If you submitted college applications early action or early decision, chances are you will be receiving news on your submission in the month of December. I used to think it was cruel to be sending out admission decisions during the holidays, but after watching students receive and process the news, I’ve changed my mind. Because, I’ve come to realize that each decision is actually a gift to remind students that it’s not what happens, it’s how they respond that makes all the difference.  

One of the more anxiety-ridden tasks I’ve ever completed was the time I was given the responsibility of properly executing wires transfers for my family.

It’s the month of Halloween!  And in the spirit of the holiday, this month’s blog is going to contain some candy-coated treats to hopefully make a few things like that scary FAFSA, more palatable.

The pressure to choose your major and have a post-graduate plan before you even apply to college seems to be much more intense.  It’s probably the thing I hear most from juniors and seniors: “How do I choose a major?” “What if I change my mind”? “How do I know now what I want to do in the future?”. 

About 3 weeks ago, I decided that this month’s blog topic would be about building a balanced college list. And it’s taken me about that long to write it. It’s not that I didn’t know what to say, it’s that I had so much to talk about, I had a hard time narrowing it down.

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”.  I totally agree. But if it IS broken, and you fix it, make sure it’s better. Both the FAFSA and the SAT have initiated major changes and both are set to debut for the Fall 2023-2024 application season. 

CONGRATULATIONS to this year’s graduates!  I’m so excited about all that awaits you.  But, before you rush headlong into the next part of your journey, I hope you’ll take the time to pause and celebrate all you’ve accomplished and reflect on what it’s meant to you. 

The college admissions process is one that changes every single year based on the goals of the institution and lacks a tremendous degree of transparency. That’s why so many experts have dedicated their careers to creating ways to get information out to families about all aspects of the process. 

College applications are up once AGAIN this year.

It shouldn’t be surprising. Lower admit rates and higher yield percentages are how colleges are evaluated. I’ve said it before and I will keep repeating it: colleges are businesses.