Over time, I have had a number of students struggle with writing their responses to the Emory University supplemental essay prompts, and this year they seem to be equally, if not more perplexing.  The difficulty of writing something really illuminating in 150 words or less makes it even more challenging, and having multiple prompts to choose from doesn’t seem to mitigate student’s stress very much.

I know it’s only February, but, believe it or not, it’s time for high school students to start thinking about how they’re going to spend their summer vacations. If hoping to participate in a competitive summer program, know that application and scholarship deadlines may pop up any day now. Before submitting any applications, be sure to consider your goals for the summer. Do you wish to pursue a summer program in order to explore a particular academic or extracurricular interest? Or do you think a summer program will help you get into college? When weighing your summer options, be sure to check out the latest installment of our video series, Ask the College Admissions Expert, in which former Drexel and Swarthmore admissions officer, Kennon Dick, outlines summer programs’ role in the college admissions process.

Colleges love to see applicants take part in community service, but many families and students are left perplexed as to just what that entails. Today we take on the most frequently asked questions we get about giving back.

by Kennon Dick, former admissions officer at Swarthmore College

It’s December of your junior year and, all of a sudden, you’re getting mail and emails from all sorts of colleges and universities—some you know, most you don’t.

What happened?

Full disclosure: I’m a fan of University of Michigan and I’ve followed Michigan football since I was really young. Why is this relevant? Well, last year I traveled to Michigan on business and for the weekend traveled across the state to visit with admissions, take the tour, and take in a game at “the Big House.”

This is the final installment of our four-part series on the subject of overparenting, this post takes on how to let go of your college student and impart the skills they will need to make their own way in the world. Be sure to also check out our recently published posts on how to play an appropriate and empowering role in your middle schooler’s life, your child’s college admission process, and the college financing process.

What the Waitlist Means

Some students would rather be denied than waitlisted and I don’t blame them. For many, the college application process has been a long and protracted ordeal; with a waitlist letter, it’s going to last a few months longer with far less certainty about how it will end.

“Should I take AP or Honors courses?” This is a tough question to answer and I don’t think there is any definitive answer to it. At the last school I worked at, Swarthmore College, it was almost always better to take the harder courses. We wanted to see students who challenged themselves and took classes that were geared toward preparing a student well for challenging college courses. Taking AP, IB, or Cambridge courses were a good way to show us that. However, Indiana University Bloomington would have a different answer. They wanted to see the highest GPA a student could attain, even if that meant taking a less hefty course load.

Here are the supplemental prompts for the Pomona College application this year:

1. Most Pomona students enter the College undecided about a major, or they change their minds about their prospective major by the time they graduate. Certainly we aren’t going to hold you to any of the choices you’ve made above. But please do tell us why you’ve chosen the major or majors (or Undecided!) that you have (in no more than 250 words).
2. Please respond to one of the following three prompts:

Has your college research consisted of pouring over the dozens of “best colleges” lists that flood the market every fall? If so, perhaps it’s time to dig a little deeper. Being ranked as a “best” college by a certain website or publication does not make that college the “best” fit for your child, nor will it necessarily provide them with the “best” education. In the latest edition of College Coach’s Insider Tips, college admissions expert, Kennon Dick, discusses the critical research that high school students need to do in order to find the right college for them.