We know--you have that you’re struggling to balance during this process. You have to get all of your forms in on time, write your essays, and on top of everything, you have to continue to exceed in school. One deadline that trips most people up is when to submit standardized test scores. We know you’re short on time, so here we are:
Should I Retake the SAT/ACT?
We have officially entered the period of the college admissions calendar lovely referred to as “the freakout months.” Ok, maybe only we call it that, but we think it’s a fitting name. Between now and December, things get real. Final test dates are fast approaching and application due dates are right around the corner. Students who promised themselves they’d work on their applications over the summer then spent the last few months goofing off realize that they are way behind, and even students who are on top of the ball start overthinking, nitpicking, and generally freaking out.
The Smartest Admission Strategy For Getting Into Your Reach School
Everyone wants to get into their reach school, but it’s called a reach school for a reason. It’s not a guarantee. And sometimes you might feel like you’re getting onto your tippy toes to get to a book even thinking about applying. That is why we’re here. We’ve helped so many students apply to their dream schools, and more than that, we’ve helped them come up with reaches they hadn’t previously considered. We want to give a rundown of what we’ve learned about how to get into your reach school(s). We advise all of our students to abide by the following 4 guiding principles when putting together their application and writing their essays:
How Important is Demonstrated Interest for College?
Why You Shouldn't Send Your Kid on a Community Service Trip for College
There are a lot of problems with short-term service trips, or voluntourism as it’s often called. There are social problems, there are economic problems, there are cultural problems, and there are problem problems, but none of those are the problems we’re going to talk about here. Analyzing the socio-political side effects of importing unskilled teens into impoverished countries with the (mis)intention of saving the day isn’t our specialty...or it isn’t here, at least. Our specialty is getting great kids into stellar colleges, and so we’re going to focus on why sending your kid on a service trip isn’t going to help make that happen.
How to Write an Interesting, Funny, and Unique College Essay
We’re not going to lie to you. College essays are scary. For most of our clients, writing their college essay is the most intimidating part of the application process. We get it, and we’ve been there, but we’re here to tell you that, while they might be scary, they’re also an amazing opportunity. So much of the college process is about covering everything in gold leaf and making yourself look as perfect as possible. Contrary to what so many (incorrectly) say, the college essay isn’t about pitching yourself as a perfect person; it’s about being yourself.
What Books Should I Read for my College Supplements?
Over the last few years, more and more schools have been adding one question to their supplement. Wake Forest, Columbia, Stanford, and MIT, among others, all ask their applicants to detail books that they are reading, have read, or just a list of a student’s favorite books. We’re noticing this as a growing trend, so we thought it best to connect with you on it. So how do you for these colleges’ supplements? The key is to keep it focused, as per usual, and keep it relevant. The more specific that you are in your choices, the better, and it’s an opportunity to highlight a specific or unique interest.
What is ZeeMee?
When you apply to college, you have to deal with a number of programs and websites. You sign up for the Common App, you might have to create a Slideroom account, all the while you’re handling updating your Instagram and not getting behind on your Snapchat streak. Then, all of a sudden you hear about “ZeeMee.” So... What exactly is it?
How To Write the Vassar Supplement
The Vassar College supplement, on first glance, seems relatively easy to tackle and somewhat straight-forward. What we’ve learned from years of advising students on this supplement is that a) it’s a bit more complex than it seems but also b) it’s more work than you think. There are three optional components. We implore you to explore at least two of those three, and not just because many students will overlook them (though that fact will help you). The first two responses are limited to 350 words. We assure you, 350 words is longer than you think. Keep that in mind when brainstorming. Additionally, we encourage students to keep Vassar’s culture and community in mind while they write this. Vassar is a free-spirited, very liberal place with a diverse community. This should be in the back of your mind while you’re writing. Let’s get going.
Are Specific Courses Required to get Into an Ivy League School?
So much of high school is about the time that you spend in the classroom. After all, one of the most important parts of your college application is your GPA (or ). We’re discussing one of the questions that we get the most frequently from our students on class choice and chances of being accepted to your top choice school:
How Does Taking College Courses (or extra classes) Affect Admissions?
A large number of college courses are available for high school students to take both online and in-person. Some students take them just to challenge themselves further or learn about one topic that isn’t offered at their high school.
College courses alone won’t get you into college. Taking 20 college courses won’t reverse your mediocre GPA or average ACT scores. That’s just not how it works. It can, however, add depth to a specific part of your application.
How To Write the Dickinson College Supplement
Dickinson College is a liberal arts school of about 2,400 students in Carlisle, PA. The campus itself encourages students to take a seat and observe the world around them—there are literally red Adirondack chairs scattered all around campus for students to take advantage of and do work in, sit with friends, or meditate. Students live on campus all four years and swear by their mascots: a red and a green devil. The green devil is regarded as the red devil’s environmentally conscious cousin. We break down this college’s supplement below:
Expert Advice for your Common App Personal Statement Essay
Now that essay season is upon us (yes, indeed it is), it’s thinking about your . Junior year is coming to a close, your summer is beginning, and now it’s time to brainstorm and ideate. You might have some idea of a topic, experience, or incident that you want to write about. Or, you might not. That’s okay, too.
How To Write the Bowdoin College Supplement
Bowdoin College is a small liberal arts school in Brunswick, ME of about 1,800 undergraduate students. In addition to its location (truly in the middle of nowhere of gorgeous [albeit cold] Maine), Bowdoin has a number of unique offerings including the main pillars of the college, which are addressed in question 2. Their supplement contains three parts, all of which we break down for you below.
How To Write the Barnard College Supplement
Barnard College is an all-women’s college in uptown New York City. 2,500 undergraduates attend Barnard, which has a unique relationship with Columbia University, just across the street. Barnard students are able to take advantage of the resources that Columbia has to offer paired with the smaller, more intimate community culture that is cultivated at Barnard. As such, Barnard is one of our favorite colleges. Its supplement has 4 questions, all of which are incredibly different. Our breakdown of the supplement follows:
Ěý
Are My Chances of Getting into College Better if I Apply Early Decision?
We get a lot of questions about applying early vs. regular decision and the merits of applying to schools for each round. One point that we always drive home is that applying somewhere early is not a small decision, and it should be intentional. This is not the time to throw all caution to the wind and apply to your dream school despite the fact that your test scores are well below their average and you sat around by the beach this past summer with nothing to show for it. That’s just silly, and that’s not how we operate. You need to know the why behind applying somewhere early, and you should have the profile as well as demonstrated interest to back it up. Sometimes applying early can help your chances of getting in and sometimes it can hurt them. Read on to find out the why and how.
How To Write the Carleton College Supplement
Carleton College is a great liberal arts school of 1,995 undergraduates in Northfield, Minnesota. It’s been steadily climbing in the rankings over the last few years and a lot of people are starting to take notice. Fortunate for them, unfortunate for us. It used to be one of our favorite to suggest to students. We’re happy for them though. Really.
How To Explain Special Circumstances for Poor Academic Performance in High School
This is a great question that many students and parents have. Every life and path is completely different, and everyone has a different story to tell. A lot can happen in 1 month, much less 4 years, and we completely understand that sometimes life happens in an unexpected way and as such, affects your ability to perform to the best of your ability in school. Not only do we understand this, but colleges understand this as well. As with every other part of your application, it’s important to be mindful of how you present the facts and that you do so in such a way that explains rather than excuses. It’s a fine line to tow, and here’s what we suggest.
What is the Minimum GPA Required for Admission for Ivy League Schools?
Your GPA is arguably the most important part of your application, so it’s crucial to take this aspect of your profile seriously when you’re putting together your school list.
Here’s a bit of a secret for you: there is no such thing as a minimum GPA. There are suggestions, averages, and certainly test score ranges to take note of, but there is no such thing as a GPA cut-off for students to look out for that rules out certain schools or that guarantees acceptance to others.
The Ultimate 2017-2018 Guide to Writing Your College Essay Supplements
Before you dive into a college supplement, there are a few things to look for and review that will guide how you approach each and every application. The majority of the work for any application comes before you start actually writing. We’ve discussed in past blog posts how you can tell a lot about a college just by reading through its supplement. This point also reflects the biggest part of your applications, which is reading. While colleges are looking for responses that answer their questions, they are also looking for answers that indicate that you have read through and thought about their supplement thoroughly.