Alison Merzel
Preparing for Early Admissions Decisions
High school seniors and parents, this is undoubtedly a stressful time. The holiday season has arrived, midterms are around the corner,...
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Alison Merzel
Aug 192 min read
What happens after you hit "submit?"
I worked for many years in an admissions office, so I took for granted that applicants understood what happens after they hit the submit...
Alison Merzel
Jul 255 min read
Demystifying Deadlines
When the Common App rolls out the new application this week, students will have to decide not only where to submit applications but also...
Alison Merzel
Jul 113 min read
Get Common App Ready - August 1st is Coming!
Tips to prepare for the Common Application
Alison Merzel
Jan 103 min read
It Is Lowkey Time for a LOCI
"I lowkey want to get into that school even though I said I didn't care that much about it before." If that sounds familiar, you may be a...
Alison Merzel
Nov 17, 20236 min read
Questions to ask if you are a Jewish student applying to college
My colleagues and I are getting many questions from rightfully concerned Jewish families about how to approach the college admissions...
Alison Merzel
Nov 2, 20234 min read
Jews on Campus - Where Will They Be Safe?
The Anti-Defamation League has reported a 400% increase in antisemitic activity since October 7, and the news headlines continue to...
Alison Merzel
Aug 30, 20234 min read
15 Tips for the 2024 FAFSA
As you may be aware, the FAFSA Simplification Act is generating new changes for the FAFSA for 2024-2025. While the FAFSA typically is...
Alison Merzel
Apr 11, 20232 min read
School Spotlight: University of San Diego
University of San Diego (USD), located just 30 minutes from the Mexican border and two hours from Los Angeles, offers a sense of...
Alison Merzel
Mar 16, 20233 min read
The Importance of a Balanced List
Sometimes I feel like a broken record when I harp on the importance of creating a balanced college list in my meetings with families....
Alison Merzel
Mar 6, 20232 min read
Digital SAT: Coming soon to a testing site near you
As if the conversation around standardized testing isn't confusing enough, we can soon add another layer of complication as the Digital...
Alison Merzel
Jan 31, 20232 min read
School Spotlight: Champlain College
Located in Burlington, Vermont, one of the best college towns in the U.S., Champlain College is primarily known for its strength in game...
Alison Merzel
Jan 6, 20232 min read
You've been deferred - now what?
You got a letter from your ED or EA school that indicates their decision to defer your decision until a later round. What should you do?...
Alison Merzel
Nov 16, 20223 min read
Don't Let "Average GPA" Scare You Away
If you look at published GPA ranges for many well-known colleges and universities, you may start to scratch your head in bewilderment....
Alison Merzel
Sep 16, 20221 min read
Look out for the SSAR and the SRAR
While many colleges/universities request official high school transcripts as a part of the application process, some prefer to see a...
Alison Merzel
May 13, 20223 min read
School Spotlight: Ohio University and the Honors Tutorial College
I had the pleasure of driving to Athens for a visit to OU on a spectacular Ohio day, perfect for a college tour. My student tour guide...
Alison Merzel
Mar 28, 20222 min read
To stay or not to stay on the waitlist. That is the question.
You may have noticed that this year, in particular, colleges are handing out waitlist decisions like candy. It almost feels like "YOU get...
Alison Merzel
Mar 23, 20222 min read
School Spotlight: Carnegie Mellon University
Despite the frigid temperature during my February visit, I was extremely impressed by Carnegie Mellon. This medium-sized private...
Alison Merzel
Mar 9, 20222 min read
School Spotlight: University of Dayton
I had the good fortune of being able to visit UD on an unusually warm and beautiful February day. I was extremely impressed with the...
Alison Merzel
Mar 3, 20221 min read
Common App Application Updates
The Common Application recently published a report of application trends through February 15, 2022. Here are the big takeaways: 1) Since...
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