Filtering the information overload

Welcome back to our monthly newsletter about what students should be working on this month, important news in higher education, and other resources we feel are important to share. Enjoy!

• Begin developing your Activities List: If you haven’t started yet, March is a great time to begin crafting your activities list for the Common Application. Other applications may require a similar list, with different questions or character limits (like the University of California application), but the Common App list can serve as a solid foundation to build upon when needed. There are only 10 spaces, and the description of each activity is limited to 150 characters (that’s right, barely over half a Tweet). In general, the activities list is simply a detailed resume highlighting how students have engaged outside of the classroom throughout high school. Our venerated intern (and recent NYU graduate!) offers some sage advice to peers about how to approach activities list development. Students who are working with us have access to a template worksheet to use for their activities list. If you are navigating the process on your own, feel free to reach out to us for access to our worksheets!

• Plan for summer engagement: While we firmly believe that students need a brain break over the summer, we also know that the time can be spent in productive and engaging ways. It’s important to do something–anything–over the summer, beyond binge-watching TV shows and movies and hanging out with friends. Some things to consider include pre-college programming on a college campus, learning a new skill (like a coding language, for example), developing and engaging in a passion project, working a part-time or full-time job, conducting research in a lab at a local university, volunteer work, traveling, etc. What colleges hope to see is meaningful engagement, so do something you love!

• Register/prepare for standardized tests (ACT, SAT, AP, IB): April is a great time to start studying for AP and IB testing. Students should also continue preparing for the SAT or ACT. Remember to sign up for exams early and keep your eye out for emails about materials needed to complete the registration process! Even though many schools will remain test-optional, we strongly encourage all students to take the ACT and/or SAT at least once in order to keep all admission and scholarship doors open. This blog can help you understand college testing policies. You can register for the ACT HERE and the SAT HERE. If you are interested in utilizing our self-paced test-prep software, please reach out to discuss how to enroll in this a la carte service.

  • If committing to test prep feels daunting, but you know you could use some support in preparing for the exam, check out these 3-hour SAT crash courses! They’re $85 each, and you can get 10% off if you take both (math and English)

• Continue formulating your College List: The College List is the list of schools to which a student plans to apply. We anticipate students having a fairly finalized college list by June, when we begin the essay writing process. As a reminder, there are over 4,000 colleges in the USA alone, and most students will apply to somewhere between 8 and 12 of them. Students who work with Virtual College Counselors are expected to build a balanced college list, including likely, target, and reach schools. Regardless of which category each school falls into, every school on a student’s list should be one they would be excited to attend. Lastly, much like College Fit, it is normal and healthy for the College List to develop and change over time (just like a student). If you need more information about how to research colleges to build a balanced list, check out our blog!

• Finalize senior year classes: If you haven’t already done so, it’s important to finalize your senior year classes before the end of April. In general, colleges want to see 4 years of math and English, 3+ years of history and science, and 2+ years of a foreign language. If you’re interested in any of the public universities in California, you’ll also need to be sure that you have a full year of a visual or performing arts course to be eligible to apply. Students interested in selective institutions should also be taking as many rigorous courses as they can do well in, and that often means students should be getting through Calculus and Physics in high school.

• Request letters of recommendation: You don’t need to start requesting letters until after spring break, but since you’ll be asking your junior-year teachers for recommendations, now is a good time to ensure your teachers know who you are. Ask questions and participate in class, hone your study skills to perform well in your courses, and start considering which teachers may know you best. Some colleges specify which subject areas a teacher letter of recommendation can come from, others will allow you to choose. As you’re building your college list, start taking note of this requirement so your decision can be easy and more informed at the end of the school year. Here’s some advice on how to request letters.

• Check your college portals: While many colleges will publish on social media and keep students informed of when decisions will be released, others won’t. It’s important to keep tabs on your prospective student portals to ensure all pieces of your application have been received, and also because some schools will post admission decisions before informing you to check.

• Keep us updated: It likely goes without saying, but we want to keep hearing from you about all decisions. We are here to celebrate the offers of admission, and to navigate deferrals and waitlists. We are also here to support you if you hear less favorable news from your schools. In any case, we are so proud of the work seniors have put into this process, and we know you all will have many incredible options on the table by the time you’re tasked with making a final decision in April. Here is some advice to understand college decisions and next steps.

• Plan to visit top choice colleges: Once you’ve narrowed down your top few choices, if you haven’t had a chance to yet, it’s time to plan a visit to the campuses. Getting a chance to explore the campus, try their food, and ask questions in person can help students determine which school may be the best fit for them. Oftentimes, these final college visits help make the decision process easier. Most colleges have an Admitted Students Day (or weekend), where students will have a chance to engage on campus beyond the typical information session and campus tour, and we encourage you to attend these events (if they are financially feasible) for the institutions of interest.

• Digitize your college admission & financial aid letters: For students working with us directly, Please remember to send us PDFs or screenshots of your college admissions notifications and financial aid award letters as you receive them. Students are encouraged to put these digital documents into their Virtual College Counselors Work Folder in Google Drive. When we meet later this semester, we will utilize this information to help you make informed college decisions, and also help to negotiate for more aid when needed.

• Engage in meaningful extracurricular activities: Freshman and sophomore years are when students can build strong foundations for their application narratives by pursuing extracurriculars of interest. This can include sports, school clubs, learning an instrument, working, volunteering, and any other activity that enables personal development and growth.

• Develop your study skills: Study skills are critical to hone in the early years of high school. Consider how you learn best, how you perform on different kinds of exams, and any opportunities for growth you can identify. Now is the time to start creating systems and habits that maximize your academic performance.

• Consider touring local colleges: It’s never too early to start touring colleges! Visiting college campuses and attending their information sessions and campus tours can be a great way to get inspired and begin to identify what you may be looking for in a college experience.

• Maintain good grades (and ask for help when needed): Prioritizing doing well academically in the first couple years of high school will best set students up for academic success later on. GPAs are, by definition, grade point averages, so if your grades begin to slip in the early years of high school, it will become increasingly challenging to improve your GPA over time. If you’re struggling in a class, remember you can always ask for help!

For the last several years, Jess has joined and led lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill for better higher education legislation. She’s heading back to DC later this month to continue these efforts, and her still-salient op-ed in USA Today1 is a little peek into current legislation shortcomings:

College admissions offices take on a new role: Coaxing accepted students to show up As enrollment continues to decline at most institutions across the US and competition for student enrollment increases, college admission teams are shifting from their stance as gatekeepers and into more of a guide role. Beyond reviewing applications, many admissions staff are helping students navigate financial aid, class registration, housing, and other logistics to ensure that enrolled students actually matriculate and show up in the fall. This shift is intended to reduce barriers and boost enrollment, and win-win for both students and institutions.

Students Are Skipping the Hardest Part of Growing Up Widespread use of AI for written communication is weakening the development of social and relational skills. These tools often craft polished responses that are atypical of genuine human interaction and engagement, leading to real interpersonal exchanges feeling harder and less satisfying. Young people leaning on AI to navigate social experiences often results in skipping the challenging, messy, and uncomfortable parts of building relationships (like dealing with conflict, discomfort, and misunderstanding), which are essential experiences to foster empathy, patience, and resilience.

Amplifying Student Success: Systemic Issues In High School Counseling School counselors play a vital role in supporting overall student success through academic planning and college/career guidance, in addition to providing mental health support. Their caseloads are often overwhelming, and their responsibilities even more so, leading to limited individualized and comprehensive support and attention that students need to thrive. Side note: please remember to thank your school counselor for writing letters of recommendation and submitting required documentation in the college application process. A hand-written thank you note goes a long way!

How to Choose the Right College Counselor for Your Kid Our colleague, Mark (MSquared Counseling), explains in beautiful terms how we see our role in working with students: “I think of myself as an admissions wilderness guide. I can save time and energy by helping clear a path to the other side, showing you memorable sites you might not discover otherwise, and keeping you out of the quicksand. The families who benefit most want a partner for research and application storytelling, a filter for the information overload, and an objective voice that helps keep things calm at home.”

One of the nicest compliments we receive is when a family we’ve worked with tells their friends, family, colleagues, neighbors, and acquaintances about us. The college search and application process can feel incredibly overwhelming and confusing, and many families don’t even realize that personal guidance is available until they’re already experiencing looming deadlines, essays, and decision paralysis. Having someone to help students stay organized and on task, meet deadlines, reflect on their strengths, and build a thoughtful and informed college list can make the whole experience far less stressful for students and parents.

Know someone who could use our guidance? Here’s how you can help:

• Forward this newsletter to someone with a high school student

• Introduce us via email

• Share our website and contact information with families who can benefit from our support

Your referrals allow us to continue helping students find colleges where they will truly thrive. Thank you for being an integral part of our community!

Virtual College Counselors believes every student and family should have access to expert advice on the college search and application journey, regardless of any financial or time constraints. By signing up for our newsletter, in addition to monthly college search and application updates, you will also receive a Free College Search Starter Kit containing the following guides:
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​- The College Application Timeline
- Discovering College Fit
- College Essay Tips
- Common College Essay Pitfalls
- Introduction to Financial Aid 101

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