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The Insider: Your Expert Guide to College Admissions -
College Admissions Consulting

Maximizing Sections of the Common App; CSS Profile; Supplemental Essays for Georgia Tech and UGA

Ever wonder what goes into the additional information section on the Common App—or if you even have to fill it out? How about what to include in the honors section? We have advice on maximizing these and other areas of the application, including the activities lists and the new COVID question. We’re also sharing what you need to know about the CSS Profile as you prepare to complete this financial document for the colleges that require it. Finally, we’ll walk you through the supplemental essays for Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia.

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October 14, 2020by College Coach
College Applications

How to Approach the Common App “Disciplinary History” Section

gavel

by Abigail Anderson, former admissions officer at Reed College

Students utilizing the Common Application will notice a question regarding their disciplinary history just after they fill out the Essay Section. This question, which is required, states:

“Have you ever been found responsible for a disciplinary violation at any educational institution you have attended from the 9th grade (or the international equivalent) forward, whether related to academic misconduct or behavioral misconduct, that resulted in a disciplinary action? These actions could include, but are not limited to: probation, suspension, removal, dismissal, or expulsion from the institution.”

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September 15, 2020by Abigail Anderson
College Applications

Common App Help: How to Master the Activities Section

common application

by Elyse Krantz, former admissions officer at Barnard College

Mastering the Activities Section of the Common Application

College applicants are infamously known to stress about their essays. And it’s not uncommon for students to spend weeks (if not months) brainstorming their ideal essay topic and then editing it down to perfection. But our college admissions experts would like to point out another section of the Common Application that also requires a great deal of writing yet receives far less attention. Some application readers would argue that it also happens to be the section that applicants most often overlook and under appreciate.

What is it?

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September 10, 2020by Elyse Krantz
College Applications

What You Need to Know About the 2020-21 Common Application

boy typing on laptop

by Elyse Krantz, former admissions officer at Barnard College

To say this school year will look a bit different than last year is probably a bit of an understatement. Last year’s school supplies included highlighters, notebooks, pens, and a calculator. This year? How many masks, bottles of sanitizer, and tubes of hand cream will you be toting to school? Or not… if you’ll be spending the majority of your time at home, locked into distanced learning courtesy of Zoom or Google Classroom.

But there is one aspect of this fall that hasn’t changed – at least, not much. Applying to college!

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September 4, 2020by Elyse Krantz
College Applications

How to Create or Rollover your Common App Account

college applications

by Elyse Krantz, former admissions officer at Barnard College

The Common App is here! As of August 1, this year’s Common Application is available to all applicants. If you have not yet created your Common App account, follow steps 1-7 below. If you created a Common App account prior to August 1, steps 8-10 are for you! Either way, take a few moments to bookmark this site. You’re going to be using it a lot over the next few months.

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September 1, 2020by Elyse Krantz
College Applications

How to Use Additional Information on the Common App

girl studying on laptop

by Amy Alexander, former admissions officer at Yale University

It’s the time of year that most seniors are starting to complete their Common Application, and if you’ve signed up for an account, you’re probably already aware that you must submit an essay of 250 to 650 words in response to one of seven prompts. In addition to the personal statement, many colleges also require you to write responses to supplemental essays or questions. While these writing assignments are relatively clear and straightforward, there is also an Additional Information section offered on the bottom of the app’s writing page that creates confusion and uncertainty among many college applicants. What exactly do you use this space for?

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August 27, 2020by Amy Alexander
College Applications

Applications Galore! Navigating the Common, Coalition, UC, and ApplyTexas Applications

mom and daughter looking at laptop

by Kay Kurashige, former admissions officer at Brown University

While we have come a long way from the days of submitting typewritten applications to individual colleges via snail mail, currently there is still no “one-size-fits-all” application that is used for all colleges in the United States. Students will frequently need to use several different application platforms in order to apply to all of the universities on their list. While there are many similarities between the applications, each has its own unique qualities and requirements. As a result, applying to colleges can unfortunately be a time consuming (and frequently confusing) process. That’s why we are here to help!

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August 18, 2020by Kay Kurashige
College Essays

Which Common App Essay Is Best For Me? Take Our Quiz!

Common App Essay

by Elyse Krantz, former admissions officer at Barnard College

Your love of playing cello…

Your fascination with mountain biking…

Your desire to speak out against prejudice…

Your journey to become student body president…

A strong Common App essay can be written on virtually any topic.

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July 15, 2020by Elyse Krantz
College Admissions Consulting

Tips from an Alumni Interviewer; What is FERPA; Maximizing the Common App Activity List

Many of the most selective colleges in the country rely on alumni interviewers to get some additional perspective on applicants. We’re excited to welcome one of our regular listeners, who also happens to be an alumni interviewer for her alma mater, to the show to offer some perspective on how the process works and tips for interviewees. We’ll also discuss FERPA, including what it is and how it impacts students and families. And finally, in Office Hours we’ve got insight on how to maximize the Common App activities section.

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September 11, 2019by College Coach
College Applications

What We Love About the Common App This Year

what to love about the Common App

It’s sleek. It’s modern. It has a snazzy new blue and white color scheme. But there’s so much more to love about the 2019-20 Common App. Below are some of our favorite Common App elements that have students everywhere shouting from the rooftops, “This is why applying to college can be fun!”

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August 27, 2019by Elyse Krantz
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The Insider: College Admissions Advice from the Experts is where College Coach experts weigh in on the latest college admissions topics. We cover everything from application timelines and strategies to tips on financing your child's education.

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