When I review college application essays, I hunt for clichés: overused and inapt words and phrases that are sure to grate on discerning readers’ ears. I could give you a whole list of the ones I encounter most often. But there’s one cliche that looms over “opened my eyes,
Among my high school’s roundabout virtues was its unrelenting emphasis on academic research. I’m not kidding. As early as 9th grade, teachers in history and English assigned meaty papers that required us to refer to books, periodicals, scholarly journals, and more. We dove into card catalogs, old-fashioned journal
This past application season, I presented a student with a preliminary list of colleges and explained, as I always do, that the list is just preliminary and purely for research. I intend for plenty of discussion, soul-searching, and decision-making to follow. And, like most counselors, I try to present students
Earlier this year, a student asked me what I think the purpose of college is. That’s not a question I consider very often. I deal with college all the time. The whole point of my profession is to usher people into college (or, more specifically, selective four-year colleges) and,
A record number of college applicants will be disappointed this year. The system has to change.
College applications are up, admission rates are down — and applicants need to stay upbeat.
College Choice
High school juniors get atwitter this time of year when the Common Application releases its essay prompts. This year’s prompts, released last week, mean less than ever before. That’s a good thing.
High School
The typical high school curriculum renders Americans geographically illiterate. Our ignorance about the world and about each other has finally taken its toll, in the unlikely form of Donald Trump.
College Choice
Students should always take expansive, creative views of their prompts. They should think critically. If that means that they acknowledge a prompt's stupidity, so be it.
Students who are serious about applying to ultra-selective schools need to affirmatively articulate — first to themselves, then to the colleges—reasons why schools should want to welcome them.
Culture
I want international students to think about the incredible academic experiences they're going to have. I want them to think about the friends they're going to make, the classes they're going to take, and the places they're going to see.
If college is a “game,” this is how you win.