Monthly Archives: January 2013
NO GUM, NO JEANS
While working with a tenth grade client recently, I suggested that we take thirty minutes some day before his boarding school interviews to polish his presentation a bit. That opportunity occurred yesterday, and most of the recommendations I imparted could … Continue reading
From the NACAC Study: What is NO LONGER Important in College Admission
In 1993, 42% of colleges reported that class rank was of “considerable importance” in admissions. In 2011, only 19% of colleges consider class rank of considerable importance. What has changed? Many schools no longer rank at all, not wanting to … Continue reading
AP Program Healthier Than Ever, But Diminished in Prestige
In numbers, the AP program has never been healthier: In the spring of 2012, two million students took 3.7 million AP exams, double the volume of a decade before. However, increasing numbers of colleges are questioning the basic premise of … Continue reading
College Admissions: Deferred. What does that mean? What should I do?
A deferral indicates that the admissions committee either needed more information about you to make a concrete decision or wanted to consider you with the general pool of applicants as a regular admissions candidate. In other words, it’s not a … Continue reading
More On NACAC Study on Factors in College Admission
After the top three factors in college admission (#1 Grades in college prep course, #2 Strength of curriculum, and #3 SAT/ACT scores) what are the next most important factors? According to the recent NACAC study, the next most significant factors, … Continue reading
What factors are most important in college admissions?
When we meet with clients, very quickly and one way or another, the question comes up: “What factors are most important in college admissions?” The current top ranked item is “grades in college preparatory courses.” It makes sense: the leading … Continue reading
Early Decision Trends Change
NACAC’s 2004-2011 study of trends in Early Decision show some interesting changes. Traditional thinking was that applying ED was a significant advantage for a student who had identified a specific college as a first choice. And it was, but that … Continue reading
On “Gaming the System”
By Mark Greenstein, Founder of Ivy Bound Test Prep. Parents and educators routinely post comments that SAT prep is “gaming the system”. I happen to agree. But no student should feel guilty if her/his work is called “gaming”. “Gaming” … Continue reading
Informed Educational Solutions 