On the Waitlist…Now What?

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College Waitlist

It’s that time of year when all of the news from the Regular Decision round is rolling in! And, alongside the clear outcomes—“Admitted” and “Not Admitted”—you might be faced with a less certain offer: the chance to pursue a college’s waitlist. It’s important to keep in mind that the chances of being admitted off of… Read more »

2021-22 Admissions Data and Trends Part 2: Making the Most of Your Application Process

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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 »

2021-22 Admissions Data and Trends

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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!

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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!

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benefits, benefits of meditation

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)!

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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 »

College Planning and Social Distance

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How To Ask Your Teacher for a Letter of Recommendation

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

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  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?

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deferred college application

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

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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 »

Writing College Essays that Count

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  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

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Early Decision Applying to college

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 »

Countdown to Submission!

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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

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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 »