Oct
17
Many of you seniors will begin to be contacted over the next few weeks and months about admissions interviews. Here are some no nonsense Dos and Donts to prepare you for your interview. And please allow me the liberty of just one cliche– the best advice of all is to be your wonderful, amazing, fascinating …
Oct
04
In years past, there were just a few types of admission plans, and just a few deadlines to watch. Things have really changed! Now there are many variations of the main types of admission plans, and the deadlines vary greatly. Once you’ve narrowed down your list to a comfortable number of reach (a little bit …
Sep
26
More than ten years later I can still rattle off the names of my favorite applicants to Washington University where I worked as an admission counselor for three years. Even those students who ultimately decided to attend another college are still marked in my memory. I can recall how we first met– on campus, at …
Sep
19
Hey high schoolers it’s that time of year when admission counselors pack their bags and hit the road, visiting high schools throughout the country. If you are fortunate to attend a high school frequented by these visitors, here are some tips to keep in mind so that you can make a great first impression. Travel …
Sep
13
One of my greatest gifts I received in college, besides my husband and my shiny diploma, was the gift of lifelong mentors. This past week one of those mentors, Dean James McLeod, passed away after a valiant battle with cancer. While it’s been twelve years since I graduated from my esteemed alma mater and nine …
Sep
07
And now September is upon us. Let’s check in to see how things are going. Juniors, how are your classes? Are you challenging yourself in your courses and working hard to achieve strong grades? Are you becoming more active in your extracurricular commitments? Hey seniors, how’s it going for you? Not having the time of …
Aug
29
I’m moving on from teen fantasy romance literature, i.e. the Twilight Saga. I’ve discovered a new passion– college admissions lit. Just like a good high schooler I’m moving on from vampires and werewolves to real life stories about the admissions process. And I’m totally hooked. College admissions lit has it all: heartfelt tales, revelation of …
Aug
23
Wow, those 104 days of summer vacation sure passed quickly. Many of you had ambitions to complete (parts of) your applications, or at least (parts of) your essays, by this point. Don’t despair if you didn’t accomplish all of your goals. Remember it’s still August, at least for the next several days, and even if …
Aug
08
Three years ago, as I debated attending a speaking engagement in Seoul, South Korea, an incredibly adventurous friend enthusiastically urged me to participate. I feared the unknown– speaking in front of a 500 person audience, the distance from home, the cultural differences. My dear friend enlightened me with the wisdom that we should vigilantly seek …
Aug
01
Ask any admission counselor and she will wax eloquently that in reviewing a student’s application file, many factors beyond numbers (grades, test scores) are considered in making an admissions decision. In previous posts I’ve touched on the importance of your personal statements and other essays, and who are we kidding, you know I’m going to …
