The “Why Us” Essay
August 30, 2021By Tonya DuBois You JUST finished your application and your personal statement, and come to learn that there is a supplemental essay – AUGH! It’s the ...
Tips for Building a Balanced College List
May 17, 2021By Tonya DuBois As you build a list of colleges you are considering, it’s important to balance it with schools where you are likely to gain admission,...
Considering Deferring Your College Attendance or Taking a Gap Year? Here is everything you need to know
April 8, 2021by Tonya DuBois During these uncertain times, when in-person college classes are sometimes limited, students are considering deferment and gap years m...
How to Build Your College Resume this Summer
March 5, 2021By Tonya DuBois Summer is the perfect time to work on enhancing your college resume. The first thing you’ll want to do is consider your personal brand...
Top 5 Tips When Registering for Your High School Classes
February 15, 2021By Tonya DuBois It’s February, which means it’s probably the time that your high school is having you register for next year’s classes. As you decide ...
Finding the Perfect Match….College
February 9, 2021By Tonya DuBois There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. How do you find that one that’s just right for you? Here are some questions...
Strategies to Qualify for More Financial Aid
January 8, 2021By Tonya DuBois I am writing this is January of 2021, as families are both starting off a new year, and also preparing last year’s taxes. If you are a...
Top 10 New Year’s Resolutions for High School Students
December 18, 2020By Tonya DuBois With 2020 behind us (whew!), let’s look ahead toward 2021 with optimism and enthusiasm, and our future goals in mind. Below are the to...
Should I Indicate a Major on my College Application?
December 10, 2020By Tonya DuBois So many families are concerned when their son/daughter isn’t sure about their intended college major. Please do not fear. There is a w...
What is the Difference Between Test Blind and Test Optional?
October 12, 2020By Tonya DuBois During the COVID era, many colleges and universities have changed their testing requirements. In fact, two-thirds of all 4-year colleg...
Accepted to College and Not Sure How to Choose?
February 13, 2019By Tonya DuBois You did it! You got in….now it’s decision time. Here are some tips to help you decide: 1. Make a short list – 2 to 3 schools – and go ...
Top 10 Things To Do When You Find Yourself on a Wait List
February 13, 2019By Tonya DuBois Find Yourself on the Dreaded Wait List? Here’s a list of 10 things you should do: 1. Evaluate if this school is still your first choic...
New Year Resolutions for College Bound High School Students (and Their Parents):
December 2, 2018By Tonya DuBois It’s that time of year! How about setting a few resolutions for each year of high school to achieve good college application readiness...
How to Get More Out of Your Financial Aid Offer
December 2, 2018By Tonya DuBois You can be 100% certain that your financial aid / merit scholarship package will not improve on its own. If you want a better aid pack...
What To Do When You’ve Been Deferred
November 17, 2018By Tonya DuBois Wondering what to do when you’ve been deferred? First, a deferral means that the admission office believes that you will be competitiv...
Great Questions to Ask on Campus Tours
June 24, 2018By Tonya DuBois Planning your college campus visits? Here are some great questions to ask your tour guide: What makes this school unique compared to o...
Why Hire a Private College Counselor?
May 26, 2018By Tonya DuBois In the counties where I live and work, the average high school student to counselor ratio is 300 to 1. And, most of these counselors h...
RISING SENIORS: How to Make the Most of Your Summer
May 12, 2018By Tonya DuBois Fall of Senior year can be overwhelming. In addition to keeping up with your course work, and extra curricular activities, you will be...
RISING JUNIORS: Top 10 Things to do this Summer to get a Head Start on the College Application Process
May 12, 2018By Tonya DuBois Junior year is, without a doubt, the most challenging year of high school, academically. Help reduce your stress by doing whatever you...
Early Action vs Early Decision – What’s Right for You?
August 27, 2017Early Action vs Early Decision – What’s Right for You?By Tonya DuBois First, let me explain the difference between Early Action (EA) and Early Decisio...
What is “Demonstrated Interest” and Why Does it Matter?
June 13, 2017By Tonya DuBois According to a study by the National Association for College Admission Counseling about half of all colleges and universities weigh “d...
How to Write a Killer College Essay
June 8, 2017By Tonya DuBois If you were in an elevator with the admission counselor deciding your fate and you only had 60 seconds to say something about yourself...
Why “Niche” is the new “Well-Rounded” in College Admissions
November 10, 2016By Tonya DuBois If you are a 40-something parent, as I am, you will recall how important it was to be “well-rounded” when you applied to college. We ...