|
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.
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
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
-
The UC and Common App portals officially open on August 1st. Students should be ready to create their accounts and begin filling out their biographical and academic information.
-
Students currently working with us should schedule their supplemental essay meeting within the first two weeks of August using our Calendly link or by contacting us directly if there are scheduling concerns.
-
All application materials are expected to be completed two weeks before the institutional deadline or November 1st at the latest.
-
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.
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.
Additional To-Do’s as Fall Begins
-
Letters of recommendation should be formally requested during the first week of school.
-
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.
-
College lists should be finalized by the first week of August and must be balanced across reach, target, and likely schools. As we meet with students to discuss supplemental essays, we will be touching base about the progress of the college list.
- 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.
Travel Notice & Essay Support
- Jess will be out of the country from September 15–26 to run the Berlin Marathon! During this time, she’ll be available via email and will continue reviewing essays when possible. She will work with her students directly to support them with upcoming deadlines.
- During this period, our trusted Essay Specialist, Sam, will also be available to support students and ensure timely progress and feedback. You can learn more about Sam’s background here.
Higher Education in the News
-
Full Impact: Changes to College Financial Aid & Higher Ed: On July 4, President Trump enacted an 870-page higher-education bill (the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”) that makes sweeping changes to student aid and college regulation. Reporters note the law “overhauls student aid” by capping Parent PLUS loans and eliminating Grad PLUS loans, among other provisions. The Department of Education immediately began implementing the law. New requirements and programs from this law—such as revised income-driven repayment plans—are slated to roll out in late 2025 and beyond.
As part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed on July 4, 2025, major revisions were enacted affecting federal financial aid programs and institutional regulations. Key changes include parent and graduate PLUS loan limits, elimination of the Grad PLUS program in July 2026, tightened Pell Grant eligibility, and a new federal system tying college aid distribution to graduates’ post‑college earnings
- Loan caps: Parent PLUS loans are capped at $20,000 per year ($65,000 lifetime), and Grad PLUS loans capped at $20,500/year with a $100,000 lifetime maximum.
- Grad PLUS elimination: No longer available to new borrowers after July 2026, though current borrowers may continue for up to three academic years.
- Pell Grant restrictions: Students whose Student Aid Index (SAI) exceeds twice the Pell maximum or who receive institutional full tuition coverage lose eligibility; part-time students also face tighter rules.
- Outcome-based aid distribution: Institutions’ future aid capacities may be evaluated based on graduate earnings metrics, increasing accountability demands on colleges
- Cal State Pilots Automatic Admission: In California, the CSU system trialed a “direct admission” program in Riverside County. High-achieving seniors automatically received letters saying they’re admitted if they finish high school coursework and return a simple form. Early results show about 17,000 seniors invited versus 13,200 actual applicants—roughly 3,000 more than last year. Counselors say the no-action-required admission notices encouraged many who might not have applied otherwise to complete the form.
- Affirmative Action Aftermath: New data show that after the Supreme Court barred race-conscious admissions, the share of Black and Hispanic college applicants ticked up slightly, but their admitted share declined. For example, Black students rose from about 6.45% to 6.92% of applications, but their admitted share fell from 7.25% to 6.70%. A report by the Urban Institute (via Inside Higher Ed) warns that this is the first decline in Black admitted share since 2018, signaling that low-income and minority students may face tougher competition under the ban.
- Most People Overestimate College Costs: A national survey (Strada, July 2025) found that 77% of U.S. adults say college is unaffordable, but most significantly overestimate actual costs. For instance, many respondents thought community college costs over $10,000/year when the real net price averages around $6,000. Experts warn that such “sticker price” misperceptions can deter motivated students: one researcher noted that believing college is out of reach affects which high-school classes and savings students choose.
- SAVE Repayment Plan Ending: The new tax law signed this month effectively ends the Biden Administration's SAVE income-driven repayment plan. Under the law, SAVE will no longer enroll new borrowers after July 1, 2026, and current enrollees must switch by July 1, 2028. In practical terms, this means millions now in the SAVE program will need to choose alternative plans. The Education Dept. resumed charging interest on SAVE loans Aug 1, and borrowers have been advised to consider other income-driven plans.
- Common App Relaunches with New Interface: The Common Application announced that for the 2025–26 cycle (opening Aug 1, 2025), it will debut a “refreshed application experience” with a modernized design. The update aims to make the platform more user-friendly and accessible. High-school applicants and counselors should note that application forms will change visually this year, though no new questions are being added.
- DOE Opens Title VI Probe at Duke: In late July, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights announced a directed investigation of Duke University and its student law journal for alleged race and national-origin discrimination under Title VI. The probe follows concerns raised about campus harassment.
Last Call!
Class of 2025 End-of-Year Surveys
All clients (students and families) for the Class of 2025 should complete 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.
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.
-
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.
|
|
|
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
|
|
