Articles, posts and topics of interest from The College Spy, an independent college consultant and college coach, and its founder Michelle McAnaney. The College Spy offers Expert, personalized college and university search, selection, admissions, and financial aid advice for parents and college-bound students. The College Spy provides its services online and via phone. The College Spy works with both US and international students.
College admissions counselors are impressed by students who spend their summers working. There are four places on the Common Application where students can highlight their employment experience. Your choice of where to feature a summer job will depend upon how significant the job is in showcasing your skills, interests and personal attributes compared with your other activities.
Read MoreThe College Spy's Holiday Gift Guide for Parents of Teens will help you choose holiday gifts that your college bound teen needs and wants. Our gift suggestions come from conversations with many students. We hope you find it helpful. Happy Holidays!
Read MoreSenior year of high school is a busy one for college bound students. This infographic breaks down the key events and deadlines so you can stay on top of the everything that must get done on the journey from high school senior to college freshman.
Read MoreHigh school students who not only understand why it’s important to be self-sufficient in college but also know how to become independent decision-makers set themselves up to thrive in their first year of college. In this guest blog, Andrea Malkin Brenner, PhD discusses three areas where high school students can begin to build the adulting competencies that collegiate life requires, and suggestions for parents who want to help with skill-building.
Read MoreCollege admissions officers are impressed not just by good grades, but by good grades in challenging courses. The key to choosing the right courses for college admissions purposes is to make sure you are challenging yourself in the classroom without an unmanageable amount of stress.
Read MoreIn addition to planning for junior prom and learning to parallel park, high school juniors should be doing these 7 things right now.
Read MoreWith more colleges allowing applicants to apply without test scores, it is difficult to decipher how test scores (or the lack thereof) will impact an applicant’s admissions chances. This is The College Spy’s guide to test optional admissions policies.
Read MoreCollege is likely the first experience in which students have the opportunity to choose their learning and living environment. Taking time for reflection in order to understand their preferences will lead to better choices and happier college students.
Read MoreAs a college admissions consultant, I share my enthusiasm and genuine excitement about the college process with my students. Sometimes, I am greeted with an equal level of engagement and interest. Other times, I am met with disengaged students who are feeling stressed, frustrated or even angry. Why is this the case?
Read MoreThe Common Application is a single application that students can use to apply to over 900 colleges and universities. This is The College Spy’s description of the sections of the Common Application and tips on how to effectively response to each one.
Read MoreGive your high school senior this checklist of college admissions tasks to complete before the school year begins. Completing these tasks early will reduce stress and help your family enjoy your child’s last year of high school.
Read MoreSummer activities feature prominently in the “activities” section of college applications and help college admissions staff determine which students will be a good fit for their campus. Unfortunately, COVID-19 will likely alter teens’ summer plans, leaving many parents and students worried about missing opportunities to showcase their skills, interests and talents. Think of the quarantine as an opportunity to do something unique that will set your application apart from others in the pile.
Read MoreCollege admissions professionals often cite grades and academic rigor as the best predictors of academic success on the college level. But these two predictors do not tell the whole story. Grades and courses do not provide information about a student’s strengths, challenges, personality, character and work ethic. Letters of recommendation provide this valuable, contextual information.
Read MoreDifficult life circumstances may prevent you from doing your academic best. Don’t let one semester or even a year of lower grades hold you back from applying to a college that is a good fit for you.
Read MoreThe College Spy debunks three myths about the college tour that might keep you from taking advantage of this key element of your college search.
Read MoreWriting a college application essay can be a stressful and time-consuming task. The writing process, including choosing a topic, will be easier if you start with a full understanding of how the college essay is used by college admissions officers.
Read MoreYour daughter is hoping for acceptance to her first-choice college, one that was chosen carefully after an exhausting college search. Here is what you should do if a rejection letter arrives.
Read MoreA dual enrollment course is a single course that provides a student with both high school and college credit. Dual enrollment courses are unique educational opportunities that can offer significant advantages for the right student. When deciding whether to take a dual enrollment course, students should think about their college goals, compare the courses available to them at their high school and discuss their options with their school counselor.
Read MoreCollege admissions counselors are impressed by students who spend their summers working. There are four places on the Common Application where students can highlight their employment experience. Your choice of where to feature a summer job will depend upon how significant the job is in showcasing your skills, interests and personal attributes compared with your other activities.
Read MoreIn addition to planning for junior prom and learning to parallel park, high school juniors should be doing these things right now.
Read MoreThe College Spy is a college coach and educational consultant. The College Spy offers expert one-on-one college and university planning, selection, essay, admissions and financial aid advice for college-bound high school students and their families. The College Spy provides its services online and via phone. The College Spy works with both US and international students.
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