Showing category "College Applications" (Show all posts)

So Many College Applications. So Little Time...

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, June 21, 2017, In : College Applications

Most of those applying to colleges are familiar, for better and for worse, with the Common Application (with 600+ colleges), replete with it's spinning wheels of death, initializing bars of doom, and the very antithesis of commonality, college-specifi...

BREAKING: Common App Essay Prompts for 2017-18

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, February 8, 2017, In : College Applications

BIG NEWS!

Okay. Not so big news. But still a heck of a lot better than fake news, right?

The folks at Common App have announced the essay prompts for 2017-18. Something new. Something old. Something reworded. And, back by popular demand, the topic of your choice!

For a good read on what's in store for that all-important personal statement, read on...

The Common App Essay Prompts Are Changing. Here's Why It Doesn't Matter.

For those who like their essay prompts without commentary, here they are, s...

Early Action. Don't Miss It!

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, August 10, 2016, In : College Applications

Just a quick reminder that Early Action deadlines for many colleges and universities are quickly approaching, with some only days away (UNC-Chapel Hill and the Georgia Tech, for instance, have Early Action deadlines of October 15th).

Most Early Action Deadline fall between November 1 and November 15.

Some schools have what is known as Priority Deadlines. While not Early Action, in the traditional sense, apply by the Priority Deadline for your application to receive the most favorable considerat...

Whose College Applications Are They, Anyway?

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, June 14, 2016, In : College Applications

Just when you thought it was safe to start your college applications, you have to decide where to start them, how to submit them, and who will truly give you the easiest access, the most bang for your buck, and the greatest likelihood of success.

Most of those applying to colleges are familiar, for better and for worse, with the Common Application (with 600+ colleges), replete with it's spinning wheels of death, initializing bars of doom, and the very antithesis of commonality, college-speci...

In College Applications, Truth Matters

Posted by College Connection on Monday, June 6, 2016, In : College Applications

Truth: Conformity to fact or reality; exact accordance with that which is, or has been, or shall be.
--Webster's Dictionary

The truth. Seems so hard to come by these days, particularly for those of us who closely follow the political circus in which we are now center ring (enter the clowns in that funny little car).
The truth. Often supplanted by half-truths, untruths, innuendo, misstatements and out and out lies.
The truth....
Continue reading ...

Why Wait? Jump Start Your College Applications!

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, February 11, 2016, In : College Applications

High school junior? Sophomore? Even freshman? Why wait until you're a rising senior to start your college applications? With the new "Rollover" of the Common Application (see, you can teach an old dog new tricks), students may start the common aspects of the Common App (just not the supplements), and data will be saved and carried over from the 2015-16 application to the 2016-17 application. [And, at least in theory, to subsequent years.] No more "wipeout" of data prior to the Common App goin...

2016-17 Common App Essay Prompts

Posted by College Connection on Friday, January 29, 2016, In : College Applications

"Second verse, same as the first..."

A heads up on the essay prompts for the 2016-17 Common Application (the ones this year's high school juniors will be pondering). They will remain the same as the 2015-16 essay prompts. [Click HERE to read the release from the folks at Common App.]

Good news, indeed, as high school juniors can now begin to work on -- or at least give serious thought to -- their Common App essay. And since you can create your Common App account NOW for 2016-17 (for students ...

Early Action Deadlines Are Closer Than They Appear In The Rear View Mirror!

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, October 8, 2015, In : College Applications

Most Early Action Deadline fall between November 1 and November 15.

Some schools, such as the University of Maryland (November 1), have what is known as Priority Deadlines. While not Early Action, in the traditional sense, apply by the Priori...

A Guide To The Common Application

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, July 30, 2015, In : College Applications

Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you know that The Common Application,home to some 600 college applications, goes "live" for 2015-16 on August 1 (that's this coming Saturday, for those who may be calendar adverse).

And so, courtesy of our friends and colleagues at The Prospect, here's a Step-by-step guide to filling out the common app.

Okay, so this guide presumes that Hogwarts is your first choice (is that school even on Common App?), and it is based on the 2014-15 version of The Comm...

The Early Bird May Catch The Worm. . .

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, July 22, 2015, In : College Applications

...But The Second Mouse Usually Gets The Cheese!

Yes, Common App, portal to more than 600 college applications, goes "live" on August 1. And so, the college application season officially begins. Or so you thought...

As my colleague, Nancy Griesemer, reports inThe Examiner, some colleges are willing to accept your applications even earlier.
READ, Colleges ready and willing to accept applications for fall 2016

Yes, it's like doing your Christmas/Chanukah shopping in July. You'll buy those presents ...

Prelude To The Common App: A Primer On "Getting Started"

Posted by College Connection on Monday, June 22, 2015, In : College Applications

If there is a single question The College Whisperer™ is asked most about the college application process, it is, “Where do I begin?”

My typical response is, “At the beginning, of course!” ;-)

Seriously, though, getting started down that long and winding road to college admissions, as it is with many things in life, is often the most difficult part of the journey.

So, what will follow below is a basic (very basic, as in, just to give you a push) primer -- a “To Do” list, if you will...

Common App -- Turn On The Dark!

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, June 18, 2015, In : College Applications

It's pretty much common knowledge to anyone familiar with the college application process: The Common Application, commonly known as Common App, goes "live" for 2015-16 on August 1. [One might argue as to the definition of "life" in the world of college applications and admissions, but, as Mr. Spock might say, "It is life, Captain, but not as we know it!"]

What most folks do not know is that the current year's online applications, now available on Common App's platform, go dark on July 23rd.

Wi...

2015-16 Common App Essay Prompts

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, March 31, 2015, In : College Applications

We are pleased to share the 2015-2016 Common Application Essay Prompts with you. New language appears in italics:

1. Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

2. The lessons we take from failure can be fundamental to later success. Recount an incident or time when you experienced failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn fr...

Do You Want To Build A Snowman? How About That High School Resume?

Posted by College Connection on Friday, March 6, 2015, In : College Applications

Build that Snowman yet?

Well, snow or no snow, this is the perfect time to begin to build your high school Resume, both on Naviance and on paper.

NAVIANCE: While many college applications have an activities section, most are extremely limited in the number of activities you may list. [ Common App limits you to 10.]

That’s why it is so important to have a “paper” (Word Doc) Resume that may either be uploaded to your college application or sent under separate cover to Admissions.

Naviance all...

Haven't Applied To College Yet? There's Still Time!

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, December 18, 2014, In : College Applications

While many a college application deadline has long ago passed (or is about to), there are literally hundreds of colleges out there still accepting applications for the fall of 2015.

Here are but a few of the ways you can find colleges that have late application deadlines and/or offer "rolling" admissions:

Common Application member institutions still open to new applicants may be found by going to the Common App website, scrolling down Member Colleges & Universities, and clicking College Search....

When Clicking "Submit" Is Not Submit

Posted by College Connection on Sunday, November 9, 2014, In : College Applications

Shopping online? [Don't forget to use Ebates, where you get cashback -- for college and anything else.]

But I digress... When you shop online, what is the protocol? You browse. You select the items you want to buy, placing them in your shopping cart. You complete all required information pertinent to your order. And, last but not least, you PAY.

Simple, right? Logical.

In almost every online purchase, the final step is PAYMENT. Not so with your college applications, or at least those you attempt...
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So, You Missed The Early Action Deadline

Posted by College Connection on Sunday, November 2, 2014, In : College Applications

No Big Deal!

Sure, somewhere in the neighborhood of 30% of prospective college students will be accepted via Early Action/Early Decision. Yes, had you applied Early Action, (a) most or all of your college applications would have been completed and submitted before Thanksgiving, (b) you would have increased your chances, though only slightly in most instances, of being accepted by the college of your choice, and (c) you'd typically have an admission decision in hand (or in your email inbox) som...
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The College Essay - Owning The 650

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, October 16, 2014, In : College Applications

Ah, the college essay. Those 250-650 words on the Common App that try the souls of high school seniors (not to mention their already overwhelmed parental units).

First, a few (okay, many) thoughts on the college admissions process, in general, and the college essay, in particular.

Did you know that the average time spent by an admissions officer reviewing a college application is but 7 1/2 minutes? That’s the ENTIRE application. NOT just the essays and supplemental writings! [when it comes t...

SAT Scores, ACT Scores: AP Scores; Scoring $100

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, October 15, 2014, In : College Applications

As college application deadlines loom on the horizon, here are a few pointers to help you complete the process. Remember, there's more to applying to college than simply clicking "Review and Submit" on Common App!

Test Scores -- Nothwithstanding the unofficial reporting of test scores to colleges via Common App, prorietary applications, and SSAR (where required), the ONLY test scores considered for admission by colleges are the ones officially submitted via College Board (SAT, SAT II, AP) and ...

Early Action Deadlines Are Closer Than They Appear In The Rearview Mirror!

Posted by College Connection on Friday, October 10, 2014, In : College Applications

Just a quick reminder that Early Action deadlines for many colleges and universities are quickly approaching, with some only days away (UNC-Chapel Hill and the University of Georgia, for instance, have Early Action deadlines of October 15th. That's next Wednesday!).

Most Early Action Deadlines fall between November 1 and November 15.

Some schools, such as the University of Maryland (November 1), have what is known as Priority Deadlines. While not Early Action, in the traditional sense, apply by...

The College Essay: Keep It Simple. Keep It Real. Keep It About You!

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, September 18, 2014, In : College Applications

First piece of advice when setting out to write your college essay: Keep Calm and Just Write -- It's Only An Essay!

Seems there's nothing more unnerving to students (and, by extension, their parents) than the college essay. What to write? How do I say it? Will it be good enough? Can I tell my "story" in 650 words or less? And what about Naomi?

Indeed, with all the hype and hyperbolae surrounding the college essay (as to form, content, style, and overuse of SAT words), it w...

Ten Things The College Admissions Office Won't Tell You

Posted by College Connection on Monday, September 15, 2014, In : College Applications

Just when you thought it was safe to get into the college admissions game... [Cue the theme from Jaws!] What you know. What you think you know. What they tell you and, sometimes, what they don’t tell you. Let the college applicant beware!

1. Your Application Is Incomplete. Yes, most colleges have so-called “Application Checkers” which allow you to see (though not always in real-time) what, if anything is missing from your application. Test scores. High school transcript. Supplements. Re...
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College Applications: "Early" Is The New "Regular"

Posted by College Connection on Friday, August 22, 2014, In : College Applications

It is said that "the early bird catches the worm." However, more often than not, the second mouse gets the cheese!" [Think about it...]

As college-bound high school seniors seriously begin work on their college applications -- inclusive of the Common App -- two questions invariably arise: "What is the difference between 'Early Decision' and 'Early Action,' and should I apply under either?"

"Early Decision," simply put, is binding. The end all of decisions. You will go to no other college. If th...
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A High School Resume Speaks Volumes

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, August 12, 2014, In : College Applications

While the "common" section of the Common App no longer provides for the upload of a formal Resume, most colleges continue to welcome same, and many, including those on Common App, provide the opportunity to upload a Resume, either via the Common App Writing Supplement, or their own proprietary applications.

READ, Common App members and others welcome your resume.

If you would like a sample high school resume, simply email us at info@CollegeConnect.info, and we will wisk one off to you. Feel fre...

Live from The Common App

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, August 12, 2014, In : College Applications

It's time to apply to college!

Common App is up and running, as is the Universal College Application. Proprietary college applications are coming online.

Are you ready to apply to college? Now is the time to plan and prepare.
Appointments are being scheduled.
Questions? Concerns? Ready to get started? Call Us!
516-345-8766
COLLEGE CONNECTION
Home of The College Whisperer™
www.CollegeConnect.info
www.TheCollegeWhisperer.com
@GetCollege

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Common App Goes "Live"

Posted by College Connection on Saturday, August 2, 2014, In : College Applications

"It is life, but not as we know it!" - Dr. Leonard McCoy, Star Trek

The Common Application is up and running (for now). Are you ready to start your college applications?

Before the Common App gets to you, you need to get to us!

COLLEGE CONNECTION. The cure for the Common App.

- - -
Plan. Prepare. PREVAIL!

The College Whisperer™ is the Trademark of COLLEGE CONNECTION,Official Sponsor of College Admission Success. The road to college begins at COLLEGE CONNECTION! Whether you are applying to colleg...
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Prelude To The Common App: A Primer On "Getting Started"

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, July 9, 2014, In : College Applications

If there is a single question The College Whisperer™ is asked most about the college application process, it is, "Where do I begin?"

My typical response is, "At the beginning, of course!" ;-)

Seriously, though, getting started down that long and winding road to college admissions, as it is with many things in life, is often the most difficult part of the journey.

So, what will follow below is a basic (very basic, as in, just to give you a push) primer -- a "To Do" list, if you will -- to set y...
Continue reading ...

The World According To Common App

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, April 3, 2014, In : College Applications

Or why moving to Iowa (or Bangladesh) may actually improve your chances of getting in to your college of choice!

Of course, the numbers don't tell the whole story. While the folks at Common App pat themselves on the back, touting the many successes of this online college portal, for CA4, as the 2013-14 version was called, failure may have actually been their thing.

Failure to launch. Failure to load. Failure to upload Supplements. Failure to permit log on. Failure to paginate. Failure to produc...

Common App Pats Self On Back; Breaks Arm In Process

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, February 12, 2014, In : College Applications

Well, at least the essay prompts will remain the same on Common App for the 2014-15 college application season!

High school Juniors take note. Begin to think about your Common App essay, and how you will answer those three critical questions inherent in each prompt: (1) Who are you? (2) Who do you hope to become over the next four years? (3) What will you bring to campus, and to the community beyond?

And now, from the folks who brought you the Common App-ocalypse of 2013-14:

THE COMMON APPLICATI...

Still Haven't Applied To College? You're Not Too Late!

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, January 22, 2014, In : College Applications

While many a college application deadline has long ago passed, there are literally hundreds of colleges out there still accepting applications for the fall of 2014.
Here are but a few of the ways you can find colleges that have late application deadlines and/or offer "rolling" admissions:

Common Application member institutions still open to new applicants may be found by going to the Common App website, scrolling down Member Colleges & Universities, and clicking College Search. Indicate that yo...

Send In The Drones. . .

Posted by College Connection on Monday, December 30, 2013, In : College Applications

With all the buzz surrounding talk of Amazon making deliveries by drone, The College Whisperer ™ figured, well, why not deliver college applications -- and, for that matter, college acceptances -- by drone?

Given the disastrous year had by Common App, and all of the wild twists, turns, and machinations of the college application and admissions process, the delivery of college applications by unmanned drone could only be an improvement, right? And with all the droning on and on and on during t...
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When "Submit" Doesn't Mean "Submit"

Posted by College Connection on Friday, December 13, 2013, In : College Applications

We've posted on this blog before -- months ago -- about Common App's misleading interface. You know. Where PAYING is the first step. To PAY you hit SUBMIT. And after paying, you hit FINAL. After that, a nonexistent SIGNATURE screen to complete the submission process is supposed to appear, but often does not. [If Amazon worked this way, they would have had to file for bankruptcy protection years ago!]

Now, as the college application season winds down for many high school seniors, Common App, in...
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How The Glitch Stole Common App (and Crippled Obamacare)

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, October 30, 2013, In : College Applications

Glitches continue to plague CommonApp.org, the private, not-for-profit web portal millions of high school students rely upon to access applications to more than 500 colleges and universities. [READ, Common App Glitches Frustrate Students...]

At the same time, HealthCare.gov, the government website intended to give millions of Americans access to affordable health insurance exchanges, has been crippled by glitches. [SEE, Who's Fixing HealthCare.gov?]

Both sites compete for the dubious distinctio...
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CA4 Where Are You?

Posted by College Connection on Sunday, October 27, 2013, In : College Applications

If comic legend Oliver Hardy was a high school senior, no doubt he'd be admonishing Stan Laurel, standing in as the now plaintive Common App, with those famous words, "That's another fine mess you've gotten us into, Stanley!" (or was it, Simon?)

Well, we don't have Laurel & Hardy with us (and do high school kids even know of this iconic comedy duo?), but when it comes to CA4, the latest incarnation of the floundering Common App, if we don't laugh, we will surely cry.

So, with profound apologies...
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Not Too Late To Apply Early!

Posted by College Connection on Monday, October 21, 2013, In : College Applications

While the dates to apply Early Action to a few colleges (UNC-Chapel Hill, Georgia Tech - both extended to 10/21) may have passed, most are yet to come (typically, November 1 - December 15), and quite a few deadlines have been or are likely to be extended as a result of the continuing Common App fiasco. [Check college websites for actual deadline dates and extensions, if any.]

So, if you can get your applications ready (not just done, but complete, accurate, and showing you at your scholastic b...
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The Coming College Application Apocalypse

Posted by College Connection on Friday, October 18, 2013, In : College Applications

Not long after the dawn of the nuclear age, with foreboding prospects of mutually assured annihilation looming on an uncertain horizon, Albert Einstein was asked what weapons he thought would be used to fight the next war. Einstein responded, "I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones." Perhaps a prophesy, yet to unfold...

On a less weighty front (after all, it's only college), and given the flaws, foibles and incomprehens...
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Just When You Thought It Was Safe To Submit Your College Applications. . .

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, October 3, 2013, In : College Applications

If you thought last year's Common App made submitting college applications second in difficulty only to a quadruple backward flip off the uneven parallel bars while sticking the landing from 1000 feet above the ground (Check out, So, You Think You Submitted The Common App. . .), read on...

For anyone attempting to submit a college application through the new and congenitally defective Common Application, please read the following --

As you watch that spinning wheel spin (with due respect to th...
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The Best College Essay Ever!

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, October 1, 2013, In : College Applications

First piece of advice when setting out to write your college essay: Keep Calm and Just Write -- It's Only An Essay!

Indeed, with all the hype and hyperbolae surrounding the college essay (as to form, content, style, and overuse of SAT words), it would seem to be a...

As Seen On Common App's Facebook Timeline...

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, September 24, 2013, In : College Applications

Not that we would have this blog become a diatribe against the Common App, but we couldn't help chuckle out loud when we read the following on Common App's Facebook timeline:

"APPLICANTS: Do not try to trick the system into letting you create two accounts. If you succeed, you have no idea of the potential mess that awaits you: confused colleges, confused counselors and teachers, mismatched records, incomplete applications....and that's just the beginning. For your own good, please don't go dow...
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BEFORE You Submit The Common App

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, September 24, 2013, In : College Applications

Our friends and colleagues at College Admission Book (you don't have to buy the book. You have The College Whisperer ™ and College Connection! :-) have created a step-by-step guide to completing and submitting the Common Application. [Click HERE to view.]

Yes, it is lengthy. True, some of the advice must be taken with that proverbial grain of salt. Agreed, that the round "How To" does not always fit neatly into the square holes of Common App. And yes (sigh), most folks (especially teens apply...

Oops! Common App Has Done It Again!!!

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, September 12, 2013, In : College Applications

For those familiar with the Common Application, portal to more than 500 college applications, the flaws and foibles of a most imperfect tool are self evident.

To the unsuspecting and newly initiated -- as almost all high school seniors are, it being their first foray into the wild and crazy world of college admissions -- Common App is fraught with pitfalls and hazards, not to mention the occasional stealth essay.

Take, for instance, the Activities section, where a simple click to open, without ...
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Four And A Half Minutes

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, September 11, 2013, In : College Applications

Four and a half minutes.

No, not the time you spent actually studying for that recent math test. Not the time it takes to cook instant oatmeal or Uncle Ben's converted rice. Not the time you ran the mile in.

So, what is this four and a half minutes?

Actually, it is the average (as opposed to mean?) time spent by admissions officers reading the typical college essay. Yup. That's it, folks. All of four and a half minutes.

What? You spend weeks, if not months, contemplating. What do I write about? W...
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"Aha Moments" When Applying To College

Posted by College Connection on Monday, August 26, 2013, In : College Applications

Oprah may have taken the "Aha Moment" into the mainstream, but college-bound students, and their parents, are giving new meaning to the term every day, as they make that long and sometimes mind-boggling journey to college admissions.

Here are just a few of our favorite "Aha Moments" of the college application process. Please feel free to tell us yours.

· - GPA and test scores aren’t everything. Yes, they count. Do not, however, discount the importance of your extracurricular activit...

Tips For Completing The New Common App

Posted by College Connection on Sunday, August 4, 2013, In : College Applications

Our good friends and colleagues at CollegeMapper.com offer some great tips, as well as interesting insights, into the ins and outs, dos and don'ts of the new Common App.

So, before you begin filling in the blanks, click on the following links and get the inside track:

New Common App Breakdown: Top Tips

The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide to the New Common App
- - -

Plan. Prepare. Prevail!

When The Common App gets to you, you need to get to us!

Contact us at COLLEGE CONNECTION, home of The College Whi...

Live From The Common App, It's CA4!

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, August 1, 2013, In : College Applications

Well, not quite...

The new and improved version of The Common Application, $8 million dollars and more than a year in the making, launched at Midnight on August 1, giving entree to some 500 of your favorite college applications, and serving as starting gate to the great college admissions game.

And so, at 1:10 AM, your intrepid blogger excitedly clicked on CommonApp.org, in the hope of creating a login, perusing the application, and reporting back to the masses on the highlights, insights a...

Common Application: On August 1, Everything Changes!

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, July 25, 2013, In : College Applications

As if the college application and admissions process wasn't confusing and stressful enough!

This year, the folks at Common App, home of the applications to nearly 500 colleges and universities, is changing things up, with the advent of Common App 4.0.

Those of you who have been following The College Whisperer™ already know that there are new essay prompts, and gone is that mainstay of the personal statement, "A topic of your choice."

There is also a 650 word limit on that essay, to be stric...
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Prelude To The Common App: A Primer On "Getting Started"

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, July 16, 2013, In : College Applications

If there is a single question The College Whisperer™ is asked most about the college application process, it is, "Where do I begin?"

Our typical response is, "At the beginning, of course!" ;-)

Seriously, though, getting started down that long and winding road to college admissions, as it is with many things in life, is often the most difficult part of the journey.

So, what will follow below is a basic (very basic, as in, just to give you a push) primer -- a "To Do" list, if you will -- to set ...
Continue reading ...

June 2013 Update from Common App

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, June 18, 2013, In : College Applications

Annual Shut Down

The 2012-13 Common App Online will close at 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time on Friday, July 12. Students interested in applying to Common App member schools with rolling deadlines after July 12 can submit a paper application by mail. Counselors who need to complete Final Reports after July 12 should also submit by mail. The Common App Online will re-launch on August 1, 2013 for the 2013-14 application season.

Applicant data from the current year will not carry over into next year...

Simon Monks Goes To College

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, May 15, 2013, In : College Applications

Remember that children's game, Simon Says? If Simon didn't say it, and you did it anyway, you were out.

Well, looks like Simon has grown up, is ready to apply to college, and has become the poster boy of the folks who brought you the Common App.

Yes, boys, girls, and college applicants of all ages, here comes Simon Monks, fictitious test-student for CA4!

In a recent email, Common App announced Simon's debut:

Many of our CA4 resources will revolve around the story of Simon Monks, a fictitious app...
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Jump Start College Applications

Posted by College Connection on Friday, March 22, 2013, In : College Applications

Patricia M. of Merrick, NY writes:

I'm the parent of a soon-to-be high school senior and want to know when we can get started on those college applications.

The College Whisperer™ responds:

That would be the editorial "we," right? LOL

The Common Application, which is the starting point for the admission process at nearly 500 colleges and universities, does not go "live" until August 1. Proprietary applications for colleges that are not members of Common App typically come online mid-summer to e...
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Common App Limps Boldly Into The 20th Century

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, March 7, 2013, In : College Applications

No, that was not a mistake. We meant to say 20th Century, though we are now a decade and then some into the 21st.

For all of the complaints about Common App's cumbersome and convoluted three step process for submitting the Supplements, then paying, and then -- oooooops! Nearly forgot -- submitting the common portion of the application [Read, So You THINK You Submitted The Common App...], the folks at Common App have apparently caught on.

Indeed, in an email announcement to counselors and membe...
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It's STILL Not Too Late To Apply To College!

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, February 21, 2013, In : College Applications

While many a college application deadline has long ago passed, there are literally hundreds of colleges out there still accepting applications for the fall of 2013.

Here are but a few of the ways you can find colleges that have late application deadlines and/or offer "rolling" admissions:

Common Application member institutions still open to new applicants may be found by going to the Common App website, scrolling down Member Colleges & Universities, and clicking College Search. Indicate tha...

"Far From The Madding Crowd"

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, February 12, 2013, In : College Applications

With the release of Common App's new essay prompts comes the opportunity for high school Juniors to begin thinking about their college application personal statement and assorted (or was that, sordid?) essays. [Note that we said, "thinking about," not stressing over.]

As we've suggested, quite strongly, in past posts, the essay is your opportunity -- perhaps the best opportunity -- to truly set yourself apart from the legion of college applicants soon to join you on the front lines of college ...
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First Look At New Common App Essay Prompts

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, February 5, 2013, In : College Applications

The reveal of the essay prompts for the 2013-14 Common Application have been released, and although next season's version of the revamped application -- dubbed Common App 4.0 -- will not go live until August 1, today's high school Juniors can get an early start in formulating ideas for their personal statements, the topics of Common App's choice now firmly in hand.

Yes, gone is the essay topic of your choice (shame), and there is now a minimum (250) and maximum (650) word count, to be strictly...
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Look Ma, No College Application Fee!

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, November 22, 2012, In : College Applications

While most of us know just how expensive college has become, it is not until we are embroiled in the long and tedious application and admissions process that many of us begin to realize just how expensive simply applying to college can be.

Aside from the cost of sending SAT and/or ACT scores to each college you apply to, there is typically a fee, ranging in price from $25 to more than $100, for each college you submit an application to. Holy cow! You can go broke even before you are accepted!

T...
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Don't Let The Guidance Counselor Scare You! [There's Still Time To Apply To College!]

Posted by College Connection on Friday, November 16, 2012, In : College Applications

For those who simply can't stand the pressure of deadlines (and face it, who among us relishes deadlines?), the good news is that, for the most part, the hustle and bustle of Early Action, Early Decision, Restricted Early Action, and other niceties (or not so niceties) of the "get 'em in while they're hot" college application process is nearly over.

The waiting game now begins for those who submitted their applications early (good luck!), and the next chapter of the college admissions game boo...
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So, You Missed The Early Action Deadline

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, November 14, 2012, In : College Applications

No Big Deal!

Sure, somewhere in the neighborhood of 30% of prospective college students will be accepted via Early Action/Early Decision. Yes, had you applied Early Action, (a) most or all of your college applications would have been completed and submitted before Thanksgiving, (b) you would have increased your chances, though only slightly in most instances, of being accepted by the college of your choice, and (c) you'd have an admission decision in hand (or in your email inbox) sometime betw...
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Colleges Extend Early Action Deadlines

Posted by College Connection on Monday, November 12, 2012, In : College Applications

While most colleges and universities have said they will remain flexible on Early Action deadline dates, this in the wake of Hurricane Sandy and Nor'Easter Athena, some have held fast to the original deadlines, while others have extended to a date certain.

Here's the latest on application deadline extensions from our friends at The Choice, the college admissions blog of The New York Times:

http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/31/colleges-extend-early-admission-deadlines/

Stay up to the...

After The Storm, Getting College Applications Back On Track

Posted by College Connection on Monday, November 5, 2012, In : College Applications

The wind howled. The rain belted the windows. Trees fell, and with them, power lines. Lives disrupted. Homes and businesses lost. And, not to be forgotten in the midst of our struggles for find gas for our cars and more than solace from the folks at LIPA, high school students anxious to complete and submit their college applications -- with Early Action deadlines looming!

If the angst and anxiety brought on by the college application and admissions process weren't enough, add to them a devasta...

Common App-Rehension About Hurricane Sandy

Posted by College Connection on Sunday, October 28, 2012, In : College Applications

As the storm of the century (or so they tell us) advances toward the Northeast, students (and their parents) are concerned about submitting college applications prior to the November 1 Early Action Deadline.

Common App, as per their post on Facebook, advises as follows:

We're watching the brewing Frankenstorm along with everyone else. When unexpected events have upended major deadlines in the past, colleges have responded graciously. As we head toward November 1, we've asked our members to cons...
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"Horses and Bayonets"

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, October 23, 2012, In : College Applications

Yes, horses and bayonets have, in our technologically advanced military, been replaced by aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines, much like the paper and pen have been supplanted (if not supplemented to near death) by the Common App and Naviance.

And while we're all pacifists here -- and to borrow from Albert Einstein, we don't know how the next war will be fought, but the war after that will be fought with sticks and stones -- as a strategy and a matter of military advantage, aircraft carri...
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Say Goodbye to the Common App As You Know It (In 250-500 Words)

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, October 17, 2012, In : College Applications

It's not only the times that are a changin', but the Common Application as well!

Yes, the wire services and news outlets are reporting that the Common App, as students know (and often despise) it today, will find new ways of considering student's app-titude for college, if not new ways of totally frustrating them.

Among the changes for the 2013-14 Common App will be the eliminations of "A Topic of Your Choice" from the personal statement (essay) -- enter a collective GASP! here -- and stri...

Early Action Is The New Regular Decision

Posted by College Connection on Monday, October 15, 2012, In : College Applications

Time was, applying to college was a rather simple, unencumbered process. Fill out a few applications (by hand), write a short essay, send it all in at your leisure (by snail mail) with your check for $5. And voila! No stress. No sleepless nights. No worries over deadlines and selectivity.

Well, those days, my friends, even for the crowd longing for a nostalgic return, are gone if not forgotten.

Enter the era of incredible pressure, unheard of competitiveness, essays wothy of a Pulitzer, and mor...
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Common App Has Your Number. . .

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, September 12, 2012, In : College Applications

. . .And so much more!

Ever wonder how, no sooner than you register at CommonApp.org and complete a profile, you start receiving emails from colleges?

Apparently, others have been asking themselves the very same question.

One such query -- with corresponding answer -- was posted by the folks at Common App themselves:

I would like to know what information schools see before I submit my application and if they can see other schools to which I'm applying, asks one inquiring mind.

Common App responds...
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So, You Think You've Completed The Common App

Posted by College Connection on Monday, September 10, 2012, In : College Applications

As the frenzy to complete and submit college applications before deadline (be it Early Decision, Early Action or Regular Decision) heightens, that finger drawers perilously close to the dreaded "submit" button.

With the Common App serving as the very foundation of your foray into college admissiondom, you scrutinize every word, each digit, all the dotted "i"s and crossed "t"s. You pore over your personal statement, short answers and supplemental essays, making sure they give voice to the very ...

In College Applications, Truth Matters

Posted by College Connection on Friday, August 31, 2012, In : College Applications

Truth: Conformity to fact or reality; exact accordance with that which is, or has been, or shall be.
--Webster's Dictionary

The truth. Seems so hard to come by these days, particularly for those of us who closely follow the political circus in which we are now center ring (enter the clowns in that funny little car).

The truth. Often supplanted by half-truths, untruths, innuendo, misstatements and out and out lies.

The truth....
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Stack College Odds In Your Favor

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, August 28, 2012, In : College Applications

The College Whisperer's colleague, Allen Grove of About.com's Guide to College Admissions posted a top ten list of sorts to improve your chances of getting into college:

A winning college application is about more than strong grades or high test scores. To get admitted to the country's most selective colleges, applicants will need to put together an application that shines in all areas. Click on the tips below to learn about some of the features of a strong application.

Take challenging ...

The Essayist

Posted by College Connection on Monday, August 6, 2012, In : College Applications

From time to time, The College Whisperer yields this blog to guest posters, who, through their talents and expertise, opine on matters of interest and import in the college application and admissions process.

In this post, we are fortunate to feature our friend and colleague, Randy Levin of PersuasiveWritingServices.com, on the critical nature -- as well as the pitfalls -- of the college essay.

Great reading, and surely prudent advice to be heeded by the college-bound as they start out on the l...
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Game On!

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, August 1, 2012, In : College Applications

Live from the Common App. . .

The Common Application is now live at www.CommonApp.org. Are you ready?

Yes, the mainstay of the college application season, home to the apps (and sundry supplements) of "456 Common Application members in 46 states and the District of Columbia, as well as in France, Germany, Italy, Scotland, and Switzerland," will see you now. Let the insanity begin!

Registered? Committed your Login and Password to memory? (Don't be a wise guy. Write it down!) Personal stateme...

Jump Start Your College Application

Posted by College Connection on Friday, April 27, 2012, In : College Applications

Rebecca of Lawrence, NY writes:

I'm the parent of a high school junior and want to know when we can get started on college applications.

The College Whisperer responds:

That would be the editorial "we," right? LOL

The Common Application, which is the starting point for the admission process at most colleges and universities, does not go "live" for those hoping to enter the ivy-covered gates in the fall of 2013 until August 1.

That said, high school juniors and their parents (as well as counselors ...
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Upgrade For The Common App, 2013

Posted by College Connection on Saturday, January 28, 2012, In : College Applications

Dubbed Common App 4.0, the Common App is about to undergo changes for 2013, some significant -- such as only being able to view one question (or a few, at most) at a time and the elimination (possibly) of the troublesome truncation of essays and short answers.

The New York Times published an overview of the overhaul at http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/22/education/edlife/common-app-4-0.html, and the article is well worth the read.

Whether the bizarre means of submission (i.e., submitting the Supp...
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It's Not Too Late To Apply To College!

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, January 4, 2012, In : College Applications

Ah, yes. The high school senior who, just now, is waking up to the realization that he or she actually has to apply to college in order to start classes in the fall! So much for Early Decision, Early Action and, in many instances, Regular Decision, the deadlines having come and gone.

On the other hand, look at it this way: by waiting to apply to college until later in the game, you unwittingly managed to pare down the list from nearly 4000 accredited colleges and universities to several hundre...
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It's Not Only What You Say. . .

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, November 22, 2011, In : College Applications

. . .But How You Say It!

"Does this coat make my backside look big?," asked the impatient holiday shopper in the coat department of a major big box store (names withheld to protect the guilty).

"Well, to be honest... You never looked better!," responded the well-heeled (and thankful for a job) sales associate, a college grad -- with a 4.00 GPA, and Phi Beta Kappa, no less -- who, armed with his mock sheepskin and two twenty five in change for the subway, landed the only job he could get in this...
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Seeing "Stars" In That College Application

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, November 3, 2011, In : College Applications

G.L. of Melville, NY writes: I've recently applied to Binghamton University (State University of New York). In acknowledging receipt of my applications, Admissions wrote, "Submit your electronic transcript at www.selfreportedtranscript.com." What is this self reported transcript, and do I have to complete and submit my grades separate and apart from my high school transcript, which has been sent to Binghamton by my Guidance Counselor via Naviance, and unofficial test scores, already part of t...
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So, You THINK You Submitted The Common App. . .

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, October 20, 2011, In : College Applications

As the frenzy to file college applications before deadline (be it Early Decision, Early Action or Regular Decision) heightens, that finger drawers perilously close to the dreaded "submit" button.

With the Common App serving as the very foundation of your foray into college admissiondom, you scrutinize every word, each digit, all the dotted "i"s and crossed "t"s. You pore over your personal statement, short answers and supplemental essays, making sure they give voice to the very essence of hear...
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Early Decision and the Ties That Bind

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, September 21, 2011, In : College Applications

As college-bound high school seniors seriously begin work on their college applications -- inclusive of the Common App -- two questions invariably arise: "What is the difference between 'Early Decision' and 'Early Action,' and should I apply under either?"

"Early Decision," simply put, is binding. The end all of decisions. You will go to no other college. If they accept you, you must go. This is it!

You may only apply "Early Decision" to one college, and you, your parents, your high school and,...
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The Stop, Drop and Roll of the College Application Process

Posted by College Connection on Monday, August 29, 2011, In : College Applications

In fire safety, everyone knows it's Stop, Drop and Roll. In college applications, the buzz words are Reach, Target and Safety!

We all know the drill --

Reach schools are those whose admissions criteria you don't quite nearly meet, if you meet at all. These are your "give it a shot" colleges.

Target schools are those where your academics, extracurriculars, test scores fit squarely within the range of accepted students. No guarantee, but you feel pretty confident that if you apply, you'll get in.

L...
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A College Essay Too Far

Posted by College Connection on Friday, August 12, 2011, In : College Applications

Oh, the lengths college-bound students -- and their angst-ridden parents -- will go to for that perfect college essay experience.

Sojourns to China. Second-seating surgeons in the operating theater. Cult-like 3-day application boot camps in Cambridge at $15,000 plus, not including room and board.

Oh my!

Check out The New York Times piece, For a Standout College Essay, Applicants Fill Their Summers.

If it seems rather extreme to you to mingle with the Ming Dynasty in Beijing or to rediscover the R...
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You Are Your High School Resume

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, August 10, 2011, In : College Applications

If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a clear, concise, well-drafted high school resume -- which may actually be less than a thousand words -- could well set the stage for getting your picture on that coveted college ID.

Your high school resume is, quite literally, a snapshot of your achievements and activities, and the astute applicant will make it part and parcel of his or her college application. [HINT: Attach your resume to the Common Application. Your college planning counselor ...
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In 500 Words, More Or Less?

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, August 4, 2011, In : College Applications

D.L. of Woodmere, NY writes: The Common App has revised the word count on the personal statement (college essay) to "250 to 500 words." Does this set a limit?

The College Whisperer responds:

Funny you should ask!

Yes, the Common App, Writing section, as modified for 2011-12, now instructs applicants to "Please write an essay of 250 – 500 words on a topic of your choice or on one of the options listed below, and attach it to your application before submission."

This would appear, on its face, to...
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Common App Prepares To Launch College Application Season

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, July 28, 2011, In : College Applications

Will YOU be ready to apply to college?

The Common App Online, the application most utilized by colleges and universities across the nation, will re-launch for the 2011-12 admissions season on August 1, 2011.

How prepared are you to select the colleges to which you will apply, complete that picture perfect application, supplements and all, ace your personal statement and supplemental essays, and put your best foot forward in this increasingly complex and competitive era of ...
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COLLEGE CONNECTION ~ The Cure For The Common App

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, June 14, 2011, In : College Applications

Has applying to college - or just thinking about applying to college -- left you dazed, dizzy and down-in-the dumps? Do you go blank when you try to put pen to paper for that college essay? Does worrying about how you're going to pay for it all send chills down your spine?

COLLEGE CONNECTION, your one-stop source for college planning, counseling and support, has the cure for what ai...

Almost Live From The Common App. . .

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, June 7, 2011, In : College Applications

A sneak peak at the 2011-12 Common Application, with highlighted changes from last year's edition -- including a limit of 500 words for your personal statement. [So much for the free expression of thought. Now, more than ever, you must demonstrate college-worthiness in a thoughtful, thorough and yet concise essay!]

Preview the new Common App here, and prepare for the live event when the Common App launches on August 1.

Also note the inclusion of additional participating colleges,

Will you be re...
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Before You Submit Your College Application. . .

Posted by College Connection on Wednesday, December 15, 2010, In : College Applications

...Call Us!

COLLEGE CONNECTION
College By Choice, Not Be Chance
www.CollegeConnect.info

516-345-8766

Application complete? Ready to hit that "submit" button? Got all the "t"s crossed and the "i"s dotted?

Not so fast!

Don't be sorry. Be Sure!

At COLLEGE CONNECTION:

We will review and edit your personal statement and supplemental essays.
We will enhance the presentation of your Common App and proprietary college applications.
We will show you how to turn a simple "activity sheet" into a ...
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College Application "Tricks" And College Admission "Treats"

Posted by College Connection on Saturday, October 30, 2010, In : College Applications

Yes, the road to college can be scary, with ghouls, goblins and more than a few witches popping out along the way to frighten both students and parents (most of whom, Halloween haunts notwithstanding, are already, shall we say, unnerved).

Is you application accurate? Has your essay given you voice among the cacophony (great SAT word) of hoots and hollers raised by your fellow college-bound compatriots? Did you complete every required section and answer each question on your application? Is it ...
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Will Colleges Stand Up And Take Notice?

Posted by College Connection on Friday, October 22, 2010, In : College Applications

For followers of The College Whisperer, and students of College Connection, the advice contained in a recent Forbes article will generate little more than a "Duh!"

For the rest of you, some DOs and DON'Ts, with one big, Don't leave your common sense -- and proofreading skills -- at the door!

How To Get Your College Application Noticed
By Krystle M. Davis

High school students frequently lose sight of what's important when they're trying to get into college. Like the girl who spent 17 hours a wee...

The Cure for the Common App

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, October 21, 2010, In : College Applications

COLLEGE CONNECTION
Planning ~ Guidance ~ Support

College Matching ~ Admission Strategies ~ Application Enhancement
Essay Development ~ Scholarship and Financial Aid Sourcing

DON'T JUST APPLY TO COLLEGE. GET IN!

CALL TODAY 516-345-8766

Empowering Students. De-Stressing Parents.

FREE, no obligation telephone consultation.

www.CollegeConnect.info

COLLEGE CONNECTION
Helping To Successfully Navigate The Road To College

Does the early bird really catch the worm?

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, August 12, 2010, In : College Applications

Perhaps, but the second mouse usually gets the cheese!

Plan. Prepare. Prevail! That's the mantra of The College Whisperer, and his advice to the college-bound (and their parents) as they set out on the road to college admissions success.

So what's this we hear about the rush to file the Common Application, being among the first to submit initial paperwork needed for college admission?

READ Pulling an All-Nighter for the College Application, a feature of The Choice in The New York Times.

Whatever ...
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Common Application, Common Mistakes

Posted by College Connection on Tuesday, August 3, 2010, In : College Applications

For those who may not have noticed, or are new to the game of college admissions (which probably accounts for 99.9% of those reading The College Whisperer's blog), the Common App has changed for the next class of applicants.

Some of the changes are obvious -- such as the reformatting of choices available in reporting SAT and/or ACT scores -- while others are more nuanced, making them all the more likely to lead to mistakes by the applicant, with often unintended, and, sometimes undesirable ...
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Common Question; Universal Concern

Posted by College Connection on Thursday, July 22, 2010, In : College Applications

R.J. of East Rockaway, NY writes:

What's the difference between the Common Application and the Universal College Application? Is it better to use the college's own application, when offered? I'm growing more confused and frustrated by the minute. Where do I start?

The College Whisperer responds:

It is always best to start at the beginning, which, lucky for you, is right here at College Connection's blog. ;-)

Simply put, both the Common Application (Common App, to it's friends and admirers) and th...
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