December is the month when things kick into high gear in the admissions cycle. Some of the most selective schools in the country release their decisions in either an Early Decision round, which is binding, or Early Action, which is not binding. This is an intense week for seniors. Even if they haven’t applied on […]

It’s that time of year again. December starts the next phase of the admissions cycle. The most selective schools in the country release their first round of Early Decision letters. This is where the rubber meets the road. If you have a senior in high school that you care about, be aware that this month

“In some ways, the ticketing process for concerts these days reminds me of the rules surrounding early admissions at selective colleges.” ~Jeff Selingo Taylor Swift tickets go on sale tomorrow so I wanted to post this in honor of her new album and her tour this summer. Jeff Selingo, who wrote the book Who Gets

The November 1st is the deadline to submit Early Action or Early Decision applications for many schools and that date is looming for high school seniors. There is so much that goes into preparing an application for submission. Students have to take great care with the activities and honors sections of the Common App, ensure

“From the bureaucratic minutia to the deep introspection, submitting a college application is possibly the biggest achievement of your kid’s life to date” ~Kelly Corrigan Years ago I read The Middle Place, by Kelly Corrigan. It was a funny book and I have enjoyed following her on social media ever since. She recently posted a

“For an overachieving high schooler who wanted what the upper echelon of colleges promised, nothing seemed to be a valid hobby or interest unless you somehow turned it into a nonprofit, a start-up, or an international award.” Yejin Suh, Princeton University Class of 2025 Greetings from the heart of the application season! I am sharing

Greetings! I am deep in the heart of application season, so my September post is behind schedule. I have one public service announcement on behalf of colleges and college applicants: there is no WE in college admissions! Here are some things that I have overheard well-meaning parents say: “We were hoping to get a 1400

I am deep in the heart of essay writing season. My rising seniors focused on their main essay the first half of the summer. Now we are immersed in writing supplemental essays for the colleges that require them. Some of my students are writing fifteen or more, some only have a handful. It just depends

“The supplement is a chance to expand one’s candidacy, to reveal one’s personality, and to prove one’s interest. If the essay was the heart of the application, the supplement was it’s soul” Becky Munsterer Sabky ~Valedictorians at the Gate Today is a big day in the college admissions world. The Common App reopens for the

Happy July 4th from the Jersey Shore! I am wrapping up work with my seniors and sending them all into the weekend with their Common App drafted and essays drafted. Here are some bits and pieces of news and information from the college admissions world: ~The University of Vermont is adding a round of Early