The Bitcoin revolution has demonstrated one thing—innovation rules the roost. With the expansion of the Internet of Things, the cryptocurrency market, the sharing economy, and every other advancement that has descended upon Silicon Valley in the last few years, innovators and technologists are chomping at the bit to bring the world the latest revolution. For the rising stars of tomorrow’s workforce, now is the moment to develop vision and entrepreneurial acumen. If you don’t launch your first startup at 17, that’s ok. Elon Musk didn’t start Zip2 until he was 24, but believe it or not, right now, when you’re still in high school, when you have no kids, no mortgage, and no job that demands 40+ of your hours each week, is as good a time as any for you young entrepreneurs to get going with your dreams.
Summer Ideas for Juniors Who Are Interested in Theater
Summer is a wonderful time to catch up on all of the R&R you missed while you were manically editing personal essays, trying to burn the Fourteen Points into your memory before the APUSH test, and trying to replace the Fourteen Points with the four phases of Mitosis before the Biology SAT Subject Test. But before you get too deep into another season of Downton Abbey, consider getting ahead in the admissions process.
Summer Ideas for Juniors Who Are Interested in Debate
So, you have a lot to celebrate this year. You studied your butt off for standardized tests, developed your college list, and perhaps even became president of the Debate club. While we’re sure you’re looking forward to spending your summer escaping into West Wing because it’s so much better than real-life politics, we recommend keeping your heels on the ground for just a little bit longer…like, until you retire.
Summer Ideas for Juniors Who Are Interested in Science
Many kids dream of taking the summer after Junior to go on a Teen Tour, go spend one last summer at camp, or catch up on the last 26 seasons of Doctor Who. While the desire to engage in these activities is totally understandable following the completion of an entire year of SAT prep, we encourage our students to fight the urge and consider summer the optimal time to secure their eligibility at their first-choice schools.
Summer Ideas for Juniors Who Are Interested in Writing and Journalism
Rory Gilmore from the CW classic, Gilmore Girls was a model student. She was a staff writer for her high school paper, transferred to a prestigious prep school to increase her odds of attending Harvard, and when she wasn’t hanging out with her boyfriend (Dean or Jess, depending on the season), she could often be found beneath her favorite tree, reading “Anna Karenina” for fun.
How to Write the Washington And Lee Supplement
Washington and Lee University is a small liberal arts school of about 1,800 undergraduates. It’s located in Lexington, VA. It is known for being academically rigorous, and students who attend greatly embrace the outdoors. It has been coeducational for only 37 years, having admitted its first class of women in 1985. The university also operates on a peculiar schedule—each year is comprised of Fall term and Winter term, where classes are in session for 3 months before finals period begins, and then there is Spring term. Spring term is only 4 weeks long, and students take just 1 class during that time period. It’s a time to delve deep into a particular subject. Students get a lot out of studying something specific for a short period of time, as all of their attention is devoted to that one class. However, before enjoying their interesting academic schedule, you have to get in. We break down their supplement below:
Should I take SAT II Subject Tests?
There are certain tests that are required in order to apply to some colleges. You may know these as your ACT and SAT. In addition to these more general tests that test your understanding of reading, writing, and math, there are SAT Subject Tests that are offered in specific topics. Not all schools require them in the application process. So, should you take the SAT II Subject Tests?
Acceptance: Why Did I Get Rejected and What Do I Do with Myself Now?
Getting that letter can be really tough. You worked your butt off this year. You spent countless hours studying for standardized tests. You came early to school and stayed late for sports practices and club meetings. You spent time and money visiting colleges with the hopes that they would see in your essays what you, yourself, know you are capable of and yet, it didn’t work out. We know. We’ve been there, too.
Does Attending a School’s Summer Program Increase my Chances for Freshman Admission?
Though what students do during the academic year is important, there are also 3 months out of the year where students aren’t in school. These months are additionally important because they illustrate how students use their free time. Colleges consider this chunk of time an opportunity, as do we. As should your student. Many top tier colleges offer summer programs for students to participate in and we often get the question: “Does attending Brown’s (Harvard, Penn, Princeton, etc.) summer program increase his chances of getting in?”
Hidden Gem: Skidmore College
For our next Hidden Gems spotlight, we are focusing on Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, NY. As a school of about 2,600, Skidmore stands out as a true hub of liberal arts brilliance. We spoke to a number of Skidmore alums to write this article and based on our conversations with them we’re focusing on the following aspects: the faculty, location, and unique academic departments.
How to Build a College List for Guaranteed Admission Success
Building a college list is one of the most challenging things that you’ll do during the college process. The good news is that it can also be quite fun. There are thousands of colleges in the U.S., so it can feel intimidating. We’ll break it down into 8 easy steps to help you start your journey. There are a few key questions that are necessary to ask yourself as you put together your list of colleges that you plan to apply to.
What Is Committee-Based Evaluation?
For the past several admissions cycles, college applications have mostly been on a steady incline. To meet the supply, colleges have streamlined the admissions process departing from a multi-step review to, in some cases, a single, committee-based selection meeting. Whereas in the past, college matriculation was almost exclusively a practice among America’s white, wealthiest class, today, more than half of Americans across racial and socio-economic lines opt to attend at least some college. That means that the rising generation of college-aged students will not only be the largest in American history, but also the most well-educated. Yet, in spite of a massive (30 percent since 2000) increase in applicants, universities have been slow to expand their admissions teams. So, what does this mean for applicants now vying to capture the attention of admissions counselors against millions of others?
What Are Yield Rates and Why Do They Matter?
Admissions headlines would lead us all to believe that every year for the past several years was the “Hardest Year to Get into College Ever,” but college rankings are not always what they seem to be. In order to crack the code of hard-to-reach universities, one must first understand the “yield rate.”
What Other Materials May I Submit in Addition to the Common Application?
We had a student who had a particular obsession with baking. He specialized in creating these incredibly intricate lattice tops for pies. This student also designed and executed those kinds of pie crusts that have various cookie cutter shapes on top, layered in such a way that is so impressive. A true sight to behold. This was a passion of his and when it came time to submit their college application…he wanted to send a pie. Listing “avid pie crust designer” in the additional information section just wasn’t going to cut it. We were a little bit stumped but ultimately decided that sending an actual food item to an admissions office might result in being flagged for anthrax or something insane. Instead, we helped this student create an art portfolio of sorts, but instead of photographs of human subjects or still life paintings, we staged a photo shoot for his pie crusts. The photos came out wonderfully and we submitted all of the photos along with his application. He got into his top choice school. Maybe it was because of the pie crusts, maybe it had nothing to do with them. What we are pretty sure about is that it at least caught the admissions readers’ eyes. Because who else could have submitted a photography portfolio filled with images of beautifully designed pie crusts? We’d venture to say literally not one other applicant.
How To Write a Standout College Admissions Essay
It’s easy to write a college admissions essay that makes you stand out. We promise. All you have to do is: 1. be interesting, and 2. tell a really wonderful story. Easy enough. End of article. Thanks for reading.
Should I Take a Gap Year and/or Defer Enrollment?
Probably. Gap years can be incredibly transformative in terms of focus, motivation, and interest. We believe and always advise our students that if you are thinking critically and are contemplating a gap year, then you probably should take the gap year. A gap year, regardless of what you do (as long as you don’t spend it holed up in your bedroom--though if you’re a thoughtful student, you aren’t thinking along these lines), can inject you with a sense of perspective, a broader understanding of the world, and a boost in concentration going into your first year of college that you wouldn’t have had otherwise.
Deferred from Early Decision: A Guide to Freeing Yourself from the Upside Down
Getting deferred can make you feel like you’re in the Upside Down, but we have some tips on how you to get out:
A Letter to Students About to get Deferred
What to Do If You Get Rejected from Your Early Decision School
Getting rejected from your Early Decision school can be heartbreaking. You’re 17 or 18 years-old. This is probably the first big rejection of your life and even if it’s not, it’s the first time you’ve been rejected by something so recognizable in society. Losing your student government race can be crushing, too, but getting rejected from a place you’ve heard of since you were a little kid can be rougher and you know what? It’s okay to be heartbroken.
5 Steps to Take If You Get Deferred
Deferrals can be rough. In fact, we find that they can be rougher than flat-out rejections because at least rejections provide closure instead of thrusting you into Deferral Limbo. While few of our students get deferred, we have developed a step-by-step backup guide for kids who find themselves in Deferral Limbo.