Many students struggle with how to represent their interests on their college applications, so when I saw this inquiry in the New York Times Magazine’s Ethicist column, I couldn’t help but read—and then chime into the conversation!
ROI and College Rankings
A New Early Decision Option at UChicago Could Be a Game Changer
The University of Chicago has just launched a new binding early notification option that allows participants in its summer pre-college program to apply for early admission before everyone else. It’s called the Summer Student Early Notification program (SSEN), and it has added a new wrinkle to the early admissions process.
The Value of an Early Start to College Advising
“You don’t know what you don’t know.” Success, however we define it, is the culmination of lots of small decisions, most of which, by the time our children reach Junior year of high school, have already been made. More and more, I see parents, especially those with older children who have already been through the college process, recognize that investing the time to make wise choices earlier (like in 8th or 9th grade), can lay a strong foundation for later.
Test-Optional Policies Under (Re)consideration... Again
When it comes to data based on real students and real outcomes, test-optional policies can actually undermine some diversity initiatives. For example, according to Stuart Schmill, MIT’s Dean of Admissions, “Once we brought the test requirement back, we admitted the most diverse class that we ever had in our history.”
College Applications: A Playbook for Parents
Is It Really the Hardest It's Ever Been to Get into College?
When you just look at the numbers — these numbers, or any numbers really (over 120,000 applicants to NYU! Northeastern accepted 6.7% of students! Apps to Yale increased 50% since 2020!) — it’s so easy to lose sight of the individual stories, victories, and disappointments that define this process, and the fact that opportunity is always right around the corner if you’re open to it.
How Much Does Your Major Matter?
To get a fresh perspective on the value of choosing a major—and why the liberal arts might be an equally compelling path to a career in business as a Finance or Engineering degree—we spoke with several college grads ranging in age from 29-34, to ask them whether their choice of major had an impact on their career. We got an earful, and some of their answers were surprising.
The Demise of "Best College" Rankings
How Much to Disclose About Mental Health in the College Application Process
In a recent op-ed in the New York Times, Emi Nietfeld reflects on her initial “overshare” about her mental health challenges (and its perceived consequences, including a rejection from Yale) and the ways in which she was able to reflect upon and ultimately convey her story in a way that was more compelling for her college applications.
So what is the appropriate degree of disclosure in a college application?