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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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Tips for Summer Productivity!
How can students and families get ahead in their college applications this summer?
Summer offers a golden opportunity to get ahead on college applications—without the pressure of schoolwork. Whether you're a rising senior or supporting one, here are five practical ways to make the most of the season with lists of accompanying blogs:
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Build or Refine Your College List
Use summer to research colleges: look beyond rankings and explore campus culture, academic strengths, financial aid options, and admissions data. Make sure your list includes a mix of reach, match, and likely schools.
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Make Your Activities List
The Activities section of the Common Application may look simple, but it’s one of the most important storytelling tools in your application and provides key insights into your extracurricular involvement.
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Start Your Personal Statement Early
The Common App essay (personal statement) is a chance to tell your story in your voice. Drafting now gives you time to reflect, revise, and seek feedback without stress.
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Visit Campuses (Virtually or In Person)
Even if travel is limited, many colleges offer excellent virtual tours and info sessions. Make a short list and start “visiting” so you can picture yourself on campus—and mention those connections in future application essays.
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Organize Key Materials
Build a simple system for keeping track of deadlines, recommendation requests, testing plans, and application platforms. A shared Google Sheet with your family can work wonders.
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Talk About Finances Early
College affordability should be a family conversation, not a surprise in the spring. Use tools like Net Price Calculators on college websites to get realistic cost estimates and begin planning for FAFSA and scholarships. (We also provide a longer list of Financial Aid and FAFSA resources at the bottom of this newsletter!)
Higher Education in the News
- Georgia's Direct-Admission Initiative: Georgia’s governor launched a “Georgia Match” program last month, sending ~132,000 letters to high-school seniors guaranteeing college admission if they meet basic criteria. Officials report large enrollment jumps: applications to Georgia’s technical colleges rose ~26% and 10% at public universities after the mailing. The effort streamlines the application process and aims to boost college attendance by reassuring students early.
- FAFSA Deadline Returns to Oct. 1: The U.S. Department of Education announced that the 2026–27 FAFSA will launch on Oct. 1, 2025 – the traditional date – reversing the delays of recent years. The new form also lets students invite a parent or guardian to contribute via email (no special code required), simplifying a long-criticized part of the process. Restoring the fall FAFSA start should give families more time to plan college funding before applications are due.
- Cornell College's Early Aid Offers: Cornell College (IA) is piloting an early-aid program this summer. The small college emailed 16,000 prospective seniors personalized financial-aid estimates, listing scholarships and net cost, even before they applied. Dubbed “Save Your Seat,” the initiative gives students a clear picture of their net cost and encourages them to apply by set deadlines. This admissions experiment aims to lock in more students early by reducing cost uncertainty.
- Harvard's Contingency Plan for International Students: Harvard’s Kennedy School announced a “Plan B” last month for its incoming international students, should a new federal visa ban take effect. Under the plan, students could continue their studies online or transfer temporarily to a partner program. More than half of Kennedy School students are from abroad, so this effort to protect their paths reflects growing fears that U.S. immigration policy could abruptly bar some foreign students from campus.
- Texas Moves to Tax Undocumented Students: Texas higher-ed officials were told last month to identify which students are undocumented so they can no longer pay in-state tuition. This follows a court ruling that bans undocumented students from paying resident rates. The state’s letter said undocumented “residents” must now be treated as nonresidents starting fall 2025. Critics warn the sudden hikes — for roughly 57,000 undocumented students in Texas — could put college out of reach for thousands of long-time Texas high school grads.
- Penn Reverses Course to Regain Funding: Earlier this month, the Education Department lifted a $175 million funding freeze at the University of Pennsylvania after Penn complied with Title IX demands. Penn had been under investigation for allowing transgender swimmer Lia Thomas to win women’s swim titles; as part of the settlement, Penn agreed to rescind Thomas’s women’s awards and apologize to female athletes. The agreement ends a standoff that had put Penn at risk of losing major federal research dollars, demonstrating how federal enforcement of campus equity policies can directly impact university funding.
- Chinese Students Face Visa Uncertainty: A Chronicle report last month highlighted that Chinese international students are bearing the brunt of U.S.–China political swings. After threats to revoke hundreds of thousands of Chinese students’ visas, the White House then signaled they would be welcome, creating “whiplash” for students. Experts warn that using international students as “bargaining chips” could deter them from enrolling in U.S. colleges and long-term damage U.S. higher ed’s global competitiveness.
- New Hazing Law Mandates Transparency: A federal anti-hazing law takes effect July 1, 2025. From now on, all Title-IV institutions must start collecting detailed hazing data and publish an annual “Campus Hazing Transparency Report”. The Stop Campus Hazing Act of 2024 requires schools to disclose any hazing incidents and identify student organizations with hazing histories. By putting hazing records online, the law aims to help students and parents assess the safety of campus groups and pressure organizations to reform.
- UVA President Resigns amid DEI Dispute: Last month, the President of the University of Virginia announced his resignation amid a Department of Justice investigation into the school’s diversity programs. Ryan said he could not fight the federal government at the risk of funding cuts, and he left to avoid jeopardizing students’ financial aid or visas. This unprecedented case signals increasing federal intervention in campus diversity policies.
- College Enrollment Continues to Climb: New data show U.S. college enrollment rising again this spring. Total post-secondary enrollment was 18.4 million, up 3.2% over last spring. Undergraduates alone grew 3.5% year-over-year (though still about 2.4% below 2020 levels). Notably, more 21–29 year-olds are returning to college: enrollments are up ~3–6% in those age groups. Growth was strongest in short-term certificate and vocational programs, reflecting a student shift toward career-focused credentials.
Congratulations Class of 2025!
Firstly, we would like to congratulate the high school Class of 2025 all on the progress they've made on their journeys! Whether you’ve already enrolled at a college, decided to take a gap year, or are making your final college decisions, we are so proud of the energy and effort you have put into the self-reflection required throughout this process!
There are a couple of final to-do items that we would appreciate every student and parent completing:
- We would really appreciate all current clients completing our Satisfaction and Results Surveys! We take this feedback seriously, and while we know that you are very busy, we would sincerely appreciate any feedback you might be able to provide. Feedback from parents and students helps us support and empower future students and families traversing the college application process.
Parents need only submit the Parent Satisfaction Survey, while students need to submit both the Student Satisfaction and College Results Surveys.
- Student Satisfaction: https://forms.gle/xPYSv3TH3GCJ6yTRA
- College Results: https://forms.gle/kEU8qKMZ2tKqfmoq9
- Parent Satisfaction: https://forms.gle/DanXzUpxASBeTQ6LA
Once you've decided on a college, submit your enrollment deposit, housing deposit, and complete all forms required to match you with a roommate and choose your dorm. You should also keep an eye out for correspondence about class registration, orientation, and any other next steps the college/university requires.
As many of you know, our business is built on referrals from wonderful clients like yourselves, and we really appreciate the referrals and your feedback to help us ensure future students and families who work with Virtual College Counselors have the best experience. We encourage you to connect us with any potential referrals or help them begin their process by sharing our free 15-Minute Consultation link: https://www.virtualcollegecounselors.com/vcc-dubsado-free-consultation.
2024-2025 FAFSA Officially Opened!
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) is officially open!
- 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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