How’s that college essay coming? Not well? Then check out this insight from former Reed College admissions officer Ian Fisher on how to approach your personal statement in this installment of the College Coach video series, Ask the College Admissions Expert. Ian lets you know what college admissions officers are looking for in an application essay, how to choose a good college essay topic, and how to get started.

News articles, parents, and college themselves can often focus on the importance of earning As in high school classes. But the reality is that many, many of the students applying to college every year are earning Bs and Cs. We’ll discuss considerations and college pathways for those students, who are far more common than those earning straight As. In Office Hours, we’re answering your college admissions questions.

The college admission process may have recently wrapped up for high school seniors, but, for underclassmen, the fun is just beginning. With nearly 4,000 colleges to choose from in the United States, how can a high school student even begin narrowing down their options?

by Lauren Randle, former admissions officer at Georgetown University

It’s been a tough few months, but you weathered it, and the school year is finally wrapping up. For the juniors, you might be feeling exhausted from all that the last semester brought and the ways you’ve had to adapt. My sincerest hope for you is that you’re able to return to school next fall and resume the things that make a high school experience: activities, close friendships, traditions. I want you to have that time to enjoy as a senior with as little stress as possible.

by Sara Calvert-Kubrom, former admissions officer at Lewis & Clark College

In a time of increasing concerns about environmental sustainability, many students are passionate about protecting natural resources and actively engaging in environmental sustainability efforts. For most students this is a strong conviction that shapes their lifestyle and extracurricular activities and, for some, it will develop into an academic and career calling. Many parents I speak to are concerned and unsure of how a student can turn a passion for sustainability into a career, but do not fret—there are lots of options!

How many AP classes should you take? The answer, like many in the college admissions world is, “It depends.” In this installment of the College Coach video series, Ask the College Admissions Expert, former Reed College admissions officer, Ian Fisher, guides students and parents through how to answer this question for themselves.

by Karen Spencer, former admissions officer at Georgetown University

With so much unknown out there about the timing of COVID-19 and the length of social distancing measures, one of the most common questions we are fielding is whether or not a gap year might make sense for incoming freshmen. This practice of putting off enrollment for a year is called “deferring,” and whether or not the time off is granted is up to the university. If family finances have changed and your college plans are up in the air, or if the uncertainty surrounding the structure of campus life and learning has you rethinking your plan to enroll this fall, a “gap year” might be a good option. Here are questions to ask before pursuing the gap year option:

by Sara Calvert-Kubrom, former admissions officer at Lewis & Clark College

As in-person summer camps, pre-college programs, travel, internships, sports training, and more begin to be canceled, many wonder “what next?” First, we need to remember that colleges will all take these extraordinary circumstances into consideration when evaluating applications for admission. Accept that it is ok to slow down. There are, however, many enriching ways teens can use this time to positively impact their community, grow academically and personally, and continue to thoughtfully prepare for college.

While some colleges have pushed back their reply date from May 1 to June 1 or even later (we see you, Iowa State!), many students will need to commit to their college of choice within the next few weeks. We have suggestions for how to approach this decision, especially since visiting campus is not an option this year. We will also look into using financial fit as part of the college selection process. In Office Hours, we’ll offer options for students who don’t like any of the colleges that accepted them.

Many high schoolers are in the midst of planning their class schedule for the upcoming school year, and this course selection can come with a lot of anxiety. Students and the parents wonder if it is better to take more challenging courses, with the risk of earning lower grades, or to play it safe with the classes they know they can do well in. From a college’s perspective, is it better to get an A in College Prep or a B in Honors?