If you’re considering transferring, now is the time to start the process. Crazy, we know. This will vary by school, but generally speaking, transfer applications are due in March. It’s just about time for the holiday break, and before you know it will be January 1st, 2021. This means that you should do all of your research now so that you’re in a good place to start the process by the start of the new year. We understand that time makes no sense this year, but it’s time to set the wheels in motion. Keep reading for the three big ticket items you have about three months to accomplish:
6 Ways Coronavirus Changed College Admissions
The Covid-19 global pandemic has affected most aspects of our day to day lives. We know by now that these changes will be felt for years to come, and the college admissions process is certainly not immune to the impact of the Coronavirus. In hopes of updating our blog readers as to how the college admissions process might change, here are six things to keep in mind as you consider the application process:
How to Write the Macalester Supplement Essay 2020
Macalester is a small liberal arts school that has around 2,000 undergrads and is located in St. Paul, Minnesota. It’s incredibly picturesque and, yes, St. Paul is a real city. It’s bustling! The school itself has gotten increasingly popular because of its academic rigor combined with school spirit and strong community. It has everything and is on a lovely campus placed in a larger city with lots of cool internships, cultural landmarks, and work opportunities. It’s also the perfect size if you want to be able to recognize and run into people you know all of the time while you walk across campus. It’s the ideal “cozy liberal arts” moment.
How to Find the Best College Application Consultant
Finding a college admission consultant to work with is a very personal decision. While it might seem like just another item on your college to-do list, it’s basically the decision to partner with someone who’s going to shepherd you through the entire application process, oftentimes, from beginning to end. This is someone who is going to be in your life for a year or more and who will likely need to really get to know you (your interests, your personality and your potential) in order to help you match with your perfect, top-choice college. Needless to say, this is also someone who should be very knowledgeable about what the college landscape looks like. There are different types of consultants. Some offer an in-depth experience, others are more hands-off and can just provide some light editing to existing essays. Whatever you decide, you should first know what it is you need in a consultant.
Is the Essay on the ACT/SAT Optional for Colleges?
According to Inside Higher Ed, the demand for college tests remains high in spite of the fact that most schools have opted to go test-optional this year. Even those who do sit for either (or both) tests might have further optional sections. While the writing test on both exams is technically optional (and not at all required at most top-ranked universities) some schools still do require students to submit them, while others would consider them as supplemental material. Some, like the UC schools, won’t look at them at all. Naturally, the pandemic is changing everything.
How To Create A College List For Regular Decision
Creating a college list is hard work. On the one hand, you want to be open-minded. But if you’re too open-minded, you run the risk of applying to schools that don’t make much sense. You also want to make sure that you’re streamlining the process and creating a college list that isn’t random or too aspirational. No one is expecting you to have everything figured out at 18 years old, but you do need to do a serious amount of research before you solidify your school list.
Bad Opening Lines for College Essays: an Explanation
Yesterday we published this blog post detailing 10 bad opening lines for college essays. After much thought, we’ve decided to go through the examples individually and explain exactly why they don’t work. Keep reading for our breakdown:
10 Bad Opening Lines for College Essays
The best college essays tell stories. Small, zoomed-in stories about you and your personality. Some of the best essays we’ve read are about what happened on a random Tuesday, how much you love making dinner for your family, or that time you tried to build a computer. This blog post isn’t about what to write your common app essay about, but if you’re looking for help with that-- check here, and here.
Regular Decision Strategies for College Essays
It’s almost December, which means that you have about a month to finish both your common app essay and your supplements. We’re often asked about strategies for early decision and regular decision, and the truth is that our approach doesn’t change depending upon when you apply. We work with our clients to brainstorm, write, and edit essays (common app and supplements) that stand out, no matter what time of year. The rest of this blog post will provide three tips for getting through the rest of the year:
Bad College Essay Examples
One of the best ways to figure out what you are going to write about is to cross things off of your list that simply won’t work. TKG clients often come to us with essays that they want to rework and refine, but when the topic itself is problematic, we have no choice but to start over. Let’s go over a few common topics that you should avoid.
Best College Essay of All Time
If you’re familiar with our blog, you know that we’ve written tons of guides about writing your college essay. You should also know that the best college essays of all time are about the person who wrote them. They’re about you, and they shed light on an aspect of your personality that can’t be discerned from the rest of your application. Everyone has grades, test scores, and extracurricular activities. We even like to pretend that you’re applying alongside of a very large group of students who have the same exact academic profiles as you do. So, what’s left? Everyone also has different personality traits, and colleges are looking to admit students with all different kinds of soft skills, traits, and quirks. The best college essays explain those traits in the form of a story with a beginning, middle, and end.
Deferred Early Action – Help
It’s just about that time of year when our phones ring off the hook and people start calling us in search of help after being deferred from a dream school. We are here to remind you that yes, even if you got deferred, it’s going to be okay. A lot of students get deferred. It might even be fair to say that most students get deferred. And despite this unfortunate reality, and the feelings that accompany it, you have no choice but to get your life together. It’s time to make a plan, stick to it, and power through the rest of the year. Here’s how:
Is it Better to be Deferred or Waitlisted?
We all know that colleges want a lot of students to apply. They also love low acceptance rates that boost their rankings. What some people don’t understand is that when colleges accept students, they’re doing a bit of gambling. This is why we stress the importance of writing specific, well-researched and thorough supplements. Before you can be admitted, colleges want to know that you’re going to attend the school, go back year after year, and graduate within four years. This pertains to this blog post because whether you’re deferred or waitlisted, you’re put in a sort of holding tank. They’re essentially waiting to see if A) your application will hold up against the rest of the applicants during regular decision, or B) who else says “yes” before they reach out to you.
How to Write the Notre Dame Supplement 2020-2021
Known for its iconic football team, the Fighting Irish, the University of Notre Dame is a Catholic research university located just outside of South Bend, Indiana. Four out of five of the university’s 8,700 undergrads live on campus. As a somewhat progressive school with a rich tradition, the website says, “It is dedicated to religious belief no less than to scientific knowledge.” The acceptance rate is 16 percent.
Can You Apply to the Same College After Being Rejected Early Decision?
In keeping with our miniseries on forging ahead after deferrals and rejections, we’re here to answer a question that we get frequently. In short, no, unfortunately you can’t reapply to the same college during regular decision if you were rejected early decision. This is a harsh reality, and one of the reasons why we always suggest being realistic when it comes to choosing early decision schools. With that being said, the road does not end here.
Best College Essays Ever Written
If you’ve come to us for a singular topic, you’re out of luck! But stick with us, as we do have tips and tricks. Unfortunately, no one topic is the best topic. We’ve told you what to avoid, the do’s and don’t’s, and how to approach our favorite common app essay prompt. This blog post is about how to hone in on a topic that only you can broach.
Does Deferred from College Mean Rejected?
How to Write A Memorable College Essay
Tips for Revising College Essays
The time has come to ask a terrifying question: “is my common app essay good enough?” This question, of course, is impossible to answer. But in our experience, almost every piece of writing can be improved. We’ve put together a few tips on how to edit your common app essay, and most of these tips can also be used for your supplements:
What To Do If You’re Rejected Early Decision
Getting rejected early decision is undeniably difficult. We suggest that you take a day or two to be upset! It’s not an easy situation to be in, but it does provide true clarity – and you have no choice but to move forward. Setting those wheels in motion, and ASAP, is the best way to figure out more realistic next steps that will result in acceptances at other colleges.