Have You Already Heard From an Early Admission College?

First, if you got in, congratulations! ?? I bet that feels really good.

Second, don't be that student or parent who brags about it publicly and makes other people feel like crap.

Third, notify and thank your counselor, your recommenders, the English teacher who helped you with your essays, etc. They went to bat for you and may even have spent some late nights.

Fourth, if you applied binding Early Decision, make sure to withdraw any pending applications to other schools by emailing each if them directly. Not the day after, not the week after. The same day.

Fifth, if you didn't get admitted, you still have time to submit applications to ED Round 2 schools and to Regular Decision schools. It's OK to lick your wounds for a few days, but then look forward again. Don't run out of steam. There are lots of great colleges out there, and what I wish for you is that you end up at one that wants you and values you. ??

Sixth, if you're still submitting applications, make sure to read Week 46 in our 52 Weeks to College blog series with important tips for making sure your applications are deemed "complete" on the college end.

?? News You Can Use

1 - University of California ends standardized tests in admissions: I've heard some caterwauling on Twitter along the lines of "but how will admissions committees make decisions ??." My answer to that is: grades + curriculum. Those were always, and will continue to be, the most important. That was true before test-optional/test-blind, and it will remain true going forward. Caltech and WPI have also been doing just fine in their test-blind universe, and they're not exactly academic slouches. Here's an interesting explanation from Jon Boekenstedt about why UC's decision will put a lot of pressure on other selective colleges around the United States to follow their lead.

2 - Guide to International University Admission: I just talked to a mom whose American daughter started at St. Andrew's in Scotland this fall and loves it. And guess what? St. Andrew's didn't give a hoot about her performance during her first two years of high school, which really worked in her favor; they typically care only about the later half. Take a look at this guide published by NACAC to explore options beyond our fair shores. (It can also be a whole lot cheaper than college back home.) The guide is free for NACAC members, and for non-members it's $25. If the cost is prohibitive for you, hit me up and we'll work it out.

3 - Non-Disclosure Agreement for your financial aid award? Our friends at TuitionFit circulated this (anonymized) financial aid award letter on Twitter recently. Heavy-handed by the college? You bet. Enforceable? Unclear. If you didn't agree to a confidentiality provision in advance, they can't now bind you legally to a confidentiality provision in the award letter, so it's more of a request on their part than anything else. BUT... as a practical matter, they do have enforcement mechanisms at their disposal, including rescinding an offer. I wouldn't want to be in the line of fire during that lawsuit, and I hope it never comes to pass. (Why do they even care? Because they don’t want students comparing financial aid offers for negotiation purposes, all while schools have treasure troves of big data on applicants so that they can moneyball the price down to the penny. I don't like it either. ???)

?? My Favorite Things This Week

1 - Draco Malfoy's College Recommendation Letter That I Totally Don't Feel Conflicted About Writing Whatsoever: Courtesy of The Onion.

2 - Dionne Warwick on Twitter: Nobody does it better than this 81-year-old. ??

3 - In search of Abigail, enslaved by Founding Father John Jay and buried somewhere in Paris: A historian follows breadcrumbs in the City of Light in an attempt to find her. Yes, history matters.

?? Quote of the Week

you

not wanting me

was

the beginning of me

wanting myself

thank you

From "the hurt" by Nayyirah Waheed in Salt

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