Avoid These Common Pitfalls

It's important to steer clear of certain topics that may hinder your teen's chances of making a strong impression through their essay. Here are a few key points to remember:

1. No Romance, Please: Encourage your child to keep their personal relationships out of their essay. Intimate details of their love life are better left unsaid, as colleges are primarily interested in learning about their character, values, and achievements.
2. Complaining is a No-Go: Remind your teen that the personal statement is not the platform for airing grievances about teachers, curriculum, or a bad grade. There's a separate section in the application to address any exceptional circumstances....

I know talking about college essays may not be what you had in mind for this summer, but trust me, understanding the significance of supplemental essays is crucial. Many people focus solely on the personal statement and overlook the importance of brainstorming effectively for supplemental essays. I want to emphasize why these supplemental essays matter and how they can significantly impact your child's college application. 

Understanding Supplemental Essays:

Supplemental essays are institution-specific essays that colleges and universities require in addition to the personal statement. While the personal statement often offers various prompts through platforms like the Common Application,...

As a high school student, writing college essays can be one of the most daunting tasks. It's a crucial aspect of the college application process that requires students to showcase their unique qualities and experiences. Why? Well, because many colleges rely upon essays more than they do scores (test-optional schools) and with the rise of artificial intelligence, colleges want to know your student as much as they can.

The Importance of the Student Voice

Parents should be involved in the brainstorming process, but not to the point where the student's unique voice is lost. A student's writing style is different from that of a 40 or 50-year-old. The essay is an opportunity for students to showcase their...

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the college process for your teen? We've been there too. Finding the right school that aligns with your child's unique interests and passions can be a daunting task. 

And, part of the process is looking for support. But, will it work? Will it help?

What brings me joy is the success and positive results we provide to our clients…

I’d like to share with you today a story of just one of the many families we work with here at Strategic Admissions Advice and what they were able to achieve with us - together.

–

“Strategic Admissions Advice (SAA) transformed our college journey and brought clarity and peace to our family."

Before enrolling...

As parents of high school students, we know that the college application process can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to writing the essay portion. As the founder and Chief Education Officer of Strategic Admissions Advice, I have seen countless students struggle with the essay-writing process. However, with the right guidance and approach, your child can write an essay that stands out from the rest.

Encourage Your Child to Be Themselves

The college application essay allows your child to showcase their unique personality, experiences, and interests. Encourage your child to be themselves and write from the heart. Colleges want to get to know the real person behind the application, not a...

Are you a high school student's parent wondering how to navigate the college admissions process? It can be overwhelming, confusing, and often frustrating. As a parent, you want the best for your child, but with thousands of colleges and universities to choose from, how do you find the right fit?

Trust me, it’s not you, it’s them. Colleges are constantly moving the goalposts and changing their standards and their “institutional priorities.” Every year more and more colleges are becoming less predictable. It’s confusing to us all but we can at least discuss what to expect from the college admissions process, what colleges are looking for in their applicants, and how to...

Are you a parent of a high school student worried about the college admissions process? How do you choose the right college for your child? You may be concerned about the competitive nature of college admissions, the increasing number of applicants, and the role of rankings in the process. 

As a college admissions expert with years of experience, I’ve seen far too many high school students and their parents fall into the trap of believing that applying to a dozen or more colleges will increase their chances of being accepted to a great school. But that’s simply not true. It’s often the exact opposite.

Therefore, it is essential to understand what your child can bring to a...

As a parent of a college-bound high school student, are you wondering how to help your teen to stand out in the college admissions process? If so, one way to do this is through having direct and documented contact with the admissions office. This is what we call "demonstrating interest."

Demonstrating interest can take many forms, such as visiting the campus, attending information sessions or college fairs, following on social media, and engaging with admissions officers when they come to your teen’s school or town. Some colleges take demonstrated interest into consideration when evaluating applicants, as they want to admit students who are genuinely interested in attending their institution.

While many universities no longer require interviews, it is crucial to research if the schools that your teen intends to apply, to require or recommends them. Interviews provide an excellent opportunity for your rising senior to connect with the admissions office or an alumnus of the university.

As parents, I suggest you help your child to schedule an interview. It’s pretty simple online, and if they can do it on their own, great, but most kids don’t know how busy they genuinely are. The last thing you want is for an interview opportunity to be missed.

In today’s video, we’re going to discuss: College Admissions and Interviews.

When preparing for the interview, there are...

If you have an 11th grader, I hope you've begun to discuss the plan for the summer and how your child plans to work on their college application. 

Are you aware of the importance of college admissions essays? 

As the founder and Chief Education Officer of Strategic Admissions Advice, I understand how crucial essays are to the college application process. With the current test-optional trend, essays are even more critical than ever.

Most schools require essays, and the Common Application, which is used by over 900 schools, offers seven different personal essay options. In addition, there are often supplemental essays. Therefore, parents and students must understand the essay process and how...