Focus on What You Can Control in College Admissions

We are swimming in unchartered waters. With the Supreme Court decision banning affirmative action and Legacy under review, many prospective applicants are scratching their heads. What does this mean for my application? Will this make it harder for me to get in? Or make it easier for me to get in? How will this impact the diversity that I want on campus? What does it all mean?

We’ve been in uncharted waters before very recently. When Covid first came out, there were more questions than answers. And rightfully so, we found a way to get through it. The old adage, “Control what you can control and let go of the rest” applies to this year. We can’t control what the Supreme Court just decided. Just like we couldn’t control Covid.

Click here to read about what you can control in Lisa's most recent blog post.

College Admissions is Not Fair

Let’s Get A Few Things Straight (about College Admission)

Rick Clark, the Assistant Vice Provost and Executive Director of Undergraduate Admission at Georgia Tech, also explores what you can and can't control in college admissions and why the process has never been fair.

Read the full article here

An Updated List of Test-Optional Schools

Although most schools will remain test-optional next year, Florida's public universities will continue to require test scores along with MIT, Georgetown, Georgia Tech, and University of Tennessee. Below is an updated list, which includes colleges that have pledged to go test-optional for the 2023- 2024 admissions cycle or have made this permanent change.

Click here to see the full list

And here is a list of top colleges that still require test scores

Upcoming ACT and SAT Dates

Click here for the list of ACT and SAT Dates for 2023-2024

Visiting College Campuses

As students return to campuses in August and September, this is a great time to plan college visits. With some colleges still offering limited tours, it is important to plan accordingly and book ahead.

Click here for an awesome resource to help schedule tours.

Why College, Why Academic Interest Essay?

Many admissions professionals say that they read the "Why School?" essay first. They want to see if you, as an applicant, truly know why you want to attend the school other than its excellent reputation, outstanding location, or world-renowned faculty.

Watch the video OR click here to read the full article.

Importance of a Clean Social Media Footprint

As social media, for better or for worse, continues to strongly impact our society, it's vital to be mindful of how you portray yourself--especially for the college, internship, job, etc. application process.

Below are two articles that emphasize this point:

6 Reasons You Should Clean Up Your Social Media Pages BEFORE College

Hey grads, clean up your social (media) life before you get to campus or your new job

What We're Reading

I Am Bringing Back My Mother’s 80s List for Bored Kids

College Visits

CBM Revisits University of Maryland

Lisa recently revisited the University of Maryland, College Park, and learned all about the school's recent changes and newest initiatives.

Click here to read the updated blog!

Volunteer Opportunities

We are getting a lot of questions about volunteer opportunities. VolunteerCrowd is a great place to start.

Additionally, they provide this informative guide on how to earn The President's Volunteer Service Award (PVSA).

Click here to learn more

And if you live in New Jersey and want to help with food insecurity, St. Joseph in Elizabeth is always looking for donations and volunteers.

Please contact Corey Wu-Jung, Food Director at St. Joseph Social Services, at cwujung@sjeliz.org

Our Current Favorite Podcast

Mayim Bialik's Breakdown

Mental health is always on our minds. We are loving this podcast because Bialik's wide range of guests welcome us into their personal lives and candidly share how they have learned to navigate their own struggles with success.

Click here to learn more and download/watch/listen to an episode.

CBM Rising Seniors, Don't Forget to Sign up for Application Boot Camp!

We know that your time is limited, so we would like to jump-start or finalize your applications in a streamlined fashion. We will be available to answer questions and help you enter your activities into the Common Application and other apps with the goal of completing this by the end of the session. We are offering many sessions throughout August and September. Register below by clicking on the link below. Once there, click on "Book Bootcamps" on the left. *This is for CBM clients only.

What's Happening Now

Rising Seniors:

Good luck as you work on your essays and applications. Remember, we are always here to help you.

Rising Juniors:

Take a deep breath and get ready for a challenging but hopefully exciting year. We are available to help you develop your summer plans, college list, and plans for the coming year.

Rising Sophomores and Freshmen:

Enjoy the rest of summer and the beginning of a new school year. We are ready to help you find your unique angle for success.

BOOK NOW

Now available in hardcover, paperback & Kindle versions!

Follow the journeys of eleven students as they navigate the college application process and search for the right fit schools. Getting into their heads as they make decisions about which extracurricular activities to pursue, which schools to apply to, and which topics to choose for their essays will help you think about your own process in a more strategic way. Order Here.

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