Calling all rising seniors: The 2012-2013 Common Application Preview is Live
Posted on Wed, 05/16/2012 - 18:26
Calling all rising seniors… A preview of the 2012-2013 Common Application is now available online. As you will see, differences from the current year’s applications are highlighted on the form. However, students cannot submit their Common App just yet. The official version of the Common Application will not be available until August.
But you can get started on the essay questions and we strongly recommend that you do. Rising seniors should return to school in the fall with their Common App essays completed.
As Valerie Strauss of the Washington Post points out in her column on the preview:
When the Common Application was developed in 1975, officials hoped it would reduce the number of separate applications and essays a student applying to numerous colleges would have to complete. Actually, many colleges still require additional information, including more essays. So students, beware: There’s a lot of work to do.
Over the summer, we’ll have more posts on what colleges are looking for in an essay and some tips for getting started.
College Admission is at Graduation!
Posted on Thu, 05/10/2012 - 16:01
College Admission has a daughter graduating from college! So we're taking part in commencement festivities. See you next week!
College Admission in Sauk Valley Media
Posted on Wed, 05/09/2012 - 20:36Thank you to Bridget Flynn of Sauk Valley Media and the Daily Gazette for the wonderful coverage of Christine VanDeVelde's presentations to students at Newman Central Catholic High School and Sterling High School in Sterling, Illinois. You can read it here.
College Admission Interviewed by Stanford Professional Women of Los Angeles
Posted on Tue, 05/08/2012 - 05:28Thank you to the Stanford Professional Women of Los Angeles for their in-depth interview with coauthor Robin Mamlet. You can read it here.
NACAC's List of Colleges Still Accepting Applications
Posted on Thu, 05/03/2012 - 21:44The annual NACAC Space Availability Survey is now live. At least 375 four-year colleges and universities still have space available for qualified freshman and/or transfer students. The list also includes information about financial aid and housing availability. Seventy percent of the colleges reporting space availability for fall 2012 are private, and 30 percent are public. Among the 375 schools with seats still available are Villanova, Agnes Scott, Chapman, Pace, Seton Hall, Washington & Jefferson, University of Iowa and University of Florida. And because the survey is voluntary, schools may be added over the next weeks. The survey will remain active on the NACAC website until June 29, 2011. A school's presence on the list implies only space availability. Students must contact the individual colleges directly for application information and admission is contingent upon each school's review of the student's information.
Andrew Flagel, Brandeis University
Posted on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 21:19
Andrew Flagel, Senior Vice President for Students and Enrollment at Brandeis University, joins us this month to answer our questions about the private liberal arts university located in Waltham, Massachusetts.
About 3,500 undergraduates live and study on the 235-acre Brandeis campus, which is close enough to Boston to enjoy a view of that city’s skyline. Founded in 1948, the university is named for Louis Brandeis, the first Jewish Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Its origin story continues to inform the school’s mission and milieu — but we will let Mr. Flagel tell you more about that.
In the meantime, some fun facts:
Elsa Heydenreich Clark, Immaculate Heart High School
Posted on Wed, 05/02/2012 - 17:16
Elsa Heydenreich Clark is the Director of College Counseling at Immaculate Heart High School in Los Angeles, California, a private Catholic college preparatory school for 555 young women in grades 9 through 12. A graduate of the University of Southern California, Clark also holds a Master of Science in School Counseling from California State University, Los Angeles.
Since 1988, Clark has counseled juniors and seniors at Immaculate Heart, a unique institution with a storied history in Los Angeles. Founded in 1906, today the school ‘s student body includes many who are the daughters and granddaughters of graduates. It is also known for its diversity, reflecting the demographics of the Los Angeles population — two-thirds of those attending are students of color and many are first generation.
Louisiana Tech Joins the Gourmet Guide
Posted on Tue, 05/01/2012 - 21:37Louisiana-style Cajun cuisine, the "Best Burgers in North Louisiana," and some tart yogurt to top it off. If you're visiting the Ruston, Louisiana, campus of Louisiana Tech University, we've got some recommendations for you. Crawfish, shrimp po-boys, hush puppies, and fried green beans… We wish we were on our way to LA Tech. Check it out here.
National Candidates Reply Date
Posted on Tue, 05/01/2012 - 17:40Today is the day! Students must formally notify one college that they are accepting its offer of admission -- and seal the deal with a deposit check. Congratulations! But, of course, the school year and your college admission process are not quite over... You may still need to forward the results of your AP exams, deal with housing and even roommate selection at your chosen school for next year, and finish your senior year strong. Remember, acceptances are conditional and your entire senior year is important to colleges. For a good summary of the steps you will need to keep in mind beyond today's decision, check out the excellent May Checklist for Seniors at The New York Times' Choice blog. And we want to add one more item to that check list -- a warning against double depositing. Sending a deposit to more than one college to keep your options open is unethical and may result in both colleges rescinding your admission. See our recent blog post on double depositing here.
The Wait List: Explained
Posted on Fri, 04/27/2012 - 20:23John Carpenter, author of Going Geek: What Every Smart Kid (and Every Smart Parent) Should Know About College Admissions, has a column on his website today at AskJohnAboutCollege.com that every student on a wait list could benefit from reading. "Don't You Hate the Wait List" explains how colleges manage their wait lists, the implications for financial aid, and what a students next steps should be. Carpenter's advice is both realistic and reassuring. Check it out.