applying Archives - On My Way Consulting

College Admissions Decisions are Here – Now What?

March 1, 2018

applying, choosing a college, college visits, CSS Profile, Deciding, FAFSA, UC

Spring of senior year is an exciting, anxiety-ridden time for students waiting for college admissions decisions. Deferrals and non-admits are disappointing, seeing fellow students get accepted results in mixed feelings, and waiting for your own results is just plain hard. On top of that, seniors still have to keep up their grades while they are…

Breaking News: No July ACT in California

January 19, 2018

Nicole Hosemann

ACT, applying, planning, SAT, Standardized Tests

This week, ACT has confirmed that it will not offer the July test date in California. This announcement may throw a wrench into the plans of students who were counting on the July test, which was proving to be a popular option for rising seniors wishing to finish testing before beginning the school year. ACT’s…

How Parents Can Support Seniors with Applications

September 1, 2016

Nicole Hosemann

applying, college websites, deadlines, families, parents, stress, time management

It’s September, which means application season and school are officially in full swing! In light of this, I wanted to share ideas for how parents can help students during the coming months. College applications can be work intensive and stressful, but with a team of supporters, students will come out stronger and more mature on…

Advice College Admissions Officers Give their Own Kids

March 22, 2016

Nicole Hosemann

admissions officers, applying, choosing a college, college lists

Who better than a college admissions officer to give you advice when applying to college? Of course, if you are a teenager, and that college admissions officer happens to be your mom or dad, it may be the last person you’ll take advice from! I wanted to share this wonderful article from the New York Times…

An (often) Overlooked Part of College Applications

March 1, 2016

Nicole Hosemann

admissions interviews, admissions officers, applying, choosing a college, college lists, School Profile, transcripts

As a college applicant, you will probably spend hours pouring over your essays and your apps, making lists of requirements and deadlines and studying diligently for tests. After all, you want to make sure everything you present to the colleges is as strong as it can be. But did you know that there is one important component…

Who’s Reading Your Essay?

June 25, 2015

Nicole Hosemann

admissions officers, applying, demonstrating interest, essays, personal statement, rejection

Here’s a visualization exercise I use with students before they start their admissions essays. I want you to imagine a college admissions representative. I’ll say it’s a woman in her late 30’s, but you can visualize anyone you want. It’s mid-February, at 9 pm on a weeknight. She’s sitting at a desk with a pen…

Advice from the Other Side

June 3, 2015

Nicole Hosemann

admissions officers, applying, campus visits, choosing a college, college fairs, essays, supplements

I asked students and parents from the Class of 2015 to share their advice for students and parents about to begin the college admissions process. Who better to provide guidance than those who have just completed the journey? Here is some of the advice that they offered…. Advice from Students, for Students This may sound cliche,…

What to do if you’re Boring

May 27, 2015

Nicole Hosemann

admissions officers, applying, Common App, essays, personal statement, UC, writing

I have worked with a range of students from very diverse backgrounds. Some come from low-income neighborhoods and are the first in their family to attend college. They have overcome their share of hardships. I have also worked with students from affluent and middle class families, most of who have never had to worry about…

Waitlisted? Here’s My Advice.

April 16, 2015

Nicole Hosemann

admissions officers, applying, choosing a college, deadlines, Deciding, demonstrating interest, waitlist

After months of stressing over applications, a waitlist offer from your top college can be a bittersweet pill to swallow. You didn’t quite make the cut for acceptance, but they clearly considered you worthy enough. So, is it worth it to continue to wait? I recommend that you start by researching to gauge your chances…

Resisting the Frenzy – A Timely Reminder

March 13, 2015

Nicole Hosemann

applying, choosing a college, Deciding, parents

As seniors collect acceptance and denial letters, and juniors are gearing up to dive into their college search, Frank Brunei from the New York Times parenting blog gives us a timely reminder that the college you attend does not define who you are. This is a highly recommended read for parents in the midst of (or about…