Weekly Update: June 5

Good luck with finals for those of you taking them this week!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

SUNY ACCEPTS 125,000 STUDENTS

The State University of New York is sending out 125,000 acceptance letters to graduating high school seniors. No, they aren’t students who applied - the acceptances are automatic, with the goal of encouraging more high school seniors to enroll in college. We’ve discussed here before how the pandemic exacerbated a decline in enrollment that has been happening over the last decade, and this is the latest attempt by the SUNY system to enroll more students in local community colleges. 

GW JOINS ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES

The Association of American Universities, an invitation-only organization that comprises the country’s top research institutions, recently gained six new members - including GW. This expansion brings the AAU to its largest-ever membership of 71 schools, also welcoming Arizona State, the University of Miami, and Notre Dame. UC Riverside and the University of South Florida were admitted as well.

This prestigious organization was founded in 1900 by schools including Harvard, Johns Hopkins, and UC Berkeley. 

VIRAL VIDEO LEADS TO FULL-RIDE SCHOLARSHIP

Just a few months after going viral for his video response to his Morehouse College acceptance, Amir Staten got more good news - he was named one of Morehouse’s Bonner Scholars, earning a four-year full-ride scholarship. Morehouse College’s dean said that the selection panel had not seen the video before selecting Amir for the scholarship, though he was personally moved by the student’s excitement over attending Morehouse. 

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

The rise of ChatGPT and other AI models has led to a lot of speculation about the future of the job market - and maybe we should be worried! Two University of Washington students recently won UW’s startup competition and $25,000 with their AI college counseling platform. The platform takes in data from students’ high school performance to offer advice on course selection, strategies for extracurricular activities, and help with the college search. Right now, the platform is maxed out at 30 users, as the college-student founders are doing some 1:1 counseling work themselves while they work on automating the entire process. This isn’t the first time a startup has tried to automate college counseling - for now, we think that a real-life counselor is the way to go! 

We are potentially just days away from the Supreme Court rendering a decision on the use of affirmative action in college admissions, and the expectation is that the conservative Court will abolish or limit affirmative action. We’ve seen a lot of articles speculating on what the ruling will ultimately mean for college admissions, including this one from David Brooks. He argues that the current admissions process creates an “elite” educated class, and that the race-based affirmative action programs at many schools should be replaced by class-based affirmative action in the admissions process. We will be eagerly awaiting the decision and tracking the impact it has on the admissions process moving forward.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

My top tips for parents who are sending their students off to college in the fall were featured in U.S. News’ Parents’ Guide to Freshman Year this week - the whole article is a great read if you are saying goodbye to your senior! While I know it can be challenging as a parent, sometimes the best thing you can do for your student is allow them to advocate for themselves and make mistakes - while always serving as a sounding board and supporter as they navigate this next step. 

Our juniors are starting to finalize their lists and several have moved onto early supplemental essay work! While we know that summer is busy for these students, we also know that they will be excited come senior year to have all of this work behind them. 

Have a great week - the last week of school for some of you!

Advice For First-Year College Students

Dear Class of 2023,

Congratulations! You’ve successfully made it through four years of high school amid tough classes, demanding schedules, and that pesky global pandemic.

As you celebrate the end of one chapter and look to the next, we thought it would be helpful to offer you some advice on your first year of college. But you’re probably tired of parents and teachers warning you not to skip classes next year; not to live off of a diet of pizza and microwavable macaroni and cheese; and not to be too social. So we’re skipping the adult wisdom and sharing advice from actual college students.  

Recently, we reached out to some of our former clients and asked them to reflect on their first year of college. We were blown away by the thoughtful responses and the fantastic advice they were eager to offer on everything from class schedules to friendships to dorm snacks.

Seniors, we hope that these words of wisdom will help you, and we look forward to sharing your advice next year :) 

ON MAKING FRIENDS:

“Prioritize making good friends! The people you surround yourself with can make or break your college experience. When you’re picking who to live with and who to hang out with, choose people who cheer you on (and who you’re willing to cheer on) and make you better.” - Jenna, UVA

“Something I wish I knew before going to college is how important those first few weeks are to making friends. People tend to be extremely friendly and open to anything the first couple weeks of school. But soon it feels as if people start to shut down and stick with the people they met in the first two weeks. So I would recommend putting yourself out there and saying yes to everything in the beginning. Everyone is in the same boat in the beginning. Taking advantage of the first couple weeks will make you feel a lot more comfortable.” - Addie, Penn State 

“To have a friend, you must be a friend. This is a lesson my parents have told me for nearly 20 years, and now I can confidently say they were correct. In high school I was always in awe of the kids who were friends with everyone; and I mean everyone. I wondered how they did it and why I was never that student. I mean I had plenty of friends, but not that many. Upon going to college, I realized that all it took was the eagerness and confidence to be the first one to say hi, to ask “can I sit with you.” Everyone wants to make friends and have people to sit with — don’t be afraid to make the move. I’ve been using this strategy for 4 semesters and it always works!  This is for clubs, classes, libraries, dining halls, etc. I’ve met some of my greatest friends by having the bravery to ask to sit with them!” - Anne, UVA

“It can seem clicky in the beginning, but nobody really knows anybody that well. Don't feel like you are behind.” - Nick, Villanova University

“When it comes to making friends, the first people you should get to know are the people in your building. Having a group of people who live in the same building is a great way to make new friends quickly, and it will allow you to meet new people. As the semester goes on, you may continue to be friends with this group, or you may find new friends. No matter what, having a group of people to start off the semester will help you find your place.” - Andriy, UVA

ON ADVOCATING FOR YOURSELF:

“A lesson I learned the hard way was definitely learning how to advocate for myself. I remember during my first month of school I slept through my first test. I emailed my teacher frantically, but he didn’t respond. Panicked, I didn’t know if I should wait for his response. Instead, I took matters into my own hands and went directly to the testing center and asked to take the test, even though I was late. They let me take it and my teacher never had to get involved. In college, it is up to you to fight for yourself. You will have to seek out help to get it.” - Addie, Penn State

ON GETTING INVOLVED:

“Take your time getting involved, but get involved. During my first week of college, I went to a club fair and signed up for probably 12 different email lists. Nearly two years later, I have still not attended a single meeting for any of those groups. Some of it was social pressure, some of it was academic pressure, and a lot of it was excitement. I wanted to take advantage of all the opportunities that were presented to me. I quickly realized, though, that I didn’t have much of an interest in investing my time in these random clubs when I would rather dedicate myself to adjusting to a new school schedule, making friends, and exploring a new city. Ultimately I ended up slowly adding extracurriculars after spending a lot of time thinking about them — I didn’t get involved in anything until second semester. Now I’m actively involved in three groups that I’m really passionate about. There’s no rush to join things that you don’t care about; take your time finding what you’re truly interested in.” - Anne, UVA

ON ACADEMICS:

“Keep your options open. When you are signing up for classes, you probably won’t get every class you want. Make sure you have backups and sign up for waitlists (even if they are really long). Be aware that the schedule you create before enrollment will not look like the one you wind up with. The process can be frustrating, but if you come in with the expectation that you won’t get everything you wanted, you will be able to make the most of it and maybe even find a new passion. Also, don’t take too many classes your first semester because you’re going to be in a whole new environment and the last thing you want is to have crazy amounts of work right when you get there.” - Andriy, UVA

Go to class (95% of the time). As someone who had a very strict attendance policy in high school, the idea of no apparent repercussions for skipping class was so exciting. Like what do you mean I can sleep in and my teacher won’t care?! While this may be true, the decision not to attend classes will come back to haunt you, probably during final exams week. And as all of the adults in your life will tell you, we are going to school to learn. This is an amazing privilege that we get to take part in. You’re gaining access to such knowledgeable professors and classmates, which is something to take advantage of. BUT there are some days when you have a major test to study for that afternoon or it’s 80 degrees and sunny in the middle of winter and it is just so impossible to get yourself to class. Allow yourself 5% exceptions because those are just as important.” - Anne, UVA

“Get on top of your work early. It doesn't get easier.” - Nick, Villanova University

ON HOMESICKNESS: 

“​​Something that made the transition to college a lot easier was doing things that reminded me of home. Whether that would be watching a movie that I remember fondly from my childhood or making something for dinner that my family would have at home. Moving to a new place, especially a new state, can be a bit of culture shock. Finding people from your hometown is a great way to feel more comfortable in a new place, especially because you guys are in the same boat. Also reaching out to family members is an obvious but effective way to feel more at home.” - Addie, Penn State

ON DORM ESSENTIALS:

“Bring some kind of shoe deodorizer. You walk so much and those things STINK. And you do NOT want to be “that roommate with the smelly shoes.”- Jenna, UVA

“Make sure you have cough drops, some sort of cough medicine, and plenty of tissues. I would say that you are almost certain to get sick sometime, especially in the first semester, and it is nice to have exactly what you need in your dorm room instead of asking a friend or having to get to a store by yourself while you are sick. Also don’t forget snacks for your dorm.” - Andriy, UVA

ON HAVING FUN:

“Never choose homework over an ice cream run. Ice cream is worth it every. single. time.” - Jenna, UVA

“People always tell you that “college is the best four years of your life.” That may be true, or it may not be. But don’t put too much pressure on it. Accept the wild highs and heartbreaking lows, use your time and resources wisely, and don’t take life so seriously and you’ll have made the most of these four years.” Anne, UVA

Weekly Update: May 30

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

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

VIRGINIA PUBLIC COLLEGES RAISE TUITION

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

GEORGE WASHINGTON REVOLUTIONARIES

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

U.S. NEWS CHANGES RANKINGS METHODOLOGY

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

529 CONTRIBUTIONS INCREASE

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

COURT UPHOLDS TJ ADMISSIONS PRACTICES

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

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

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

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

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

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

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

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

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

The BEST group!

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

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

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

Our 2023 Nonfiction Summer Reading List!

Last week, we shared our fiction summer reading list, and now it’s time for a dose of reality! Here are some of our favorite nonfiction titles for teens to read this summer.

The Climate Book: The Facts and the Solutions by Greta Thunberg

Greta Thunberg is one of the most recognized climate activists in the world. In her new book, she gathers information from over 100 experts to help us understand the biggest environmental threats and their potential long-term effects. Thunberg also shares some of her own experiences, inspiring all of us to fight for a healthier planet. This is a must-read for students interested in environmentalism and advocacy.

Psych: The Story of the Human Mind by Paul Bloom 

Paul Bloom- a popular psychology professor at Yale University- combines science and storytelling in his latest book. He provides an overview of psychology while also analyzing some of today’s biggest issues from a psychological lens: mental illness, politics, racial bias, and more. Throughout the book, Bloom also incorporates amusing anecdotes, making this much more than a technical guide to the subject matter. High schoolers thinking about majoring in psychology should definitely add this title to their summer reading list! 

The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder by David Grann

Two ships; two countries; two conflicting tales of treachery and murder. In The Wager, author David Grann recounts the ultimate adventure story. In 1742, an English vessel was shipwrecked off the shores of Patagonia, and it took sailors over three months to make it to safety in Brazil. The survivors were celebrated as heroes– well, until another ship narrowly escaped disaster and washed ashore in Chile. The survivors of the second ship had a very different account of the first vessel. They accused the heroes of actually being murderers! The first vessel responded with equally terrible claims of violence and killings. No one knew who to believe or how to figure out what really happened out at sea. That was up to the courts to decide, and their decision was a matter of life and death. If you want to know the ending, you’ll have to read the book this summer!

How Data Happened: A History from the Age of Reason to the Age of Algorithms by Chris Wiggins and Matthew L. Jones

In 2017, Chris Wiggins and Matthew L. Jones developed a course at Columbia University titled Data: Past, Present and Future. The class was a hit! It became so popular that now these instructors have turned their course material into a book. How Data Happened explores the history of data collection and the powerful impact it has had on everything from politics to economics.The authors also look closely at the relationship between data and technology and pose the question: where are we going with data in the future? This is a perfect pick for future data scientists or any student who loves math and computer science.  

Choosing to Run: A Memoir by Des Linden

What does it take to make history? That’s the question Des Linden tries to answer in her new memoir, Choosing to Run. Linden traces her journey as a professional runner, from her early days on the track to her Olympic appearances to her historic win at the 2018 Boston Marathon. Not only is this a story of physical triumph; it’s one of mental toughness. Linden reveals what it takes to stay motivated and to reach your goal, even when others tell you it’s impossible. 

The Things We Make: The Unknown History of Invention from Cathedrals to Soda Cans by Bill Hammack

Bill Hammack, otherwise known as “The Engineer Guy” to his over one-million YouTube subscribers, has made a career out of examining how things are made. Now in his new book, he looks closely at the invisible “engineering method” inventors have used throughout the centuries to solve problems and develop some of the world’s most famous creations. He argues that there’s a common link between the ways in which inventors engineer great things, whether it was an 18th century cathedral or a modern- day soda can. If you’re passionate about STEM or considering a career in engineering, this title will be a wonderful addition to your bookshelf. 

Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross

Do you like dancing alone in your bedroom or doodling in your notebook? If so, there’s a reason for it, according to Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross. In their New York Times best seller, these authors look at the joys art can bring to our brains and the powerful effect it can have on our mental and physical well-being. They incorporate lots of research, as well as real-world examples, to show how an art project, a trip to a museum, or even a piano lesson can boost our brains and lead to healthier lives. This is a longer read, but we think it’s worth it for art lovers and those interested in psychology and mental health.

Magic Words by Jonah Berger

In his new book, Magic Words, Jonah Berger examines the power of the words in our society. Through research, he reveals how a slight change in vocabulary can make all the difference in how we’re able to persuade others, whether we’re arguing in a courtroom, writing an essay, or trying to land a new job. So what exactly are these magic words, Berger speaks of? You’ll have to crack open the book to find out!

Without a Doubt: How to Go From Underrated to Unbeatable by Surbhi Sarna

What do you do when you’re faced with a cancer scare? In Surbhi Sarna’s case, she turned her fears into a $275 million dollar business! Without a Doubt looks at how Sarna used her medical struggles as motivation to create a start-up and a life-saving medical device. Of course Sarna had many challenges along the way. She didn’t have a swanky MBA or a business network, and at every turn, people doubted her. Her story shows how we can push past all of the doubts, think outside the box, and convince others to support our vision. We think this book is a great guide for teens who are dreaming big, especially those who hope to become entrepreneurs one day! 

Our 2023 Fiction Summer Reading List!

Forget your science textbooks and your mandatory AP reading lists! Summer is just around the corner, and now’s the time for FUN reading. We’ve been busy scouring the latest book releases, and we’ve put together a list of our favorite fiction titles for Summer 2023. And we promise, there’s something for everyone! Whether you love murder mysteries, high school drama, or time travel, there’s a title for you to take to the beach or pool!

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Have you ever made a new friend thanks to Xbox? That’s the case for Sam and Sadie, who become best buddies over their shared love of video games. As they grow older, they turn their hobby into a gaming empire. Read this New York Times best-selling book to follow their thirty-year journey of friendship and collaboration.

Small Mercies by Dennis Lehane

An Irish mob, a missing teenage girl, and a dead African American man– Small Mercies has all the makings of an intriguing mystery. Set in 1970s Boston, the novel follows the journey of Mary Pat, who sets out to find her missing daughter and ends up finding much more than she bargained for. The novel explores themes of race, class, and power and is sure to keep any reader intrigued. This novel just came out in late April, but it is already getting great reviews and would be a fantastic addition to your summer reading list!

The Girl in the Castle by James Patterson and Emily Raymond

Hannah Doe is a teenage girl who has just been admitted to a mental hospital. Everyone thinks she’s suffering from hallucinations, but Hannah knows the truth: she’s stuck between two worlds, and now she must return to the past in order to save her sister. But who will help her? We’ll admit that The Girl in the Castle is long, but don’t let the 368 pages scare you away. This is a quick, thrilling read that will definitely capture your attention with its mix of fantastical and psychological elements. 

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

This novel became a best seller and book of the year in 2022. And we know why! Lessons in Chemistry is a lighthearted read about a female chemist in the 1960s who reinvents herself as a cooking show host and a champion of gender equality. This “beach read” would be great to take with you on summer vacation, especially if you’re interested in gender studies.

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

It started as a typical Monday afternoon, but it ended as a murder mystery. In One of Us is Lying, five teens walk into detention, but only four walk out. Simon has died, and everyone wants to know why. Who had a motive to kill Simon? Could it be one of his friends? Maybe the other students in detention know the answers, but will they tell their secrets? This book- the first in a three-part series-  might not be challenging enough for eleventh and twelfth graders, but it’s a great pick for students ages 13-16, especially those who are reluctant readers. 

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

Yellowface is the ultimate cautionary tale of plagiarism! June Hayward is a white woman and aspiring writer who fears that readers won’t think her stories are diverse or exciting. So when a fellow writer-an Asian-American woman-dies unexpectedly, June steals her newly-finished story about Chinese laborers in WWI. June adopts a Chinese-American persona, passes the story off as her own, and finds great success. But at what cost? Read Yellowface to see what happens when you try to be someone you’re not.

The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War by Ben Macintyre

The Spy and the Traitor tells the intriguing tale of Oleg Gordievsky, a Russian spy who helped put an end to the Cold War. Blending history, politics, and mystery, this novel will have you on the edge of your seat for over 300 pages. No wonder it’s a New York Times bestseller! Any student interested in criminology, political intrigue, or history is sure to enjoy this book. 

True Biz by Sara Novic

In True Biz, author Sara Novic gives a voice to a silent world. Deaf children are usually isolated by their disability, but that’s not the case at River Valley School for the Deaf. At this school, hearing-impaired teens find a unique community where they can conquer family struggles, growing pains, and the unique challenges of a disability together. Be sure to pick up this book if you want to see how their journeys unfold and discover why this novel was voted as one of the best books of 2022 by The Washington Post.

Stay tuned!

Next week we’ll be sharing our nonfiction summer reading list. If you have any favorite titles to share, please leave a comment.

Weekly Update: May 15

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

VARSITY BLUES FRAUD CONVICTIONS OVERTURNED

Two parents who were convicted in the Varsity Blues scandal had their convictions overturned this week by a federal appeals court. The court overturned all convictions against Gamal Abdelaziz and all but one conviction of another parent, John Wilson.  

The federal judges on the case determined that the two parents did not knowingly commit fraud, believing that they were making legitimate donations to the universities. We’ll be paying attention to how this development affects the 50+ convictions of other parents in the aftermath of Varsity Blues. 

NEVER TOO LATE TO GRADUATE

A 72-year-old man graduated from Georgia Gwinnett College last week. After raising 5 kids and 15 grandchildren, Sam Kaplan got his degree in Cinema and Media Arts with his 99-year-old mother and several of his children in the audience. He hopes to become a screenwriter. 

Meanwhile, at Texas Lutheran University, senior Ashley Adams is making university history by graduating alongside both of her parents on Saturday. We believe that everyone should have the chance to get their degree - but we have to say, we’re not sure many of our students would love having their parents on the same campus!

FREE TUITION PROGRAM IN MINNESOTA

The Minnesota House and Senate passed a bill that includes a free tuition program for students coming from families that make less than $80,000 per year. The program will allow Minnesota students to attend public colleges and universities for free, covering any tuition costs left over after state and federal grants and institutional scholarships. Now, these students will not need to take out loans to cover their education!

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

This CNBC article is a reality check for some college students when it comes to starting salary. Job prospects look good for the graduating class of 2023, who are graduating into a strong job market, and the average starting salary for new graduates is $56,000. However, a survey found that college students expect to be making nearly $85,000 just one year after graduating - a difference of 30K! In fact, the same survey found that many college graduates say they wouldn’t take a job for less than $72,000 - lower than the average expectation, but much higher than the average starting salary. While salary expectations vary widely across industries, it is smart for students to do their research so they can manage their expectations upon entering the workforce. 

DC local Yasmine Arrington started ScholarCHIPS - a scholarship nonprofit to assisted Children of Incarcerated Parents - when she was just sixteen years old. The child of an incarcerated parent herself, Yasmine started the organization to provide a safe space for students who need support - many of whom have not disclosed at school or to their friends that their parent is incarcerated. Since the organization was created in 2010, it has awarded over $450,000 in scholarships to more than 80 students. In addition to scholarships, the organization provides each student with a laptop, access to an emergency fund, check-ins throughout the year, and the option of being matched with a mentor. Students can apply or get involved here, or donate to ScholarCHIPS here. Of course, do your research before you donate, as we have not vetted this organization - just passing it along!

We hope the moms out there had a wonderful mother’s day yesterday! My own mom sent this article to me about the #1 phrase that moms are sick of hearing and it really resonated with me (I could probably write a book on invisible labor- don’t even get me started).

Mother’s Day 2023, representing 11 years of love, joy and invisible labor :)

One thought I did have while reading, though, was that I can sleep well at night knowing that my team and I are 100% part of the solution for other parents - we absolutely, one million percent have your back and will do whatever we can to help you out and make adolescence easier on your family, whether something is directly related to college applications or not. And that’s how I ended up at Nordstrom last week, helping one of my favorite young women try on clothes for an interview - true story :) I know we get paid for our services, but at the same time, we really care and will go to great lengths to ease your load however we can (as long as it’s not illegal!). This is a central part of our mission and I think we do an excellent job living it out.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

Shannon attended the Best of Boston counselor session this week and wanted to share some of her biggest takeaways:

1. Early decision is becoming more and more important. Tufts and Northeastern expect to admit about half or slightly more through the early rounds, while BU intends to admit 55% of its class early decision next cycle. Many selective and highly selective colleges around the country will have similar projections, so we encourage students to think hard about whether the strategic advantage associated with ED is the way to go!

2. Check your email! Tufts, Northeastern, and BU all expect to close their waitlists in mid-June, so we’ve got about a month or less of waitlist activity. In the event that students are admitted off the waitlist, the school will give them about a week (or sometimes less!) to respond. So, if you are waiting on a decision, make sure to check email regularly and prepare to commit on a short timeline. 

3. Don’t phone in your “Why This School?” essay. All three schools at the session consider demonstrated interest, as do many others. While Northeastern does not typically have supplemental essays, for Tufts and BU, the “Why This School?” supplemental essay is the most important essay - and a big factor in their consideration of demonstrated interest! It is essential to ensure that the essay is unique, authentic to you, and could only be used to describe that single school.

   P.S. We have noticed that these types of essays have been a real pain point for students post-Covid. As a result, we made the decision to offer our Class of 2024 students two options for free instruction from our essay coaches on how to approach these essays. Yes - totally free - that’s how important we think these are. If you missed the email communication and are wondering how to sign up, please email admin@dccollegecounseling.com for details. 

And for any OLGC families reading - students who are members of OLGC parish with a GPA of at least 3.0 are eligible to apply for the JTC Scholarship. Interested students should apply by May 25!

Have a great week!

Careers in Nursing

Happy National Nurses Week! We want to extend a big thank you to all of the amazing nurses out there - we appreciate your tireless efforts to care for patients!

As we take time to honor nurses who play vital roles as advocates, educators, and caregivers, we thought it would be a great opportunity to spotlight nursing career options and educational pathways! After all, there is a nursing shortage - and the profession can offer security, flexibility, and a nice paycheck!

TYPES OF NURSES

Registered Nurse

Registered nurses (RNs) typically provide direct patient care in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes. They perform tasks such as taking vital signs, administering medications, and assisting with procedures. As for education, RNs can either complete a two-year associate's degree (ADN) or a four-year bachelor’s in nursing (BSN). The BSN is highly recommended, and even required in some states and healthcare settings. RNs may also seek additional certifications after they graduate and gain experience, especially if they are interested in areas such as oncology, pediatric, or critical care nursing. 

The average annual salary for an RN in the United States is $77,600, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, salaries can be higher depending upon education and geography. For example, nurses in California have an annual mean wage of $133,340! And nurses in the DC area can make nearly $100,000 each year. 

Nurse Practitioner

In contrast to RNs, nurse practitioners (NPs) are advanced practice nurses who have completed additional education and training beyond the RN level. They are authorized to diagnose and treat illnesses, prescribe medications, and order diagnostic tests. NPs often work independently or in collaboration with physicians, and they may specialize in areas such as pediatrics, women's health, or mental health. Because of their specializations and advanced education, NPs stand to earn more than registered nurses. In 2021, the median salary for an NP was almost $110,000, and in some parts of the U.S., NPs made approximately $150,000!

Nurse Anesthetist

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs) are advanced practice registered nurses who specialize in administering anesthesia to patients during surgical and medical procedures. They work closely with physicians, surgeons, and other healthcare professionals to ensure that patients receive safe and effective anesthesia care. CRNAs are responsible for assessing patients' medical histories, monitoring vital signs during anesthesia administration, and adjusting anesthesia levels as needed throughout procedures. They also provide post-operative care to patients, ensuring that they recover safely from anesthesia and that any pain or discomfort is managed. CRNAs are required to have a master's degree in nursing as well as certification through the National Board of Certification and Recertification for Nurse Anesthetists.

Becoming a CRNA requires a lot of additional education and training, but the investment is worth it! The average CRNA salary is approximately $123,000 per year, and in some areas of the country (like the DMV), CRNAs make upwards of $200,000. Plus, CRNA jobs are in high demand. Employment in this field is expected to grow 41% by 2031! 

TRADITIONAL AND NONTRADITIONAL PATHWAYS TO BECOMING A NURSE

There are two main pathways to becoming a nurse: traditional and nontraditional. The traditional pathway involves completing a nursing program at a college or university and earning a nursing degree, such as an associate's or bachelor's degree in nursing. This pathway typically takes 2-4 years to complete and involves coursework, clinical experiences, and passing the NCLEX-RN licensure exam. 

The nontraditional pathways involve alternative routes to becoming a nurse, such as completing an accelerated nursing program or earning a nursing degree online. These pathways are designed for individuals who already have a bachelor's degree in another field and wish to transition to nursing. Nontraditional pathways may offer more flexibility and convenience, but they also require a strong commitment to self-directed learning and may have additional requirements, such as completing prerequisite coursework or passing additional exams. 

HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT NURSING PROGRAM FOR YOU

Whether you’re pursuing a traditional or nontraditional pathway, there are many things you want to consider as you research nursing programs. Here are questions to help guide you.

TRADITIONAL PATHWAY - BSN degree:

• Is it a 4 year, direct-entry program? This is the best choice for most students because there are no more hoops to jump through in college.

• Where will your clinical experience take place? For example, nursing students at Clemson will be in one of two separate clinical cohorts beginning during junior year, one in Clemson and one in Greenville. Would this be ok with you to be at a separate campus?

• What are the alumni NCLEX pass rates for the program? If you can't pass this exam, you can't become a registered nurse, so it's very important to go to a school that prepares students well.

NONTRADITIONAL PATHWAY - any degree:

Note - if you are sure you want to be a nurse when you are applying to college, this is not the path we would recommend unless you have a particular reason for it - this is typically more appropriate for people who decide to be a nurse later or are trying to keep their options open for specific reasons.

• What types of prerequisites will you need to be able to get into a post-baccalaureate nursing program - will you be able to take these at the college of your choice?

• What types of experiences will you need and will you be able to do those at the college of your choice? (for example, a certain number of hours of patient care or service work in health care)?

Here are two examples of nontraditional programs offered by universities:

George Washington University: GW offers an accelerated BSN program for those who have already earned their bachelor’s degree in a different field and would like to start a career in nursing. Students can earn their BSN in four consecutive semesters on site at GW’s Virginia Science and Technology Campus in Ashburn, VA. In order to begin the program, though, students must complete a certain number of prerequisite courses in areas such as Statistics, Nutrition, and Natural Sciences. If a student has not completed these courses in their previous degree programs, no worries! GW offers these courses and students can complete them online.

University of Pennsylvania: At UPenn, students with a bachelor’s degree in another field can earn a nursing degree in just 15 months through the university’s accelerated BSN program. The program has two options: BSN Second Degree- which leads to a bachelor’s in nursing- or BSN/MSN- which allows students to earn a graduate degree as well. The BSN/MSN pathway is a great choice for those who know they want to pursue a specialization that requires graduate coursework. Similar to GW, applicants must complete several prerequisite courses before being considered for admissions into the program. These courses include chemistry, biology, nutrition, and statistics, among others.

LOOKING FOR A COLLEGE WITH A GREAT NURSING PROGRAM?

We can’t possibly begin to list all of the colleges and universities with great nursing programs. However, we’re sharing a few of our favorites that might help you get started if you’re a high school student hoping to major in nursing in the future.

University of Pennsylvania 

What we like about this program: There’s a reason UPenn’s nursing program is ranked as one of the best in the country. There are amazing opportunities for students to gain clinical experience and conduct research at some of the best hospitals in the country. Plus, UPenn offers several minors, such as Nutrition, Global Health, and Health Communications, which reflect some of the most relevant and pressing issues in the healthcare world.

Clemson University

What we like about this program: Clemson’s nursing program is nationally recognized and increasing in popularity. In an effort to meet the demands of student interest, as well the need for nurses in the industry, the university recently created The Clemson Nursing Expansion Program, which has expanded enrollment in the program, as well as clinical placements in the area. Despite the expansion, admissions is extremely competitive, but students are sure to get state-of-the-art-training and a lot of opportunities to support local communities in South Carolina. 

Georgetown University

What we like about this program: Experience, experience, experience! Georgetown’s School of Nursing has an overwhelming number of options for students to gain hands-on training, from working in local DC hospitals to taking part in the Tanzania Healthcare Experiential Learning Initiative. We also love that the program incorporates an emphasis on social justice and community connections!

Weekly Update: May 8

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

HACKERS THREATEN VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY

The emergency information system at Bluefield University, a small university in western Virginia, was hacked last week. Hackers sent a threat to all students and faculty, and students were told that unless the school paid a ransom, their full personal and admissions data would be leaked online. While hacks at educational institutions have become more common, this is the first time hackers have hijacked a school’s emergency alert system. Bluefield was one of five universities to have been allegedly hacked last week alone. 

NEW COLLEGE CREATED AT UT AUSTIN

The University of Texas System Board of Regents voted last week to create a new college at UT Austin. The unanimous vote created the School of Civic Leadership to house the Civitas Institute, a center created less than a year ago with the help of state leadership and conservative donors. The dean of the School of Civic Leadership will be hired by November, and have the responsibility of bringing on 20 new faculty members related to the Institute. 

VCU FACULTY PROTEST POTENTIAL LAYOFFS

VCU’s Focused Inquiry courses are meant to teach new students the skills they will need in college, like communication and problem-solving. But VCU is now proposing to cut about a third of the faculty in the Focused Inquiry department. Professors predict that the cuts will eliminate about 130 sections of these small seminar-style classes, which are often new students’ first opportunity to build a personal connection with their professors. The university’s United Campus Workers union has started a petition against the proposed cuts. 

HOWARD UNIVERSITY CHOOSES NEW PRESIDENT

Ben Vinson III will move from his current position as provost at Case Western on September 1 to become the new president of DC’s Howard University. Dr. Vinson’s academic work as a historian focuses on the African diaspora, particularly in Latin America. Dr. Vinson is returning to the DC area, where he has previously founded the Center for Africana Studies at Johns Hopkins and served as dean of the College of Arts & Sciences at GW.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Concerned about paying for college? Even seniors who have already committed to their schools (and current college students!) may still have a chance to increase their financial aid awards, particularly if their family’s income has recently changed. It isn’t too late to apply for financial aid and even some scholarships! This article covers the top five ways students can help mitigate the costs of college. 

The Washington Post published an article this week about the value of teaching students “civil discourse” in an effort to combat polarization and give students the skills to discuss potentially controversial issues. American University’s “Disagree with a Professor” series allows students to practice speaking up, voicing their opinions, and opposing ideas with which they disagree. This is just one civil discourse program - other colleges across the country are instituting similar ideas, like MIT’s “Dialogues Across Difference.” Here in Virginia, UVA has partnered with Heterodox Academy, a nonprofit that promotes “open inquiry” and “constructive disagreement,” while Virginia Tech, William & Mary, and George Mason have partnered with a different nonprofit, the Constructive Dialogue Institute. 

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

FCPS recently announced a partnership with Hazel Health, which will allow students and families to access free behavioral health services at home. Parents can opt in to receive a behavioral health assessment for their child, short-term counseling, and even help with transitioning to other providers in the community for the long-term.

We also want to share a great opportunity for any students interested in history: apply to join Mt. Vernon’s Student Advisory Board! This is a fun way to learn more about history while getting a behind-the-scenes look at how the museum works. Plus, it’s a great activity to add to an application or mention in an essay.

Anybody catch me on Fox News tonight? I was honored to be included as part of a special report on the impact of Covid on education and learning loss! Tonight was just the first part of the program, so you might see me on again soon.

And back at the office, we have had some exciting changes - Courtney’s last day was last week, and while we will miss her, we are so happy for her as she begins her career as a therapist. We are thrilled to announce that we’ve brought on our newest team member, Libby, to fill her shoes!

Our current clients may notice that some of their emails and reminders will come from Libby in the coming weeks, but don’t worry - you can still send any questions or concerns to the same admin@dccollegecounseling.com address and Libby or Donna will help you out!

Have a great week!

Why Did You Go There? Reflections on Our College Decisions

On Monday, high school seniors breathed a collective sigh of relief as they celebrated National Decision Day, otherwise known as the deadline for choosing a school and submitting a deposit. As we scrolled through Instagram and saw all of the excited smiles and college swag, we couldn’t help but get nostalgic. We started thinking about our own college admissions experiences and the decisions we made!

We’ll admit that our journeys had a few bumps in the road, but there’s a LOT you can learn from our experiences. Read on to see who applied ED II to three, yes three schools; who banned their embarrassing father from campus tours; and who waited until April 30 to make a decision.

Washington University in St. Louis

COLLEEN’S STORY:

When I was a junior in high school, my school had college fairs twice per year where students could walk around and meet the various admissions representatives. My best friend and I were walking around together, and she stopped to talk to the Williams representative. While I was waiting for her, I noticed that the Wash U rep next to the Williams rep was also named Colleen! I knew nothing about Wash U - and was not particularly interested - but I was happy to chat with a fellow Colleen, and learned about Wash U as a bonus! I ended up becoming really interested and went with my mom to visit campus, and we both loved it. It also helped that a family member, my mom's brother, lived in St. Louis - I was close with my uncle and his family, and liked that I would have someone there if I needed anything.

I have written before about how my dream school was Notre Dame, and when I got rejected during the early action round as a senior, I was just devastated. At that point, I had gotten into my safety schools (Penn State and Tulane) but sort of recognized that if I got outright rejected from Notre Dame, I was likely not going to get into my second choice (Georgetown) either. It had a similar admissions landscape, and I knew that I needed to be strategic!

My next three choices - and I would have been happy with any of them - were Vanderbilt, Emory, and Wash U. I actually liked Vanderbilt the best, and so did my mom - we had visited campus twice by that point, and I think we both thought I was going to end up there after ND didn't work out.

But then I learned that all three had early decision II , and Wash U notified 1/15, Emory notified 2/1, and Vanderbilt notified 2/15. At the time, the order of their deadlines aligned with the order of their selectivity - Wash U was the most competitive of the three, then Emory, then Vanderbilt. So I decided to apply early decision II to all three schools with the idea that I would maximize my options that way, and once I got in somewhere, I'd just pull out of the remaining schools before they admitted me.

Fortunately, it all worked out - I found out on 1/15 that I got into Wash U, pulled out of Vanderbilt and Emory, and the rest was history! (And isn’t it funny how the selectivity of these places has changed so much in the last twenty years?!)

Moral of the story:

It’s all about strategy, and a component of that involves coming to terms with reality. I accepted that Georgetown wasn’t likely to happen and instead developed a strategic approach that would maximize my chances at the schools where I actually HAD a chance.

PSA: WE ARE NOT IN 2003 ANYMORE AND THIS PARTICULAR STRATEGY IS NOT ONE TO FOLLOW! ONLY ONE ACTIVE ED APPLICATION AT A TIME, PLEASE :) THIS WOULD NEVER FLY TODAY! YOU WOULD LIKELY WIND UP NOT GETTING IN ANYWHERE BECAUSE THE SCHOOLS WOULD COMPARE LISTS!

College of William & Mary

SHANNON’S STORY:

I have always had difficulty making decisions, so it is no surprise that I waited until the last minute (April 30!) to put down my deposit (p.s. - the last minute strategy is not one we recommend!). I was deciding between entering the William & Mary St. Andrews Joint Degree Programme or attending Georgetown. Both schools had initially crossed my radar with my very basic search criteria of "medium-sized" and my dad's insistence that I stay on the East Coast, and my mom and I had just completed two admitted students days (and a late-night drive from DC to Williamsburg).

I chose W&M for several reasons. There weren't as many students attending from my New England boarding school, so I valued the opportunity to step out on my own and make new friends (I had several close friends attending Georgetown already). I was also looking for a quintessential "college town" experience and wasn't sure about Georgetown's proximity to the city. But what ultimately led to my final decision was how seen and understood I felt throughout my application process to William & Mary. The open-ended "optional essay" let me send the school an essay that no other schools had received, and one that I felt really described me. I was able to share my authentic self and feel accepted during the process, and I thought, "This school really gets me. If they think I'm a good fit, they must be right!"

I'm not going to lie, I really struggled with my college decision process! But in the end, I had the best experience at William & Mary and St. Andrews, and I am confident that I made the right decision for me. 

Moral of the story:

Trust yourself, even when it seems hard, and get ready for a great four years!

Franklin and Marshall College

STACI’S STORY:

When it came to the college admissions process, I was a mess. I had no idea where I wanted to go and couldn’t decide between big or small, urban or rural, domestic or international. So how did I narrow down my college list? I didn’t. I applied everywhere! Okay, well not everywhere but to 17 schools—and this was long before the days of digital Common Applications. I don’t remember every school on my ridiculously erratic list, but I do know it ranged from Dickinson College to NYU to the University of Essex. Yes, I was even thinking of studying in the UK or Paris.

Seventeen-year-old me wasn’t that stressed about my 17 applications or the big decision ahead of me. It would all sort itself out. All I had to do was visit the schools to which I had applied and surely I’d get that magical “this is it!” feeling on one of the campuses. That never happened, though. Senior year crept by, and I still couldn’t narrow down my options. 

So what role did my parents play in all of this? They were my accomplices! I was their first child, so they had no idea how to navigate the college admissions process. My dad- who negotiated for a living- thought that me applying to so many schools would wield him more bargaining power when he walked into an admissions office and tried to “wheel and deal” the cost of tuition, like it was a used car dealership. I was mortified, and eventually my mom had to ban my dad from campus visits. And speaking of my mom, well, she tried to be quietly supportive. However, the mother in her couldn’t help but try to pressure me to stay close to home.

By spring of my senior year, I was in a perfect storm. I had 13 acceptance letters, 2 clueless parents, and zero “this is it!” feelings. So I rsvped ‘yes' to several admitted student days, and I’m so glad I did! These events made all the difference. When I went to Franklin and Marshall College, I was greeted by the president of the college. He stood there for several minutes chatting with me and then walked me to the building where I needed to be for my first session. I think he could sense how nervous I was since my parents weren’t there. Throughout the day, I experienced that same friendliness and care from everyone I met on campus. Unlike other schools, where the admitted student days left me feeling a bit overwhelmed and invisible, F&M made me feel like I mattered, like they really wanted me there. Of course, I still tortured myself and my parents by not trusting my gut feeling. I spent weeks second-guessing myself, but eventually I chose F&M. 

So that’s how I ended up going to college at a small liberal arts school in Amish country, Pennsylvania. Looking back, I sometimes get a little pang of regret, thinking it would have been more exciting to have gone to college in a big city. But I truly loved my time at F&M, and it was definitely the right environment for my teenage self.

Moral of the story:

Figure out what you want and do your research BEFORE you start applying to schools. And if you don’t have a clear direction (and your parents don’t either), ask for help! My parents and I could have saved ourselves so much stress and a whole lot of fights if we had had professional guidance. Sorry, Mom and Dad! 

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Congratulations to the Class of 2023 on your college decisions! If you are a current client and haven’t let us know your final decision, please email us and share your news!

Weekly Update: May 1

It’s Decision Day! Seniors, make sure to get those deposits in - and then celebrate! 

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

COLLEGE BOARD REVISES AP AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES

As College Board rolls out its AP African American Studies curriculum, the class has come under criticism from professors, politicians, and families. Last week, just three months after releasing the curriculum, College Board announced that it would change the course in response to the accusation from stakeholders who claim that the course has been “watered down” due to political pressure from conservative states like Florida, which have said they will not offer the course. The announcement comes ahead of a planned May 3 protest against College Board from civil rights groups and the teachers’ union.  

WAITLISTS START MOVING

It is a bit too soon to tell right now, but we’re hearing that we may see some major waitlist movement this year! For some baseline statistics from the Class of 2026, as well as predictions for 2027, check out this blog post from College Kickstart. We’ll be keeping you updated as we hear more.

 ROOF COLLAPSE NEAR OHIO STATE

Fourteen college students were hospitalized on Saturday after a roof collapsed near The Ohio State University. Students were standing on the roof during a house party, which led to the collapse.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

One way to respond to an increase in rejections from so-called “highly rejective” colleges? Rejection parties! High schools, colleges, and even graduate schools are starting to celebrate students’ rejections from colleges, conferences, publications, and more. Students say that these events help them to process the rejection and also to realize that they have a lot of other great options - sounds good to us!

The Today Show’s Jenna Bush Hager shares the #1 piece of advice her mom gave her before she headed off to college: to treat it like a job. Jenna, along with Hoda Kotb, also shared her biggest mistakes and regrets from college - so this is a great article for seniors wondering how to avoid the same pitfalls next year!

As schools become more selective and the college application process becomes more stressful for many students and families, some people are asking, “Is college worth it?” The president of Princeton University, perhaps unsurprisingly, says yes. President Christopher Eisgruber argues that completing college is “a reliable and cost-effective investment.” He points out that most students are not paying sticker price for their degree - 60% of Princeton students, for example, pay an average of $12,000 per year for their degrees, and 25% will pay nothing at all. Eisgruber is in the minority, though, with 56% of Americans telling the Wall Street Journal that a college degree is not worth the cost.

The ethics of the Supreme Court have been in the news a lot lately, and the New York Times is scrutinizing the relationship between George Mason’s Scalia Law School and the justices on the Court. The university hired Justice Neil Gorsuch during his first term on the Court, and added Justices Clarence Thomas and Brett Kavanaugh to the faculty quickly after. In doing so, the university has set itself up as a bastion of conservative legal scholarship. The rebranding has led to a huge jump in Scalia Law School’s prestige - it now sits at #30 in the U.S. News law school rankings.

Price-shopping for college? Some schools may provide an estimate of their costs alongside the projected costs for a student at competing colleges. And while it is easy to imagine these cost comparisons could help students and families make an informed choice about their finances, there is a catch - the estimates are often wrong. Actual college costs for an individual family are notoriously difficult to estimate. The company that provides these price comparisons, College Raptor, argues that some information is better than nothing, and that the comparisons do not need to be 100% accurate to be useful to students and families, who are otherwise in the dark about the true costs of college.

A former UVA student wrote an article detailing the accusations against then-UVA senior Morgan Bettinger for threatening Black Lives Matter protesters near Grounds. Though an investigation by the university’s Office for Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights found that Bettinger did not make a threat, she still suffered harassment online and today struggles to overcome the damage to her reputation by the accusations and the school’s inquiry.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

We are so happy for all of our seniors who have sent in deposits!! Congratulations to everyone for such phenomenal success in an incredibly difficult year. We are so proud of you!

In other news, we are rolling out a new multi-purpose submission form to our juniors and younger students this week and I cannot even TELL you how much work has gone into this behind the scenes - I’m incredibly excited to get it into place!

It streamlines all of the various submission forms we were using before into one link - we had one for STAGE, one for other editing, one for transcripts/test scores, one for parent residency, one for student residency, etc, etc.

And to make things even more exciting (yes, I realize that my idea of exciting is not that exciting to everyone else 😀), we are even incorporating a whole bunch of new forms to help families!

These include ones for application submission and test score preferences, to make sure that we are 100% up to date on any changes that may occur during the process, and another to track demonstrated interest and college visit/contact information to help with all those pesky questions that pop up on supplements. I just love efficiency and I know this is going to make everything even easier on our families!

Crunch Time: Last-Minute AP Exam Study Tips

Tick tock, tick tock- the countdown is on! AP exams are just days away, and we know that means a lot of stress and study overload for students. So what do you do if you’re trying to juggle exam prep for your four APs or can’t seem to manage your test anxiety? How do you possibly find time in your already- packed schedule for review? Easy! Read our list of last-minute study tips to ensure you’ll feel confident and ready to tackle your AP exams. 

Identify what you know and don’t know

It’s crunch time, so you’ll need to be really strategic about your study plans. That means figuring out WHAT you need to study over the next several days. Look through your materials- practice tests, class notes, old assignments- to figure out exactly what you already know and don’t know. We recommend creating three categories to help you sort the content:

• What I already know well…

• What I’ll know better when I review…

• What I don’t know at all…

Why the categories? Well, first of all, an organized list will make a year’s worth of AP content- which can be really overwhelming- much more manageable. Second, this method will likely boost your confidence when you see the long list of concepts you’ve already mastered. Third, you’ll be able to make better decisions about how much study time you’ll realistically need and what material you’ll need to focus on the most.

Book study appointments with yourself

Look closely at your calendar for the next week or two and identify specific windows of time that you can dedicate to studying each day. And by specific, we mean specific. Don’t just think to yourself, “I'm free on Sunday. I’ll study then.” Are you really going to spend your ENTIRE day studying? Probably not! And even if you do, you’re not going to get the best results by completing an 8+ hour cramming marathon. Your brain is going to tire out!  Instead, divide your studying into smaller chunks of time each day, so you’re more likely to retain the material. 

But how do you actually hold yourself accountable for studying every day? Book study appointments with yourself! After you find blocks of time in your day for studying, mark them off your calendar. Seriously, block them off as actual events on your Google calendar, just as you would a dentist appointment or a track practice. This way you’ll feel less stressed, knowing exactly when and where your studying fits into your day. And you’ll be more likely to stick to your plan. Bonus: even if you forget your study appointment, your phone will remind you! 

Take a practice test…again

Hopefully you’ve taken practice tests before, but go ahead and take another one–or two– in the days leading up to your exam. Not only will the practice test help you identify any last minute weaknesses or gaps; it’s also great training for a timed exam. Just be sure NOT to take a practice test the night before the actual exam. Let your brain get some rest! 

Sleep! 

Speaking of rest, trading in sleep for all-night study sessions might seem like a great way to ace your AP exams, but it can actually end up having the opposite effect. Lack of sleep affects your ability to memorize and recall information AND decreases your concentration levels. Not to mention, less sleep can also also affect your mood, making you more likely to feel anxious and stressed when it comes time to take your test. 

Not convinced by our parental-sounding advice? Then take a look at this scientific study: Should I study or should I go to sleep?

Reach out for help

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by your upcoming AP exams, remember that there are plenty of people who can help you. Organize a study session with friends, whether it’s to play a review game or complete some practice problems. Chances are they’ll be able to help you with confusing concepts and vice versa. Your parents and siblings can be great review buddies, too. They might not be experts in psychology or physics, but they can certainly quiz you on vocabulary. And don’t forget your teacher. They may be willing to organize an extra study session or offer you some additional advice or resources. You just have to ask!

Still feel like you need a bit more support in the coming weeks? Consider booking an academic coaching session with us! We can help you create a study schedule, organize your materials, develop strategies to combat test anxiety, and more. Schedule a meeting here.

Good luck to everyone taking AP exams! We are rooting for you!

Weekly Update: April 24

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

JMU TAKES A NEW APPROACH TO NURSING PROGRAM ADMISSIONS

Last week, James Madison University announced that it will adopt a new “holistic” admissions process for entry into its Bachelor of Science in Nursing program. Beginning in the fall of 2024, JMU will stop considering cumulative GPAs of applicants. Instead, the admissions committee will consider applicants’ weighted averages in prerequisite courses as well as factors beyond metrics, including “military service, employment, community experience, and certifications and credentials.” The goal is to encourage greater diversity in JMU’s nursing program and promote emphasis on the entire student, not solely on academic performance. 

NEW MAJOR CREATES FLEXIBLE FUTURES FOR STUDENTS AT WISCONSIN

In the fall of 2022, the University of Wisconsin began offering a new major–and it’s a hit! Over 70 undergraduates have already declared their major in Information Science this year. So what makes this new course of study so popular? The Information Science program has a flexible structure and doesn’t require students to have a technical background. Instead, undergraduates can personalize their studies to fit their interests and skills. Concentration areas within the major include law and ethics; data and society; and user experience design, among others. 

REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH LAWS IMPACT COLLEGE DECISIONS

A new study has found that applicants are considering more than just academic programs in their college decision process. They’re also weighing reproductive health laws. According to the newly released Lumina Foundation-Gallup State of Higher Education 2022 study, 60% of adults say that reproductive health laws are “somewhat important” as they select colleges, and almost 75% of current college students feel that the laws are “somewhat important” in their choice to remain at a school. Some experts believe this data is important because it may foreshadow future enrollment issues across various states and could potentially impact local economies.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

In a world of increasing inflation and job worries, it’s more important than ever for students to select a practical major. But what exactly constitutes a practical major? According to Freddie deBoer in “Pick a Practical Major, Like French,” “go-to” majors that are often deemed safe and secure—such as engineering, computer science, and business—may not be the safest choices after all. That’s because technology has the potential to rapidly change job industries and make particular fields obsolete. And for undergrads betting on trendy, up-and-coming fields, these industries might still be standing, but they’re saturated with young professionals seeking employment. Ultimately, there may be no such thing as a practical major, but this isn’t depressing news, says deBoer. It’s a chance for young adults to free themselves from old assumptions and instead focus on picking a major and career path about which they’re passionate. 

If you’ve ever tried searching for college data, you know that the process can be difficult at best. It takes a lot more than a simple Google search to locate the numbers buried deep in government websites and behind confusing academic jargon. Fortunately, several parents took notice of this problem—and in an effort to make the college search easier and more transparent—they developed valuable tools to support families going through the college application process. The New York Times curated a list of parent-created resources that offer information on everything from pricing to financial aid discounts to likelihood of admissions. While these tools can’t possibly capture all of the data, they can “encourage a reframing of the shopping process and a proper level of skepticism.”

“More diversity, less Confederacy”- that’s how the University of Virginia’s alumni magazine described the school’s efforts to invest more into their Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (D.E.I.) program in the wake of the George Floyd murder. While many in the UVA community applaud these efforts to increasingly diversify the student and faculty populations, as well as academic programs, others are pushing back. Most notably is UVA alumnus Bert Ellis, who “co-founded a dissident alumni group, the Jefferson Council” and was recently appointed by Governor Youngkin to the university’s board of trustees. Opponents of D.E.I. programs worry that such initiatives lower standards and redirect what could be valuable scholarship funds. While this is certainly a contentious issue that has no easy answers, it does raise a valuable question: “what should a university look like, value, and honor?”

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

Many of you have gotten to know Courtney on our admin team over the past year. She has provided individualized reminders to all of our students about everything they needed to be doing between meetings to make sure that they stayed on track at all times - from homework, to follow-up action items, to meetings to book!

Courtney has been in a master’s program at George Mason and she’s graduating in May, which means that she will be leaving us for her full-time career in counseling! We are so excited for her next steps but will really miss her in the office :) We’ve been busy trying to find an equally great replacement, which is hard because she has set a high bar!

Stay tuned for more on that over the next week or two!

Your Passport to Understanding Study Abroad Programs

As we help students refine their preferences and develop their college lists, we often hear that the factors we suggest for consideration weren’t on students’ radar at all before we brought them up.

For example, how many sixteen-year-olds are thinking about the geography of campus recruiting at a given school? Yet this is important for students who plan to go directly into the workforce, because it can often determine where a student will have the ability to live after graduation.

On the flip side, there’s one particular factor that often begins as a top consideration in students’ college searches, and we have to move it down the list: study abroad!

Don’t get me wrong: we think study abroad is a fantastic opportunity and encourage our students to take advantage of it. But in most circumstances, it’s a mistake to use an individual school’s study abroad programs as a driving consideration for a college choice. After all, a “great study abroad program” doesn’t mean today what it did in generations past: the majority of the best study abroad programs now involve students from different colleges participating together!

FOUR CATEGORIES OF STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS

Typically, study abroad programs - whether they take place during the academic year or summer - more or less fall into four different categories: 

1. Programs offered by schools for their own students only

2. Programs offered by schools for students from ANY school 

3. Affiliate programs offered by approved third party companies

4. Direct-enrollment programs at universities abroad

CHOOSING A STUDY ABROAD PROGRAM THAT’S RIGHT FOR YOU

With so many different options, how do you choose the program that’s right for you? Just like the college search itself, finding the right study abroad program will take a bit of soul searching. You’ll need to consider your social and cultural goals for your international experience. For example, do you want to spend a semester bonding and traveling with current friends? Would you rather meet an entirely new group of people? Are you hoping to immerse yourself in the culture and become part of a local community? Or do you see yourself traveling from city-to-city on weekends?

Studying abroad through your own college or university does make things logistically easier from a GPA and transcript standpoint. It's also a good way to meet new friends and broaden your social network within your university - you are becoming close with people that you'll be back on campus with when you return.

However, it can be fun to meet people from different schools, too - in programs where students from multiple colleges and universities participate together, you tend to see a wider diversity of participants. It can also be fun for high school friends who go to different colleges to reconnect and participate in a program together.

Participating in a direct enrollment program with a university abroad will offer the most authentic experience in terms of immersion into the local culture and making friends with local students instead of other Americans. And if you’re trying to improve your foreign language skills, a direct enrollment program often provides the fast-track to better proficiency (or even fluency!). 

EXPLORING YOUR OPTIONS

If you’re considering studying abroad, be sure to make an appointment with your school’s study abroad office. The staff can go over your options in detail and make suggestions based on your goals. Many schools also host study abroad fairs and information sessions each semester, so be on the lookout for these events. 

For students exploring affiliate program options, take a look at these popular organizations: CIEE, IES Abroad, and CIS Abroad. In addition to traditional semester programs, there are also plenty of options for undergraduates looking for a summer adventure, a winter break overseas, or even an international internship experience. 

unique STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS 

There are literally thousands of study abroad programs to choose from, and while we can’t possibly cover all of them, we do want to share some of our favorites.

Programs offered by schools for their own students only

Wake Forest University: Venice Campus

Wake students who dream of visiting Italy are in luck! Undergraduates can spend an entire semester (or summer) at Casa Artom - Wake’s Italian campus - living in an idyllic 19th century house right on the Grand Canal in Venice. Classes are offered in subjects such as economics, art history, and Italian (of course!) and are taught by Wake faculty, as well as some local professors. Che buono!

University of Georgia: Tropical Entomology and Evolutionary Biology in Ecuador and the Galápagos

Forget the beach! Students at UGA have the opportunity to spend the summer in the jungles of Ecuador. This “more-than-two-week” summer course - Tropical Entomology and Evolutionary Biology - provides students with the opportunity to study insects up close and personal in the most exotic natural locales of the country. As if that’s not cool enough, the program also includes a trip to the Galápagos Islands, where participants hike and snorkel, all while studying animals in their habitats.

Villanova University: Irish Studies in Galway

This Villanova study abroad program might just be a lucky charm for students looking for the best of all worlds: the chance to form a close-knit bond with other Wildcats and become immersed in a different culture. Participants spend the semester at the University of Galway, which is known for its diverse curriculum. There are courses for just about any major! The program houses its members in student apartments around campus and gives them access to all of the societies (aka clubs) and events that the university has to offer. 

Programs offered by schools for students from ANY school 

The University of Arizona: Security and Peacebuilding in Colombia

The University of Arizona has a truly hands-on approach to studying abroad. Instead of spending months in the classroom, students participating in their Security and Peacebuilding in Colombia program learn by doing. They observe the peace process in action, as they hear from guest speakers and engage with political and social leaders in the country. Plus, participants have the chance to complete an internship or service learning project to put their knowledge into practice. 

St. Lawrence University: Kenya Semester Program

The Kenya Semester program is one of the most established, longest-running U.S. study abroad programs. What has made it so successful is the program’s unique approach. Not only do students take traditional classes, they also become fully immersed in the culture through homestays, camping trips, and field studies. And at the end of the semester, students choose a facet of Kenyan society and complete a major independent research project.

Middlebury College: Museum Studies in Oxford

This is the ideal program for museum lovers, history buffs, or art aficionados! As part of the Museum Studies in Oxford program, students spend a month visiting heritage sites and famous museums in the UK; completing a practicum at an art gallery; and meeting with experts in the museum industry.

Affiliate programs offered by approved third party companies for students from ANY school 

Foundation for International Education: Peace and Conflict Studies in Ireland and the Middle East

The Foundation for International Education offers students a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Participants spend the summer analyzing peace and conflict efforts in Ireland and Jordan. But this isn’t your typical study abroad program: participants have the chance to work on case studies, meet with leaders, and even learn the Arabic language.

RWTH International Academy: Automotive Engineering and Future Mobility

Most students dread the idea of summer school, but what if your classes involved racing cars? That’s exactly what participants in the Automotive Engineering and Future Mobility program can do this summer! Students travel to Germany where they’ll get an insider look at the automotive industry. Participants debate current issues in automotive systems; collaborate on a number of case studies; and even network with experts. What a great way to rev your career in this advancing field! 

Seamester

One of the most unique ways to spend a semester studying abroad is to head out to sea. For over forty years, Seamester has offered incredible voyages across the globe for college students. The program offers undergrads the chance to spend months on a vessel, helping to navigate the adventure while also studying subjects such as oceanography, marine biology, and leadership. Seamester is the ultimate team-building experience and one that can take you to exotic places across the world, from Bali to Antigua to South Africa.

Direct-enrollment programs at universities abroad for students from ANY school 

The London School of Economics and Political Science: The General Course

Most students don’t study abroad at The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) for just a few months; they stay for an entire year! As part of the General Course program, students become fully integrated in the community, taking part in the academic and social life of the school. And the best part? When your study abroad program is complete, you become a permanent member of the LSE alumni network.

The Paris Institute of Political Studies: Exchange Programme

Bonjour! The Paris Institute of Political Studies- also known as SciencesPo- offers an exchange program for students who want to study abroad for a single semester or entire school year. Participants can register for classes in political science (obviously!), international relations, law, and economics. And there’s more! There’s also an opportunity to develop proficiency in the French language and study the history and culture of Europe. 

 Maastricht University: Exchange 

Maastricht is known for being the most international university in the Netherlands and welcomes students from around the world every year as part of their exchange program. Here, participants can study a range of academic subjects and take part in their problem-based learning curriculum. And when you’re not in class, there’s plenty to do in the small city of Maastricht. It has a lot of charm and is conveniently located in an ideal part of Europe. 

MOVING FORWARD

As you can see, most students come to realize that where they end up studying abroad has little to do with where they go to college. They choose to put this factor aside in the college search to focus on other considerations: like academic programs, campus life opportunities, or - let’s be honest - the food!

And a handful of students will determine that study abroad does remain an important factor in their search after all: maybe they have a niche major with a signature abroad program related to it, or maybe they feel strongly about wanting to use the experience to build relationships with students at their own university. As long as this preference is based on an accurate understanding of the study abroad landscape, that’s 100% okay with us!

Weekly Update: April 17

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

THE SUPREME COURT MAKES A $6 BILLION DECISION ON STUDENT LOANS

On Thursday, the Supreme Court declined to block a settlement that will provide $6 billion in relief to student loan borrowers. The settlement was meant to resolve a 2018 class action lawsuit against the Department of Education by those who claimed they were defrauded by their schools. A small group of colleges impacted by the ruling appealed to the Supreme Court, claiming the deal “did not assess the validity of the borrowers’ claims and would damage their reputations.” Although this case is not connected to President Biden’s proposal to cancel student debt, many wonder what the Supreme Court’s decision could mean for student loan cases in the future.

U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT DELAYS RELEASE OF SCHOOL RANKINGS

If you’re anxiously awaiting the U.S. News & World Report’s annual list of best graduate schools, you’re going to have to wait a bit longer. On Friday, U.S. News & World Report announced that it will be moving its release date from April 18 to April 25. That’s because the news outlet has received a high volume of questions from schools included in the rankings, who were given a week to review the results. U.S. News & World Report is using the additional time to thoroughly respond to inquiries. 

STRIKE ENDS AT RUTGERS UNIVERSITY

After a weeklong strike at Rutgers- the first in the university’s history- classes are back in session today! Strikers marched on three different Rutgers campuses, calling for increased job security, wages, and equality for faculty and staff. University officials worked with union representatives and announced this weekend that they’ve made a “framework agreement” for faculty contracts. Now professors are looking forward to returning to the classroom and finishing the spring semester. 

ANOTHER COLLEGE MAKES TEST-OPTIONAL ADMISSIONS PERMANENT

Last week Vassar College announced that their test-optional admissions policy is now permanent. Like many schools, Vassar first became test-optional during the pandemic. The decision to make this COVID-response policy permanent is grounded in current research, according to college president Elizabeth H. Bradley, who cited access, equity, and mental health as factors in the decision.

Mirabella at Arizona State University is a thriving senior community. You can read more about it here.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

Forget moving south or living by the beach. Senior citizens can spend their retirement years on a college campus. Since the mid-2000s, several universities have built senior living communities on their grounds. Why, you might ask? Although it may seem like an odd choice, the unique partnership between a school and a senior community offers plenty of advantages. Not only does a school benefit financially, but so do its residents. Seniors become part of a youthful, energetic environment and undergrads have the chance to find mentors and internship opportunities through the senior community. Of course, such a model isn’t right for everyone. Schools need to do their research, so they understand how they might benefit seniors and how a senior community can benefit the campus environment. 

How do college students really feel about grades? That’s the question Inside Higher Ed and College Pulse sought to answer. Over 3,000 undergraduates were recently surveyed about their experiences with grading, and the results tell a very “nuanced” story. The numbers show that race, socioeconomic status, and learning differences impact the perception of grading fairness. These findings aren’t surprising to many in the education world. Instead, they reinforce what many have been calling for: alternative systems of grading that focus more on growth and mastery of skills over the traditional letter grades. Regardless of how grading systems and policies may morph in the future, one thing is clear. The survey reinforces the need for professors to be more transparent about their grading practices and their expectations for students. 

There’s always been thousands of colleges for young adults to choose from, but that hasn’t been the case for students with intellectual disabilities. Fortunately, though, several schools have developed successful programs over the past decade specifically designed to help students develop the skills necessary to live independently and prepare them for jobs. ClemsonLIFE is just one example! But with the rise in popularity of such programs comes the need for regulation and accreditation. Families want to ensure that schools are implementing high quality programs that are safe for students and give them an authentic learning experience that generates confidence.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

Our juniors have been making such amazing progress on their Common App ® essays, which can be a lot of work for us. But at the same time it’s so deeply satisfying to help things shift into place for a student during the writing process - like finding that last puzzle piece under a seat cushion, when frustration ends and all becomes right in the world!

In other news, I am back from visiting Paris and London with my daughter last week, and I have a tour recommendation with a fun college-related back story if anyone will be in Europe anytime soon.

Fat Tire Tours was started by a recent grad from Texas A&M who fell in love with showing his visitors around Paris on bicycles during his study abroad. He liked it so much that he actually bypassed a career at PWC to try to start his own bike tour company in Paris. The company immediately differentiated itself because of an an emphasis on having fun rather than throwing too much detail at people.

Well, one thing led to another and now he’s the owner of the largest bike tour company in the world! How cool is that? It goes to show that you never know which college experiences will end up being life-changing in the bigger picture!

As an aside, these tours really ARE fun. I heard about the company in the early 2000s and loved my first tour so much that I became hooked! I try to take one whenever I’m abroad. My daughter Caroline was not overly excited beforehand but then talked for the next week about how amazing our tour guide OJ was :) And she learned a lot! They have a Fat Tire operation in DC, too, so that’s next on our list.

If you’re ready to head overseas for your own study abroad career inspiration, check out our upcoming Thursday blog post to learn everything you need to know!

FAQs About AP Course Selections...Answered!

Every year, we get lots of questions from families about AP course selections. So we decided to answer your most popular inquiries on the blog today.

What are the benefits of an AP class?

There are many advantages to taking an Advanced Placement course. From an admissions standpoint, AP classes are a great way to show colleges you’re challenging yourself academically and handling the rigors of college-level coursework. AP coursework can also reinforce your interest in and readiness for a particular major. For example, if you want to become an engineer, it’s helpful for a college to see that you can excel in high-level math and science courses. Plus, your GPA might get a boost, depending on whether or not your high school uses a weighted GPA scale. 

And that’s not all. AP classes may save you time and money later on, because you have the potential to earn college credits and maybe even bypass some introductory classes once you get to college. Note, of course, that this is not the case everywhere: students attending public colleges and universities will often find more generous AP credit policies than those at private institutions.

Are there any drawbacks to taking an AP course?

Of course! As with anything, there are some potential drawbacks you should be aware of when deciding to take an AP class. First and foremost, AP classes are hard! They are purposely designed to challenge you and will require a great deal of time and investment on your part. 

It’s also important to recognize that an AP class might not necessarily be a good fit for you. Just because an Advanced Placement course is offered at your school doesn't mean you have to take it. Your academic skills in a particular subject might be better suited for a regular or honors section. A good rule of thumb: if you think an AP class might be so hard that it impacts your ability to succeed in the rest of your classes, don’t take it. And if you’re still not sure that you’re ready for an AP class, talk with your teacher in that subject area. 

Finally, let’s talk college credits. Taking an AP class doesn’t guarantee college credit, even if you work really hard - even if you ace the course the entire year! It all depends on how well you perform on the AP exam in May, AND - as mentioned above - whether your future college or university will award credit in the first place.

WHICH AP courses are offered to high school students?

There are actually 38 (yes, 38!), AP courses offered by the College Board. You can see the full list of classes here. Now that doesn’t mean your school will offer all 38 AP classes, so be sure to check with your teachers and counselors to find out what courses are available to you. If there is an AP class you really want to take but your school doesn’t offer it, keep reading! We have alternative solutions! 

Some of the most popular classes include AP Spanish Language, AP Psychology, AP Calculus AB, and our favorite, AP English Language and Composition. While these are definitely tried-and-true Advanced Placement courses, the College Board has also been developing two new classes over the past few years. AP Precalculus has finally passed the development phase and will be officially offered in the fall of 2023. AP African American History- the controversial course that’s been making news headlines recently- will be piloted at several schools during the 2023-2024 school year.  

In fact, as of early March, there are eight schools in Fairfax County, Virginia that plan to offer the AP African American History:

1. Chantilly HS

2. Fairfax HS

3. Hayfield HS

4. McLean HS

5. South County

6. Westfield HS

7. West Potomac HS

8. Woodson HS

How many AP courses should I take?

Unfortunately, there is no standard or right number of AP classes that a student should take. It really depends on the individual. If you’re planning to apply to highly competitive institutions, you’ll definitely want to be more rigorous with your AP course loads. Think about your college list and do some research to get a better sense of the academic caliber required for top schools.

It’s also important to be realistic about your time and abilities. Sure, you might think five AP courses looks impressive on your senior year transcript, but you’re not going to look so great to an admissions committee if your GPA takes a dive. Don’t overload yourself so much that you can’t maintain your grades–or keep up with important extracurricular commitments. 

Do some AP classes look better than others on a college application?

Some AP classes are notorious for being more difficult than others. We’re looking at you, AP Physics. However, the pass rates and difficulty level don’t necessarily make a class better when it comes to your college applications. The AP classes that look best on your transcript depend on your academic areas of interest. For example, if you plan to major in business, then you’ll want to prioritize AP courses in math and economics. 

Also, the best AP classes are those that don’t torture you. Let’s say that foreign languages have always been a struggle for you. Well, then avoid signing up for AP Spanish. Instead, invest your time and energy into an AP class that is better suited to your academic strengths and your future plans.  

What if my school doesn’t offer AP classes?

If your school doesn’t offer AP courses-or maybe the particular AP subject you’re looking for- don’t worry. There are plenty of other ways that you can challenge yourself academically and potentially earn college credit.

First, consider the International Baccalaureate program, better known as IB, if that’s available at your high school instead of AP courses. If you’re curious about what differentiates IB from AP and others, check out this page on the IB website. Know that colleges and universities have absolutely no preference between AP and IB, so students should pick the option that’s right for them - or, from a practical standpoint, the option their school offers!

Another option is to enroll in an AP course online through a virtual school or program. For example, Virtual Virginia currently offers 27 Advanced Placement courses for high schoolers in the state. Just be sure to talk with your school counselor because you’ll need to make sure that the online school or program is accredited. 

Some brave students may opt for another pathway to earning AP credit: self-study. Instead of taking a year-long AP course, you simply register for the exam- which you’ll take either at your school or at a nearby high school- and then prepare independently. Sounds easy, right? Wrong! Self-study isn’t for everyone. You have to be extremely self-motivated, not to mention capable of learning the material with only the help of prep books and tutorial videos. If you’re considering the self-study route, opt for AP subjects which have content that overlaps with your coursework, experiences, or skills. For example, AP Environmental Science is a popular self-study option because students will have already studied some of the material in their biology classes. AP United States History is a great option for students who are taking US History at schools that don’t offer the AP version. Again, be sure to talk with your counselor about this option–and early! You’ll need to register for the exam in the fall, and your counselor can help you find a testing site. 

A non-AP alternative to earning college credits is a dual enrollment program. In this type of program, students take college-level classes through a local community college or university and earn college credits while satisfying their high school requirements. Unlike an AP course, dual enrollment classes don’t require students to pass a special exam at the end of the year. You’ll earn your college credits just by passing the class. Just be aware that not all high schools offer dual enrollment, and your credits aren’t guaranteed to be accepted by your future college or university. 

Finally, don’t forget to consider honors classes! While they won’t allow you to earn college credits, they can give a nice boost to your GPA and show admissions committees that you’re challenging yourself. 

Do you need help with course selections?

If you need help making decisions about course selections and class schedules, book a strategy session with us. 

Weekly Update: April 10

We hope you all had a wonderful spring break!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

FREE TUITION FOR BOSTON STUDENTS

Good news for hopeful students in Boston! The city government announced on Wednesday that residents are now eligible for up to three years of tuition-free education at six community colleges across the city. The “Tuition-Free Community College Plan” does not impose limits on age, income or even immigration status, and only requires students to fill out the FAFSA. 

NEW CHANGES PROPOSED FOR STUDENT ATHLETES 

On Thursday, President Biden’s administration released a proposal which addresses recent controversy over transgender athletes’ participation in school sports. The proposal would protect transgender athletes from being “categorically” banned from sports – a tenant of Title IX. At the same time, schools would have the ability to limit an athlete’s participation based on “competitive fairness” or injury risk. Many are debating what this proposal could mean for school sports and worry about how states may interpret and perhaps challenge the potential new policy. 

DATA TELLS A CHILLING TALE OF SCHOOL SHOOTINGS

377. That’s the number of school shootings in US schools since 1999. The Washington Post has been tracking data related to gun violence in schools for years now, and the numbers continue to tell a chilling tale. Click here to see the data on factors such as the typical age of shooters, the populations most often affected by gun violence, and a database of personal stories from witnesses and survivors.

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

If you want to know what college students really care about, don’t rely on TikTok or Twitter. Look to the opinions section of the student newspaper instead, according to Jonathan Malesic in The New York Times. As an educator, Malesic finds that undergraduates are often hesitant to share their thoughts on bigger world issues via social media. However, their beliefs emerge in the opinion pages of school newspapers, where students are more likely to write about issues that “hit closer to home” - from the fears of growing up to navigating relationships to pleading with other undergrads to put their phones away in class. Although these topics may not seem like the most pressing issues of the day, they are important for undergraduates as they navigate this phase of life. As Malesic affirms, such essays do “what opinion writing should do for society: help us understand and improve our own and one another’s lives.”

As we reported last week, college applications continue to reach historic highs while acceptances reach historic lows. As a result, the college admissions process is becoming increasingly cutthroat and parents are becoming increasingly anxious. So how can parents avoid being “jerks” as they help steer their children toward higher education? The answer is not that simple. According to S. Mitra Kalita in “How to Not Be a Jerk in the Cutthroat College-Admissions Process,” we must start with understanding the landscape. Parents need to look at the realities of the process and the fact that it’s definitely NOT like it used to be.  Furthermore, Kalita believes that it’s important for parents to not simply talk about diversity but to promote the “collective” through our actions. In these ways, we are better preparing students for the real world and the complexities they’ll encounter in different environments.

When Tamara Kay was hired as a sociology professor at Notre Dame, she never imagined that she would one day require police security outside her classroom. Kay, who conducts research on abortion and is a proponent of abortion rights, has faced increased threats because of her work, which has been published in popular media outlets and on social media platforms. In a heightened political climate, Kay’s work is more dangerous than ever. Kay believes that the university has not adequately addressed her security concerns, but also recognizes the challenge of finding another academic position if she were to leave the university.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

Earth Day is just around the corner, and if you’re looking for a way to be an environmental advocate, consider volunteering at Fairfax County’s Earth Day Event. The event takes place on Saturday April 22 in Chantilly, VA, and there are multiple shifts available for students ages 15+.

The official countdown to summer is on! If you’re still trying to figure out your summer plans, be sure to visit our database for an up-to-date list of internship and academic opportunities for high schoolers. You could conduct health research, work for an Edtech company, or learn how to be a digital marketer — if you apply NOW!

Teacher Recommendation Etiquette

Writing a letter of recommendation is a big responsibility for teachers! They know that their letters offer the admissions committee important insight into what students are like in the classroom, and can play a vital role in strengthening any application. 

Because of this, teachers take recommendation-writing seriously, and you should too! When it comes to requesting a letter, it’s important to be thoughtful and polite. A quick “hey, write my recommendation letter please” won’t cut it! 

Keep reading to learn the most polite ways to request a recommendation. Not only will your etiquette make a good impression on your teacher, it will also help ensure a high-quality letter.

Don’t make assumptions

Contrary to popular belief, a teacher is NOT required to write you a letter of recommendation. So don’t automatically assume they will. You have to officially ask, and you should definitely pop the question BEFORE you list the teacher as a recommender on your college application form. After all, the last thing you want to do is make your teacher feel pressured to write you a letter and create an awkward situation for both of you. 

Request your recommendation early

Teachers are some of the busiest people around! In addition to teaching and planning and grading, they’re likely being inundated with dozens of other requests for recommendation letters. Be respectful of your teacher’s time by asking them early. And by early, we mean by the spring of your junior year. Trust us, your teacher will greatly appreciate having the summer break to draft your letter. If you wait until the last minute, you could run the risk of the teacher declining to write on your behalf - or even worse- submitting a generic recommendation!

Ask in the right place, at the right time

Be thoughtful about when and where you ask for a letter of recommendation. If possible, talk to your teacher face-to-face. It’s more personal that way, and you won’t have to worry if your message got lost in their inbox. Also, timing is everything! Running up to your teacher right before class starts to pose such a big question is NOT a good idea. Neither is raising your hand and interrupting class with your request (yes, we’ve actually seen that happen!). Instead, plan to visit your teacher at a time when their classroom isn’t overrun with students and they’ll actually have a few minutes to chat. Not sure when they’re available? Email and ask them.

If you’re not able to meet with your teacher in-person, write them a polite email. See below for tips on how to phrase your request. 

Give them an out

Teachers love to help their students; they really do! In most cases, they’ll be happy to write a letter of recommendation. But there are times when a teacher may want to say no–and that’s a good thing! If a teacher feels like they might not be able to write you the strongest letter of recommendation, it’s important that they have an out.

To create space to give your teacher the easiest out possible, carefully phrase your request. Instead of bluntly asking “will you write me a recommendation,” shape your question like this: “Do you think you know me well enough to write me a supportive letter of recommendation?” By focusing on how well the teacher knows you, you create a polite exit strategy for your teacher if they need it while taking the pressure off of both of you. 

Provide necessary information

Once your teacher agrees to write you a letter of recommendation, ask them what they need from you. Some teachers require students to fill out an information form, and if that’s the case, complete it and return it to your teacher in a timely manner. Don’t make them have to track you down. That’s bad etiquette! 

If your teacher doesn’t give you a form, create one of your own. Write your teacher a short letter or fact sheet that highlights specific details about your personal strengths, interests, and performance in their class. This is a great way to help shape your letter without being pushy or demanding. Plus, you’ll make the writing process much easier for your teacher. We help all of our ongoing clients navigate this process and create top-quality content, but if you aren’t working with us, consider asking a trusted adult for help. You want to make sure to be accurate and extremely specific about the characteristics that describe your best self, with lots of supporting anecdotes.

Show your appreciation

It probably goes without saying, but don’t forget to thank your teacher for agreeing to write you a recommendation. Even more importantly, don’t forget to thank them AFTER they submit the recommendation, too. A lot of time and thought goes into these letters, and your teacher will appreciate you acknowledging their hard work. 

Finally, when you start receiving your acceptance letters, share the good news with your recommenders. They’ve been an important part of your college application process, and it’s good manners to make them part of the celebration as well. 

Weekly Update: April 3

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

IVY LEAGUE ACCEPTANCE RATES REMAIN AT HISTORIC LOW FOR CLASS OF 2027

On March 30, a small pool of high school seniors celebrated Ivy Day - the day when many Ivy league institutions released their admissions decisions. In recent years, the number of applications to Ivy League schools has soared while acceptance rates have reached historic lows. And 2023 is no different! This year Yale accepted just 4.35% of applicants - the lowest percentage ever for this university - and UPenn reached its highest number of applicants in history- over 59,000! Curious about Brown, Dartmouth, Columbia, and others? Click here to see the latest Ivy League admissions data.

CLASS OF 2027 ACCEPTANCE RATES RELEASED

Although it was the Ivy League that made the news last week, several other schools released their admissions rates for the Class of 2027. College Kickstart has compiled a list of the latest data and continues to update their website as information is released. We encourage families to bookmark this website! 

WHAT’S THE ULTIMATE DREAM COLLEGE? A RECENT SURVEY FINDS SURPRISING ANSWERS

Schools like Harvard, Princeton, and Yale have long been at the top of students' college lists. But watch out, Ivy League! There are new dream schools rising in the ranks. According to a recent survey by The Princeton Review, the top ten dream schools now include NYU, University of Michigan, and UT Austin. What university holds the coveted number one spot on the list? Read more to find out! 

A NEW STUDY LOOKS AT THE IMPACT OF RACE IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS

What could the end of affirmative action in college admissions mean for students? Last week Georgetown University’s Center on Education and the Workforce released its most recent study, which found that banning race considerations in college admissions could have a big impact on minority enrollment. Even if colleges consider class status, several minority groups - such as Hispanic and Pacific Islander students - would not be adequately represented on college campuses. In fact, their enrollment could significantly decline. In order to truly increase diversity of enrollment, the entire admissions process would have to be reconfigured, according to many. 

COLLEGE STUDENTS IN CHINA ARE GIVEN TIME OFF TO FALL IN LOVE

Spring is in the air, and hopefully love is too for college students in China. Several vocational colleges in the country have extended a one-day national holiday into a week-long spring break. And they’ve issued directives for what students should do with the extra time off: enjoy the beauties of nature and love. Many believe this move is part of the country’s efforts to rebound from declining birth rates and a negative population growth rate. The government has been recently offering tax incentives for couples and extended maternity leaves. Now young adults are being encouraged to focus on personal growth and relationships.

Best Articles of the Week

What’s making teens so unhappy these days? Just look to TikTok for the answers, according to Jay Caspian Kang, a writer for The New Yorker. The popular social media app is inundated with high schoolers sharing the pressure and the hopelessness they feel as they prepare for their futures. In an increasingly competitive college admissions landscape, students are desperately searching for the right “algorithm” for success via TikTok videos, often finding that nothing is “good enough.” Although many well-intentioned social media users are chiming in on the data, the strategy, and the shared anxieties, no amount of virtual camaraderie will fix what Kang sees as a broken system. In order to improve the stresses associated with high tuition costs, competition, etc. Kang believes a revolution is necessary. But will it come? Not likely, according to this writer, but only time will tell.

For years, students have based their college searches on factors such as academic programs, research opportunities, dorm facilities, and yes, the food! However, there are new considerations coming to the forefront of college decisions: politics. A recently released study from the Art & Science Group has found that students are increasingly “ruling out institutions” based on policies and laws in particular states, especially related to Roe v. Wade and LGBTQ rights. Since this is a fairly new trend in the college admissions world, experts aren’t quite sure what impact politics might ultimately have on enrollment, both geographically and by institution. For now, colleges and universities are encouraged to focus heavily on their identity and their marketing efforts in order to continue attracting students, despite the political climate of the state.

Every April, we celebrate Earth Day to promote environmental efforts and practices.  But did you know that colleges and universities are working year-round to protect the earth? Over 400 schools have signed a climate pledge, vowing to achieve carbon neutrality, and many are working on projects to be more sustainable and environmentally-conscious. Ohio University, for example, has transformed their food waste problem into a literal growth opportunity, thanks to their unique composting system. Ball State University successfully replaced a seventy-year-old heating system with an efficient geothermal system, and University of Minnesota at Morris has created such a successful renewable energies design that they’re able to donate excess power to the local town. If you’re interested in learning more about other schools at the forefront of sustainability research and design, read more about environmental standout colleges here.

OFFICE HAPPENINGS

Summer is right around the corner, and there are so many great opportunities still available for teens. Be sure to check out our internship database, where we maintain an up-to-date list of internships, volunteer opportunities, and academic enrichment programs. Some of the most recent postings include working for a Fortune 500 company in Reston, VA, and preparing for a career in leadership and advocacy at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights.  

And don’t forget that we are also looking for summer interns here at DC College Counseling. If you’re interested in learning more about how a small business is run, consider applying. We’re especially looking for college students who are social media savvy. Please email your cover letter and resume with the subject line “DCCC Summer Internship” to Shannon@dccollegecounseling.com.

Small Details, Big Messages: What to Look for on a Campus Tour

When you’re touring a college campus, it’s easy to get distracted. That’s because you’re probably busy checking out the size of the dorm rooms or noting the food options in the cafeteria. Or maybe you’re gazing off down the street at the football stadium or anxiously awaiting your chance to check out the gym facilities. There’s a lot to take in, so much so that you might not always notice the details. But did you know that small details can actually send big messages about a college?

On your next campus visit, be on the lookout for these subtle clues. They will give you insight into the school culture and might just help you make important decisions about whether or not you can picture yourself there!

Advertisements

One of the best ways to really get a sense of what goes on at a college is to look at advertisements. As you tour academic buildings, student centers, and dorms, take note of bulletin boards and posted flyers, especially in entryways. These ads will show the kinds of events taking place on campus and how students are getting involved. Plus, they can help answer questions you may have about the social environment and political climate.

Classrooms

Although you may not have the chance to sit in on an actual college class, make sure you take a peek into some classrooms. These rooms can reveal a lot about the academic life on campus–if you know what to look for. First (and most obviously), take note of the size of the classrooms. Are you seeing lots of big lecture halls or smaller, more intimate spaces? Also, what type of furniture is there - and what is the layout like? Do most of them have desks, and if so, are they arranged by rows or in a circle? Do you notice any rooms with seminar tables or interactive work areas? Finally, scan the rooms for technology, so you can get a sense of how professors actually deliver their lessons.

Student Interactions

Is the cafeteria packed with students huddled around the tables? Are there groups of undergrads hanging out on the quad? Did you notice if the library study rooms are filled with people doing group projects? Has anyone said hello as you’ve passed them on the walkway? These are easy details to overlook, but don’t! Observe the ways that students interact with other members of the school community and with visitors like you. You can also learn a lot by paying attention to common areas. Notice if/how the campus layout gives students opportunities to gather and collaborate– and if they’re actually using these spaces.  

The most memorable graffiti I’ve ever seen on a college campus. It says: “Keep Baylor Baptist!” This gives an indication that there’s some secularization occurring, which could be a good or bad thing depending on an individual student’s preferences!

Signs of protest

Students everywhere have complaints, and some aren’t afraid to express them publicly! Look closely to see if you can spot signs of protest on campus: graffiti, advertisements, etc. These postings are often a source of valuable insight into the campus culture and what students care about. 

Safety

Remember that the college you’re touring could potentially be your home for the next four years. It’s important that you feel safe and secure. Yes, everyone has blue lights. But what else? As you walk around campus, look for features that would make you feel comfortable if you were strolling down these same pathways in the dark. Are the walkways well-lit? Do you see any security officers patrolling the grounds? Is there a free shuttle or escort service for students walking home late at night? And when you enter buildings, pay particular attention to how people can access them. Do students need to scan an ID card, for example? 

I was very impressed with the security on my last visit to Loyola in Baltimore. I was stopped immediately and not permitted to proceed on campus until I showed ID and a reason for my visit. At Johns Hopkins, just a mile away, nobody blinked an eye.

Just as important, take some time to explore the area surrounding the school. Remember that at many colleges and universities, upperclassmen opt to live off campus, and you’ll want to make sure there are safe options. Sometimes, nearby neighborhoods even defy stereotypes associated with the larger metropolitan area! Shout out to the City of Clayton if anyone is considering Wash U - I lived in Clayton during my last year of college (along with many other Wash U students) and it was one of the best places I’ve ever lived.

Cleanliness

Cleanliness speaks volumes! Pay particular attention to how a college maintains its spaces. Are the bathrooms clean? Do the carpets look worn out in the library? Is there a musty smell in the residence halls? Of course a college campus isn’t going to be perfectly pristine, but you can see when effort is being made to keep everything clean and up to date.

FINAL THOUGHTS

To help you keep track of all of the details on a campus tour, take notes and pictures. We promise, it’s not geeky, and it will help you later as you start to compare all of the schools you’ve visited.

If you’re interested in learning more about campus tours, revisit our blog post from last spring. We shared expert tips on when to schedule your visit, how to prepare, and what do while you’re actually on campus.

Safe campus travels!

Weekly Update: March 27

Hope you’ve had a chance to check out the cherry blossoms!

BIGGEST COLLEGE-RELATED NEWS OF THE WEEK

SUPREME COURT RULES ON STUDENT ACCOMODATIONS

Last Tuesday, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of Miguel Luna Perez, a deaf student who sued a Michigan school district for refusing to provide him with a sign language interpreter. The court found that Miguel was not obligated to exhaust all other avenues under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act before he brought the suit. The unanimous decision will give students with disabilities more options for legal recourse when they are not provided with necessary accommodations in schools. 

THE SAFEST COLLEGE TOWN IN AMERICA

It’s Williamsburg, VA! According to a list released by Credit Summit, William & Mary tops the list of the 25 safest college towns in the country. UC Santa Barbara follows behind at #2. There are several more Virginia schools on the list as well, with Mary Washington in the #22 spot and Charlottesville at #23. 

FAFSA RELEASE POSTPONED

The Education Department announced last Tuesday that the FAFSA redesign will be launched in December, missing the typical October 1 release of the updated form. Students should keep in mind that the later opening date means less time to complete the form in order to apply for financial aid, so we will keep an eye on this story and update you as soon as the form opens in December!

COLLEGES ADOPT “UN-GRADING” POLICIES

The impacts of COVID-19 learning loss are still being felt across the country, and more and more faculty have begun to adopt nontraditional policies - without letter and number grades - to help ease the transition to college for first-year students. Some faculty at UC Santa Cruz, TCU, Pitt, UT Austin, and dozens of other colleges are trying out un-grading, joining colleagues at schools like Reed, Brown, Wellesley, and MIT. These institutions have long had nontraditional grading options for students, particularly during their first semester as they adjust to college.  

SOUTH FLORIDA FOR THE WIN

This was a fun weekend full of March Madness games! If you’ve been following my posts, I’m a Miami fan, and wow - that game on Sunday against Texas was just crazy. I did not think they had a chance and the comeback was incredible. I am also very excited about FAU! If you’re looking for a Florida alternative to the typical picks (Miami, UF, FSU), FAU actually has a gorgeous honors college campus in Jupiter in addition to the main campus in Boca. My parents live in Jupiter, so I drive past the honors college campus frequently and it’s a hidden gem!

BEST ARTICLES OF THE WEEK

One of the biggest reasons why college rankings are not the last word when choosing an undergraduate education is because the factors that are used by resources like U.S. News aren’t always the factors that matter most to students and families - we’re guessing the number of books in the library doesn’t top your list of college priorities! That’s why we’re loving this New York Times rankings calculator, which allows you to weight your priorities and see a custom list of rankings based on what is most important to you. This tool will be incredibly helpful for seniors making their final decisions soon!

Along the same lines, we recommend seniors check out these college regrets from graduates to help you make your decision. Clients can also always reach out to us for help with decision-making - we are confident that you will end up where you are supposed to be!

We posted last week about how rankings are changing as schools decline to participate, and this is particularly true with law school rankings. With top law schools like Harvard, Yale, and Stanford saying that they will no longer participate, the rankings are starting to unravel. This is more of a challenge for applicants, as rankings are a lot more important when selecting law schools (and business schools and other graduate programs) than they are for undergraduate students! We’ll have to wait and see what the impact will be to the law school admissions landscape as these schools pull their data from U.S. News. 

OFFICE HAPPENINGs

If you are a high school junior who wants to get a head start on college acceptances, High Point’s Junior Scholars Program may be for you! The program allows students to be accepted early through a non-binding process, and grants a $2,500-per-year scholarship. If you or your student would like to be nominated, let us know and we are happy to help!

And finally, we’re hiring summer interns! If you know a college student interested in a deeper understanding of the methods for creating and running a growing small business, send them our way. Our paid summer interns have the opportunity to connect with past, current, and prospective students and families while they assist in the day-to-day operations of DC College Counseling.

Our ideal candidate will have social media experience and the skills to maintain and improve our social media presence and processes. Familiarity with posting on TikTok, specifically, is a big plus! Other duties include updating and organizing our website and task management system.

Interns will participate in all of the major aspects of running a business, from company-wide and management team meetings, to small business training opportunities, to industry-specific webinars.

If you or someone you know is interested in a nuanced grasp of how a woman-owned small business operates and how major decisions are made, they should email a resume and cover letter to shannon@dccollegecounseling.com with the subject line “DCCC Summer Internship.” 

We can’t wait to hear from you!