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Understanding Application Fees and Fee Waivers for College and Graduate School
Applying to college or graduate school can be a costly endeavor, with application fees adding up quickly. Understanding how these fees work and the available options for fee waivers is crucial for students seeking to navigate the application process without undue financial strain. This article will explore the structure of application fees, the criteria for fee waivers, and strategies for managing these expenses.

Key Takeaways

  1. The cost of application fees can vary significantly between institutions, with some charging up to $100 or more per application.
  2. Fee waivers are available for students with financial needs, but eligibility criteria and application processes vary by institution.
  3. Be strategic about the number of applications submitted and seek opportunities for waived fees. Before deciding on anything, plan and prioritize.
  4. Stay informed about fee waiver opportunities and deadlines to maximize your chances of receiving financial assistance.

The Structure of Application Fees

Colleges and universities charge application fees to cover the administrative costs associated with processing applications. These fees typically range from $50 to $100 per application for undergraduate programs (e.g., Harvard University charges an $85 application fee for both undergrad and graduate applications) and can be even higher for graduate programs (i.e., Stanford charges $125 for graduate applications). While these fees might seem like a minor expense, they can add up quickly, especially for students applying to multiple schools. For students with limited financial resources, these costs can become a significant barrier to higher education. Recognizing this challenge, many institutions offer fee waivers to eligible students.

Navigating Fee Waivers

Fee waivers are designed to alleviate the financial burden of application fees for students who demonstrate financial need. Each institution has its own criteria and process for granting waivers, but there are some commonalities across the board.

Eligibility Criteria

  1. Financial Need: Most fee waivers are granted based on financial need, often determined by family income levels and the number of dependents in a household. Students who qualify for free or reduced lunch programs or receive financial aid through federal programs such as Pell Grants are typically eligible.
  2. Participation in Specific Programs: Many institutions grant fee waivers to students participating in programs such as Upward Bound or TRIO program, which are designed to support low-income or first-generation college students.
  3. Demonstrated Hardship: Some colleges allow students to submit personal statements or letters explaining their financial hardship to be considered for a waiver.

How to Apply for Fee Waivers

Applying for a fee waiver usually involves completing a form or section within the application where students can indicate their eligibility. For undergraduate applications, the Common Application and Coalition Application platforms allow students to request fee waivers directly through their systems. Graduate programs may require a separate process, often involving additional documentation. Current Examples:
  • The Common Application allows students to apply for fee waivers by selecting from a list of criteria, such as eligibility for fee waiver for the SAT or ACT.
  • The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) Fee Reduction Program offers a limited number of fee waivers for the GRE, which can be beneficial for students applying to multiple graduate programs.

Strategies for Managing Application Costs

While fee waivers can significantly reduce the financial burden of application fees, not all students will qualify for them. Here are some strategies to manage application costs:
  1. Prioritize Applications: Focus on applying to schools that are the best fit academically, socially, and financially. Create a list of reach, target, and safety schools to streamline the application process. For more in-depth information, check out our College Admissions Mastery Course (Chapter 6).
  2. Research Application Fee Policies: Some schools offer automatic fee waivers during specific periods, such as college fairs or open house events. 
  3. Use Fee Waiver Programs: Utilize programs like the College Board’s SAT Fee Waiver Program, which can also extend to college application fee waivers.
  4. Seek External Assistance: Some nonprofit organizations and community programs offer grants or scholarships to cover application costs for students in need.
Conclusion Navigating application fees and waivers can feel overwhelming, but with early preparation and a bit of strategy, you can make the process much smoother. Take the time to explore fee waiver options and prioritize which schools to apply to based on your goals and budget.  Remember, staying persistent and proactive will help you manage costs and get you one step closer to achieving your educational dreams. Keep at it, and don’t hesitate to reach out to us for any advice you might need along the way. With over 16 years of experience, we can help you understand and prioritize your college route for success in the admissions process. 
How to Leverage the Gap Year to Get Into Your Top Choice College

Taking a gap year involves deferring college or other formal education. During this time, you may travel, volunteer, work, or even undertake entrepreneurship to allow for invaluable personal growth and experiential learning. We call it a Path Year because, if done right, it can create a path for you to gain perspective, clarify goals, and develop valuable life skills to make you a more attractive college candidate. 

This article will explore how to leverage your gap year to enhance your college application, focusing on gaining relevant experience, improving academic credentials, and building a compelling personal narrative.

Gaining Relevant Experience

One of the most effective ways to use a gap year is by gaining experience that aligns with your academic and career goals. Admissions committees value applicants who have pursued meaningful activities during their gap year, whether through internships, volunteer work, or part-time jobs. For example, if you’re interested in environmental science, working with a conservation organization can demonstrate your commitment to the field and provide real-world experience that enriches your application.

Additionally, relevant experience can help you develop soft skills such as leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving, which are highly valued by colleges. These experiences can also provide rich material for your personal statement, making your application stand out.

Improving Academic Credentials

A gap year can be an opportunity to strengthen your academic profile, especially if your high school grades or test scores aren’t as strong as you’d like them to be. During this year, you can take college-level courses, enroll in online classes, or prepare for and retake standardized tests like the SAT or ACT. Improving your academic credentials during a gap year can significantly enhance your application, especially for competitive colleges that prioritize academic excellence.

Moreover, taking courses in subjects related to your intended major can show admissions committees that you are serious about your academic interests and have the foundational knowledge necessary to succeed in college.

Building a Compelling Personal Narrative

Your gap year allows you to build a personal narrative that resonates with admissions officers. Colleges look for applicants with unique stories and perspectives, and a well-spent gap year can provide you with experiences that differentiate you from other candidates. Whether you travel, learn a new language, or pursue a passion project, these experiences can form the basis of a compelling narrative in your application essays (Gap Year Association).

For example, if you spend your gap year volunteering in a foreign country, you can discuss how this experience broadened your worldview, improved your language skills, and deepened your understanding of cultural diversity. A strong personal narrative makes your application more memorable and demonstrates your maturity and readiness for college life.

Networking and Making Connections

A gap year can also be an excellent time to build your network, which can be invaluable when applying to colleges. Whether through internships, entrepreneurship, volunteer work, or academic programs, the connections you make during your gap year can lead to strong letters of recommendation. These recommendations can carry significant weight in the admissions process, especially if they come from respected professionals or academics in your field of interest (Inside Higher Ed).

Additionally, networking during your gap year can help you gain insights into potential career paths, allowing you to make more informed decisions about your college major and long-term goals.

Demonstrating Independence and Maturity

Colleges appreciate applicants who demonstrate independence, self-discipline, and maturity—qualities that a gap year can help develop. Whether you’re navigating a new country, managing a work schedule, or undertaking a personal project, the challenges you face during a gap year can cultivate these traits. Admissions officers look for students who are ready to take on the responsibilities of college life, and your gap year experiences can serve as powerful evidence of your preparedness.

Conclusion

A well-planned gap year can be a strategic asset in your college application process. But think of this year as also a Path Year in helping you figure out your ideal academic and career path. Remember, how you spend your gap year reflects your commitment to personal and academic growth, which can significantly impact your future opportunities. 

We have written extensively about the Gap Year and how to prepare yourself for college in our College Admissions Mastery Course (see Chapter 1-3). So make sure to check that out and get you on the Write Track to admissions success!

 

Balancing the Use of AI for the College Admissions Process

Georgia Tech proudly announced, “We believe there is a place for Artificial Intelligence tools to help you generate ideas, but your ultimate submission should be your own.” In fact, Georgia Tech is one of the first schools to provide an official statement on the use of AI college applications. Ironically, universities such as Georgia Tech are also experimenting with the use of AI in college admissions to manage the growing volume of applications, from automated application reviews to predictive modeling for enrollment management. Such use, however, raises real concerns about fairness, transparency, and the human element in decision-making.

In this article, we will explore how universities are leveraging AI, the utility and drawbacks of applicants’ use of it, and strategies for maintaining a healthy balance for the future.

Universities’ Leveraging AI for the Admissions Process

Many universities have embraced AI to streamline admissions processes. According to a survey by Intelligent, 8 in 10 universities will leverage AI in college admissions this coming cycle in 2024. The survey points out that the most common uses of AI in admissions are conducting interviews, communicating with applicants, reviewing transcripts, letters of recommendation, and even personal essays. Georgia Tech, for example, has been experimenting with using AI to sift through large data sets, evaluating thousands of applications more efficiently. NC State University is utilizing AI to process transcripts by extracting key information like student coursework and transfer credits.

While some view AI as a tool to streamline the admissions processes, others approach its adoption more cautiously, given the potential equity implications from AI biases that emerge when evaluating and selecting applicants. Indeed, the possibility of ‘depersonalization’ can result when AI-driven evaluations overlook more nuanced qualities crucial for a candidate’s holistic assessment.

The Pitfalls of Using AI in College Application Essays

Many applicants have shared how tools like ChatGPT have helped democratize the scholarship process, giving them a chance to express themselves in unimaginable ways. This is especially the case where applicants may lack access to support and assistance in the admissions process. In fact, Georgia Tech goes on to state in its official statement on AI: “Use it to brainstorm, edit, and refine your ideas.” Some education companies like Khan Academy are capitalizing on this by creating tools like Khanmigo to help applicants generate ideas. This is definitely a great use case for AI in terms of helping with ideation, stress-testing thoughts, and structuring essays in a clearer, more cogent manner.

As a company, we have worked with thousands of college and graduate applicants over the past 15 years and discovered that one of the most important parts of the application process is authentically conveying the story you tell. The main issue with the use of AI is the cliche, vague, and frankly generic emotions churned out by such platforms as ChatGPT, YouChat, or Bard. Many have complained of the dearth of ‘sensory’ detail and raw emotions that are missing from AI-generated essays. Not to mention, such machine-generated output completely undermines the introspective and cathartic nature of crafting application materials for college or even graduate studies.

In the Inside the Yale Admissions Office podcast by Dunn and Mendlowitz, the hosts state, “When students submit written content to colleges, they must sign a statement affirming that all work submitted is the applicant’s own. Submitting work written by ChatGPT or another generative AI model violates this affirmation.” This is because admissions committees still look far more favorably on a candidate who has taken the time to ideate, draft, and re-edit their materials in their unique voice rather than curate AI content that is copy-pasted and passed off as their own, raising ethical issues and undermining the integrity of the process.

“Note, it’s not hard for administrators to see the difference, especially with the rising use of tools like GPTZero, which helps distinguish between human and machine-generated content.”

Parting Thoughts

The AI revolution is just beginning, and its vast uses are critical for shaping the future. This is especially the case in education and even in the admissions space. However, AI requires careful navigation. Universities must balance efficiency with fairness and transparency, ensuring AI complements human judgment rather than replacing it. They must have a human-in-the-loop to ensure accountability in AI systems and only use them alongside human expertise to mitigate biases and oversights.

While no one can deny the democratizing nature of AI in helping students better reflect, ideate, and structure their thoughts, applicants must preserve the authenticity of their own application materials. We, therefore, anticipate, and frankly hope, that official statements such as Georgia Tech’s will become the norm, not the exception, to help reduce confusion for all those involved in the process. Further, there needs to be a balanced approach that combines AI with the human experience to harness its full potential while upholding the integrity of the application process for both applicants and admissions committees.

Top Mistakes to Avoid in Your College Application
Applying to college can feel overwhelming and stressful. Understanding and avoiding common mistakes can significantly improve your chances of acceptance. This blog post explores the top mistakes to avoid in your college application, particularly in application essays and extracurricular activities.  

Common Pitfalls in Application Essays

Ignoring the Prompt: A frequent mistake is not answering the essay prompt. The prompt is designed to help the admissions committee understand you better. Ignoring it can lead to an essay that fails to showcase your strengths, values, or experiences. Carefully read and address the prompt to create a compelling essay. Overusing Clichés: Using clichés can make your essay seem unoriginal and uninspired. Admissions committees seek unique and authentic essays that reflect your personality and experiences. Avoid clichés and focus on writing a personal and engaging essay. Neglecting to Proofread: Spelling and grammar errors can distract from your essay’s content and undermine your credibility. Take the time to proofread your essay or have someone else review it to ensure it is error-free and communicates your message clearly.

Extracurricular Activities Missteps

Listing Without Demonstrating Impact: Simply listing activities without showing your impact can be ineffective. Colleges want to see how you’ve made a difference in your community or developed skills through your activities. For example, instead of just listing “debate team member,” explain how you helped the team win a championship or developed public speaking skills. A mile wide and an inch deep: Often, applicants try to take on many activities just so they look “busy” in high school. But colleges want to see how you really grew from the experience and became a better team player, a more effective leader, and a compassionate community member. So make sure to focus on 1-3 activities and make them a mile deep and an inch wide in terms of your impact, as we said above. Focusing on Quantity Over Quality: Participating in numerous activities without deep commitment can be unimpressive. Colleges prefer students who have shown significant involvement and impact in a few areas. Choose activities you are passionate about and demonstrate how they have helped you grow and pursue your interests.

Conclusion

Avoiding these common mistakes in your college application essays and extracurricular activities can help you present yourself in the best possible light. Focus on creating a unique, authentic, and error-free application to improve your chances of being accepted into your dream college. Our Founder summarized these points and more in this YouTube video while he was at Harvard. Also, make sure to check out our College Admissions Mastery Course to avoid these mistakes and supercharge your admission to your dream colleges!  
Strategies for Strengthening Your College Application Despite a Low GPA
Many students with a low GPA may feel discouraged or hopeless when applying to graduate school or other academic programs. While GPA is a critical factor in the admissions process, it is not the only one. Admissions committees consider various elements, such as test scores, extracurricular activities, leadership experience, and professional achievements. This Blog will cover what you can do to improve your candidacy by taking a holistic approach to your application, highlighting your strengths, and demonstrating potential in other areas to offset a low GPA.

Key Takeaways

  • A low GPA does not necessarily mean the end of your academic journey.
  • Admissions committees consider factors beyond GPA, such as test scores, extracurricular activities, leadership experience, and professional achievements.

Understanding the Impact of GPA on Admissions

A GPA is usually an indicator of a student’s academic ability and potential for success in an academic program. While other factors, such as test scores and letters of recommendation, are also considered, a high GPA can help a student stand out in a competitive applicant pool. Minimum GPA requirements vary across different institutions and programs. Researching the GPA requirements for your desired programs is essential to determine whether you meet the minimum qualifications. For example, the University of California system requires a minimum GPA of 3.0 for California residents and 3.4 for non-residents for admission to their undergraduate programs (though this can differ from university to university within the system). Conversely, highly selective institutions like Harvard University may require a minimum GPA of 3.8 or even higher.

Assessing Your Academic Record

When evaluating your academic record, take an honest and objective look at your transcript to identify areas of weakness and take steps to address them. Identifying Weaknesses in Your Transcript Review your transcript for patterns or trends in your grades. Seek feedback from teachers, guidance counselors, or academic advisors to gain valuable insight into your academic strengths and weaknesses and develop a plan to address any areas of concern. Calculating Your GPA for Target Schools Research the GPA requirements for the schools you are interested in. Use a GPA calculator to determine your GPA for each school. Keep in mind that GPA is just one factor in admissions, and other aspects of your application, such as extracurricular activities, essays, and letters of recommendation, are also important.

Strategic Academic Planning

Selecting Courses to Boost Your GPA Taking additional courses that align with your interests and strengths can boost your GPA. Choose challenging but manageable courses, and consider retaking courses in which you received a low grade to demonstrate your commitment to improving your academic performance. Utilizing Academic Support Resources Use academic support resources such as tutoring services, study groups, and academic coaching. Developing good study habits and time management skills can help you stay organized and focused, leading to better academic performance.

Alternative Evidence of Academic Ability

Applicants with a low GPA can still demonstrate their academic ability through alternative evidence, such as highlighting relevant coursework and projects and demonstrating competency through standardized tests. Highlighting Relevant Coursework and Projects Showcase your strengths by discussing how you excelled in specific courses or projects related to your field of interest. Highlight any research or publications you have completed, focusing on their relevance to your desired program.

Extracurricular and Leadership Activities

Extracurricular activities and leadership positions can significantly help overcome a low GPA. Admissions committees value well-rounded applicants who have demonstrated leadership, teamwork, and a commitment to their community. Showcasing Leadership and Teamwork Participate in extracurricular activities to demonstrate leadership skills and teamwork abilities. Highlight specific examples that showcase your role and the impact of your efforts. Community Service and Volunteer Work Community service and volunteer work demonstrate a commitment to your community and a desire to impact positively. Provide specific examples and quantify the impact of your volunteer work.

Effective Application Strategies

Crafting a compelling narrative can strengthen your application when you have a low GPA. Admissions officers want to see that you have overcome challenges and have a clear vision for your future. Writing a Persuasive Addendum Use the addendum as an opportunity to explain your low GPA and showcase your strengths. Be honest about any extenuating circumstances, focus on how you have overcome challenges, emphasize your strengths and achievements, and use specific examples to demonstrate your skills and experience. Remember to ‘explain’, not make excuses, as to why you do not have a high GPA. Make sure to check out our College Admissions Mastery Course for exactly how to create a bulletproof addendum! Securing Strong Letters of Recommendation Strong letters of recommendation can strengthen your application. Choose recommenders who know you well and can speak to your strengths and potential. Provide them with specific information about your academic and future goals and any challenges you have faced to help them write a personalized and persuasive letter. Applying Early or Through Rolling Admissions Applying early or through rolling admissions can increase your chances of acceptance, especially if you have a low GPA. Early applicants are often reviewed before the application pool becomes too competitive. Rolling admissions allow you to submit your application as soon as it is ready, rather than waiting for a specific deadline.

Conclusion

A low GPA does not have to be the end of your academic journey. By taking a holistic approach to your application, assessing your academic record, strategically planning your courses, and highlighting your strengths, you can overcome a low GPA and strengthen your application. Focus on demonstrating your potential and commitment to academic success to increase your chances of acceptance into your desired program. Again, make sure to check out the College Admissions Mastery Course to ensure you have all the leverage necessary to overcome a low GPA and get yourself into your dream program!!
How to Stay Motivated as a Student: Checking in on Your Well-Being
Are you having trouble feeling motivated enough to finish out the school year? If so, you may need to examine your overall well-being. Here’s how to do a mid-semester wellness check-in:  

Wellness for Students

Wellness is not taught to students, so many times we feel like we are only surviving from semester to semester. Society’s constant need to work is causing ‘getting by’ day after day to become a dangerous norm. According to the BBC, overworking is actually killing people. It has become the largest occupational killer. Overworking causes a fight or flight response in the human nervous system.  We must stop these bad habits as students, to prevent ourselves from becoming victims to this socially acceptable way to die. Therefore, thriving must be our goal because surviving is no longer enough. As students, we must look at ourselves as whole beings and not just as work machines. A focus on wellness is the way to do this.  Understanding wellness also gets us away from the toxic side of self-love culture. It is a holistic approach that allows us to look inwardly and outwardly at ourselves. To get started on a wellness check-in there are four questions that I like to ask myself:
  1. How am I doing physically? 
  2. How am I doing socially?
  3. How am I doing emotionally? 
The answer to these questions will add up to give us an answer for how we are doing with our overall well-being. This may help in decerning what is the root of the motivation struggle.   

Physically

Physical wellness is ensuring that the best decisions are being made when it comes to taking care of our bodies. Most people choose one or two parts of their physical well-being to focus on and overlook the rest. Neglecting one of them will most likely harm the effects of another. Physical Wellness includes (but is not limited to): 
  • Nutrition
  • Physical activity 
  • Sleep
  • Skincare 
  • Haircare
  • Water intake 
  • Blue light screen time
 

Socially

UC Davis has a helpful guide to social wellness. Social wellness is cultivating meaningful relationships with proper boundaries and trust. As well as,  showing respect to everyone in your life. Social wellness includes (but is not limited to):
  • Proper Boundaries
  • Cultivating healthy relationships
  • Participating regularly in social interactions
  • Trying new activities
  • Meeting new people
  • Knowing and using your support system
 

Emotionally

How well we are able to handle feelings and emotions while adapting to changes and stresses in life is the core of emotional wellness according to the National Institutes of Health. College is a time of transitions and unknowns, so stress, anxiety, and depression are issues for college students. This is especially true after the pandemic. PBS News reported that 1 in 4 college students have considered suicide. Taking care of our emotional health is what we must do to continue living. Emotional Wellness includes (but is not limited to): 
  • Stress levels 
  • Happiness 
  • Coping with change
  • Acceptance of emotions
  • How you treat others 
  • The perspective you have of yourself
  • Managing difficult emotions
  • Having a purpose in life
  • Positive/negative self-talk
  • Gratitude 
  • Having a safe space to process
  • Getting professional help for mental illnesses
  In school, we will not be successful when these areas are off. If physical wellbeing is neglected then our brain has less capacity to process information. Our self-esteem plummets when our social lives are not healthily maintained. In addition, we will not have the necessary social skills to succeed in our professional life. Our emotional health can often be the foundation of our well-being, as unaddressed mental struggles can affect our functioning in life. So, as students, we need to check in with ourselves and make sure that we are wholistically doing well. If we are not, there are steps that we can take to get better. Stay on the lookout for more blogs discussing how to improve in each of these areas.     ~ Victorie Norman | WTA Communications Director
How to Have Great Senior Year in High School
Everyone wants their senior year in high school to be a magical picture.     *queue record playing nostalgic music*    A special time where you say goodbye to your school, friends, and essentially move into adulthood. Filled with final football games, school dances, getting into college with no problems, and senior pranks. Where senioritis hits at just the right time in the second semester and your teachers are kind enough to let it slide.    *Your record gets scratched with reality setting in*   However, this is usually a dream too good to be true. For many, senior year is a stressful time, filled with the unknowns of the future. Burnout plagues because seniors are trying to apply to colleges, keep up with their grades, take college-level classes, be involved in extracurriculars, and study for exams. This begs the question, can seniors have all of this responsibility and still enjoy their senior year?   The answer is yes!   

  1. Live in the here and now. 

First things first, throw that ridiculous fantasy of a movie like a senior year away. That’s overrated. Living in the moment in real life – whether it is stressful or happy is a wonderful tool to have. Remember, comparison (especially to an unrealistic dream) is the thief of joy.   

  1. Think about what you want from your senior year in high school. 

Next, Write out goals. Break them up into two categories: Academic and Personal. This will help you stay on top of your schoolwork while also having some fun planned too.

 Some ideas for academic goals are: 

  • End senior year with _____ GPA 
  • Get to know a teacher that you admire better 
  • Join a new club 
  • Improve on your SAT/ACT score 
  • Try truly reading your textbooks 
  • Focus on a subject that you don’t like and try to find at least one positive about it. 
  • Tour 3 colleges that you are interested in
  • Consult a college admissions counselor 
 

Some Ideas of Personal Goals are: 

  • Find a mentor
  • Go to every home football game 
  • Go all out during spirit week 
  • Take a freshman under your wing
  • Have a Mental Health check-up 
  • Finally, ask your crush to homecoming/prom 
  • Find one self-care task, and do it at least once a week
  • Train two extra times a week for your sport 
  These are just some ideas, but make four or five goals for each of these categories and write them down. This will give you direction for the year.   

  1. Get ahead in every way possible. 

To reduce the stress that senior year may bring, try getting ahead in one area. If you have a ton of AP exams ~ have a consistent study plan going during the first semester. If you are stressed about college applications, start planning out what you will need for them right now. If you have a crush, try saying ‘hi’ to them right when you get back to school. If you want your Friday nights off for fun, see if you make a plan to get your work done before then. Getting ahead can allow a bit of senioritis to set in, without it turning into complete burnout.   

  1. Talk with Someone When You are Stressed 

There is a lot of pressure on your shoulders! It is okay to get overwhelmed; especially because you’re living through a global pandemic. Please do not try to keep it all to yourself and suffer alone. This will have negative effects on your mental and physical health (even if you can’t see it now, it will show up in the future). Find someone to talk to: a friend, parent, teacher, therapist, youth group leader, a coach, a mentor, etc… It makes all the difference to allow yourself to be supported.   

  1. Have Fun ~ It’s the only High School Senior Year You’ve Got

Finally, this is the only high school senior year that you will have. Build on your connections with the friends that you have. Go all out during Spirit week. Cheer as loud as you can at sporting events. Let the team that you are on become your family. Try to find a positive outlook as you go to class every day. Do something kind for a classmate. Be proud of all that you have accomplished.    Remember that your happiness should not be dependent on a test score, GPA, or even a college acceptance letter. Find it from within. If you can do this you will be ahead of a lot of adults in this world.    Have a wonderful school year!!!   ~ Victorie Norman | WTA Communications Director
Alternative Ways to Pay for College
College Debt is everyone’s nightmare. The excitement of admissions fades one students think about how they are going to pay for college. If this is you,  you’re far from alone. Even high earners believe that the cost of college is out of reach. In fact, the Institute for Higher Education Policy says that families with incomes above $100,000 a year don’t believe they can pay for upwards of 6 in 10 U.S. universities.
Even when students can afford to pay for college, they’re still likely to graduate with a mountain of debt:
  • The average student loan borrower leaves college today with $37,172 in student loans – more than twice the amount of 2005 grads
  • The average monthly student loan payment has jumped by more than $150 over roughly the same period
Scholarships & Alternative Means to Pay for College No problem, you say. There are tons of scholarship and work-study opportunities out there. You merely have to know where to look for the ones that work for you. And, to an extent, that’s true. The operative word, though, is tons. For instance, whole books have been written about the FAFSA, an often-confusing online form required to get need-based aid. Even when you think you’ve filled out everything correctly, each school uses the information how they choose.

Alternative Means Education Financing Companies.

Fortunately, there’s another – saner – way. Alternative Means Education Financing companies, such as NextGenVest, can save you time, money, and aggravation. You leverage technology and the hive mind of your peers, plus company experts, if needed, to find and take advantage of every break you can – before the decision-makers dive into your numbers. “The scholarship hunt can be daunting and overwhelming, but with organization and preparation, it’s possible. I applied to the Marshall, Rhodes, and Gates-Cambridge scholarships at one time and researched to make sure I was a good fit. This provided me with the financial means to pursue my dream by studying at one of the top universities in the world!” ~ Nadine Jawad, Rhodes Scholarship recipient and Director of College Admissions at Write Track Admissions Think out of the box, maximize your time to research all financing possibilities out there, and make sure to tap into the expertise that exists to get that life-changing and affordable degree in your hand!   ~ Abhijith Ravinutala | Write Track Director of Professional Services & Graduate Admissions Expert   Contact Write Track Admissions to out how you can fund your dream degree!
Staying Competitive in COVID – How MBA students can keep up with jobs during COVID
Reading Time: 5 minutes     There is no doubt that COVID-19 has had a drastic impact on the job market. In fact, the Economic Policy Institute has already stated that the impact will continue to be most noticeable in the leisure and hospitality, social spending, manufacturing, and education and health services sectors, with the private sector taking the biggest hit.    As we face this general econ economic downturn, many will be faced with the J-O-B question – that is, how will they apply for a job like they had previously planned, and how will they stay competitive when doing so, in light of COVID-19?   According to the Economic Policy Institute, the first thing to note is the change in ongoing MBA programs. Business schools have moved to online instruction, shut down global and on-campus events, and taken a hiatus on MBA admissions events everywhere. This will likely set back future applicants, while also posing challenges to current MBA students as they struggle to capitalize on their education which has taken such a drastic change. It is also inevitable that alongside MBA admissions activities, the MBA job market, which was once overflowing with opportunities, will face a harsh downturn, as jobs in general are put on hold in favor of quarantine.    This does not mean the job hunt must come to a grinding halt for MBA students. Here are Write Track Admissions’ top things to do in quarantine to help you remain competitive in the job market:   

1. Be resourceful. There are still job opportunities that you may not think exist. Here are just some of the sectors that are actively hiring: The Government, Medical Device Companies, Essential Retailers (i.e. pharmacies, grocery stores), Delivery Service Providers, Online Health Services. There is also a comprehensive list of start-ups hiring And here are just some of the larger companies that are actively recruiting:

 

2. Ask for informational interviews via Zoom or Google Hangouts, or a different video/calling platform. Even if a company is not hiring, you can still get your name on their radar by conducting an informational interview from home. If you want to learn more about how to get your foot in the door, check out Write Track’s recent Linkedin Live on How to Stand Out and Get Hired in the Corona Economy!

 

3. Apply for funding. If you’re worried about continuing to fund your MBA career and subsequent job search period, apply for industry specific funds or lower-tier fellowships.

 

4. Take some time to sit back and plan. If you can enter into your job search with a clear path, it will set you out as having forethought and staying active while facing a challenge (aka a global pandemic).

 

5. Be innovative and entrepreneurial, and try to address a need that will likely continue well after this crisis. After all, these companies did just that in the last economic crisis and now many are helping us weather this current one:

  If you are still feeling unsure of how to navigate the MBA job market due to the effects of COVID-19, contact Write Track Admissions for help!   Aly Hartman,  Communications Director – Write Track Admissions
How to tackle the “Why” School Specific Essay For College and Graduate Programs
Reading Time: 3 minutes   Most schools, nowadays, will ask their applicants some form of the question “Why us?”. This supplement has gotten more and more famous over the years, and many schools are adopting it into their supplements. Before we get into how to tackle this kind of question, it’s important to understand why a specific school or program would ask this kind of question. Schools always accept more applicants than they can actually take on because not all applicants who are accepted decide to go: this ratio of admitted students and students who decide to attend is called a yield rate. Schools want to have the highest yield rate possible and want to ensure that the students they are accepting will attend, hence the “Why us?” question.    Tackling the “Why us?” the question seems like a daunting task, but it’s much easier when separated into a few subsets. Most responses to the “Why us?” question mention one of the following: Academics, Community, or Location. However, successful responses mention more than one of these three subsets and are sure to mention specific parts of the school at hand, whether that be specific professors, classes, cafes on campus, or anything between!    To help you get a better grasp at a successful “Why us?” response, let’s look at some example sentences or wordings that WORKED:  
  • “Although I was never able to visit X school, one of its faculty members made herself known to me”
  • “X’s cafe on Brooks street, while small and run down, serves as the perfect analogy to X school. While X school isn’t small and run down, much like the cafe, it serves as a homey place that brings students from all corners of the community”
  • “Outside of academics, X school’s student-life excites me. X school’s pan-Asian student group is well-known in my community for its strong bonds, its dance team, and … its food.”
  As you can see, these snippets are well-informed, show commitment to the schools they are discussing, are playful, and think beyond the surface-level. You, too, can do this! Remember, schools want you to attend; show them how much YOU want to attend, too!   Also check out our latest YouTube Video on Acing the “Why” School Specific Essay For College and Graduate Programs!   ~ Aly Hartman Write Track Admissions – Marketing Officer  

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