Who should students ask for college recommendations?

When it comes to how many colleges you should apply to, there isn't an easy answer, as it can depend on a number of different factors. We recommend juniors begin building a college list of about 15-20 schools. Over the year, students should narrow this list down through campus visits, personal exploration of majors, evaluation of school size, location, and numerous other factors. Ultimately a student should end up with a list of approximately 10-12 schools, well-balanced between reach, target, and likely schools. A reach school is a college that is very challenging for the student to get into based Continue Reading

College planning is important because it empowers students in navigating an important decision for their future. The sooner a student is more prepared and informed, the better able they are to identify and apply to the best-fitting colleges. A holistic approach to planning can help students connect interests, talents, and skills to consideration of career paths as a way of identifying the right major and college list, thereby increasing the potential for graduating in four years. With thousands of colleges and multitudes more applicants, smart planning is becoming increasingly essential. It helps students and their families navigate through the convoluted Continue Reading

We advocate starting the college planning process early due to the many advantages students gain. After the PSAT in sophomore year, we start discussing more directly a student's interests to help identify opportunities that best position them for college applications through their resume-building to form a cohesive narrative. On May 1 of Junior year, we begin active and rigorous formal college application work.

You can start a college plan by envisioning your academic or career goals and using them as your guideposts. That said, the world of college applications and higher education has become far more competitive and obtuse, meaning that carefully planning out your moves is just as important as making them. Navigating this stressful and increasingly convoluted environment is no easy task, especially with what's at stake. By using our college planning program, we can guide students and parents through these processes, eliminating some of the stress and anxiety that often comes with it. By starting early, students and parents gain Continue Reading

You should start applying for college during your Junior year.  The summer of 11th grade is typically the optimal time to launch the formal application process, with the month of May being a great starting point. However, early college planning can begin well beforehand with campus visits, list and portfolio development, resume audits, and more. Starting to complete application materials before and during the summer before 12th grade will, in turn, lower stress and raise the likelihood of producing your best possible application. This goal requires that parents are on board with helping motivate and support student focus as well! Continue Reading

Yes, colleges see senior year grades. Though uncommon, colleges can even rescind an offer of enrollment if a student's grades suffer unnecessarily during senior year. Colleges evaluate grades to assess a student's academic abilities, commitment, and readiness for college-level work; a strong performance senior year can have a positive impact on admissions, as it demonstrates continued academic engagement and can give applicants an edge over others, especially when a waitlist is involved. On the other hand, a noticeable decline in grades during the senior year can be a red flag for admissions officers. It might suggest a lack of persistence Continue Reading

Typically speaking, colleges look over the grades for all four years of high school. That said, it is important to understand that grades are only one part of the college application process. While essential, they are far from the only factor that colleges consider when making admission decisions. Other considerations that may be taken into account include standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, essays, letters of recommendation, and interviews. In general, colleges evaluate a student’s academic performance by looking at their high school transcript, which includes grades from all four years of high school. This transcript typically includes information about the Continue Reading

The best essay btopics are those in which a student shares a compelling story, idea, or experience they wish to highlight, or something that inspires them and gives them a strong point of focus. Look for topics that show dimension while being authentic, and communicate what makes the student unique as an applicant. And remember, students must also demonstrate that they can write well and clearly.

We recommend students aim to narrow their final lists as much as possible to create an optimal blend of around 10 - 12 reach, likely, and target schools. There is often little advantage or need for applying to additional schools beyond this threshold if the final list is well-cultivated to fit the needs and performance levels of the student. Too many schools may lead to increased stress as well as distraction.

If students have applied to a school through a binding application type (namely, Early Decision or Restrictive Early Action) are not able to accept another offer, once accepted. However, students applying Early Action or Regular Decision, in most cases, are able to review their offers before submitting their deposit. In the case of a waitlist, students must often submit a deposit and rescind their acceptance to that school if they come off a waitlist at another college after the deadline. But, we encourage never having two deposits submitted concurrently.