Don't Know Your Favorite Schools Yet? Start Here

It’s getting down to crunch time. You’re in your senior year, still have a long college list, and still don’t know which schools you truly want to attend. While your consultant or parent or next-door neighbor can’t pick a school for you, we can give a few strategies on how to narrow down the list.

Take some time to really think about the absolute must-haves for your college search. This is going to be different for each student. We always say there is no perfect college. Our advice is to trust your gut for which schools feel right and check off those must-have factors. Do you see yourself up late on a Tuesday night deeply invested in a biology research lab? Then start to hone in on the schools that have research opportunities for undergraduates. After a long week of classes, would you desperately want to go off campus to sit down for a nice meal? Maybe a school in a college town is right for you. Have you always dreamed of cheering on the home team on a football Saturday? Circle those schools on your list that have great school spirit. Your recipe for what makes a great school might be different from others. Once you take care of your essentials, you can compromise on the things that are nice to have but not as important for you.

For many students and families, you will get a definitive picture of affordability once you’re accepted and receive a merit scholarship or a financial aid package. There might be some schools that you were less interested in before that all of a sudden become financially attractive options. Make sure to have another family discussion so everyone is on the same page when it comes down to decision time.

Rest assured that there are a lot of great colleges for you. Millions of students have attended a wide range of schools, had memorable experiences, and gone on to accomplish their goals. You can choose the school that you feel is right for you right now, but remember that your time in college is ultimately what you make of it when you arrive on campus.

Ask the Consultant: Should I Add More Reach Schools to My List?

You’ve probably read some headlines or heard rumors that colleges are desperate to meet their enrollment numbers or are struggling financially. Some of the chatter is true, so maybe you’re now thinking that of all the years to apply to college, this is your year to get into your dream school.

According to Georgia Tech Director of Undergraduate Admission Rick Clark, myriad factors could lead to higher acceptance rates in this application cycle. In some ways, this is great for students who might want more options. However, as Clark explicitly covers in his blog, this does not mean that the country’s most selective institutions will all of a sudden be scrambling for more applicants and doubling their acceptance rates. Students and parents should understand that admission is still something that you earn. Millions of students worldwide are competing for these highly selective spots. Colleges want to maintain their high standards.

Schools that were Most Selective before the pandemic are still exactly that. It’s fine to have high aspirations but remember that even though college admissions will look a little different in the COVID-19 era and beyond, it’s important to have a balanced college list. Being realistic hasn’t changed.

To read Clark’s full blog post, use the link here: Georgia Tech Blog.

We are the Real College Matters

There’s no copying the real thing!!

Yes, there is another company using our name — calling themselves the Real College Matters.

Make no mistakes. We have been in the business of educational consulting for over a decade and have guided thousands of students through the college and graduate school process.

And in this time of COVID, we understand that the landscape of higher education is changing. So whether students are on a real college campus or not, we’re prepared to give them the sound advice and guidance that they are craving.

We are College Matters. The first — and the only! But, hey, imitation is the best form of flattery!!

Students: Get Together With Your Parents for Virtual Visits

Our students are well aware of the virtual ways to learn about colleges. There’s just one thing missing—their parents. While it’s great that students are independent, having both the student and parents sit down for the virtual visits can be a great bonding experience, and be very productive.

Students and parents can work together to ask admission officers the right questions, discuss impressions about the schools, and have a real dialogue about where the search is going. Based on those conversations, students can then narrow down their lists and do more research on the schools in which they’re interested.

If you are comfortable, and the college allows it, do a drive together through the campus. See what the surrounding town is like. Gauge how you feel about the distance from home, the campus, the weather. Take some of what you’re seeing with a grain of salt because most campuses aren’t at full capacity right now. After you visit and do your research, share your opinions with your consultant. We’ve seen hundreds of colleges and universities around the country and abroad as a staff, and we’re continuing to visit them virtually, just like you are.

FERPA: Should I Waive My Right to See My Recommendations?

When you are filling out your Common Application or Coalition Application, you are asked whether or not you will waive your right to review any recommendations submitted to a college on your behalf. Should you?

The answer is yes! Why? Because you are telling your teacher or guidance counselor that you trust them enough to write a positive letter for you. If you don’t, you shouldn’t have selected them! And from the college’s perspective, they know that the letter that they are receiving is genuine and honest — not written knowing that it will be heavily critiqued by a student or family.

Where The College Matters Class of 2020 Is Headed!

We are so proud of all our students in the Class of 2020. Here are their college decisions:

• American University (2)

• Arizona State University

• Bentley University

• Boston College (2)

• Bowdoin College

• Brown University (2)

• Bryant University

• California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo

• Carnegie Mellon University

• Catholic University of America

• Champlain College

• Clemson University

• Colby College

• College of the Holy Cross

• College of William and Mary

• Columbia University

• Cornell University (4)

• Drexel University BS/MD

• Duke University

• Elon University (2)

• Endicott College

• ESADE Ramon Llull University (Spain)

• Fairfield University

• Fashion Institute of Technology

• Fordham University (2)

• Franklin and Marshall College

• Gettysburg College

• Hamilton College

• Haverford College (3)

• Hobart William Smith

• Indiana University

• Iona College

• Ithaca College

• Miami University of Ohio (2)

• Middlebury College

• New York University (3)

• Northeastern University (3)

• Oberlin College

• Ohio State University

• Pennsylvania State University (4)

• Providence College

• Quinnipiac University (2)

• Santa Clara University

• Simmons College

• Stetson University

• St. John’s University

• St. Lawrence University

• Syracuse University (3)

• The University of Tampa

• Tufts University

• Tulane University (2)

• University of Chicago

• University of Cincinnati

• University of Connecticut (6)

• University of Delaware

• University of Maine

• University of Miami

• University of Michigan-Ann Arbor

• University of Notre Dame

• University of Pennsylvania

• University of Rhode Island

• University of Rochester

• University of South Carolina

• University of Vermont (2)

• University of Virginia (2)

• United States Merchant Marine Academy

• Ursinus College

• Villanova University

• Washington University in St. Louis (2)

• Wesleyan University

• Yale University (2)

Tips for the College-Bound Homeschooler

Thinking about homeschooling your high school student? We’ve been working with homeschooled students for over a decade. Here are some thoughts to get you started.

Most colleges welcome homeschoolers.  Their academic records are often strong, they are frequently more mature, and they are distinctive and therefore add to the diversity of the institution.

Colleges will require letters of recommendation from a home-schooled student.  Generally, the parent (or primary instructor) will write the principal/guidance counselor letter for the student.  Most colleges also recommend that the student submit two outside letters of reference.  If a student has taken college courses, asking those professors would be appropriate. Additionally, a letter of recommendation from a community organization, or a private instructor for music, language, or science could also be an appropriate choice.

College reps are sometimes hazy about admission requirements for homeschoolers; it pays to double-check with the homeschool expert in the admissions office.  Many colleges offer a separate section with homeschool guidelines on their website.

Colleges expect homeschoolers to have studied the same subjects with the same rigor expected of other students.  There are canned homeschool curricula, but students don't necessarily have to follow them.  AP courses are offered online as are other college-level courses. 

Many colleges expect a portfolio from a homeschooled student.  While there's no standard, common expectations include a transcript (issued by the school district or some other authority), course syllabi (descriptions, texts read, scientific experiments conducted), sample academic papers, outside reading list.  Colleges are asking homeschooled students to provide concrete evidence of what they’ve done academically, and to include information that will help colleges know the student in other ways.

Colleges want outside confirmation of students' abilities.  Hence standardized tests may carry more weight.  They may require tests (e.g. SAT II) or an interview, requirements that would be optional for other applicants.

States vary in regulations for homeschooled students.  It's a good idea to include a copy of your state's regulations with the application.

Some homeschooled students choose to take the GED since many colleges already accept it and are familiar with how to evaluate it.  Other families reject taking a GED on principle: their student is not a high school dropout after all! Many home-school organizations grant diplomas, so that can be a route to explore as well. That being said, we have worked with many successful college applicants that do not have a high school diploma.

Enrolling in courses at a community college or in a college summer program can demonstrate how well a homeschooled student can perform in college-level coursework.  They can also introduce students to learning environments they'll encounter in college.

While we have found quite the opposite, the bias seems to still exist that homeschooled students must lack social skills. Therefore, colleges may look for good socializing experiences on the student’s resume.  They want students who can interact well with peers and non-family adults, who know about and can respond to competition (often absent from a home-school setting) and who can adjust to being one of many (compared to the 1:1 of most homeschool instruction.)

Because there's no school guidance office with established procedures, homeschool families have to be vigilant and thorough in pursuing the process and checking that applications are complete.

What is the Difference Between A College and A University?

It is a tough question to answer because, in the United States at least, the two terms are often used interchangeably.

“Colleges are smaller!” “Universities award graduate degrees.”

While those statements are often true, there are many exceptions to the rule. Dartmouth College has four graduate divisions and over 6,000 students. Soka University of America has a student body of just over 400 and one very small graduate degree offered.

Frequently, parents that have been educated outside of the US equate the term “college” with a less competitive institution or junior college program, as is the case in their home country. This is not the case. Some of the most selective and highly competitive institutions in the US are small liberal arts colleges.

Our advice? Forget the term and do some digging into the institution’s programs, philosophy, and culture. Otherwise, you’re likely to miss out on a perfect match for you!

Being Educated Doesn’t Just Mean Going to School

Though Covid-19 has significantly impacted many students academically, it has not limited the number of resources available for students to learn on their own. In a College Matters workshop this past spring, our team talked about how an increasing number of competitive colleges are asking applicants to show they are intellectually curious outside of the classroom. This doesn’t mean they are gauging how many extra math problem sets you’re doing. Rather, they are interested in what you are genuinely curious about when you have free time.

Apps like Netflix, Spotify, and YouTube give us more access to content than ever before. Devices like Kindle give us entire books in an instant. Our team highly recommends that students take full advantage of these resources to go beyond what they learned in class or to learn something completely different from traditional academia.

There is no one specific piece of content that colleges are looking for. The key is that you are truly interested in and invested in whatever you choose to consume. Reading the entire article is better than reading a collection of tweets. Go for depth rather than breadth.

Demonstrating intellectual curiosity doesn’t have to take up your entire day. You can make it fit into your life. Listen to a podcast interview with your favorite celebrity during your next car ride. Subscribe and follow sites that have interesting articles. Start each day by taking a few minutes to read those articles. Instead of scrolling through TikTok for the 20th time, take a break and order the new book you’ve been hearing about. Pick a documentary on Netflix or YouTube next time you’re browsing for something to watch. Learn to crochet, tutor a neighbor, take a tour of a museum virtually, research your family genealogy.

Once you make engaging with new material a habit, you will notice yourself become more thoughtful and aware. Instead of saying you heard about something, you can actually have a real discussion on the topics that are important to you. This is exactly what colleges are looking for! Don’t forget to make a list of everything you’re listening to, reading, and watching. You’ll be amazed at how long your list becomes over time.

Tips for Virtual Learning Success

“It’s just for a couple of weeks!” So we thought last spring with the shift to online learning. Students, families, teachers, and districts did their best, thinking that it was only temporary. Now we know, virtual learning, in some form or another is here to stay.

Now, it’s back to school time and most of our students are starting the year with some form of a hybrid model. And they know that they may be fully online again sometime soon.

Like it or not, virtual learning is here to stay. So, here are some tips to start the school year on top of your virtual learning game:

• Set a daily schedule. Allocate study time, breaks, and meals. Move around and get outdoors when possible.

• Put social media breaks into your day. But keep your phone out of your study space.

• Carve out a study space that is quiet and as distraction free as possible.

• Practice structured procrastination. Get the easy, quick tasks out of the way before you tackle the harder items on your list.

• Utilize technology. Online calendars, time trackers, and social media blockers are a godsend for some!

• Take notes. Yes, you may be able to go back to a recorded lecture, but the act of taking notes can help you build a stronger connection with the source text and retain and mold the idea much better.

• Make it interactive. Turn on your camera when in an asynchronous class. Form an online study group.

• Ask for help. Many teachers say that in the online format, it’s harder to determine if a student is confused. Don’t be afraid to speak up.

• Take care of yourself. Virtual learning is different… and can be stressful. If you are struggling, say so. And don’t feel like you have to go it alone. There are lots of us here to support you.