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Without further ado, school is back and registrations are the order of the day. One has to register early for one's exams or irrevocably change one's chances in a bad way.
Get to it!
SCHOOL VISITS
At the end of this month is the NACAC Conference in Baltimore where some 4000 universities will congregate. I have asked my assistant to email all students the link to register for this online meeting. If you want to meet with the schools you are applying to, please join. Get all details from Ms. THOMPSON at edu@versan.org.
MASTER CLASSES
I have not taught any classes this term, but I am about to conduct a Master Class for October exam takers. It will be between September 10 -15. I will anchor the time and date with Ms. Thompson.
NOTICES
Read below, just too many.
See you next week.
Sandra,
You’re invited to join Cornell University, Emory University, Pomona College, Rice University and Washington University in St. Louis to hear about our distinctive learning opportunities and dynamic communities. Each of our schools is unique, but we are united in our commitment to support counselors, students and families as they navigate the college admission process. We look forward to seeing you!
Sunday, September 17 at 8 p.m. ET (focused on international audiences)
Wednesday, September 27 at 8 p.m. ET (focused on domestic audiences)
Sandra,Greetings from the Georgia Institute of Technology!
The GT Counselor Buzz is here to provide you with all the information you need regarding changes to our admission process, application data, resources, special opportunities to visit campus, and more.
New this year:
Georgia Tech applicants now have the opportunity to submit up to four optionalletters of recommendation, one from a counselor, up to two from academic instructors, and one from another recommender.
The College of Sciences now offers degrees in Solid Earth and Planetary Science, Environmental Science, and Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences.
Check out these brief, insightful reads below and best wishes for a successful start to the new year!Go Jackets!Danielle Foote
Assistant Director for Early Outreach
P.S. I would love to hear from you if you have general questions, suggestions for our office, or ideas on new ways we might collaborate to bridge the gap from your doors to ours.Upcoming Events and Campus VisitsPreview Georgia Tech Open House
This open house event is for high school seniors who are interested in majors within the College of Design, College of Sciences, Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts, and Scheller College of Business. Students can
Friday, September 29, 2023
Tour Georgia Tech
We would love to see you on campus this fall, whether you would like to bring your counseling department for a tour or bring students to experience all Georgia Tech has to offer. Register Now Georgia Tech’s Admission Statistics and Enrollment RatesUse our Admission Snapshot tool to view Georgia Tech’s admission statistics and enrollment rates for your region and state. Georgia counselors can also access data for their specific high school.
Dear Colleague,
Hope you are doing well, and thank you for everything you do to support your students throughout high school! As your students prepare to embark on their journey to college in the coming months, UChicago is here to serve as a resource for you and your colleagues. You are invited to join us for a series of virtual workshops to help you prepare your students for the months ahead. All times are listed in Central Daylight Time—please feel free to invite any colleagues that you think would be interested as well! UChicago Letters of Recommendation Workshop with Dean of Admissions, Jim Nondorf: Join Dean of Admissions Jim Nondorf to hear tips and tricks on writing effective counselor and teacher recommendations. You will also have the opportunity to gain insight into how they are used in the admissions process.
Wednesday, October 4, 5pm: Register here
UChicago Letters of Recommendation Workshop: Join a representative from the University of Chicago Office of College Admissions, to hear tips and tricks on writing effective counselor and teacher recommendations, as well as recommendations' role in the admissions process.
Wednesday, September 13, 7am: Register here
Thursday, October 12, 5pm: Register here
UChicago Case Studies: Join two UChicago admissions counselors for a case studies workshop. Attendees will have the opportunity to review several mock application files (including UChicago's Uncommon Essays!) through the eyes of an admissions counselor and advocate for which student(s) they would like to admit.
Wednesday, September 20, 5pm: Register here
Tuesday, October 17, 7am: Register here
Hope you can join us! UChicago admissions counselors are looking forward to interacting with you during our fall travel season - both on the road and virtually. If you have any questions, suggestions for improvements, or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your regional admissions counselor. We are here to help support your students every step of the way!
Sincerely,
Peter Wilson, AB’10, MBA’17 Assistant Vice President Deputy Dean & Executive Director of Undergraduate Admissions
THE LATEST FROM NOTRE DAMEGreetings from Notre Dame!
We hope your academic year is off to a great start. Our campus is once again buzzing with student activity and we look forward to sharing the latest from Notre Dame with you throughout the school year.
Thanks for reading and for your continued partnership. We wish you all a successful year. Notre Dame is Test-Optional for the 2024 and 2025 Application Cycles
We have extended our test-optional admissions practice through the 2025 application year. Our application opened August 1 and students may apply for admission via the Common Application, the Coalition Application, or the QuestBridge Application. Click below for application instructions and visit our website for some essay writing advice from a Notre Dame admissions counselor.
College Application WorkshopsThis summer we hosted a series of college application workshops to help high school seniors with their college search.
All sessions were recorded and are a great resource for students as they begin the college application process.
Counselors are Traveling to an Area Near You
Notre Dame admissions counselors are traveling across the United States and around the world. Visit our website to see if we have a visit planned near you. And don't forget to check back often for upcoming events!
Global Scholars Program for Sophomores and JuniorsHigh school sophomores and juniors can earn college credit online this fall in our virtual Global Scholars program.
Students will immerse themselves in the ND global community, learning from Notre Dame International faculty from ND Global Gateways around the world!
Need-based full tuition scholarships and application fee waivers are available to students who qualify. Financial Aid Request Forms should be completed by a parent or legal guardian and are due September 15, 2023.
Applications are live now and close September 15, 2023.
Admissions and
Application
Updates Below are several updates to our application and processes for the coming year.
Notre Dame Application Updates:
On the ND application, applicants will be asked to record up to three majors of interest. They should still list their primary major of interest in the first slot.
This year, the Notre Dame Writing Section consists of responses to two (2) brief essay questions and three (3) short-answer responses to questions the applicant selects from the options provided.
If applicants are interested in being considered for Merit Scholarships, we encourage them to apply to us in Restrictive Early Action (Deadline November 1) instead of Regular Decision (Deadline January 1).
Staffing Update:
Our admissions staff are now managing their own domestic and international territories. Follow this link to learn who your territory manager is.
On that same note, our regional team emails will soon become defunct. Moving forward, the best way to contact our office is through admissions@nd.edu or through your regional manager. Debra Johns Appointed Assistant Vice President for Undergraduate Admission. We are pleased to announce that Debra Johns has been appointed to the position of assistant vice president for undergraduate admissions following a national search. She will assume the position September 5.
Dear Colleague:
I am pleased to announce the 48th annual Boston University Trustee Scholarship Competition. For more than four decades, the Boston University Trustee Scholars Program has attracted students with outstanding academic ability from around the world.
Trustee Scholars rank at the top of their classes and demonstrate exceptional leadership in their schools and communities. Scholarship recipients are selected by a faculty committee from a competitive pool of applicants after rigorous review. The Trustee Scholarship covers full undergraduate tuition plus orientation and mandatory undergraduate student fees for four years.
I invite you to encourage your highest achieving students to apply for the Trustee Scholarship. To be considered, students must submit their application for admission with one Trustee Scholarship essay by December 1, 2023. More information about the Trustee Scholarship can be found on our website.
If you have any additional questions, please contact my office at 617-353-4492 or intadmis@bu.edu.
Best wishes,
Anne Corriveau
Director of International Admissions
Dear Colleagues,
It's hard to believe a new school year has already begun! We've just wrapped up New Student Orientation for our incoming first-years and thought you might like a peek at what this new class looks like. We're proud to say the class of 2027 is the most diverse in Penn's history!
Class of 2027 Quick Stats
16% International Students 19% First-Generation
20% Estimated Pell-Eligible 57% Students of Color
While these broad numbers don't begin to paint a picture of the complexity and depth of our students, we hope this snapshot is helpful in demonstrating our sincere commitment to enrolling a talented, vibrant, and diverse class across all spectrums. Wishing you a wonderful semester ahead, Penn Admissions
Dear Sandra,
As we embark on a unique admission cycle, we’ve put together some important points and resources to provide guidance to those who may be interested in applying for financial aid at the University of Miami.
Be sure to review the video above, which goes over how we at UM are handling the new FAFSA application process and what it means for your students. These changes impact every post secondary institution that issues Federal financial aid.
To share these updates, right click the graphic above and click Save Image As.
Don't hesitate to utilize my colleagues and me as a resource. Visit miami.edu/MeetOurStaff to locate your designated admission counselor by territory.
Sincerely,
Nate Crozier Assistant Vice President Office of Undergraduate Admission and Marketing admissions.miami.edu
Early admissions deadlines brief
When Common App launched our data warehouse nearly three years ago, it gave us the ability to look at real-time emerging trends in college admissions as Common App sees them.
In our latest research paper from our Data Analytics and Research team, we explore the growing prevalence of applying early (applying either Early Action or Early Decision) and the characteristics of students who use and do not use early deadlines. Overall, early admission application deadlines can be beneficial tools for both students and colleges. Many colleges and universities offer early admission decision deadlines, including Early Decision (ED) and Early Action (EA). These deadlines allow a) applicants to signal top choices and gain early clarity on admissions offers, and b) institutions to gather timely projections for their entering classes.
While previous work from Common App showed differences in the composition of application pools across deadlines, there is still more to learn about who does and does not choose to apply early.
Overall findings from this brief include:
Our data show that early admission application deadlines are growing in popularity. Early Decision (ED) and Early Action (EA) deadlines have grown slightly more popular in recent years. Only 13% of applicants submitted at least one ED application in 2022-23 (compared to 11% in 2014-15). Meanwhile, over half (53%) applied EA in 2022-23 (up from 45% in 2014-15).
However, we see that, on average, underrepresented students submitted their first application later in the season than their peers applying to the same institutions. While early deadlines are increasingly popular overall and may confer admissions advantages for students, our data show that applicants historically underrepresented in higher education generally appear to make their college application decisions later in the process.
Our data also show that students residing in higher-income and higher-educated communities are more likely to apply early. Using data from the American Community Survey (2017–2021 5-year estimates), we find that students residing in the most highly educated communities (wherein at least 80% of adults held a bachelor’s degree (BA)) were more likely than those in other communities to apply ED or EA.
Because of its binding nature, Early Decision is less common than Early Action. As applicants aim to optimize admissions chances at their target institutions, it is important to understand who is and is not using these deadlines in their application strategies. Our results indicate that trends vary meaningfully across ED and EA deadlines, such that ED applying is substantially less common than EA applying.
News and announcements
Updated fraud policy
Common App is committed to advancing integrity in the admissions process. Common App now has a fraud policy that explains our definition of fraud and our process for handling reports of fraud. We encourage all counselors and advisors to familiarize themselves and their students with the policy. Report any incidences of suspected fraud through our Fraud Allegation Form.
Getting ready for a fresh year
What’s new with Common App? In support of Common App’s mission to increase access, equity, and integrity in the college admissions process, we have made a range of enhancements to the first-year application and recommender system and the transfer application for 2023–2024. This includes enhancements to Account settings, the "My Colleges" feature, and the Common App tab. Explore the latest updates here.
2023-2024 Common App map. The map is back! We're excited to present counselors with a redesigned Common App map, a valuable college exploration tool to display in their offices. Our aim is to showcase the wide range of college options open to students. This year, in addition to the national first-year map, we are introducing a national transfer map along with regional first-year maps.
New maps for 2023-2024 will begin shipping in early September. You can place your order now for delivery in September.
Approaching the activities section video. We’re excited to launch our first instructional application video for the 2023-2024 year! Join a member of our team as they walk you through the activities section in the Common App. And this is just the beginning! Keep an eye on our YouTube channel for more videos coming your way during the application season!
Planning ahead
Counselor chat and coffee with Common App
Heading to Baltimore this September for the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) Conference? We invite high school counselors and college access professionals to join us for a pre-conference meet-up. Join us on Thursday, September 21, from 9:00 to 10:00 am ET for a morning of coffee, refreshments, and engaging conversations. Location details will be shared after registration.
Common App is committed to lowering barriers for students pursuing higher education. We're eager to learn how to better support you in connecting your students with college and scholarship opportunities. Come meet our Education & Training team, other Common App staff, and discover what's new for 2023-2024. Share your feedback and ideas as we continue to evolve the application and recommender experience. Don't forget to register to confirm your attendance – we're looking forward to meeting you!
#WhyApply Day 2023
The Common App team is excited to join the annual #WhyApply Day celebration, led by our friends at the American College Application Campaign (ACAC). This day serves as a reminder of the opportunities that college education brings and reassures students that they're not alone in this process.
ACAC has prepared a helpful toolkit for you to create your own celebration with your students. Find out how to participate on Friday, September 22nd. Show your support by wearing college gear and sharing why you applied to college, using the hashtag #WhyApply on social media.
Looking back
August rewind
Common App welcomes new members for 2023-2024. We launched the 2023–2024 application season with 50 new member colleges and universities, including 15 Minority-Serving Institutions for students to explore! Catch up on what's new in our latest blog post.
PTK REACH Blog. In a recent blog post by Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), Common App’s Batanya Gipson, Program Director, Transfer and Community College shared tips for students considering transferring from a community college to a four-year institution.
#CommonAppDay. On August 1, we celebrated Common App Day, a kickoff for students reaching for their college dreams. A big thank you to everyone who joined in the fun. Remember, it's never too late to celebrate your students. Check out the celebration using the #CommonAppDay hashtag.
#MemberMonday. We continue to highlight members of the Common App on #MemberMonday on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and Threads. This month, we would like to recognize Baylor University, Western Connecticut State University, and Cheyney University for their continued support in getting students one step closer to their dreams.
What Common App is reading
Higher Ed Dive: Here’s the latest findings from Common App’s direct admissions experiment
LA Times: What former first-gen students wish they knew about college
Newsweek: Where Do We Go Now That Race-Based Admissions Policies Are Overturned?
Higher Ed Dive: 1 in 4 students never finish their college applications. Why?
Save the date
21-23
SEP
Baltimore, MD
16-18
OCT
Dallas, TX
19-20
OCT
Riverside, CA
22-24
OCT
Frisco, TX
26-28
OCT
Daytona, FL
Fall updates from Brown
Dear Colleague,
Greetings from Brown University. The last time we reached out to you, we shared the official communication of Brown’s President, Christina H. Paxson, in response to the recent Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action. President Paxson’s statement reflected upon the values that Brown University knows to be true about our mission, students and community. We acknowledge that given the recent ruling, the year ahead will present many unique challenges for both students and those who support them. To help students as they navigate the college search and application process, we’ll continue to offer an array of ways for students and their families to connect with Brown and stay informed. This year provides us the opportunity to offer expanded virtual programming while also getting back into a robust fall travel schedule. We’re eager to connect with students, school counselors, and community based organizations across the globe – both virtually and in-person. Your partnership is greatly appreciated as we navigate the new landscape in which we find ourselves and to meet students on uncharted ground. As we look forward to the year ahead, we are excited about the transformative academic experiences that await the students who will eventually become the newest members of the Class of 2028 at Brown. Resources for the 2023-24 Admission Cycle
Brown’s test-optional policy for 2023-2024
Virtual and in-person visit programming for prospective students
Resources for parents/guardians and families of prospective applicants
Need-Blind and No-Loan Financial Aid Commitment
Our commitment to access and opportunity for all students, regardless of family financial circumstances, remains as strong as ever. Financial support for our students continues to be one of our highest priorities. We take pride in Brown’s world-class educational experience strengthened by our community of scholars representing a vast array of perspectives. We actively seek students from a broad range of socioeconomic, geographic and ideological backgrounds. Brown meets 100 percent of demonstrated financial need and through The Brown Promise Initiative, we have eliminated packaged loans from all undergraduate financial aid awards, helping us to ensure that financial considerations do not prevent talented students from choosing Brown.
Simplified FAFSA
Please know that the Office of Financial Aid is working to implement the new FAFSA and all of its provisions into Brown’s financial aid program to ensure a seamless transition for students and their families. Though the new FAFSA will not be available for Early Decision financial aid offers, the CSS Profile will allow students and families to have a minimum estimated financial aid package. Brown’s FAFSA Simplification webpage will be updated as details emerge from the Department of Education.
Extenuating Circumstances and Extensions
Application deadline extensions are available for students who have been impacted by natural disasters, community tragedies or extenuating circumstances. Please know that students will not be disadvantaged in the admission process for delays caused by events beyond their control. The same flexibility and support extends to you, as well as teachers and other school officials who may be submitting letters of recommendation or other application materials on behalf of students applying to Brown. For any questions regarding extenuating circumstances, fee waivers, or extensions, contact admission@brown.edu or 401-863-2378.
We’re grateful to you for your partnership, and we look forward to working with you this academic year.
Sincerely,
Logan Powell
Dean of Admission and Associate Provost for Enrollment
Brown University
UNC Asheville Featured in The Princeton Review’s “Best 389 Colleges for 2024”
UNC Asheville has once again solidified its standing as a premier institution of higher education, earning prominent placements in The Princeton Review’s annual college rankings. The University’s excellence in health services, conservation, and civic engagement helped earn impressive rankings in the 2024 edition. These include:
#5 Best Health Services
#6 Green Matters: Everyone Cares About Conservation
#6 Most Politically Active Students
#14 Most Engaged in Community Service
Lights, camera, action! Take a look at our new 30-second video highlighting a few of our favorite things about UNC Asheville—like small classrooms, dedicated mentors, hands-on learning, and natural beauty.
Watch>Cosmic Connections
This summer, three UNC Asheville students got a chance to hold pieces of the night sky—and pieces of history—in their hands, by completing undergraduate research at the birthplace of modern cosmology.
Learn More ›Mentorship and Exploration
A dedicated life-long learner, UNC Asheville alumna Maegan Spencer is now working as a product design engineer at Apple, where she’s leading a mechanical engineering team focused on health-related hardware.
More from Around Campus
Space Exploration: UNC Asheville Assistant Professor of Physics David Wake receives grant to use James Webb Space Telescope to search for distant galaxies
First Johnson-Baker Scholarships Awarded to Master of Public Health Students
UNC Asheville Featured in Fiske Guide to Colleges 2024
North Carolina Center for Health and Wellness Receives CDC Grant to Support the Prevention and Management of Arthritis Statewide
Let's Get Down to Business: UNC Asheville’s Department of Business Evolves to Put Students on the Leading Edge
Summer Adventures: UNC Asheville Students and Faculty Study Abroad
Welcoming New Faculty 2023
Building Bulldogs: UNC Asheville’s Pre-College Programs Inspire Tomorrow’s Students
Summer Undergraduate Research: Transfer Student Research Grant Allows Undergraduate Research Into Rare, Imperiled Carnivorous Plants
Award-Winning Faculty and Staff 2023
Idea Exchange: Delegates from North Macedonia Visit UNC Asheville
Activating Indigenous Beats: Hip Hop Nativo Festival brings Indigenous Artists and Educators to Campus
Events
Aug. 31-Sept. 14: Exhibition: STEAM Studio, Six Years in the Making
News from Athletics
UNC Asheville to Join ASUN Swimming & Diving
Nao Kawasaki Named Big South Conference Offensive Player of the Week
Albertine van der Goot Named Big South Freshman of the Week
Volleyball Notches a Pair of Victories on Saturday
Celebrate Founders Day early this year during our Founders Day Scholarship Drive! UNC Asheville awarded $2,006,552.68 of scholarship support to Bulldogs during the 2022-2023 academic year, and we want to help even more students this year.
To help us achieve this goal, Patricia Castaldo MacKinnon '07 will give $25,000 to establish the Castaldo MacKinnon Scholarship for first-generation UNC Asheville students when 50 donors make a gift before midnight on September 12!
Help us celebrate UNC Asheville's 96th birthday with a gift of any size to unlock this incredible new scholarship. Your generosity will change a first-generation Bulldog's life forever.
Dear Sandra, Registration is open for the Fall NACAC Virtual College Fairs!
You and your students are invited to attend the first NACAC Virtual College Fair of the fall on Sunday, September 10 from 1-6 p.m. (ET)!
Register now for free!Register Now for Free
The virtual fair is a great opportunity to connect with colleges and pursue your college dreams. Have a quick video chat with a rep, drop in on a virtual presentation, send a question through chat - make a connection YOUR way! Our fairs will also feature MatchMaking! At the time of registration, you will select the attributes that are most important to you in a college. You'll then receive an email that best matches you to the specific colleges and universities based on the criteria you provide. Reference this email on the day of the fair to connect with your best matches! Be sure to register early to take advantage of this great feature! Check out a video on how it all works!
We look forward to seeing you on February 19!
P.S. Interested in attending one of our in-person college fairs this season? Scroll down for more information!
Best wishes,
NACAC Virtual College Fairs team
In-Person College Fairs
NACAC is offering several in-person National College Fairs this fall. You can register and find our full schedule here. If your state isn’t on the list, we may be headed your way in the spring of 2024!
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