College Counseling & Application Support

College admissions officers assess applications holistically, meaning they evaluate the “whole” student. No factor (including grades, test scores, or extracurriculars) is considered in a vacuum; rather, these pieces are all assessed in the context of each student’s unique background.

With that being said, a student’s academic record (including their grades and course selections) tend to be the most important part of each application. College vary in terms of which factors they consider and how they weigh them; most colleges provide insight into these factors on their Common Data Set document (try searching the web for “[College Name] + Common Data Set”).

Every high school has a different way of calculating grades, which makes it difficult to use GPA as a metric for college admissions. Some colleges provide aggregate GPA data for recently admitted students, but this is nowhere near as widely available as test score data.

Some colleges standardize GPA themselves through a recalculation process, which can provide a clearer point of comparison for students. Others focus on holistic review of student transcripts, with an emphasis of rigor of curriculum – that is, they primarily care about which courses your student took, how challenging those courses are relative to what was available to them, and what grade is next to each course on the transcript.

Many colleges switched to a test-optional policy with the onset of COVID-19. However, some colleges (including MIT) have switched back to a test-required policy, so we’d recommend checking the requirements of each university on your college list. On the opposite end of the spectrum, a handful of colleges have committed to a test-blind policy (including the University of California system), meaning that they are removing test scores from consideration entirely.

In general, we do recommend preparing for either the SAT or ACT, even if many of your student’s target colleges are test-optional. If a student can achieve a score that falls near or above the median for typical students admitted to any given college, then submitting scores will only serve to benefit them. Your student can also always choose to submit their score to some schools and withhold them from others.

For most students, we recommend applying to approximately 10 colleges. This list should strike a balance between reach, target, and safety schools (roughly 3-4 of each). Highly accomplished students might consider applying to a higher proportion of reach schools, but every student should balance out their list with colleges of varied selectivity.

Generally speaking, colleges do not make value judgments about the extracurricular activities a student chooses to pursue. They do, however, value quality over quantity; they look for students who commit to particular activities for the long-term and rise to leadership roles within them.

Ideally, your student’s extracurriculars should reflect their genuine interests and passions. If they sincerely enjoy a particular activity, they’ll have a better time working hard to improve themselves, achieve awards, and maybe earn leadership positions. Extracurriculars are also a great way for students to explore new interests that may grow into passions – or even career paths.

Start exploring interests and building strong academic habits early (even in 9th grade), but formal application prep (essays, resumes, etc.) begins in junior year.

– ED: Binding commitment if accepted (apply to 1 school).
– EA: Non-binding early application (multiple schools).
– RD: Standard deadline (no restrictions).

Yes and no. You can reuse parts of essays or follow similar outlines, but you should always tailor them to each school’s prompts and values. Never mention the wrong college in an essay!

Yes, most colleges and universities absolutely care about demonstrated interest. There are multiple ways to demonstrate interest: attend virtual tours (virtual or in-person), email admissions reps, or engage on social media to show enthusiasm. If you are deferred or waitlisted, consider sending a Letter of Continued Interest.

No, but they show rigor. Focus on excelling in courses available to you.

Yes! Colleges can rescind offers if grades drop significantly.

Submit the FAFSA and/or CSS Profile. Aid is based on need (grants, loans) and merit (scholarships).

Yes! Politely appeal with competing offers or new financial circumstances.

Most colleges don’t require declaring until sophomore year, but your stated major on your application should fit your sales pitch.

The optimal size of college depends on your goals: small = personalized attention; large = more resources/networks.

Authenticity! Share a specific story that reveals your values, growth, or perspective.

They’re rarely decisive but can provide context. Treat them as conversations, not interrogations.

There is nothing wrong with seeking help for essay editing, but the “voice” of the essay must be authentically yours. Avoid over-polishing—admissions officers spot inauthenticity.

The biggest essay mistake is having generic answers (e.g., “I’ve always loved science”) or listing achievements without reflection.

Revisit campuses (ideally, in-person), compare financial aid, talk with current/former students, and—above all—trust your gut.