top of page
Search
Your mental models are out of date
Charles had a 3.85 GPA, a 1490 SAT score, and a resume packed with a broad range of activities. Compared to many of the families I work with, Charles and his parents had put a lot of thought into the application process already; they even had a tiered school list ready. His top reach school was Cornell. It was a good fit for him, and with his profile, he stood a decent chance at admission, for a reach option. I scanned a little further down the list and at the top of his “tar
Aled Lines
4 hours ago6 min read
The Packaging Trap: How to not sound like everyone else
Imagine that you’re an admissions officer during peak season. You’re 12 days into the application reading crunch. Clif bar wrappers litter the narrow space on the side of your desk. You haven’t had time to clean your well-used Aeropress, which you’ve been using to brew coffee during your 6-hour reading sessions. The office trail-mix tub is running dangerously low. It’s been 2 hours. Or maybe 5. You’re not sure because you’ve been too engrossed in the applications. You and you
Aled Lines
Jan 297 min read
For Parents - The Importance of Fit
What is "fit" and why does it matter? Faced with thousands of college choices, it can be exceptionally difficult to know how to find the...
Aled Lines
May 19, 20213 min read
College Apps in 10 Steps
Your resource for all of the practical steps and deadlines you will need to know. Sometimes all of the tasks involved in college apps can...
Aled Lines
Apr 27, 20214 min read
Why Bother? The Case for College
With steadily rising costs and increasingly competitive job markets, is college really worth it? The decision to attend college is a...
Aled Lines
Apr 14, 20212 min read
Requesting Recommendation Letters the Right Way
When searching for people to recommend you for colleges, you want to make sure that you're asking the right people (and asking them...
Aled Lines
Apr 5, 20212 min read
How to Approach the "Why Us" Essay
When most students think about the college application essays, they think of the essay. Yes, you know the one, the essay, the Common App...
Aled Lines
Mar 21, 20213 min read
Types of Colleges
Universities, Liberal Arts Schools, Colleges, Vocational Schools, Gap Years: What does it all mean? Even though you might not realize it,...
Aled Lines
Mar 14, 20215 min read
Planning your School List
College applications require planning and strategic thinking to optimize success. Read on to discover how to plan your school list. When...
Aled Lines
Mar 10, 20214 min read
Why You Should Explore Canadian Universities
While most students have their sights set on the United States, there are stellar options available in Canada as well. Quick Overview: In...
Aled Lines
Jan 21, 20212 min read
Common App and Coalition Essays: An Overview
Writing the "Common App" essay can be a new and unique experience for many students. This is a brief introduction to the process of...
Aled Lines
Jan 21, 20213 min read
Explore the United Kingdom
Centuries of educational excellence, history, culture, fish and chips -- there are so many reasons to consider studying in the United...
-
Jan 21, 20213 min read
Types of Applications
Early Decision, Early Action, Regular Decision -- What does it all mean? Although the college application process can seem complicated at...
-
Jan 21, 20213 min read
bottom of page