Welcome to our monthly newsletter!

Welcome back to our monthly newsletter! Below you will find a link to a page on our website highlighting what students should be working on this month, important news in higher education, new blog posts, and other resources we feel are important to share. Enjoy!

Haven't joined our mailing list yet? Virtual College Counselors believes every student and family should have access to expert advice on the college search and application journey, regardless of any financial or time constraints. By signing up for our newsletter, in addition to monthly college search and application updates, you will also receive a Free College Search Starter Kit PDF containing the following starter guides: ​ ​- The College Application Timeline - Discovering College Fit - College Essay Tips - Common College Essay Pitfalls - Introduction to Financial Aid 101 Send Me The Starter Kit!

The Common Application Officially Opens!

It's official! The Common Application for the 2024-2025 admission cycle is now open! For those unfamiliar, "The Common Application is an undergraduate college admission application that applicants may use to apply to over 1,000 member colleges and universities in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, as well as in Canada, China, Japan, and many European countries." If you're a rising senior, here are things you can already get started on to get ahead of the game:

1. Officially create your Common Application account HERE. If they haven't already, this is also a good time for a student to create a "college-appropriate" email. Remember that access to high school emails will eventually be revoked, so start planning for an email that can be used after high school graduation.
2. Complete Sections 1-3 + 7 of the Common Application. Even if a student still working on their Personal Statement or Activities List, they can finish the Profile, Family, Education, and Courses & Grades sections. These parts are important and time-consuming, so start early.
3. Add relevant colleges to your Common App. Adding colleges shows demonstrated interest and reveals supplemental questions and essays specific to each institution.
4. Connect with your high school counselor and recommenders before adding them to the Common App. Every high school and college counseling office is different, so make sure you fully understand the process and deadlines for requesting an official high school transcript, letters of recommendation from teachers, and any additional information your school counselor might need.

Free College Planning 101 Webinar!

Upcoming Blog!
High Point University: Counselor Fly-In Reflection

While we don't have a new blog this month, we are excited to preview a blog that is working its way through the pipeline. Sawyer was fortunate to be invited to High Point University's (HPU) Counselor Fly-In (CFI) program. For those unfamiliar with a CFI event, it is when a college or university invites high school and private college counselors from across the nation to participate in a multi-day in-depth visit to their institution.

High Point University is renowned for its luxurious student amenities that go far beyond typical college offerings. Students can enjoy a five-star steakhouse, a complimentary arcade, several stunning outdoor swimming pools, and a cinema with free popcorn and snacks. While all of these amenities certainly catch the eyes of families, this blog will dive deeper into the academic opportunities, student culture, and HPU's intentional devotion to instilling a growth mindset and set of life skills into every student.

​In the meantime, feel free to read Jessica's blog post on her CFI experience at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida!​

Higher Education in the News

• Getting ready for college involves more than just packing extra-long sheets and shower shoes. This insightful article highlights essential yet often overlooked items to consider when preparing for campus life. From crucial healthcare forms to facilitating late-night pizza runs, the list includes practical tips that go beyond typical store suggestions. If you want to learn more, Jessica wrote a blog post about the importance of these types of forms on our blog.
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• Curious about the current state of college admissions? This article dives into recent data from the United States Department of Education, revealing admission rates for approximately 1,400 institutions that award bachelor’s degrees. While elite schools like Caltech, Harvard, Stanford, Columbia, and MIT boast the lowest acceptance rates, the majority of colleges—85%—welcome more than half of their applicants. Explore the detailed findings and learn what your college admission chances might look like today.
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• Exciting changes are coming to the ACT! Following its acquisition by Nexus Capital, the ACT announced that starting next spring, the science section will become optional, mirroring the optional writing section. Additionally, the test will be an hour shorter, with 44 fewer questions and shorter reading passages, making it both quicker and more affordable. Unlike the SAT, which is now fully digital, the ACT will still be offered in both online and traditional pencil-and-paper formats. Dive into this article to learn more about these significant updates and how they might impact future test-takers.​
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• The rollout of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) has faced significant challenges this year. As the U.S. Education Department works to resolve these issues, the department has appointed Jeremy Singer, former College Board president, as the first-ever FAFSA executive adviser. Singer, along with a team of College Board executives and technology experts, will work to improve internal systems and bolster technical capabilities. This collaboration is raising concerns, as many are concerned about a conflict of interest between the FAFSA and the College Board's private alternative aid form the College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile. This article highlights the mix of excitement and concern over an increasingly blurry line between public and private financial aid processes.​
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• The Advanced Placement (AP) program is experiencing a major overhaul, with the College Board "recalibrating" nine of its most popular exams over the past three years. This recalibration means that approximately 500,000 more exams will earn a score of 3 or higher this year, potentially increasing to 1,000,000 more annually in the future. This change promises significant savings in college credits for high school students. Learn more about the latest data on these changes, explore the reasons behind the recalibration, and examine its impact on AP teachers and students. ​
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• Unfortunately, not all of the news surrounding the Advanced Placement (AP) program has been good. High school students worldwide were shocked last week when they received emails indicating their Advanced Placement (AP) exam scores were under review for academic integrity violations. Initially dismissed as a phishing scam, the seriousness of the emails became evident on July 8 when follow-up messages confirmed score cancellations. The College Board, responsible for AP exams, acknowledged a higher-than-usual number of cancellations due to a leak of test materials in May, which reached many students globally. This incident has prompted the College Board to reconsider digitizing AP exams to enhance security. Read the full article to learn more about the implications and the steps being taken to prevent future breaches.​

Fall 2024 Virtual & In-Person College Fairs

For many students and families, attending a college fair is going to be the easiest and most affordable way to learn about and visit several college representatives in one convenient location. Click the photos above to review planned college fair events hosted by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) and the Colleges that Change Lives (CTCL). NACAC's regional affiliate groups also host local college fairs, check out their regional affiliates list for a college fair location near you. If you're not familiar with in-person or virtual college fairs, then we strongly recommend you visit some of our blogs on the subject:

• ​Tips for Navigating Virtual College Fairs​
• ​Standout Questions to Ask Admissions Counselors​
• ​How to Demonstrate Interest Before Applying​

College Audition Pros:
The Summer Intensive!

We're excited to highlight an opportunity for serious and competitive students interested in actively pursuing musical and acting programs in college. The Summer Intensive program provides eight days of packed content while working with professionals on video recordings, resume building, auditions, headshots, financial aid seminars, and more!

Drew Boudreau is a trusted partner of Virtual College Counselors and has helped our musical theater and acting students navigate the college audition process with incredible results. Find more details about the program on their website: https://collegeauditionpros.com.

We want to once again express our gratitude to all of our students, their families, other professionals, and even strangers who have taken the time to peruse our newsletter. As always, if you have questions OR if you have a topic you'd like to see discussed, please don't hesitate to reach out.

info@virtualcollegecounselors.com

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