By: Valerie Erde

While it’s true that colleges want to create a well-rounded class that brings together a mix of artists, athletes, and leaders in a range of areas, they also want students who, when they arrive on campus, are able to do the work and who will graduate in four years — not six or eight. 

It may be good for colleges’ wallets to have students attend for more than four years, but it’s not good for their rankings nor their reputation.  This is due in large part to the way the college rankings work. One of the areas measured by the U.S. News and World…

The grade point average (GPA) is an index of a student's academic performance and can be evaluated as a letter grade, percentage, or range. Traditionally, they are scored on a 4.0 scale. GPAs are good indicators of a student's classroom performance and academic aptitude during high school. Colleges consider academic performance the most important part of the application, looking at grades starting in freshman year. Therefore, it is in a student's best interest to work toward building a good GPA. 

To work toward a good GPA, it is essential to understand what qualifies as…

Early Application and Early Decision 1 deadlines for students applying to colleges is in November. With November almost around the corner, we have listed below all of our resources on Early Action and Early Decisions applications so that families can take advantage of an important admissions strategy that more and more students are considering. 

When Should Students Consider Applying Early Action/Early Decision?

Our blog on When Should Students Consider Applying Early Action/Early Decision? provides an overview of what EA and ED are, application deadlines, as…

In our last blog post, Top 7 Books on College Admissions for those just getting started… We recommended 7 great books that will give you big-picture perspectives about colleges, the college admissions process overall, the true nature of selective college admissions, and what you can do to help students prepare for the road ahead. For those Juniors and seniors ready to build college lists focusing on academic, personal and financial fit, these following 7 books do a great job of providing data and college specific information invaluable to this process. Furthermore, these books are…

Many of us use the internet for all of our information gathering when it comes to any kind of large ticket purchases. Whether we are looking for a new car, a new home, or vacation options, there is no shortage of information you can find on the internet. The same applies to colleges (a $80-300K investment), but there are so many more variables to consider. We also hear over and over again that the amount  of information on the internet is overwhelming, and with so much biased information from marketers, it is often difficult to parse out what advice is worth heeding, and conversely what…

Summer before senior year is the most important summer for high school students. This is the time when most opportunities are available to them - jobs, internships, summer programs, etc. Beyond academic, extracurricular, and career related pursuits, this is also a great time for students to get started on the college admissions process. Here is a checklist we have compiled for rising seniors, so that they can make the most of the summer, and get ahead on college applications so that they are off to a great senior year when school starts again.

Engage in meaningful summer…

Summer is already here, and it is a great time for middle schoolers to take a break, recharge, and pursue fun adventures with family and friends. In between fun activities, it is also a great time to explore new areas of interest and also get ahead academically. Academically driven students can use this time to prepare for high school, giving direction to their skills and interests. With the explosion of virtual programs during the pandemic, students have more options than ever before in every subject, interest, or hobby one can possibly think of. At the same time, with pandemic…

By: Alan Gelb

That’s my best advice. We all know how incredibly packed and tense the first semester of senior year can be, so getting this difficult essay out of the way before you return to school can make all the difference for you. And don’t worry that you’re already late to the game. Summer just started on June 21.

Here are my top tips for how to make the most of these crucial months when you have some extra time on your hands:

1. Clear some headspace. Whether it’s tennis, golf, backpacking, water skiing, or just hanging with your family and friends,…

Summer is right around the corner for most high schoolers across the United States. While many students might have secured jobs, specialized summer-programs or other concrete plans, others are still trying to figure it out. It is not too late to come up with a plan to use the summer months productively and meaningfully, while leaving time for needed rest and recharge.

Summer is the time to engage in activities that students do not have time for during the school year. Students can pursue academic areas that their school may not offer or offer it at advanced levels. Many students…

By: Kate Sonnenberg

As rising seniors spend time this summer writing their personal statements, crafting their application, and refining their college list, parents can sometimes feel a bit sidelined. But parents have an important role to play in empowering their students as they apply to college – and there is no shortage of information about parenting students through the college admissions process, so much that it can sometimes seem overwhelming. I hope this resource list will be a starting point for parents to get valuable information.

Books

Where…