The Insider: College Admissions Advice from the Experts

Applying for college is a confusing and overwhelming project, one that is already challenging for students lucky enough to live in school districts that offer well-funded college counseling offices at their local high schools.  Students who attend less well-funded high schools, or who are taking a non-traditional path to college, often fall through the cracks.  Here at College Coach, we believe deeply in the power of education, and we are committed to helping everyone access it.  To that end, we developed a Community Support Committee a few years ago and are always looking for opportunities to help under-served populations with the college application process by working with the non-profit organizations that serve them. 

Wondering which courses will look better on your child’s application? Have questions about filing the FAFSA? Curious to know what admissions officers are looking for in the college essay? Elizabeth Heaton, College Coach admissions expert and former admissions officer at University of Pennsylvania, is hosting a new radio program where she will discuss these topics and so much more with college admissions and finance experts as well as top industry professionals.

Last Thursday, Bev Taylor authored an article on Huffington Post, claiming “Need Blind Admissions Is a Lie.” Its publication ignited a flurry of responses among college admissions professionals both publicly and privately. On Thursday, we posted part one of a response to her article, which offered a rebuttal to some of her proscribed actions and clarified some of the terms surrounding “need” in admissions and financial aid. Today, we continue with part two, which challenges Taylor’s central claim that need blind admissions just doesn’t make logical sense.

Last Thursday, Bev Taylor authored an article on Huffington Post, claiming “Need Blind Admissions Is a Lie.” Its publication ignited a flurry of responses among college admissions professionals both publicly and privately. For those of us who read applications at highly selective institutions, her article simply did not jibe with the reality of our own experiences. Those on my team who worked for institutions like the University of Pennsylvania, MIT, Georgetown, and Babson were adamant that need-blind admissions means exactly what it says. I hope that the following conversation will help provide a clear response to Taylor’s article and offer some clarification on some challenging issues in admission and financial aid in higher education.

With school winding down and summer break dominating most high school students’ thoughts, it hardly seems the time to think about college. But for high school juniors, the flip of the calendar from May to June marks the steady countdown towards winter’s application deadlines.

The process of applying for and receiving financial aid can be challenging and confusing. Parents often ask, “what do I need to do to get the most financial aid possible?” College Coach expert Kathy Ruby is one of a handful of financial aid specialists who contributed to an important report from The Financial Times, 6 Ways to Boost Financial Aid for College. The piece is a must-read for all families currently engaged in any stage of the college admissions process. 

It seems hard to pick up a newspaper these days without running into advice from College Coach finance expert, Robert Weinerman!

The National Candidate Reply Date has come and gone, and you’ve placed your deposit at your chosen school. You’re excitedly preparing for college life at the university you selected. Then you get the call – your dream school, the one at which you were waitlisted, wants to know if you’re still interested. Now what do you do? College Coach admissions expert Elizabeth Heaton tackles this question in her latest blog post for USA Today College.

For some students, the process of gathering letters of recommendations for college can be more stressful than writing all those essays. Having trouble deciding who to choose as your recommendation writers for your college applications? College Coach expert Elizabeth Heaton weighs in on the do’s and don’ts of making the best selection in her most recent blog for USA TODAY College.

College Coach Expert, Elizabeth Heaton, answers the question “Can a Disciplinary Infraction Keep You From Getting Into Your College of Choice?”  If you have a school “record” you’re considering disclosing on your college application, read her article from yesterday’s Huffington Post.