Yesterday Scott Jaschik of Inside Higher Ed reported in a lengthy (but characteristically thorough) article that despite the economic downturn, the number of early decision applications to many expensive, private colleges is up this year over last. Mr. Jaschik offers the following possible explanations:
1. Colleges are better communicating that college fit matters, so students [...]
Read full post...A parent of a senior asked me the other day about college visits. When is the best time to visit?
The answer is, “from whose perspective?”
There are two different reasons for visiting college. The first is the student’s need to get an idea of what life would be like on that campus. Students often have a [...]
One of the great myths about college admission is that the process is merely a matter of doing your best in high school, getting good scores on some tests, writing a decent essay, and then simply submitting your application to the admissions office. Then you just sit back and pray those admissions officers will love [...]
Read full post...A friend of mine, another parent, recently hit me up for some free advice. Knowing my expertise, he wanted to know what his daughter could do this summer to keep ahead of the curve in the college admissions process.
So here is my Top Ten List of things students can do during the summer to [...]
I spent a few days in Minnesota last week visiting colleges. My itinerary included (in alphabetical order) Augsburg College, Carleton College, Macalester College, University of Minnesota, and St. Olaf College.
Why do I spend so much time and money investing in college visits? So I can help you find the best college for you. [...]
I visited Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) last week. It’s a large, public university in a dynamic, urban environment. Some students crave this sort of bustle and excitement. I enjoyed my time on campus, learning especially about its life sciences (a.k.a. biology) and arts programs.
Listen to how important it is to find the right [...]
My clients are sometimes surprised to learn that I’m out of office so much. I spend about 20% of my time on the road paying personal visits to college campuses around the country.
Want to learn more about how these visits can help you choose the right college? Have a look!
[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/ax01YSeP27k" width="319" height="262" [...]
Amazon.com WidgetsA couple of my current clients are in the midst of athletic recruiting, and are visiting colleges. I always recommend that they be prepared to ask some pointed questions of coaches, admissions officers, and other students when they make the visit.
The list of questions below comes from a book on sports [...]
Last week, I spent a few hours on the campus of Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas. It’s an excellent liberal arts college located in a vibrant, culturally rich city. After having visited Dallas and Houston a few days before, I was glad for the more relaxed, informal atmosphere of San Antonio.
Here are [...]
In a single day, I spent 4 hours on each of these two campuses. No two institutions could be more different, despite their geographical proximity. Apples and Oranges. Mutt and Jeff. Oliver and Stanley.
I wrote more about Austin College here. I really liked the place. And I liked SMU [...]