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?”
Tag Archives: college applications
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?”
You Can’t Chase Merit and Brand Name (usually)
One of the biggest struggles I face as a counselor is knowing a student can’t afford the tuition at a college they dream of attending. Many of the country’s most prestigious colleges only give need-based aid. As a result, most middle-income families don’t receive much if any aid. This is why these colleges are stillContinue reading “You Can’t Chase Merit and Brand Name (usually)”
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”
How to compare financial aid packages-revised
Two years ago I wrote a post with advice on how to negotiate financial aid. It’s still relevant, and that time of year. You will find the original blog below with a few new updates. If you need help understanding your aid or figuring out how to approach a negotiation, schedule an hour counseling sessionContinue reading “How to compare financial aid packages-revised”
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”
What To Do If You Have Been Deferred?
Several things can happen when you apply for admission Early Action or Early Decision. Schools can admit you, they can deny you, or they can defer your decision to their regular decision process. While this can be frustrating, it is not a no. Basically, they are putting you on hold to see what the restContinue reading “What To Do If You Have Been Deferred?”
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?”
Steps You Might Miss in the Application Process
You have hit submit on your college application and that feeling of “I did it” comes over you. Then a few days later you log into your applicant portal only to see big red X’s saying you missed something causing your heart to race. Sometimes these X’s don’t impact the application deadline and you haveContinue reading “Steps You Might Miss in the Application Process”
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)”
To Ed or Not to ED, That is the Question?
Many of the students I work with are really struggling with whether to apply Early Decision and to which school. Early Decision is a process where you can complete your application to ONE school by an earlier deadline and commit to attend THAT school if admitted. It is considered binding–you have to withdraw your applicationsContinue reading “To Ed or Not to ED, That is the Question?”
Advice for 11th grade students and parents
Now that I have been through a few cycles as an independent college counselor, I have lots of advice to give. Here are a few tips for families to make the process go smoother. Start Research Schools Now As I read numerous essays answering the question “Why are you applying to this school” or “WhyContinue reading “Advice for 11th grade students and parents”
Testing Plans
The world of test optional admissions is somewhat of a moving target. Many schools went test optional during Covid, and plan to stay that way. Many were test optional before. But many are evaluating it on a year to year basis. Georgetown and MIT are requiring test scores for 2023 and Purdue just announced theyContinue reading “Testing Plans”
You’ve Been Admitted–What’s Next?
Congratulations. You have been admitted to a college. So what’s next? If you know you have been admitted then you have probably already created a portal accont for that college. If you are asking, “what’s a portal?”, then check your email. Most schools now use an online admissions system to manage the process. You needContinue reading “You’ve Been Admitted–What’s Next?”
Senior To Do List
School is back in session. And for seniors, it means you should be applying to colleges. Many colleges have November deadlines for their top scholarships. Here are the steps you should be taking the next few months to have your applications submitted. 1.Create an account at http://www.commonapp.org and complete all the sections on the commonContinue reading “Senior To Do List”
Don’t add to those rejections
Many students have a dream college, and its often an Ivy or a highly rejective college like Notre Dame, Stanford or MIT. Many of these colleges have admission rates in the single digits, as low as 3%–meaning they deny 97 of every 100 applicants who apply. The applicant pools are filled with incredibly smart andContinue reading “Don’t add to those rejections”
I don’t understand what “Early Action” means
Saturday night, I hosted an application workshop for some local seniors (including my son). It was incredibly inciteful to hear their questions and concerns. One question that came up a lot that, and in multiple follow up email since, is “what is Early Action” and “Should I apply Early Action?”. Early Action is called anContinue reading “I don’t understand what “Early Action” means”
Coffman Consulting 