How to prepare for your college interview
When you fill out your applications, you will encounter this question: do you want to have an interview? The interview is one more chance for you to make an impression on the admissions committee, so you should definitely check the yes box. Once you’ve submitted the application, you will probably…
Read MoreHow much does GPA Matter?
As you monitor your child’s academic progress, you know that the future applicant’s grades must be high, preferably a 4.0, a GPA that grows more elusive as classes get more difficult, and the students’ commitments and social opportunities increase. You might also know that it is not just the GPA…
Read MoreThe Glitch Myth
One persistent myth about the college admissions process is the infamous “glitch” that might affect the computerized filing of your application if you wait until the last minute or the last day. There is no evidence that an applicant in the United States ever was denied admission because of a…
Read MoreMake sure your UC PIQs stand out
The UC system takes fewer than 1 in 5 applicants, and for schools like Berkeley, and UCLA, it’s more like 1 in 20, so how do you make your PIQs stand out? It isn’t enough to answer the question; you have to dazzle them. Show four different aspects of yourself…
Read MoreSome Good and Bad News About Your Application
As deadlines approach, many students find themselves stressing over perfecting their common app personal statement. However, here’s some good news: the quality of your essay doesn’t really matter. Why Your Essay Doesn’t Matter College admissions officers are not solely focused on admitting students with the best essays, highest GPAs, or…
Read MoreApplying to College is Not a Game of Chance
If you’ve ever watched someone play roulette, the casino game with the longest odds, you will see that many improvident bettors spread their chips over several numbers, thinking it improves their chances of winning. They almost always lose, anyway. Many college applicants and parents think applying to college is like…
Read MoreWhat Extracurriculars should I do?
Grades and test scores alone don’t make a successful applicant. Neither do grades and sports, unless you’re going to be recruited for the college team. Extracurricular activities are increasingly significant as more and more students, with the assistance of tutoring companies, are applying with perfect or near-perfect grades and scores.…
Read MoreWhat the Affirmative Action Ruling Means for You, the Applicant
On June 29th, 2023, the Supreme Court ruled that Affirmative Action policies in College Admissions violate the 14th Amendment – equal protection under the law. The colleges and universities affected by the rule don’t agree with the court’s thinking, and continue to prize diversity, not only as a way of…
Read MoreCollege Essays are Personal Essays – Learn the Conventions of the Genre
When most students are confronted with a college essay, they encounter a conflict – should the personal statement be like the essays they’ve written in classes, or should it be a story? Usually, students reach the conclusion that it should be a combination of the two. But how to combine…
Read MoreYou’re Doing It Wrong: Mistakes You Make as You Try to Bolster Your Profile
Getting into highly selective colleges has become ridiculously competitive. Rather than exploring whether their future happiness and success really depends on attending one of the most selective schools in the country (the answer is probably not), students put ever more ridiculous burdens upon themselves in an attempt to get in.…
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