The key to a college interview is preparation. There are three types of interviews. There's the on-campus interview, one via video conferencing like Zoom, or one with an alumnus in your local area. It's always important for your child to show their  best self, and to ask questions, and share thoughts or concerns about the school or overall college process. 

#1: On-campus interviews are usually conducted by admissions officers and they talk to your child for 25 to 30 minutes about who they are, and what they know about the college they’re meeting with. To schedule an interview, you can usually select a time on a school's website.

#2: Local alumni interviews are conducted by alumni who...

I love my children dearly. As a father of four, there are only a few things I would not do for them to ensure their happiness. Would I choose their friends? No. Would I choose their political affiliations? No. Would I choose their college? Absolutely not. Now remember, “choose” and “influence” are very different and I hope my model of how I live my life helps them to make wise decisions, but I would never outright choose any of the above for them. 

I would, however, help them with their college application process. As a company, we are gearing up to help the Class of 2022 with their essays and applications throughout the summer. If you and your child need help, we can do...

Parents, if your child's been waitlisted, please consider this: this arduous process just got longer. 

A waitlist decision is not a “yes” and it’s not a “no”. It’s a “wait, and we will see.” The waitlist is used as a pool of students who may be admitted if a university does not meet their expected level of enrollment. Essentially, if their accepted students say “no” then they probably will admit some students who are on the waiting list. The length of these lists varies between institutions but can be from a hundred to thousands of students long. There are many reasons why your child may be waitlisted for a school, including: 

• ...

College admissions is changing so fast that many of us in the profession who have dedicated our lives to this can barely keep up. It’s no secret that Covid upended everyone’s lives and colleges are no different. As decisions for the class of 2021 are released this week and through early April, consider these changes and how they affect your child.

Standardized testing may lose its value. Some may dispute this, but with colleges being forced to go test-optional last year and already have decided to be test-optional again this year, colleges have to reassess how they view the ACT and SAT. Most schools have yet to release their numbers of how many students applied to their school this year...

At this point, we all have pandemic fatigue and want to get out and do more. If you’re thinking about visiting colleges over the next few weeks, I strongly suggest that you visit that school’s admissions page on their website to learn about their visitation protocols and procedures. Yes, some schools are welcoming prospective and accepted families on campus but many are not. Know what you can do and cannot do before you jump in the car.

Will a self-guided tour “count” as demonstrated interest?
Absolutely. There are ways to convey to a college that your child took the initiative to “see” as much as possible despite some of the Covid restrictions. College is a big...

If your child is in the Class of 2022, now is the time for them to start showing colleges that they’re curious. Demonstrating interest is increasingly a more significant factor in the admissions process than in years past. 

Your kid is probably getting emails everyday from colleges they’ve heard or and others they have not. Digital outreach is the only way for colleges to connect with prospective students right now so colleges and universities have made the investment in it expecting it will have a major impact on the applications they receive for the 2021-22 admission cycle. 

Right now, virtual events are big and your child (and sometimes you) need to be attending them....

I used to be a school guidance counselor and I understand what they go through. It’s a lot to work with a caseload of kids and have to advise them on their classes, tests and college lists. I honestly believe that they want the best for your child but sometimes they’re just too overwhelmed to give you the best advice that you need to succeed. 

First of all, what many of us called “guidance counselors” are now supposed to be called “school counselors” or “Deans.” The title may have changed, but the job description remains the same:

• Help all students to apply academic achievement strategies
• Help all students plan for postsecondary school options...

What To Learn from Virtual Visits - Fall 2020 - Part 1
(this contains excerpts from a high school that I admire as they address how to approach online college information sessions and tours. Please share this with your child as it directed towards them)

Many of you have taken advantage of online college programs this fall, whether they be college fairs, info sessions or college rep virtual visits at school. So what should you be learning during this process? You should be paying attention to what individual colleges offer and how important you believe these offerings will be to you a year from now when you are applying to college. Some of the information may be confusing and won’t make sense...

With early application deadlines right around the corner, we thought we should explain what they all exactly are and why you should consider them (if you can afford it).

This is a great explanation from the International College Counselors.

BENEFITS OF APPLYING EARLY 

• Improving your chance of being accepted
• Improving your chance of getting a scholarship
• Gaining time to prepare for college and study for high school classes/AP tests, if accepted
• Gaining more time to apply to other colleges with later deadlines if you get rejected
• Ensuring peace of mind

Early policies can maximize a student's chances to get into a school, but the policies need to be carefully read. While the definitions for each...