If I could only give every family one piece of advice about college admissions and the college application process it would be this: Dare to be different. Be different from the beginning – don’t wait like so many other people until the summer after junior...
The first “letting go” is usually that tearful pre-school or kindergarten goodbye. Fast-forward 12+ years and now you’re saying goodbye to a college freshman. Karen Levin Coburn, author of “Letting Go” describes the transition to college as a “mixture of anticipation and anxiety, a sense of...
Filling in the standard application questions is almost enjoyable compared to the angst many students feel when approaching the college essay. Students struggle to write a unique essay. Most high seniors are staring at cold, gray computer screens hoping to create their ticket to Perfect U....
Used to be that parents packed up the station wagon, drove their son or daughter to college, unloaded the boxes, made their bed, kissed them goodbye, shed a few tears and headed home. Today, colleges cater to parents with comprehensive, multi-day orientation programs. Whether this relatively...
You would have hoped that after you go through the college search process and you've identified a number of schools that represent a good fit that you wouldn't have to face another decision until students receive their thin and thick envelopes next spring. Unfortunately, that isn't...
Admission isn't all about scores; look for best fit, not big name Gaining admission to some of the most elite colleges is remarkably more competitive today than it was 20 or 30 years ago. Unfortunately, this increased competitiveness has spurred myths that need to be dispelled. Myth...
With over 4,000 colleges in the United States alone, deciding where to apply can be a daunting task. Here are two fictitious scenarios. Ivy Ivy: We all know Ivy. She was groomed in the womb. She and her parents have been diligent about tracking her every...
Welcome to College Admissions 101. Here's a pop quiz on acronyms and abbreviations used in the college admissions process. Everybody is familiar with GPA -- Grade Point Average. And SAT -- it used to be the Scholastic Aptitude Test, but it took on its more accurate...
From plates to photos, students need lots of items to feel at home Packing for college has become big business. Home furnishings and department stores have handy college packing lists, and some even partner with colleges to create display dorm rooms stocked with their merchandise and...
COUNTDOWN TO COLLEGE By Lee Shulman Bierer There is no prep course for being the parent of a college applicant. Most of us feel like we’re out there, hanging on, with a frame of reference that is about 30 years old. The bad news is most of...
