Versed Editors's blog

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

 

Subscribe to our Newsletter 

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

 

Subscribe to our Newsletter 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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?

 

Subscribe to our Newsletter 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

Subscribe to our Newsletter 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

Subscribe to our Newsletter 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

 

 

Subscribe to our Newsletter 

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.

 

 

 

 

Rejections hurt. As the last of the colleges release their regular decision acceptances this week, there will be a lot of disappointments felt by students and parents alike. There will be many heartbreaks from dream school rejections, but also many surprises, disappointments, and even anger from rejections that come from schools that we thought were “high likelys.” Students that have worked incredibly hard for the last 4 years may feel that this is the end of the world. But it is important to note that this is a setback, one of many setbacks that are thrown their way in life, that they can overcome towards other achievements in life. 

 

There are plenty of examples of inspiring people who have also been rejected from their dream colleges, but went on to achieve great success. Barak Obama was rejected from Swarthmore, went on to Occidental college, and transferred to Columbia. Science fiction legend Isaac Asimov was rejected from Columbia, and went on to study at the City University of New York, and the rest is history. Supreme court justice Antonin Scalia and comedian Tina Fey were both rejected from Princeton, and this did not stop them from achieving the highest levels of success in their fields.

 

Rejection is a part of life. As painful as it is to watch your child suffer, it is also a learning experience, and an opportunity to grow. In the meanwhile, here are 9 things that parents can do to help your teens move past the let down.

 

 

Let your teen feel the pain

Rather than jumping to solutions and rationalizations, experts recommend that both students and parents take time to let the news sink in, feel the disappointments, and acknowledge those feelings. Time will heal most things, and most teens will rebound from sadness relatively quickly. Let the feelings sink in, mourn for a short period of time, and be ready to move on.

 

They are not alone

Almost every student in their school will have experienced rejections. They are in good company. The acceptance rates have been declining for every selective college, and even for schools that were not historically selective. Unfortunately there are many reasons for this trend beyond your teen’s control - everything from demographics (the number of high school graduates have been increasing and will peak in 2025), the fact that higher % of HS students are applying to college than ever, more students are applying to more schools than ever, to test optional policies that encourage more students to apply to more selective schools. More applications mean more rejections. 

 

This is not personal

Although it is easy to think that universities found something deficient in your specific application, the truth is that every college received too many qualified applicants than they have space for, and had to reject students that would do perfectly well there. Across the board, 2021-2022 applications were up about 13% from 2019-2020 year. UCLA received almost 150,000 applications. The University of Michigan received over 80,000 applications last year. Most Ivies receive over 50,000 applications. There is no way that these schools are actually carefully considering a student’s full application in any meaningful way. The schools cannot possibly know who the student is, what their talents are, and what they truly bring to the campus. This is not about you, the student. It is unfortunately the process.

 

This is NOT about the parents, parents can make it better or worse

Parents are aware that what we hoped and dreamed for our child, is not necessarily what the child wants, or even what is right for the child. Often the rejection hurts us, the parents, more than the child. How we express our disappointment to our children can make this process better or worse. It is important to not project our feelings and help our seniors process their feelings. More often than not, your child’s biggest concern is disappointing you. This is the time to step up and reassure your child that you want what is best for them, and taking risks, even when it involves rejections, is an important part of life, and something they will get more comfortable with over time.

 

Don’t second guess or dwell on What Ifs

There will be many what ifs running through you and your child’s mind. What if he didn’t sign up for that AP course that he bombed. What if she didn’t focus so much on sports. What if we had sent him to a private school. What if we picked a different teacher for recommendations. This will be amplified when you hear that someone with lower grades, or generic extracurricular profile, or no test scores, [feel free to insert],  got accepted into a school that your daughter did not get into. It is impossible to know why one student got in over another. There are so many factors that go into the process that dwelling on this will only make recovering from the rejections that much harder. This is not a perfect process, and your child deserves better than to give such an imperfect process so much weight. 

 

Take time away from social media and friends that makes this harder, and come back when ready

Social media can be difficult during these times. Everyone will be celebrating and posting their schools, and if your child is not yet ready to pick a school and move on, it may make sense to take a break from social media for some time until they are ready to re-engage. Also, it is not unusual for teens to want to avoid a subset of friends that may make this process harder. It is OK to take a break for a few days, and not have to socialize with certain people who may make this process even more painful than it is.

 

Celebrate the acceptances

Do celebrate the schools that have accepted your senior. There is nothing more exhilarating than schools that truly want you to attend their institution and are wooing you. Attend Admitted Student Days, meet lots of students that are excited about these schools, and know that there are schools that are thrilled to have them join their community. 

 

Talk to other parents and older students that have been through it all

So many college students reflect back on their rejection from a particular school and realize in hindsight that the rejection was the best thing that could have happened to them, as where they ended up was the best outcome they could have hoped for. Almost all students move on, and come to love where they end up. There are countless stories like these. 

 

Know that there are other options

There are other options out there, if you and your child feel that none of the schools they have gotten into is quite right, or the worst case scenario happens, and your child does not get accepted into any schools. Believe it or not, there are many colleges that accept students throughout the summer on a rolling basis. Students can attend community college, and transfer (this saves a lot of money!). Students can take a gap year and apply the following year.

 

If you would like to speak to one of our advisors about choosing between colleges, or want to explore other options, please schedule a time with us HERE.

 

 

Check out our upcoming webinar:

 

April 7, 2022 7:00PM EST: Online Webinar

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER

 

Subscribe to our Newsletter 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are special scholarships meant solely for students with learning disabilities that you can explore for your child. Below is a list of some popular scholarships for students with disabilities for 2022. For families of Juniors, Sophomore and Freshman, keep the dates in mind for the student’s graduation year.

 

1. American Association on Health and Disability Frederick J. Krause Scholarship 

This scholarship is open to students with any documented disability pursuing either an undergraduate/graduate program. The applicant should be a sophomore at college as of 2022 to apply for the scholarship. Students still in high school will not be considered, except for students at the sophomore level because of high school AP course credits. Students in the field of public health, disabilities, health promotion are given priority. That said, the scholarship is open to all students with a disability as defined by the American with Disabilities Act and must provide documentation to verify this. Applicants must be US citizens or legal residents living in the US. To learn more about this scholarship, visit their website. 

Applications Open: 1 September 2021

Deadline: 1 March 2022

 

2. Anne Ford Scholarship

The Anne Ford Scholarship is a $10,000 scholarship open to all students who have a documented learning disability/ADHD. Students must either be graduating seniors in high school or have attended college over the fall semester of 2021 to apply for the scholarship for 2022. To learn more about this scholarship, visit their website. 

Applications Open: 4 October  2021

Deadline: 10 April 2022

 

3. Allegra Ford Thomas 

The Allegra Ford Thomas Scholarship is a $5,000 scholarship open to all students who have a documented learning disability/ADHD. Students must be applying to a two-year community college, a vocational or technical training program, or a specialized program for students with LD and/or ADHD in the fall. In addition, students must be graduating seniors in high school to apply for the scholarship for 2022. To learn more about this scholarship, visit their website. 

Applications Open: 4 October  2021

Deadline: 10 April 2022

 

4. BMO Capital Market Lime Connect Equity Through Education Scholarship

The BMO Capital Markets Lime Connect Equity Through Education Scholarship is a $10,000USD (students in the US) or $5,000USD (students in Canada) scholarship for students with documented learning disabilities. Applicants must be current undergraduate or graduate students at a four-year university in the United States or Canada. In addition, students interested in this scholarship must be looking into degrees in business, commerce, computer science, engineering, math, physics, statistics, or a related discipline. To learn more about this scholarship, visit their website. Applications Open: 19 November 2021 Application Deadline: 21 March 2022

5. Bottar Law, PLLC Scholarship 

Bottar Law, PLLC provides students with physical or learning disabilities with a $2,500.00 scholarship awarded twice annually to a recent high school graduate. Students must be in good academic standing with a GPA above 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) and should prove the need for financial aid. To learn more about this scholarship, visit their website. 

Applications Open: Open

Deadline: 1 December  2021

 

6. Google Lime Scholarship

Google provides $10,000 (USA) and $5,000 (Canada) scholarships for students with learning disabilities interested in computer science. Applicants must be in their first year of college when applying and cannot be in high school. Students are also considered for internship opportunities with Google for summer 2022. To learn more about this scholarship, visit their website. 

Applications Open: Open

Deadline: 12 December  2021

 

7. Joseph James Morelli Legacy Foundation Scholarship

Joseph James Morelli Legacy Foundation offers scholarships between $500 to $2,500 to high school or post-high school students applying to undergraduate school, technical school, or community college in the US in fall 2022. Applicants must be pursuing the STEM field and must have a demonstrated learning challenge (disability) of dyslexia or similar reading and/or language-based disability. To learn more about this scholarship, visit their website. 

Applications Open: 1 January 2022

Deadline: 28 February  2022

 

Navigating college with a student with learning differences? Read additional resources below and contact us to learn about how Versee can help:

Colleges with Noteworthy Disability Service

How to Navigate College Admissions for Students with Learning Differences

Free and Inexpensive Tutoring

10 Habits Of Highly Successful College Applicants

 

Subscribe to our Newsletter 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A college deferral means that a student’s application decision is “deferred” to a later date. There are two instances during the admissions process where students’ applications get deferred. 

 

1. Applications get deferred during the Early Action and Early Decision cycles. These cycles take place earlier than the Regular Decision cycles, with decisions being released around December/January. Students who are deferred get notified that their application’s decision will now be made with the Regular Decision cycle, receiving a decision in March/April. Students who applied to the college through an Early Decision cycle will no longer be in a binding agreement with the college, even if they do get in finally.

2. Applications can also get deferred during the Regular Decision process. Students are notified in March or April that the college has taken a look at the students’ application and requires additional information to come to a decision. This type of derral is less common as the first, and not all colleges might defer during the Regular Decision cycle. With this instance at hand, it is important to differentiate between a deferral and a waitlist. A deferral means that the college requires more time to look at the student’s application and make a decision on it. On the other hand, with a waitlist, the review of a student's application is complete, and the college will offer the student a spot depending on availability. 

 

It is also important to note that these two deferrals are different from a third type of deferral: deferred admissions. In this case, colleges defer students’ admission to the next year. Getting deferred to the following year means that the students are accepted into the college, but their acceptance is for the following academic year. Colleges might also defer students to the spring semester instead of the fall semester, when students usually begin. However, this is very different from the type of deferral that we are addressing in this blog, which is focused on the first two types mentioned.  

 

Why do colleges defer?

Sometimes colleges defer during the earlier rounds because they want to see applicants in the regular cycle to build a more rounded student body. However, given that they still find a student’s application noteworthy, they defer the decision on the application until they have seen the rest of the applicants.

Other times, deferrals might occur as the college is looking to see some more information regarding the student. For example, they might be interested in the students’ final grades during senior year, or if they carry through on some things mentioned in their application essay. This gives students an opportunity to take initiative and strengthen the application, turning their deferral into an acceptance. 

 

How to increase the chances of getting accepted:

1. Write to the college

The first thing to do after getting deferred is to reach out to the college and establish where your application stands with them. Ask them if there is anything particular they would like you to do with the application. Follow through on any expectations and establish your continued interest in the college.

2. Strengthen your application 

Use this time to get involved in activities and clubs and build on your resume. In addition, focus and work on your academics and aim for the best grades, which you will have to send across to the college.

3. Ask for another recommendation

Asking for another recommendation outside of the ones you have already submitted can help strengthen your application and have a new voice vouch for you as an applicant. Reach out to this person as soon as you have gotten your deferral so that they have enough time to write you a comprehensive and well thought out recommendation.

4. Be Open 

While taking these steps to get into a college after a deferral, also be open to the chance of not getting in. Do not fret too much, and make a decision to enroll in another college that you have been accepted into. There are many great colleges out there, and almost everyone that has experienced deferrals have ultimately been incredibly happy to go to one of the schools that have accepted them.

 

If you are interested in speaking to a Versed Advisor about a deferral, or other aspects of the college admissions journey, please schedule a free consultation HERE.

 

For additional Insights, read:

Which Colleges Give Out the Most Merit Aid?

10 Habits Of Highly Successful College Applicants

College Acceptances Are In But Still Undecided? How to Help Your Senior Decide Which College to Choose

Navigating The College Waitlist

 

 

Subscribe to our Newsletter 

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.

 

 

 

 

When applying to colleges, families with students with learning disabilities should research what type of accommodations are offered at the institutions to support their education. Some prominent features of what disability services in colleges look like include extended time on exams, use of laptops and calculators for exams, permission to take exams separately and in a more quiet environment, permission to record lectures as well as access to notetakers and scribes, and access to material in different formats, such as braille, audio recordings, or larger prints. To learn more about the types of accommodations a few well-known colleges in the United States offer, we have curated a list below. This will allow you to understand the different programs offered at a university level for students with disabilities. 

 

1. American University 

American University offers first-year students an intensive program called Learning Services Program (LSP). In this program, 

• Students meet weekly with a learning counselor
• They have reserved sections in writing classes
• They are offered individualized course selection 
• They meet weekly with a writing coach for that course, who is an upperclassman at the college.
• Students can continue to receive support even post their first year.

 

2. Drexel University

Drexel University offers its current students the Drexel Autism Support Program (DASP) to help them with their academic and social skills. In this program, 

• Students get one-on-one peer mentoring and coaching.
• A 1.5 credit course on Neurodiversity is offered to assist students with the transition to college and employment.
• Students are offered specialized workshops on employment skills, social development, and success at college and work. 
• Students have a campus advisory board focused on community engagement and ongoing partnerships with other Drexel units, local employers, and educational institutions.

 

3. Hofstra College

Hofstra University offers its students with ADHD/learning disabilities the Program for Academic Learning Skills (PALS) In this program, 

• Students are paired up to meet individually with an experienced learning specialist weekly. 
• Students are also eligible for reasonable accommodations through Student Access Services. These include extended time on examinations, testing in smaller environments, and supplemental note-taking services. 

 

4. Marist University 

Marist provided students with the Learning Disabilities Support Program. In this program, 

• Each first-year student is paired with a learning specialist. Students meet with the specialist twice a week for learning, organization, and study skills. 
• Students may still get individual support after the first year.  
• Students build closer relations with all professors.

 

5. Marshall University 

The college provides a Program for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder. In this program, 

• Students' personal lives and their social, communication, and academic skills are assessed through person-centered planning. 
• Multi-sensory methods of teaching
• One on one academic tutoring
• Coaching in test preparation strategies
• Use of scribes and oral testing when needed

 

6. Northeastern University 

Northeastern University provides a comprehensive Learning Disabilities Program (LDP) for its students. In this program, 

• Students work with a learning specialist for one hour, twice a week. Students learn to work through test strategies, reading, writing, and executive functioning, amongst other skills.

 

The colleges listed above are amongst some well known colleges that have comprehensive disability service programs. While these might be the best six, there are a host of other colleges across the United States that offer special programs for students with disabilities. Some other lesser known colleges with comprehensive disability service programs include: 

 

Mitchell College

Ramapo College of New Jersey 

Wright State University

Curry College

Lesley University

Augsburg University 

DePaul University 

Beacon College

Lynn University 

Landmark College

 

While these colleges are examples of some of the better disability service programs, mostly all colleges have some sort of program to support students with learning disabilities. A quick google search of the college will yield information. The purpose of this blog is to show how some of these programs might look, and how colleges might differ from one another in how committed they are to supporting students with learning disabilities. 

 

If you would like to learn more about how Versed Advisors can help your student with their unique situation, please book a free consultation to learn more about us HERE.

 

For additional insights, read:

How to Navigate College Admissions for Students with Learning Differences

10 Learning Traits that Drive Academic Outcomes

 

Watch the Webinar: 

 

 

 

Subscribe to our Newsletter 

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.