Blog

Insight from the Founder

In October, Don't Fall for the Hype About Applying to College!

Block out the mom groups! Block out the noise!I find myself saying that to parents and students as they share who got in where, who did...

Happy Labor Day, Prospective College Applicants! Now Get to Work!

Happy Labor Day! While some students wait for buses and learn new teachers' expectations, those applying to college should be focusing on...

Your College Applicant Needs to Enjoy the Summer . . . and Nail that Personal Essay!

Colleges continue to face scrutiny over costs, benefits and standardized testing policies.

Getting Into Selective Colleges 2024-25: Parent Edition

Speak the language of admissions and test prep by taking a course complete with lessons, tips and exercises.

College Applicants: Brainstorm essays, fine-tune lists and get ready to apply!

For rising seniors, summer takes on a whole new meaning. Ah, June. Many students associate it with freedom and relaxation - and they...

Parents of College Applicants: Your Student's Road to College is Now Even More Confusing

With so much misinformation, how can your student construct a college list? "Congratulations! You're an applicant now!"That's what I...

Learn about admissions issues and the new digital SAT!

Getting Into College 2024-25 Wednesday, March 20, at 7:00 pm EST A webinar hosted by Nina Berler and Anna Gazumyan-Silverman College...

With Different Admissions Criteria, Colleges are Sending Mixed Messages

What are the implications for your student's candidacy? Usually, March is filled with anticipation. After all, it's when the majority of...

This February, Should Applicants Show their Love to Target Colleges?

It's February - a month of seemingly lovely occasions. Yet with Early Action decisions, midyear meetings, letters of continued interest...

New Year, Not-So-New Issues Challenge College Applicants and their Families

Happy 2024 to all parents, students and advisors! Winter can be a time to stay indoors, enjoy family and friends and recharge. Well,...

This Holiday, Will Applicants Get What They Want?

It's December. In two weeks, many of my senior cohort will know the results of their Early applications. Some are realistic and have...

Exhausted from Early Decision?

Just wait until next month! They all squeaked by, but the stress was real. Ask the applicants, their parents or their counselors. Yes...

The Case for Commerce

Colleges' Approaches and Outcomes The student meetings are taking on a more serious tone. My Common App dashboard, up and loaded, is...

Colleges Have Adjusted Their Supplements

Does your applicant know what to do? For seniors and their parents, going back to school makes the college process very real. I have also...

The 2023-24 Common App is now live. How have colleges adjusted their essays?

Yes, the Common App is open! For college counselors, the news so far this summer has more than we can endure. Legacy admissions, elite...

A Newsworthy July for College Applicants

Holistic admissions take hold (yet again). When it comes to college admissions, this summer certainly has started off with a bang. Let's...

No level playing field for college applicants?

Launch the Personal Essay and get a summer job! Dear [Name of Student]: It's almost the end of the academic year - which means it's time...

National Reply Date Has Passed. So What's in Store for 2023-24?

A parent emails that his son is excited to wear his college's sweatshirt to school. I'm thrilled that the student's very hard work has...

Concerned about Applying in 2023-24?

Join us on Tuesday, April 25, at 7:30 pm!

My Smart Kids are Not Being Recognized: How Institutional Priorities Affect Applicants

It's April, complete with showers, flowers and possibly some sunshine. Still inside, I look at what's open on my laptop. The start of a...

EA and ED Deferrals Heighten Student and Parent Anxiety

In my email over the past week: I’m going to spend some time this week researching gap years. This is very depressing. I don’t know how...

unCommon Apps