Understanding how to evaluate fit—and build a college list around it—is one of the most important steps in learning how to apply to college successfully.

What Does College Fit Actually Mean, and How Is It Different From Just Picking a Prestigious School?

College fit is a concept that sounds simple but runs deep. It refers to how well a school aligns with your student across two fundamental dimensions: the academic experience and the social experience.

Sarah Farbman, senior admissions consultant at Great College Advice, draws the distinction clearly: “College fit is about the social experience and the academic experience for a student. You want both of those to feel good to your student when they end up going to a college.”

Prestige, by contrast, is an external measure based on rankings, selectivity, and brand recognition. And here is the uncomfortable truth that many families overlook: some of the most prestigious schools may actually provide a weaker undergraduate experience. As Sarah explains, “Some of the most prestigious schools aren’t going to offer you the best academic opportunities because in many cases they are large universities that do a lot with their graduate students. The graduate students may get more of the research opportunities and more of the professor’s time than the undergraduate students would get.”

Jamie Berger, highly acclaimed college admissions counselor and veteran admissions expert, is even more direct about the distinction. “There is no such thing as a top 20 school,” he states. “Fit is what we focus on.” At Great College Advice, the process begins with students completing a comprehensive criteria spreadsheet covering roughly 100 categories (from major preferences and campus size to location, internship access, and social environment) designed to identify schools that genuinely match what each student needs to thrive.

Why Should Families Prioritize Fit Over Prestige When Building a College List?

The case for fit over prestige is both practical and personal. Students have to be their best self. They have to be comfortable. They don’t want to be overwhelmed academically. They want to find their people and have opportunities to grow and connect with their professors. If they aren’t able to do that, they’re not going to be that successful, even if they have the right degree under their belt.

There is also a geographic reality that many families overlook. Prestigious names carry uneven weight across different regions and career fields. As Sarah notes, “Depending on where you live in the US, those prestigious names carry more or less weight. There are plenty of public state universities with dedicated alumni who are ready to help you. It doesn’t necessarily have to be the most prestigious school.”

A member of the Great College Advice community reinforces this: “Fit matters. Happy, motivated students do better and engage on a campus in ways that open up opportunities and networks.” He also reminds families that “a ‘dream’ college is not something a magazine assigns a ranking to—it is the school where your student will thrive.”

The Great College Advice Family Handbook encourages families to replace the language of “perfect fits” and “dream schools” with more realistic terms: “Instead of talking about ‘perfect fits’ and ‘dream schools,’ it is generally more helpful to talk about ‘compatibility’ and ‘preferences.’ The choice of colleges to apply to—and attend—entails some compromise. Most students may be able to satisfy most of their selection criteria, but very seldom can they maximize every single factor.”

That realism is not pessimism. It is the foundation for genuinely good outcomes.

How Can Families Evaluate Whether a College Is the Right Fit for Their Student?

Evaluating fit requires a structured, criteria-driven approach. At Great College Advice, counselors guide students through a comprehensive assessment covering approximately 100 categories, each rated on a scale from “must have” to “not interested at all.” These categories span:

• Academic factors (intended major strength, class sizes, research access), 
• Social factors (campus culture, student body, Greek life), 
• Geographic preferences (urban versus rural, climate, distance from home), 
• And financial considerations (merit aid availability, cost of attendance, overall value).

Financial criteria should be the starting point for all families, noting that even wealthy clients look for schools that may offer a significant discount. As one client explained, “Just because I can buy a Mercedes doesn’t mean that I will buy one.”

Campus visits are another essential tool for evaluating fit—but only when done strategically. Sarah recommends visiting when students are on campus: “It’s much better to visit during a weekday when classes are in session than on a weekend.” She also encourages families to begin informal visits as early as ninth grade, just to build a mental framework for what different campus environments look and feel like. For more guidance on making the most of campus visits, see Great College Advice’s ” Planning Your College Visit ” guide.

Jamie Berger highlights the importance of honest self-assessment in this process: “I haven’t met yet many young people who will be equally happy in freezing Ithaca, New York or the woods of Hanover, New Hampshire, who would also be happy in Morningside Heights, Manhattan or in Philadelphia. If you’re just choosing based on the fact that the stickers will look good on the back of your car—I’m the wrong person to work with.”

The bottom line: evaluating fit means matching real student preferences to real campus environments, not collecting brand names.

Does Choosing Fit Over Prestige Hurt My Student’s Career Prospects or Earning Potential?

This is the concern that keeps many families locked into prestige-driven thinking, and the answer, for the vast majority of career paths, is no.

A member of the Great College Advice community offers a clear-eyed assessment: “Success and opportunities are driven far more by the student than the school. Very few careers or sectors care where a person attended school, and those that do typically only for internships and job one. Students at the top of the class get more opportunities than other students, so going where you will excel is key.”

There are also significant financial advantages to a fit-focused approach. Schools where your student is a competitive applicant are far more likely to offer generous merit-based aid. Sarah explains the math: “If you’re looking for merit-based aid, the right college counselor could potentially help you save $20,000 or $30,000 per year. If you’re spending $10,000 upfront but this person is saving you $20,000 to $30,000 per year off the cost of college tuition times four, that is a significant ROI.”

Over four years, that can mean $80,000 to $120,000 in savings—money that can fund graduate school, eliminate student debt, or provide a post-college financial runway that a prestigious diploma simply cannot.

Regional alumni networks at well-matched schools can also be just as powerful for career development as elite national networks, especially when your student plans to build a career in a specific geographic area. A student who thrives academically and socially will graduate with stronger professor relationships, better internship experiences, and a more compelling professional story than one who merely survived a prestigious institution. For families weighing the financial dimensions of this decision, Great College Advice’s overview of whether expensive college tuition is worth it provides additional perspective.

How Do I Build a Balanced College List That Includes Both Aspirational and Realistic Options?

A balanced college list includes reach schools, target schools, and “likely” schools—and your student should be genuinely excited about options in every category.

At Great College Advice, counselors present families with 20 or more colleges divided into these three tiers, based on the student’s academic profile, test scores, and extracurricular accomplishments. 

Jamie stresses that the effort families put into the bottom and middle of the list matters just as much as the top: “Having happy likelies will lead to a happy outcome regardless.” He recommends aiming for roughly 12 schools on the final application list—enough to provide meaningful choice without overwhelming the student with supplemental essays.

The list-building process is iterative, and that is by design. Sarah describes the natural arc: “When I first meet a student, they are going to be more attracted to the sweatshirt college names and what they see and hear. Then we move on to where they start to be more thoughtful about what they really want to study, what classes they will actually be in, and how they will meet the friends they are going to have for their lifetimes.”

As students learn more about their own test scores, GPA trajectory, and evolving preferences, the list gets refined. This is healthy, not a failure of planning.

A member of the Great College Advice community offers perspective that every family should hear: “Any college where your child will blossom, enjoy a balanced lifestyle, and find their own way is a top school. There are about 4,000-plus institutions of higher learning in the United States, and most employ faculty who graduated from what are considered ‘top schools.’ There are so many hidden gems. It is sad that those are dismissed as inferior or not worth considering.”

What Role Does Merit Aid Play in the Fit-Versus-Prestige Decision?

Merit aid is one of the most powerful and most overlooked reasons to adopt a fit-focused college strategy.

Here is the key fact: many of the most prestigious schools (Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Princeton) do not offer merit-based scholarships at all. However, many excellent colleges and universities, both public and private, routinely offer $20,000 to $35,000 per year (or more!) off tuition to attract strong applicants.

Sarah explains the mechanics: “Merit-based aid is what we like to think of as a discount. It is a recruitment tool to attract strong students or the type of students a college wants to see on its campus. If you really are looking for that merit-based aid, the number one best thing you can do is to write the correct college list.”

This means that the college list itself is a financial strategy. Families who focus exclusively on the most selective schools leave significant money on the table. A well-crafted list that includes merit-generous institutions—schools where your student’s profile positions them in the top tier of applicants—can yield savings of $80,000 to $140,000 over four years.

We place financial criteria at the very top of the list-building process for a reason. Great College Advice counselors draw on years of experience and proprietary data to identify which institutions offer generous merit packages, ensuring each family’s list includes financially smart options alongside aspirational ones. For a deeper dive into how merit-based financial aid works, see our detailed guide.

How Can a College Admissions Consultant Help My Family Move Beyond Prestige-Driven Thinking?

An experienced college admissions consultant provides three things most families cannot access on their own: objective expertise, a national perspective on the admissions landscape, and a structured process for translating vague preferences into a data-informed college list.

Jamie Berger describes the philosophy: “I only accept clients who understand that the bottom of the list and the middle of the list are as important as those top three or four choices. Finding happy likelies is super important.”

The iterative nature of the counselor-student relationship is what makes the difference. Sarah explains: “When I first meet a student, they haven’t delved into the process yet and they are going to be more attracted to the sweatshirt college names. Then we move on to where they start to be more thoughtful about what they really want to study. Later, when we get close to the end of the process and know more about test scores and final GPA, we can be more realistic about what schools they can actually get into.”

The financial return can also be substantial. A well-crafted list targeting merit-generous institutions can yield annual savings of $20,000 to $30,000—a potential four-year ROI of $80,000 to $120,000. 

At Great College Advice, a boutique firm with six counselors and over 100 combined years of experience in college admissions, the process begins with comprehensive diagnostic assessments and a detailed criteria-building exercise. Counselors meet regularly with students—typically weekly over 30 or more weeks—helping them evolve from initial brand-driven preferences toward deep college-fit research.

Beyond the list itself, consultants provide guidance on how to apply to college strategically, covering essay development, demonstrated interest, interview preparation, and application review to ensure each student presents their strongest, most authentic candidacy at every school on their list.

Ready to start working with an admissions expert? Schedule a free consultation today.

The post What Is College Fit & Why It Matters More first appeared on Great College Advice.

For a complete understanding of all possible admission outcomes—including acceptances, rejections, deferrals, and conditional admissions—see our comprehensive guide on Admission Decisions: What Are the Common Outcomes.

What should I do immediately after being placed on a college waitlist?

Receiving a waitlist decision can feel like admissions limbo, but it’s actually a call to strategic action. The first 48-72 hours after notification set the tone for your waitlist journey.

Start by formally accepting your spot on the waitlist through the college’s applicant portal—this step is essential because many schools won’t consider you further unless you opt in. Next, continue engaging with any opportunities the institution offers. Veteran college admissions expert Jamie Berger advises students to embrace every touchpoint: “Say yes to everything—these Zoom meetings, these Facebook groups, everything.” These engagement opportunities aren’t just informational; they’re data points demonstrating genuine interest.

Within one to two weeks of your waitlist notification, send a thoughtful Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI). This communication should reaffirm your commitment and share meaningful updates since your original application.

Most critically, secure your enrollment at another college before May 1. Never rely solely on a waitlist outcome. Great College Advice can provide dedicated deferral and waitlist support because this phase requires nuanced guidance and precise timing. As one community member observed, “The waitlist taught us the importance of having schools we genuinely loved as backups—it turned what felt like defeat into a choice between good options.”

How do I write an effective Letter of Continued Interest (LOCI) that gets results?

Your Letter of Continued Interest is your single best opportunity to move from the waitlist to the admitted class. Done well, it can be the deciding factor in your favor.

Keep it concise. One page or less is ideal. Admissions officers manage thousands of communications during this period—respect their time while making an impact.

Open with a clear, direct statement that this school remains your first choice and you will absolutely attend if admitted. Admissions committees want to admit students who will actually enroll—your commitment matters to their yield calculations.

Share specific updates about achievements since you applied: improved grades, new awards, leadership positions, meaningful projects, or work experience. These aren’t humble brags—they’re evidence you’ve continued growing.

Articulate concrete reasons why you belong at this specific institution. Reference particular programs, professors, research opportunities, or campus organizations by name. Generic enthusiasm is forgettable; specific alignment is memorable.

According to Jamie Berger, authenticity is paramount: “Write to your admissions rep a very short, to-the-point email just so they know that you are genuinely interested. That’s the main point—demonstrating actual interest.”

Avoid these common mistakes: restating information from your original application, excessive flattery, or sending multiple follow-ups. Quality trumps quantity every time.

What are my realistic chances of getting off a college waitlist?

Honest assessment of waitlist odds helps you plan wisely without crushing hope.

Waitlist acceptance rates vary dramatically—anywhere from 0% to over 50%—depending on the institution, year, and factors entirely outside your control. Several elements influence whether spots open: the college’s yield rate (percentage of admitted students who actually enroll), available spots in specific programs or majors, economic conditions affecting families’ ability to pay, and even weather on admitted students day.

Highly selective schools typically have lower waitlist admission rates because they’ve refined acceptance models to hit enrollment targets precisely. Less selective institutions may have more waitlist movement but less predictable patterns.

What you can control: your demonstrated interest throughout the process. Jamie Berger has observed a notable trend where colleges have started to reject overqualified applicants who they don’t think have any interest. This same principle applies to waitlists—schools want to admit students who will actually attend. Your history of engagement, campus visits, interview participation, and communications all factor into waitlist decisions.

The Great College Advice team emphasizes that while outcomes are unpredictable, students who’ve shown consistent, genuine interest tend to fare better when spots do open.

Should I accept a waitlist spot if I already have acceptances from other colleges?

Absolutely—if you would genuinely choose that school over your current acceptances. The key word is “genuinely.”

Here’s the strategic framework: Accept the waitlist position, but proceed with full commitment to your backup plan. By May 1 (the common student response date), you must submit an enrollment deposit to a school where you’ve been admitted. This deposit—typically $200-$500—secures your place and is usually non-refundable.

If the waitlisted school later admits you, withdraw from your deposited school, forfeit that deposit, and commit to your preferred institution instead. This is standard practice and entirely ethical.

What’s essential is having a deposited school you’d be genuinely happy attending. As Jamie Berger emphasizes, “Having happy likelies will lead to a happy outcome regardless.” The terminology has evolved—we now call them “likely” schools rather than “safety” schools—but the principle remains: build a list where every school represents a place you could thrive.

Never turn down an acceptance hoping the waitlist will come through. That’s not optimism; it’s risk without reward.

How do I handle enrollment deposits and deadlines while on a waitlist?

Managing the financial and logistical dimensions of waitlist limbo requires clear thinking and firm boundaries.

The May 1 deadline is non-negotiable. Before this common response date, you must submit an enrollment deposit to one school where you’ve been accepted. When students apply by the Regular Decision or Early Action plan, they are under no obligation to make a decision about whether to attend that college until the common student response date of May 1. Use every day of that timeline to evaluate your options.

Treat your deposited school as your genuine plan—because it very well may be. Attend admitted student events, connect with future classmates, research housing options, and mentally commit. This isn’t pessimism about the waitlist; it’s responsible planning.

If you’re later admitted off a waitlist, withdraw from your deposited school and forfeit that deposit. This is a normal, accepted practice—schools expect some summer melt and budget for it.

Never deposit at multiple schools simultaneously. This is considered unethical in college admissions and can result in both offers being rescinded. Colleges communicate with each other, and this approach puts your entire admission at risk.

Can I improve my application or appeal a waitlist decision?

While formal appeals aren’t typically available for waitlist placement, you have meaningful opportunities to strengthen your candidacy.

Your primary tool is the Letter of Continued Interest with substantive updates. New accomplishments—improved grades, awards, leadership roles, completed projects—demonstrate continued growth and give admissions officers fresh reasons to advocate for you.

Ask your school counselor to send an updated transcript showing strong senior year performance. Academic improvement is one of the most compelling arguments for waitlist admission.

If appropriate, request an additional recommendation from a teacher or mentor who can speak to recent achievements. This works best when you have genuinely new accomplishments to highlight, not simply another voice saying the same things.

Consider a campus visit if circumstances allow. Some schools track demonstrated interest even during the waitlist phase, and an in-person visit signals serious commitment.

However, the Great College Advice Family Handbook offers an important caution: “There is a very fine line between showing genuine interest and harassing admissions staff. Showing too much love can backfire.” One strategic, substantive update is far more effective than multiple generic check-ins. Quality over quantity—always.

When will I hear back from the waitlist and how long should I wait?

Understanding waitlist timelines helps you plan emotionally and practically.

Most waitlist movement happens between early May and mid-August, with the heaviest activity in May and June. After the May 1 deadline, colleges assess their incoming class size against enrollment targets. If fewer students commit than expected, they turn to the waitlist.

Some schools set specific dates for waitlist notifications; others maintain active waitlists through the summer. Check the college’s admissions website or your waitlist notification for their specific policy.

Emotionally, commit to your deposited school now. Engage with your admitted school’s community: attend orientation sessions, join social media groups for incoming students, explore course catalogs, and get excited about the opportunities ahead.

If admitted off the waitlist later in the summer, you’ll need to act quickly—often within days. This is why mental preparation matters: you’ll be making a significant decision under time pressure.

The Great College Advice team supports students through this entire uncertainty period, offering guidance on timing, communication strategies, and decision-making frameworks. Remember: your deposited school wanted you enough to admit you. That acceptance is worth celebrating, regardless of any waitlist outcome.

Need Expert Guidance Through the Waitlist Process?

Navigating waitlist decisions requires strategic timing, compelling communication, and emotional resilience. Great College Advice offers dedicated deferral and waitlist support as part of our Elite Comprehensive Package, helping students craft effective Letters of Continued Interest, manage timelines, and make confident decisions during this uncertain period. Our veteran admissions counselors have guided thousands of students through exactly this situation.

The post On the Waiting List: What Now? first appeared on Great College Advice.

Strategic timing of campus visits is one part of a comprehensive approach to the college admissions process, alongside decisions. Not all colleges offer tours and information sessions on weekends. For those that do, weekend visits are typically only offered during select months—usually September, October, March, or April. Plan ahead and book early, as popular tour dates fill quickly at competitive schools.

When Is the Best Time of Year to Visit a College Campus?

The ideal months for campus visits fall into two clear windows: 

1. Fall semester (September through early November) and
2. Spring semester (February through April). 

During these periods, classes are in full swing, clubs and organizations are active, and you can witness the authentic rhythm of student life that simply doesn’t exist during breaks or summer months.

Fall visits are particularly strategic for juniors beginning to build their college list. September and October allow you to see campuses at their most vibrant while still early enough in the academic year that admissions offices are welcoming and less overwhelmed by application season. Keep an eye out for special admissions events like “preview days” and “open houses” that many schools schedule during these months.

Spring visits in late March and April are ideal for admitted students attending accepted students’ days, and for sophomores beginning their exploratory campus research. Most colleges have a “visit” section on their admissions website with a calendar of dates and times to choose from.

“The most important thing is to be on campus when the student body is on campus. It’s much better to visit during a weekday when classes are in session. Avoid being there during spring break because you simply won’t get a feel for the student body.” — Sarah Myers, Senior Admissions Consultant, Great College Advice

Should I Visit Colleges During the Week or on Weekends?

Weekday visits are significantly more valuable than weekend visits. When classes are in session, you can observe the true academic culture of a school: 

• Students moving between lectures,
• Conversations in the dining hall about coursework 
• Campus events,
• The hum of activity in the library and study spaces. 

This day-to-day energy is impossible to replicate on a Saturday morning tour.

Morning visits are especially valuable. Sarah Myers, senior admissions consultant at Great College Advice, notes that “it’s better to go in the morning than in the afternoon because more classes are in session in the morning.” If you’re trying to visit two schools in one day, schedule the first tour for the morning and the second for early afternoon.

Pro Strategy: Arrive the evening before your scheduled tour and spend time in the surrounding town when students are out after classes. Stay overnight nearby, then attend the morning tour the next day. This gives you both the social atmosphere of the campus at night and the academic energy during the school day—a much more complete picture than a single mid-day tour.

If a weekday visit is genuinely impossible, a Saturday morning tour during peak visit months (September, October, or April) is the next best option. However, expect a quieter campus with fewer students visible, and understand that you’re seeing a partial version of the school’s personality.

What Grade Should Students Start Visiting Colleges?

The short answer: earlier than most families think. Campus visits can begin as early as eighth or ninth grade, though the purpose and depth of those visits should evolve as your student progresses through high school.

“I recommend that families start taking their students to visit colleges when they’re on a family trip, even when the student is a freshman or even an eighth grader. Spending even half an hour dropping by and walking around when your student is really young will create a context for what college is, so that as they get older, they can refer back to those early experiences of visiting campuses.” — Sarah Myers, Senior Admissions Consultant, Great College Advice

Here’s how to think about visits by grade level:

Freshman and Sophomore Year (Exploratory Visits)

These are casual, low-pressure opportunities to help your student begin understanding the landscape. Visit a large university and a small liberal arts college to see the contrast. Explore both urban and suburban campuses. The goal isn’t to pick schools—it’s to develop a frame of reference. As one parent in the Great College Advice community shared, “I took my rising sophomore and her two friends on two visits within a five-hour drive. It was eye-opening for them to hear it from ‘experts,’ and the subtle shift in responsibility and accountability has been noticeable.”

Junior Year (Strategic Visits)

 This is when visits become more targeted. Schedule official tours, attend information sessions, sit in on classes in your academic interest area, and begin meeting with admissions staff. Junior year visits should cover a range of schools on your developing list, from reaches to “likely” schools (the term admissions professionals now use instead of “safety” schools).

Senior Year (Strategic and Decision Visits)

 Find time to visit schools you plan on applying to in the fall. Focus on top-choice schools and admitted students’ days in the spring. These visits help you make your final enrollment decision with real, on-the-ground experience. For schools where you’ve been admitted, a post-acceptance visit is one of the most important steps before committing.

How Many Colleges Should I Visit in One Day, and How Do I Plan an Efficient Itinerary?

The Great College Advice Family Handbook is clear on this: do not schedule more than two visits in a single day. The handbook explains that “the most informative visits can be those in which you spend a full day or more on campus, from morning until well into the evening,” and that cramming in too many schools causes “your experiences on different campuses to start to blend together.”

For an efficient multi-school itinerary, pair campuses that are within an hour or two of each other. Sarah Myers recommends this approach: “A good way to do college visits is to arrive somewhere the evening before and spend time in the town. Then the next morning do a tour. If you can find schools that are within an hour or two of one another, there’s a good chance you could get to a 12 or 1 o’clock tour at a second school—and you’ll still catch students on campus at that second school.”

Campus Visit Planning Checklist (from the Great College Advice Family Handbook)

☐ Travel accommodations arranged (bus/plane, rental car, hotel)

☐ Sign up for school-sponsored information session and campus tour

☐ Sign up for an admissions interview, if offered 

☐ Register to sit in on a class 

☐ Set up meetings with faculty or staff (professors, coaches) 

☐ Arrange to see specific facilities (physics lab, performance spaces, art studio, sports facilities) 

☐ Schedule a campus overnight, if available

☐ Consult the campus events calendar for activities during your visit (performances, lectures, sporting events)

Taking detailed notes and photos during and after each visit is critical. Months later, you may not remember which library or dining hall belonged to which school. As the Family Handbook notes, “Many colleges like to ask about the visit on the college application, so details can be important.”

What Should Students Do During a Campus Visit to Get the Most Out of It?

The official tour and information session are just the starting point. The most valuable part of a campus visit is everything you do beyond the guided experience. Here’s what Great College Advice’s expert counselors recommend:

1. Explore independently. Sarah Myers encourages students to walk around campus on their own: “The student should go on their own and walk around campus without the parents. You’re usually completely welcome, it’s safe, and sometimes you’ll just blend in as another student. Sit on a bench or outside a building and be a quiet observer—do people watching, listen to what students are talking about.”
2. Eat in the dining hall. This is one of the best places to observe authentic student culture. Listen to what students discuss, see how they interact, and get a real sense of the social atmosphere.
3. Peek into academic buildings. Walk through the hallways of departments in your area of interest. See what students are doing in labs, study rooms, and common areas. This is absolutely okay to do and gives you a window into everyday academic life.
4. Explore the surrounding town. Myers emphasizes that “spending time in the surrounding town is important—to see what it would be like there, including understanding the prices of things.” The town is where students spend a significant amount of their time outside of classes, so it’s a key part of the college experience.
5. Assess mental health support. Sarah Myers, who has a background in mental health, recommends that families investigate counseling resources: “Are there long waits for an appointment with a counselor? Do they have a 24-hour phone line? How many mental health providers are on campus? Can you get medications on campus or do they have to be mailed somewhere else?” These practical details matter enormously for the reality of college life.
6. Follow up afterward. A thank-you note after a campus visit or interview is a powerful and often overlooked form of demonstrated interest. The Great College Advice Family Handbook notes that “sometimes the best demonstrated interest is through conversations that show the student is truly engaged in the process.”

What Common Mistakes Should Students Avoid During College Campus Visits?

Even well-intentioned families make avoidable mistakes that reduce the value of their campus visits. Here are the most common pitfalls, according to Great College Advice’s counselors:

1. Not taking it seriously enough.
2. Visiting when campus is empty. 
3. Cramming too many schools into one trip. 
4. Parents dominating the visit. 
5. Treating it as a “drive-by.” 
6. Forgetting to take notes. 

When parents and students both attend the tour, the Great College Advice team recommends a smart “divide and conquer” strategy: if more than one tour guide is available, split up so the student goes on one tour and the parents on the other, then compare notes over coffee afterward. Alternatively, while the student attends a class, parents can meet with someone in financial aid or student advising.

What If I Can’t Visit a College Campus in Person—Are Virtual Tours Worth It?

Virtual tours are a useful supplement, especially for international students or families for whom travel costs are prohibitive, but they are not a full replacement for an in-person visit. Many colleges offer interactive virtual tours, and some feature a virtual student guide walking you through campus.

“A lot of colleges have virtual tours that you can take, and some even have a virtual student leading you around. Those can fill in the gap when you’re an international student or can’t fly over to visit.” — Sarah Myers, Senior Admissions Consultant, Great College Advice

Beyond virtual tours, colleges frequently offer webinars, video meetings with faculty and department deans, and virtual panels with current students. To access these opportunities, Myers recommends getting on college mailing lists as early as possible: “If the school is very large, you might have a specific email list for the business school only or the engineering school only, and then you’ll be made aware when they have open meetings online.”

For students who cannot visit in person, veteran college admissions expert Jamie Berger advises making your interest known through other channels: “If your first choice is a school that you can’t visit, write them a letter so they know you’re not just applying to 30 schools blindly. Something short, though.” A campus visit is one of the most powerful ways to show demonstrated interest, but it’s not the only way.

One parent in the Great College Advice community shared creative alternatives their family used: “My child watched college tour episodes on streaming services, did the online tours from the school websites, and even used a virtual reality set to ‘walk around’ the campuses.” Other community members noted the value of visiting after being accepted—waiting to visit until you have admissions decisions can be a financially smart strategy for families on a budget.

Additional virtual research strategies include reading the campus newspaper online, watching broadcast sports games to gauge school spirit, and researching the percentage of in-state versus out-of-state students to understand the campus community.

Plan Your College Visits with an Expert by Your Side

At Great College Advice, our team of six expert counselors brings over 100 years of combined experience to help students and families navigate every step of the college admissions process—from strategic campus visit planning to crafting winning applications.

Whether you’re a sophomore beginning your college search or a senior making your final decision, our personalized guidance ensures you find schools where you’ll truly thrive. Learn more about how we can help your family on a complimentary call.

The post When Is the Best Time to Visit a College Campus first appeared on Great College Advice.

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Begin the college search process over winter break

Along with starting the college search process, here are some other productive activities to do over winter break:

1.  Start doing some college research.  There are so many college websites out there, it is hard to know where to begin.  These days, high schoolers are inundated with information about colleges on TikTok or other social media platforms. But, we often suggest that students begin with a simple college match survey.  You can find these on CollegeBoard.org or Princeton Review.  Once you find some colleges that you are interested in learning more about, visit CollegeData.com.  This site provides a wealth of information about size, academics and the competitiveness of the application process.  Another site to check out is Unigo.com.  This site can answer many questions you may have about the college application process.
2.  Volunteer.  Winter break is a great time to get in some volunteer hours.  You may work at an animal shelter or see if you can help with a holiday program at a local hospital.  Volunteering not only looks great on your college applications, but it is beneficial for your mental health and a great way to give back to your community. It may also be a great opportunity for you to explore some different careers.
3.  Begin thinking about next summer.  Now is the time to begin thinking about your plans for the summer.  Look into possible enrichment programs or camps that will help you explore an interest. You may want to start putting together your resume as you begin exploring potential summer job or internship opportunities.
4.  Network.  There are lots of gatherings during the holidays, which provide great opportunities for networking.  Before you attend your next holiday event, brainstorm some questions you may have from the people you know will be there.  Ask about career paths and college experiences. This is a great way to learn more about college from multiple perspectives.
5.  Read.  Reading is one of the best ways to improve your SAT scores, so take some time to dive into a good book or two or three!

Great College Advice

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Students will be sending in their Early Decision (ED) applications to meet the November 1 deadline with most colleges emailing their Early Decision notifications in mid-December. It’s one of the times of the year when the team at Great College Advice have our fingers and toes crossed very hard for our students who have applied ED. It seems like a strange time to be asking, “is early decision binding or not?”

The question has received a lot more attention recently following a New York Times article (paywall) discussing how Tulane punished a Colorado private high school after a student backed out of their ED agreement with Tulane. As we don’t have all the details of this particular situation, we will refrain from giving our opinion. But it’s important for families to understand how these ED agreements work.

Applying early decision (ED) is not a good idea for every college applicant. For some, sending out a single application could be financially foolish because it carries a binding agreement to attend that school no matter what. For others, if you’re applying ED to a college you’re not excited about just because you’ve been told that it improves your admission odds then that is not a good decision either.

But, we also sympathize with families. The college process can be unfair. Universities like Tulane take roughly 2/3 of its class in its Early Decision rounds. It’s virtually impossible to be accepted in Tulane’s regular decision round. And, yes, for many selective universities the acceptance rate is higher in ED. If you truly have a dream school and financial aid is not an issue, then ED makes sense. If not, then think carefully about whether early decision is right for you.

So Is Early Decision Binding or Not?

But let us clarify our position: we don’t advocate that students and their families renege on the binding ED agreement. The only justifiable grounds for getting out of this agreement is insufficient financial aid. If financial situations are such that parents simply cannot (or will not) be able to pay for college, the family (along with the student’s high school counselor) should communicate with the financial aid office and ask to be released from the agreement.

But it’s MUCH better to never get yourself into this sort of predicament in the first place. Again, if you go back and read our article explaining how ED works, you’ll understand that colleges have less incentive to offer the best financial aid packages to early applicants. Of course, colleges will say that they offer equivalent packages to ED and regular applicants. But, there is no way of proving or disproving their claim. Colleges do not divulge all their records and offers publicly. The logic of the situation (plus long talks with admissions officers off the record over beers) indicates that this is how colleges do business.

Therefore, if ever a family comes to us with any indication that financial aid awards will be central to the decision about where their kid goes to college we de-emphasize ED. This allows families to do some comparison shopping later in the spring. (It’s okay to apply Early Action, however, as these admissions programs carry no binding agreement).

When selecting a college, cost needs to be one of the most important factors for most families. But there are other considerations involved too. And it’s hard to make a general rule when each family’s financial circumstances are different.

Our point is that no student should ever renege on their ED agreement if they have done their homework. They will never get in a situation in which backing out of an ED agreement is necessary to maintain a family’s financial health.

What if I need to talk to someone to ask whether early decision is binding or not?

If you need professional guidance to explore your own circumstances and to discuss the binding nature of your early decision agreement, please reach out to Great College Advice. Every year we help families understand the nuances of the college admissions process so that they can maximize their priorities in the college decision. Please contact us here.

Since 2007, the expert team of college admissions consultants at Great College Advice has provided comprehensive guidance to thousands of students from across the United States and over 45 countries across the world. Great College Advice has offices in Colorado, New Jersey, Chicago, North Carolina and Massachusetts.  

In addition to our one-on-one counseling, Great College Advice extends its support through one of the most active and resource-rich Facebook Groups for college-bound students and their families: College Admissions Experts. With nearly 100,000 members—students, parents, and experienced counselors—this vibrant forum offers peer support and expert advice like no other. 

The post Is Early Decision Binding or Not? first appeared on Great College Advice.

The short answer is yes. So don’t panic!

How to make changes to a college application

In most cases, you cannot actually change the application. Once it is sent, you cannot alter it. You probably even made a declaration when submitting saying something to the effect that “I understand that once I submit my application, it cannot be changed.”

So the only way to make the change is to contact the admissions office. You will need to write an email.

Who shall I contact to make changes on a college application?

Preferably, you’ll email the admissions officer who is going to read your application. Most admissions offices read by geographic reason, and most admissions websites will have a tool for you to find the admissions officer responsible for your state and high school. So take the time to look up who this person is. You may even find a bio on the website that tells you a bit about them.

Once you have found that person, compose an email. It doesn’t need to be long or involved. It just needs to state the facts and request an alteration.

Some instances in which you might want to make changes to a college application

• Your mom decided to read your essay “one more time” and found an error. Send admissions offices an updated PDF version of your essay and ask them to replace it with the copy submitted with your application.
• Your history grade improved from the C reported on your first quarter grades to a respectable B because you aced your last exam. Kindly ask your history teacher to write a few comments about your improved grade and sign it. Scan the letter and email it to all of the schools you have applied to and put a hard copy in the mail.
• The mayor of your city has just recognized a non-profit organization that you helped create. Cut the article out of the newspaper and mail it into the schools you applied to, along with a letter. If you can provide a link to the article, send an email in as well.
• If it was something you inadvertently left blank but wanted to answer, give the answer in the same format in which the original question was answered. For example, if you left out an activity, provide the activity in the same format that is required on the Common App. There are specific character limits for each of the blanks, and required information about when you participated in this activity. Follow that same pattern exactly.
• If you answered a question wrong (i.e., you wrote your test scores incorrectly, or you clicked the wrong box for citizenship), just explain the error concisely and provide the new, corrected response.

Do NOT spend a lot of time apologizing. Do express regret, but do so without a lot of wringing of hands and gnashing of teeth.  Just apologize, and then express gratitude to the recipient of your email for taking the time to make the correction.

Accidents happen.  Things go wrong.  People make mistakes.  Generally, admissions officers are understanding of these little goofs, and are happy to make the changes in your file.

In fact, it’s better to recognize the mistake early and make the correction than let the admissions officer read the incorrect information and make a judgment on your application before you have a chance to communicate the error.

So if you find a mistake, correct it!  It is possible to make changes to a college application even after it is submitted.

Remember that it is important to provide colleges with all of the information they need to make an informed decision about your application. Just because application deadlines have passed does not mean that you can not submit additional information.

Ready to get started with the college admissions process?

The team at Great College Advice has deep experience in guiding students along the road from high school college. We provide individually tailored, one-on-one advising to help students achieve their college dreams. If you’d like more information about our services, contact us for a free consultation. Or just pick up the phone and call us at 720.279.7577.  We’d be happy to chat with you.

Since 2007, the expert team of college admissions consultants at Great College Advice has provided comprehensive guidance to thousands of students from across the United States and over 45 countries across the world. Great College Advice has offices in Colorado, New Jersey, Chicago, North Carolina and Massachusetts.  

In addition to our one-on-one counseling, Great College Advice extends its support through one of the most active and resource-rich Facebook Groups for college-bound students and their families: College Admissions Experts. With nearly 100,000 members—students, parents, and experienced counselors—this vibrant forum offers peer support and expert advice like no other. 

The post How To Make Changes to a College Application first appeared on Great College Advice.

• Time for a change
• Better chances of college acceptance
• Less expensive
• Find the right college fit
• Explore what is out there

Is it time for a change?

Sure you may feel homesick if you decide to go to a school that is far from home, but most students say that homesickness eventually goes away.  Nothing can replace waking up with your cat or dog, a home-cooked meal from mom, or hanging out with all of your high school friends, but being away at school gives you the chance to create new memories and become more independent.  I always tell my students that home is never the same after high school ends.  Your friends may move away and you certainly will not have the same routine.  Being away from home gives you the chance to really learn about yourself, without being influenced by the comforts that have always been around you.  It can be a tough journey, but worth it in the end.  Keep in mind that this decision is not permanent.  You can always go back after graduation!

Increasing admission odds when applying to college out-of-state?

One of the downsides of being a non-resident at a state school is that you will have to pay out-of-state tuition.  Well, in this economy, that makes out-of-state students very desireable.  Boston.com reported that UMass Amerhst plans to “aggressively recruit” out-of-state students.  They also plan on increasing scholarship opportunities and other financial incentives.  Inside Higher Ed also reported that similar ideas are being tossed around at UC Berkeley, UCSD, Rutgers University and University of Colorado.
While this may be a new trend for some state schools, private schools have been seeking students outside of their normal geographic regions for years.  This “geographic diversity” can be a bonus in the admissions process.

Is it really more expensive to go to college out-of-state?

As I mentioned above, out-of-state tuition at public school can be pricey, but as with anything in the college admission process, it is important to do your homework.  We have previously reported on the importance of comparison shopping when it comes to paying tuition at state schools.  In some instances it can actually be cheaper than paying tuition in your home state!
Also, some private colleges do take into consideration your distance from home when determining financial aid packages.   As a result, financial aid packages can include travel funds.  Travel scholarships may also be available through the admissions office if you are in need of financial assistance in order to visit a school that is far from home.

Finding the right fit.

Reality is that the schools in your state may not offer what you are looking for.  They may not have the right major or access to career resources you feel that you need.  In these circumstances, an out-of-state school may provide the right fit for the college experience you are envisioning.

Experiencing a new part of the country

Fact of the matter is that it is a big world out there.  One of the greatest things about the United States is that there is so much to see and experience.  You have the opportunity to live in a completely different environment and you don’t even have to leave the country!  So jump in with both feet and really begin to think about how going way to college can change your life!

Need help with the college admissions process?

If you want help exploring out-of-state college options, please reach out to schedule your complimentary consultation.

Since 2007, the expert team of college admissions consultants at Great College Advice has provided comprehensive guidance to thousands of students from across the United States and over 45 countries across the world. Great College Advice has offices in Colorado, New Jersey, Chicago, North Carolina and Massachusetts.  

In addition to our one-on-one counseling, Great College Advice extends its support through one of the most active and resource-rich Facebook Groups for college-bound students and their families: College Admissions Experts. With over 100,000 members—students, parents, and experienced counselors—this vibrant forum offers peer support and expert advice like no other. 

The post Top 5 Reasons to go to College Out-of-State first appeared on Great College Advice.

While Early Action is the right choice for many high-performing applicants, Early Decision offers a meaningful advantage for full-pay families with a clear first-choice school. And Regular Decision serves students who need additional time to strengthen their profile or compare financial aid packages. Understanding these nuances is essential to maximizing your chances for college admission. 

What Is the Difference Between Early Decision, Early Action, and Regular Decision?

Let’s dive into the fundamental differences between application plans, as understanding these is critical before making a timing decision. Each plan has distinct deadlines, binding implications, and strategic consequences.

Regular Decision 

Regular Decision (RD) is the standard application process. Students apply by published deadlines—typically on or after January 1 of senior year—and receive decisions no later than April 1. With RD, students have no obligation to commit until the common response date of May 1, allowing time to compare offers from multiple schools.

Early Decision

Early Decision (ED) represents a binding commitment. Students apply early (usually by November 1 or November 15), receive decisions by mid-December, and in return for this early review, the student, parents, and school counselor sign a pledge that if accepted, the student will attend that college and withdraw all other applications. Students may only apply ED to one school.

Early Decision 2 

Early Decision 2 (ED2) follows the same binding structure as ED but with later deadlines—typically about four to six weeks after ED. This gives students who weren’t ready for ED1, or were denied or deferred from their ED1 school, another opportunity to make a binding commitment.

Early Action

Early Action (EA) offers early review and early decisions (often by December or January) without the binding promise. Students can apply EA to multiple schools and wait until May 1 to make their final decision.

When Should a Student Apply Early Decision vs. Early Action?

Veteran college admissions expert Jamie Berger offers clear guidance on this decision: “Early Action is something almost everyone should do. Early Action—you’re not bound to a school. You’re just expressing your intent that you’re genuinely interested. And they take a group of people from that first pool. Some get rejected early, some get moved on to the spring decision time.”

The key benefit of EA extends beyond demonstrating interest. As Jamie notes: “The other benefit is you get some answers in December or January—you have some schools in your back pocket. Ideally, maybe you have the school that you want the most.”

For Early Decision, the Great College Advice Family Handbook outlines three essential conditions that must all be met:

1. The college must be far and away the student’s first choice 

Students should ask themselves: “If I got into every college on my list, would I choose to go to this particular school?” If the answer is anything other than a definitive “yes,” an ED application is not advised.

1. The student must stand a reasonable chance of admission 

Are your grades and test scores within the range the university generally accepts? If your scores are below the 50% range, do you have a “hook” that makes you appealing, such as legacy status, recruited athlete status, or underrepresented background?

1. The college must meet 100% of demonstrated financial need (if the family requires aid). 

This condition is non-negotiable for families who need assistance.

Do Students Get an Admissions Advantage by Applying Early Decision?

The statistical advantage of Early Decision is real but often misunderstood. Statistically speaking, it is ‘easier’ to get into a college during the ED process than during the regular process because colleges know that they can count on you attending their school, and being able to predict the number of students who will actually attend their institution is extremely valuable to admissions offices.

However, keep in mind that what may be statistically true for an entire pool of applicants may not be true for an individual applicant. Admission is not a matter of randomized statistics. If a student does not possess at least the minimum requirements for entrance to a particular college, they will not somehow sneak past the admissions gate in the early round.

A perspective from inside admissions adds nuance. A former UChicago admissions officer shared in the Great College Advice community: “Early Decision pools are much stronger—you’re competing against kids who’ve been prepping since 10th grade, legacy students, and international applicants with perfect stats. So while the acceptance rate might look higher, you’re facing tougher competition. Regular Decision has way more applicants, but they’re more diverse in terms of preparation level.”

The strategic takeaway: don’t fixate on aggregate acceptance rates. Instead, honestly assess whether YOUR profile positions you for admission at YOUR ED college.

How Does Early Decision Affect Financial Aid and the Ability to Compare Offers?

Financial considerations may be the most underestimated factor in the ED vs. EA vs. RD decision. Jamie is direct about this reality: “Early Decision favors families who can pay the full cost. Every family should be running the Net Price Calculator for each school they want to apply to, especially if they want to apply Early Decision. Because if they run the NPC for the college and it pumps out an amount—if you can’t pay that amount, you shouldn’t apply Early Decision because ostensibly, if you apply Early Decision, you are bound to accept that offer.”

The contrast with Early Action is significant. Jamie explains, “Early Action still gives you that bargaining ability. Early Decision does not. It is somewhat like buying a car—if you get four financial offers from four colleges and your top choice gave you the least amount of money, you write to them and say, ‘Dear [College], we love you so much, but we’re being offered $40,000 more a year by school X. Can you approach that? Can you help us in any way?’ You can bargain with them. With Early Decision, you’re bound to one school.”

The Great College Advice Family Handbook reveals another uncomfortable truth: “The ED system tends to discriminate against students with high financial need in subtle ways that are not easy to prove. If a student with high financial need is qualified for admission at a need-aware college, but not necessarily a clear stand-out in the eyes of the admissions officers, they may be deferred to the regular round to compete for an offer with everyone else. The reason? A high-need student costs the institution more money.”

What colleges don’t tell you is that ED is not just about ‘filling the class with kids who want us’; it’s about budgeting. Many of the students accepted in the early round are full-pay students.

What Happens If I Get Deferred from Early Decision or Early Action?

Deferral moves your application to the Regular Decision pool for reconsideration. This is not a rejection—your application will be reviewed again alongside RD applicants.

For ED applicants, deferral has a silver lining: once a college has released you from the ED agreement, either by deferring or denying you, you can feel free to tell another school that you will go there if accepted by applying ED2, if they offer an ED2 application plan.

It is crucial that students who submit early applications have their Regular Decision applications completed and ready to go before they hear back from their early schools.

This matters for two reasons. 

The practical reason: 

If a student is rejected from all ED and EA applications, they will have only about two weeks to complete and submit the remaining RD applications. Leaving all this work to the last minute means running the risk of submitting poorly crafted applications.

The emotional reason: 

If a student is rejected by their first choice college—and maybe some second and third choices, too—the psychological energy needed to complete those subsequent RD applications is significant. That disappointment can have a negative impact on the quality of those RD applications.

When Is Regular Decision the Better Strategic Choice?

Regular Decision becomes the optimal strategy in specific circumstances. Jamie identifies the primary scenario: “The only time not to apply early action is when you’ve had a rough patch. Say your junior year grades were lower, and you need to prove yourself first semester of senior year. That is the rare occasion when Regular Decision is going to be greatly to your advantage because the schools just won’t take you based on those junior grades.”

He adds important context about recovery: “But if something tragic happened in your life—if you were ill, if someone else was ill, and freshman and sophomore year were great, junior year you plummeted, and everything is back on track—you can show that and not apply early.”

Do keep in mind that your cumulative GPA will not improve that much in a single semester. You can demonstrate a change in your focus and performance in that final semester. For some schools, that may be enough. 

Beyond academic recovery, RD serves students who need to compare financial aid packages across multiple schools, haven’t yet identified a clear first-choice school that meets their criteria, or want additional time to strengthen their application through test retakes, additional achievements, or more polished essays.

What Are the Consequences of Breaking an Early Decision Agreement?

While the Early Decision agreement is not a legal contract, breaking it carries serious repercussions that extend beyond the individual student.

Breaking the ED agreement could potentially ruin admissions chances at that university for future applicants from your high school, and will likely ruin your relationship with your high school counseling department. The ED agreement requires the signature of your high school guidance counselor, who is expected to do everything possible to enforce the agreement. And if your counselor is unsuccessful because you refuse to honor the agreement, the university may express its displeasure by refusing to admit future applicants from your high school.

There is one acceptable reason to be released: if the financial aid package offered is insufficient for the student to attend. However, process matters. If you have received an acceptance ED but your financial aid offer is simply impossible, then you should definitely keep your RD applications in play. 

However, you cannot and should not send in your matriculation deposit to your ED school. This deposit clearly signifies your intention to go to that ED school, and once you’ve paid your deposit, you must withdraw all of your other applications.

Making the right application timing decision requires understanding your student’s unique profile, financial circumstances, and target schools. For personalized guidance, talk to our team by scheduling a free consultation.

The post Regular Decision vs. Early Action vs. Early Decision first appeared on Great College Advice.

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 that a college admissions officer will let you in.

But that’s not really how it works.

If you want a college to love you, you have to love the college first. Show demonstrated interest.

First, let them know you’re interested

Sign up to receive their information. Go to the college website and leave a trace. Register for their web portals, and sign up for their email lists. An admissions officer will never know that you have your eye on their school…unless you give them a sign.

Second, fill out their dance cards.

Any time an admissions officer asks you to fill out a card, do it. Even if you have filled out the same card for the same person a hundred times. You get credit for every bit of contact you have with that admissions officer. In today’s high-tech world, admissions offices across the land keep careful track of your contacts with their admissions people. And every contact is a brownie point in the application process. And who doesn’t need more brownie points?

Third, accept their invitations.

If a college invites you to meet their representative someplace—at your school, at a Starbucks when they visit your town, at a college fair—put on your dancing shoes and show up. Even if you’re not the best dancer in the room, you get major points for just showing up. Especially if an admissions officer visits your school. You cannot afford to waste the opportunity to meet and take another turn around the dance floor—you need those brownie points.

Even if you have to miss your calculus class. Even if you have to skip volleyball practice. Even if your feet hurt. You’ve got to dance if you want that admissions officer to remember your name. To know how much you care, and to know how badly you want the keys to the gate.

Fourth, go visit.

Explore what your life might be like if you agree to keep dancing with this college for the next four years. Nothing—I repeat, nothing—will declare your enthusiasm as much as a personal visit, where you can dance for a few hours (or better, a day or two) to see whether this college really is everything that the admissions officer promised.

So when is the best time to visit? Anytime you can. It’s nice to go when school is in session because it gives you a better sense of what your life might be like if you decide to go exclusive with this dance partner. But you’ll make a suitable impression no matter when you go or how long you stay.

But, make you sure are ready to visit. Take time to develop the criteria you feel is important to you in where you go to college. Do research ahead of time. Otherwise a visit can be a wasted opportunity.

Fifth, meet the rest of the crew.

Talk to the rest of the admissions officer’s team: The faculty. The staff. The coaches. The gardener, even. If you were to accept your this college’s hand, you would suddenly find yourself in this new world, populated by lots of new folks. So when you do visit, don’t simply spend all your time in the visitors’ center! Even if you can’t connect with the family during your visit, use email, the phone, the web. You won’t know whether you really want to commit until you chat with the rest of the clan.

Sixth, spend the night.

Really. Many schools have current students who volunteer to host prospective students overnight in the dorms. You might see some of the institution’s dirty laundry (better to get over the shock before you commit), and some of the polish of the glossy brochures your admissions officer plied you with might lose its luster. But spending the night will give you the opportunity to experience, however briefly, what life at that college is really like.

Seventh, stay in touch.

Don’t forget to thank your admissions officer. Sprinkle the praise and your delight in the attention you have been receiving. Mention the specific characteristics of the college that thrill you the most. Tell how appreciative you are. Despite the lightness of the metaphor, the admissions dance is an extremely important aspect of the entire process.

Take the time to build a relationship with the admissions officers of the colleges that interest you. Admissions offices do keep careful track of your calls, emails, visits, interviews—every single point of contact between you and the admissions representative.

Eighth, don’t step on toes.

It is possible to overdo this. You don’t want to be annoying. Sometimes an admissions officer will not be as receptive. This is particularly the case at large state universities and also at the most selective schools, including Stanford and the Ivy League. These admissions officers just have too many inquiries to respond to everyone. Plus, since they are so highly sought-after, they can be very, very choosy with their applicants.

In these cases, just let them know you’re interested, fill out the (dance) cards, attend the college fairs, and pay a visit. But don’t take it personally if they don’t want to engage in a lengthy phone conversation with you. These admissions officers are simply in very high demand.

Think about it.

I the situation were reversed, who would you choose? Someone who simply sends you a typed application, listing all their credentials, their qualifications, and their hopes and dreams? Someone who sits back, passively waiting for you to choose them from among the thousands of others who have also submitted applications?

Or someone who not only completes the application but who goes the extra mile?

Colleges want to accept students who express their strong interest and enthusiasm for their institutions.

So get out your dancing shoes, and don’t be afraid to dance. It may lead to something extraordinary.

Need some dance lessons?

Maybe you are not sure about all this.  Maybe you’re not even sure with whom you want to dance, much less how to master all the steps.

The expert admissions counselors at Great College Advice can help you be light on your toes throughout the complicated college admissions process. We would enjoy the opportunity to chat with you, take you for a spin around the dance floor, and help you figure out how best to master the steps to get admitted to college.

Just reach out. Contact us today for your complimentary consultation.

This post originally was posted in 2023. It has been updated for content.

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