March College Checklist for Seniors

Posted on by B. Maschal Educational Consulting

From The Choice….”This is the month you’ve been waiting for. Most admission decisions will be released by the end of March, leaving all of April for you to make your choice. Take a few deep breaths and contemplate what it will be like to receive your decision notices. Make a plan for how, when and where you want to get and share the news, and think about how you will evaluate your offers.”

I would also add: THANK those who supported you along the way, especially your guidance counselor, private counselor, parents, family members and recommendation writers. In most cases (especially those recommendation writers!) you couldn’t have done it without them. A simple sign of gratitude goes a long way.

View the full checklist here.

March College Checklist for Juniors

Posted on by B. Maschal Educational Consulting

From The Choice….”This is the part of your college search that does not have a lot of specific deadlines. It does, however, have a lot of things you need to do to stay on track and set yourself up for the best experience.” Check out the checklist here. But….

I would also add that if you have not done so already, now is the time to solidify your summer plans. Many formal programs (academic and otherwise) are still accepting applications, so if this is on your radar act now. Otherwise, begin thinking about internship opportunities, taking classes in your field of interest, working or volunteering. If you wait until May or June, many opportunities will be long gone. Contact us for more information on summer planning and opportunities to take advantage of during this time!

New Colleges & Universities – Common Application

Posted on by B. Maschal Educational Consulting

The Common Application announced that 39 new colleges and universities will be added for the 2013-14 application season, bringing the total number of institutions accepting the association’s standardized online application to 527, which will now include:

47 states plus DC (1 new: Hawaii)
16 international members (5 new)
7 countries outside the US (1 new: Austria)
17 public flagships (3 new)
81 public institutions (15 new)
7 HBCUs

Read the announcement here.

Inside the Admissons Process

Posted on by B. Maschal Educational Consulting

Seth Allen, dean of admission and financial aid at Grinnell College, answers questions from a TODAY producer about what really goes on when admissions officers decide applicants’ fate in this video/article. I am not surprised that a good deal of my own experience and knowledge is mirrored and supported in Mr. Allen’s commentary. A helpful read.

High School Junior January-June Checklist

Posted on by B. Maschal Educational Consulting

Spring of Junior year is a crucial time. Getting started on the application and admissions process now is a must-do. Check out this January-June checklist from Marjorie Hansen Schaevitz’s HuffPost blog for a more in depth look at what you should be doing now and over the next five months.

Legacy Admissions

Posted on by B. Maschal Educational Consulting

We know that legacy status (at least at elite schools) matter, but how much does and what role does it really play in college admissions? A Harvard study (2011) finds that while legacy status might give students a leg up on the competition, that does not mean that they will receive an acceptance letter because of it, regardless of how they perform academically.

Read the full article here.

High School Senior January-June Checklist

Posted on by B. Maschal Educational Consulting

“For some seniors, all of the applications are done and gone….For others, there are some left to complete. Either way, after you send in your final applications, there are a few more things to do to make sure you get into a college that’s right for you.”

Read what Marjorie Hansen Shaevitz has to say about what to do during the months of January through June in her HuffPost College Blog post found here.