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Academics, College Counseling & Educational SUCCESS Services

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November 2024

The Importance of Setting Up Your Student Portal
After successfully submitting your applications, most schools will send you a confirmation email and invite you to establish a student portal on their website, often by providing a hyperlink. It is extremely important to follow through with this step in the admissions process. Most schools communicate the status of your application only through the portal, so if you don't login, you may not be made aware of pieces of your application that haven't been received or are required in order to be considered complete. Admissions Officers will not review an application until all the necessary accompanying materials have been received. This includes transcripts, letters of recommendation, standardized test scores (only if you indicated that you wanted them considered in the process and official score reports are required or you didn't self report scores on your application), and (if a school requires it) the self reported academic record (SRAR). Student portals may also communicate the status of your financial aid materials, so it is really important to check each school's student portal on a regular basis.

September/October 2024

Choosing an Application Deadline
How do we decide whether to apply Early Decision, Early Action, Restricted Early Action, or Regular Decision? This is a question we hear quite frequently at this time of year. Because the admissions process is not one size fits all, the answer to this question varies from applicant to applicant. Generally speaking, any school that offers an Early round - whether ED or EA or both - tends to accept anywhere from 30%-50% of its incoming freshman class in that/those rounds. So applying in an early round can significantly increase your chances of admission. That being said, students who have not earned B- or better grades consistently over 9th, 10th and 11th grades or who have not shown an upward grade trend from the start of high school through junior year, should NOT apply in an early round as colleges will not only need to see their senior year course list but will also want to see their senior year 1st semester grades to look for improvement over previous years. Simply put, if you were a consistent A/B student your 1st three years of high school, you should apply Early Action. Early Action is non-binding and you may apply to as many schools in an EA round as you like. Early Decision is a different animal. ED is contractually binding. If you apply to a school ED you are agreeing to attend if admitted regardless of what it will cost you. We describe this as Mom and Dad having to be comfortable signing their name to a blank check. Students should only ED to a school if they've fallen in love with it, want to increase their chance of gaining admission, and feel that they can afford it regardless of the cost. When trying to determine whether or not a school is affordable, you should use the school's Net Price Calculator (NPC). This tool is available on every college's website. While most of them are grossly inaccurate, we do still encourage families to use them. Just be sure to print the final page and understand that these calculators are notoriously unreliable. Students can only ever apply ED to one school at a time and if admitted, must rescind any other applications they've already submitted. Restricted Early Action is typically offered by elite schools, and while not binding, places restrictions on the ability to apply to any other schools in an early round, so read the fine print carefully.

August 2024

Using a School's Common Data Set

Most schools have a tool/resource called the Common Data Set (CDS). Using it can be immensely helpful in determining whether or not you are the right fit for a particular school and it can also provide some insight into whether you have what is needed to be admitted. Some statistics the CDS provides relate to cost: average tuition cost, average need-based and merit based awards; demographic info: percentages of in-state vs. out-of-state students, ethnicity, gender; standardized testing info: 25% vs 75% scores for SAT and ACT takers, percentage of students accepted who submit scores; what factors are most important in considering an applicant: GPA, test scores, extracurriculars, interviews, legacy, 1st generation, etc. All you have to do to access a school's CDS is google the name of the school and "Common Data Set." While not a perfect science, referencing the CDS can help you to figure out if you can afford the school and what your chances are for being admitted. It can also answer questions about enrolled students' outcomes. The more information you have, the better prepared you'll be throughout the process.

June/July 2024
Applications for Our Annual $1000 Scholarship are now OPEN!
This scholarship will be awarded to one graduating high school senior (class of 2024) who has worked with Access Success at least once during his/her high school career. It is a one-time, non-renewable scholarship that will be paid by August 31st on the recipient's behalf directly to the college or university to which the recipient is enrolled. Scholarship applicants should submit the following materials to Access Success. The final day of application submissions is July 31st.

To be considered for this award you must send all of the following materials together (applicants who submit in dribs and drabs or are missing a required element will not be considered):

cover letter naming the school you've chosen to attend and why; your intended major or field of interest
how Access Success did or didn't help you in the college process - we're looking for honesty, here, not praise (please keep to 1 paragraph)
copy of FINAL high school transcript - unofficial is fine but must include grades for all 4 years
resume (do not simply submit a list of extracurricular activities)
copy of your common app essay (or equivalent)

These materials may be emailed to francesca@accessuccess.com or mailed to:
Francesca Morrissey
Access Success LLC
143 West St.
Box 20
New Milford, CT 06776

We confirm all applications as they are received. If you do not receive a confirmation within 24 hours of submission, please contact us at 203-788-5971.

The award recipient will be notified by mid-August and announced publicly in our September newsletter.

May 2024

And they're off!

This year's Access Success students were accepted to the following schools. Congratulations to all!

Bard, Belmont, Bentley, Bowling Green State, Bridgewater State, Central CT (3), Chapman (2), Clark, Clemson, CU Boulder, Connecticut College (2), CUNY City College, Dickinson, Drexel, Eastern CT State (2), Elon, Embry-Riddle, Emerson, Endicott, Fairfield (2), Florida Tech, Fordham (2), Franklin & Marshall, Franklin Pierce, George Washington, Hampshire, High Point (3), Idaho State, Indiana State, Iona (2), Indiana University (2), Ithaca, Jacksonville University, James Madison (4), Keene State, Lafayette, Loyola Maryland (2), Loyola Marymount, Marist (2), Montana State, New Jersey Institute of Technology, NYU, Northeastern (2), Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Penn State (5), Pepperdine, Quinnipiac (7), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rochester Institute of Technology, Sacred Heart, St. Joseph's, St. Lawrence, Salve Regina (2), Seton Hall (3), Skidmore, Southern CT, SMU, SUNY New Paltz (2), SUNY Purchas, Stevens Institute of Technology, Stony Brook, Suffolk, Temple, Union, University of Alabama - Huntsville, University of Connecticut - Storrs (13), University of Connecticut - Waterbury (3), University of Hartford, University of Delaware (3), University of Massachusetts Amherst (2), UMASS Boston, University of Miami, University of Mississippi, University of New Hampshire (4), University of New Haven, University of Notre Dame, University of Pittsburgh, University of Rhode Island (5), University of South Carolina (3), University of Vermont (3), Utah State, Villanova (2), Virginia Tech, Western Carolina, Western CT State (5), WPI (4), Worcester State, and William and Mary.

March/April 2024
Are all financial aid awards REALLY negotiable?
Well, the short answer to this question is: you won't know until you ask! There's literally no reason NOT to attempt a financial aid negotiation ... and not just for your first year. Aid is something that should be negotiated year-after-year. The most important thing when attempting an aid negotiation is figuring out what it is you may qualify for and who to contact. If your FAFSA calculated a very low SAI (Student Aid Index), its worth bringing to the attention of the school's financial aid office and asking them to explain their award in relation to your SAI, especially if they only offered you loans without offering you need-based grants and scholarships. The financial aid office should also be your point of contact if your prior-prior year taxes (used when filling out the FAFSA) do not accurately reflect your current financial situation. Additionally, if you have a legitimate change of circumstances - e.g., unexpected medical expenses, recent divorce, death of a parent, newly unemployed, recent care of an elderly relative, etc. - you should bring such to the attention of the financial aid office. In these situations, you should expect to have to fill out a specific school form or write a letter to the financial aid office and be able to document whatever changes you're claiming. This typically requires providing the school with copies of your most recent tax returns including all schedules, W-2s, 1099s, medical bills, EOBs, termination letters, etc. Appeals for additional financial aid are best made by a parent, not by the student.

If your SAI is on the high side and you do not have legitimate circumstance changes as outlined above, it may not be necessary to appeal to the financial aid office. Instead, we suggest having the student appeal to the Admissions Office, preferably to the regional rep you would have become familiar with during the application process. When requesting to be reconsidered for new or additional scholarships, it helps if you can provide reasons for why you deserve greater monetary incentive. Detail any changes to your family's financial health and specifically explain how you see yourself contributing to the campus community. These sorts of appeals meet with greater success when initiated by the student, not by the parent.

Regardless of which approach you take, appeals should always be typed and snail mailed. Be sure not just to include your name, but more importantly, your assigned school student ID number. Take note of the date on which you mail your appeal - the earlier the better and certainly no later than early April for incoming freshman, and as soon as possible for upperclassmen. If you don't receive a reply within 7-10 days, follow up with a phone call.

Most importantly, if your making any sort of appeal, do so before making any sort of deposit - tuition, housing or otherwise. Once you make a deposit, the school has no incentive to negotiate as you've already indicated your intent to enroll. And remember: you have nothing to lose. Schools don't rescind initial offers of aid simply because you've asked to have your need reconsidered. The worst that can happen is that you ask for more money and your told you can't have it.

January/February 2024
What to Do When You're Deferred or Waitlisted
Being deferred after an Early Decision or Early Action round is not the end of the world. And while a low number of students typically come off the waitlist at highly rejective schools, the national average of students who come off a waitlist hovers around 15%. And there are some things that you can do to increase those chances. If you are required to submit additional materials like recommendation letters, updates on extracurricular activities, or a deferral letter, then you should do so. Deferral letters, in general, are a good idea and we strongly encourage students who are deferred to write these letters to the schools that remain their top 3 choices. Colleges want to admit students who want to enroll. Writing a letter of continued interest shows a college that you are serious about attending in the event you are admitted. Students should express their genuine interest in the school, how they think they can contribute to the campus community, and provide any updates on what they’ve accomplished since they submitted their application. However, be mindful of schools that specifically say they will not accept additional information. Writing to a school that clearly states that it doesn't want more material can hurt you. Remember to always follow specific instructions.

October 2023
Application Errors to Avoid
While mistakes happen to the best of us, having mistakes in your application can work against you. Here are some tips to help you avoid shooting yourself in the foot:

Every section of the application should be filled out completely, including optional sections that enhance your chances of admissions - e.g., the additional info section, the community disruption question, optional supplemental essays.
Make sure that your supplemental essays answer the prompts. Be specific and tailor your responses to each individual school.
While you're not accountable for the time frames in which others submit materials, you are ultimately responsible for ensuring that all your application materials are received by their deadlines. This includes your transcript, letters of recommendations, official test scores and financial aid forms. Follow up with people as needed and early.
If you're given the opportunity to provide links to websites you've created or maintained, a blog you write, a podcast or YouTube channel you run, your online store, etc., do so.
Always, always, ALWAYS have someone proofread your entire application, not just your essays and supplements.
Lastly, after submitting, be sure to create a student account at each college's website so as to be able to check on your application status regularly.

August/September 2023

Changes to the FAFSA for 2024-25 (this year)
The new FAFSA will not be available until December of this year as opposed to its usual opening date of Oct. 1. The exact date in December has yet to be released. There are several changes to the form itself including going from 108 questions to 46 questions; changing the estimated family contribution (EFC) to the student aid index (SAI) and using a new formula to calculate this amount; Pell grant minimums and maximums that you can deduce in advance of receiving a financial aid award. For a thorough analysis of all the changes and how they may effect your personal situation, please read this article. Be sure to check its resources at the bottom of the page. It provides a link to an SAI calculator that could prove useful.

June 2023

How should a college-hopeful spend his/her summer?

Not binging Netflix, gaming, or sitting by the pool ... unless you're the lifeguard. Summers are a great time of year to work on building your resume. Colleges like to see that high school students spent their summers doing something engaging that they're passionate about. Some ideas might include: attending a summer camp you attend every year, volunteering for a favorite not-for-profit, working for an employer to whom you have some allegiance, participating in a college summer program, taking part in an international service learning or study abroad program, enrolling in an online or community college class to help advance your academic record, etc. Doing something productive is far more desirable than taking the summer "off." Just be aware of a few guiding factors:

1) Hopping from one volunteer job to another, just to be able to list a whole bunch of service roles on your resume, will look suspicious. There's a word for this. It's called "padding." Don't do it!

2) Any job/activity that you're truly committed to is worthwhile. This may include assisting parents by being responsible for younger siblings or returning to an annual busboy/girl position at a local restaurant. The responsibility you undertake is not as important as your commitment to it.

3) For students looking to apply to highly selective schools or highly competitive programs within a specific school, internships, shadowing opportunities, or employment in a specific field can be crucial to setting you apart in the application process.

4) Spending a couple of weeks backpacking through Europe or driving across the US with your buddies may have value, but not in the same way as an educational or service-related study abroad experience might have.

5) Doing something you love and are serious about is always a safe bet.

May 2023

And they're off!

This application cycle we worked with 73 graduating high school seniors from 19 different high schools who were accepted to well over 100 schools. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!

Allegheny, American (2), Auburn, Bard, Baruch, Belmont, Bentley (4), Brandeis, Bridgewater State, Bryant, Case Western Reserve, Central Connecticut (7), Champlain, Clark (2), Clarkson (3) Clemson (5), Colgate, Colorado College, Colorado State, Connecticut College, DeSales, Drexel (6), Duquesne (2), Eastern Connecticut, Eckerd, Elizabethtown, Elon (4), Embry Riddle (2), Fairfield (4), Fashion Institute of Technology, Fisher, Florida International, Fordham (3), George Mason (2), George Washington (5), Gettysburg, High Point (2), Hobart and William Smith, Hofstra (3), Indiana University, Iona, Ithaca, James Madison, Johnson and Wales (3), Juniata, Lafayette, Le Moyne, Lehigh, Liberty, Loyola Chicago, Loyola Maryland (2), Manhattanville (2), Marist (5), Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, McDaniel (2), McGill, Merrimack (5), Miami University Ohio, Michigan State (2), Monmouth, Montclair, Muhlenberg, New Jersey Institute of Technology (2), Northeastern (9), Norwich, Nova Southeastern, Ohio State (5), Ohio University (2), Oregon State, Pace, Penn State (2), Providence (2), Purdue (2), Quinnipiac (7), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rochester Institute of Technology (5), Roger Williams (4), Rollins (2), Rutgers (2),

Sacred Heart (4), St. John's - Queens (2), Salisbury, Salve Regina, Seton Hall (4), Siena (3), Skidmore, Springfield, SUNY Albany, SUNY Binghamton (3), SUNY Oswego, Southern CT State (2), Stony Brook (2), Suffolk, Syracuse (4), Temple, Texas A&M, Thomas Jefferson, Tufts, Union, University of Alabama, University of Albany, University of California - San Diego, University of Colorado - Boulder (3), University of Connecticut - Hartford, University of Connecticut - Stamford (2), University of Connecticut - Storrs (3), University of Dayton, University of Delaware (5), University of Denver (2), University of Georgia, University of Hartford, University of Indiana - Bloomington, University of Kentucky, University of Maine (3), University of Maryland (4), University of Massachusetts - Amherst (4), University of Miami, University of Michigan - Ann Arbor (2), University of Minnesota, University of New Hampshire (6), University of New Haven, University of Pittsburgh (6), University of Richmond, University of Rhode Island (5), University of Rochester (3), University of St. Joseph (CT) (2), University of Scranton, University of South Carolina, University of Tampa, University of Tennessee, University of Virginia, University of Vermont (9), Virginia Tech, Wagner, Wake Forest, West Virginia University, Western Connecticut (6), Western New England (5), William and Mary, Worcester Polytechnic Institute (5).

Bold indicates a school to which a student has chosen to enroll.

March/April 2023

What should we look for on a campus visit?

When it comes to visiting college campuses, it's easy for things to blur together, especially when you're visiting several campus over the course of a few days. One way to help campus visits stand out is to attend a college's open house. At an open house, colleges break out all the bells and whistles. There's usually an academic department fair as well as an activities and clubs fair, so prospective students can speak to actual professors and current students about all that the school has to offer. Unfortunately, most colleges and universities host their open houses on the same days - usually on the weekend of Indigenous People's Day/Columbus Day. That being the case, it's important to be strategic about which school's open house to attend. Select a school that's already at the top of your list.

When visiting other schools, make sure to sign up online in advance for an information session and campus tour. While some schools claim that they don't track demonstrated interest, almost all schools do and checking in for a session can help your chances of gaining admission later on. Things to look for when sitting in on an information session are the things that a school does differently than every other school you've visited. For example, on a recent visit to Babson College, the Admissions Officer (AO) leading the info session was joined by a student ambassador who gave specific examples of opportunities made available to her that the AO referenced. At Bryant College, the AO explained how the school's business majors have to minor in an arts and science's subject and vice versa. These are the types of things to note - not the number of volumes kept in the library or the different food stations in the cafeteria or whether or not laundry and printing is included with tuition. These things are more or less the same at every campus and won't greatly impact a student's success.

Lastly, pay attention to the authenticity of the people you speak with while touring the school. Don't be afraid to wander the campus at the conclusion of your sanctioned tour and approach clusters of students at random to ask where they hail from, what year they are, what they're studying, what they like and dislike about the school, where else they applied, and why they chose this particular school. And if you have the opportunity to interview with an AO, remember that the interview is a two-way street - you're on as much of a fact-finding mission as is the AO. Come prepared with good questions and don't be afraid to ask them.

October 2022

FAFSA and CSS Profile Filings
As the FAFSA and Profile become available on October 1st, here are 5 general things to be mindful of:

1) The FAFSA must be submitted, regardless of the schools to which you apply, in order to qualify for $5500 worth of federal student loans for freshmen, $6500 for sophomores, and $7500 for juniors and seniors and for other government aid such as the Pell and FSEO grants. The CSS Profile is required by 450+ colleges and universities in order to determine aid and scholarships. Check here for a list of Profile schools.

2) Aid is said to be determined on a first come, first serve basis; therefore, it is in your best interest to file these forms sooner, rather than later. Having your forms filed no later than Dec. 30th is wise, though forms can be submitted through June 30, 2022.

3) These forms must be filed every year, for every college-bound or college-enrolled student.

4) While the FAFSA only requires financial information as reported in tax year 2021, the CSS Profile requires both 2021 tax information as well as estimates for 2022.

5) The number one reason students don't receive the aid they rightly qualify for is because their forms were not filled out correctly. Pay close attention to detail when working on your forms and be sure to read the instructions in full for each section and question.

August/September 2022

All You Need to Know About Athletic College Recruiting

Whether you're exploring schools with D1, D2, D3 or Club athletic teams, there is no need to use a recruitment website or agency. I would particularly avoid NCSA (including BeRecruited) and NSR (National Scouting Report). These are not recognized by many college coaches and creating a student athlete profile should never cost you money. The best way to get on a coach's radar is to 1) go to the college's website and fill out their recruitment questionnaire and 2) contact the coach directly via email. Introduce yourself, provide some stats, attach a schedule if you have one, request a time to either meet in person or Zoom so that you can learn more about their athletic program(s). Be aware that D1 and D2 coaches are restricted as to when they can reach out to prospective students and may not be able to offer official visits until a later time.

July 2022
Applications for Our Annual $1000 Scholarship are now OPEN!
This scholarship will be awarded to one graduating high school senior (class of 2021) who has worked with Access Success at least once during his/her high school career. It is a one-time, non-renewable scholarship that will be paid by August 31st on the recipient's behalf directly to the college or university to which the recipient is enrolled. Scholarship applicants should submit the following materials to Access Success during the months of June & July. The final day of application submissions is July 31st.

To be considered for this award you must send all of the following materials together (applicants who submit in dribs and drabs or are missing a required element will not be considered):

cover letter naming the school you've chosen to attend and why; your intended major or field of interest
how Access Success did or didn't help you in the college process - we're looking for honesty, here, not praise (please keep to 1 paragraph)
copy of FINAL high school transcript - unofficial is fine but must include grades for all 4 years
resume (do not simply submit a list of extracurricular activities)
copy of your common app essay (or equivalent)

These materials may be emailed to francesca@accessuccess.com or mailed to:
Francesca Morrissey
Access Success LLC
143 West St.
Box 20
New Milford, CT 06776

The award recipient will be notified by mid-August and announced publicly in our September newsletter.

June 2022

Congratulations to the High School Class of 2022!

This year we worked with 69 seniors from a dozen high schools who have applied to well over 100 colleges and have been accepted to:

American, Assumption, Auburn, Baylor, Boston University, Bryant (3), Catholic, Clarkson, Clemson, The College of New Jersey, College of Saint Rose, Drexel (2), Duquesne, Eastern CT State (5), Elon, Emerson (2), Endicott (2), Fairfield, Fordham (2), Franklin Pierce, George Mason, George Washington, Hampshire (2), High Point, Hofstra (2), Iona (3), Indiana University, Ithaca (2), James Madison (4), Johnson & Wales, Quinnipiac, Lesley, Loyola University Chicago, Loyola University Maryland, Manhattan College (2), Marist (5), Marietta, Marquette, McGill, Mercyhurst, Nazareth, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Northeastern, Pace (2), Penn State (8), Point Park, Providence, Quinnipiac, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rice, Rochester Institute of Technology, Roger Williams (3), Sacred Heart (3), St. Joseph’s (Philadelphia) (3), St. John's (Queens) (2), St. Michael’s (Vermont), Salem State, Salve Regina, Sarah Lawrence, Savanah College of Art and Design, Seton Hall, Siena (2), Slippery Rock, South Florida, Southern CT State (5), Southwestern (TX), Springfield (2), SUNY Albany, SUNY Binghamton, Stevens Institute of Technology, Stonybrook, Syracuse (4), Temple (8), Texas A&M, Texas Christian University (TCU), Towson State, University of Alabama, University of Albany, University of Connecticut (11), University of Delaware (9), University of Georgia, University of Hartford, University of Mary Washington, UMASS Amherst (4), UMASS Boston (3), University of New England, University of New Hampshire (6), University of New Haven (3), University of Oregon, University of Pittsburg (3), University of Rhode Island (8), University of Rochester, University of Scranton, University of South Carolina (3), University of Southern California, University of Tampa (3), University of Tennessee, University of Texas - Austin, University of Vermont (5), Villanova, Virginia Tech, Washington and Lee, Western CT State (9), Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and Yale.

Parentheticals show the number of students we've worked with who were admitted. Bold indicates where students have chosen to enroll.

May 2022

Time to Ask For Letters of Recommendation

If you're the parent of a high school junior, now's the time to remind them that they need to ask for their letters of recommendation. A guidance counselor is required to send a letter of rec and most colleges require one or two letters from academic teachers. These two letters should come from a junior or senior year teacher, not from a teacher the student only had in his/her freshman or sophomore year. It also needs to come from a core subject teacher - someone who taught English, history/social science, math, science or a language. Some colleges will allow anywhere from 1-5 additional letters of rec. No one wants to read that many letters! For this reason, we only recommend asking for one additional letter. This letter should come from someone who knows the student well outside of academics: a coach, employer, troop leader, clergy member, etc. Students should ask for these letters in May or early June of junior year and should only ask for them in-person, not in an email or text.

April 2022

What is Yield Protection and How Does It Affect College Applicants?

Recently, I worked with a student who got accepted to Boston University but not to Fordham. She contacted me to ask how that could have possibly happened. The answer is "yield protection." According to Road2College, "Yield in college admissions is the percent of students who choose to enroll in a particular college or university after having been admitted. Colleges use their yield rate in a number of ways, including to advertise their selectivity, which makes them look more desirable or exclusive to applicants.... Yield protection is a strategy some feel is used by colleges to increase their yield rate. In essence, they reject highly qualified applicants who they believe won’t enroll if accepted. By rejecting these students, the school is able to better control their yield rate." So if a school's historical yield rate is 50% and they take 2500 student in their incoming freshman class, they will need to admit 5000 students. They want to ensure that the students they admit will enroll. One way to do this is to accept students in an Early Decision (contractually binding) round. Both last year and this year, many schools that offered an Early Decision round took upwards of 50% of their incoming students in that round. Another tool schools use to identify students more likely to enroll if admitted is the "Why [insert school name here] essay." If your response to this prompt is generic and does not show that you've done your research on the school, the professors who teach there, the courses of study offered there, the research opportunities specific to that school, it is unlikely that a college will think you are serious about enrolling if admitted and they might very well deny you. At the end of the day, if a college thinks that they're your safety school, they may very well pass you over for a candidate they think is more likely to enroll if admitted. We all know that if a student is accepted to a safety school, a target school, and a reach school, he/she is most likely going to enroll at that reach school. So don't be surprised if your student gets in to Yale and denied at Boston College. Yield protection is a thing ... and it happens.

March 2022

What to Do When You're Wait-listed

Here are 3 suggestions for what to do if you've been wait-listed:
1. Be sure to notify the school that you want to remain on their wait-list. If they don't receive a response from you, they will remove your name from the list. It is a common courtesy to also inform them in the event that you DON'T wish to remain on the list.
2. Deposit and enroll at another school. Because the percentages of coming of a wait-list are historically low, it is always recommended to secure your place at one of the schools to which you were accepted. Be aware that deposits or portions of deposits are typically non-refundable. If you do gain admission from a school to which you were wait-listed, and you choose to attend there, you will need to inform the school where you deposited of your change of plans.
3. Continue to show demonstrated interest in your wait-listed school. The easiest way to do this is to reach out to your regional Admissions Rep in an email. Be sure to state your continued interest in the school, why it remains your number one choice, and how you would be an asset to their community. Also communicate any updates regarding your activities, academics, and the like.

February 2022

How do colleges track demonstrated interest?

Back in the pre-COVID era, schools tracked a prospective applicant's interest in their school a few ways. Every school has its own database that tracks a student's interaction with the school. For example, it not only tracks whether or not you've visited the campus, but if so, when and how often. They also track the programs you've registered for and attended, such as an Open House, an Admissions Information Session, or a Campus Tour. Admissions Reps keep tabs on who they meet with at local college fairs and when visiting high schools. In a COVID world, these ways of tracking student interest may not be an option, so colleges have compensated by tracking website traffic. They can see who's accessed their website, how often, and what pages that person has visited. And while admissions offices have always tracked whether or not you're opening their emails and how often, as well as whether or not you follow them on social media, these avenues for tracking student interest are now more important since other forms of tracking interest have not been available in the past 2 years. My recommendation these days for demonstrating interest is to visit the school's website and take advantage of virtual tours and webinars that are offered. Follow the school on Facebook and Instagram. Open every email you receive – multiple times! Stay in email contact with your area Admissions Rep. And when given the opportunity – some schools have re-opened their campuses to prospective applicants for in-person tours – physically visit the school and meet with an Admissions Rep, a coach, a professor. All of these things will go a long way in showing a college or university that you're truly interested in what they have to offer.

November 2021

Co-ops vs. Internships: What's the Difference?

Internships are readily available at most colleges and universities, but not every school offers co-op opportunities. To the best of our knowledge there are only 4 universities in the country that offer co-ops for all majors: Drexel University, Northeastern University, Rochester Institute of Technology, and University of Cincinnati. Many institutions offer co-ops for select majors. You would need to inquire of the school as to whether co-ops are available and in what areas of study. So what's the difference between a co-op and an internship? Internships tend to be part-time, which means that students are taking a full slate of semester classes while working a set number of hours a few days a week. While some internships may be paid, most of them are not as students will receive academic credit for their internships. And if paid, the hourly rate tends to be rather low. Internships must also be local as students are still enrolled at their college while interning. Co-ops typically require that a student take a break from college course work as he/she will be working a 40 hour work week for a period of months. Students are usually paid between $25-$45/hr for their co-op and many co-op students are recruited by their co-op employers for full-time work post graduation. Co-ops can be offered anywhere as students are not enrolled in college while on co-op. This can also save the student and his/her family some money as they will not be responsible for tuition during a student's co-op, but it may also make it impossible for a student to graduate within 4 years. Unlike internships, students do not receive course credit for a co-op. One is not any better than the other, they're just different experiences.

October 2021

The Problem with College Rankings

There is no one standard of value on which to base the rankings of colleges. At Access Success, we do not give any credence to college rankings. Holden Thorp, current editor in chief of Science Magazine and a former provost of Washington University - St. Louis and former chancellor at UNC Chapel Hill said, “For institutional leaders strategizing to reopen, addressing imbalances in college access, enrollment and completion of undergraduate education should be a priority. High scores in admissions tests and high ability to pay tuition are already given too much weight by American academic institutions when it comes to undergraduate admissions. The inequitable behavior is further reinforced by the yearly rankings assigned to colleges and universities, most notoriously by U.S. News & World Report, which university donors and political stake-holders study more than they should. To any logical scientific observer, the fine distinctions of where schools show up on this list are statistically meaningless – but try telling that to roomful of alumni or parents. Countless hours of trustee meetings are spent going over the minute details of the formula and setting institutional goals. Achieving these goals usually means doing things that make the college or university less accessible, like admitting more students with high standardized test scores.”

September 2021

Interview Wherever Possible
Interviewing with an admissions officer at the colleges to which you'll be applying is more important now than in past application cycles. The reason for this is that not as many prospective students have been able to visit the campuses where they could interact with their admissions rep. Similarly, not as many college admissions officers may be traveling this fall, which means you may not have the opportunity of visiting with them at your high school or at a local college fair. Lastly, because so many of us have acclimated to Zoom and other online platforms for one-on-one appointments, it's that much easier to meet with a college coach, department chair, and admissions officer. Interviewing helps these people put a name and face with your application and can increase your chances of gaining admissions to your top schools. But before you reach out for an interview appointment, make sure you're prepared. You should always have a handful of questions prepared to ask your interviewer and you should do your research on the school in advance so that you can speak intelligently about programs of study, specific majors, research opportunities, internships, co-ops, and the like. If you feel the need to brush up on your interviewing skills, we can help with that. Contact us to schedule an hour-long mock interview. The fee for this service is $50.

August 2021

What is Naviance and How Do I Use It?

The majority of high schools in this country use Naviance, which according to their website, is "a comprehensive toolset that helps you assess and develop essential competencies students need to be successful after high school." In other words, it's software that high schools use to track and manage students' college admissions processes. Naviance does have some competitors like Scior and Cialfo, but again, most schools use Naviance. Depending on the type of package your high school purchases, Naviance can offer a great deal of functionality. This tends to be the case at private secondary institutions and less so at public high schools. When all is said and done, I've found Naviance to be helpful in only two instances. First, Naviance offers a free search engine, SuperMatch, by which students can search for colleges that align with their specific interests. For example, students can select the areas of the country where they'd like to attend school, the size of the school, the majors of interest, the clubs and activities available, etc. Naviance is also a useful tool when categorizing individual schools as a "safety," "target," or "reach" school. You can do this is Naviance by using its Scattegrams - Naviance's fancy word for "graph." The Scattergrams use data entered by your child's guidance department that shows how many students from your high school applied to a specific school and were accepted, denied, or waitlisted in recent years. Based on your student's GPA and test scores, s/he will be represented on the graph as a blue circled figure and you can see how s/he lines up in relation to past applicants. This is not an exact science. While the Scattergrams can be useful, take them with a grain of salt. One warning about Naviance: its Resume Builder should not be converted to a pdf and provided to colleges when prompted to upload a resume. Every Admissions Officer I've ever met with has asked me why students use the Naviance Resume Builder - it looks awful and provides completely unnecessary information. The students I work with keep the Resume Builder updated because it's used by their guidance counselors and the teachers they've asked for letters of recommendation. But my students always create professional looking resumes to be shared with colleges.

May 2021

Celebrating Acceptances
This application cycle we worked with 45 students from 9 different high schools who were admitted to over 100 colleges and universities. Here's where they were accepted. Parenthetical indicates the number of students accepted. Bold indicates where students have chosen to enroll.

Congratulations to all!

American, Appalachian State (2), Babson, Bard, Bentley (2), Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Brandeis, Bryant, Case Western Reserve, Castleton, Central Connecticut State University, Clark, College of Charleston, Colorado College, DePaul, DeSales (2), Drexel (4), Duquesne, Elon (2), Emmanuel, Emerson (2), Endicott, Florida State University (2), Fordham (3), Harvard, High Point (2), Hofstra (2), Keene, King's College, Le Moyne, Lesley, Loyola Chicago, Loyola Marymount, Macalester, Manhattan, Marist (3), Marquette, Marywood, New York University, Northeastern, Northwestern, Pace (6), Penn State (5), Providence, Quinnipiac (4), Reed, Rochester Institute of Technology (2), Roger Williams, Rutgers (3), Salve Regina (2), St. John's (Queens), Seton Hall, Siena (2), Simmons, Skidmore, Southern CT State University, Springfield, SUNY Oswego, Stonehill, Suffolk (4), Syracuse, Temple (2), Thomas Jefferson University, Towson, Trinity College, University of Alabama, University of Central Florida, University of Colorado - Boulder, University of Connecticut (13), University of Delaware (5), University of Hartford, University of Maine, University of Maryland (2), University of Massachusetts Amherst (6), University of Massachusetts Boston (2), University of Miami (2), University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, University of New Haven, University of Rhode Island (5), University of St. Andrews (Scotland), University of Scranton, University of South Carolina (2), University of Southern California, University of Tennessee (2), University of Vermont (3), Villanova, Virginia Tech, Wentworth Institute of Technology (2), Western New England, and Western CT State University (7).

April 2021

Accepted Student Revisit Days

There is great value in taking advantage of a college's offer to revisit with other accepted students. At most revisit days - whether virtual or in-person - admitted students will have the opportunity to meet with professors and current students, which can go a long way in helping you to get a real sense of the school and what it has to offer. At many revisit days, prospective students may be able to sit in on classes, have a meal or two in the cafeteria, see a sporting event, and in some cases, even get to spend the night. There is no better way to get a true feel for a school. Another advantage to attending a revisit day is that you'll have the opportunity to meet other accepted students, so you'll get a sense of who will be in your incoming class. It is not uncommon for students to meet at an accepted students' day and decide to room together. When you've been accepted to all or most of the schools on your list, there's no better way to narrow your prospects than by participating in a revisit day. Added bonus: students typically get lots of school swag!

January 2021

Being Considered for Admissions in the COVID era

Admissions Counselors may not be able to rely on the same old criteria when it comes to vetting college applicants this and next year. Historically, the four main hard factors in the admissions process - the high school from which you graduate, rigor in the transcript, grades, and standardized test scores - may have been adversely affected by the pandemic. For example, many straight A and B students are struggling with the move to remote/online learning resulting in grades that would not otherwise be their norm. Admissions counselors understand this and are taking it into account when considering a student for admission. The same is true with respect to standardized test scores, as there are now over 1000 schools that have gone test optional, many in response to the coronavirus. So what are counselors weighing more heavily in the 2020-2021 and 2021-2022 application cycles?

While soft factors in the process - essays, letters of recommendations, extracurriculars, resumes, and demonstrated interest - have always been a consideration, they are now receiving greater weight. For this reason, students should pay particular attention to Common App essays, of which there are three: the personal statement in response to one of seven prompts, the Additional Information essay, and the COVID prompt. While some of these essays may not be mandatory, every student should be providing responses to them. The more you can tell an admissions officer about yourself, the better off you'll be, especially this year and next year. Hence, the importance of dedicating a good amount of thought, time, and energy to crafting appropriate and unique responses to each college's supplemental essay questions. In addition to these essays, college admissions counselors will be paying more attention to your letters of recommendation. This is especially true since many students' extracurricular activities have been negatively impacted by the virus. Since students may not have had the ability to participate in sports, theater, clubs, employment, community service, etc. during the pandemic, which has now impacted two school years, admissions counselors will want to give more weight to what those who know you both in and out of school have to say about you. The circumstances we are living in today are certainly going to make it more difficult to set yourself apart in the admissions process. Finding creative ways to continue to be engaged both in and out of the classroom will be all the more important these next two years.

November 2020

Excerpts from Who Gets In and Why:
A Year Inside College Admissions by Jeffrey Selingo (Part 2)

I've decided to share some quotes from this new book which was released on Sept. 21st. These insights are from the second half of the book. (See October's post for insights from the first half of the book.) I chose these particular excerpts because they either confirm things I've been saying for years or they're brand new observations based on the changes in admissions in recent years.

On advantages in the admissions process:

"The idea that any student gets a leg up is at the root of nearly every question about the fairness of the admissions process. Among the advantages given to any one group, the hook based on race and ethnicity is probably the most debated one.... along with that given to first-generation students.... Yet they rarely mention the unfairness of two other hooks that are uniquely American, far more prevalent, and perpetuate a culture of privilege and entitlement among students at selective colleges: legacies and athletics.... [which] largely benefit wealthy and white students."

Regarding the reputation of the high school from which you graduate:

"During my time inside admissions offices I quickly discovered that the unit being evaluated was less often the applicant than the applicant's high school. Colleges, in essence, are recruiting and evaluating high schools, not students.... Before admissions decisions are sent to students, most selective colleges sort their applicants pool by high school.... That's when many top colleges conduct a round of 'counselor calls' to give advance notice to certain 'feeder' high schools before decisions are sent to their students.

"For would-be applicants, the high school context in which you're ultimately judged presents a Catch-22. You're helped by applying to colleges that know your high school and counselors, but hindered if you don't stack up well against classmates who are also applying."

On how to make your application stand out:

"One place where applicants could stand out is in their essay, but most are unfortunately mind-numbing similar.... they often focus on the same things: overcoming an athletic injury, dealing with anxiety, depression, or their sexuality, or discovering themselves on a trip, with a fill-in-the-blank country such as Guatemala or Thailand."

"Admissions officers scan essays. When one grabs their attention, they'll have a closer read.... The essays that stick out do so not because of what the applicants write about but how they write it--with an authentic voice that gives the readers a sense of what the student sees, feels, and thinks."

"The best essays are honest slice-of-life stories, both entertaining and serious, that tell admissions officers something they don't learn from another part of the application."

Understanding how to read financial aid letters:

"One analysis of thousands of ... letters found schools used more than 135 unique terms to describe 'Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loans'--common loans given to students that accumulate interest while an undergraduate is in school. Twenty-four colleges didn't even include the word 'loan' in their descriptions. Nearly 15 percent of letters included a Parent PLUS loan as an 'award' without ever mentioning that parents need to apply for this loan separately and are responsible for paying it back [with interest]. Perhaps most surprising is that only 40 percent of the letters actually calculate a bottom-line number that students would need to pay."

Choosing a best fit school:

"The bottom line: in your college search worry less about specific name brands and even majors and worry more about acquiring skills and experiences once you're on campus, such as finding an undergraduate research project or landing an internship. Remember: fewer than a third of college graduates work in jobs related to their majors."

October 2020

Excerpts from Who Gets In and Why:

A Year Inside College Admissions by Jeffrey Selingo (Part 1)

I've decided to share some quotes from this new book which was released on Sept. 21st. Since I'm half way through it, I'll only include snippets from the first half of the book. Next month, I'll follow up with insights from the second half of the book. I chose these particular excerpts because they either confirm things I've been saying for years or they're brand new observations based on the changes in admissions in recent years.

Regarding vetting applicants:

"The reality is that two applicants are rarely, if ever, pitted side by side.... The truth is that competitive institutions ... turn down ten highly qualified applicants for every one or two they accept."

"A rejection then is not about you; it's about what a college needs the year you apply."

On college selectivity:

"Over the last fifty years, half of American colleges and universities have become less selective in their admissions decisions ... as the best prospective students applied to only the same small group of elite schools, ignoring hundreds of lesser-known schools. That's why the most selective institutions -- representing only 20 percent of American colleges -- account for about one third of all applications submitted now."

About Admissions Offices:

"The first thing to realize is that colleges are either 'buyers' or 'sellers.' Sellers are the 'haves' of admissions. They have something to sell that consumers want, typically a brand name that signals prestige in the job market and social circles.... The buyers are the 'have-nots' in terms of admissions -- although they might provide a superior undergraduate education. They lack names that are instantly recognized when the score of sports teams stream across the bottom of ESPN."

"Whether a college is a buyer or a seller matters to applicants for two reasons: First, getting past the gatekeepers at the sellers is becoming increasingly difficult. If students have only sellers on their list, they risk getting rejected from every school they apply to. Second, sellers don't need to buy students with tuition discounts to fill their classrooms."

Regarding merit aid:

"The U.S. Education Department found that in one year some 40 percent of full-time students at four-year colleges who had less than a B average and scored under a 1000 on the SAT received 'merit scholarships' from their institutions."

On demonstrated interest:

"About one in five schools say demonstrated interest is of 'considerable importance' in their admissions decisions.... That's about the same weight they give to counselor recommendations and essays, and even more consideration than given to teacher recommendations, class rank, and extracurricular activities."

September 2020

10 Things to Know About Admissions & COVID-19

I recently participated in a webinar with this title. Here's what I learned:

1. Only students in the top 10% of their high schools graduating class will be considered for admission at elite colleges and universities.

2. Colleges will be recruiting students aggressively this application cycle.

3. Families can expect a 59.5% discount on a private school's sticker price.

4. State universities are more likely to offer MERIT scholarships to affluent, in-state students and to out-of-state students. This is not good news for residential, low-income and middle class students.

5. Schools are likely to have longer wait-lists in the 2020-21 application cycle, but more of these wait-listed students should come off the list.

6. Early Decision (contractually binding) admission will climb, so applying in this round can be a real advantage.

7. 1,460 schools have eschewed the use of standardized test scores this year. That being said, above average test scores can only help you. Not reporting scores will not hurt you.

8. Checking a college's financial health can help you determine their generosity with financial aid. A good resource for checking on this is Forbes' 2020 College Financial Health Guide, which is due out this fall.

9. In these COVID times, 1 in 4 students has transferred colleges.

10. The deferral of college freshmen for the 2020-21 college year should not negatively impact those students applying for admissions this year.

August 2020

What to Stay Away from in a Common App College Essay

Instead of describing what a college essay should do, let's discuss the things it shouldn't do. Admissions Reps prefer it when students stay away from what they fondly refer to as "the 5 D's": divorce, death, disease, depression, dating. While dealing with a parents' divorce, crippling depression, a chronic health issue, the death of a loved one, or your first heartbreak may seem like topics that lend themselves to showcasing characteristics such as perseverance, maturation, resilience and the like, these are generally not topics that Admissions Reps want to read about. Admissions Reps are looking for you to shine a light on something uniquely you that they can't gather from anywhere else in your application. So, if your resume and activities list includes descriptions of the study abroad trip you made your junior year of high school, it's probably not wise to also write your essay about that trip. If you were a varsity athlete for a sport you played all 4 years of high school, you're not going to want to write about your sport, either. The best essays tell something about yourself that is specific to you. When writing your essay, pause and ask yourself, Could someone else be writing about this same experience? If the answer is yes - scoring the winning goal, an athletic injury, the death of a favorite pet, etc. - then your essay won't work. Try to think of experiences you had pre-high school. Colleges will know all about your high school years based on the bulk of your application. Why not tell them something about yourself before high school? If you are going to write about something more recent, make sure it's unique, quirky, and specific to you and only you.

May 2020
And they're off!
This application cycle we worked with 68 seniors representing 17 different high schools who applied to 125+ colleges and universities. These are the schools to which this year's Access Success students were admitted. Those in bold are where they've chosen to enroll - so far. Many are still taking advantage of the moved Decision Day and will not make their decisions until June 1.

Bard (3), Baylor, Bentley, Boston College (2), Bridgewater State, Bryant (3), Central CT State, Clarkson (3), Clemson, College of the Holy Cross, Cornell, Curry (2), Drexel (5), Duquesne (4), Eastern CT State (3), Emmanuel, Emerson (3), Fairfield, Florida Gulf Coast, Hampshire (2), High Point (4), Iona (3), Johnson and Wales (2), Keene State, Kent State, Lehigh, Marist (2), Marquette, Michigan State (2), Middlebury, Mount Saint Mary, Oklahoma State, The New School, Northeastern, NYU, Oklahoma State, Pace, Penn State (3), Purdue (5), Quinnipiac (4), RIT (5), RPI (2), Roger Williams (5), Rutgers, Sage College of Albany, Sacred Heart, St. Johns (Queens) (4), Seton Hall (4), Skidmore, Southern CT State (3), Springfield, Suffolk, SUNY New Paltz, Temple, Tufts, University of Albany, UCLA, University of Colorado-Boulder (2), UCONN - Storrs (8), UCONN - Stamford (2), UCONN - Waterbury (3), UCLA, University of Maryland, University of Delaware (3), University of Hartford, University of Maine (2), UMASS Amherst (2), University of Miami (2), University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, University of New Hampshire, University of New Haven (4), University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, University of Notre Dame, University of Oregon, University of Pennsylvania, University of Pittsburgh (2), University of Richmond, University of Rhode Island (7), University of South Carolina (3), Valparaiso, University of Vermont (2), University of Virginia (2), Vassar, Villanova, Wentworth Institute of Technology, Western CT State (2), Western New England, Wheaton, and Xavier (2).

February/March 2020

What are the benefits of attending a Community College?
In a world where the cost of college is steadily increasing, community college can be a great way to save money and lower the amount of student debt one would have accumulated upon graduation. Community colleges generally charge less for classes and can save students anywhere from $500-$1500 PER CLASS. That’s a huge savings! Additionally, students who attend community colleges can still qualify for financial aid and scholarships, lowering the cost of school even more.

Attending community college can improve the transcripts of students who may have struggled academically in high school. In turn, this can also increase their opportunities for earning more scholarships and generating greater options for completing a four year degree program. Community college can also be good for students who are unsure of a major and want to explore a variety of subjects before narrowing their focus.

Finally, attending community college doesn’t restrict a student to earning a two year associates degree. Many students choose to enroll at a four year institution after 2 years of community college. In this way, families avoid four years of cost prohibitive tuition, and students are still able to attain a four year degree. At the end of the day, all a potential employer looks for is where you earned your most recent degree, not how many years you spent at a particular institution.

In summary, exploring community college can:

help students save on the overall cost of college
improve student transcripts allowing them better scholarship opportunities
allow students to explore many areas of study that might interest them
aid students in transfering into a four year institution with transferable credits

November 2019

New Trends in College Admissions

New Admissions Rules

Under pressure from the U.S. Department of Justice, the National Association of College Admissions Counselors (NACAC) has removed a number of provisions to their Code of Ethics that are sure to impact future admissions practices - specifically having to do with offering student incentives, student recruitment and poaching, and soliciting transfer applicants, among other things. Having spoken with admissions reps during their visits over the past month, I can confidently say that these changes will impact the admissions landscape moving forward. For more info about these changes, visit Inside Higher Ed. For a better understanding of college admissions trends in general, you can sign up to receive a pdf of the "2019 Survey of College and University Admissions Officers" here. It provides statistics related to many topics, such as: recruitment, out-of-state admissions, student debt, affirmative action, admissions at public universities, waiting lists, and much more.
Changes Coming to the ACT
Beginning in Sept. 2020, the ACT will be making significant changes to keep in close competition with the College Board and the SAT. Here's a summary of their proposed changes:
1) Students will be able to take the multiple choice section of the ACT online and will be able to access their scores within 2 business days.
2) Single-section re-testing will be permitted. This means that a student with solid science and math scores, only interested in improving his/her English and Reading scores, will no longer need to retake the entire exam, but rather just targeted sections.
3) The ACTs will now allow for superscoring whereby students can submit their highest score in each individual section - English, Math, Reading, Science - from multiple tests.

September 2019

How to Prepare for College Admissions Interviews

Fewer and fewer colleges and universities are offering prospective students the opportunity to interview. Since this is so rare, high school juniors and seniors really should avail themselves of the opportunity when it's made available to them. While visiting with a College Admissions Rep at a College Fair or for a few minutes in a small group while s/he visits your high school may not provide you with the best circumstances to shine a light on all your achievements and accomplishments, it is better than not making an effort at all. Still, better yet, is a one-on-one Admissions Rep interview appointment. These are sometimes accessible when you visit a college campus for an info session and/or tour, provided you email or call the Admissions Office to request an interview in advance. Individual interviews may also be available to students when they reach out to Admissions Reps prior to a Rep's visit to the student's local area. Admissions Reps are often willing to meet at a local Starbucks or Barnes & Nobles for a 20-30 minute interview. At Access Success, we work with Admissions Reps, who make themselves available to meet with Access Success students in one of our offices for 2 or more hours (or 4-6 student interviews).

Students who are interested in interviewing should arrive for their appointments on time, have a hard-copy resume on hand to share with the Admissions Rep, be familiar with the college's programs of study and other non-academic offerings, and have a handful of specific questions ready to ask. The goal of any admissions interview should be to learn more about a specific school and to highlight all the reasons why you would be an asset to a specific campus community, both in- and outside of the classroom. For more info on how best to prepare for an interview, visit the College Board's website. They provide some good tips.

May 2019

How You Spend Your Summers Matters
One of the best ways to make your college application stand out is to keep busy during the summer months. There are several ways in which to do this successfully. Here they are (in no particular order):

significant internships - these sorts of experiences can be extremely helpful in gaining admissions to selective colleges or into programs of study that are seriously competitive. For example, working in a doctor's office, a hospital, or a research lab when interested in a health sciences major, such as a nursing, can be hugely helpful in gaining admission to nursing schools that only accept 30-35 freshman students.
volunteer - involvement with not-for-profit organizations that hold a special place in your heart or whose mission you believe in passionately will help you to stand out, especially if you volunteer for them in multiple capacities and over an extended period of time. For example, consider volunteering as a camp counselor for a favorite organization if your interested in majoring in education or child psychology.
academic enrichment - online classes, summer classes, pre-college summer programs offered by private organizations that specialize in a particular discipline such as criminal justice, medicine, journalism, global studies, visual arts, theater, dance, etc. can be an excellent way to explore areas of interest and show prospective colleges how eager you are to begin your academic journey in a specific field.
summer camp - if you think attending the same summer camp year-after-year is lame, you couldn't be more wrong! Colleges love to see that students start out as campers and work themselves up to positions of leadership within the same organization. This demonstrates passion, dedication, and a sense of loyalty.*
work experience - all jobs are worthy of inclusion on an applicant's resume, so if your thing is babysitting the neighbors' kids all summer, that's awesome! So is working as a busboy, a handyman, a lifeguard, a cashier, or a groundskeeper. Paid employment shows that you're responsible, diligent, conscientious, reliable, and timely - qualities colleges like to see in an applicant.
travel - sometimes you physically cannot participate in any of the previously mentioned summer opportunities because the summer is a time for your family to spend together in other places. Travel experiences are often overlooked by students as they write their resumes, but they shouldn't be! Colleges love applicants who are worldly and have an understanding of other cultures and peoples. So if family travel is on the agenda this summer, don't sweat it; make the most of it. Visit museums, try new foods, do plenty of sightseeing, get to know the locals, and document the things you see and do.

April 2019

Choosing the Right High School Classes

The number one mistake I see students make when it comes to preparing for college admissions, happens in the early high school years. If you want to ensure that you will have every opportunity to gain admission into the university of your choice come senior year, you have to make certain choices about high school courses beginning with freshman year. Enrolling in the most rigorous course of study offered at your high school, provided it is appropriate for you, is the number one hard factor reviewed and considered by Admissions Reps. Often, high school guidance counselors are more concerned with class scheduling than they are with ensuring that individual students are taking the most appropriate classes needed to achieve their college goals. While your choice of electives shouldn't make or break your college admissions chances, they can impact your opportunity to be admitted to elite programs at selective schools. Similarly, not all academic classes carry the same weight; the quality of AP and college courses is not necessarily equal. For example, if you're hoping to study engineering in college, taking AP Stats and AP Psych in lieu of AP Comp Sci, AP Calc and AP Physics is a mistake. Year over year, you should be moving into more challenging classes and excelling at them. Colleges frown upon straight A students who play it safe and never move into more challenging classes. The best way to ensure you're making the best course choices is to have an independent counselor review them each year. High school guidance and college counselors, while well meaning, often have their own agendas, which may not necessarily include what's in the best interest of the individual student.

September 2018

The Value of a Resume

Often students I work with give me grief when I instruct them to get a college application-ready resume together. Why, they ask, is this necessary when they've already had to input all of their extracurricular activities into Naviance's resume builder, as well as into the Common Apps activities list.

First, Naviance's resume builder formats resumes horribly and requires information, as does the CA activities list, that colleges really aren't interested in, such as how many hours per week on average you spend on a particular activity.

Secondly, a well-crafted resume should highlight activities, awards, honors, sports, clubs, organizations, experiences, hobbies, etc. that make you unique and that showcase your special talents and abilities. If you haven't been able to dedicate much time to extracurriculars because you work 20 hours/week to help your family make ends meet, a resume can showcase and explain that in a way that listing work experience on the CA activities list can't.

Finally, a personal resume says something about your style and personality simply in how it's crafted. How did you use color, a particular font, complete sentences or bullet points? In what order did you list particular activities? Did you highlight those things that were most important to you or that you were most successful in achieving?

A few things to keep in mind when developing your resume:

1) This is not a job resume! It should not include sections titled "Education" or "References." Admissions Readers will already know your educational history as it's included in several other places in your application. And none of them will be contacting former employers, friends, and/or anyone else listed in a References section. Leave these off.

2) If any of the schools to which you're applying do NOT prompt you to attach or upload your resume prior to submitting your application, you should send an email to the regional rep at those schools letting him/her know that you're excited about having just submitted your application and that you're attaching your resume for their perusal as you were not prompted to do so in the CA.

3) Always, always, ALWAYS have someone proofread your resume before sending it out!

December 2017

When Should Your College Search Begin

If you are the parent of a 9th, 10th or 11th grader, NOW is the time to begin planning for college. Students do not need to know what it is they want to study in college in order to start searching for schools of interest. There are plenty of online search engines to assist you in the first stages of your search; all of which will filter results based on the selection criteria you enter. The College Board, Fastweb! and Scholarships.com, among many other sites, offer such search engines. I strongly recommend using the search engine available in Naviance. Naviance is a 3rd party college planning software solution used by a majority of US high schools to provide students with college planning assessment tools. Check with your student's guidance department or college counseling office to gain access to Naviance's many features, including its college search engine. Keep in mind that each school's counselors determine what functionality will be available to both students and parents. If you're interested in using Naviance for something specific and that functionality does not appear to be available, request it of your child's guidance department.

This is just one way to begin the college process. Other things you will need to take into consideration are your student's eligibility to gain admission to his/her schools of interest. The best way to determine that is to meet with someone who knows the college admissions process inside and out, and who can provide you with details on how best to position yourself as an ideal admissions candidate. Whether a private college counselor like myself or a school counselor, this person should have only your best interest at heart and will need to make him/herself available to get to know you as both a student and a person. College counselors, if approached early enough in the process, should be able to advise you as to the best classes to take over your 4 years of high school, which clubs and activities to engage in, when and what standardized tests to take, what schools to consider, and more. The right counselor can set up any student for college success ... provided the counselor is asked to do so early in the process, ideally in a student's 9th or 10th grade year.