For many seniors, April 1 marks the end of a long and often stressful period of uncertainty. Envelopes or emails from colleges will arrive, and the result is usually a definitive acceptance or denial. However, for students who are put on a college’s waiting list, the next steps are less clear. Due to Covid-19, waitlists are expected to be longer this year. With uncertainty around topics such as international students being able to get a Visa, families re-evaluating college cost,…
Between now and May 1 (or June 1 for colleges who have extended), high school seniors are trying to decide among their many college acceptances. Here is a list of frequently asked questions from college-bound seniors that may help you as you think about your college options.
Q: I was accepted into my second choice college at my favorite university. Should I matriculate and try to transfer into my college of choice once I am an enrolled student or is this too risky?
One of the most commonly asked questions in our practice is: “Does it matter if I take AP courses or not?” The answer depends on what courses are the right fit for the individual student, and what the student’s aspirations are.
Will I Be Able To Handle The Work?
The first and what might seem like an obvious consideration is whether the student can handle the course work in an AP class. If a student is working hard and feeling stressed with schoolwork or routinely staying up to the wee…
High school students should plan to spend at least part of the summer working, volunteering or engaging with an interest. Still looking for something to do? Here are some opportunities to explore, some offered at no cost to you:
1. Take an online course in engineering and more through Brown University.
When students have a mentor during college they are twice as likely to be successful after graduation—reporting more engagement at work and scoring high on other measures of well-being. The Chronicle For Higher Education reported on a book by Hamilton College Sociology Professor Dan Chambliss who followed more than 100 Hamilton students during and after college to determine which aspects of their undergraduate years really made a difference long term. Relationships matter…
If you are a high school junior beginning your college search, you have probably perused a guide book such as The Fiske Guide To Colleges, visited college websites and maybe even logged into a popular college review site such as Niche or Unigo. If you find that many of the college descriptions are starting to sound similar and you aren’t sure what to look for, you are not alone. Here are five tips for getting the most out of your college research.
For many high school and college students, as well as their families, December can be a taxing time of year. However, whether you are studying for exams, finishing up those last few admissions essays, or trying to find the perfect gift, you still need some time to relax and recharge. To help you with this, we’re sharing some of our favorite films:
Originally released in 2003, Mona Lisa Smile is the story of a progressive Wellesley college professor, played by Julia Roberts, trying…
At 5 p.m. on December 15th, Tim logs into the account that he created when he applied to Early College just as he was instructed to do. He has been waiting for this moment for a long time, and he fervently hopes he will be admitted. The decision is there–and the first word he reads is Congratulations. Tim is in. He posts to social media: I did it. I am going to Early College next year!
Across town Reid has also logged into his account for the same college. However, the news isn’t promising.…
Even as the seniors begin the agonizing wait for their college admissions letters, juniors are starting to think about the college process. Winter and spring breaks and the summer before senior year are great times to visit colleges. However, before you sign up for a whirlwind, five-day, ten-campus tour, it is important to start researching colleges even before you book your plane tickets and plan your itinerary. A few hours spent at home researching colleges can save you and…
Fall is here, and that means that some colleges will be holding admissions interviews with prospective applicants. The admissions interview is a place for the admissions representative (or someone else connected to the school) to see another side of you. It is also a chance for you to get an insider’s view of the college or to explain an inconsistency in your academic record in a personal, heartfelt way. To help you make the most of this opportunity, here is some advice on…
