Latest news with #collegeadmissions
Yahoo
10 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
A Parent's Guide to College Visits and Admissions
Experts share what to know, ask, and do at every stage. Fact checked by Sarah Scott Blink and your little one will headed to college. I speak from experience as my 16-year-old was a baby five minutes ago—I swear! And yet, here we are. Our college visit and admissions journey is well underway, but I'm still feeling very overwhelmed. We've made mistakes—including not thoroughly researching a school we trekked more than ten hours by car to visit. I can't be the first parent to find the college admissions process more than a little complex. Thankfully, there are experts who have been there, done that, and can help answer questions about everything from when to visit prospective schools to the difference between early decision and early action. The only thing they can't assist with? Getting me ready to say goodbye to my baby! College Visit Prep The very first step in planning college visits is having honest conversations about goals and values, says Irena Smith, a Bay Area-based college admissions expert, former Stanford admissions officer, and author of The Golden Ticket: A Life in College Admissions Essays. She tells Parents that this doesn't have to be a one-time 'big talk,' but getting on the same page about fundamentals, such as what you can afford, can save everyone a lot of heartache later. Next, it's all about planning ahead—as I learned the hard way. Before you set foot on a campus, do some preliminary research to ensure the visit is worth your time. Laurie Kopp Weingarten, CEP, President and Chief Educational Consultant of One-Stop College Counseling, recommends checking out majors, academic programs, student body size, location and surrounding area (including safety), and both academic and social opportunities before scheduling an on-campus visit. Cost is also a key factor. Jed Macosko professor of physics at Wake Forest University, urges parents to gauge whether a school is financially feasible before your child falls in love with it. College Visit Timing Once you have completed your school background checks, so to speak, Kopp Weingarten says you can start on-campus visits as early as freshman year. By junior year, students are typically ready to think more seriously about whether a college is the right fit. Experts agree this is the ideal time to visit. Start with schools within driving distance—and maybe even turn it into a mini-vacation by exploring local sites and attractions. But Marc Zawel, co-founder and CEO of AcceptU cautions, 'Don't over schedule.' He says families should visit one or two schools per day, max. As far as the season to plan a visit, summer is often more convenient for both parents and students. However, Kopp Weingarten cautions that campuses can feel empty, 'Since many college students won't be on campus, sometimes it's harder to get a true sense of campus life.' Spring of junior year of high school is often better, according to Zawel. Experts recommend not waiting until senior year to start visiting colleges, as that time is packed with schoolwork and college applications. Ultimately, Kopp Weingarten suggests exposing your student to a wide range of schools—big and small, urban and rural—to help them figure out what might suit them best. Planning a Productive College Visit After doing the leg work, you'll want to make your time on each campus as meaningful as possible for your family. Start by scheduling a campus tour, which in most cases can be done online. Otherwise, contact the admissions office for information. 'The self-guided tours, which are available on off-times, aren't great at showcasing the colleges,' warns Kopp Weingarten. 'Students walk around, looking at buildings, without having the tour guide bring the campus to life.' Also, book info sessions ahead of the visit—but be sure leave space for organic, unscheduled experiences at each school as well. 'Eat in the dining hall, grab coffee in the student center, read the school paper. Talk to random students, not just the tour guide,' Zawel recommends. Meeting with a professor from a study area of interest can also help students get a sense of the school, according to Kopp Weingarten. They may even be able to sit in on a class. Finally, Mocasko tells Parents that if your child already knows a student at the school, even casually, spending time with this person will give them insight into what life on campus is really like. As an added bonus, if they end up at the school, they will already have a friend. 'It will make the first year of college less scary!' he says. Questions to Ask During Campus Visits Parents naturally have questions about cost, financial aid, and safety on campus, but experts say that college visits are a perfect opportunity for kids to develop confidence and grow their independence. "I always suggest students take the lead on these visits,' Kopp Weingarten advises. 'Parents can accompany them, but they shouldn't be the one asking questions!' So, what to ask, you ask? Students should ask anything that helps them to envision daily life on campus. Depending on what they value most, some questions to ask include: How easy is it to change majors? What is a typical class size? How would you describe the political climate on campus? Does your school have a Greek system? Can you have a car on campus freshman year? How are the dorms set up? When can you live off campus? What are the meal plan options? Understanding the College Admissions Timeline Once you and your child have determined which colleges are at the top of their list, the next logical question is: When are applications due? The short answer is that it depends on how your child applies. If your child has fallen in love with a school, they may wish to apply early decision, or early action. It's important to know that early decision, which may be offered in two rounds, is binding, while early action is not. With early decision, Kopp Weingarten explains, 'The student, parent, and college counselor sign a binding contract stating that if the student is admitted, they must attend and also remove all other pending college applications.' If your child has their heart set on a certain school, then according to Kopp Weingarten, 'Typically, applying early decision greatly increases your chances of admission.' Early action, which is non-binding, is sometimes a strategic choice. Students can demonstrate their interest for a school without the decision being binding. Since they'll hear back earlier than with regular decision, applying early action can also take the pressure off, per Kopp Weingarten. Finally, some schools offer an admissions advantage to early action applicants. 'Others tie merit award eligibility to EA, making it a smart move financially as well,' she adds. With all of that in mind, here's a breakdown of various application deadlines for most colleges: Early Decision 1: Nov. 1 or 15 (hear back in Dec.) Early Decision 2: Early Jan. (hear before regular decision) Early Action: Similar deadlines to early decision (hear in Dec. or Jan.; decision due May 1) Regular Decision: January. May 1st will also often be the deadline to accept or decline. Rolling Admission: Renewal as received. Clearly deadlines will in large part determine when your child works on their applications, but in general Kopp Weingarten says that the summer before senior year is a good time to begin applications, request teacher recommendations, and complete financial aid forms. For student-athletes, the timeline is different, with the process kicking off as early as sophomore year. High school and club team coaches are great resources to help guide you through the process. It's also a good idea to reach out to other parents who have been down that road with their student athlete. They'll likely be happy to help you get a lay of the land. Supporting Your Teen Without Taking Over Experts emphasize that allowing your child to take charge during on-campus visits is a powerful way to help them feel self-assured and develop more autonomy. Maintaining an open dialogue about their process helps you support them, without taking over. Remember, keeping your child on track with college visits and applications is a parent's role—doing it for them is not. As Smith says, encouraging independent decision-making prepares kids to self-advocate and handle challenges down when you aren't there to provide guidance 24/7. Meanwhile, if they're unmotivated, she says, 'Yelling or lecturing is unlikely to motivate them.' And, according to Smith, a child who is showing little or no interest in the process may be signaling that they aren't ready to dive into it just yet. If you notice that your child seems stressed around the issue, it can help for parents to set boundaries around when and where you discuss college with your child. For instance, not at the dinner table, or on weekends. 'They're hearing about college from everyone—teachers, friends, and social media,' Smith assures parents. Finally, Smith encourages parents to find a hobby to keep their own minds engaged other than thinking about college. Read the original article on Parents Solve the daily Crossword
Forbes
5 days ago
- Politics
- Forbes
This Harvard Essay Question Isn't About Civility—It's About Self-Awareness
Harvard College Admissions Office This week, The New York Times published an opinion essay about the growing importance of the 'disagreement question' in the college admissions process amidst the fraught political landscape of higher ed. This type of supplemental essay prompt requires students to reflect on their response to a disagreement they have had—Harvard's question, for instance, reads: 'Describe a time when you strongly disagreed with someone about an idea or issue. How did you communicate or engage with this person? What did you learn from this experience?' The author of the article, a current sophomore at Harvard University, claims that the question 'isn't built for honesty;' rather, it allows admissions officers to 'screen out incivility at the gate' by requiring students 'to script the ideal disagreement' as a means of proving that they can delicately and moderately respond to opposing views. The piece rightly notes that the question is open-ended and that students should take a strategic approach to answering it; however, the writer's critique of the question—and the misguided strategies that students take in answering it—betrays a fundamental misunderstanding of the question's intent. 'Admissions officers are not posing this question solely as a test of a student's civility,' says Erin Cao, Senior Mentor at Command Education and former Columbia University admissions officer. 'They genuinely want to see students' values, perspectives, and contributions to discourse. Most importantly, they want to know that a student will be open-minded and willing to challenge themselves to think critically about their beliefs and opinions—college is, after all, an opportunity for students to grow personally and intellectually.' From in-class discussions to gatherings on the quad and in the dorms, students will be confronted with a diverse array of opinions, perspectives, and backgrounds throughout their collegiate years. Admissions officers want to see that students will contribute meaningfully to discourse on campus. Rather than subtly asking whether an applicant is humble, courteous, and a good listener, this question's first purpose is gleaning what a student truly cares about. In other words, the question is first and foremost asking: 'What matters to you? Are you capable of reflecting about how your background and experiences have led you to hold those values?' Showcasing a clear sense of conviction and well-reasoned perspective on an issue demonstrates a student's readiness to add their voice to the conversations happening on a college campus. At the same time, these conversations are also an opportunity to learn and grow; admissions officers want to see that applicants are teachable and willing to challenge their own beliefs or opinions—that they will benefit from the rigorous and diverse intellectual community that awaits them in college. Rather than feigned civility or spineless compromise, a strong response to this prompt will show that a student has integrity and conviction, but is willing to grow and interrogate their ideas through engagement with others. Because of this, students should note that the topic of the disagreement matters far less than how the disagreement illuminates the student's capacity for reflection, listening, and growth. Some of the best disagreements to write about are not necessarily those that concern hot-button political topics or that align with what students assume an admissions officer wants to see, but instead those that lend insight into a student's unique background, perspective, and core values—whether that's it's climate policy, cafeteria food, or the best way to divide labor for a group project. The Times writer suggests that a strategic approach to the prompt will strive for balance and moderateness: 'Be humble; don't make yourself look too right. But you can't choose a time when you were entirely wrong, either. Or should you tailor your responses by geography, betting that, say, a Southern admissions officer would be more likely to appreciate a conservative-leaning anecdote?' But far from performing or posturing, this prompt requires students to be radically honest, introspective, and authentic. Students should consider what they are truly passionate about and reflect upon experiences of disagreement or clashes of opinion that have evoked strong emotions in them—not that they think will arouse strong feelings in admissions readers. For instance, applicants might write about navigating cultural clashes in their community, grappling with religious institutions and ideas, or changing a long-held belief after getting involved in a particular organization or community. 'Admissions officers would absolutely prefer to read a story about how a student confidently and respectfully committed to their point of view or radically changed their mind about an issue, rather than a bland account where a student had a safe opinion and emphasized how he or she could civilly converse with someone else,' says Cao. Finally, this prompt underscores the importance of pursuing authentic passions and developing core values throughout high school. A student cannot craft a compelling response to this prompt if they have not had meaningful opportunities to engage with perspectives that differ from their own. Students who have spent their high school years engaging in extracurricular activities, working or volunteering in their community, and spearheading an independent initiative will have an array of genuine experiences of disagreements and clashes of perspectives to recount in their supplemental essays. Ultimately, like all of their other application materials, this question calls for students to be authentic, introspective, and curious. Rather than imposing new 'requirements' for students to game the system, this prompt is an opportunity for students to share more about themselves to top schools.
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Rick Singer, 'Varsity Blues' mastermind, can consult college hopefuls again, judge rules
William "Rick" Singer, the silver-haired ringleader of a nationwide college admissions scandal that landed kids from affluent families into elite schools, can open a new counseling business if he discloses his criminal past to clients, according to court documents unsealed July 15. Singer was sentenced to prison in connection with the "Operation Varsity Blues" scandal in 2023 on charges involving racketeering, money laundering, and fraud. Judge Denise J. Casper of the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts ruled that Singer can be in the business of college admissions again on the condition that he shares a statement detailing his crimes. "Mr. Singer admitted to, among other things: bribing standardized test proctors and administrators to engage in cheating on college entrance exams,' the statement reads in part. "Singer took in more than $25 million from his clients, from which he made payments to co-conspirators totaling more than $7 million, and transferred, spent, or otherwise used more than $15 million for his own benefit." The judge's ruling allows Singer to operate ID Future Stars, a college admissions and life coaching service that boasts on its website that Singer's team has "guided thousands of students and special talent candidates." Casper issued the ruling on July 14, which requires Singer to provide a copy of the statement detailing his crimes to clients and display it prominently on the company website. The company's homepage did not appear to feature the statement as of July 15. The ruling comes after Singer cooperated with federal prosecutors to expose wealthy families involved in the admissions scheme and after serving time in prison. Singer's attorney, Aaron Katz, said in a statement that his client has "no problem advising current and future clients of his past actions," adding that "he had been doing so even prior to the court's ruling." The company's website has long included a mea culpa from Singer. "I am not afraid to tell people who I am and that I made a mistake, took full responsibility and want to share my expertise, passion, and desire to help shape our next generation's leaders," the statement reads. "We will continue to utilize our deep relationships with the respected decision-makers at colleges and universities but will not stray from staying and living in good standing." Court records show Singer's lawyers proposed a less detailed version of the statement that Casper ultimately ruled he has to share. Singer's lawyers in court filings called the government's statement a "'shaming penalty' designed to embarrass Mr. Singer and deter others from associating with him or ID Future Stars." 'Varsity Blues' scandal: Prosecutor scoffs at Rick Singer's new college counseling service Singer pleaded guilty in 2019 in connection with the scheme and admitted to bribing SAT and ACT proctors, and adding fake awards, extracurriculars, and essays to students' college applications. He also bribed college athletic coaches and administrators through program donations to designate applicants as athletic recruits based on fabricated athletic achievements. The ruling requires Singer to display a detailed statement explaining what he did wrong on his company website and to share a written copy of the statement with parents, students, and other clients. He also has to say how much he made off the scheme — Singer made at least $15 million, according to the statement. A federal judge in Boston sentenced Singer in 2023 to 42 months in prison, ordered him to pay over $10 million in restitution and forfeit $8.7 million in assets, the statement says. Fake disabilities, photoshopped faces: How feds say celebrities, coaches and scammers got kids into elite colleges Singer's nationwide scheme rocked the world of higher education. The case ultimately led to dozens of guilty pleas, including from Hollywood stars Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin, who separately hired Singer to help their children. Schools the Justice Department implicated included Yale, Stanford, the University of Southern California, Wake Forest, and Georgetown. Over 50 people – including wealthy CEOs and high-profile celebrities – were indicted in Varsity Blues, the largest college admissions case ever brought by the Justice Department. Some students in the scam pretended to have disabilities while others photoshopped faces onto different students' bodies. And one Florida man received a four-month prison sentence for secretly taking SAT or ACT exams in place of students, or correcting their answers after they had taken the exam in Texas or California. Despite revelations of the scandal, the same manic worrying by some parents over how to get their kids into certain schools continues. And the number of applications to the richest and most selective universities keeps rising. "He has found, in some ways, the perfect industry for a person who wants a second chance," Jeff Selingo, a bestselling author of books on college admissions, told USA TODAY in 2024 after Singer launched the new admissions venture. "There are no regulations, there's no licensing and the anxiety of parents is higher than it's ever been." Contributing: Zachary Schermele and Chris Quintana, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College admissions scandal mastermind allowed to reopen business
CBS News
15-07-2025
- CBS News
"Varsity Blues" mastermind opens new college counseling service, but must disclose criminal past, judge rules
William "Rick" Singer, the mastermind behind the nationwide college admissions bribery scheme, can operate a new college counseling service as long as he discloses his criminal past to new clients, a federal judge in Massachusetts ruled Monday. The service, ID Future Stars, lists Singer as "Master Coach & Lead Advisor" on its website, which says it prides itself on offering a "hands-on, personalized approach to college admissions counseling." Chief District Judge Denise Casper ruled that Singer can operate the company but must "prominently" display the following statement on the ID Future Stars website: "In March 2019, Rick Singer pled guilty to federal charges-including racketeering conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and obstruction of justice-for his role in what was widely-publicized as the "Varsity Blues" college admissions scheme. Specifically, Mr. Singer admitted to, among other things: bribing standardized test proctors and administrators to engage in cheating on college entrance exams (i.e., the SAT and ACT); falsifying students' academic transcripts by paying third parties to take classes in their names; falsifying students' college applications with fake awards, athletic activities, and fabricated essays; and bribing college athletic coaches and administrators, through purported donations to their programs and personal bribes, to designate students as athletic recruits based on falsified athletic credentials. As part of the scheme, Mr. Singer took in more than $25 million from his clients, from which he made payments to co-conspirators totaling more than $7 million, and transferred, spent, or otherwise used more than $15 million for his own benefit. On January 4, 2023, a federal court in Boston sentenced Mr. Singer to 42 months in prison and three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay more than $10 million in restitution and to forfeit assets totaling more than $8.7 million. " Singer must also provide a written copy of the same statement to all parents, students or other clients who retain him. The court-mandated text was not yet posted on the company's website as of early Tuesday afternoon, but an attorney for Singer, Aaron Katz, confirmed that Singer will abide by the court's order. Singer "has no problem informing current and future clients of his past actions and, indeed, had been doing so even prior to the Court's order," Katz said in a statement to CBS News. Over 50 people, including popular TV actresses and prominent businessmen — were convicted in the case, which authorities called Operation Varsity Blues. In 2019, Singer pleaded guilty to charges including racketeering conspiracy and money laundering conspiracy. He was sentenced to 3.5 years in prison, but was released to a halfway house in 2024. Singer is currently on supervised release. CBS News has reached out to the U.S. Attorney's Office in Massachusetts for comment. In a statement on the ID Future Stars website, Singer says, in part, "I am not afraid to tell people who I am and that I made a mistake, took full responsibility and want to share my expertise, passion, and desire to help shape our next generation's leaders by helping each find a college and career that is the right choice for each individual." "The important values I learned in my journey–is to stay away from the gray areas in college admissions and institutional advancement… That I will not be traveling down the uneven side of the road even when the coast looks clear, but will fiercely seek the proper guidance and support from expert counsel," the statement says.
Fox News
15-07-2025
- Fox News
Rick Singer allowed to return to college consulting business after infamous 'Varsity Blues' scandal
Rick Singer, the 64-year-old man at the center of the "Varsity Blues" college admissions scandal was allowed to return to his old job by a federal judge, but must disclose his criminal past to potential clients. Singer's new coaching company ID Future Stars, which is focused on college consulting, says it provides "comprehensive life coaching and college admissions guidance with a hands-on approach that discovers how we can best help your child achieve their dreams," according to its website. Chief District Judge Denise Casper wrote in a Monday order that Singer must provide a specific, lengthy and detailed notice to parents seeking to retain him. "In March 2019, Rick Singer pled guilty to federal charges-including racketeering conspiracy, money laundering conspiracy, conspiracy to defraud the United States, and obstruction of justice-for his role in what was widely-publicized as the 'Varsity Blues' college admissions scheme," the court ordered statement says. "Specifically, Mr. Singer admitted to,among other things: bribing standardized test proctors and administrators to engage in cheating on college entrance exams (i.e., the SAT and ACT); falsifying students' academic transcripts by paying third parties to take classes in their names; falsifying students' college applications with fake awards, athletic activities, and fabricated essays; and bribing college athletic coaches and administrators, through purported donations to their programs and personal bribes, to designate students as athletic recruits based on falsified athletic credentials. As part of the scheme, Mr. Singer took in more than $25 million from his clients, from which he made payments to co-conspirators totaling more than $7 million, and transferred, spent, or otherwise used more than $15 million for his own benefit." The statement ordered by the judge did not end there. "On January 4, 2023, a federal court in Boston sentenced Mr. Singer to 42 months in prison and three years of supervised release. He was also ordered to pay more than $10 million in restitution and to forfeit assets totaling more than $8.7 million. The U.S. Department of Justices press release announcing Mr. Singers sentence can be found at: Mr. Singer served his prison sentence and is currently on supervised release. The terms of Mr. Singer's supervised release require him to provide this disclosure," it continued. Singer was found guilty in a bribery scheme where he helped celebrities, business people and wealthy clients get their kids into elite schools. He was sentenced to 3 ½ years in prison in 2023. Prosecutors said Singer received over $25 million from clients and paid bribes which amounted to over $7 million. Singer also used over $15 million of money from clients for his own personal advantage, prosecutors also said. "Full House" actor Lori Laughlin, her husband Mossimo Giannulli and "Desperate Housewives" actor Felicity Huffman were also handed prison time for their participation in the scandal. Fox News Digital reached out to Singer for comment.
