Enjoy the Holidays (Even with Applications in Progress)

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…especially for seniors who have submitted all their applications! We know that very few seniors actually fall into this category, and most are working to finalize theirs. Believe it or not, you can get near the finish line and still enjoy the holidays.

The most effective strategy is to make significant progress on your applications before your holiday celebrations. You will feel a weight lifted off your shoulders knowing you are done or just have to cross some Ts and dot some Is. Getting your work done now would also give your consultant a chance to take one last look at your materials before submitting them for early January deadlines. (Remember, your consultant wants to enjoy the holidays too!) We promise the hot chocolate will taste better when you feel like you earned it.

Thankfully, hot chocolate still tastes amazing, even if you still have work to do. When it’s time to relax, try to minimize distractions—literally. Put all of your application tabs into one window and keep it minimized until it is time to start working again. This way, you can watch Netflix in peace. Make it clear to your friends and family that you will want to push off application and college talk at certain times so you can enjoy the holiday. Schedule time for when you will resume working, so you know that even if you’re not making progress at the moment, you have a plan to later.

While college does matter, we all deserve to take some time to ourselves and connect with family. From the entire College Matters team, we want to wish you a healthy and enjoyable holiday season!

-Betsy, Sarah, Marcy, Gilbert, Katie

How to Deal with a Deferral in Five Steps

When a deferral comes - things can get a bit shaky!

You've been deferred -- and no matter what anyone says to try to lessen the disappointment, it still feels lousy! Your parents are vacillating between trying to be comforting and hitting the panic button. You're staying off of Facebook to avoid all of the "Class of 2023!!!!" posts, even though you are genuinely happy for your friends. Some call it limbo; others call it purgatory. Here are five things you can do to right the ship and get cruising along once again.

1. Take some time for yourself. Just like the bereavement process, you need some time to grieve. That's OK. Go for a hike, binge-watch a series on Netflix, sob with your best friend, devour a pint of Ben and Jerry's "Chocolate Therapy."

2. Reassess. Once your mind is clear, it's time to move forward. We recommend that students take the "you're dead to me" approach to that deferring college until all the rest of their regular decision applications are submitted. Make sure to meet with your college advisor to take a look at your college list one more time. Do you have enough safe options that you genuinely like? 

3. Know the numbers. Traditionally, Yale defers around 50% of those that apply early action while Vanderbilt defers almost no one. Therefore, a Vanderbilt deferral has a much better shot at acceptance in the regular decision pool than the Yale deferral. Many colleges will post these numbers on their website or in an article in the college newspaper. If you can't find them, call the admission office and ask.

4. Move on. Many students find that the "you're dead to me" mindset endures. It is fine to say: if you didn't want to accept me early, I'd rather not go. For others, it's still "I can't get you out of my head." Colleges know this, and that is why we see very few regular decision acceptances after a deferral for students that do not reiterate their interest in attending. 

5. Plead your case. Pull out of the trashcan and uncrumple the deferral letter. Read what it says. Many colleges ask that you stay in touch and update them with new information to enhance your candidacy. These can include senior year grades (hopefully with more As), another teacher letter of recommendation, higher test scores, additional honors and awards, or enhanced extracurriculars. Other colleges ask that you not send anything else. You want to follow this request. If they give you the opportunity to add to your file, do so. Send a letter professing your love of the school and your desire to attend if admitted. Ask one of your senior year teachers to write you a new rec. Keep your grades up! Stay involved! 

Finally, don't let a deferral define you. Most seasoned admission officers are careful to say that they accept, reject, defer or waitlist a file, not an applicant. To them, you were just a stack of paper -- a stack that they likely reviewed in under ten minutes. So try not to take a deferral or rejection personally. They let a good one get away! 

So You Didn't Get in Early. Now What?

You knew exactly which school you wanted to attend. You applied early and got denied or deferred. What are you supposed to do now?

We hear admission officers all the time say they simply have too many qualified applicants, and even those who are denied would probably do well at the college. If you were deferred, have faith that you still may have a chance in the Regular Decision round. This is not the time to change everything about your college application process. It’s time to get back on track and try to earn admission at some other schools you’re really excited about.

Look over your college list again. Is it balanced? Generally, when students apply to a school Early Decision, it’s more of a reach. Now that you’ve been denied or deferred, make sure you are applying to enough appropriate targets and safeties, but there is no need to add a dozen more safety or reach schools. This only creates more stress because you have to write more supplements and send more applications. The key is balance and quality. Find a few schools that you feel great about and stick with those. Do some research on colleges that you previously overlooked. This country has plenty of excellent schools where you can thrive. You have to be open-minded and learn about these schools before you make judgments on them.

Trust your application. Remember that getting denied doesn’t mean you had a bad application. Each school has its own institutional priorities, so there is no need to take the decisions personally.

If you were deferred, read the school’s letter carefully and follow the student portal instructions they give. Some schools will simply ask you to be patient for the next round of decisions, while others welcome additional information. If you are asked, update the school with any significant achievements you’ve accrued since submitting your application, your improved grades in your challenging classes, and a current letter from a teacher explaining your recent progress. You might also write a short letter to the admission office reaffirming your interest in the school and why you would be a good fit there.

If you need a day or two to process the decision letter and cool down, we encourage you to take it. Then get moving once you’re ready. The most successful people in the world don’t get accepted to everything they try, but they are great at adapting when things don’t go their way. They find other ways to accomplish their goals or they discover new paths that they previously ignored. You can do the same! Have a positive and optimistic mindset. We are here to help you take the next steps, and we need you to take the lead.

You Can Combat Zoom Fatigue! Here's How

Zoom fatigue is real. We are hearing it from students and even feeling it ourselves! Virtual meetings won’t be going away anytime soon. However, there are subtle things you can do to not only get through the string of meetings but also get more out of each one.

Focus On One Thing at a Time

Is it time for science class? Start a new window and only pull up the tabs you will need for science. When the live class is happening, minimize all the other unnecessary windows. Having five windows open and 15 tabs up can give the false sense that you have so much to do. The reality is in that moment, you can just focus on that class period and block out the other noise.

Turn off your phone while you’re in class as well. It can be tempting to quickly look at Snapchat or TikTok during a lecture. Those posts will still be there after class though. By keeping your phone off, your brain won’t have to juggle as many distractions and you can stay locked in during class.

Take Breaks

We know that just about everything you need to get done is on a computer. When you can though, close the laptop and put away the phone—even if it’s just for 10 minutes. Don’t stay on the computer just to stare at a screen. Take a walk around your neighborhood and leave your phone at home. Talk to someone in your family. Go for a short drive. Change your scenery a bit. Your mind will feel more refreshed when you tune out of the virtual world and tune into the physical world.

Have an Agenda

There is nothing worse than having a long, awkward pause in a virtual meeting. Make sure the person in charge of the meeting (maybe it’s you) has an agenda going in. They should have a good read on when a discussion is coming to a close and should easily transition from one topic to the next. The participants will appreciate the structure and reduced screen time.

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)