Test-Optional Applications: Too Good to be True?

October 21, 2021
Shane Cole
Applying to College

There are many factors to consider when applying test-optional. Over the last several years as a counselor, an increasing number of my students are asking if they should apply test-optional. Do they submit an ACT or SAT score for admissions, or do they follow the college's criteria to apply without an ACT/SAT? Even before the pandemic took hold in March of 2020, many colleges and universities across the country were turning to test-optional admissions incoming freshmen. I believe this was…

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Analyzing your College Award Letters

College award letters are already fairly confusing. What's worse is that they can often be somewhat misleading. This is especially problematic considering you are likely making major decisions based on your first award letter. Even when the next one could be dramatically different. So beware! And before you accept a school’s award, there are a few steps you should take to better ensure you won't be left out in the cold later. Avoid the Bait and Switch What you see…

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Analyze Your Award Letter Before You Accept It!

Some colleges and universities are already sending out financial aid award letters for 2021/2022. That’s great news! After all, you’ve worked hard, and it’s time you reap the rewards of that hard work. But before you sign and return that award letter, it’s essential to look at it with a critical eye. As we wrote in a previous blog, analyzing your award letters can be a complicated process, but it’s well worth your time. Is your offer clear and easy to…

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How to Decline a College Acceptance

After you’ve been recruited and wooed by a college, it can be incredibly difficult to say the “no thank you” to one of them. Here's our advice for how to decline a college acceptance: 1. Say "yes!" to your chosen school First, inform your chosen school that you'll be attending. Submit your deposit before the deadline. Then, write your admissions representative a note — email is fine — to thank them for their help and give them the good news. …

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Anatomy of a College Essay

Rising Seniors--it’s time to start working on your college essay. If that strikes fear in your heart, then I have some advice that may help. I find the use of an analogy—comparisons that are easy to visualize and understand—and then breaking it down into smaller pieces simplifies this looming task. Let’s compare your college essay to basic human anatomy. We can easily break the it down into 5 segments or parts of the body that represent essential elements of the…

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Make Social Media Work for You!

There are many tips and articles on what you should not post on social media and the Internet, but let’s consider some ways that social media can be used in a positive way. LinkedIn LinkedIn is not only for your parents. This social media tool is an excellent way for you to promote yourself. More and more students are using this site to share their work experience, their successes and resources as well as finding a job. Start connecting…

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College Planning: The 3 Most Important Documents

May 23, 2017
Applying to College

We are currently meeting with many Sophomores and Juniors in High School. Everyone has the same question before we meet: what do we need to bring to the meeting? Here’s our answer for what we need to know for an initial meeting and generally what your family needs to start the college planning process. High School Transcript Colleges look at the type of coursework a student has taken and how they have done in those courses. The GPA is a…

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Do This Before You are Off to College!

You've picked a college? Now what? Are you done, just waiting until move-in day? NO! There's still a lot to do to get a great start off to college as a college freshman. Here are some tips on what to do next: ASAP You've probably sent in your enrollment deposit already--most people did that by May 1. This is the first step, required well before you're off to college. Be sure that you submitted the deposit for enrollment,…

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Beware Senioritis

May 2, 2017
Applying to College

Senioritis--Why Avoid It? We often joke about Senioritis. Technically it means the pain of being a Senior but for most, it’s not exactly painful. It’s that time when students are so close to finishing up and want to coast their way to the finish line. After all, there is so much going on with prom, upcoming graduation parties, the taste of their new college life and that impending freedom from parents. Students have worked so hard and just want a…

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The Flip Side of Your College Decision

So, you've finally made your college decision -- where you will spend your next few years. Tough College Decision How difficult that decision can be! If the choice was not made crystal clear by your own love for one school over the other, or for a significantly better financial offer, you may be feeling a bit sad about having to choose the “better” of two or more great options. Doesn’t it remind you of the Robert Frost poem, The Road Not Taken? Two roads…

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