HELP, Typo in my Common App!!

Q: I submitted my Common Application a few weeks ago. When I looked back at it again, I noticed a typo in my activities. What do I do?

A: A college representative was visiting our office a few weeks ago, and we asked the same question of her. "Students need to realize that we are human, too! We are far more understanding than they think!"

Mistakes happen all the time! 

So, what should you do if you discover an error in an application that has already been submitted? If it absolutely needs to be corrected, such as an incorrect essay version or a glaring typo, the student should call the school and ask what their policy is for correcting the mistake. Often, the college will have the student email the change to the general admission email -- an admission staff member can then make the adjustment on their end, sometimes even before the file has been reviewed. If the error is more of an oops than egregious, it can be a harder call. Sometimes, it is better just to let it go. Pointing out the error may draw more attention to it, which could be a bad thing.

"I totally get it! These kids are juggling so much," said the rep. "Even calling us the wrong name in a supplement, I'll let go if the rest of the application is strong."

One Section on Your Common App That Could Help You STAND OUT

We’re getting tons of questions from students and parents who want guidance on completing the Common App. If you want more tips like the one above, join Gilbert for a live (and recorded) presentation that will walk you through EVERY section of the Common App.

Top Ten Things to Remember When Packing for College

1. Carrying case for toiletries.  You will probably have to share a shower, and it may be far down the hall.  You will need something to carry your shampoo, soap, toothpaste, etc. And make sure it has holes for drainage. 

2. Earplugs.  Even if your roommate says that they only snore “on occasion,” earplugs are a good idea to have on hand. 

3. Extension cords, flash drive and surge protector.  College dorm rooms are notorious for having only one outlet in the most inconvenient place possible.  

4. Over the door hangers, adhesive hooks and poster putty.  There never seem to be enough places to hang things, so be creative.  And don’t forget the poster putty to cover those cinder block walls.

5. Crates, under the bed boxes and other storage containers.  A well-organized dorm room can be the key to success – and to a happy roommate.  

6. Air fresheners.  Don’t be “The Stinky Room.”

7. Lamps.  One single ceiling light will not be enough.  Make sure you have a good desk lamp (but not halogen since most colleges now ban them) as well as a lamp for your bedside.

8. Foul weather gear.  The weather may be unpredictable – don’t forget an umbrella and a rain jacket; snow boots; and a fan! 

9. First aid kit.  Band-aids, cold medicine, tweezers, antiseptic, antibiotic ointment, aloe vera gel, etc. 

10. Coat hangers.  The most commonly forgotten item!!

5 Reasons to Love Colorado Mesa University!

1. THE GREAT OUTDOORS

One of Mesa’s most popular organizations is the Outdoor Program. This organization is always scheduling fantastic trips for students and also has inexpensive equipment rentals. While on campus in Grand Junction, you’ll find great views of the Colorado mountains. You can access even more cool sites since you’re 40 minutes from skiing and 1 hour and 45 minutes from the scenic town of Moab, Utah.

2. NEW BUILDINGS EVERYWHERE

It’s quite apparent that Mesa has been making significant financial investments in its facilities to give students hands-on experiences. Mesa bought out a former hospital and converted it into clinical and lab spaces for health science students. The university’s engineering building has modern equipment, and students can earn their engineering degree from the University of Colorado-Boulder while staying on Mesa’s campus. There’s a beautiful student-run hotel and restaurant where students can get hands-on hospitality experience. We’re not even scratching the surface here!

3. SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT

A common thread during our two-day visit was an atmosphere of support. The student tour guides cared about the school. The university’s president has a one-hour open office hour where students can drop in to talk. The largest class size at Mesa is 60 students, but most classes are capped at 40. Generally, the higher-level classes will have about 12-15 students. The professors are much more committed to teaching students than their own research.

4. NOT ONE, BUT TWO SCHOOLS?!

The university has a formal partnership with Western Colorado Community College (WCCC), a seven-minute drive from Mesa. WCCC students can earn their associate degrees in fields like culinary, aviation, and even winemaking. They can also take classes and live at Mesa to earn their bachelor’s degree.

5. THE PRICE

Out-of-state students looking for a bargain will find Colorado Mesa’s tuition, room, and board to be a bargain! The listed price is anywhere from $37,000-44,000, with the possibility of earning up to $6,000 per year in scholarship money if you’re out-of-state.

The Best College Essay Advice You'll Get!

At this time of the year, we often get calls from rising seniors asking for a bit of advice on their essay. “My topic is great, but something is missing.” After an initial read, we concur. What is missing? Them!

The best college essays are rarely the ones with the most “impressive” or “catchy” topic because the topic of every single college essay should be the same: you!

Making that shift away from the life-changer or the dramatic event can make all the difference. When you see yourself as the topic of the essay, you have far more freedom with themes. What small story showcases who you are at your core? How do you think? What are your quirks? Your fears? Your dreams?

Use that story!

5 Reasons to Love Appalachian State!

1. UNDERDOG SPIRIT!

Sports Illustrated has called Appalachian State’s 2007 season-opening upset over Michigan at the Big House “The Greatest Upset of Them All.” But that’s not all… In 2022, App State took down #6 Texas A&M with a shocking 17-14 win in College Station. It’s no surprise that Mountaineers pack the stadium.

2. BOONE, NC!

It’s smaller than Asheville but just as hip! Boone boasts excellent restaurants, breweries, and shopping. Our favorites? Anna Bananas, when you can save 10% on your consignment purchase if you do a dance, the Lost Province Brewing Co. (the wood-fired soft pretzel with pimento cheese, yum!), and the Broyhill Music Center for live music.

And the best part, the campus is within walking distance of it all!

3. PSYCHOLOGY

One of the most popular majors for Mountaineers, the Psychology department boasts SEVEN concentrations from which to choose: Business, Education Studies, Health Studies, Human Services, Natural Science, Social Science, and Sustainability.

4. SKIING!

YES! Skiing in North Carolina. Boone is flanked by two ski resorts, Appalachian Ski Mountain and the Beech Mountain Resort. There are also tons of hiking, mountain biking, river rafting, horseback riding, and camping options to placate even the most outdoorsy student!

5. THE PRICE

Out-of-state students looking for a bargain will find App State’s tuition, room, and board to be a bargain! In fact, at $37,335, the total is in line with many states’ resident flagship rates.

INTERVIEW: How You Can Apply to and Attend College for FREE

Are you a high achieving student who comes from a low-income family and/or will be a first generation college student? As part of College Matters' Student to Student series, we interviewed our former student Lee to talk about her application process through QuestBridge. Find out how QuestBridge not only helped her apply and attend college for FREE, but also how it benefited her after college.

College Matters Class of 2023 College Acceptances

We are so proud of all our students in the Class of 2023! Here is where our students have been admitted.

American University

Arizona State University

Auburn University

Bard College

Bates College

Baylor University

Beloit College

Binghamton University

Boston College

Boston University

Brandeis University

Brown University

Bryant University

Bucknell University

California Polytechnic State Univ. - San Luis Obispo

Case Western Reserve University

The Catholic University of America

Clark Atlanta University

Clark University

Clarkson University

Clemson University

College of Charleston

The College of the Holy Cross

The College of New Jersey

College of William and Mary

Colgate University

Colorado State University

Connecticut College

Cornell University

Davidson College

Denison University

DePaul University

Dickinson College

Drew University

Drexel University

Eastern Connecticut State University

Elon University

Emerson College

Emmanuel College

Endicott College

Eugene Lang College of the New School

Fairfield University

Flagler College

Florida Atlantic University

Florida State University

Fordham University

Fort Lewis College

Franklin and Marshall College

Furman University

Georgetown University

Gettysburg College

Hamilton College

High Point University

Hobart William Smith Colleges

Hofstra University

Indiana University

Iowa State University

Ithaca College

James Madison University

Johns Hopkins University

Kenyon College

Lafayette College

Lake Forest College

Lehigh University

Louisiana State University

Loyola Marymount University

Loyola University Maryland

Macalester College

Marist College

Marquette University

Marymount University

McDaniel College

Merrimack College

Miami University (OH)

Michigan State University

Montana State University

Morehouse College

Mount Holyoke College

Muhlenberg College

Northeastern University

Nova Southeastern University

Oberlin College

Occidental College

The Ohio State University

Ohio University

Pace University-New York

Pennsylvania State University

Providence College

Purdue University

Quinnipiac University

Reed College

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

Rice University

Roger Williams University

Rollins College

Rochester Institute of Technology

Rutgers University

Sacred Heart University

St. Andrews University - Scotland

St. John’s University - New York

St. Lawrence University

St. Michael’s College

Salve Regina University

Sarah Lawrence College

Savannah College of Art and Design

Seton Hall University

Siena College

Skidmore College

Southern Connecticut State University

Southern Methodist University

Stonehill College

Stony Brook University

SUNY Purchase

Swarthmore College

Syracuse University

Temple University

Texas A&M University

Texas Christian University

Trinity College

Tufts University

Tulane University

Union College

University of Alabama

University of Alabama - Huntsville

University of Arizona

University at Buffalo

University of California - Davis

University of California - Irvine

University of California - San Diego

University of California - Santa Cruz

University of Connecticut

University of Delaware

University of Denver

University of Georgia

University of Hartford

University of Kentucky

University of Illinois - Urbana Champaign

University of Indiana

University of Maine

University of Maryland

University of Massachusetts-Amherst

University of Massachusetts-Boston

University of Michigan

University of Missouri

University of New Hampshire

University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

University of North Carolina-Charlotte

University of Oregon

University of Pittsburgh

University of Rhode Island

University of Richmond

University of Rochester

University of San Diego

University of South Carolina

University of South Florida

University of Southern California

University of Tennessee

University of Toronto

University of Vermont

University of Virginia

University of Washington

University of Wisconsin

Ursinus College

Vanderbilt University

Vassar College

Villanova University

Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Wake Forest University

Wesleyan University

Wheaton College (MA)

Williams College

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Xavier University

Yale University

The Pros and Cons of the Summer College Campus Visit

Summer is here, and you still have more college campuses to visit than you can possibly see in the fall before applications are due.  Plus, the fall semester is going to be challenging with that rigorous senior course load you have planned, and you don’t want to take too much time off.  What’s a rising senior (and their family) to do? 

Our advice is to use the few days you have available in the fall to see the leading contenders on your list and to use some time in the remainder of summer to visit others, if possible.  Campuses are generally much quieter in the summer months, but there may still be some students around doing research or other projects.  There is still great value in taking in the layout and feel of the campus, its location, the information presented in an Information Session and by the student tour guide and admission people are usually available to answer questions.  Additionally, it is often a great time to schedule an interview. You will get credit for demonstrating interest – provided you check in with Admissions - which some colleges weigh in their deliberations for admission. 

You may not get a solid read of the campus culture as you tour the quieter summer campuses, but you will get a sense of the place.  Note that start times for fall semester vary greatly, so check the academic calendar online at each institution – you may see more students than you expect with late summer visits as some college students may already be making their way back to campus.  It’s nearly impossible to see every campus during the school year, so it may be inevitable that you will have to compromise and visit a few in the summer! 

Do I Need Tuition Insurance for College?

Surprises can happen — so it may be a good idea to have a plan!

Q: The college that my child is attending is offering the option of buying tuition insurance. Is it worth it?

A: Initially, we get quizzical looks from parents when we recommend that they consider purchasing tuition insurance for their first-year college student. “They’ve worked so hard so far, they’re not going to fail out!”

It isn’t that we’ve lost faith in the student’s ability to succeed in college. It is that we have witnessed times when tuition insurance alleviated a significant financial burden because of unforeseen circumstances.

• Molly was in her second semester when her mother was diagnosed with cancer. She wanted to take a leave of absence to spend some time at home.

• Bryce was a sophomore when he realized that he wanted to change his major, pretty drastically. He was already registered for classes for the spring that would not do him any good in making academic progress toward his ultimate goal and wanted to wait a semester to start again.

• Jordan had a bad fall skiing over winter break — several broken bones and a severe concussion — and was advised not to return to college until their health was back to 100%.

• Julia had always struggled with some anxiety but had everything under control until she had a particularly bad break-up. She needed to take some time to restore her mental health.

• Austin was a recruited athlete. He couldn’t wait to start college until he was cut from the team in pre-season. He couldn't imagine not being a student-athlete and wanted to take a gap year and apply to transfer. But the tuition was already paid.

• Abigail learned in August, just before she started packing the car for her freshman year, that she had come off the waitlist at her dream college.

We realize that not all policies would cover each of the situations listed above, so it is good to read the fine print before making a decision. But regardless, we recommend that it is worth taking a look!