The fifth of five new Common Application essay questions asks students to: Discuss an accomplishment or event, formal or informal, that marked your transition from childhood to adulthood within your culture, community, or family. Applicants must choose only one of the five questions to answer as their college essay, which will be shared amongst all…
Tag: College admissions
Guest Post – S-N-O-W: The Education Without the Units
Rohan graduated with a full International Baccalaureate Diploma in 2012. He moved across the country from sunny Northern California to Ohio for college. Throughout the college application process, Rohan kept an open mind about weather giving him more education than just studying Engineering. After surviving the first winter, Rohan shares more thoughts about how “weather”…
Aspiration Is Bigger Than A Job
One of the University of California (UC) application essays asks students to: Describe the world you come from – for example, your family, community or school – and tell us how your world has shaped your dreams and aspirations. Dreams and aspirations can often be challenging to define for many college applicants. Describing dreams or…
Ahead of the Curve: October 29, 2013
From the News: College Financial Aid Drops – Families Pinched, San Francicso Chronicle October 23, 2013 Is College Tuition Too High? Of Course (Not), Higher Education Data Stories Blog October 15, 2013 So Many Students – So Little (Counseling) Time, Sacramento Bee October 28, 2013 From Clients: On-going Common Application Technical Issues: From recommenders not…
Common Application Essays Part 6: Essay Prompt 4 Explained
The next podcast in our Common Application Essay series defines the fourth of five essay prompts. Applicants must choose only one of the five prompts to help structure their essay. Yet, considering topics for all five essay questions, before focusing on one, can help applicants write the most meaningful essay possible and remain competitive across…
Extended Early Application Deadlines
Some college admissions offices around the country are extending early application deadlines, as a result of the technical issues the Common Application website is currently experiencing. The following is a partial list of the colleges and the new deadlines: Barnard University, November 8 Boston University, November 15 Dartmouth University, November 8 Duke University, November 8…
OH NO! Common Application Technical Glitches?!?
The Common Application unveiled a new interface this Fall, which is currently experiencing a range of technical issues. The New York Times recently highlighted several issues from difficulties with payments and submitting letters of recommendation. Stressed clients have also been calling and texting, after encountering similar challenges. Don’t worry. After a query of college admissions…
Do You Want to “Monkey Around” With Your College Essay?
Asking a trusted adviser to read college essays can help improve the final product. Cartoon from The New Yorker, July 23, 2007
Ahead of the Curve: October 16, 2013
From the News & Blog World: “Back to School” PC Sales Collapse to Worst Since 2008 Zero Hedge, October 10, 2013 Tuition, Net Price & Aid: Higher Ed Data Stories, October 8, 2013 Yale’s New President Says Expansion is a Priority: San Francisco Chronicle, October 12, 2013 From Clients: Slow and Steady: as college application…
Common Application Essays Part 5: Essay Prompt 3 Explained
Knowing the definition of the prompt can help applicants select topics that most effectively highlight their qualities and give understanding to their qualifications for admissions. Our latest podcast defines the third of five new Common Application essay prompts, that asks applicants to: Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted…
When and How Do I Prepare for the SAT and ACT?
The three hours and forty five minutes of SAT and ACT testing time tests patience, as much as knowledge. However, developing mental stamina to endure the testing experience, as well as learning to perform under timed conditions, can come with effort and a little foresight. First, reviewing previous test-taking experiences can help expose areas of…
Ahead of the Curve: October 5, 2013
In the News: Financial Literacy, Beyond the Classroom New York Times: October 5, 2013 How to Be a College ‘Resimuter‘ Washington Post: October 2, 2013 UC’s Twist on Crowdfunding Inspires Students San Francisco Chronicle: September 18, 2013 From Our Clients: Quarter Grades/Midterms–conversations with teachers to identify academic areas for improvement, as well as what the student…
Go Slow. You’ll Know.
Knowing is not that difficult, in theory. Inherently, we know. Yet, in reality, acquiring knowledge can take practice to refine. To gain knowledge is a process, repeated over and over. First, calm down. (Not always simple to do, or just a matter of some deep breathing.). Then, listen. (Again, not always easy, especially when feeling…
Gaming College Admissions?
Nervous anticipation arising from predicting who’s going to get into which college doesn’t only affect Seniors, community college transfer students and their parents. The sense of foreboding can extend to parents of middle school age students, who are thinking backwards to choose a high school that seems more advantageous to meriting the college acceptances they…
Does My Kid Have Even the Slightest Chance to Get Accepted?
At this time of year, about one to two months from the first college application deadlines, parents’ and high school seniors’ concern about outcome of submitting college apps, is usually concluded by, “I’m never going to get in, ANYWHERE!” The lack of a straightforward, formulaic standard about who will or will not be accepted at a college can send normally…