I’ve been busy during these past few months helping my students draw up college lists. One of the most important considerations on my part is what a particular school’s supplemental essay requirements are. Our college admissions system is broken. The Common...

What makes for a great college fit? There are many intangibles. One such intangible is tradition. I love tradition. And Middlebury College is steeped in tradition. One such tradition has only been observed since it was re-established in 1995, but it commemorates the...

You’re about to get your admission decisions. You should have had a Plan B going into the application season. But you might need a Plan C or even a Plan D. Maybe you’ve been waitlisted or flat rejected at your reach and target schools. Maybe you didn’t even get into...

Finally, you’ve gotten your college application into all the schools you want to. Congratulations! That was no small feat. So, now what?  Here are some suggestions for passing the time until you receive your responses.  1. Thank your recommenders. An email is better...

There are several SAT preparation options. Kaplan is for rich kids. Princeton Review is for Ivy-bound scholars. Khan Academy is for poor kids (it’s free). But there are other options for SAT prep. Nothing beats live, individual tutoring. Kaplan will charge you $700...

Every year, thousands of international students apply to colleges and universities in the United States. Currently, there are over 900,000 international students in our colleges and universities. It was over 1 million before covid and before the Trump administration...

Education consultants are everywhere on the Internet these days. Remote meetings have made it easier to set up a practice, but the profession has become a lot more competitive. The admissions process has become more complicated in recent years and more competitive at...

The first round of college visits should occur toward the end of junior year or at the beginning of senior year. The first round is to narrow the college search and refine the list. In the spring of the senior year, another round can help you make the final decision...

Divorce and financial aid are a topic of conversation for many families. About 60 percent of children live in households with both biological parents. This blog post is for the other 40 percent. What Gets Reported on the FAFSA Only the income and assets of a custodial...

Many students and parents want to know if college scholarships are worth the hassle.  After applying for a large list of colleges, writing the Common App and numerous supplemental essays, and navigating the elaborate FAFSA process, do you really want to sit down and...