There are highly selective colleges that ask you to list what you did the last two summers (before 11th and before 12th grade) on their applications. Other admission representatives use your essays and activities to see how you spent your time. There are many great ways to spend your summer and strengthen your college applications.Continue reading “How will you spend your summer?”
Tag Archives: college admission
Tips for Upcoming Visits
Presidents’ Day, spring break, and April/Easter break can be a great time to schedule a college visit. What should you be asking on those visits? How do you get past the general informaiton provided by a tour guide? Here are some tips to make your visit personal and effective. First, if you want to meet currentContinue reading “Tips for Upcoming Visits”
I Hate When Colleges Defer Students
Deferring students has become a game colleges play to protect their spot in the rankings. And I honestly hate it. HATE IT. It’s no longer an opportunity for a student to do well senior year and gain admission. Now it’s a tactic to string students along or make them jump through more hoops to show they reallyContinue reading “I Hate When Colleges Defer Students”
Being More Than Standard Strong
I heard a term recently that made me a little sad–“Standard Strong”. An admissions officer at a highly selective college said a student’s application was “standard strong” and they meant they had great grades, strong test scores and took the right classes (think lots of AP and rigor)–just like thousands of other students. They meant, the studentContinue reading “Being More Than Standard Strong”
How to Navigate Yield Protection
Admission is subjective, but when a student should be admitted to a college (because their grade point average and test scores are above their middle 50%) but is deferred, waitlisted or denied, it’s often because of yield protection and rankings. While the rankings by magazines like US News and World report are garbage–many colleges can’tContinue reading “How to Navigate Yield Protection”
What is Demonstrated Interest?
One of the challenging things about admissions is that it is ever-changing. A new dean or vice president joins an Office of Admission, and their policies or practices change. Some colleges care deeply about demonstrated interest, some don’t track it at all–and sometimes, it depends on the year and who is in charge. Demonstrated interest isContinue reading “What is Demonstrated Interest?”
Don’t miss those hidden application requirements
Many students think completing the Common Application or school’s application is all they need to apply for admission. Here are a few other things you may need to do in order to complete your applications. Always check the college’s webpage for all the application requirements. If you want to meet to review your application, essays,Continue reading “Don’t miss those hidden application requirements”
What’s with all these community essays?
In June, the Supreme Court ruled against Harvard and the University of North Carolina in a case centering on affirmative action in college admissions. This decision means colleges can not use race as a stand alone factor when making admissions decisions. The result is complicated for colleges, who are trying to create environments that bringContinue reading “What’s with all these community essays?”
Getting into a top STEM program
While there is no formula for getting into any particular school, We have gained some insights from current and former admissions representatives that could be helpful as you approach the top STEM programs. There are over 35,000 high schools in the US. They all have top students with great standardized test scores, who are codingContinue reading “Getting into a top STEM program”
Paper SAT or Digital SAT
I have a son who is a junior this year. His high school administers the March SAT to all juniors during the school day. This year, that will be the first digital SAT. I have decided to have him take the December SAT at a neighboring high school to see how he scores. That willContinue reading “Paper SAT or Digital SAT”
Will I do Well at a Big or Small School?
There is a right school for everyone. Some students thrive with personal attention and small discussion based lectures. Others prefer larger lectures and learn better through reading assignments. Every school, no matter the size, has clubs, sports, guest speakers, and performances–some are on a larger scale while some are more accessible to students. Understanding theContinue reading “Will I do Well at a Big or Small School?”
What Does “Fit For Major” Mean?
Some colleges and universities require you apply to a specific major at the time of admission. These schools assess your fit for the major when they review your application. While you don’t need to “pre-major” in your major during high school, the right courses and career related activities can show you understand and will succeedContinue reading “What Does “Fit For Major” Mean?”
Understanding the Student Loan Process
Many families need to take loans to cover the cost of college. The borrowing process has changed slightly since most parents went to college. In 2010, the federal loan program was reorganized so that all federal student loans are now issued directly by the federal government to the school on the student or parent’s behalf.Continue reading “Understanding the Student Loan Process”
Do I need a research experience for admission
There is no formula that will ensure your admission to any college. But many companies have sprung up designed to help students form a not-for-profit or conduct research to strengthen their applications to highly selective schools. Conducting research in high school can be a helpful way to show your intellectual curiosity. But like any experience,Continue reading “Do I need a research experience for admission”
I had some students admitted to Ivy League schools. These are my takeaways.
Let me start off by saying, I don’t believe you have to go to an elite college. The pressure to get into elite schools is adding to an already challenging mental health situation for teens. I’m a proud state school grad. My four siblings range from state schools to brand name privates to a militaryContinue reading “I had some students admitted to Ivy League schools. These are my takeaways.”
Don’t Write a Generic Personal Statement
Highly selective colleges often receive enough qualified applicants that they could fill their class multiple times. As a result, they have the ability to truly build a community. They are looking for intellectually curious students who will contribute to their campus. The courses you took in high school, the activities you participate in after schoolContinue reading “Don’t Write a Generic Personal Statement”
Should I apply for the honors program?
High-achieving students are often invited to apply for honors programs at the colleges they are considering. While these programs are challenging and involve more rigorous coursework, they also have numerous benefits that students should consider. Honors programs can make a large school smaller. Students are often part of a cohort that takes classes together. TheyContinue reading “Should I apply for the honors program?”
Building a Balanced List (Reach, Targets and Likelies)
It’s the time of year when junior should be building their college list, doing their research, and visiting schools. Yet the competitive nature of top-tier admissions has made assessing the likelihood of admission more challenging. Students are applying to more and more colleges, making them increasingly selective (we explain why applying to more than 10Continue reading “Building a Balanced List (Reach, Targets and Likelies)”
You Really Should Visit Colleges During Sophomore and Junior Year
As decisions come in for seniors, those who visited colleges are having an easier time deciding where they want to attend next year. Those who didn’t are rushing to attend admitted student events and see the campuses that have offered them admission. While Covid made it hard for students to visit colleges during the heightContinue reading “You Really Should Visit Colleges During Sophomore and Junior Year”
Advice for high school parents based on the 2023 admission cycle
It is the time of year when students are turning in their course selections for next year, trying to build a schedule that will get them into college. I personally think students should take what they need to graduate as well as some courses that interest them. But in this day and age of highlyContinue reading “Advice for high school parents based on the 2023 admission cycle”
No need to apply to more than 10 schools
If I could give juniors one piece of advice it would be to apply to fewer schools. Highly rejective schools are getting even more selective. Students are casting a wider and wider net in the hopes of getting into one “top” or “brand name” school. But all this really does is drive up applications, andContinue reading “No need to apply to more than 10 schools”
Your College Application is Like Baking from Scratch
Any of the students who worked with me this year probably heard my baking analogy so many times they got sick of it. But it’s a valid comparison. When you bake cookies or a cake, the ingredients you use are important. What you add, and when you add it, makes a baked treat that tastesContinue reading “Your College Application is Like Baking from Scratch”
Undecided or Declaring a Major–Does it Matter?
As you research and visit prospective colleges, its important to understand how major choice impacts first year admission. Every college handles the admission and application process differently (life would be so much easier if it was standarized). But for many colleges, what you major in and how competitive that major is can have a bigContinue reading “Undecided or Declaring a Major–Does it Matter?”
Are you a senior who hasn’t started their applications?
Once upon a time, most college students didn’t start applications until sometime in the fall of senior year and submitted them in January or February. Now, the push is to have everything in early, by November 1st, to maximize scholarhips, early action and early decision. But those are technically “early” programs. Most colleges have aContinue reading “Are you a senior who hasn’t started their applications?”
Summer Can Make or Break an Application (yes, I know its October)
It takes more than good grades and test scores to get into top colleges these days. The extremely rejective schools and even the selective schools are looking for you to have participated in activities, classes, clubs and programs that help you develop your academic interests. Summer is a great time to do this. While mostContinue reading “Summer Can Make or Break an Application (yes, I know its October)”
Coffman Consulting 