Applying early
Many colleges and universities have Early Decision and Early Action deadlines coming up, some as soon as October 15. One of the strategic decisions I often help students with is deciding whether or not to apply early. Here are a few general thoughts I share with my clients on the different options:
Early Decision: This is a binding agreement with the college where you agree to attend that school if you are accepted during the Early Decision process. You may only apply Early Decision to one college or university at a time. Applying Early Decision can increase your odds of being accepted at that school, so it can be a great option for students who have a clear first choice. The downside is that you probably won't be offered any merit-based scholarships via this route.
Early Action: Early Action is a non-binding way to get an admissions decision back from schools long before the regular admission pool. This may help you to eliminate schools from your college list, and it can also provide peace of mind knowing you have been accepted to one or more schools that you like.
Regular admission: This is a good option for students who want to weigh acceptance offers from multiple schools before deciding which school they want to attend. If you want to wait and see what your financial aid offers are, and if you want to know whether or not you’re eligible for merit-based grants, it can be best to enter the regular admission pools at multiple colleges.
Rolling admission: Some schools do not have a specific deadline for admission. It can be nice to have a rolling admission school or two as backup options in case you are not granted admission to one of your top schools.
Above all else, recognize that your situation is unique! You don’t have to apply Early Decision just because your friends are all doing it. Conversely, it can be kind of nice to have your college decisions for next year made before the winter holiday break—if that’s the right choice for you. This is a great discussion to have with your college admissions counselor. At Confluence College Admissions Consulting, we can help you think these decisions through with your unique situation in mind.
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Eleventh grade: looking ahead
The junior year of high school is the time I recommend for most students to begin their college search process in earnest. Here are Jim’s top 5 tips for high school juniors wanting to get ready for college:
1. Do well in school. If you’re applying to selective colleges, doing well academically is always important. But it’s especially important to rise to the challenge during your junior year. Eleventh grade is the year colleges examine most closely when they look at your application. Be sure to shore up your study habits, take care of your health, and ask your teachers for extra help when you need it.
2. Begin drafting a college list. This can begin with thinking about your high school. What do you like and dislike about your high school’s community? Do you like a small school or a large school? Do you want the option of taking honors classes? Do you like sports teams and a strong sense of school spirit? Do you prefer urban or rural? Then make plans to visit schools, either as part of family travel or as a college-specific trip.
3. Study for, and take, the SAT and/or ACT. Many colleges and universities are now test optional, but some still require standardized testing. Once you get your results back, then you can decide whether to take the test again, send your results to colleges, or omit sending scores.
4. Practice kind, respectful self talk. You may experience pressure from parents, teachers, coaches, and peers to get good grades and also perform well in sports and other extracurricular activities. This can be stressful. Remind yourself that you are doing your best, be proud of your achievements, and offer yourself words of affirmation and positivity. You deserve it.
5. Make use of your college counselor. Whether this person is an employee of your high school or an independent college admissions consultant, this person knows the process inside and out and is there to support you.
If you'd like to learn more about any aspect of the college admissions process, use the contact form on my website to schedule a free one-hour consultation.
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Junior year: the crux
The junior year of high school is the time I recommend for most students to begin their college search process in earnest. Here are Jim’s top 5 tips for high school juniors wanting to get ready for college:
1. Do well in school. If you’re applying to selective colleges, doing well academically is always important. But it’s especially important to rise to the challenge during your junior year. Eleventh grade is the year colleges examine most closely when they look at your application. Be sure to shore up your study habits, take care of your health, and ask your teachers for extra help when you need it.
2. Begin drafting a college list. This can begin with thinking about your high school. What do you like and dislike about your high school’s community? Do you like a small school or a large school? Do you want the option of taking honors classes? Do you like sports teams and a strong sense of school spirit? Do you prefer urban or rural? Then make plans to visit schools, either as part of family travel or as a college-specific trip.
3. Study for, and take, the SAT and/or ACT. Many colleges and universities are now test optional, but some still require standardized testing. Once you get your results back, then you can decide whether to take the test again, send your results to colleges, or omit sending scores.
4. Practice kind, respectful self talk. You may experience pressure from parents, teachers, coaches, and peers to get good grades and also perform well in sports and other extracurricular activities. This can be stressful. Remind yourself that you are doing your best, be proud of your achievements, and offer yourself words of affirmation and positivity. You deserve it.
5. Make use of your college counselor. Whether this person is an employee of your high school or an independent college admissions consultant, this person knows the process inside and out and is there to support you.
If you’d like to learn more about any aspect of the college admissions process, use the contact form on my website to schedule a free one-hour consultation.
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Tenth grade priorities
Sophomore year of high school is often regarded as a kind of “middle child” year. Some students report existential ennui and a resulting loss of purpose. But it doesn't have to be that way! Here are my top 5 tips for making tenth grade a meaningful year in the college preparation process:
1. Read, read, read. If there’s one thing you can do to improve your academic performance across all classes, it’s developing your reading skills. The great news here is that it mostly doesn’t matter what you read; to derive the intellectual benefits of reading, it only matters that you read.
2. Continue to grow as a learner. How did freshman year go? What do you want to build on, or improve on? I recommend setting goals that are less about results (“I will get an A in Spanish”) and more about habits. “I will show my English teacher a draft of all my papers before handing them in” is a worthwhile goal, as is “I will read one book for pleasure over winter break.”
3. Deepen your involvement. Maybe last year you joined your high school’s badminton team. Consider committing to a regular practice and training schedule to help you improve as a player and team leader.
4. Keep a journal. Write in it at least four days a week for 30 minutes. No need to show it to anyone else—this journal is for your personal use only. It’s a great way to collect thoughts, process your experiences, vent your frustrations, and celebrate your successes. Research shows that keeping a journal is good for your emotional health. This is especially important during the inevitable turbulent times that will come.
5. Prepare for, and take, the PSAT. Taking the PSAT in the spring of sophomore year sets you up to take the SAT in your junior year. That way you can re-take the SAT if you wish to improve your score. Before you take the PSAT, I strongly recommend preparing for it so that you’ll be familiar with the test format. Khan Academy has a free online course designed for PSAT prep.
If you'd like to learn more about the college preparation process, use the contact form on my website to schedule a free consultation.
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Ninth grade priorities
High schools in the Bozeman area began the fall semester this past week. If you are a ninth-grade student or parent of one, here are some thoughts about what you can do now to get yourself set up well for life during and after high school:
1. Prioritize healthy routines. Establish a consistent bedtime and stick to it. Aim for at least eight hours of sleep every night. Put your phone away an hour before bed. Eat nutrient-rich food, mostly vegetables. Start with a protein-packed breakfast. Get regular exercise: at least 20 minutes a day, five days a week.
2. Get involved. Pick two activities to participate in. They could be activities you’ve done for years, or you may choose to do something entirely new. Ninth grade is an ideal time to explore. If you feel like joining the wrestling team, do it. If you want to try out the forensics club because you’re a true crime aficionado, give it a whirl. You’ll create new friendships, and you’ll learn new things. Make your selections based on what sounds good to you. Don’t try to guess at what colleges want.
3. Focus on developing good study habits. Rather than setting goals centering on grades (“I will get an A in math”), set goals focusing instead on your own habits of mind (“I will study math 30 minutes every school night,” “I will meet with my math teacher after school one week before every exam”).
4. Plan intentional family time. Sit down for a home-cooked meal with your family at least once a week. Everyone should put their phones and digital devices away. If your parents are too busy to cook, consider volunteering. It might sound hokey, but consider planning an interesting conversation topic for your time together. Make your family memories something you’ll look back on fondly.
Consider signing up for my ninth-grade package to help with all this! And note that I've said basically nothing about college. That's intentional. We'll have plenty of time later to get you set up for success in college. Let's focus now on getting you situated in high school.
If you're ready to take a deeper dive into getting ready for college, use the contact form on my website to schedule a free one-hour consultation!
The Common App is open!
The Common App has officially opened for Fall 2025 applications. If you're planning to apply to colleges during this coming academic year, it's not too early to create an account on Common App and begin working on your application. Here are some of my thoughts about filling out the Common App:
The Activities section allows you to add up to ten activities that you took part in during high school. List the activities in order of importance to you. You can move the order around using the up and down arrows to the right of each activity name. You don’t need to fill up all ten lines. Quality is more important than quantity. Estimate as accurately as possible when filling out the yearly and weekly time commitments. Be sure to look through the drop-down menu of activity type to see the wide range of activities that can be listed.
Use strong verbs in your activities section. In short: are you describing your activity in the most dynamic way possible? Most students aren’t. Why? Because they’re using just-okay verbs. You have a limited number of characters to describe each activity. Choose them wisely.
Have you included a wide range of responsibilities? Many students forget to include activities in which they solved problems, gained skills, and made tangible (and even quantifiable) impact in their communities.
Demonstrate skills and values. Are you communicating what you learned or how an activity changed you? If not, you may be missing an opportunity to show colleges an important aspect of your values and character.
The AXS Companion was designed by professional educational consultants to be used side-by-side with the Common App as students work on their applications. Each section includes explanatory videos, a glossary of application terms, and links to resources mentioned in the videos. It’s pitched to all students, but I think it will be especially valuable for students who cannot afford to work with an independent educational consultant (IEC) like me.
As your IEC, I can help you with all this and much more. I also provide detailed feedback on multiple drafts of your personal statement and supplemental essays, which I will cover in a later post.
Financial transition
The final transition from high school to college that I want to discuss with you is the financial transition. Once again, I'm borrowing today from journalist and speaker Harlan Cohen, and adding some of my own thoughts. Here are some things to consider about the financial transition:
1. If you're entering college later this month, hopefully you've already done this, but develop a realistic plan for paying for college. This means discussing with your parents what they are able and willing to contribute financially to your college education, and it means figuring out what your own contribution will be. As a general guide, I recommend not taking out more in student loans over four years than you'd guess your salary will be your first year out of college. If you have no clue what you might be doing then, make your estimate conservative.
2. Make a budget of your expenses. I suggest using a spreadsheet like Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel. Track your spending habits and make sure these align with the money you have in your bank account. Have budget lines for food, academic supplies, entertainment (including alcohol), gas, recreation, and any other regular expenses you can think of. Aim to keep your spending within a pre-set limit.
3. Consider getting a job. This could be either an on-campus job (perhaps part of a work-study problem) or off campus. Consider doing something that aligns with your life and career goals, or something that you're naturally curious about. When I was an undergraduate student, I worked off campus at an independent record store owned by a recent graduate of my college. It was a great experience for me: it turned me on to all kinds of music I'd never heard before and enabled me to pay for my music collecting habit.
5. Take advantage of free things, or things included with your tuition, that are happening on campus. These include free food, intercollegiate sports, intramural sports, lectures, readings, plays, concerts, dance recitals, art exhibitions, movies, and more.
To learn more about the financial transition from high school to college, use the contact for m on my website to reach out.
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Physical transition
The next transition from high school to college that I want to discuss with you is the physical transition. Again, I'm borrowing today from journalist and speaker Harlan Cohen, and adding some of my own thoughts. Here are some things to consider about the physical transition:
1. Create a living space that is conducive to academic success, healthy living, and a harmonious relationship with your roommate(s). Even if you don't consider yourself a neatnik, I can pretty much guarantee that committing to a basic level of cleanliness and tidiness will lead to better hygiene and less conflict with your roommate.
2. Develop an organization system for your clothes, books, toiletries, academic supplies, and electronics. College dorm rooms are often small, and things will have a way of spreading out and cluttering your living space if you don't have a way of organizing them and tucking them away. Consider investing in portable drawers and organizers to help you keep everything stored neatly in its place. You don't need everything strictly regimented, but generally speaking, routines and systems will make you happier and healthier.
3. Get adequate sleep. This probably means having a regular bedtime that you try to stick to. Aim for at least eight hours of sleep per night, and if you fall behind on sleep, use the weekends to sleep in. If you need ambient sound to help you sleep, consider investing in a fan or a white noise machine (assuming this is okay with your roommate).
4. Maintain a regular exercise routine. Personally, I think everyone, including people who hate exercising, should engage in both aerobic exercise and strength training. At most colleges, a gym membership is included in your tuition. Aim for at least 30 minutes of exercise, at least four days a week. Regular exercise will help you ward off sickness, sleep better, and look and feel your best.
5. Eat well. Make sure that your diet contains adequate protein, and aim for a variety of foods. When you eat in the dining hall on your student meal plan, load up on vegetables, especially leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables. Avoid too many sugary or starchy foods. Drink plenty of water. Focus on quality.
Social transition
The next transition from high school to college that I want to discuss with you is the social transition. Again, I'm borrowing today from journalist and speaker Harlan Cohen, and adding some of my own thoughts. Here are some things to consider about the social transition:
1. Develop a plan for establishing a sense of community. This means finding your people on campus. What are the things you love to do, the causes you're passionate about, the academic subjects you're interested in? Join a few clubs and organizations where you'll meet other people who share your interests and passions. Almost certainly some of these people will become your friends.
2. Meet people who are not your roommates. If you happen to hit it off with your roommates, consider it a stroke of good fortune. But don't rely solely on socializing with your roommates. Keep an open mind. Early in your freshman year, when everyone is still acclimating to college life, is a great time to sit down in the dining hall next to someone you've never met and strike up a conversation. Making a regular habit of being open to new friendships will make your relationship with your roommates less codependent and more harmonious.
3. Intramural sports are a great, low-stakes way for you to meet new people. You don't need to be a star athlete to play intramural or pickup soccer, ultimate frisbee, softball, or pickleball. It's also a great way to ensure you're getting some exercise!
4. Stay safe. If you're going to a big campus-wide event or party, go with a friend. If a social situation makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, trust your instincts. Communicate with the people around you to let them know how you're feeling.
5. I've said this before, but try to define yourself socially by something other than alcohol or drug use. Drinking alcohol, especially heavy drinking, can adversely affect your health, your immune system, your energy level, and your academic performance. And if you do something foolish when you're drinking, there may be other kinds of unintended consequences. I suggest learning to be less reliant on alcohol as a social lubricant, which will make you stronger, healthier, and more resilient.
Emotional transition
The next transition from high school to college that I want to discuss with you is the emotional transition. Again, I'm borrowing from journalist and speaker Harlan Cohen, and adding some of my own thoughts. Here are some things to consider about the emotional transition:
1. Develop a plan to manage homesickness. Every college student, particularly those who attend college far from home, experiences homesickness. There is an important balance between staying connected to people from home and at the same time exploring new relationships with college peers. I suggest making a plan ahead of time for how frequently you want to communicate with your parents and friends, and sticking to it. I also recommend not going home, or having family visit you, until at least fall break (usually in October), so you can lean into being fully present with your experience at college.
2. Know who your support team is. If you regularly see a therapist, consider continuing that therapy by phone or Zoom. Or find a new therapist or counselor you can meet with regularly while you're in college. Having regular opportunities to talk about your emotional health, and make a plan to address it, can head off more serious emotional problems down the line.
3. Create habits that support your emotional well being. Practice self-care by exercising, eating well, getting enough sleep, and spending time in nature. Focus on strengths, possibilities, and potential solutions, rather than dwelling on negative aspects. Develop a practice of mindfulness: be aware of what's happening in the present, both internally and externally.
4. Avoid excessive alcohol and drug consumption. Because alcohol is a social lubricant, some college students immediately define themselves socially around parties and drinking. This is terrible for your brain. Challenge yourself to develop emotional and social resilience without relying on alcohol.
If you'd like to learn more about various kinds of transitions from high school to college, please use the contact form on my website to reach out.
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Academic transition
Journalist and speaker Harlan Cohen, author of The Naked Roommate, often refers to five transitions students go through when they begin college: academic, social, emotional, physical, and financial. I'd like to dedicate the next few posts to discussing my thoughts about each of these, beginning with the academic transition. Here are some of my thoughts about what incoming freshmen need to do academically:
1. Develop a system for managing your time. This could be a physical planner, a Google Calendar, or an app on your phone. Be sure your planning is realistic and leaves plenty of time for sleep, exercise, socializing, and meals. Rather than procrastinating, chunk your projects so that you can do your best work.
2. Form study habits that will serve you well. Study in an environment where you can focus, and be honest with yourself about what your needs are. Use flash cards and mnemonic devices. Study a little bit at a time rather than cramming at the last minute.
3. Connect with your professors. Take advantage of their office hours to help you assimilate difficult material. Go over questions you have after receiving back your graded papers and exams. Think of these people as mentors who can guide you and help you find opportunities.
4. Take advantage of academic resources. These may include people such as graduate assistants, tutors, librarians, counselors, and others. They also may include the syllabus for your course, optional readings, study guides, and other materials your professor posts online for you. Most colleges have an academic success center or other equivalent space where you can schedule meetings with a peer tutor, find audiobooks, and receive support for a learning disability. You might be taking a freshman seminar during fall semester where you will be introduced to many of these resources. They are usually free or available for a nominal fee. Take advantage of these resources!
To learn more about academic transitions from high school to college, use the contact form on my website to reach out!
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Confidence in higher ed
According to a recent Gallup poll, Americans are now divided among those who say they have a great deal of confidence (36%), some confidence (32%), and little or no confidence (32%) in higher education. Lower levels of confidence in higher education stem primarily from concerns in three areas: too much focus on political agendas, failing to teach relevant skills, and being too expensive. I'd like to address each of these.
First, I'd like to address the 41% of Americans who say colleges are “too liberal,” trying to “indoctrinate” or “brainwash” students, or not allowing them to think for themselves. I think this is the least valid of the concerns expressed. I think there is a dedicated campaign to tarnish colleges and universities with these stereotypes. I listened to a recent podcast hosted by a popular commentator who claimed, citing it as an example of "liberal brainwashing," that Stanford University is banning the use of "every other word," including the word "American." This is false. I strongly caution students and their parents against taking "news" segments like this at face value.
Second, many colleges are adapting their curricula, especially in pre-professional programs, to prepare students for the twenty-first century job market. But I also wouldn't be dismissive of traditional liberal arts degrees in subjects such as philosophy, history, rhetoric and composition, and literature. These subjects teach students to think critically, analyze language, write, and speak—skills that are extremely useful on the job market.
Finally, concerns about the rising cost of college are, I think, the most valid of the main ones respondents identified. I believe a college education ought to be regarded as an investment, and students and their parents should weigh return on investment as they consider any specific college or university. I encourage families to be especially wary of taking out large sums of money in student loans, as these can saddle a student with long-term financial implications long past their collegiate years.
In short, I advise care and caution, but I remain positive about the benefits of a college education. Reach out to learn more!
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Chance me? Please don’t.
Some college applicants spend time on a Reddit channel called "Chance Me," where applicants post their credentials—their SAT scores, GPA, extracurriculars, college essays, scholarships, and the like—and ask the Internet to predict what their chances are of getting into their first-choice college. Some of the comments end up being unkind, or come filled with misinformation about the process. I think this type of online environment can be incredibly toxic, and detrimental to the student's application.
To a lesser degree, I think conversations between students, and between groups of parents, can be similarly unhelpful. Conventional wisdom about the college process has changed significantly over the years—certainly since I went to college—and students often hear things from their peers that can lead them astray when it comes to deciding where to apply, and how.
A huge part of my job is providing information to students and their parents, and then guiding them through the college application process in a low-pressure, low-stress, thoughtfully planned manner.
First, I help students build a balanced college list that includes a mix of "reach" schools, "target" schools, and "likely" schools. Calculating a student's likelihood of acceptance isn't a good use of our time and energy. A better approach is helping students "fall in like" with a few different schools, including some where they're likely to be accepted. It's fine to apply to one or more "reach" schools as long as they manage their expectations.
Then, I help students prepare their personal statements, supplemental essays, and other application materials, tailoring each of these to the colleges where they're applying.
Finally, I help them navigate deadlines, adjust their strategy as they go, and advise them on next steps once schools come back with admissions decisions, all with an eye toward being proactive and positive, and trusting the process.
If you'd like assistance managing the complex and sometimes stressful world of college admissions, please use the contact form on my website to reach out!
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First-year experience
Most colleges have some sort of orientation period for incoming freshmen, whether it be a day, a week, freshman pre-orientation trips, or some combination of the above. Orientation, however, can have a limited impact on incoming students' sense of community. First-year seminars and other activities that regularly bring small groups of students and teachers or staff together are becoming common offerings at many universities. U.S. News & World Report asked deans of admissions, chief academic officers, presidents of colleges, and deans of students from over 1,500 universities to suggest up to 15 schools that had excellent first-year experiences. Here are some of the colleges whose first-year experiences stood out:
Elon University. Elon's Common Reading Program (ECRP), for which incoming freshman are expected to arrive on campus having read an assigned book on an important and timely subject, challenges students, faculty, and staff to examine themselves and the local and global worlds they inhabit through reading. The readings and related discussions aim not only to encourage critical reflection about important issues but also to invite consideration of how our individual actions affect these issues.
University of South Carolina. University 101, a first-year seminar started in 1972 to help students adjust to college life and learn about the university’s offerings, sparked an international movement called the first-year experience, with South Carolina earning national recognition for its work with students, peer leaders, and instructors. The Columbia campus also is home to the National Resource Center for The First-Year Experience and Students in Transition, the internationally recognized expert for scholarship, policy, and best practice for all postsecondary student transitions.
Agnes Scott College. All freshman take Leadership Prologue, where they learn about the Agnes Scott approach to leadership and the liberal arts. In the class, students focus on the five fundamental leadership skills: critical thinking, writing, public speaking, digital literacy, and teamwork. This serves as students' foundation for good scholarship, leadership, and campus involvement.
To learn more about freshman orientation and first-year experiences, use the contact form on my website to reach out.
Summer essay writing
If you'll be a high school senior planning to apply to colleges in the fall, I'd like to suggest a task to work on this summer. If you either don't know yet where you'll be applying or plan to apply to at least one school that uses the Common App, the summer before senior year of high school is the ideal time to write your Common App personal statement. Here are my thoughts:
1. Read the prompts posted on College Board's website, but you don't need to obsess over them. The prompts are written in such a way that you can write about almost anything and it will most likely fit one of the prompts. College Essay Guy's website has "100 brave and interesting questions" that can help spark you.
2. Tell a story. Vivid details and experiences will make your essay come alive much more than general statements of what you learned, or what you achieved. Good storytelling will enable you to find these specifics.
3. Make sure that your essay allows admissions committees to learn something about you. While it can be a humble gesture to write about your admiration for someone else, it doesn't really allow the admissions committee to learn very much about your personality or your character. This is one time when it really is okay to talk about yourself. Rather than bragging about your accomplishments, I recommend allowing the essay to reveal your character, values, and personality.
4. Use the space you have. The Common App personal statement is capped at 650 words. Use them! The essay prompt says to write between 250 and 650 words, but a 250-word essay is going to feel pretty skeletal to most readers.
5. Get feedback. Many applicants are reluctant to let anyone else see their essay. This is a mistake. Find someone you know and trust who can give you specific feedback and offer suggestions for revision.
If you'd like help figuring out what you want to write about, how to get started, how to draft your essay, and how to polish it for submission, use the contact form on my website to reach out. I thoroughly enjoy working with students on their college essays during the summer!
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529 plans
I am not a financial advisor by trade, but I do follow several people who specialize in this area, since I do field questions from families about whether or not to set up a 529 college savings plan. With a 529 account, you can invest in high-return assets like stock funds and avoid capital gains taxes while building earnings. And withdrawals are tax-free if you use the money to pay for qualified education expenses. Thirty states even offer additional tax breaks on your contributions to sweeten the deal. Here are some things to know:
1. 529 accounts pay for education expenses only. Withdrawals from 529 plans must be used for qualified educational expenses, such as tuition, books, and room and board. If you withdraw funds from a 529 for non-qualified educational expenses, you'll typically face income tax on the earnings portion of the withdrawal and a 10% penalty on the earnings.
2. One-third of all high school graduates don’t go to college as a next step in life. In such a case, there are some options if the named beneficiary can’t use the money in a 529. But if you liquidate these funds and use them for another purpose other than college, there may be penalties and a large tax bill.
3. Like other savings accounts, 529 plans must be reported on the Federal Application for Free Student Aid (FAFSA), which considers the value of a family's assets when calculating how much the household is expected to contribute to a student’s college expenses.
4. Don’t expect to buy and sell individual stocks in your 529 plan. These plans typically invest in stock funds, bond funds, money-market accounts, and target-date funds based on the year you’ll start paying for college.
5. Contrary to popular myth, you do not have to attend college in the same state as your 529 plan. This is great news for students who wish to keep out-of-state options on the table as they decide where to attend college.
If you'd like to learn more about preparing for college, applying to colleges, and paying for college, please use the contact form on my website to reach out!
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Finishing strong
If you have been accepted to start college in the fall, and if you finished strong academically during your senior year—by raising your GPA, for example, winning a significant academic award, or being valedictorian of your graduating class—then I encourage you to contact your college's admissions office and request more merit-based aid.
For this to be successful, you'll need to do several things. First, determine whether or not your college gives merit-based financial aid. Many elite colleges don't, because (1) they don't need to offer merit aid to attract top students, and (2) all the students they admit are, by definition, meritorious. But if your college does award merit aid, you may qualify for more of it.
Second, you'll need to send a letter (email is fine) to the admissions office. In your letter, you'll need to make the case for why you are deserving of more merit-based aid. Explain any awards you've won, any positive changes to your GPA, and any other major academic accomplishments you've had. Provide documentation (transcripts, award letters). This is not the space to make your case for financial hardship.
Third, address your email to a specific person in the admissions office. Ideally, this would be your regional admissions counselor, especially if you've already built a relationship with this person. This establishes rapport with someone in the office. Always use courteous and professional language. Manage your own expectations about the outcome and how much scholarship money the college can award.
Fourth, follow up if you don't hear back. College is expensive. It's worth a few minutes of your time to make sure that your request for additional merit-based aid gets handled thoughtfully. Taking the time to do this may result in your saving thousands of dollars. The worst that can happen is that the college says no, and you still attend in the fall and have a great experience.
If you'd like to learn more about preparing for college, applying to college, and paying for college, please use the contact form on my website and schedule your initial consultation.
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Grades and college admissions
Now that high school students here in the Bozeman area have finished the school year, I'm hearing from my clients and their parents about their grades. All good news so far. I wanted to take a moment to share here some of my general thoughts about grades.
First, I don't think grades are necessarily a great measure of student learning or performance. They are a measure of how each student's performance measures up with each teacher's standards, which can vary and sometimes be pretty subjective. So I think they should be understood with this in mind.
Second, I don't think grades are good motivators for students. External motivators can be effective in the short term, but grades don't foster a lifelong love of learning. I encourage parents not to fixate on A's and B's, but instead to ask their student what they think about their learning and progress.
Third, and most important for my consulting practice, I don't dismiss the importance of grades altogether because colleges and universities do look at student transcripts and GPA's, and these do have a prominent role in admissions, especially at highly selective colleges. What colleges look for most is a student's ability to be successful in challenging courses of the kind they'll be taking in college. They want to see that the student embraces and manages challenges well, and they want to see signs of progress and effort. Colleges make every effort to contextualize grades, and they read students' supplemental essays explaining why, for example, they struggled in math during the pandemic, or handed in several assignments late because of a family emergency. Colleges view the high school transcript as an important piece of the student's overall academic story. This is what I try to convey to my clients. I don't want them obsessing over their grades, but I do want them to have a realistic sense of the relationship between their transcript and college admissions. To the best of my ability, I encourage them to find their own motivation to succeed.
If you'd like to learn more about the college admissions process and how I can help, please use the contact form on my website to schedule your initial consultation.
Summer opportunities
A common question my clients and my families ask me about the summer is this: "When it comes to college admissions, would it be better for me to look for an internship, find a job, or work at a summer camp?"
My answer is yes. Yes to any and all of the above. These are all excellent opportunities for young people. If you are a high school student interested in pursuing a degree in nursing, for example, it might make sense to look for volunteering or interning opportunities at a local hospital or nursing home. This would have the benefit of helping you decide whether or not you might actually enjoy nursing as a career, and it would signal to colleges that you are sincere and committed to pursing this area of interest.
But maybe you and your family need for you to bring in some income. In this scenario, it might make more sense for you to look for paid work. You could pursue something that aligns with your intended field of study in college, but this isn't completely necessary. It's also perfectly fine to work as a barista at a coffee shop with some of your friends, or sell popcorn at your local movie theater so you can sneak into last-night screenings after your shift. Colleges will look upon your paid work favorably, as it shows initiative and a sense of responsibility that will help you succeed in college.
Working as a camp counselor, guide, or trip leader can also be great. These are usually opportunities to get outside during the summer, work with other people your age, and engage in a lot of physical activity. Some of my own favorite summer experiences involve guiding multi-week canoeing and backpacking trips. The pay might be middling, but you generally have your meals and lodging paid for.
Contrary to some conventional wisdom indicating otherwise, most colleges do not value one type of summer experience over another, and they won't penalize you if your city or region lacks certain kinds of opportunities that exist elsewhere. Take advantage of what's out there, and do your best at it!
If you'd like to learn more about summer opportunities, internships, college applications, paying for college, and more, use the contact form on my website to reach out!
College visit: Dickinson State University
Our final stop on Confluence College Admissions Consulting's spring 2024 tour is Dickinson State University, located in Dickinson, North Dakota. DSU enrolls abut 1,200 undergraduate students. Most students attending DSU are business management majors, although education (both elementary and secondary), nursing, natural science, and agriculture majors are also popular.
DSU had its graduation about a week before my visit, so the campus was quiet. The students I met were friendly, but I feel obliged to be truthful here: they were surprisingly quick to tell me they were unhappy with a recent policy change by the administration to increase minimum class sizes to nine students (which still seems like a small number to me) and increase some freshman survey courses from 40 students to 75. It's unusual for me to encounter students airing their grievances with me so readily when I visit a campus.
A 2012 North Dakota university system audit found that the school had relaxed standards and waived some requirements to increase enrollment of international students and had, over a period of several years, awarded degrees to 584 students who had not completed the required coursework. News media accounts described the audit report as depicting Dickinson State as a degree mill.
Were I advising a student considering attending DSU, I would say several things. First, the "degree mill" situation triggered an internal review of programs that has resulted in better oversight. But the school's reputation was harmed. Do you really want a degree from a school that has been labeled a "degree mill"? Second, there are plenty of regional schools that profile similarly to DSU and are in a similar cost range, and I would advise my client to visit some of those. Third, if the student really wants to check out DSU, I would encourage them to ask a lot of questions during their visit. In fact, I think this is good practice for every visit. After all, college is a huge investment of your time and money, and you want to be sure you're attending a school that helps you get where you want to go.
Use the contact form on my website to learn more about the college search and admissions process!