Versed Editors's blog

By: Valerie Erde

 

While it’s true that colleges want to create a well-rounded class that brings together a mix of artists, athletes, and leaders in a range of areas, they also want students who, when they arrive on campus, are able to do the work and who will graduate in four years — not six or eight. 

It may be good for colleges’ wallets to have students attend for more than four years, but it’s not good for their rankings nor their reputation.  This is due in large part to the way the college rankings work. One of the areas measured by the U.S. News and World Report rankings, for example, is the percentage of students who graduate in four years. If you’ve taken a college tour recently, you’ve probably noticed that this information is often featured in the presentation, and it’s also important for the Department of Education College Scorecard.

Beyond rankings, the truth is that colleges really do want students to succeed:  admitting academically strong students — the ones who are ready to succeed from Day One — is the best way both to keep the rankings number up and to ensure their students will succeed academically and thrive intellectually once on campus.

For the majority of colleges and universities, especially the “most selective” ones that accept fewer than 20% of applicants, it’s your academic profile  - not your extracurricular endeavors - that is going to be paramount in their decision on whether or not to accept you.

But there’s a problem: grade inflation.

GRADE INFLATION IS ON THE RISE

Not all “straight A students” are created equal. That would seem obvious, right? Honors English, social studies or science at one high school can be vastly different from the same honors course at another high school. Sometimes, the courses can even vary widely between teachers at the same school! Anyone who’s been through high school knows that some teachers are tough while others are easy.

The same is true for AP courses, though the variation isn’t as severe. That’s because the course material is dictated by the College Board and is therefore relatively standard across the country. And, of course, the culminating AP test is standardized.

Even “objective” subjects such as math include plenty of room for subjectivity in the grading.   The quadratic equation is the quadratic equation, but how much time is spent on it, how it’s taught, and how many homework problems you’re assigned for practice can vary greatly.

Beyond that, some students—particularly affluent and self-advocating ones—get better grades simply because they’re perceived to be “good kids.” I’ve had many conversations about this with fellow tutors, and we’ve all had the experience of working with a student whose PSAT/P-ACT scores revealed serious deficits in math (or English), despite having straight A’s in the subject since middle school. Kids who are extroverted and build good relationships with their teachers can—often with the help of an involved parent—talk their way into extra credit, makeup work, or the dropping of a low test score. 

Research shows that grade inflation is strong and on rise. Before the pandemic, 47% percent of high school students graduated with an A-minus to an A-plus average—an increase of nearly 10 percentage points over a 20-year period. And some of the biggest increases are coming from “resourced” schools, especially independent private schools. This has the effect of creating a growing pool of competitive (on paper) applicants, especially in affluent communities. 

That’s a lot of kids competing for very few spots at elite colleges—many with the same high GPAs.

 

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU

As you build a list of colleges to apply to, it’s important to have an accurate view of yourself and where you stand in relation to other applicants. It’s not helpful to have an inflated — or deflated! — sense of yourself. When it comes to applying to highly selective schools, don’t assume that a good GPA alone is going to get you in. It also depends on the rigor of your high school, whether your school is known as a grade inflator, and your standardized test scores, which serve as a crucial “validator” of your grades. If your AP test scores are much lower than your grade in the course, for example, that won’t instill confidence in the rigor of your school’s program. 

 

BE INFORMED: KNOW WHERE YOUR HIGH SCHOOL STANDS

How can you know if your A is really an A? 

It helps to understand where your high school ranks compared to others. I find that many of the parents and students with whom I work generally have a decent sense about which schools are rigorous and which ones tend to hand out top grades more easily. But if you’re not certain where your school falls on the continuum, you can find out. Just as there are college ranking lists, there are also high school ranking lists. 

Writer Jay Matthews initially developed the Jay Matthews High School Challenge Index  as a publicity stunt to promote a book he was writing, but it was such a hit that he’s kept it going. He studied many school’s practices in depth to see which ones were really challenging their students to take risks, try harder courses, and earn accurate grades by mastering the material. (He also has some illuminating thoughts about the role of affluence and gatekeeping for AP courses.) The upshot of his rankings is that rigor is not determined by zip code, even though grades can often be tracked along socio-economic lines.

Other groups have sought to rank high schools not by rigor, but by their college admittance outcomes. For example, lists such as Polaris and Ivy League Feeders rank high schools by the percentage of students admitted to the ivy league. So, sure, if you attend certain schools such as Horace Mann, Brunswick, Harvard Westlake, or Exeter, a greater percentage of you will be admitted to ivy league and other selective colleges. But at same time, if your high school is more competitive to get into and/or also is a massive grade inflator, the competition from your peers is also going to be greater. 

 

KNOW WHERE YOU STAND  

Above, I talked about knowing where your high school stands relative to other schools in terms of rigor, but even more important is knowing where you stand within your peer group because as I’ve mentioned before, admissions officers begin by evaluating and comparing students within the context of their own high school (i.e., the school profile provided by the high school’s guidance department), and then expand those comparisons to include additional students from the broader region.

Most of us appropriately focus on our local level. After all, the school science fair, divisional soccer championship, and regional chorus are what we know. But zoom out, and the field gets far more crowded with talent. For example, I remember my child, a clarinetist, thinking that as first chair in her high school band and in her local youth orchestra, she was “all that.”  But when it came time to audition for a pre-college music program, she quickly learned that competing against students from around the region was a much different ballgame!  She didn’t get in everywhere she applied, and the program she did get accepted to was far more challenging than anything she had done up to that point.

It can be difficult to learn how we stack up on a state, national, or even international level. This is largely because most private high schools and a growing number of public ones have dropped class rank as a metric, instead reporting only grades. There are more than 26,000 public high schools in the U.S. and at least another 2,800 private schools, which means that your child will be competing against tens of thousands of applicants. 

“Here, the authors find that the proportion of students with A averages (including A-minus and A-plus) increased from 38.9 percent of the graduating class of 1998 to 47 percent of the graduating class of 2016. Those gains came from the B and C ranges.

Of course, the authors acknowledge in their study, there could be a reason for the grade inflation that would make educators celebrate. What if students are smarter or are being better educated, and so are earning their better grades? The authors reject these possibilities, and cite SAT scores to do so. If students were learning more, their SATs should be going up, or at the very least remaining stable. But during the period studied, SAT averages (math and verbal, 1,600-point scale) fell from 1,026 to 1,002.”

Compare that to the number of students who get a 4 or 5 on the English Literature AP Exam: 

Only 7.4% of students earned a 5 on the AP English Lit. exam — a far cry from the 47% of students who have an A- to A+ average. (Another interesting takeaway is the number of total students earning a 5 on the AP Lit. exam — 30,000+ —  is greater than the number of first-year slots at all of the Ivies combined.)

If you feel overwhelmed by this process, take a deep breath. There are some concrete steps you can take to make sure your application is as strong as it can be in a world of rampant grade inflation.

 

PARENTS: DON’T HELICOPTER, BUT DON’T DISAPPEAR

Your high school student needs you more than they think — and more than you think, even in terms of their high school academics.

A 2018 survey published by Learning Heroes, a parent information group, found a big disconnect, especially among parents of high school students, between how they feel their child is performing and teachers’ reports of student performance.  Interestingly (interestingly to me at least!), there was also a disconnect between how involved parents felt they needed to be in their high school student’s academic performance and the level of parental involvement teachers attributed to student success – especially earlier on in high school (9th and 10th grades). 

 

PLAN YOUR COURSE SELECTIONS BEFORE HIGH SCHOOL

If you’re reading this as a parent of a junior, unfortunately, it’s a bit late, but senior-year courses are still very important and not a time to slack off!  If you think you may want to apply to the most selective schools, please go to the admissions websites and check their high school curriculum requirements.  For the ivies, for example, not taking all three core lab sciences (bio, chem, physics), or not taking four years of a foreign language, is frowned upon and may put you at a competitive disadvantage.

For parents of younger students, remember, certain courses, you won’t be able to get to the honors or AP level in high school if you don’t think about where you’re headed early on. This is true if your high school has minimum grade requirements or if they have a hard-and-fast rule about course sequencing. Math, in particular, can require good choices as early as seventh grade. 

 

DON’T OVERDO IT, BUT DON’T BE AFRAID TO CHALLENGE YOURSELF

I really like this line from a U.S. News article about high school class rigor: “Find Your Magic Number Of Advanced Classes.”  This number will be different for everyone.

Note for athletes:  A few of my student athletes have reported coaches advising them not to take AP and other challenging courses.  I’m writing a whole separate article on athletics in high school, but remember, while it may be in your coach’s interest for you to take less challenging classes so you have more time to focus on your sport, it is not necessarily (and not usually) in your interest to do so.

 

TAKE MORE “STANDARDIZED” AP & IB COURSES IF YOU CAN

In addition to showing your willingness to take challenging classes, AP and IB courses have a standardized curriculum and assessment, which provides a measure of your learning that allows colleges to accurately compare your achievements with students from around the country. Don’t blow off the exam — it’s the best way to know where you stand.  

 

CHOOSE AP COURSES WISELY

AP Psychology, AP Comparative Government & Politics, and AP Environmental Science (APES) are considered to be among the easiest AP classes. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take them if those subjects interest you! It just means that if you are aiming for Stanford or MIT, for example, APES may not be thought of as highly as AP Biology, Chemistry, or Physics. 

STANDARDIZED TESTS(AP, ACT, SAT) “CORROBORATE” YOUR GRADE

I’ve said this over and over again, and just yesterday, as I was doing a last edit on this blog post, MIT announced that for 2022 applicants, it will be joining Georgetown University in reinstating the ACT or SAT requirement.  Here’s a quote from MIT’s announcement about the academic rationale for reinstating the tests.  (There’s also an important equity reason.)

“In short: Our research has shown that, in most cases, we cannot reliably predict students will do well at MIT unless we consider standardized test results alongside grades, coursework, and other factors. These findings are statistically robust and stable over time, and hold when you control for socioeconomic factors and look across demographic groups. And the math component of the testing turns out to be most important. ”

— STUART SCHMILL, MIT DEAN OF ADMISSIONS

 

About Valerie Erde of Veridian Prep:

VeridianPrep is an academic tutoring and test prep company that combines years of subject expertise and experience with evidence-based approaches to teaching and learning.  VeridianPrep’s strengths lie in quickly determining each student’s strengths and gaps to offer a personalized, and results-oriented approach that builds skills and confidence to help teens succeed not only in a single class or test, but also in their next journey -- college.    Currently, VeridianPrep covers all levels of Math, English, Chemistry, and Physics including AP/ACT/SAT/SAT II, meeting one-on-one with students at home, in offices in Greenwich, CT/NYC, or online. https://www.veridianprep.com

 

If you are interested in speaking with Valerie Erde, or other advisors at Versed about helping students discover their interests and pursue meaningful activities, please contact us.

 

For addition insights, read:

6 Steps to Better Grades

How to Guarantee Academic Success

Tips For Motivating Your Teen

 

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Early Application and Early Decision 1 deadlines for students applying to colleges is in November. With November almost around the corner, we have listed below all of our resources on Early Action and Early Decisions applications so that families can take advantage of an important admissions strategy that more and more students are considering. 

 

When Should Students Consider Applying Early Action/Early Decision?

Our blog on When Should Students Consider Applying Early Action/Early Decision? provides an overview of what EA and ED are, application deadlines, as well as insight into when students should consider a particular college for one of these cycles. 

 

2019 College Acceptance Rate: Early Action/Early Decision Vs. Regular Decision

While providing statistics from three years ago, this blog gives students and parents a good overview of the data on EA and ED acceptance rates, and where it might be useful to consider these cycles based on statistical data.

 

What Students Should Do When They Get Deferred From College?

Along with preparing for the EA and ED1 deadlines this fall, students should also prepare for what happens if they get deferred during these rounds. Consider our blog on What Students Should Do When They Get Deferred From College? To learn more about what a deferral is, and how to prepare for next steps in case your student is deferred during the November application cycle. 

 

Everything you Need to Know About ED2

Students who might not get into ED1 or EA schools have a second chance at applying Early Decision 2 in January. Learn more about this in our blog specifically centered on the ED2 cycle.

 

 

Demonstrating Interest to Prospective Colleges

Self-Motivation For Students & How Parents Can Help

How To Ask For And Receive a Great Recommendation For College

Demystifying the College Admissions Essay

 

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Receive inside track information on college admissions process, high school and middle school planning, general pre-college guidance, and be the first to know about our events and announcements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In our last blog post, Top 7 Books on College Admissions for those just getting started… We recommended 7 great books that will give you big-picture perspectives about colleges, the college admissions process overall, the true nature of selective college admissions, and what you can do to help students prepare for the road ahead. For those Juniors and seniors ready to build college lists focusing on academic, personal and financial fit, these following 7 books do a great job of providing data and college specific information invaluable to this process. Furthermore, these books are consistently recommended by counselors, parents and students alike.

 

The Princeton Review: The Best 386 Colleges

Author: Princeton Review and Robert Franek

This comprehensive guide to the nation's best colleges provides in-depth profiles on schools, best-of lists by interest, and a ton of information directly from students at these colleges. This guide includes: 

• 386 in-depth school profiles based on candid feedback from 143,000 students, covering academics, administration, campus life, and financial aid
• Insights on unique college character, social scene, and more
• Lists of the top 20 colleges in 62 categories based on students' opinions of academics, campus life, facilities, and much more
• Ratings for every school on Financial Aid, Selectivity, and Quality of Life
• The "Inside Word" on competitive applications, test scores, tuition, and average indebtedness
• Comprehensive information on selectivity, freshman profiles, and application deadlines at each school

The Best 386 Colleges

 

Fiske Guide to Colleges

By: Edward Fiske

The Fiske Guide to Colleges, written by the former New York Times education editor Edward Fiske, is a bestseller and the perfect primer for students and parents who are just getting started with the college admissions process. The guide goes beyond what you can find on college websites, giving an insider perspective into what a student’s life might look like at different schools across the United States, Canada, Great Britain and Ireland. Fiske even includes quotes from students at these institutions to provide an accurate account of what experiences you can expect. 

The guide is updated every year, and alongside stories from students, it includes; a self quiz, informative lists on majors and programs, price and debt rates, acceptance rates, social life ratings, and a host of other data to arm families with the information needed to compile a college list. The Fiske Guide to Getting into the Right College starts with an in-depth assessment of student priorities, then takes you step-by-step through the process of applying to the schools you actually want to get into. This guide will show students how to:

• Choose the right kind of school for you
• Filter out the hype
• Navigate the financial aid process
• Earn the test scores colleges want you to see
• Write authentic essays (even if you're not a great writer)
• Submit an application that shows off your best features
• Ask the right questions during campus visits
• Know how admissions officers rank candidates
• Get off the waiting list and get accepted
• Attract and even negotiate the best financial aid package

Fiske Guide to Colleges 

 

The Price you Pay for College: An Entirely New Roadmap for the Biggest Financial Decision Your Family Will Ever Make 

By: Ron Lieber 

Written by New York Times bestselling columnist Ron Lieber, this bestseller gives students and parents information about tuition for college level education, and the right guidance on understanding both merit-based and need-based scholarships and aid. Lieber also considers the COVID-19 pandemic as a factor of consideration in his book, useful to most families applying to colleges right now. Lieber poses difficult yet important questions for families to discuss beforehand regarding finances, provides guidance on setting financial goals, and explains the processes of loans and ways students can support their own education as well. This book will guide students to make affordable choices that still provide them with a solid education. 

The Price you Pay for College: An Entirely New Roadmap for the Biggest Financial Decision Your Family Will Ever Make 

 

Colleges That Change Lives

Author: Loren Pope

This is a groundbreaking guide to the 40 best colleges you've never heard of—colleges that will change your life. Choosing the right college has never been more important—or more difficult. For the latest edition of this classic college guide, Hilary Masell Oswald conducted her own tours of top schools and in-depth interviews, building on Loren Pope's original to create a totally updated, more expansive work. Organized by geographic region, every profile includes a wealth of vital information, including admissions standards, distinguishing facts about the curriculum, extracurricular activities, and what faculty say about their jobs. Masell Oswald also offers a new chapter on how students with learning disabilities can find schools that fit their needs. For every prospective college student searching for more than football and frat parties, Colleges That Change Lives will prove indispensable.

Fully revised and updated by education journalist Hilary Oswald, Colleges That Change Lives remains the definitive guide for high school students (and their parents) who are looking for more in their college education than football, frat parties, and giant lectures. Building on the foundation of landmark author Loren Pope, Oswald spent more than a year visiting 40 colleges, speaking with students, faculty, and alumni to create these vivid and concise portraits. 

Colleges that Change Lives

 

The College Solution

Author: Lynn O’Shaughnessy

This bestselling book is aimed at helping parents and teenagers become empowered consumers as they navigate through the college process to find wonderful colleges and universities at more affordable prices. Billions of dollars are available to pay for college, but not everybody gets their share. It's not always the families with the brightest students or the parents who are struggling financially who receive the most money. The College Solution shares the secrets of how you can capture some of this money for your own family. The book provides advice on such topics as financial aid, merit scholarships, athletic scholarships, admission hooks, the important differences between colleges and universities, college rankings, the best student loans and the latest online tools to evaluate the generosity of schools. O’Shaughnessy presents an easy-to-use, proven road map for getting past the ratings, and finding the right schools at the right price. No other book offers this much practical guidance on choosing and paying for college now ― and no other book will save you as much money!

The College Solution

 

Paying for College

Author: Princeton Review and Kalman Chany

This annual guide allows you to take control of your financial aid experience with line-by-line instructions for completing the FAFSA forms. Financing a college education is a daunting task no matter what your circumstances. With line-by-line instructions for filling out the FAFSA and consumer-friendly advice to minimize college costs, Paying for College helps you take control of your experience and:

• Maximize your financial aid eligibility
• Learn how COVID-19 and the latest tax laws affect the financing of your college education
• Explore long- and short-term strategies to reduce college costs and avoid expensive mistakes
• Complete every question on the FAFSA and CSS Profile forms to your best advantage
• Compare aid offers and learn how to appeal them if necessary 
• Plan strategically as a separated/divorced parent, blended family, or independent student

Paying for College 

 

College Essay Essentials: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Successful College Admissions Essay 

By Ethan Sawyer

Ethan Sawyer, college admissions veteran, offers in-depth step by step guidance on different aspects of the college application essays and how students can approach them. In this guide, he examines in-depth, the important skills students should cultivate for writing their essay, including: 

• Brainstorming how to answer essay prompts
• Structuring the essay
• Editing, revising, and proofreading
• What colleges are looking for

College Essay Essentials: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Successful College Admissions Essay

 

For additional insights, check out our blogs:

Top 7 Books on College Admissions for those just getting started…

How to Create a Financially Balanced College List

Finding Your Academic Fit

Download our Comprehensive Guide: College Application Process

 

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Many of us use the internet for all of our information gathering when it comes to any kind of large ticket purchases. Whether we are looking for a new car, a new home, or vacation options, there is no shortage of information you can find on the internet. The same applies to colleges (a $80-300K investment), but there are so many more variables to consider. We also hear over and over again that the amount  of information on the internet is overwhelming, and with so much biased information from marketers, it is often difficult to parse out what advice is worth heeding, and conversely what should be ignored.

For those starting out, freshmen/sophomore/junior parents, as well as middle school parents looking to get a glimpse of what is ahead, there are several great books that will provide families with the lay of the land. These books will give you big-picture perspectives about colleges, the college admissions process overall, and what you can do to help students prepare for the road ahead.

 

Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions

By: Jeffrey Selingo

In Who Gets In and Why, journalist and higher education expert Jeffrey Selingo dispels entrenched notions of how to compete and win at the admissions game, and reveals that teenagers and parents have much to gain by broadening their notion of what qualifies as a “good college.” Selingo, who was embedded in three different admissions offices—a selective private university, a leading liberal arts college, and a flagship public campus—closely observed gatekeepers as they made their often agonizing and sometimes life-changing decisions. He also followed select students and their parents, as he traveled around the country meeting with high school counselors, marketers, behind-the-scenes consultants, and college rankers.

While many have long believed that admissions is merit-based, rewarding the best students, Who Gets In and Why presents a more complicated truth, showing that “who gets in” is frequently more about the college’s agenda than the applicant. In a world where thousands of equally qualified students vie for a fixed number of spots at elite institutions, admissions officers often make split-second decisions based on a variety of factors—like diversity, money, and, ultimately, whether a student will enroll if accepted. One of the most insightful books written about “getting in” and what higher education has become, Who Gets In and Why not only provides an unusually intimate look at how admissions decisions get made, but guides prospective students on how to honestly assess their strengths and match with the schools that will best serve their interests.

Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions

Also check out our takeaway:

Who Gets In And Why - Book Highlights

 

Fiske Guide to Colleges

By: Edward Fiske

The Fiske Guide to Colleges, written by the former New York Times education editor Edward Fiske, is a bestseller and the perfect primer for students and parents who are just getting started with the college admissions process. The guide goes beyond what you can find on college websites, giving an insider perspective into what a student’s life might look like at different schools across the United States, Canada, Great Britain and Ireland. Fiske even includes quotes from students at these institutions to provide an accurate account of what experiences you can expect. 

The guide is updated every year, and alongside stories from students, it includes; a self quiz, informative lists on majors and programs, price and debt rates, acceptance rates, social life ratings, and a host of other data to arm families with the information needed to compile a college list. The Fiske Guide to Getting into the Right College starts with an in-depth assessment of student priorities, then takes you step-by-step through the process of applying to the schools you actually want to get into. This guide will show students how to:

• Choose the right kind of school for you
• Filter out the hype
• Navigate the financial aid process
• Earn the test scores colleges want you to see
• Write authentic essays (even if you're not a great writer)
• Submit an application that shows off your best features
• Ask the right questions during campus visits
• Know how admissions officers rank candidates
• Get off the waiting list and get accepted
• Attract and even negotiate the best financial aid package

Fiske Guide to Colleges 

 

How to Raise an Adult

Author: Julie Lythcott-Haims

In How to Raise an Adult, Julie Lythcott-Haims draws on research, on conversations with admissions officers, educators, and employers, and on her own insights as a mother and as a student dean to highlight the ways in which overparenting harms children, their stressed-out parents, and society at large. While empathizing with the parental hopes and fears that lead to overparenting, Lythcott-Haims offers practical alternative strategies that underline the importance of allowing children to make their own mistakes and develop the resilience, resourcefulness, and inner determination necessary for success. Relevant to parents of toddlers as well as of twentysomethings--and of special value to parents of teens--this book is a rallying cry for those who wish to ensure that the next generation can take charge of their own lives with competence and confidence.

How to Raise an Adult

 

The Truth about College Admission

Authors: Brennan Barnard & Rick Clark

The Truth about College Admission is an easy-to-follow, comprehensive, go-to guide for families. The authors (Brennan Barnard, Director of College Counseling at The Derryfield School and US Performance Academy, and Rick Clark, Georgia Tech’s Director of Admissions) ―with perspectives from both high school and university―provide critical advice, thoughtful strategies, and invaluable reassurance to those on the long and often bewildering college admission journey. From searching for colleges and creating a list, to crafting an application, learning what schools are looking for academically and outside the classroom, and getting insight into how colleges decide who to accept, this book covers every step. Helpful sections such as "Try This," "Talk about This," and "Check In" guide your family on how to have open and balanced conversations to keep everyone on the same page, feeling less stressed, and enjoying the adventure together.

The Truth about College Admission

 

Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be

Author: Frank Bruni

Written by the award-winning journalist and columnist for the New York Times, Frank Bruni, this is an inspiring manifesto about everything wrong with today's frenzied college admissions process and how to make the most of your college years. Bruni shows that the Ivy League has no monopoly on corner offices, governors' mansions, or the most prestigious academic and scientific grants. Through statistics, surveys, and the stories of hugely successful people, he demonstrates that many kinds of colleges serve as ideal springboards. What matters in the end are students' efforts in and out of the classroom, not the name on their diploma.

Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be

 

The College Conversation: A Practical Companion for Parents to Guide Their Children Along the Path to Higher Education 

By Eric J. Furda and Jacques Steinberg 

Written by the Dean of Admissions at the University of Pennsylvania, Eric J. Furda, and New York Times education reporter, Jacques Steinberg, this book offers parents the tools to communicate and engage with their children about the college admissions process. The book covers five main sections: discovery, search, application, decision and transition to college. The book aims to make the entire college application journey as stress free as possible, both for students and parents. 

The College Conversation: A Practical Companion for Parents to Guide Their Children Along the Path to Higher Education

 

Choosing College: How to Make Better Learning Decisions Throughout Your Life

By Michael B. Horn and Bob Moesta 

 

As indicated by the title, this useful guide helps students understand themselves, their decisions, and motivations better, to make the right choices about their future. The college application process is a complicated one. Instead of tackling data and statistics, this book first asks the reader to look inwards and evaluate themselves as students. Beyond traditional 4-year programs, the book helps students approach community colleges and vocational training, amongst other options. It is a holistic guide to approaching the years after high school, whatever form that may be in. 

Choosing College: How to Make Better Learning Decisions Throughout Your Life (2019) 

 

For additional insights, check out our blogs:

Who Gets In And Why - Book Highlights

Top 7 Books on College Admissions for Seniors and Juniors building college lists

Most Prestigious Summer Programs

Are Pre-College Summer Programs Worth It?

Do High School Students Need a Focus?

 

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Summer before senior year is the most important summer for high school students. This is the time when most opportunities are available to them - jobs, internships, summer programs, etc. Beyond academic, extracurricular, and career related pursuits, this is also a great time for students to get started on the college admissions process. Here is a checklist we have compiled for rising seniors, so that they can make the most of the summer, and get ahead on college applications so that they are off to a great senior year when school starts again.

 

Engage in meaningful summer activities 

Students can check out our blog on Still Without Summer Plans? Don't Worry, Consider These Great Options to learn more about possible summer internships, programs, or classes that might be open. While many of these options may no longer be available, students can consider taking on jobs, online courses, or personal projects. 

Colleges value job experiences as they speak to the students' motivations and interpersonal skills. This means that students can take up any job, whether working as an intern for a startup company or as a cashier at the local grocery store. However, it works best when students take on a job that builds on skills that lend themselves to their future goals. Read Why Summer Jobs and Work Experience Matter When High School Students Apply to College for additional insights. 

If this option is difficult for students to take on right now, they may also consider taking online courses in various subjects over the summer. Different online platforms offer courses in disciplines ranging from science to English to languages to arts and music, to name a few, that students can take classes in, allowing them to choose to take up a course in their area of interest. Here are some links that can provide more information on what students can do this summer:

Still Without Summer Plans? Don't Worry, Consider These Great Options

Last Minute Internship Searches

Best of Online Learning - University Classes

Best of Online Learning - Coding

Best of Online Learning: Music and Art

Best of Online Learning - Language

 

Figure out a game plan for standardized exams

Post pandemic, colleges are following different policies on making standardized tests optional or mandatory. However, it is still a good idea for students to consider taking these tests and use the summer to develop a game plan for these exams. How to Prep for the SAT/ACT and Best Online Learning SAT/ACT Prep will provide tips on getting started and staying focused. Standardized Testing Quick Guide is an excellent checklist to ensure students are ready on the test day.

 

Get started on the college list

Putting a college list together is a long process that requires time and planning. It is ideal for students to begin putting together their list sooner rather than later, and the summer is the perfect time to research and put together a comprehensive list. Students should ideally have a final list of 10-12 schools. Students can learn a lot about schools and eliminate many schools just through online research that they can do right from their homes. If students are considering ED/EA, the summer is a good time for them to make sure this is the right school for them. Use the Finding Your College Questionnaire | Versed to prioritize what is important for each student. Additionally, students can reach out to students who are currently attending these universities to get additional information directly from the source. You can reach out to these students by tapping into the high school alumni base, friends, neighbors, or friends of parents who attend or attended the colleges of interest. They can provide insights about the college that is not on the college’s website. 

Students can also use the summer to visit colleges. Right now, most colleges are back to offering in-person visits to students. If possible, students should take advantage of this opportunity. Colleges also offer virtual tours. Check out the website of the college you are interested in to see if this is an option if visiting in-person may not be possible. 

 

Get a head start on College Applications

The college application is split into different sections. Most of the sections are relatively quick to fill out, so why not get a head start? The activities section is the section students should spend time on, as it not only states the extracurriculars that students were involved in, but explains the importance and role it plays in the students’ high school career. Although some information may have to be changed as senior year progresses, getting a head start will give students less to worry about as college application deadlines come closer. Read this Guide to the Common App to learn more about what students have to prepare for the Common App.

Summer is not too early to get started on college essays. This includes not only the personal Common App Essay, but also any supplemental essays that colleges will require of students. The prompts for the Common App Essay are already out and colleges are starting to (or may already have) announce their 2022-2023 Supplemental Essay prompts. 5 Simple Tips to Writing a Great College Application Essay is a good starting point on brainstorming and getting a plan in place for tackling essays.

Use this link for Online Resources for College Admissions.

 

Get organized on Financial Aid

While important for students to be mindful of, this step is directed more toward parents. Parents need to get informed about the financial aid process and start looking at what is required in filling out the FAFSA and CSS forms for financial aid in the United States. This will require you to start getting your documents in order, such as income tax return forms. Learn more by getting started with Financial Aid 101. Also refer to How to Create a Financially Balanced College List prior to finalizing college list.

 

Ask for recommendations 

Ideally, this is something that is already done at this point. If not, students should ask teachers and counselors for recommendations as soon as possible. Most colleges require recommendation letters from a guidance counselor and at least 2 teachers. Students should ask for recommendation letters from teachers who can tell colleges more about them than being an A+ student. Getting good grades from a teacher doesn’t necessarily mean that the teacher knows the student very well. Students should choose teachers that they’ve sat down and had conversations with because teachers will be able to write a more personal recommendation that really shows the student in a positive light. Students have to ask ahead of time for teacher recommendations because chances are, teachers are incredibly busy with their own schedules and other recommendation letter requests. The sooner the student asks, it is more likely that teachers will have time to write the letter, and also be able to write a thoughtful letter that is not rushed.

Take some time off to unwind and enjoy the summer. 

Once fall semester starts, it will be a busy time for seniors. College applications will begin to pile on along with schoolwork. Students should take this time to relax and enjoy their summer as much as they can.

 

For additional insights on college admissions process:

 

Get Your Common App Essay Done This Summer

Favorite Resources For Parents About Applying To College

Still Without Summer Plans? Don't Worry, Consider These Great Options

 

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Summer is already here, and it is a great time for middle schoolers to take a break, recharge, and pursue fun adventures with family and friends. In between fun activities, it is also a great time to explore new areas of interest and also get ahead academically. Academically driven students can use this time to prepare for high school, giving direction to their skills and interests. With the explosion of virtual programs during the pandemic, students have more options than ever before in every subject, interest, or hobby one can possibly think of. At the same time, with pandemic restrictions easing across the country, there are now also more in-person programs that students can choose from. We have compiled a list of opportunities that you can consider for your middle schooler in between healthy doses of fun and relaxation.

 

Pre College Summer Programs 

 

UW Youth and Teen Programs 

Remote and in-person 

Age Group: Grades 4 to 8 

The University of Washington offers courses in diverse disciplines for middle schoolers to partake in over the summer. The options range from electronics to coding to writing to debate to an endless array of other options. The dates of each program vary, but all of them run sometime between late June and August. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis - check the website to see the availability of courses and be quick to apply as all the classes are filling up! 

 

NYFA 2022 Summer Camps

Remote and in person 

Age Group: 10 to 13 years 

This summer, the New York Film Academy offers online and in-person summer programs based in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Italy, and Australia. Programs are available in a range of film courses, such as filmmaking, acting, photography, 3D animation, musical theater, and game design. Most programs start around June, with application deadlines falling on Thursday of the week before the program’s start date. Check the website to learn more about each program. 

 

Camp Launch at William and Mary School of Education 

In person 

Age Group: Grades 7 to 10

The William and Mary School of Education offers gifted middle school (as well as high school) students an academically rich summer camp with courses in STEM, writing, and personal development. The program is specifically geared toward giving students from low-income households a chance to carve out an academically rich and bright future for themselves. The virtual camp this year will be held from July 17 to 30. Get in touch with camplaunch@wm.edu if your child is eligible and interested in the program.

 

Interlochen Arts Camp Programs 

In person 

Age Group: Grades 3 to 12

The Interlochen Arts Camp Programs offer students specialized programs in the arts, such as creative writing, dance, visual art, film and media, and interdisciplinary arts. All programs have rolling applications - check the website to learn more about the individual programs, and be quick to apply!

 

EXPLO Junior Program 

In person 

Age Group: Grades 4 to 7 

EXPLO is a non-profit organization that runs summer programs focused on experiential learning, where middle schoolers work with experts to focus on real-world projects. The programs, broken into one for 4-5 graders and one for 6-7 graders, are set to take place in Wheaton College for the summer, with both daily commuters and fully residential options. The two and three-week programs for this summer are set to run around the end of June and the beginning of July. 

 

Center for Bright Kids GLOW Program 

In person 

Age Group: Grades 5 to 8 

Middle schoolers attend a two-week residential program supporting differentiated foundational knowledge through helping children work with a dynamic group of high-interest peers. This year, the program is set to take place from 12 June to 25 June. Applications are currently open - be quick to visit the website and apply as seats are filling up! 

 

Summer Discovery 

In person 

Age Group: Grades 6 to 12 

Summer Discovery’s Middle School Enrichment Opportunities allow students to build on academic rigor and leadership skills alongside building friendships and a community. The program allows children to explore passions without the pressures of academic grades. Some sample courses include 3D design and printing, creative writing, computer science, dance, mock trial, photography, and more. Currently, the programs are being offered at two locations: University of California, Los Angeles and Georgetown University. Visit the website to learn more about each campus. 

 

Online Courses 

Middle schoolers can consider honing their skills in an academic area of their interest through different online platforms. Here is a list of some disciplines and how they can learn more:

 

Math 

• Prodigy is a free fantasy roleplaying game. In it, students battle in-game characters by answering set questions. The app includes a reporting tool that allows parents/teachers to track a child's progress. Questions can also be customized for more targeted learning. Prodigy is designed for students ages 6-14/grades 1st-8th.
• Thinkwell is a website that produces high quality video seminars on a variety of topics, such as pre-algebra, trigonometry, and calculus. Although the prices can be high, Thinkwell is a great alternative for students that don't respond as well to reading textbooks and need a more visual approach in order to master a new concept.
• Greg Tang Math utilizes graphics and vivid visuals to instill an understanding of mathematical concepts. His site offers a variety of free games, puzzle packs, board games, and other enrichment tools meant to find alternative methods to teaching traditional concepts. 
• Brainscape is a series of digital flashcards that uses confidence-based repetition to focus on problem areas. Decks are easily synced between devices or shared with friends for test prep or study groups. Students can also work collaboratively with their teachers/tutors to create flashcards focused on their particular learning needs. 
• Khan Academy is an indispensable resource as we all know, and it’s completely free. Why not jump ahead and get the hang of algebra, or geometry while the student has time on their hands?

For more information on math enrichment, visit our Definitive Guide to Math Enrichment page.

 

Technology and Coding 

• Code.org is a nonprofit website geared towards teaching school aged children (K-12) how to code online for free. They have courses that teach students how to code for apps, games, and websites using JavaScript, HTML, and CSS.
• Codecademy is a free online platform that offers programming classes in Python, Java, JavaScript, Ruby, SQL, C++, HTML, and CSS. It provides interactive lessons for daily practice. Codecademy is notable for teaching real world programming skills through different learning modules called “career paths” such as web development and data science. These paths offer a comprehensive learning experience, where the students are taught how to apply real world programming skills.  
• Skillcrush is a beginner friendly coding resource that delivers emails with bite-sized, 5 minute courses. Purchasing “blueprints” allow students to combine these classes into comprehensive courses. Upon completion of a blueprint, Skillcrush provides a letter of recommendation, a portfolio of code, and an official Certificate of Completion.
• Udemy is an online learning platform that has over 2,000 user-created courses dedicated to coding. There is a fee for most classes but many of the short beginner coding lessons are offered for free. Paid classes typically offer Certificate of Completion. 
• MIT Open Courseware is part of MIT’s goal to make all of their education materials from their courses free, which happens to include several courses on coding. Students can learn Java, C++, and even MATLAB through video lectures and assignments. 

For more information on math enrichment, visit our blog on Best of Online Learning - Coding.

English 

• HemingwayApp is a simple, but effective tool passionate writers can use to highlight their problem areas. This online editor scans uploaded texts for run-on sentences, passive voice, and other common grammatical and structural issues that even a skilled proofreader can miss. The site also allows users to track their reading time, word count, and reading level, which can help meet the requirements of certain assignments.
• Time4Writing is best known for its teacher-led 8-week writing course. Compared to other online intensives, it's relatively cost effective and comes highly recommended. The site also has a Free Writing Resources page that includes study guides on supporting details, run-ons, structural issues, and thesis statements. They also offer help on writing for standardized tests and research resources.
• Writopia is a non-profit creative writing program for kids and teens ages 4–18. Started in New York City, the program has expanded to Washington DC, Chicago, Los Angeles, and is now accessible anywhere via online courses. All classes are taught by published authors and writers, and they provide classes in fiction, non-fiction, poetry, screenwriting, and even college essay writing.
• EssayPunch takes a teach-by-doing stance on writing. This free interactive website leads students through all the steps involved in drafting, editing, and proofreading assignments, teaching key concepts along the way. Users are able to track and understand their progress as well as view their future goals at a glance. Students that struggle with writing an informative or persuasive paper may respond to this relatively hands-on method.

For more information on writing resources, consult the Versed Guide to Definitive Writing Help.

Language 

• Duolingo is a cost-friendly language website. They offer free, interactive and bite-sized lessons in 35 different languages. Each lesson is personalized, allows each user to learn at one’s own pace, and the short 5-10 minute lessons allow for incremental breaks. Learners progressively unlock new content as they master topics. Languages range from popular ones like French, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese, to even fictional languages such as High Valyrian (although this may not be the most useful).
• HelloTalk is yet another cost effective resource that students can use to learn a language. The free app connects students with native speakers across the world. It has talk, video, and text features, allowing you to learn a language and its culture through natural conversation from people that speak it first-hand. This app is most useful for learners that need help with native pronunciations and conversational fluency or would simply like to learn more about the culture, slang and context of a language.

For more information on language resources, consult our Best of Online Learning: Languages blog.

Art and Music 

• Skillshare is an online learning community with thousands of classes offered daily in design, illustration, photography, film, animation, fine arts, graphic design, and more. Each class has bite-sized video lessons and hands-on projects, and students proceed to share their projects in the class to get feedback and collaborate with other Skillshare students, making this especially useful for arts students. Skillshare is free, although most upgrade to premium ($15/month) to access full content. Annual membership is $99/year ($8.25/month).
• Musika is a music lesson website that connects you to private music teachers within your area that you may pursue in person or online. Musika also offers a risk-free trial lesson, making it a strong option for those that want to test out online lessons. Rates depend on location, but a typical 60 minute online lesson in New York, NY, is $48 - $60.

For more information, consult our Best of Online Learning: Music and Art blog. 

Outschool.com

A more diverse resource, Outschool.com is a great resource for online courses in a variety of subjects, ranging from math to history to science to entrepreneurship to so much more! It is the perfect opportunity for your child to explore a range of subjects outside of traditional school classes. 

 

Read 

The summer provides a perfect opportunity for middle schoolers to hone reading and writing skills. Children should definitely use this time to pick up some new books. Along with the chance to pick up books at the library, technology has given us easy access to ebooks and digital libraries. Harvard Classics, Goodread, Apple Books, and Kindle are some options that middle schoolers can consider using for reading. The good news is that your family can be anywhere in the world and access every book out there. Beyond books, middle schoolers should try reading newspapers, magazines, and academic journals. Reading the news every day is a good habit and the New York Times subscription is a great place to start. Along with articles, the NYT has weekly quizzes and games that test readers’ knowledge on what they have read, which might be an ideal practice to help strengthen your child’s reading skills and general knowledge.

 

Volunteer 

Middle schoolers can use the summer to volunteer and make an impact. The most appealing option would be to find an established organization for your child to join. Popular organizations that are always welcoming of volunteers are the American Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, and Meals on Wheels, to name a few. However, it is true that many organizations won’t take students under 14 or even 16. If it is an option for your family as a whole to volunteer together, many organizations will allow parents to bring their children to volunteer together. Beyond established organizations, middle schoolers cannot contribute to the community in other ways. Consider making them take up self-driven work that doesn't require them to be part of an organization. For instance, children can help clear trash in local areas such as parks, beaches, or local trails. Alternatively, they can start donation drives by collecting old clothes, toys, books, or even food from the neighborhood and donating it to interested organizations such as shelters and foster homes. You may also find opportunities for your child to contribute to your neighborhood itself. For example, they can offer to mow an elderly neighbor's lawn or help out with other household chores people might need help with. An excellent volunteer option is making your child tutor elementary school children, which can even be done virtually!

 

Creative project

Along with volunteer opportunities, children can also use this time to undertake different creative projects. They can consider starting a business, such as selling baked goods or even artwork (such as bookmarks!). They can create their own poetry collections or photo albums documenting their time over the break. Suppose you have a backyard or any open space with sunlight, then your child can start their own nursery or vegetable patch. For musical ones, if your child can bring a few friends together, start a band!  

 

Healthy does of fun

Summer is about exploring new things, relaxing, and having fun. Try to get your child involved in organized (or not so organized) sport —along with keeping your child active, sports are useful in building community, discipline, and character. Have your child take time to step out of the house to go for hikes or walks, help out with household chores, play board games with the family (scrabble and boggle are a big plus!), and meet friends. Go on family vacations and adventures. Enjoy the outdoors and recharge for the fall.

 

 

Here are some additional insights on the middle school years:

12 Things Middle Schoolers Can Do This Summer

Guide to Gifted and Talented Programs and Are They Worth It?

7 Things Every Middle School Parents Should Know 

Parenting Advice: How to Help Guide Your Child to Find an Interest

2019 Splash Is Back and Filling Up Quickly - Classes at MIT, Yale, Northwestern, Stanford and Other Top Schools for Middle and High Schools Students

 

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By: Alan Gelb

That’s my best advice. We all know how incredibly packed and tense the first semester of senior year can be, so getting this difficult essay out of the way before you return to school can make all the difference for you. And don’t worry that you’re already late to the game. Summer just started on June 21.

Here are my top tips for how to make the most of these crucial months when you have some extra time on your hands:

 

1. Clear some headspace. Whether it’s tennis, golf, backpacking, water skiing, or just hanging with your family and friends, summer is a time to decompress a bit, and you should take advantage of that. Schedule some time in your day—or at least in your week—to really enjoy summer. By the same token, don’t fritter away your time with idle Netflix streaming, video games, YouTube forays, and texting that just goes round and round. You need to make some psychic room to work on your essay, so find a time of day and a place that feels right to you—your backyard, your rooftop, a park bench, a library carrel—and make sure that it’s quiet enough for you to hear your thoughts. Those thoughts will hopefully develop into an essay topic or two.

2. Start asking yourself key questions. The way I help students find a topic is by giving them a set of questions to answer. These questions require some real thought and perhaps even a huddle with family members or friends. They’re questions like: When has my mind and body been in perfect harmony or disharmony? If something is keeping me up at night, what is it? What fills me with pride? Have I ever felt betrayed?  These questions appear in my book Conquering the College Admissions Essay in 10 Steps, but you can formulate questions of your own, if you’d like—anything that will point to some conflict in your life that you think might lead to an essay topic. Write down your answers and then, over the course of a few days, go back to them and see which ones are exercising a magnetic pull over you. In other words, pay close attention to those answers that are raising their hands and saying, Write me! Write me!

3. Keep a journal. No, I’m not advocating keeping a journal for the rest of your life, although there certainly is nothing wrong with that. I’m talking about keeping a journal during the period when you are looking for a topic and then working on the topic you’ve chosen. You don’t want to lose important thoughts and ideas, and that memo pad or phone or whatever you want to use to keep your journal will serve as a trusty bank. You should have your journal next to your bed when you sleep, for if you wake up from a dream that sparks some ideas, you want to be sure to write those down. They won’t be there in the morning.

4. Read. That’s right. Read some good stories or even novels. These will clue you in to the narrative form, which is what you want to use for your essay. Narratives have formal elements, like a specific timeframe, a beginning and an ending, a point of view, some conflict, and a reason to exist, and reading good stories and books will give you a better understanding of how those elements work. If you have absolutely no time to read this summer, then just read “All Summer in a Day” by Ray Bradbury, the science fiction master. It’s only 819 words, but you can clearly see all those narrative elements I mention above.

5. Remain positive. Yes, there is much to make you anxious in the college admissions process, the Common App essay being especially challenging, but you should also view the writing of this essay as an opportunity. Writing this deeply personal and reflective essay can—and should—help you find out some important things about yourself and how you live in the world.

6. Claim ownership. This is your essay, and yours alone. Never let anyone write it for you. Not your mother, not your father, not your brother, not your sister, not your friend, not a hired gun. You will not come away from this summer with a good feeling if you let someone else do this pivotal assignment for you.

 

Whenever I start working with students, I tell them that they should figure on two weeks to get the essay done, soup to nuts. Perhaps it will take you somewhat longer, but there is no reason why you can’t get this done before school starts. Good luck!

 

About Alan Gelb:

Alan Gelb is the author of Conquering the College Admissions Essay, and he works internationally with students to help guide them in the writing process. For more information, visit www.conquerthecollegeessay.com

 

 

For additional insights, read:

How to choose colleges to apply to

5 Simple Tips to Writing a Great College Application Essay

5 Ways Parents Can Better Support Their Children During the College Admissions Process

Definitive Guide to Writing Help

 

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By: Kate Sonnenberg

As rising seniors spend time this summer writing their personal statements, crafting their application, and refining their college list, parents can sometimes feel a bit sidelined. But parents have an important role to play in empowering their students as they apply to college – and there is no shortage of information about parenting students through the college admissions process, so much that it can sometimes seem overwhelming. I hope this resource list will be a starting point for parents to get valuable information.

 

Books

Where You Go Is Not Who You’ll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania by Frank Bruni.
Former New York Times columnist Frank Bruni shows, through examples of real people, that you do not need a degree from Princeton or Yale to be successful. He argues instead that having a transformative educational experience is the key to future success.

 

The Truth About College Admissions: A Family Guide to Getting In and Staying Together by Brennan Barnard and Rick Clark.
Rick Clark, Dean of Undergraduate Admissions at Georgia Tech, and Brennan Barnard, the Director of College Counseling and Outreach at The Derryfield School, advise families about each step of the college application process – from researching colleges, to writing essays and putting together an application. They suggest that parents have frank conversations with their children about the college process – including paying for college – so that all family members are “on the same page."

 

Who Gets In and Why: A Year Inside College Admissions by Jeffrey Selingo.
Former Chronicle of Higher Education editor Jeffrey Selingo provides an inside look at the admissions process at three colleges: a selective private university, a flagship public university and an elite liberal arts college. He explains the role of institutional priorities in admissions decisions, and how the admissions process is not just about “merit.”  He encourages family to look beyond “name brand” colleges and universities and broaden their understanding of what constitutes a “good” college.

 

The College Conversation: A Practical Companion For Parents To Guide Their Children Along The Path To Higher Education by Jacques Steinberg and Eric Furda.
Jacques Steinberg, the former education reporter at the New York Times, and Eric Furda, the former Dean of Admissions at the University of Pennsylvania, offer a step-by-step guide to parents about how to help their children through the college admissions process. Organized around 15 different themes, ranging from finding colleges that are good fits to discussing college costs, this book offers practical advice to parents about important conversations to have with their children throughout the college application process.

 

The Price You Pay for College: An Entirely New Road Map for the Biggest Financial Decision Your Family Will Ever Make by Ron Leiber.
New York Times “Your Money” columnist Ron Leiber provides an overview of how college financial aid grew into the complicated system it is today. He guides parents through the process of setting financial goals, talking to their children about paying for college, and offers tips about how to negotiate with colleges for a more generous financial aid award.

 

How to Control Your College Costs: The Path to College Affordability by Claire Law.
An adjunct professor at the University of California – Irvine in their Certificate in Educational Consulting program, Law is a nationally recognized expert on financial aid. In this part reference book, part “How To” guide, Law demystifies the intricacies of financial aid so that families can find colleges that are financial fits.

 

Articles

How To Be an Ethical Parent in the College Admissions Process
https://mcc.gse.harvard.edu/resources-for-families/ethical-parenting-in-the-college-admissions-process
The Making Caring Common Project is a program out of the Harvard University Graduate School of Education. Its mission is to help parents and educators raise children who “care about others and the common good.” One of its initiatives concerns “thinking through innovative approaches to the college admissions process” and elevating the role of character in admissions review. In this article, the Making Caring Common Project offers seven ways parents can “promote key ethical, social, and emotional capacities in teens in the college admissions process."

 

A “Fit” Over Rankings: Why College Engagement Matters More Than Selectivity
https://ed.stanford.edu/sites/default/files/challenge_success_white_paper_on_college_admissions_10.1.2018-reduced.pdf
Thee article discusses college rankings and debunks the notion that college selectivity correlates with student learning or subsequent job satisfaction. The article explains what “fit” means and why it matters in a successful college experience.

 

The Blueprint For Your College Search by Brennan Barnard
https://www.forbes.com/sites/brennanbarnard/2021/01/18/the-blueprint-for-your-college-search/?sh=4f74c8c3692f
The ever-wise Brennan Barnard discusses why it is important for students to begin the college application process with self-reflection, with an effort to understand who they are and what they value. He also explains how the application process is unique to each student. I especially appreciate this article because the first step in my consulting practice is to ask students to reflect on their own values, interests and priorities; this article helps explain to parents why this is a critical step in the college application process.

 

College Has Evolved. So Should Your Search by Angel Perez
https://www.parentsleague.org/sites/default/files/CollegeHasEvolved.pdf
NACAC President (and former VP for Enrollment at Trinity College) Angel Perez debunks the idea that “a university’s network or brand will create student success.” Instead, he encourages students and families to focus fit, with a particular emphasis on the college’s culture. 

 

Podcasts

Why Did I Say “Yes” to Speak Here?|Malcom Gladwell
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UEwbRWFZVc
Malcom Gladwell talks about the positive outcomes for students who do not attend the most selective or elite colleges and universities. He demonstrates that being a “big fish in a small pond” can lead to better job satisfaction and personal happiness.

 

Lord of the Rankings|Malcom Gladwell
https://www.pushkin.fm/episode/lord-of-the-rankings/
Malcom Gladwell exposes how the algorithm US News uses in its college ranking system is fundamentally flawed, favoring wealthy, predominantly white institutions. He presents a compelling argument for why ranking systems should not factor into students’ decision-making about which colleges they apply to.

 

 

For additional resources, read:

Top 5 Books on College Admissions for those just getting started…

Top 5 Books on College Admissions for Seniors and Juniors building college lists

5 Ways Parents Can Better Support Their Children During the College Admissions Process

 

About Kate Sonnenberg:

Kate Sonnenberg, of KS College Success, is a graduate of Princeton University and the Columbia University School of Law. Prior to launching KS College Success, Kate worked as an application reader in the Princeton University Admissions Office, where she read thousands of undergraduate applications. She also volunteered for nearly a decade with the Princeton University Alumni Schools Committee and chaired the committee that interviewed students in Essex (NJ) and Hudson (NJ) counties. In addition to practicing law in New York and Seattle, Kate taught legal writing at the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law in Washington, D.C. and English Composition at the National University of Singapore.

Kate is a member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association and the New Jersey Association for College Admission Counseling. She regularly attends conferences, seminars and webinars and has personally visited over seventy-five colleges, where she often meets with admissions representatives to get the inside story about college admissions trends. Go to https://www.kscollegesuccess.com/ to learn more about Kate.

 

 

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Technology is an integral part of our everyday life —we use it for work, entertainment, communication, information, and so much more. The use of technology has only increased with the pandemic, and this trend will not likely reverse. Hence it is essential that students begin practicing healthy technology usage starting at a young age.

Here is a framework for how you can help your child navigate technology usage at any age by separating out three distinct categories of technology use: time online for entertainment and personal use, time online for academic purposes, and time away from the screen, and being intentional about the times spent in those categories. It is essential to understand that the use of technology should be intentional and not a default. One way to make this happen is by ensuring that all three of these categories function separately.

 

1. How to have control over time online for entertainment

These days, many of us turn to our devices for entertainment and communication with friends and family. Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, and YouTube are familiar tools for most schoolchildren. So, what are some ways to allow children to use technology for entertainment but not go overboard?

i. Schedule time for when children can use technology for entertainment. For example, on weekdays, allow children to play games or watch Netflix for one hour per day, and perhaps a little longer on weekends. Or only allow screen time during the weekend during certain hours.

ii. Similarly, schedule time for social media communication. Perhaps, you can allow children to talk to friends at a specific time every day. Rather than have social media become a ubiquitous presence, have it become a limited social time that children can look forward to.

iii. Put time limits on social media apps. You can do this by going to device settings and enabling limits for select apps. This way, students can use their social media apps when they want, but once they hit the limit, they will no longer be able to use them for the rest of the day. This strategy will also help them prioritize when and when not to be on social media and figure out a schedule to manage their technology use for entertainment.

iv. Try to introduce more academically oriented forms of entertainment and pastimes for your child. For example, get them subscriptions for newspapers and magazines.

 

2. How to effectively use technology for studying and learning

Students use technology for classes, taking notes, studying, and more. Unfortunately, it is easy to get distracted or experience exhaustion from sitting in front of the screen all day. What are some practices to help students avoid distractions and use technology productively for learning?

i. Students should put away all other unnecessary devices and put social media on do not disturb. For example, if they use their laptops to study, all other phones and tablets should be put away. Even on the laptop, they should shut down all unnecessary apps and programs and switch off notifications. To give their full attention to academics, use the settings and controls on their devices to turn off all other apps and programs.

ii. Take breaks while studying. Sitting in front of the screen all day long can be taxing on the eyes and brain. Taking scheduled breaks away from the computer should be encouraged. Make sure that the breaks taken are not to browse through social media or switch from one device to another. The purpose of taking these breaks is to rest the eyes and come back to studying in front of the screen with renewed energy.

iii. Be purposeful while studying with friends. Studying with friends can be helpful but distracting at the same time. Students should not have friends on a video call in the background while studying. If they are virtually studying with friends, allot a set time per week to call/video conference to study and engage in discussions. And, if possible, try to meet in person instead! 

 

3. How to balance time online with time offline

It is vital for children to balance time on devices with time away from the screen. This is crucial to their mental and physical well-being. So, what are some ways that children can incorporate time online with time offline?

i. When possible, try to do as much homework and studying offscreen as possible. For example, try taking handwritten notes over typed ones.

ii. Try to meet friends in person and do things together that do not involve devices. Go outside for walks. Meet in a café. Work on group projects.

iii. Spend time with family. It is easy to spend free time scrolling through different apps and websites. Instead, students should consciously try to spend quality time with family. For example, try supplementing family movie nights with board game nights. Volunteer together as a family. Be active and play sports and go for walks.

iv. Pick up the phone and call someone. We live in an age of texting and social media and often forget that we can communicate with each other via a regular phone call! Doing this will allow one to connect with others while simultaneously providing a break from the screen.

 

Be sure to download The Versed Middle School Guide below for insights into how to help your child get the most out of middle school years.

 

Here are some additional insights on the middle school years:

12 Things Middle Schoolers Can Do This Summer

Guide to Gifted and Talented Programs and Are They Worth It?

7 Things Every Middle School Parents Should Know 

Parenting Advice: How to Help Guide Your Child to Find an Interest

2019 Splash Is Back and Filling Up Quickly - Classes at MIT, Yale, Northwestern, Stanford and Other Top Schools for Middle and High Schools Students

 

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By: Valerie Erde

GRADE INFLATION AND COLLEGE ADMISSIONS 

While it’s true that colleges want to create a well-rounded class that brings together a mix of artists, athletes, and leaders in a range of areas, they also want students who, when they arrive on campus, are able to do the work and who will graduate in four years — not six or eight. 

It may be good for colleges’ wallets to have students attend for more than four years, but it’s not good for their rankings nor their reputation.  This is due in large part to the way the college rankings work. One of the areas measured by the U.S. News and World Report rankings, for example, is the percentage of students who graduate in four years. If you’ve taken a college tour recently, you’ve probably noticed that this information is often featured in the presentation, and it’s also important for the Department of Education College Scorecard.

Beyond rankings, the truth is that colleges really do want students to succeed:  admitting academically strong students — the ones who are ready to succeed from Day One — is the best way both to keep the rankings number up and to ensure their students will succeed academically and thrive intellectually once on campus.

For the majority of colleges and universities, especially the “most selective” ones that accept fewer than 20% of applicants, it’s your academic profile  - not your extracurricular endeavors - that is going to be paramount in their decision on whether or not to accept you.

But there’s a problem: grade inflation.

 

GRADE INFLATION IS ON THE RISE

Not all “straight A students” are created equal. That would seem obvious, right? Honors English, social studies or science at one high school can be vastly different from the same honors course at another high school. Sometimes, the courses can even vary widely between teachers at the same school! Anyone who’s been through high school knows that some teachers are tough while others are easy.

The same is true for AP courses, though the variation isn’t as severe. That’s because the course material is dictated by the College Board and is therefore relatively standard across the country. And, of course, the culminating AP test is standardized.

Even “objective” subjects such as math include plenty of room for subjectivity in the grading.   The quadratic equation is the quadratic equation, but how much time is spent on it, how it’s taught, and how many homework problems you’re assigned for practice can vary greatly.

Beyond that, some students—particularly affluent and self-advocating ones—get better grades simply because they’re perceived to be “good kids.” I’ve had many conversations about this with fellow tutors, and we’ve all had the experience of working with a student whose PSAT/P-ACT scores revealed serious deficits in math (or English), despite having straight A’s in the subject since middle school. Kids who are extroverted and build good relationships with their teachers can—often with the help of an involved parent—talk their way into extra credit, makeup work, or the dropping of a low test score. 

Research shows that grade inflation is strong and on rise. Before the pandemic, 47% percent of high school students graduated with an A-minus to an A-plus average—an increase of nearly 10 percentage points over a 20-year period. And some of the biggest increases are coming from “resourced” schools, especially independent private schools. This has the effect of creating a growing pool of competitive (on paper) applicants, especially in affluent communities. 

That’s a lot of kids competing for very few spots at elite colleges—many with the same high GPAs.

 

WHAT THIS MEANS FOR YOU

As you build a list of colleges to apply to, it’s important to have an accurate view of yourself and where you stand in relation to other applicants. It’s not helpful to have an inflated — or deflated! — sense of yourself. When it comes to applying to highly selective schools, don’t assume that a good GPA alone is going to get you in. It also depends on the rigor of your high school, whether your school is known as a grade inflator, and your standardized test scores, which serve as a crucial “validator” of your grades. If your AP test scores are much lower than your grade in the course, for example, that won’t instill confidence in the rigor of your school’s program. 

 

BE INFORMED: KNOW WHERE YOUR HIGH SCHOOL STANDS

How can you know if your A is really an A? 

It helps to understand where your high school ranks compared to others. I find that many of the parents and students with whom I work generally have a decent sense about which schools are rigorous and which ones tend to hand out top grades more easily. But if you’re not certain where your school falls on the continuum, you can find out. Just as there are college ranking lists, there are also high school ranking lists. 

Writer Jay Matthews initially developed the Jay Matthews High School Challenge Index  as a publicity stunt to promote a book he was writing, but it was such a hit that he’s kept it going. He studied many school’s practices in depth to see which ones were really challenging their students to take risks, try harder courses, and earn accurate grades by mastering the material. (He also has some illuminating thoughts about the role of affluence and gatekeeping for AP courses.) The upshot of his rankings is that rigor is not determined by zip code, even though grades can often be tracked along socio-economic lines.

Other groups have sought to rank high schools not by rigor, but by their college admittance outcomes. For example, lists such as Polaris and Ivy League Feeders rank high schools by the percentage of students admitted to the ivy league. So, sure, if you attend certain schools such as Horace Mann, Brunswick, Harvard Westlake, or Exeter, a greater percentage of you will be admitted to ivy league and other selective colleges. But at same time, if your high school is more competitive to get into and/or also is a massive grade inflator, the competition from your peers is also going to be greater. 

 

KNOW WHERE YOU STAND  

Above, I talked about knowing where your high school stands relative to other schools in terms of rigor, but even more important is knowing where you stand within your peer group because as I’ve mentioned before, admissions officers begin by evaluating and comparing students within the context of their own high school (i.e., the school profile provided by the high school’s guidance department), and then expand those comparisons to include additional students from the broader region.

Most of us appropriately focus on our local level. After all, the school science fair, divisional soccer championship, and regional chorus are what we know. But zoom out, and the field gets far more crowded with talent. For example, I remember my child, a clarinetist, thinking that as first chair in her high school band and in her local youth orchestra, she was “all that.”  But when it came time to audition for a pre-college music program, she quickly learned that competing against students from around the region was a much different ballgame!  She didn’t get in everywhere she applied, and the program she did get accepted to was far more challenging than anything she had done up to that point.

It can be difficult to learn how we stack up on a state, national, or even international level. This is largely because most private high schools and a growing number of public ones have dropped class rank as a metric, instead reporting only grades. There are more than 26,000 public high schools in the U.S. and at least another 2,800 private schools, which means that your child will be competing against tens of thousands of applicants. 

“Here, the authors find that the proportion of students with A averages (including A-minus and A-plus) increased from 38.9 percent of the graduating class of 1998 to 47 percent of the graduating class of 2016. Those gains came from the B and C ranges.

Of course, the authors acknowledge in their study, there could be a reason for the grade inflation that would make educators celebrate. What if students are smarter or are being better educated, and so are earning their better grades? The authors reject these possibilities, and cite SAT scores to do so. If students were learning more, their SATs should be going up, or at the very least remaining stable. But during the period studied, SAT averages (math and verbal, 1,600-point scale) fell from 1,026 to 1,002.”

Compare that to the number of students who get a 4 or 5 on the English Literature AP Exam: 

Only 7.4% of students earned a 5 on the AP English Lit. exam — a far cry from the 47% of students who have an A- to A+ average. (Another interesting takeaway the number of total students earning a 5 on the AP Lit. exam — 30,000+ —  is greater than the number of first-year slots at all of the ivies combined.)

If you feel overwhelmed by this process, take a deep breath. There are some concrete steps you can take to make sure your application is as strong as it can be in a world of rampant grade inflation.

 

PARENTS: DON’T HELICOPTER, BUT DON’T DISAPPEAR

Your high school student needs you more than they think — and more than you think, even in terms of their high school academics.

A 2018 survey published by Learning Heroes, a parent information group, found a big disconnect, especially among parents of high school students, between how they feel their child is performing and teachers’ reports of student performance.  Interestingly (interestingly to me at least!), there was also a disconnect between how involved parents felt they needed to be in their high school student’s academic performance and the level of parental involvement teachers attributed to student success – especially earlier on in high school (9th and 10th grades). 

 

PLAN YOUR COURSE SELECTIONS BEFORE HIGH SCHOOL

If you’re reading this as a parent of a junior, unfortunately, it’s a bit late, but senior-year courses are still very important and not a time to slack off!  If you think you may want to apply to the most selective schools, please go to the admissions websites and check their high school curriculum requirements.  For the ivies, for example, not taking all three core lab sciences (bio, chem, physics), or not taking four years of a foreign language, is frowned upon and may put you at a competitive disadvantage.

For parents of younger students, remember, certain courses, you won’t be able to get to the honors or AP level in high school if you don’t think about where you’re headed early on. This is true if your high school has minimum grade requirements or if they have a hard-and-fast rule about course sequencing. Math, in particular, can require good choices as early as seventh grade. 

 

DON’T OVERDO IT, BUT DON’T BE AFRAID TO CHALLENGE YOURSELF

I really like this line from a U.S. News article about high school class rigor: “Find Your Magic Number Of Advanced Classes.”  This number will be different for everyone. 

Note for athletes:  A few of my student athletes have reported coaches advising them not to take AP and other challenigng courses.  I’m writing a whole separate article on athletics in high school, but remember, while it may be in your coach’s interest for you to take less challenging classes so you have more time to focus on your sport, it is not necessarily (and not usually) in your interest to do so.

 

TAKE MORE “STANDARDIZED” AP & IB COURSES IF YOU CAN

In addition to showing your willingness to take challenging classes, AP and IB courses have a standardized curriculum and assessment, which provides a measure of your learning that allows colleges to accurately compare your achievements with students from around the country. Don’t blow off the exam — it’s the best way to know where you stand.  

 

CHOOSE AP COURSES WISELY

AP Psychology, AP Comparative Government & Politics, and AP Environmental Science (APES) are considered to be among the easiest AP classes. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take them if those subjects interest you! It just means that if you are aiming for Stanford or MIT, for example, APES may not be thought of as highly as AP Biology, Chemistry, or Physics. 

 

STANDARDIZED TESTS(AP, ACT, SAT) “CORROBORATE” YOUR GRADE

I’ve said this over and over again, and just yesterday, as I was doing a last edit on this blog post, MIT announced that for 2022 applicants, it will be joining Georgetown University and in reinstating the ACT or SAT requirement.  Here’s a quote from MIT’s announcement about the academic rationale for reinstating the tests.  (There’s also an important equity reason.)

 

“In short: Our research has shown that, in most cases, we cannot reliably predict students will do well at MIT unless we consider standardized test results alongside grades, coursework, and other factors. These findings are statistically robust and stable over time, and hold when you control for socioeconomic factors and look across demographic groups. And the math component of the testing turns out to be most important. ”

— STUART SCHMILL, MIT DEAN OF ADMISSIONS

 

Valerie Erde, founder of VeridianPrep, is one of only two ACT/SAT/AP tutors trained by Erica Meltzer, author of the highly-acclaimed Critical Reader ACT/SAT prep books.  Ms. Erde has developed a strong track record of improved ACT and SAT scores (including multiple SAT 800’s and ACT 36’s), along with an impressive list of college acceptances.  But what she’s most proud of is watching her students grow as readers, writers – and thinkers.  Prior to VeridianPrep, Valerie developed digital AP test prep materials for Brainscape, Inc. Through additional experiences as an NYU alumni interviewer, a parent who shepherded her own kids (Yale & Harvard acceptances) through the college process, and member of several college counseling groups, Valerie has developed a much broader perspective about standardized testing generally, and its role in the college admissions process. Visit https://www.veridianprep.com to learn more.

 

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