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Expert college Admissions Advice

COVID 19 Updates

3/25/2020

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     Our goal is to support you through the wrinkle of this journey and make the most of the challenges we face. With everything that has happened this past week, I would like to share our thoughts on the following developments and topics:

AP/IB Tests

    The College Board announced that it will offer AP exams online. These tests will be 45 minutes long and tests will include material covered at most schools by the beginning of March. As we wrote in our previous email, AP scores are not a factor for admission. Do your best on these exams to earn college credit. We have told students that if signed up for these exams, take them. There is no downside. You do not have to report scores you are not proud of. The College Board should be releasing additional information about these exams in the coming week(s). If you have additional questions, please contact your high school teachers or test prep tutors.
   IB Exams will not be offered this year. We know this is disappointing for students who seek to use their tests for college credits, but that decision is completely out of your control.

SAT/ SAT Subject Tests / ACT

    As mentioned last week, the SAT, SAT Subject Tests and ACT have both been cancelled through May. Whether the tests are offered in June and beyond is an open question. If you are planning on taking the June or July SAT/ACT tests, please sign up ASAP. Test center options are limited and test dates will fill up quickly. As soon as we learn more, we will inform you.
    Many are asking whether the SAT or ACT will be required next year. We do not yet know how these tests will be factored into the application process for most schools. Some schools have already transitioned to a “test-optional” policy for next year including Case Western and Chapman. MIT recently dropped its requirement for SAT Subject Tests. MIT will not even accept them next year. There has been discussion among the UCs to go test-optional as well.
   We anticipate colleges to place more weight on applicants’ transcripts because the entrance exams are not currently being offered and may not be offered in time for the next application cycle. That said, we think strong college entrance scores can improve one’s odds of admission even if no longer required. If you are looking to begin prepping for the SAT or ACT, or improve your current scores, you can work with tutors remotely or independently with prep books. We are happy to create a test plan for you and provide recommendations for tutors and independent prep materials.

Grades

   We are unsure of the long-term effects of COVID 19 on the college admissions process, but believe that a bigger emphasis will be placed on an applicant’s grades over test scores for the 2020-2021 cycle. Grades remain in an applicant’s control even through remote learning. Please take stock of your current academic progress and determine if there are any ways to improve your grades, if needed. This is not about being “Straight A or Bust”, but rather an opportunity to reinforce that we want every student to do his or her best and focus on what is in their control. If you would like to discuss plans for contacting your teachers or improving current grades, please let us know.

Leadership Opportunities

   Continue to look for opportunities to serve others from a safe distance. We are encouraging every student who has time to focus on their “wow factors”. Whether it is writing a children’s book, tutoring younger kids online, creating a YouTube channel or blog, or selling something you create for a cause, every student is living in a world where they can do something to help. Life will reward those that are able to use their ingenuity and creativity to make an impact.
   In general, we do not think fundraising carries the same weight as doing something that requires a student to roll up his or her sleeves and get their hands dirty. Especially in communities like where we live, they often raise questions about who is bankrolling the donations. Please focus on opportunities that require students, even from home, to demonstrate grit, leadership, and passion.

Online Courses

   We have received many questions about opportunities to continue learning with a reduced school load. Courses taken for enrichment may not appear on the high school transcript or be considered for admission purposes. We do not think AP classes offered by pay-to-play test prep centers will be given the same weight as classes offered by community colleges or high schools.
    If interested in a way to demonstrate interest in a particular field, consider taking an online course this summer through a community college. These courses can be submitted to colleges and depending on your high school’s policy, show up on an official high school transcript. If interested in a particular niche, consider free course sites like Coursera for classes on topics like abnormal psychology and constitutional law.

Summer Programs/Internships

   We are encouraging students to develop backup plans for their summers in case the disruptions we face are prolonged. Ideas for summer include wow factors, online social media marketing gigs for parents’ or friends companies and online community college classes. These pursuits demonstrate a commitment to passion development and resilience. We are in uncharted territory and believe the best course of action is to make the most of this situation.

Book Recommendation of the Week

   Each week, I will be providing a recommendation for a different book for the entire family to read. Like I mentioned last week, avid readers become great writers. But beyond developing stronger writing skills for college and career, reading provides perspective, which is something we all need at the moment.
   One of my favorite books I read this past year is All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. This Pulitzer Prize-winning novel follows a young French girl and German soldier trapped in the Allied siege of St. Malo during World War II. The war scenes are gripping and the relationships are heartwarming. This book shows the power of people to band together and how small acts of kindness can profoundly change others’ lives. It also serves as a powerful reminder that while what we face is a challenge, we are able to do so from the comfort of home with Netflix, Snapchat, and Postmates.

Logistics

   Our office remains closed but we are meeting with students virtually. As always, we are here to help you make the most of your journeys to college. Please contact Meredith Stenta to schedule or reschedule any appointments. Her email is meredith@earningadmission.com. We are responding to texts and calls as well. Our office phone number is 949-933-6086.

Closing Note: Encouraging Positivity and Responsible Behavior

   None of us are happy to be going through this, but it is my hope that every one of our students can learn and grow from this experience. This scenario has taught us the profound impact our actions have on our neighbors and communities. Teenagers may feel infallible at times (I did in high school and college), but this is an incredible teaching opportunity to understand how we affect those around us.
    Yes, it is a bummer that prom has been cancelled and it is a challenge to pick a college without being able to step foot on campus. However, there is a lot to be thankful for--our health, families, and opportunities to grow. Let’s be creative and make the most of what we face while flattening the infection curve.  
   I was asked today during a session what excited me today, and that question moved me. There is a lot to be excited about. For me, it was starting a new book (American Pastoral by Philip Roth if anyone wants to read it with me). I also discovered after buying food to cook that I do not own a single pot or pan to cook with which means I have to go to the store (I guess I am a typical millennial after all). I am going to be asking students in every session to tell me something good, interesting, or exciting because if we are mindful of what surrounds us, I am sure all of us can find plenty to appreciate.
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To Our Families...

3/17/2020

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Dear Families,

COVID-19 and the unprecedented public health challenges it poses has upended all of our lives. Our top concern is everyone’s health. Given the enormous change it poses to our students’ growth and wellbeing, we would like to share our thoughts and perspective. We hope to address your concerns to the best of our ability, but with a lot of things occurring right now, your guess is as good as ours.

All Students

Few of us have ever experienced something like this and this poses an incredible challenge to our lives.

Given that school pressures have lessened, consider this an opportunity to learn, grow, be creative, and stay true to yourselves. When colleges or future employers evaluate an application, they are assessing grit and an ability to overcome obstacles. If a dream program or opportunity was cancelled, find the best substitute that you can. Life rewards rolling with the punches and making the most of any situation. In the coming week, we will be putting together lists of online opportunities like coding classes, writing programs, and other enrichment activities for students interested in making the most of their downtime. Throughout this ordeal, stay positive, and keep learning and contributing, because this will provide you with perspective for this process and later in life.

Explore academic and career interests

The first question I ask every student is: “Where do you see yourself in ten years?”. This is a great time to explore career paths online (i.e. watch YouTube videos about the day in the life of different professions, read career blogs and other sites, etc.).  

Read!

Reading helps you develop your own voices by exposing yourself to others. Not only does it help with reading comprehension for the SAT/ACT and writing college essays, but it enhances one’s ability to communicate, which is critical for any career path you embark upon. If you need recommendations for what to read, please ask us. We will be creating a list of book recommendations from our team shortly.

​This is a great time to stay apprised of the news. Challenges create opportunities and understanding public health issues, economic risks, and other consequences from what we are dealing with can enhance one’s ability to navigate this ever-changing world.

12th Grader Specific Concerns

We know this was supposed to be your time for a victory lap and, for that, we are truly sorry. Second semester senior year is probably the only time many of our students are afforded to relax and enjoy high school. We hope you are able to do so at home.  

Question:
 How will I pick a college to attend if I can’t visit it?
Answer: It is hard to commit to a place you haven’t visited. While schools are closed and travel bans are being contemplated, please consider taking an online tour of the colleges you have been admitted to. You can get a great sense of what a campus feels like 24/7 from home. Feel free to reach out to like-minded peers attending the colleges you are considering. If you need an introduction to a student at a particular college, we can check to see if we have worked with anyone in the past that may be a good fit for your family to speak with. We are also happy to share with you what we know about the schools you are interested in.

Question:
 Can I contact the college admissions offices for more information?
Answer: We are under the impression that most, if not all, college admissions offices are closed. If you need to speak to an admissions officer about deposit deadlines and arrangements, emailing your assigned officer may be the best way to communicate with them. Check for contact information in any correspondence you have received, through your applicant portal, or on the admissions office websites.

Underclassman Concerns

Question: What should I be doing right now?
Answer: Focus on what is under your control.
The world still remains at your fingertips and as school and activities are cancelled, please focus on the aspects of life that you are able to exert influence or control over.

Testing and Test Prep

The ACT has been cancelled for April and May. Whether the tests will be offered in June or July is subject to change. We do not know what will happen in the months to come. If you were planning on taking either the SAT or ACT in the coming month, we strongly recommend signing up for the June and July test dates NOW. The ACT is being offered for the first time in California in July with only one test site in the whole county. It will fill up, especially if prior dates are cancelled. Please reserve your spots now for summer test dates when the pandemic is expected to subside.

AP Scores: AP scores are used for college credit, and are not a factor for college admission. Do not stress if you cannot take an AP exam. We are happy to discuss which subject tests are appropriate for you based on your coursework (these actually help you earn admission).

The hardest balancing act to achieve in this entire process is finding time for studying for the SAT/ACT and fulfilling school and extracurricular activity obligations. With additional free time, consider jumpstarting or doubling down on test prep. Effective test prep is sticky and test prep completed now will make a difference for a test in June or July. We have heard that tutors are offering virtual sessions to their students. If you would like to discuss your test prep plan, please let us know.

Wow Factors

Our goal is for every student to develop their passions and harness them to make a difference in their communities. Why? We want you to be a leader for college and your career.

At a loss for what to do right now? Consider helping high-risk neighbors (elderly, etc.) with food deliveries and other projects to reduce their risk. Organize your peers or neighbors to be kind and caring for those in need. You will be asked when you write your essays, what have you done to make your community a better place. We hope you take this opportunity to do so, not just for college, but because it is the right thing to do.

Interested in writing a children’s book about the importance of washing your hands or social distancing? You can. From home. Continue to grow and contribute. This is time to show colleges what you are made of while supporting your community.

Prospective Tours

For many, we have discussed touring potential Early Decision options. As schools have shut down, these are no longer available. Please consider taking a tour in August if they are offered then. If they are not available, we can discuss an ED strategy at that time.

Summer Programs/Internships/Etc.

We are unsure what will be offered this summer. If in doubt, contact the program or organization directly but answers may not be available for a while.

School and Activity Closures

They affect everyone in the world, so they will not disproportionately affect any particular applicant more than anyone else.

Our Office Logistics

Beginning on Tuesday, March 17th, we will be conducting all meetings virtually through FaceTime, Skype, Google Hangouts or the phone. We want everyone to be safe and reduce the risk of transmission to vulnerable populations. Given that school is cancelled, we may ask to reschedule late evening appointments to earlier in the day.

Parting Thoughts

We are here to support your journey, as uncertain as it may feel at times. We are looking forward to banding together in support of our community as we find ways for you to thrive.

To your health and happiness!
Greg and the Kaplan Educational Team
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Getting into College is One Thing, Paying for it is Another

2/11/2020

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As the college admissions process becomes more competitive with each passing year, the cost of attending these universities is becoming increasingly prohibitive for families.  For Juniors, it is not too early to start researching scholarships. It is also important to determine whether you qualify for needs-based financial aid, which you will apply for through FAFSA and/or CSS in early Fall. For Seniors, it is not too late to apply for merit-based scholarships through outside organizations.   

For need-based assistance, it is important to
submit your FAFSA application by October 15 here.  Check out College Board’s The Big Future for information about how to fill out the FAFSA correctly on their Financial Aid 101 page.  Some schools might require the CSS profile for need-based aid.


For scholarships from outside organizations not affiliated with universities, we recommend creating accounts on 
Scholarships.com and College Board’s The Big Future. 
 
The sites above will help you search for scholarships that match your demographic profile. When it comes time to start thinking about financial assistance, we also highly recommend looking on these sites for smaller, niche scholarships.  It is much easier to receive smaller merit-based scholarships because less people apply for them. Also, check with the counseling offices at your high schools for local opportunities that often receive few applicants. 

Once you are admitted to schools, scholarships awarded by the universities are usually based on the strength of the application and do not require additional applications or essays. However, some may offer scholarship opportunities that require additional writing. Check with every school you have been admitted to for these processes. 


Seniors, if you applied for need-based financial aid through FAFSA and believe that you may or should qualify for additional aid, please contact the financial aid office at the college directly. They are there to help and can discuss submitting additional information that can be used to recalculate your family’s expected contribution. 


Whether you are seeking needs-based aid through FAFSA or merit-based aid through an outside organization’s scholarship fund, every little bit of assistance helps and it is never too early to start thinking about paying for college.

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A New Year, A New Testing Cycle

1/27/2020

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The ACT recently released three new policies that will take effect starting with the September 2020 tests: Section Re-Testing, Superscoring, and Online Testing.


Let’s break these down:


  • Section Re-Testing
    • Section Re-Testing will allow students to retake parts of the ACT in multiple sittings.  They will first need to sit for one full test but, after receiving these initial scores, they now have the opportunity to choose which individual sections they want to retake.  For example, if Tommy earned a 33 on math and a 21 on reading, he will now be allowed to just retake the reading section if he is happy with his math score. This contrasts the current policy, which requires students to take the entire ACT each time.  
  • Superscoring
    • Superscoring is a type of scoring already accepted among some colleges.  With superscoring, colleges will consider the highest subject scores across all the dates the student took the ACT. Rather than confining scores to one particular test date, superscoring allows the student to select their highest individual test subject scores across all of their testing/retesting to calculate the highest possible composite score.
  • Online Testing
    • The ACT has also announced a new online testing model.  Even though online testing has been offered since 2018 at international testing sites, it will now be offered on a national level, in certain testing centers, on Saturday testing dates.  This might be a nice option if you are near an online testing center and your child does better with the online format.


See the ACTs announcement regarding their new superscoring, section retesting, and online testing policies here.


On the surface, these announcements seem very exciting, it appears schools might be moving away from rigorous testing and toward a truly holistic method of college admissions.  Unfortunately, section re-testing and superscoring are a little too good to be true.  


Even though news organizations are reporting that students might finally be getting a break in the college admissions process, very few schools superscore the ACT and, for those that do, it is only a matter of time before the new multiple-sitting policy makes superscoring arbitrary.  Moreover, if you can study 3 months for each section to earn the best score possible, we cannot expect these policies to last or the test itself will lose its value.


One need only look at the lengthy list of schools at the bottom of this page that do not, and likely will never, superscore the ACT.  Please note that this list includes Brown, Carnegie Mellon, Chapman, Harvard, NYU, Penn State, LMU, SMU, Stanford, Tulane, USC, and countless others.  Every single UC is also on this list. 


If I was to put money on it, I would bet that superscoring will soon become a practice of the past and single-sit tests will remain the expectation for the vast majority of schools.  


So, even if you start hearing buzz about these new ACT policies from high schools, peers, media, or other sources, your child will likely not benefit from them.  Good old-fashioned studying and hard work, in preparation for a single-sitting test, will remain the ACT “trick” to earning admission.


The following schools do not superscore the ACT*: 
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Agnes Scott College
Alfred University
Angelo State University
Arizona State University at the Tempe campus
Auburn University
Bard College at Simon’s Rock
Barnard College 
Bennington College 
Berry College 
Bethel University 
Bowdoin College 
Bradley University 
Brandeis University
Brigham Young University (UT)
Brown University 
Bryn Athyn College of the New Church 
Bryn Mawr College 
Bucknell University 
Calvin College 
Carnegie Mellon University 
Cedarville University 
Centre College 
Chaminade University of Honolulu 
Chapman University 
Chatham University 
Chestnut Hill College 
Christopher Newport University 
Clark Atlanta University 
Clark University 
Clarkson University 
Clemson University 
Coe College 
College of Charleston 
College of Idaho 
College of the Holy Cross 
College of the Ozarks 
College of William and Mary 
Colorado School of Mines 
Columbia University - Columbia College and Fu Foundation School of Engineering 
Cornell University 
Creighton University 
Dallas Baptist University 
Dartmouth College 
DePaul University 
Drexel University 
Duke University 
Eastern Washington University 
Edgewood College 
Emory University 
Fordham University 
Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering 
George Mason University 
Georgetown University 
Georgia Southern University 
Guilford College 
Hardin-Simmons University 
Harvard College 
Hillsdale College 
Holy Family University 
Hope College 
Humboldt State University 
Illinois State University 
Illinois Wesleyan University 
James Madison University 
Kansas State University 
Kent State University, Kent Campus 
Kentucky State University 
Lebanon Valley College 
Lee University 
Lenoir-Rhyne College 
Lewis & Clark College 
Louisiana State University 
Loyola Marymount University 
Loyola University of Chicago 
Lubbock Christian University 
Macalester College 
Marlboro College 
Marquette University 
McGill University 
Michigan Technological University 
Missouri University of Science and Technology 
Montana Tech of the University of Montana 
Moravian College 
Mount Mary University 
Muhlenberg College 
New Jersey Institute of Technology 
New York University 
Northwestern College (IA) 
Oberlin College 
Ohio University, Athens 
Oklahoma State University 
Oregon State University 
Pace University 
Penn State University 
Pepperdine University 
Pitzer College 
Portland State University 
Princeton University 
Providence College 
Purdue University, West Lafayette 
Quinnipiac University 
Reed College 
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 
Ripon College 
Roanoke College 
Rockhurst University 
Rollins College
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick 
Saginaw Valley State University 
Saint Anselm College 
Saint Louis University 
Salisbury University 
Santa Clara University 
Scripps College 
Siena College 
Skidmore College 
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania 
Smith College 
Sonoma State University 
Southern Methodist University 
Southwestern University 
Stanford University 
St. Edward’s University 
St. Mary’s College of Maryland 
St. Olaf College 
State University of New York at Binghamton (Binghamton University) 
State University of New York--College of Environmental Science and Forestry 
State University of New York--Stony Brook University 
State University of New York--University at Buffalo 
Stephens College 
Temple University 
Texas A&M University, College Station 
The City College of New York of The City University of New York 
The College of New Jersey 
The Evergreen State College 
The Ohio State University, Columbus 
The University of Alabama at Birmingham 
The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa 
The University of Scranton 
The University of Texas at Austin 
The University of Texas at Dallas 
Transylvania University 
Truman State University 
Tulane University 
Tuskegee University 
United States Air Force Academy 
University at Albany - SUNY 
University of Arizona 
University of California, Davis 
University of California, Los Angeles 
University of California, Berkeley 
University of California, Irvine 
University of California, Riverside 
University of California, San Diego 
University of California, Santa Barbara 
University of California, Santa Cruz 
University of Central Florida 
University of Cincinnati 
University of Dallas 
University of Florida 
University of Houston 
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 
University of Iowa 
University of Kansas 
University of Louisiana at Lafayette 
University of Maine-Fort Kent 
University of Mary Washington 
University of Maryland, Baltimore County 
University of Massachusetts 
Dartmouth University of Massachusetts-Lowell 
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 
University of Minnesota, Morris 
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus 
University of Mississippi 
University of Missouri 
University of Nebraska, Lincoln 
University of New Hampshire 
University of New Orleans 
University of Notre Dame 
University of Oklahoma 
University of Oregon 
University of Pikevile 
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Campus 
University of Richmond 
University of San Diego 
University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma 
University of South Alabama 
University of South Carolina, Columbia 
University of Southern California 
University of Southern Indiana 
University of the Pacific 
University of Utah 
University of Washington
University of Wisconsin, Madison 
University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point 
University of Wyoming 
Ursinus College 
Utica College 
Vanderbilt University 
Virginia Wesleyan College 
Wagner College 
Wesleyan College 
West Chester University of Pennsylvania 
West Virginia University 
Western Illinois University 
Western Michigan University 
Westminster College of Salt Lake City 
Wheaton College (MA) 
Whittier College 
Wichita State University 
William Jewell College 
Worcester Polytechnic Institute 
Wright State University 
Xavier University of Louisiana 
Yale University

*Please note, this list is current as of 2019.  Schools may change their policies without notice.  Check individual school websites for the most up-to-date information on their superscoring policies.  
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The Most Important Resolution: Follow Your Passion

1/8/2020

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As I reflect on 2019 in these first few days of 2020, a single question arises: In a process naturally laden with stress and pressure, how can we make the road to college admissions healthier?  

While the path to admission contains many roadblocks we cannot remove, there are several areas where we can assert our agency and create a healthier, happier, and more productive relationship with this entire process.  It starts with students identifying their passions and following them. 

We need to transition from asking students “What’s your GPA and ACT score?”  to “What are you passionate about?” and “What do you like to do more than anything else?”.

On a practical note, colleges are explicitly requesting students to follow their passion.  Gone are the days they want to see thousands of identical “well-rounded” students with the exact same backgrounds, transcripts, and extracurriculars.  As more and more students are excelling in rigorous courses and achieving above average test scores, schools are looking for ways to differentiate between students.  

When opening an application, admissions officers are asking, “How can this student add value to our university?”  Beyond grades and test scores, true value lies in a student’s story. Schools are looking for a clear line they can draw between a student’s class choices, activities, internships, and community service work that explicitly highlights their passion.  If an application states that a student wants to be a business major, the admissions officer will respond: prove it. If colleges are daring us to follow our passions, let’s harness this and run with it.       

Students who follow their passion will also inherently earn better grades and achieve higher test scores.  There is no reason to make this process any harder than it has to be. If the game of college admissions starts with a focus on a student’s GPA and test scores, why not provide students with the assurance and relief that these numbers-focused components are leading to an academic and professional career they are truly passionate about?  

​Let’s resolve to follow our passions in 2020.  After all, it is the key to everything that truly matters: personal fulfillment, strong emotional health, self confidence, and happiness.   

​Wishing you all a happy and healthy new year, thank you for being a part of our community. 
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When Considering Where to Attend College, Consider Where the Jobs Are...

12/13/2019

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Much of our collective anxiety about the college admissions process stems from the strong desire for our kids to obtain an education that helps them achieve their long-term goals (read: health, happiness, and financial independence). But as we say to every student we work with, no one college has a monopoly on the path to success. 

There is no question that the economy is changing. Traditional fields seem less desirable for many of our students and there is a push to make a difference and think big. 


Our students can find opportunities for disruption and innovation, even in mature fields. However, to achieve this, today’s high school students must be mindful of where this growth is occurring, both with respect to industry and location. 


A recent study published on Monday by the Brookings Institute found that i
ndustries seen as key to future growth are clustering in a narrowing set of places. The beneficiaries may be of little surprise to us: Seattle, San Diego, San Jose, Boston, and San Francisco. 


Regardless of whether your child wants to work in a lab, marketing, finance, or another field, there is something to be said for being in the right place at the right time. As you have discussions about the schools your child is interested in applying to, please keep an open mind and take into consideration location as it relates to what comes after college. Some colleges offer national name recognition and alumni networks, but schools like the University of Washington and Santa Clara University offer students a home-court advantage with opportunities to secure internships, during the school year, that can lead to the most sought after postgraduate employment opportunities. 


I think back to the stack of 100+ resumes Harvard and Yale law students sent for a summer internship at the US Attorney’s Office.  In contrast, for the spring internship, they only received one application: mine. Knowing when and where opportunities exist is crucial for gaining experiences that employers consider invaluable.   


Experience often overshadows name brands for many entry-level employment opportunities.  Let’s make sure your children have the experiences they need to thrive.  


To read more about the study, click here:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/jobs-future-clustering-handful-u-050811664.html


Wishing your family happiness in 2020. We are committed to helping your children achieve their goals for college and beyond.


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How to Make Sense of the College Board’s New Adversity Score

5/22/2019

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In what seems like a never ending stream of extraordinary college admissions news recognizing that this process is broken, the College Board recently announced that they will be assigning an “adversity score” to each test taker.  The College Board administers the SAT and the SAT Subject Tests.  This adversity score is assigned based on the socioeconomic conditions in the applicant’s community, school, family marital status and education levels, among other factors.

We all want a fair process for ourselves and our kids when it comes to applying to college.  But this is not the answer. While I applaud efforts to make college more accessible and diverse, this is an ill-conceived effort to level the playing field that comes at the expense of hard working and honest students seeking to put their best foot forward in this process and be evaluated on the merits of their applications.  

The adversity score exposes the college admissions process for the social and financial experiment it is at many schools: constructing a class consisting of mega legacies to increase donations, athletes that generate ticket sales from games, and those determined to be “in need”. Where the rest of the applicant pool fits in, is a mystery. 

The Wall Street Journal first broke this story, and can be accessed here.  The most interesting part of this story from my perspective is that 20% of Yale’s incoming class are from families where they will the first to attend college. At many highly selective schools, 1/3 of the class are mega legacies and 1/3 are recruited athletes.  So when Yale states that 20% of the incoming class is first generation, this means that over half of the “normal applicants” are being lauded for their socioeconomic status. 

In a perfect world, colleges would evaluate applicants based on their accomplishments, passions, and abilities.  Not whether a family can buy a building or qualifies for financial assistance. But alas, we live in an imperfect world.   

This process rewards those who are able to excel at what matters to them.  Rather than fret on some arbitrary score, focus on what you can control.  The SAT is not required.  The ACT does not assign an adversity score to applicants at the moment.  For students that have determined that the SAT is a better fit, and for the many more who will be taking Subject Tests, please do not fill out any demographic questions that are optional if you are concerned they will negatively impact you or your child’s applications.  This includes parent education levels, income, home addresses, etc.  If you can use an office address or PO Box in another community that may be viewed more favorably in the process, consider doing it.
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These external developments are frustrating, anxiety-inducing, and often unfair.  We are here to guide every family through this process and make the most of it.
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A Former Dean of Admissions Sheds Light into the Secretive World of Elite College Admissions

5/14/2019

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The recent college admissions bribery scandal has shed light into the secretive practices at many highly coveted colleges like Stanford, USC, and Yale. Jason England, a former admissions dean and an assistant professor of creative writing at Carnegie Mellon University, provides an indepth look into how admissions offices work and why this process can be frustrating even to the most qualified applicants.  We highly recommend reading his article to understand how this process works and why many talented applicants are not accepted at their dream school.  Click here to access the article.  
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Reflections on the College Admissions Bribery Scandal

3/27/2019

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The lengths families went to make it seem like they earned admission to colleges like Stanford, Yale, and USC is shocking, but not the fact that people but their way in.  It is the worst kept secret in the college admissions world that it is pay to play, and this is part of the reason it is such an uphill battle for doing it the old fashioned way.   

At the most selective schools, anywhere from 2/3 to 3/4 of the spots are spoken for even before a school begins to accept applications.  In a class of 1,500, 1/3 are claimed by recruited athletes and 1/3+ are claimed by legacy families.  This means that 50,000 people are competing for the 500 remaining spots, which makes it a 1% acceptance rate for “normal” applicants.  But it gets worse, these 500 spots must be evenly dispersed across the country, the world, and all different backgrounds—they all cannot come from the same over qualified community.  The numbers are tough. 

These figures are not meant to discourage students from applying to selective colleges.  Rather, I want us to have a healthy mindset about the odds and what this process rewards: hard work, creativity, and a willingness to look outside the box to find paths that ensure our kids develop into healthy, happy, and financially independent adults.  Let's recognize the challenge we face and find ways to stand out and build interesting stories to develop a niche.  Learning how to navigate a competitive process by building a story is a life skill that will propel your kids to do amazing things well beyond college and that is the most important part of this process.
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We will continue to encourage your child to his/her best and provide any support that we can for your kids to build their brand and ensure that they have the best odds to earn admission to a college that is a great fit.  We are excited to see what we can accomplish together! 
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Social Media Exposed: What The Nazi Drinking Game Means for College Admissions

3/27/2019

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Out of our hometown of Newport Beach, California, we were rocked by posts emerging on social media of a Nazi drinking game at a high school party. 

There are two things wrong with this: (1) Nazism and (2) underage drinking games caught on camera.  I am not going to delve into how offensive/dumb this was—but rather focus on what these types of incidents mean for this process. 69% of college admissions officers report snooping on social media to search for applicants.  Demonstrating support or approval of hateful ideology or illegal underage drinking is not what an applicant wants to be associated with. 

Applying to college is the culmination of building a brand over several years.  This brand should demonstrate work ethic, leadership, and an ability to contribute to a community.  All it takes is one offensive post, tweet, or inappropriate picture to tarnish a person’s brand for their life.  Your kids’ employers will search on social media to find them.  The people deciding whether they are admitted to their dream school will do the same.  Poor judgment at a minimum can be a disqualifier in a competitive process. Please remind your kids as I do to: (1) set their accounts to private and (2) do not post anything that could be considered offensive or in poor taste to a hyper sensitive person.  This includes liking posts or commenting on them. 
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How do you determine whether something is in poor taste?  I ask students if they would feel comfortable having their name and picture on the front cover of The New York Times and a copy of whatever was posted/liked/shared.  If the answer is no, there is your answer.  We live in an era where it is easy to offend.  When in doubt, be conservative in applying this test.  Our perception of what is "OK" tends to diminish with age.  Also remember, we can be found guilty by association.  If every person is doing something illegal, and your child happens to just be there in the picture, many reasonable minds would assume that your child is also participating in that activity as well. 
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