have now entered a second week of sit-ins in the student center, with some even sleeping in tents overnight. The students are complaining of issues like rats, roaches, and mold that make university housing unlivable. 

The protest is making even more of an impact as this is Howard’s homecoming week. Gucci Mane, who was scheduled to perform at homecoming, canceled his appearance in support of the protests.  

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

After financial hardships for many colleges and universities during the pandemic, this article explores how colleges might use their endowment funds to help students and faculty during times of crisis. Traditionally, the role of the endowment has been to sustain colleges over the long term, not to respond to immediate needs. Even in the height of the pandemic, only 8% of colleges and universities had any intention of changing how they used their endowment funds. But those that did draw on endowment funds were able to absorb some of the worst impacts of the pandemic, by reducing layoffs for faculty and staff and sending more money to student services. 

UVA clinched the second spot on the Princeton Review’s list of best-value public colleges, right behind UC Berkeley. We always say that those of us in Virginia are so lucky to have such great in-state options! For private institutions, Princeton and MIT were top for ROI. Return on investment for the schools was calculated using the average amount that students spend in tuition compared to the salaries they were making shortly after graduation.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

Merit scholarship deadlines are coming up quick, and for students that do not complete their applications early, it may be difficult to even find deadlines you are missing! We love this list from College Kickstart, which keeps track of the hard scholarship deadlines at popular schools. If you are applying for merit scholarships, bookmark this list!

As I’ve mentioned before, I find it very gratifying to work with last-minute students because we are able to restore order in their lives so quickly. Here's some feedback I received this week from one of their moms!

This student worked with us for six weeks and was able to submit his first round of early applications this week! We have been working with a lot of students who are just beginning the process, and it was great to hear this positive feedback. If you are interested in working with us for those regular decision deadlines (they are coming up faster than you think!), please book a Meet & Greet.

Have a great weekend?

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College Experience Coaching - Course Registration Time!

Did you know that in addition to educational consulting, we also offer college experience coaching to help students navigate their first year of college and beyond? Whether students are hoping to prepare for success in graduate school admissions, enter the job market with a strong resume, or simply just maximize the undergraduate experience, working with us can help make it happen!

So while our high school seniors are submitting their applications and waiting to hear from their schools, we’ve been busy helping our Class of 2021, Class of 2020, and Class of 2019 students with their spring course registration!

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Can’t their advisors help with that?

At many schools, course selection and registration are notoriously difficult - especially for underclassmen. Even at ultra-selective private universities, advisors are meant to help facilitate schedules and share information about graduation requirements. So while they can certainly help, it’s not typically the kind of personalized assistance that most of our students (and their parents) expect!

Yes, there are a few exceptions, but most do not sit down with students to examine options and plot out the best possible schedule permutations. They can’t - they just don’t have time to do that for each student. It’s just like the school counselor vs. independent counselor issue we’ve discussed so many times before.

How does it work?

We do the research and leg work to help put together a personalized schedule tailored to your student’s preferences, goals, core requirements, and major/minor requirements - as well as backups (and backups to the backups!) to be covered when registration hits those inevitable snafus. Worried about getting stuck with a hard or boring professor? Not on our watch! Want to make sure no classes start before 10 a.m. and Fridays are free? We make it happen all the time!

Revealing our secrets…

Want to try to put the best possible schedule together on your own? Here’s some tips and tricks right out of our playbook:

1. Map out a four-year plan from the start. Colleges typically provide lists of various requirements (general education, major, minor, etc), but they don’t always put everything together in one place. Sketching out a general four-year plan is a necessary first step that we take with each of our students - we put all of their requirements together in one place and incorporate space for study abroad, co-ops, and any other deviations from a traditional schedule.

   This provides an easy way for students to visualize exactly which types of courses they need to take and when, and how much flexibility they have - for example, how many times they can change their major before they are at risk of graduating late! - or whether they have room to pick up a new minor, etc. It also really helps to have a baseline when it comes to planning out each individual semester. We do modify this four-year plan as things change, but we rely heavily upon it.

2. Create a master list early. As soon as course schedules are released for the upcoming semester (typically about a month in advance of registration), start planning out options. Look at the four year plan, determine which requirements are slated to be met during that particular semester, and start playing with the schedule to determine which available courses will fit the requirements. Come up with a master list of potential options.

3. Identify the top two criteria of choice and start removing courses from consideration. We recommend prioritizing the quality of the instructor more than anything else. Even the most boring material can be interesting with a great professor. We always look for those who aren’t harsh graders, but are engaging and make learning fun. Depending on the material and the student’s needs, we may also look for those who are highly effective in terms of teaching the subject matter. This is less important in some situations (i.e. an English major trying to meet a Natural Science graduation requirement)- but it’s essential in others (I.e. a nursing major who ultimately needs to pass the NCLEX exam, an accounting major who ultimately needs to pass the CPA exam, etc). In addition to instructor quality, we also prioritize aspects including time of day, day of week, difficulty of subject matter when compared to alternatives, etc.)

4. Keep careful notes for future semesters. Maybe it comes out that Prof. Smith is the most amazing in the psychology department, but he’s only teaching 9am classes this semester and that’s a deal-breaker. No problem! Write down a reminder to check out his courses during the following semester’s registration period. After we research various professors, we often put together short descriptions of their characteristics - bad and good - to make for easy reference down the line.

5. Put permutations together! Start with the classes that seem to fit the top two criteria best, and put together a whole bunch of permutations that fit the general preference guidelines. There will be pros and cons to each permutation, and we like to rank them in order of preference. We also make sure that there are options available with a wide range of classes, because we don’t know which ones will fill up immediately on the morning of registration. For example, if every single schedule permutation includes POL315 and that one fills, it would be a problem!

6. Monitor closely and adjust when needed. Freshmen typically register last, and even juniors can find that their top-choice courses have filled by the time their registration window opens. It’s important to be aware of which courses are filling, and which seem likely to fill. This way we can remove those permutations from the list and examine whether we have a sufficient number ready for registration day. Sometimes we need to go back to the drawing board to add more.

7. Be strategic on registration day. After all of this prep work, it’s vital to make sure that students don’t miss their registration windows - and these usually happen very early in the morning. Be at the computer, ready to go, at least fifteen minutes in advance. Make sure to have a list of courses (in order of importance - those with fewer spots or which are most critical to the schedule should be prioritized). Start refreshing about a minute before the window to make sure to gain access immediately, and start registering from the pre-determined list. Make sure that the backup permutations are readily available to make for an easy pivot if courses fill unexpectedly.

Money Well Spent

Does this sound incredibly time-consuming? Well - that’s because it is (now you understand why advisors could never do this!). That’s why many parents ask us to step in - we are experienced and can take care of this much more efficiently than a student or parent could.

Still, our services aren’t free, or inexpensive. But put it into perspective, the cost of college today makes our fees look like chump change in comparison! Planning out course selection this way will greatly maximize the likelihood that a student will be able to graduate on time, and with the best possible grades. Every time something goes wrong (the student misses a requirement by mistake, or signs up for a course with a difficult professor and has to drop mid-semester, or doesn’t leave enough slots to be able to take all of their major/minor coursework on time), the likelihood of graduating in four years decreases.

Just about a week ago, the National Center for Education Statistics released updated data on graduation rates, and it’s pretty bleak. Did you know that only about 40% of students graduate from four-year universities within four years, and perhaps even scarier, only 64% graduate from four-year universities within SIX years! Even at an in-state public university, an extra year can cost around $35,000 - and that’s not including the opportunity cost of the year of lost income (average starting base salary for a B.S. graduate from UVa’s Commerce School: $78,000). Even using conservative estimates, we’re talking about a six-figure loss. So the investment of professional direction can be well worth it, and often ends up saving quite a bit of money down the line.

Need some help with Spring 2022 Registration?

Reach out to Shannon today to learn more about college experience coaching, and check out our Packages and Fees page for more information on costs.

Weekly Update: October 15

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

NEW ASPIRE RESIDENCE HALL AT ST. JOSEPH’S UNIVERSITY

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

SIT-IN AT HOWARD UNIVERSITY

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

TENURE CHANGES IN THE GEORGIA UNIVERSITY SYSTEM

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

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

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

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

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

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

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

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

Enjoy the weekend!

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Academic Planning for Middle School Students

We’ve been hearing the question a lot lately: “How soon is too soon for my child to begin thinking about the college process? He’s only a seventh grader, does he really have to worry about this right now?”

The answer: yes and no. Your seventh grader certainly does not need to start drafting a Common Application essay or begin taking AP exams quite yet! But with just a bit of thought toward the end of middle school, you can help set your student up for success later on - during the active phase of the college process.

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Believe it or not, middle school coursework often sets the stage for high school. Take a look at the basic progression:

As noted, this student would not be able to take high school Calculus if she were to continue on this path - which may be a dealbreaker for a student applying to an engineering or other STEM program. And that student might not even realize that her seventh grade math course is closing such a big door!

Compare that progression to this very advanced progression that would allow a student to take higher-level high school math courses:

This progression can differ from school to school, so talk to your student’s counselor about their individual school’s progression and whether middle school credits count toward the high school transcript.

If at all possible, we recommend that all middle school students plan to take Algebra I and at least one year of a foreign language. If your student does well in Spanish I and Algebra I in middle school, he will be able to continue with a more challenging high school progression.

But if your student doesn’t do well, there is no harm done - he will just retake Algebra I in high school and the previous grade will likely not appear on the transcript! So working to get that head start in middle school course planning can really only benefit most students, with the caveat that this can depend on the school system.

In the end, colleges are far more concerned that students are challenging themselves during high school - so if taking Algebra I in the eighth grade is going to mean an extremely stressful year for you and your student, it is better to wait!

Remember: colleges won’t know which types of opportunities students had in middle school, but they will want to see students who choose the most challenging classes in their progression once high school begins (and of course, students who excel in those courses!). 

The bottom line is that your student should take the most rigorous curriculum available to them in high school.

Their placement at the start is relevant, but it doesn’t matter nearly as much as it matters to take advantage of everything their high school offers!

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Still have questions about middle school course planning? Book a strategy session with us and we can help set your student up for success, in high school and beyond!

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