The background on this past admissions cycle given in our last post suggests at least three things for college applicants: engagement with universities before you apply is now more important than ever; the thoroughness of your college research is also more important than ever; and, while test scores remain optional for most schools, it’s still… Read more »
Posts By: Hugh McIntosh
2021-22 Admissions Data and Trends
With the 2021-2022 admissions cycle largely behind us, it is time to reflect on the data and look ahead to the coming year. In our next two posts, the Marks Education team will share some key takeaways from this year and will highlight the most important “to-do’s” for planning your application roadmap and timeline. But… Read more »
Know Your College Lingo!
How Learning the Difference Between “Department”, “Program”, and “Center” Can Supercharge Your College Research It’s one of the most crucial questions in college admissions: “Who is applying because they really know our school, and who is applying just based on the name?” Whether you’re preparing to interact with an admissions officer, or writing your “Why… Read more »
Show the Love… Remotely!
Demonstrating Interest in 2021 We’ve all done quite a bit of adapting in this past year. How you think about “demonstrating interest” to colleges is no different: in this post, we’ll take you through some ways that colleges have become more innovative in interacting with prospective applicants online, and give you some tips about making… Read more »
Take a Deeper Dive (Without Leaving Home)!
Making the Most of your Virtual College Admission Research with in-person college visits almost completely off the table—at least for the near future—most of this year’s applicants will need to narrow down their list remotely. No two ways about it: this is not ideal. There is no substitute for seeing a school, in session, in… Read more »
The College Search Might be Just what you Need Right Now
Ramp up your college research online and at home! It can be easy to forget that the college search is, first and foremost, an invitation to connect—and that the most important person you are connecting with is…you: college applications depend on your interests, your passions, and your goals. Over the span of your college application… Read more »
College Planning and Social Distance
College Planning and Social Distance Living with the COVID-19 outbreak can feel like uncertainty overload: as we continue to track the changing college admissions landscape, we are dealing with a wide range of shifting circumstances—from testing changes to upended summer plans. Now more than ever, it’s important to focus on what you can control. And,… Read more »
Coronavirus News: What you Need to Know about College Admissions in a Strange Season
The outbreak of COVID-19, informally known as the Coronavirus, has uprooted plans around the world and, understandably, caused plenty of worry. For those in the midst of the college search and application process, this unexpected situation calls for the best antidote to anxiety—a well-informed plan! Here are a few key issues to keep in… Read more »
My Application was Deferred…Now What?
If your early application was deferred, a compelling mid-year update letter can have an impact It’s one of the tough realities of college admissions: every year, many highly qualified and deserving students apply early and are deferred by a wide range of schools, which means that the admissions office won’t decide on their application… Read more »
College Interview FAQ
Tools to help you succeed in college admission interviews A strong interview can be a big plus in the college application process—a chance for you to share your interests, your personality, and your excitement about the colleges you’ve chosen. Now that the college application season is underway, we wanted to share our answers to a… Read more »
Is Taking a Gap Year a Good Idea?
Knowing the landscape is critical to gap year planning Taking a gap year after high school can be a great way to recharge your batteries, gain new experiences, and prepare yourself to hit the ground running in college. Studies have shown that students who defer their admission by a year—whether they choose to work,… Read more »
What’s Your College Essay Workout?
Get a Head Start on your College Application Process…By Practicing Your Writing Before Senior Year You wouldn’t wait until the playoffs to learn to pitch, or take your first piano lesson the day of your recital. So why wait until you’re writing your applications to practice writing your college essay? It’s a unique skill—a… Read more »
Writing College Essays that Count
Spotlight on New Undergraduate Majors Throughout the college essay and application process, we think a lot about how you can make a lasting impression by differentiating yourself. But it is important not to forget that colleges are trying just as hard to impress you: to stand out from other schools by highlighting unique strengths,… Read more »
The New Early Decision: Plan for a Changing Landscape
Early Decision numbers break records again. As several recent news stories have announced, 2018 has been yet another record-breaking year for early decision college applications, with many schools seeing their early application numbers increase by twenty percent or more. And this trend is likely to continue. It’s time to acknowledge that the landscape has shifted:… Read more »
Jumpstart your College Essay—
Know Your Essay Type! Having trouble getting started with your college essay? You are not alone: for most seniors, the college essay is a challenge unlike any they have ever been assigned. This is because a college essay has a different job to do than anything you have written in school. A history essay analyzes… Read more »
Make the Most of Your College Essay Process
HOW DO YOU BRAINSTORM? It’s one of the most important questions to ask as you begin thinking about your college essay: Does my creativity thrive in a group, or am I more productive on my own? As a writing teacher, I have seen students transform essays through the collaborative processes of workshopping, peer review, and… Read more »
Countdown to Submission!
The November 1 Early Action/Early Decision deadline is right around the corner! Here is a checklist to help you make the most of the next two weeks, so you can submit your applications well before the deadlines — the only things you’ll have to worry about this Halloween season will be ghosts and goblins!… Read more »
Quirky Tips for Writing Your College Essay
Get Creative Writing Your College Essay! William Faulkner wrote on the walls of his house. Gertrude Stein liked to write in parked cars. J.K. Rowling jots ideas on napkins. There are a million ways to get your creative juices flowing. When it comes to your college essay, finding a brainstorming technique that works for you… Read more »
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