“The noblest question in the world is: What good may I do in it?”
– Benjamin Franklin
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“Why Us?” OR “Why This College?” Essays
When writing the “Why Us?” Or “Why This College?” essay, it’s important to not only think about what you will get involved with in college, but also what you will bring to the college. Think of this essay as a “why we’re a good match” essay. Key tips for writing this...
College Athletics: Starting the Recruiting Process
As a prospective student athlete, it is critical to prioritize finding the colleges that align with your needs and career goals, regardless of sports considerations. Just like the college selection process for the non-athlete, the first step is to identify the factors...
College Athletics: Understanding the Basics
Engaging in collegiate sports provides a great opportunity to balance academic pursuits with the sport that you love. Here is some basic information about the various governing bodies for college sports in the US: NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) The...
Test-Required, Test-Optional and Test-Free (Test-Blind) Defined
Test-Required: you guessed it… the college requires that you submit your test scoresTest-Optional: you decide whether to submit your test scoresTest-Free (or Test-Blind): the institution does not use test scores as part of admissions decisions and does not want you to...
What’s Happening with Testing?
The college admissions process has long relied on standardized tests like the ACT (American College Testing) and SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test) to evaluate the academic aptitude of prospective students. These tests have traditionally played a significant role in...
Finding Your Best Fit Colleges
The first step in starting to build a college list is to identify the factors that are most important to you. What should you consider? Many factors fall into four categories (academic, physical, social, and financial). Here are some things to think about:...
What is Demonstrated Interest and is it Important?
Demonstrated interest is a measurement colleges use to determine how interested a student is in attending their school. Why is it important for colleges to admit students who are truly interested in attending their institution? It all comes down to yield rate. This is...
Why Does My Child Need a Balanced College List?
Recently, I heard an admissions story that illustrates exactly why every student should have a balanced college list. Highly motivated student has a 1550 SAT, 4.0 unweighted GPA, and 12 AP classes with a score of 4 or 5 on all exams. He manages the college application...
The SAT Goes Digital
The College Board will administer the first digital PSAT in fall of 2023 and the SAT will be digital by the Spring of 2024. The digital SAT will still take place in a proctored, in-person environment at school or at a testing center. The test will take place on a...
Our Five Favorite College Admissions Books
We believe that these 5 books truly help both parents and students not only help with the college search, but also gain a valuable perspective into today's world of college admissions. 1. Fiske Guide to Colleges, Edward Fiske Fully updated and expanded every...