College advice I’d give to my brother (and all of you).

So some of you may or may not know that I have a little brother who will be a HS Junior next year (this poor kid, going through the process with me as a sister).

This kid here. Though he's now 16 and like 6 feet tall

As he is preparing to embark on his college admissions journey (oh GEEZ) here’s the biggest pieces of advice I have to give him as he finishes out sophomore year.
1. Start thinking about what makes you special
Within the next year you’re going to write an essay that, basically, tells colleges what makes you different from every other applicant. And these essays are going to be much harder than they appear. And there are going to be things that make you special, but you have to find them. Write things down. Remember things. Any description of you that you’ve ever gotten is going to be helpful. Any story that is so “you” will be an asset when you sit down to write.
You, brother of mine, are an incredibly special kid. You stopped playing lacrosse (the football of Long Island) to start playing Hockey (our school’s 2009 championship shirts famously read, “Yes we have a hockey team”), get leads in theatre (and understand that the moral of Two Noble Kinsmen is “Dibs”), and have your freaking pilots license at 16 (before you can have your drivers license). Somehow, you’re going to have to fit all of these random passions into 500 words or less. So… start preparing now.

2. Bring back up batteries to the SAT
My family has a bit of a history with messing up the SATs. One sister spelled her name wrong; I broke out into hives, and my baby brother’s calculator died on the PSAT.
Make sure you’re prepared for any situation. Have excessive numbers of extra pens and pencils. Make sure you have a photo ID on you as you leave the car. Be prepared!


3. Take your road test as early as you can
Driving is da bomb dot com. Seriously. And when you’re a new driver you have a scary “win or die” situation called a probation period. So pass as quickly as you can, because the sooner you pass the sooner you’re off probation.
(I understand that NY has a late driving age and most of you youngins have your licenses by sophomore year, still, good life advice).

4. Prep for the PSAT
This might be the most underappreciated tip that I’ve ever given, to anyone.
Yes the PSAT is supposed to be a diagnostic, but the longer you build those test skills, the better you’ll get. So prep for the PSAT, because the earlier the better. Also, national merit doesn’t suck.

5. Be really good in class and form relationships with your teachers, because you’ll need them to write you recs
Teacher recs are really scary things. While you do get to choose whom you ask, you have absolutely no say over what they’ll write. So if you find that you connect with a teacher early on, keep that connection going. The more stories and positive things they have to say about you, the better.
You, little brother, are a bit of a class clown. Some teachers love that. Some hate it. Find the teachers who appreciate you and make them love you. Good recs are hard to find.


6. Start thinking about the summer early.
Junior summer is really really important. So make sure you have the best chance possible of doing something worthwhile. You should start thinking about the summer in January. If you’re applying to programs have them ready to go weeks before the deadline, just in case.
Brother of mine, I’m not going to try to influence how you spend this super important summer (Cherubs) but I am saying that there are programs that are really great for your development (Cherubs) as a student (Cherubs) and an actor (Cherubs). Like that Northwestern program Cherubs I did a few years ago. But you know, anything that you do will be awesome.

7. It’s okay to fall in love with a school, and it’s okay not to either.
When you’re school searching you might find a holy grail perfect match “I need to go here” school. And your head is going to tell you not to get too attached. But if it’s a realistic choice, there’s no reason not to use it as a motivator. But if nothing really strikes your fancy, don’t sweat it. Having lots of choices is great.
Brother. You were there when I cried after the tour of the school I currently attend. You are, unfortunately, in a house with 3 older sisters who applied early decision to their dream schools. So there might be pressure to just fall in love with the perfect match. And I hope you find it and it works out, because it’s an unbelievably great feeling. But know that we’re weird and that is not normal. So don’t sweat it.

8. It’s not okay to assume you’ll get in anywhere
On the note of the previous one, even if it’s a match school never think of anything as a “sure thing.” Keep working and looking, even if you know you’re applying ED.
Baby bro, keep on keeping on. Nothing is guaranteed and you need to keep working.
9. Remember that grades aren’t everything, but they really do matter a whole lot.
Junior year is incredibly stressful. There is so much pressure to be the best a everything and to have upward trends and to basically be an academic superstar. And academics are really important junior year. But so is your mental health. There are so few things that are worth a real breakdown, and school is not one of them.
Brother of mine, don’t rely on weighted grades. Really really work. But also know when something is too hard, and don’t be too proud to ask for help.
10. Junior year is hard, senior fall is harder
Junior year can make you want to scream. There’s so much pressure to be perfect. Senior fall is just as bad, because you have to keep those grades up and fill out a billion applications.
Little brother… you’re going to have most of your apps nearly done in August (before I leave for school). Look forward to admissions boot camp.

It’s the little things: 24 Hour Option

When you’re looking at schools you might notice the beauty of the campus, or the craziness of the traditions. You’ll take in the five-star dorms and cutting-edge curriculum.
But there is something important they won’t advertise, or even mention…

Where are you going to go at 2 AM to get snacks?

You, high school student, do not yet understand the importance of the existence of 24-hour food options.

When you’re touring school make sure to find out, what is open late at night?

Many colleges are in rural towns where nearly everything closes by 10PM. But they’ll have that one convenience store with chips, ice cream and fantastically greasy food to save all of the college students looking for midnight snacks.

The existence of this store is important, but more important is the quality of said place. 7-11 is fine in a pinch but… well….

I have a confession to make… I love Wawa. I love Wawa. I will shout it from the rooftops: I LOVE WAWA.  And I miss it because we don’t have it in NY. The Wawa in my college town is the cheapest option with the best hours. We have things that are open ‘till 10, and things that are open till 2, but Wawa alone has a glorious 23-hour schedule.

The thing about having a Wawa a 5 second walk from campus is that I can always get coffee, hot food, or sandwiches any time of night. There have been Saturdays where my friends and I have desperately wanted a 2AM snack, and Wawa is the glorious place that will deliver. Wawa is so important to my campus culture that when I visited overnight my host made sure to take me on a late night Wawa run.

Other schools will have Dunkin Doughnuts or IHOP that’s open at all hours. Or, even better, on-campus options.

Find out the hours of the dining halls. Some schools have great options that are open early in the morning and late at night. Others will have set meal times that are less flexible and accessible.

The quality of the food is a big factor for the appeal of a school, but even great food isn’t so great when you can’t get it past 7PM.

Find out if there is a “late night snack” option or an “always open” dining hall. Check out the hours of the on-campus coffee shop. My school has 3, each with a different price point and different hours. Only one coffee shop (the one in the library) is open during all-nighter hours. While this doesn’t seem terribly important before you’re there, at some point you’ll be in the library ‘till 2 AM and you’ll need that caffeine fix.

You might roll your eyes and think but I eat so healthy or I always just keep fruit in my room. You say that now, but at some point there will be a time where you desperately need to make slice and bake cookies in the middle of the night, or need a pint of Ben and Jerry's. Without a 24-hour food place, you’re going to be hungry without options.

So when you’re checking out schools, make sure to ask “What’s open late at night?”

You’re almost there: June SAT Coping Strategies

Those who take the June SAT might be starting to panic. Not only is it a few days away, it’s the last shot before those dreaded October tests (the real last-chance).

But you are older and wiser, and many of you are just days away from your senior year.

So keep calm and kick test butt, you can do this!

Things to remember in the wake of the June SAT.

1. Summer is right around the corner, and you get to do the parts of the application that you have a ton of control over now (like your essays and resume). You are more than a test score, and you will show that off.

2. If this one doesn’t go well, you have more than three months to really kick butt on studying before you’ll sit again.

3. It is now socially acceptable to wear flip-flops to this SAT, Thanks Memorial Day!

4. You have an excuse to buy new school supplies in June!

5. It is probably a nice day outside, and you can now enjoy it

6. You are older and wiser than last time you took it. You have a whole year of school under your belt that you didn’t have when you took the PSAT.

7. You can do this, you’ve been preparing for this day and you are ready.

 
8. It’s probably going to be hot in the room, dress in layers and bring water.

9. Breathe! It’s just a stupid test. You got though APs/IBs, you can do this.

10. Urban legend states that the June SAT is the easiest one given all year. Is this actually true, well probably not, but positive thinking everyone!

Good luck everyone!

Admissions Tip: Reading will help you

Juniors, I have an amendment to my Junior Summer list. Read.

Even if you’re not a big lover of words and stories make sure to sit down with a few books or plays in these months while you’re starting to apply. It’s going to help you more than you know.

First of all, reading a lot can help you with your standardized tests. 

I’m often asked for tips on SAT Critical Reading and Writing. And while I give the best advice I can, my real method for tutoring someone in these subjects is “At about 8 years old make them start reading a lot, and then keep it up through high school.”
I kid about that (though I truly believe my SAT CR/W scores were a result of my life long love of reading), but honestly, reading is one of the best things you can do for your tests. Even if you don’t know the exact rule, if you’re comfortable enough with the language you will know if a sentence sounds right while you’re reading it. It will also improve your speed. Think of it as a muscle that needs to be exercised.  

Also, make sure to read at least three books over the summer that you really enjoy and can talk about.

If you interview, at some point you’re going to be asked about books. Your favorite book, a book you just read, a book that had an impact on you.

And while you can defer to the typical answers (Perks of Being a Wallflower, Great Gatsby, Catcher in the Rye), having a few non-cliché answers that you feel passionately about can go a long way. It shows that you’re culturally aware and have academic interests.

But be careful; don’t get lazy and just sparknote a few intellectual sounding books to talk to it. I know someone who loved to read Shakespeare, and her English-major interviewer thought she was lying and asked her questions about the plays she said she had read. It can happen, be prepared and actually read. You can’t fake passion.

They also don’t have to all be big, high minded titles. My four books that I talked about most in interviews were:

1.     On Ego by Mick Gordon (actually a play, it’s about psychology philosophy and neuroscience)

2.     The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (I love this book)

3.     Othello (I have very strong feelings about Othello and Iago and who was actually right in that play)

4.     GONE series by Michael Grant (A YA post-apocalyptic series I was obsessed with. They don’t all have to be high-minded. It came up because I discussed with the interviewer how much I love post-apocalyptic sci-fi).

Finally, read the news. Every day. Real news, like the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal.

Even if you scan the front page of the websites daily, make sure you’re on top of the news and current events. You don’t want to be stumped on a question because you’re not up-to-date. Being aware, and having opinions will show your interviewers that you are an engaged citizen. But do not bring up politics. You don’t know your interviewer’s opinions about issues, so unless you are specifically asked, do NOT be controversial. It’s not worth the risk.

So Juniors, as you’re prepping to apply, make sure you read.

Beware of the “Life Long”

When you are writing supplements for each of the different schools you’re applying to, you might find yourself recycling your supplements for similar schools. But for some applicants, there will be one school that gets a special supplement. A love letter about the life long love they’ve had for the school.

But if you’re writing this essay be careful, because you might fall into a trap you haven’t foreseen.

When you’re writing a “Why ____” supplement you need to strike a careful balance between sucking up (10-20%), how the school can help you (60%), and what you can do for the school (20-30%). You do this by pointing out all of the amazing things the school does, what opportunities you want to take advantage of, and how those opportunities will help you with your goals (which can be concrete “be a marine biologist” or vague “learn deeply about broad subjects with passionate students”).


The thing is, the go-to answer of many “I’ve dreamed of this school my whole life,” doesn’t actually answer the question.

So when you’re sitting down to write the “Why ____” Essay, life long dreamers, keep these things in mind.
 1.    Legacies make sure that you talk about your experience and how you will make an impact, not about your family members. You can discuss that your parents attended the school, you’ve rooted for the teams since you were a baby in a school onsie, and you’ve loved the school your whole life. But don’t dwell on the past. First of all, you don’t want to sound like someone who was pressured into applying. Secondly, that essay makes you passive, you need active, adult, personal reasons you love the school. Third, and most importantly, saying, “everyone in my family ever has attended,” sounds almost braggy. Above all else, avoid bragging.

2. Saying that you have a life long obsession with a school doesn’t actually tell them anything about why you want to go there (aside from the superficial). Talk about what makes you love the school (do they have the a bangin program for your major? Did you grow up going to the football games and loving the community feeling of the school?). Once again, make sure you have active, grown-up, and personal reasons for wanting to go there. A life-long love is great, but you need to have current reasons for wanting to apply.

3. This one is a bit scary, but hold on tight. Prestigious schools know they’re prestigious, and that’s not actually an answer to why you want to go to a school. (“Duh it’s Harvard" means literally nothing). Saying that everyone your whole life has told you to work hard so you could go to ____ only makes you sound easily influenced and passive. Personalize it. You can say that you’ve known about the school your whole life, but as you got older you knew that it was the place for you because of (the amazing core curriculum, the citizen-of-the-world emphasis, the top of the line History professors, etc etc etc.)


So if you’ve had a life long love affair with a school include it as a cute little background story. But, life long lovers, make sure to have current and specific reasons that you want to attend. An incredible passion combined with real research is a home run when it comes to supplements.

The Glee Example: Putting your eggs in one basket

I could write for days about Glee and how it’s portrayals of college admissions make my head spin. But I digress. Today we’re going to talk about one specific thing that Glee does…

Characters on Glee only apply to one college, and if they don’t get in their dreams are crushed.

We see this in season three, when Rachel and Kurt each only apply to NYADA, and Finn only applies to “the actors studio.”
When Kurt and Finn are rejected from their dream schools they are suddenly lost, as they had no backups.

So what can we learn from Glee?  

Don’t bank on one school.
If you don’t have realistic back ups, you’re going to find yourself in a lot of trouble if that dream doesn’t work out.
This is why having matches and safeties is so important, because oftentimes our dreams don’t work out, but we need to keep trekking forward.

While Glee presents a very extreme version of this, sometimes students will fall into this no backup trap without realizing it.

This could be hoping for an unrealistic first choice reach school, and not truly considering any of your safeties. You’re rejected from your first choice, and waitlisted by your safeties because you didn’t express interest or write good supplements. You’re left with almost no options and you’re crushed.

Maybe you need a low-tuition school or a full ride to work out, but you’re not applying to places where you know that you qualify for the full ride because they’re not academically up to your standards. When decisions come out you haven’t gotten enough merit or need aid at any schools, and you find yourself going to community college and working come fall.

 
Or, most commonly and worst of all, you apply early decision to a school and find yourself rejected on December 15^th. You haven’t started any of the applications to your other schools, and now have to fill out 9 applications in 10 days.

When you’re making your list you have to constantly think of the worst-case scenario. If you’re going to apply early decision, make sure to have everything filled out. If finances are going to be an issue, make sure you have real financial safeties that you will be able to afford no problem. Always express interest and have things you love for every school you apply to.

Always prepare for the worst and have well thought out backups. Hopefully, you won’t have to rely on them. But when you’re in the topsy-turvy world of college admissions, a safe plan will help you sleep at night.

Have no doubt, be scared of the weed-out

If you’re applying with a major in mind you’re miles ahead of your peers with no direction… or so you think.

At many schools that first year is going to be full of “Weed Out” classes, and you might be changing that major sooner than you thought.

A “Weed Out” class is an intro level class that, for all intents and purposes, is designed to torture you into switching your major.

Wait, what?

These are intro classes that are put at a rigor and a pace that will make your head spin. It’s stupidly hard, unnecessarily hard, and no matter how well you did in AP Bio, you’re not prepared.

“But I worked hard to get in here!” you might say, “It’s been my dream to be a doctor since I was little” you cry.

Well… a weed out is there to separate the dreamers from the actual future doctors.

And all of you non pre-meds don’t be breathing a sigh of relief… while pre-med at every school is a weed-out, at many schools there are other majors that do the exact same thing.

At my school, I kid you not, theatre is a weed out. Intro to theatre, and fundamentals of design are intended to get rid of anyone who thinks theatre will be an easy major.

The other type of weed out is a registration weed out. In this type there are only a set number of spots in the major, and even if the classes aren’t terribly difficult, actually getting a seat in them is.  

When you’ve decided on your school, and are talking to admitted students, make sure to ask them about your intended major. If the intro is that difficult they’ll probably know someone who went through it (or complained about it on FB).

Here’s how to use the knowledge that you’re in for a weed-out.

First, don’t be discouraged. Even if a weed out is frustrating you’ll learn a lot and there is a certain pride in getting through it alive.

Second, if you know it’s a weed out be prepared. Make sure the other classes you’re taking that semester are easier classes so you’ll have more time to study for the weed-out.

Third, and perhaps most importantly, know that there is no shame in realizing a major isn’t for you. Finding out early on is a blessing in disguise, as a late change in major can make it hard to finish college on time.

Fourth, If you can get placement in a higher level though an AP or IB grade, you may want to take it to avoid the class. But be careful while you’re doing this. Skipping the crazy hard intro chem might put you straight into Orgo without the tools to handle it. Make an informed choice.

Weed out classes are rough by design. But they’re there to separate the boys from the men. And there is absolutely no shame in admitting to being a metaphorical boy.

So when you’re picking classes for freshman year, be wary of the weed out classes.

Explore and Learn: Fresh Soph Summer

You asked and you shall receive freshmen and sophomores!

When you’re in the first half of high school it seems like all of that stilly college stuff is miles away. But it’s never too early to be building that resume.
As I’ve said before, the only bad summer plan is a summer where you do nothing, and this is especially true for you FreshSophs.

So what should you do with your summer?

Explore.

Because you’re not quite in that super college focused mode, you can have a bit more slack with what you do. Just make sure you’re doing something.

You might attend or work at a summer camp. This is fine, it’ll be a great way to relax and build some much-needed life skills.

You might travel. This is awesome and can send you back with new perspectives. Make sure to take pictures and keep a journal so you can refresh these memories when you’re in college mode.

You might be holding a job for the first time ever.  And, most likely, it’s a pretty crappy job. Don’t fret. Take this opportunity to learn about responsibility, and, to some extent, doing things you don’t want to do. Be a team player and make a good impression. A good relationship with your manager or supervisor will give you a great reference when you’re applying for better jobs in the future. Also, money in the bank (or for shoes and ice cream, I’m not going to make your choices).

You might be taking classes. This is a great opportunity to explore things you might be interested in. This can help you settle on a potential major early on, which can be a great tool when you’re narrowing down schools.

You might be attending programs or institutes. These are great ways to develop skills and explore your interests. When I was in HS I did everything from language immersion to baking camp. Seriously, explore your options. See what you have locally available through your community center or colleges that are commuting distance.

Sophomores (rising juniors) you should take some time this summer to start prepping for your tests. Starting early is definitely the way to go. The more you practice, the better you’ll get. Junior year is stressful, but starting out the year 50 points closer to that SAT goal score than you were in June will be a lifesaver when the work really starts to hit you.

Freshman? Enjoy your summer. Explore your interests. Hang out with your friends.

Overall, here are my tips for underclassmen summers:

1.     Try something new. Learn a new skill that you need for life (like driving a car or cooking meat that won’t kill you).

2.     Stay out of trouble. Seriously. Make good decisions, you don’t want to have to explain that arrest for the rest of your life.

3.     Read. Read books, high-level books. Read the newspaper. Keep your brain in check and keep studying, don’t let those muscles atrophy.

4.     Get off of Tumblr from time to time and enjoy the great outdoors (as the palest person I know, I need to take my own advice).

5.     If you can, make a little money. It’s one of those things that you’re always happy to have a little extra.

Hard and Soft

When discussing college admissions there is a lot of talk about “Hard” and “Soft” factors. While we know both types are important, let’s go a bit more in depth about what each factor actually does.

A Hard factor is an indisputable fact on your application. These include

            GPA

            Class Rank

            SAT/ACT scores

            Classes taken

            Geographic Location/School

Hard factors are used to evaluate how you performed as a student. Did you take challenging classes or did you just take the bare minimum to graduate? Did you struggle through high school or did you excel? Is a 3.7 average at your school, or is it a miracle demonstrating hard work? Do your board scores compare to other applicants?

These factors are often considered in context. If you go to a school that weights an honors or AP class 1 full GPA point your GPA is going to be higher than a student with the exact same classes who attended a school that weights them .5 of a GPA point. You might go to a school where dual enrollment is the most challenging offering, or you might attend a school where dual enrollment is the “regular” level class. Maybe your school offers free SAT prep classes to all juniors. The admissions committees get a fact sheet about your school (and are probably already familiar with it) and will evaluate these hard factors accordingly.

What are hard factors used for?

First and foremost, a hard factor is used to answer the question, “Can this student handle the rigor of our school?”
Admissions want to take the most qualified students they can, because they want to see their admits go on to thrive. Think of an average SAT score as a benchmark. “We want students who are on this level of ability at math, and this ability in English, because that is the level we teach on.”
This is not to say that every student who is admitted hits that level (obviously not, that’s why it’s a middle 50), but it’s a good indicator that you are able to handle the work.
Secondly, and more obviously, hard factors are used to evaluate you in the context of the applicant pool. If a school has a 30% acceptance rate it’s not any 30% that gets in, it’s the top 30% of applicants.

Hard factors are what will get your foot in the door.
If you’re really overqualified they can get you in.
Hard factors are what will get you merit or academic scholarships

So once you have that foot in the door, that stamp of “this applicant can handle our school” approval, it becomes all about the soft factors.

A Soft factor is a qualitative factor of your application. These include

            Essays

            Resume

            Recommendations

            Interviews

            Interest

            Legacy

Soft factors are used to evaluate who you are. They tell the school what makes you stand out and what makes you tick. There are plenty of people with 3.9s and 30s on their ACTs, but each has a unique story. One may be a champion equestrian who teaches disabled children how to ride horses in her free time. Another might be outstanding at physics and a champion at science fairs who has struggled with severe dyslexia his whole life.

A soft factor answers the question, “What is this student going to add to our school?”
You might have a student body president, a fantastic web designer, and a Olympic-level gymnast who all have the same scores and classes. But each has unique qualities that are going to make the campus thrive and be a great place to go to school.

They want tenacious go-getters who have come from nothing and worked their whole life to get to where they are. They want rich kids from families who have been attending the institution (and donating libraries) for generations. They want small-town kids who have never been outside of the state, but long to travel.

A hard factor might get your foot in the door. A soft factor, your story, that’s what is going to tip your application into the admit pile.

Your hard factors are important, but don’t forget that you’re more than a number on a page; you’re a person who is going to add to the university.
Your soft factors might make the admissions officers cry and bask in the glory of your talent, but if you can’t handle the school, you can’t handle the school.

Make sure to have both sides polished and ready to go, because the application is all about who you are, and every side of you should be shown.

Difficult Definitions: Hook vs. Brand

When I first started writing CollegeApp Chick I wrote a post about my opinions on so-called “high reach schools” and why I like to term them Lottery Schools.

I mentioned why expecting to get into a reach was unrealistic, and further debunked the myth of a “hook”

Hook is often used interchangeably with what I would call a brand. But these are two very different things.

A hook is a factor that adds enough value to an under qualified applicant that they become qualified.
For example:
-An incredible football player will add value to the school by increasing the teams record. A winning season means more alumni donations to the school.
-A nearly qualified applicant whose family has been attending since the school was founded and donates millions of dollars to the school. If they don’t let this kid in the money train might stop.

-An under-represented minority student who did incredibly well in school despite a hard upbringing will rise to the challenge of the school, and also boost the “diversity” statistics.
-A child star who is still fairly well-known. This celebrity is free advertising to the school and will increase applicants.

The way hook is usually used is what I would call a brand.

A brand is the collection of factors that set an applicant apart from other applicants. Just like how in advertising each brand tries to make itself unique, each applicant must tailor their brand into a story of who they are and what they will add to the school.

Your brand might be three season athlete or poet or model UN kid or science research.

Now you’re thinking wait, how is that supposed to set me apart? There are thousands of kids who are just like me.

Here’s where the unique comes in.

You will distinguish yourself through awards, leadership, and secondary activities.

There’s a ton of three season athletes out there, but how many of them also president of quiz bowl?
Plenty of kids do Speech and Debate tournaments, but placing in the top 5 in your state, or top 10 in the country sets you apart.
You might love making short movies and are active in film club, but you’ve also had insane internships with local studios and theaters.

Instead of just a list of activities, make yourself into a comprehensive story. Show what is important to you, and what you are passionate about, and show them why and how.

For example, I was a theatre/performing kid in high school. I did a billion plays a year, I was president of drama club and ITS, I sang in the competitive a capella group and was a section leader, I competed in Forensics and placed 3^rd and 8^th in NY State, and my community service involved singing and performing. I had a few other negligible activities, but the things I was passionate about were performance based.

But I also loved to read, and part of my essay was about challenging myself to read more plays to broaden my experience as a reader and a performer.

That was my brand. I loved to perform and was talented and committed to that, but I was also a politically engaged intellectual. That is what set me apart from the hundreds of other girls just like me.

I didn’t have a hook, but I didn’t need one. What I did have was a well-tailored brand, and that made all the difference.

It’s the final countdown- Junior Summer

Yesterday I wrote all about the importance of seniors taking a break and preparing for college.

Juniors- this is not the case for you.

This summer is time to crack down and work. Make this one count; because of all of your summers, this one has the most weight. You’re older. You’re smarter. Every program is now available to you. So take advantage of this and get to work.

If you are a student who interns, does research, or attends summer programs: Find something that’s a bit more competitive. You want to increase the rigor of your activities the way you would increase the rigor of your classes. Maybe this means being staff at a program, or applying to a “rising seniors” only one. Perhaps you’ll take on a more hands on role in the research internship you do. Though I usually discourage its use, College Confidential is great for finding these types of programs. Learn something new, have an experience impact you. These “junior only” programs tend to train you for the college admissions process in that field, so be ready.


If you are a student who works: I know that you feel like you have the short end of the stick, but that’s not the case at all. Being able to hold down a job at 17 is incredibly impressive and shows a lot of commitment and maturity. So if you’re working make a good impression this summer. Get a promotion or a raise. Take on some responsibility. If you do a great job your boss or supervisor might be able to write you a very unique letter of recommendation.

If you are a student who takes classes: See if you can take real classes at a local college, rather than the “high school” geared programs at some universities. Again, it’s about increasing the rigor, and those “high school” programs tend to just be summer camp with a tinsy academic focus. Though, again, it depends on the program. Take things that interest you or things that might fill a gen-ed requirement at your future university.

If you are a student that travels: First of all, count your lucky stars because I’m jealous. But on an admissions note, keep a journal of all of the things you do (it can be both pictures and words). If there is an experience that really impacts you or changes something within you, that can be great essay fodder (a little cliché, but if it’s your voice and your life, who can tell you you’re wrong?). Additionally, this can be great for interview questions; you can review your journal right before so you don’t “um” and “oh” your way through an interview.

For all juniors though, here are some things to really make sure you have on lock this summer:

1. Start your common app. It opens August 1^st, but you have the essay topics already (see this post on how to handle the essays). You don’t have to be finished, but having a few ideas bouncing around in your head and on paper. The earlier you start, the earlier you’ll be done.

2. If you are taking the SAT or ACT in the fall make sure to keep up with the studying. If you let it slip your scores might not improve and these tests will be your last chance. At least 1 practice section and 1 chapter in the review books a week.

3. Make sure to have those recs on lock, you should ask your teachers before the summer begins, but if you haven’t make sure to email them or phone them and ask very politely. Face to face is ideal, of course, but if you can’t, get them done ASAP.

4. Finish up that college list. You have until December, but with early action being a thing, and how busy senior fall can be, try to have your list pretty much settled. You can, of course, have “maybe” schools, but have your 1 3 1 (1 safety, 3 matches, 1 reach or high match) on lock. You have some free time, so take those tours and do your research.


Juniors the hardest part is starting, so make sure you’re prepared. This summer is an important one, so make it count. 

Take a break: Post-Senior Summer

When you’re in high school your summers are spent taking classes, going to camps and programs, holding jobs, traveling on community service trips, and just generally “boosting the resume”

But once senior year passes, your summer plans might come to a screeching halt. You’ve aged out of the high school programs, but you’re also too young for most jobs and internships meant for college kids.
What to do?

Your post-senior summer is, really, your only free summer. So make the most of it.

So here are 10 things you should do with that precious, no responsibility summer.

1.     Make memories with your home friends

If you’re anything like me you were itching to get out of your hometown. But by the end of high school graduation goggles were in full effect.
As sad as it is, people grow and change, and by the end of freshman year you’re not going to be best friends with all of your best friends with high school. So appreciate what you have now, and make some memories. Go on a day-trip. Have a beach-week. Go to the same restaurant the five of you always go to a million times this summer. Have a nice summer to remember with your friends.

2.     Pre Pack and Purge

At the end of the summer you’re going to have to pack up all of your belongings for a few months and head off to school. Which means you’re going to have to make some deep cuts into your stuff.
I highly recommend looking through your closet and donating the clothes you don’t really want to bring to school or haven’t warn in at least a year. A closet purge feels good (and makes room for new stuff).
If you’re like me, you have way more clothing than you could ever fit into a dorm room. If you’re going to have trouble making cuts, inventory your closet and see what you actually wear.
No seriously… I have an inventory of my closet that I use to keep track of what I wear (and what is missing).

(Seriously, you can’t make this stuff up)

3.     Check out the medical stuff

Your college has probably sent you a nice long list of vaccinations you are required to have. Make sure to get all of those taken care of. Additionally, make sure that you’re prepared for any medical issue. Stock up on your prescriptions (including the “take as needed” ones like that inhaler you never use). Make sure you have enough contact lenses to last you the semester (or that your glasses are up to date and you have a spare pair).
If your wisdom teeth are going to be a problem, see if you can get the surgery this summer while you’re free. You do not want to have to have them emergency extracted while you’re away at school.

4.     Prepare to communicate

Before you leave for college make sure you have an account on Skype. Also have a Gmail with your name as the username instead of a “screenname.” Take your Facebook off of the “super private” mode you put it into during pre-college paranoia. You’re about to have 500 prom pictures; everyone who’s stalking you will see you at your best.

5.     Learn those life skills

Namely, Laundry and a bit of cooking. Learn how to do real person laundry. Learn what all of those labels mean. Learn that bleaching is a waste of time (seriously, just but your whites in with your colors and wash on cold). Learn how to iron a shirt properly (even though you’ll never actually use that iron). Ladies, learn to wash your bras and other delicates in a crappy dorm washer (never have I ever dry cleaned something in college… whoops).
Learn at least a few basic cooking skills (that are microwave ready). Steam some veggies, cook some chicken, and make some pasta.
Also learn how to make at least 1 dessert, you will have to contribute to a bakesale at some point, be prepared.
Also (and this doesn’t apply to everyone) conquer your fear of the phone. There will be a time where your life will be much easier because you were able to effectively talk to an adult on the phone. Trust me, the day my car got towed what was potentially a 2 hour ordeal became a 20 minute ordeal (and a 15 minute trek) because I made some calls.

6.     Make some money

Maybe you’ll take on a nannying gig, or get hired at that clothing store that only hires 18+ staff. Waitressing, lifeguarding, counselor-ing- just get a little bit of money in the bank to give you some freedom at school, you’ll be glad you have it later.

7.     Get a card

If you don’t already have a bank account, start one. Having a debit card in college goes from a luxury to a necessity. Keeping track of your account will teach you some life lessons about money as well.

8.     Get fit

The Freshman 15 can go from a myth to your reality if you’re not careful. Make sure to find at least one type of exercise that suits you (running, yoga, weights, swimming, tennis) over the summer so you can keep it up at school.

9.     Finish an entire series

You’ve got some time on your hands, so use it. Pick up a book series you haven’t had time to read and finish the whole thing. Start watching Arrested Development already. Cherish this free time and use it well.

10. Get “that” movie on DVD

Everyone has that one movie that makes them smile no matter how many times they watch it. Get a copy of this movie on DVD for bad days in college. Even better, if it’s a wee bit obscure you can share it with your friends who haven’t had the privilege of seeing it yet and have a fun night in.

Post-Senior summer is the only summer where you’re not expected to be building a resume. Get ready for college, have some fun, and make new memories while relishing this last real break.

APs are for Nerds

APs are like…

Pokémon because your success is directly correlated to how many you have

A John Green book you’re crying and something has died by the end

Game of Thrones because you're either on top or dead

Sherlock’s mind palace they require every little detail to succeed

Harry Potter because you learn a whole bunch of trivia but no actual life skills

Doctor Who because no matter how many times they explain it, it still doesn’t make any sense

Glee because who needs logic?

Star Wars because they need to stop making new ones

Star Treck’s Kobayashi maru because there is no way to win

Firefly because you never have enough time

The Hunger Games… ‘nuff said

The Avengers because the people in charge are always making stupid decisions

Batman because you haven’t seen your parents in forever


Supernatural-I’m not involved but everyone’s complaining on Tumblr

Pigeonholing: How deep is too deep?

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Some applicants have a life passion. A dream they need to pursue. An all or nothing attitude.

And when these applicants apply to college they look for one thing and one thing only: Their highly specialized program.

Unfortunately, for many of these students this dream crumbles in the application stages when no golden ticket to the program of their dreams arrives.
And for some unfortunate students, a year or two in a specialized program has them clawing at the walls- desperate to get out.

So today I beg anyone who’s thinking of applying to a highly specific program to avoid the pitfall of the pigeonhole. Because if you’ve dug yourself in too deep, you may not have a way out.

Pigeon Holing is putting yourself in a specialized niche. This can be great, but can also have some pitfalls. So you must be very careful when you choose to do this.
When it comes to college admissions there are a few ways this happens.

You might only apply to colleges with your intended major. 
EX: You will only apply to schools with education undergrad. Or who have animal science. Or who offer Marine Biology. Or nanotech.
This type is fine. You have a passion and you need to explore it, and there’s no reason not to apply to schools with your program. There is still flexibility; it might just limit your options of schools a bit.

A subset if this is when you only apply to “your” programs
EX: Only applying to engineering programs
This is incredibly tricky as it can end in you with no acceptances at all. If you are planning on doing this make sure that you have at least one “safety” and one “match” school that you are applying to in “general” schools (not in your major) juuuusssttt in case the worst happens.

Or you might attend a “lesser” school for a specialized program  

EX: You are attending a 12 person, highly specialized research track in robotics, or got into the very good business school at a “meh” university.

This type is also okay. The quality of education at the university as a whole may not be great, but the training in your place of expertise is prestigious and awesome.
This can have a bit of a pitfall for two reasons. First- If you decide to change your path, you’re only at an okay place, so you may have to transfer to get the quality of education you want. Second- Always having to clarify your program is a pain in the butt.

The most dangerous path is to go to an all-or-nothing program with a high chance of burnout.
The most common of these types? Conservatory theatre/music/arts and 8-Year Med.  

These paths are high-risk high reward. If you stick with it your training is unparalleled and can give you a leg up. But if you decide it’s not what you want to do? You’re pretty screwed.

If you’re in conservatory theatre or music you may not be able to transfer out of your program into the university (ex: if you’re at Carnegie Melon for Opera or NYU Tisch for theatre you may not be able to transfer into such a good university for an academic subject). Which means you have to transfer schools or stick it out, coming out of college with a whole lot of arts training but no real-world skills.

If you’re in an 8-year med program (or any kind of accelerated program) there’s a high chance of burn out. But then what are you supposed to do? Re-apply? Start from scratch?

I’m not saying that these programs aren’t good. They’re incredible if they’re high quality programs that you’re passionate about.

But be wary of the risks of the pigeonhole before you sign on the line.

My recommendation with pigeonholing?

Make sure you have a back up. Make sure you’re learning other skills outside of your program. And most importantly: Make sure that you are ready to commit to something before you make that decision at all. 8-year med is great, but only if you’re passionate about being a doctor. Theatre conservatory is incredible, but only if you’re doing it to chase your passions and you have a “back up” while you’re waiting for your big break.

Remember, when it comes to pigeonholes it’s a high risk with a possibly high reward.

Stuff my mom says (about college)

My dear long-suffering mother has dealt with three daughters applying on the highly competitive liberal-arts circuit, and has walked out alive and with a solid family 100% acceptance rate. And now she’s onto child number 4 who could not be more different in his list.

Through her nearly 8 years of children applying to college, she’s gotten some crazy app skills.

So as a late mothers day edition of CollegeApp Chick-Here’s a list of the craziest things my mother has said about colleges, college apps, and college tours, and what you should learn from them.

1.    I want you to go to the best school that makes you happy

Though prestige and academic rigor are definitely factors, they’re not the only factors. You still have to actually attend the school. Your college experience will be a lot better if you’re picking a school you love or at least like a little bit.

2.    I’m not saying that you have to study for your SATs, but I am saying that Nassau Community College isn’t a terrible option.

While I can’t give you super context to this one, lets just say that the point of the statement was definitely that I had to study. That was always the sentiment in my house, college is not a right- it’s a privilege. You have to earn your scores and work for what you get. You have to earn your acceptances. There are places for people who don’t want to work. Good colleges aren’t those places.

3.     (In response to me not liking a school) Well you’re going to apply, so you just have to tour it again when you get in.

In a longstanding family argument, I h.a.t.e.d  a school everyone else in my family is obsessed with. My family wanted me to see the side of the school that wasn’t all Greek life and partying, so they wanted me to tour again and see if a different guide would give me a better impression. Remember that as good as they try to make a tour, not every guide will resonate with every potential applicant. Sometimes you just have a bad tour.

4.    I don’t know why you would take out loans for 50 thousand dollars a year if going in you know you won’t make any money.

Solid life advice in general. Think long and hard about those student loans you’re trying to take out. If you’re planning on going into a major or a career that really doesn’t have jobs or high salary really think about how you’re going to pay them back. College is an investment, but one that you will eventually need to pay off. Be realistic.

5.    They make you take all these APs to get in, but then once you’re there they pat you on the head and say “nice job” and take none of the credits.

Seniors take this one to heart. If your schools aren’t going to take your credits, don’t sweat the exams. They’re really not important. I took a nice long nap on the AP Gov multiple choice, and then wrote a short story and a bunch of jokes on the part 2s and it didn’t kill me.

So take it from a wise woman who’s seen it all. Evaluate fit, the future, don’t think it’s a right, and don’t stress on your APs.