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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!
Monthly College Updates!
Welcome to our monthly update on the college search and application process. Each month, we'll be updating the link below to our webpage and including it in our newsletter, so that all of our subscribers can access summaries of what they should be thinking about at this point in the college search process.
These updates will mostly focus on the junior and senior classes. Freshmen and sophomores should focus on maintaining good grades, academically pushing themselves, getting involved in extracurriculars, and making sure their summers incorporate meaningful experiences for growth.
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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
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Forget What You Learned: Reimagining Education for Today's Families
Jess Chermak Gives the Inside Scoop About AP Classes and College Admissions
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Exciting news for you podcast enthusiasts! Jess recently joined Cory Greenberg, Director of Community Relations at Pacific Preparatory School, on the Forget What You Learned podcast to discuss the impact of AP courses and exam scores on high school students and college admissions. You can find a link to the podcast episode HERE, with a brief description below.
"In this episode, Cory and college admissions expert Jess Chermak unpack the high-stress world of high school course selection and the myths surrounding AP overload. They explore why students don’t need to take every advanced class to impress colleges—and how chasing perfection can backfire. From the politics of AP credits to the value of authenticity in applications, Jess shares how students can craft a meaningful academic path that reflects who they are, not just what looks good on paper. It's a conversation about letting go of pressure and leaning into purpose.
Brought to you by Pacific Preparatory.
Full episode notes available at www.pacificpreparatory.org."
Colorado Free Application Days 2025
"The Colorado Free Application Days campaign is an initiative designed to inspire more Coloradans to continue their education. From Tuesday, Oct. 7 through Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, all 32 public colleges and universities in Colorado and several private institutions will waive their application fees, making it free for anyone to submit an application. By waiving application fees—a common barrier to higher education—Colorado Free Application Days aims to improve access to further education and training, which is becoming increasingly critical in the state’s rapidly changing economy.
The days cap off Colorado Applies Month, a five-week, statewide campaign that encourages high school juniors and seniors – and adults – to select an education or training option that’s best for them and apply to that program when eligible to do so. The statewide push is designed to increase Colorado’s college-going and FAFSA and CASFA completion rates. The campaign aims to support low-income and first-generation students and to help keep Colorado students in state."
Higher Education in the News
- U.S. Colleges Face a Steep Drop in Applications: A major demographic shift is looming: declining birth rates mean that the number of U.S. high school graduates—and thus college applicants—is expected to fall sharply beginning this decade. While elite institutions may stay insulated by strong demand, regional and mid-tier colleges could see significant enrollment losses. Many are already ramping up merit aid and recruitment outreach to fill classes. For admission professionals, this signals intensified competition for students; for families, it may translate to better financial offers but also heightened concern over institutional stability.
- Colleges Under Scrutiny for Financial Aid Transparency: A New York Times investigation spotlighted inconsistencies in how colleges report aid data through the Common Data Set, a widely used tool for comparing institutions. Some schools allegedly present incomplete or selective information about need-based versus merit aid, inflating perceptions of generosity or affordability. For counselors and families, this underscores the need for caution: published averages can obscure real costs, and only the official financial aid offer—often individualized—shows the full picture.
- Lawmakers Scrutinize College Marketing and Data Firms: Congressional Republicans have opened an inquiry into major marketing and data analytics firms that advise colleges on enrollment strategies, pricing, and financial aid allocation. Lawmakers argue that these consulting practices—often designed to maximize tuition revenue—may be driving up college costs and contributing to inequities in access. The investigation focuses on whether such firms help institutions identify which students can pay more, rather than which students most need aid. For admission professionals, the scrutiny highlights growing political attention on enrollment management tactics; for families, it underscores the importance of transparency around how colleges set prices and distribute aid.
- Absenteeism Becomes a Concern at Harvard: Harvard faculty have raised alarms over rising absenteeism among undergraduates, even in popular and discussion-heavy classes. The trend—partly linked to pandemic-era habits and shifting attitudes toward attendance—has prompted conversations about academic rigor, motivation, and classroom engagement at elite campuses. For educators, it’s a reminder that selectivity doesn’t guarantee student participation; for families, it offers a window into evolving student culture and how colleges are rethinking expectations in a post-COVID academic landscape.
- Government Shutdown’s Impact on Education and Research: Congress failed to pass a budget and the federal government shut down starting 1 Oct. 2025. The Associated Press reported that the Department of Education’s contingency plan furloughed roughly 87% of employees, halting most operations except for processing Pell Grants and student loans. New grants, civil‑rights investigations and outreach were to pause; research funding through programs like Impact Aid and Title III could be disrupted if the shutdown lasted more than a week, and the Office for Civil Rights was forced to suspend investigations.
- FAFSA Opens Months Earlier With New Tools and Student Aid Index: A PBS NewsHour report explained that the 2026–27 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) went live in late September—the earliest release ever. Previous cycles were delayed (the 2024–25 form didn’t open until December), causing a 9 % drop in submissions and hampering aid offers. This year’s form features quick account verification, an email‑based system for inviting parents or other “contributors,” and a Student Aid Index (SAI) that replaces the Expected Family Contribution. The SAI uses different income and asset thresholds, expanding Pell Grant eligibility for low‑income students. More than 125,000 applications were filed within days of the beta release.
- AI Can Write Your College Essay, But Admissions Officers Can Tell: A study described by the Cornell Chronicle found that essays generated by large‑language models like ChatGPT are highly generic and uniform. Researchers compared 30,000 student essays with AI‑generated ones and concluded that chatbots “cannot approximate” a real student’s voice. Even when fed specific demographic details, AI essays produced formulaic lists of traits and repeated keywords. A machine‑learning classifier easily distinguished between human and AI essays. Senior author René Kizilcec noted that while AI tools can help brainstorm or refine writing, fully AI‑written essays lack authenticity and may undermine an applicant’s narrative.
Important Fall Updates
Important updates on fall timelines, deadlines, and expectations for current students and families
As we turn the corner into the fall semester, we’re entering the most exciting—and important—phase of the college application journey. Below are some key updates and reminders to help ensure a smooth and successful application season.
Key Dates & Expectations
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The UC and Common App portals officially opened on August 1st. Students should have already created their accounts and filled out their biographical and academic information.
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Students currently working with us should have completed the Personal Statement and Activities List. Students should be working on drafting, implementing feedback, and completing any required Supplemental Essays for colleges on their list.
- All application materials are expected to be completed two weeks before the institutional deadline or November 1st at the latest.
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All students should be aware of their upcoming deadlines, but as a general rule, upcoming college deadlines will likely fall into one of the following dates: October 15th, November 1st, November 15th, November 30th/December 1st.
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All applications should be submitted by Early Action or Priority Deadlines when available.
- If a student is considering Early Decision, please contact us directly so we can have a conversation about fit and commitment.
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Letters of recommendation should be formally requested either through the Common Application or the student's high school's procedure.
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Students must request that their official high school transcripts be sent to colleges. Each high school has its own process—please consult with your school’s college counselor, advisor, or registrar for guidance.
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College lists should be finalized and must be balanced across reach, target, and likely schools.
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If a student is planning to take the SAT or ACT, register as soon as possible. For score reporting timelines, September is the final viable test date, and students should aim to receive scores no later than October to have them available for Early Action/Priority deadlines. Students submitting test scores can find additional information in the links below:
We want to help each student put their best work forward, and timely communication and completion of tasks are essential. Starting in August, students will be expected to complete assigned tasks on schedule without extensions. In return, our team will review submitted materials and provide feedback within 2-3 business days. Please note that missed internal deadlines may lead to delays in our ability to review or provide support during this busy season.
2026-2027 FAFSA Opens October 1st!
Don't forget to keep tabs on financial aid application deadlines (for FAFSA, the CSS Profile, state-specific, and institution-specific forms, whichever are applicable for your specific schools of interest), in addition to general admission application deadlines.
It is also critical that students check their email inboxes daily for any correspondence from schools to which they've applied or intend to apply. Lastly, students should be sure to set up their prospective student portals for each school as soon as the login information is sent to them to ensure all application materials are received by the appropriate deadlines.
- The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) will officially open for the next cycle of students beginning on October 1st.
- Some schools use the CSS Profile to determine eligibility for institutional aid. It's a doozy of a form! The list linked at the beginning of this bullet point is the most complete one that exists. Every school has its own deadline when the form needs to be received for aid consideration, so this is a friendly reminder to pay close attention to those deadlines.
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We've been strongly encouraging all students to pay close attention to application requirements for each school and to submit their applications at least a week before institutional deadlines for three primary reasons:
- Once the application is received and processed, schools will provide students access to a prospective student portal. This is important because it's where students can track which materials have been received and which are still outstanding. Most schools provide a cushion of a few days for counselors and teachers to submit their materials, but some don't.
- Some schools have additional essay prompts or requirements that can only be accessed through the portal! The most common additional requirement is the Self-Reported Student Record. Information about all requirements can be found on each institution's website, but it never hurts to have another set of eyes double-checking for these important pieces.
- The application systems tend to get overrun and often crash on the days of major college deadlines.
That finish line is right around the corner, and we are excited to be crossing it with you on this journey! Our wonderful colleagues at Big J Consulting have broken down the important information you need to know when completing these forms for the first time in this helpful blog. We highly recommend using this as a guide as you navigate the forms.
If you'd like more information on the current discourse about the FAFSA delays, we'd suggest looking into the following articles:
Relevant Virtual College Counselor Blogs:
Relevant Outside Blogs/Resources:
Academic Coaching Highlight:
Calibrate Academic Coaching
This month we are highlighting one of our fellow educational consultants focusing on utilizing strategies grounded in neuroscience to cultivate powerful learning while leveraging a student’s full potential in ALL academic coursework.
Calibrate Academic Coaching provides 1:1 academic coaching for middle and high school students to reclaim their confidence, independence, and engagement in their learning.
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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
Other Virtual College Counselors Content
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