college admissions Archives

Admission Mythbusters: The College Transitions Edition – Part 2

I got a letter from the Dean! I’m in! For a high school student, there is something undeniably exciting about being the recipient of an unsolicited brochure from a prestigious university, or even better yet, a personalized letter from the Dean of Admissions practically begging you to apply. Unfortunately,...

Three considerations before applying Early Decision

Early decision has never been a popular choice among college bound seniors. For some, it’s about maximizing their chances of being admitted to the school of their dreams. For others, it’s about minimizing the stress of senior year, bringing peace and certainty to one’s fleeting high school days. ED...

The MOOC Revolution: Opportunity or Overhype?

Since 2011, major news and media outlets have devoted substantial attention to the rise of Massive Online Open Courses, better known as “MOOCs.” Journalists and educators alike have lauded startups like Udacity, Coursera and edX—primarily for their aims to make high-quality education both accessible and affordable—and have written extensively on...

Get Ahead This Summer

Despite belief (and perhaps wishes) to the contrary, summer plays an extremely important role in the college admissions process. These next few months give rising seniors, many of whom are otherwise bogged down with projects and exams, the opportunity to prepare their applications, round out their applicant profile, and...

Inside an admissions office

This insightful article on the inner-workings of the Lehigh University admissions committee this past application season is well worth the few minutes it takes to read. This piece hammers home the message that when it comes to admittance at a highly selective college like Lehigh, every minute detail of your application...

Does my state or geographic location play a role in the admissions process?

Your location may improve, diminish or have little effect on your prospects for admission. It depends upon where you live and to which institutions you apply. A number of public colleges and universities give preference to in-state students, so for example, if you are a resident of North Carolina...

Are college guidebooks useful?

Guidebooks can be an excellent source of information for students seeking to learn more about the offerings and environment of a college. They often provide useful information about strong programs, important admission indicators, and social/extracurricular opportunities. However, they also have a couple drawbacks. First guidebooks are usually limited to...