The Number One Mistake Students Make When Writing Their Admissions Essay
Every year, I work with many students looking to write a killer admissions essay. And with each and every one of them, I end up having the same conversation. When we connect, these students share a topic that they’re looking to write on that they think will be a good fit. When I ask them what inspired their choice, they usually say one of these responses:
“I don’t have anything interesting to write about”
“I thought that’s what admissions officers wanted to read about”
“I thought I should write about that because that’s what ____________ said to do”
The problem with all of these is that you’re making an assumption. So what’s the number one mistake students make when writing their admissions essay? They make assumptions. They make assumptions about what admissions officers are interested in, they assume someone else knows how to tell their story better than they can, and, perhaps most disappointingly,...
COVID-19’s Impact on Standardized Testing and College Admissions
Over the last few months, a lot has changed across the academic landscape due to COVID-19. Students are attending classes online, schools are implementing new testing policies, and the national SAT was cancelled. Here is the newest information and recommendations for what to do next.
SAT
The national SAT was cancelled in April, leaving many students unsure of when and how to retest. If it is deemed safe for public health, the SAT is currently planning to schedule in-person test dates for every remaining month of 2020, beginning in August. Anticipated testing dates include: August 29, September 26, October 3, November 7, and December 5. These testing dates are all subject to change as the SAT must ensure safe accessibility for all students in all testing locations.
The College Board is also considering an online version of the test which will be available soon (allegedly). However, this solution comes with some drawbacks: additional payment fees, online proctoring, and privacy...
