CHOOSING HAPPINESS OVER STRESS There was a lot of chatter this past week about college admissions. More specifically: about acceptance rates at some of the nation’s most selective schools – Harvard (3.4%), Princeton (4%), Yale (4.6%), Brown (5.4%). To present the Harvard statistic another way: 1,968 students were accepted out of the 57,435 students that … More NEWSLETTER – Edition 15
THE KEYS TO SUCCESS ARE FAIRLY STRAIGHT-FORWARD This week I finally got that chance to speak to the high school students at Classen School of Advanced Studies about the college admissions process (it had been postponed because of the February winter storms!). I was one of several speakers, and our collaborative efforts quickly reminded me … More NEWSLETTER – Edition 14
COLLEGES ARE LOOKING FOR A VARIETY OF THINGS, SUCH AS … 1 – A rigorous high school curriculum that challenges the student. 2 – A solid grade point average in major subjects. 3 – A healthy score on standardized tests (ACT, SAT). 4 – Passionate involvement in a few activities that are meaningful. 5 – … More NEWSLETTER – Edition 13
DO YOU EVEN HAVE A LIST? Feeling refreshed from spring break? Ready to get to work on college admissions? If you have a high school sophomore or junior – now is the perfect time to start building the infamous college list. The college list begins with your hopes and dreams. But keep in mind that … More NEWSLETTER – Edition 12
Disclaimer: A perk of SCOUT-ing for you is the opportunity to visit college campuses. With each tour, I go armed with the basic information you can find online or in any number of college-related guides. As such, there is no reason for me recite average test scores, admission rates, student-to-faculty ratios, or even lists of … More The Explorer – The College of Charleston
MAKING THE MOST OF SPRING BREAK Many of my clients are enjoying Spring Break this week. Beaches on both coasts. Skiing. Mickey Mouse. Shopping. Spring Training. Even Staycations! The details of the trip don’t necessarily matter. For me, any trip is the perfect opportunity to visit a college campus. And that is exactly what I’ve … More NEWSLETTER – Edition 11
PERSPECTIVES What do you know about The University of Texas, The University of Illinois, and The University of Southern California? Would you be surprised to know that all three rank in the Top 10 for undergraduate accounting programs (according to US News & World Reports)? What about Amherst College, The City University of New York, … More NEWSLETTER – Edition 10
10 REASONS WHY YOU NEED ME I’ve spent a lot of time during the past week talking to parents and students about the reasons why you need a college consultant to help you navigate the admissions process. Here are the top ten reasons that come to mind: 10 – College is a significant expense. According to … More NEWSLETTER – Edition 9
COMMON APP ESSAY PROMPTS Do you have a high school junior? If so, it’s time to start thinking about the Common App essay. The essay is part of the overall Common Application—an online application you can use to apply to more than 900 colleges. Each year, more than one million students apply to college using … More NEWSLETTER – Edition 8
GAP YEARS GAIN IN POPULARITY One of the outcomes of the present pandemic is that more and more high school seniors are considering taking a gap year before college. Traditionally, there are many reasons to take a gap year. The current trend is based mostly on comparing the cost of college with the shift to … More NEWSLETTER – Edition 7
