College Blog

May 17, 2022

Update on the Common Application

Current Common Application membership is 979 colleges and universities, 63 of whom are international. Members hail from 19 countries outside the US. This year, 1.2 Million first year applicants submitted 7.5 million applications.
May 16, 2022

In a New York State of Mind

...I proceeded to the Uptown campus of the University at Albany, which features nine schools: Arts and Science, Social Welfare, Education, Engineering and Applied Sciences, Public Health, Business, Public Affairs & Policy, Criminal Justice and Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity.
December 22, 2021

Myth: You Won’t Get In If You Don’t Get In Early. Not True.

When I take a look at admissions to Master’s and Ph.D programs, for example, I see a range of students from all sorts of undergrad institutions, very selective and not so much, yet what the students all have in common is that they had made the most of their undergrad experiences. So if you were declined in the last few weeks, it’s okay to be disappointed, but it won’t affect your success in life. You will.
October 15, 2021

Character and Balance in College Admissions

Ratings are Problematic. College Selectivity is not a Reliable Predictor of Student Learning, Job Satisfaction or Well-Being. Engagement in College is More Important than Where You Attend. Recognizing those statements will go far in reducing the mental anguish that currently surrounds so many high school students, exacerbated by the social isolation of the Covid era.
June 21, 2021

How One University Makes a Large School Feel Smaller

There’s the library, an iconic structure on the University of California at San Diego (UCSD) campus. There’s the statue of Dr. Seuss and the Cat in the Hat outside on the library  plaza. There’s the sculpture of a […]
April 5, 2021

Reflections on This Most Unusual Year in College Admissions

This has been a most unusual year in college admissions.  Hundreds of colleges and universities in the United States went test optional – and a few test free. The College Board dropped the essay portion of the SAT […]
January 25, 2021

Adapting to Pandemic-Era Realities, College Board Drops SAT Subject Tests

The College Board, in one fell swoop, lowered the pressure on high school students last week. It eliminated SAT Subject Tests and the SAT essay – effective immediately. There will be no more administrations of Subject Tests in […]
January 1, 2021

A New Anxiety For High School Seniors

Trying to Overturn US Election Results Sends a Message that Can Increase Anxiety among High School Seniors Applying to College – But Their Futures are Still Bright When I repeatedly read about efforts to overturn the results of […]
October 29, 2020

New for Juniors: What Reviewing Applications Holistically Means

When a college or university reviews your application, it is looking at “fit,” that is, whether you are a good match for the college. The first place colleges consider is your high school record: where you go to […]
October 14, 2020

New for Juniors: How to Visit Colleges Without Getting into the Car

As a junior embarking on the college search process, it may seem daunting to do a college search without an in-person visit. But it does not have to be. I usually tell my juniors to do their research […]