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    To stay or not to stay on the waitlist. That is the question.
    Alison Merzel
    • Mar 28
    • 2 min

    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...
    Unpredictability is the Reality
    Alison Merzel
    • Feb 1
    • 3 min

    Unpredictability is the Reality

    As admissions decisions continue to get released, there is always chatter about why one student got into a school and another didn't. "He...
    Early High School Course Planning Helps
    Alison Merzel
    • Jul 16, 2021
    • 2 min

    Early High School Course Planning Helps

    I am often asked what 9th and 10th graders should be doing to prepare for the college application process. I am a strong believer that...
    Teacher, pretty please?
    Alison Merzel
    • May 20, 2021
    • 2 min

    Teacher, pretty please?

    If you are a high school junior, don't let the school year end without politely requesting a letter of recommendation from an adored...
    Spotlight on Ohio Guaranteed Transfer Pathways
    Alison Merzel
    • Apr 30, 2021
    • 2 min

    Spotlight on Ohio Guaranteed Transfer Pathways

    In case you missed it, President Biden announced the American Families Plan earlier this week, which will invest in American children and...
    FWIW go with the email or I'll be SMH.
    Alison Merzel
    • Apr 20, 2021
    • 3 min

    FWIW go with the email or I'll be SMH.

    DMs are the new texts. Texts are the new emails. Emails are the new letters. While sometimes it feels like the days of email are going in...
    Alison Merzel
    • Mar 22, 2021
    • 4 min

    We are not Rick Singer

    If you had forgotten about the huge college admissions scandal that happened in 2019, you have likely been reminded again with the...
    High School Scheduling Advice
    Alison Merzel
    • Feb 9, 2021
    • 2 min

    High School Scheduling Advice

    Especially as a freshmen, it may seem premature to consider how your current course scheduling may impact college admissions. However, it...
    Surprised to be deferred? This may explain why.
    Alison Merzel
    • Dec 16, 2020
    • 2 min

    Surprised to be deferred? This may explain why.

    In a previous post, I explained the difference in terminology between "defer"and "waitlist" - some schools use them interchangeably but...
    Alison Merzel
    • Dec 2, 2020
    • 3 min

    It's About Who You Are, Not What You Did

    I recently attended a conference session during which admissions officers at three selective institutions shared case studies of...
    Demonstrated Interest Decoded
    Alison Merzel
    • Nov 18, 2020
    • 2 min

    Demonstrated Interest Decoded

    You know how you google something and then all of a sudden you start seeing ads for the item showing up everywhere you go? Or even...
    Tips for navigating college websites
    Alison Merzel
    • Oct 27, 2020
    • 2 min

    Tips for navigating college websites

    College and university websites should be a primary source of information as you research schools and try to evaluate whether you are...
    Alison Merzel
    • Sep 25, 2020
    • 2 min

    Focus on the WHY and WHAT before the HOW

    For many high school students, the mechanics of the college admissions process take shape before they have even given thought to why it...
    Alison Merzel
    • Sep 16, 2020
    • 2 min

    5 tips about the University of California application process

    If you are interested in applying to any of the nine schools within the University of California system, you will use one application,...
    Alison Merzel
    • Sep 15, 2020
    • 1 min

    You know about AP and IB credit, but do you know about CLEP?

    While most high school families are familiar with either AP and/or IB courses as pathways to college credit with passing exam/assessment...
    A Gap Year with College Credit
    Alison Merzel
    • Aug 26, 2020
    • 2 min

    A Gap Year with College Credit

    You have likely heard of a Gap Year by now if you hadn't before - with so many colleges and universities offering only remote...
    When does "Optional" mean "Preferred"?
    Alison Merzel
    • Aug 3, 2020
    • 2 min

    When does "Optional" mean "Preferred"?

    Earlier this spring, I wrote a post explaining that Test Optional is not Test Blind. As a result of continuous test center closures,...
    COVID-19 Doesn't Define You
    Alison Merzel
    • May 21, 2020
    • 2 min

    COVID-19 Doesn't Define You

    As high school juniors are preparing to write college essays, of course the novel coronavirus is top of mind. Every single one of us has...
    Waitlist Status and COVID-19
    Alison Merzel
    • Apr 20, 2020
    • 1 min

    Waitlist Status and COVID-19

    Are you wondering about your waitlist status in light of COVID-19? Geography may play a larger role in your chances of getting a coveted...
    Admissions with or without the SAT or ACT: What does this mean for you?
    Alison Merzel
    • Apr 16, 2020
    • 3 min

    Admissions with or without the SAT or ACT: What does this mean for you?

    It seems like every day we hear a new announcement about the SAT and ACT - cancelled test dates have prompted many schools to announce a...
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