When applying to colleges, most students tend to focus on grades and standardized test scores. While this is obviously important, admissions officers want to see more than strong GPAs and impressive SAT or ACT scores when evaluating prospective students.
Applying to college is a huge undertaking, with many things to consider—prepping for standardized tests, taking and excelling in the right high school courses, participating in meaningful extracurricular activities, crafting the perfect personal essay, and more. With all of this in mind, it’s easy to overlook another important component that can carry a lot of weight: the recommendation letters.
As the school year winds down, many juniors are setting their sights on college applications. While focusing on grades, standardized test scores, and extracurriculars is certainly important, there is one piece of the college application that can make a huge difference –– especially with the competition to get into schools being so high. That is essays. But just how important are they?
Many people think a college search and decision ends with acceptance into a university. But that’s not necessarily true. What happens when your chosen university has multiple colleges within it? This is the case with most large universities, which are divided into smaller colleges, schools, or departments. Each focuses on specific academic disciplines and opportunities.
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is an important tool for students seeking help to pay for college. However, the 2024-25 application process was plagued with problems after significant changes were made. Multiple glitches and delays caused a great deal of stress for students and families seeking financial assistance.
In a few short days, the holidays will be behind us, and we will start looking to 2025. As the clock strikes midnight and the New Year begins, we often think about resolutions. This is a perfect opportunity for high school students to reflect on their goals, dreams, and aspirations. Goal-setting is particularly important as they enter the final stretch of their high school journey—a time filled with excitement, challenges, and opportunities. Crafting meaningful resolutions can help students embrace these transformative years with purpose and direction.
During the Thanksgiving season, we may be more focused on our blessings than usual. But this shouldn’t be the case. There are strong arguments for making gratitude a priority throughout the year—especially for high school students.
The college admissions process is becoming increasingly competitive, with thousands of students competing for a limited number of spots at prestigious institutions. In recent years, and particularly since the introduction of ChatGPT, artificial intelligence (AI) has begun to play a more substantial role in shaping this process—making waves in the world of higher education.
When it comes time to apply to an institution of higher learning, students are often faced with deciding between a college and a university. Many people in the United States use the words interchangeably, which can create confusion between the two. In other countries, a college may be equivalent to a middle school, while it may also refer to a school that bridges the gap between high school and a university.
The 2024-25 FAFSA was supposed to be available in October of 2023. However, it was not ready until December—which started a domino effect of delays. A second major delay occurred in February after the Department of Education had to update student aid index tables to account for inflation...
Many high school students choose to take AP (Advanced Placement) classes. These are rigorous courses that allow them to earn college credit and perhaps skip some general course requirements in college. AP courses are offered in a variety of subjects—including English, science, social studies, math, computer science and a number of foreign languages.
Like it or not, change is the only constant in college admissions. While this ever-shifting landscape makes for exciting work as college counselors, we know that unpredictability can create stress for students, who have to manage so much already as budding adults. But let’s not forget that the actual adults – namely parents – have a lot to manage, too!
For those who need financial assistance in order to pay for college, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form is required, and is now available for completion. This form is used to assess your financial need, and to give you options for funding college.
Now that high school seniors have completed, or are in the process of completing college applications, the question for many is “How will I pay for college?” For those who do not have money set aside for this purpose, or who need supplemental funds, there are several options, including scholarships, grants, work-study jobs, and loans.
This time of year, high school seniors who applied to colleges by early deadlines have just received admissions notifications. We are of course thrilled for those students who have already been admitted, and we are equally excited for those who await further admissions updates. Whether you're eagerly anticipating responses or considering your next steps, we remind you that it isn’t over ‘till it’s over and that Moxie is here to guide you through the next stage of your journey.
Part 2: What To Do Over Christmas Break As Christmas break approaches, most high school students are excited to be getting a break from grueling schedules filled with classwork, homework, sports, clubs, and other extracurricular activities. With just one more semester of high school left, senioritis is becoming a real battle for many seniors, making it more and more difficult to concentrate. The temptation to put things off runs high this time of the year. But there is still a great deal to be done before graduation day, and many things can (and should) be accomplished over Christmas break. Here are some ideas to help you navigate the holidays efficiently, while having some fun in the process.
Part 1: What to do from Thanksgiving to Christmas Although it’s hard to believe, the holiday season is already upon us. That means most of us will be busier than ever—including high school students. This is especially true for college-bound students, as there is plenty left to be done before graduation. Prioritizing tasks to complete is of utmost importance during this hectic time. Here is a list of ideas for the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks (to be followed mid-month by another blog focusing on Christmas break alone.)
For many high school seniors, this can be a very stressful time of year. With some of the biggest college application deadlines being in November, many students are scrambling in order to meet deadlines for multiple schools. But once that submit button is hit, you can take a deep breath. You have completed the work that needs to be done—you’ve built a good list of colleges you’d like to attend, you’ve written great essays, and you’ve completed all the pieces required thus far for each application. But there are still things you need to consider while waiting for an admission decision to be released.
As the leaves change and a new season approaches, so does the opportunity for parents to guide their children toward an exciting educational journey. Whether you're considering private or boarding schools, here are some essential steps to help you confidently navigate the admissions season.
With the college admission season in full swing, high school seniors are scrambling to complete the Common App and apply to the colleges of their choice. These applications include information about grades, standardized test scores and extracurricular activities—all critical in assessing a student’s eligibility for admission. But what about the college essay? How much does it influence the application decision?
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