The Answer Sheet Archive: College Admissions

Best college essay ever?

Is this the best college essay ever?

By Valerie Strauss | February 7, 2011; 7:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (22)
Categories: College Admissions, Laugh and cry | Tags: best college essay, college admissions, college applications, college essays, funny college essays, great college essays, harpers magazine, hugh gallagher
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The ultimate helicopter mom -- college admissions category

A college admissions director tells a hilarious story of helicopter parenting.

By Valerie Strauss | February 4, 2011; 7:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (16)
Categories: College Admissions, Parents | Tags: admissions process, application process, college admissions, college applications, college interviews, helicopter mothers, helicopter parents, student interviews
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Colleges start revealing early admissions decisions

High school students around the nation who applied to early-decision programs at colleges and universities are starting to learn their fate ahead of the usual Dec. 15 “reveal” date.

By Valerie Strauss | December 11, 2010; 11:49 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: College Admissions | Tags: college admissions, early admissions, early decision
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Early college admissions applicants: Have a Plan B

Early decision applicants are on edge waiting to hear if their first choice college accepted them, but they should be preparing in case the answer is "no."

By Valerie Strauss | November 30, 2010; 11:10 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: College Admissions, Guest Bloggers | Tags: college admissions, college applicants, college applications, early action, early action vs. early decision, early decision
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A plea to college interviewers

Two high school college admissions counselors write about problems with some college interviewers and the false hopes they can give to applicants.

By Valerie Strauss | November 19, 2010; 6:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: College Admissions | Tags: college admissions, college applications, college interviews
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Report: Rise in college applications hurts low-income students

A new report concludes that the dramatic increase in college applications over the past 15 years is creating a rise in selectivity that will reduce opportunities for more low-income, first-generation students in all levels of higher education, including community colleges.

By Valerie Strauss | November 19, 2010; 12:01 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: College Admissions | Tags: arms race, college admissions, college admissions competition, college applications, college arms race, national association for college admissions counseling
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Older Entries in This Category »

Be careful of 'snap apps' in college admissions, Valerie Strauss , November 14, 2010

'Find x' and other unusual college essay questions, Valerie Strauss , November 8, 2010

College admissions’ dirty little secrets, Valerie Strauss , November 4, 2010

Safety schools matter in college admissions, Valerie Strauss , October 26, 2010

The PSAT/National Merit test: What you should know, Valerie Strauss , October 14, 2010

Paper applications for tech schools: a harbinger?, Valerie Strauss , October 6, 2010

Why kids shouldn't take SAT, ACT too early, Valerie Strauss , September 30, 2010

The new risk of plagiarizing college essays, Valerie Strauss , September 29, 2010

Should colleges stop legacy preference in admissions?, Valerie Strauss , September 23, 2010

College Board vs. FairTest, Valerie Strauss , September 22, 2010

Common App for college admissions is live online today, Valerie Strauss , August 1, 2010

Say 'no' to college admissions creep, Valerie Strauss , July 13, 2010

Haitian-American teen gets into 4 Ivy League schools, Valerie Strauss , June 28, 2010

Advice from a student campus tour guide , Valerie Strauss , June 24, 2010

Choosing public higher ed for the right reasons, Valerie Strauss , June 24, 2010

College Tour '10 -- Macalester College, Valerie Strauss , June 24, 2010

College Tour '10 -- University of Southern California, Valerie Strauss , June 24, 2010

Minorities drive biggest jump in college freshman enrollment in 40 years, study says, Valerie Strauss , June 16, 2010

College Admissions: Business as Usual, Valerie Strauss , June 15, 2010

Stop timing the ACT and SAT, Valerie Strauss , June 12, 2010

Do colleges superscore ACT and SAT equally? , Valerie Strauss , June 9, 2010

Problem seen with admissions process to U.S. service academies -- Vinik, Valerie Strauss , June 3, 2010

Many colleges over-enrolled for fall, Valerie Strauss , May 25, 2010

Colleges should tell students odds of getting off wait lists, Valerie Strauss , May 18, 2010

Getting started on 2010-11 college applications, Valerie Strauss , May 18, 2010

Princeton Reviews takes down ad claims , Valerie Strauss , May 16, 2010

Getting real about super-selective colleges, Valerie Strauss , May 13, 2010

How to get the right college roommate , Valerie Strauss , May 10, 2010

Many colleges still accepting applications, Valerie Strauss , May 5, 2010

What makes a top college? Nobel winners? PhDs? Rhodes scholars? , Valerie Strauss , May 3, 2010

College choice: Not a one-size-fits-family deal, Valerie Strauss , April 29, 2010

Colleges woo accepted students as May 1 deadline nears, Valerie Strauss , April 28, 2010

New study: 1 in 3 college students transfer, Valerie Strauss , April 28, 2010

The D.C. area: Obsessed with SAT scores , Valerie Strauss , April 26, 2010

Senior slump: A cautionary tale , Valerie Strauss , April 24, 2010

Is it really harder to get into top colleges? , Valerie Strauss , April 21, 2010

Choosing a college isn't about cachet, rankings, Valerie Strauss , April 14, 2010

How to decide on a college, Valerie Strauss , April 6, 2010

All about need-based aid: Flagel, Part 3, Valerie Strauss , April 5, 2010

The illusion of ever-lower college acceptance rates , Valerie Strauss , April 3, 2010

The problems with double depositing: Part 2, Valerie Strauss , April 1, 2010

Is it okay to double deposit at colleges? Part 1, Valerie Strauss , April 1, 2010

Broaddus--The limits of proxies in college apps, Valerie Strauss , March 29, 2010

More colleges join $50K-plus a year club, Valerie Strauss , March 29, 2010

Why students get rejected from college, Valerie Strauss , March 26, 2010

When kids cheat on SAT, ACT , Valerie Strauss , March 25, 2010

Parents spending time with kids: Good and bad news, Valerie Strauss , March 25, 2010

One teacher’s cure for senioritis , Valerie Strauss , March 23, 2010

What’s an admissions ‘likely’ letter? , Valerie Strauss , March 22, 2010

College visits: The ‘East Coast’ thing, Valerie Strauss , March 18, 2010

College Tour ’10: Tell us about your college visits , Valerie Strauss , March 16, 2010

Harvard study: Are weighted AP grades fair? , Valerie Strauss , March 12, 2010

Virtual college fair lets students ‘visit’ schools , Valerie Strauss , March 10, 2010

Choosing ACT, SAT scores to send to colleges: A good idea?, Valerie Strauss , March 8, 2010

College admissions strategies: Don't listen to friends, and more, Valerie Strauss , March 7, 2010

The link between counselors and kids going to college, Valerie Strauss , March 6, 2010

Campus visiting season begins at spring break, Valerie Strauss , March 5, 2010

Gap year planning time; Sidwell hosting gap year fair Saturday, Valerie Strauss , March 3, 2010

College students still have time to transfer for fall, Valerie Strauss , March 2, 2010

For seniors, March is most anxious month, Valerie Strauss , March 1, 2010

College application videos: Good or bad idea?, Valerie Strauss , February 25, 2010

How to realistically focus your college search (or don't watch 'Grey's Anatomy' and go pre-med), Valerie Strauss , February 24, 2010

Senior to parents: Let kids pick their own college , Valerie Strauss , February 23, 2010

The high school courses students need for college, Valerie Strauss , February 22, 2010

D.C.'s National Merit winners aren't all from D.C., Valerie Strauss , February 22, 2010

The panic over 'missing' application documents, Valerie Strauss , February 21, 2010

Colleges admit freshmen for winter term, Valerie Strauss , February 19, 2010

Senioritis: Minor affliction or serious disease? , Valerie Strauss , February 16, 2010

The college hunt: It's enough to drive a mom crazy, Valerie Strauss , February 15, 2010

Is this fair? National Merit qualifying scores differ by state, Valerie Strauss , February 11, 2010

Colleges still accepting applications for fall, Valerie Strauss , February 11, 2010

A head start on college applications for fall 2011? , Valerie Strauss , February 10, 2010

Any merit to National Merit program?, Valerie Strauss , February 8, 2010

Saturday’s ACT exam rescheduled in storm areas, Valerie Strauss , February 5, 2010

College visits: real and virtual , Valerie Strauss , February 5, 2010

Finding and using a private higher ed consultant, Valerie Strauss , February 4, 2010

College acceptances, test scores: a plea for privacy, Valerie Strauss , February 3, 2010

Parents' role in college admissions, Valerie Strauss , February 2, 2010

College quotas for high schools?, Valerie Strauss , February 1, 2010

College acceptance on display?, Valerie Strauss , January 29, 2010

AP Courses: How many do colleges want?, Valerie Strauss , January 29, 2010

AP: College admissions directors weigh in, Valerie Strauss , January 29, 2010

7 College admissions myths, Valerie Strauss , January 28, 2010

Top college rankings vs. endowments , Valerie Strauss , January 28, 2010

Warning to high school seniors, Valerie Strauss , January 27, 2010

The college chase: Making a plan , Valerie Strauss , January 27, 2010

College gender gap stabilizing? , Valerie Strauss , January 26, 2010

Admissions season begins. Again., Valerie Strauss , January 24, 2010

'Chasing' college acceptance, Valerie Strauss , January 22, 2010

Broaddus: Reading college applications, Valerie Strauss , January 19, 2010

Good news: College financial aid form gets easier, Valerie Strauss , January 5, 2010

Civil Rights Lawyer: Is ‘gender balance’ in college admissions illegal discrimination? , Valerie Strauss , December 14, 2009

Broaddus: Between the lines of the college admissions process, Valerie Strauss , December 11, 2009

Debating the value of the SAT, ACT , Valerie Strauss , December 7, 2009

The grades it takes to get into college, and why an ‘A’ isn’t always an ‘A’ , Valerie Strauss , December 2, 2009

From Readers: Valerie ‘can’t follow simple instructions,’ and other great feedback, Valerie Strauss , November 27, 2009

Gender and College Admissions: William and Mary Dean Talks Back, Valerie Strauss , November 18, 2009

A critical look at the SAT and ACT, Valerie Strauss , November 18, 2009

Do college admissions officers discriminate against girls?, Valerie Strauss , November 17, 2009

Are college admissions officers being ridiculous?, Valerie Strauss , November 4, 2009

Question 3: Do colleges want well-rounded students or those with a passion?, Valerie Strauss , November 3, 2009

Question 2: What should students NEVER write in their essay?, Valerie Strauss , November 3, 2009

Question 1: How to write the college application essay?, Valerie Strauss , November 3, 2009

What do college admissions officers really want?, Valerie Strauss , November 3, 2009

30 books to read BEFORE the college interview, Valerie Strauss , October 26, 2009

Going back to college at 59: You can't do it "on a shoestring", Valerie Strauss , October 20, 2009

SPOTLIGHT: The Man Who Takes SAT Tests for a Living, Valerie Strauss , September 9, 2009

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