North Star: College Admissions Advice & Resources

College planning in 9th grade should be less about admissions strategy and more about giving students time to understand their strengths, habits, interests, and growing independence. That extra time gives students room to figure out how they learn, explore genuine interests, become more independent, and make thoughtful choices before the application process becomes urgent.. Starting early should not mean starting applications early A ninth grader does not need to know where t

As a former member of the Vanderbilt admissions council and a college application consultant, I’ve read plenty of essays that are polished, impressive—and somehow don’t feel much like the student who wrote them. That doesn’t necessarily mean an essay was literally “fake.” Sometimes a student is simply trying too hard to sound sophisticated. Sometimes too many adults have edited it. Sometimes a student has copied the tone of a successful essay they found online. And now, of co

A college essay can be beautifully written and still not do its job. The goal isn't to prove that you're an impressive writer, squeeze every accomplishment into 650 words, or figure out what you think an admissions officer wants to hear. The essay gives the reader something the rest of your application can't: a closer look at how you think, what you notice, what matters to you, and how your experiences have shaped you. That means some of the most common college essay mistakes

In the complex landscape of college admissions, particularly at elite institutions, the importance of a well-crafted essay and a poised presence for an interview cannot be overstated. While quantitative metrics such as GPA and standardized test scores play a crucial role, recent data and insights from admissions professionals suggest that essays and interview can be a decisive factor, especially for highly selective schools. This blog post dives into some pretty cool data tha

Hey there, future college rockstars! 👋 Some of you will have the opportunity (and yes, it's an OPPORTUNITY) to turn a dreaded interview...

Hey there, future college students (and awesome parents)! 👋 Let's chat about something that can make or break your college applications: a personalized strategy. Yep, it's more than just a master plan - it's your secret weapon in admissions, and here's why. Cookie-Cutter Approaches? No Thanks! First things first – you're not a cookie, so why use a cookie-cutter approach? Every single one of you has a unique story, talents, and dreams. A personalized strategy is all about sho

There's a subtle art to standing out, and thankfully some basic tips can turn ordinary experiences into extraordinary essays. This is the part of your application that makes admissions officers either yawn or yearn to meet you. As someone who's been on the other side of that admissions table (yeah yeah, now you can yawn, I've read thousands of 'em at Vanderbilt), I'm here to share the inside scoop on why storytelling is your ticket to standing out. Once Upon a Time... in Admi

You may have heard the writing advice “show, don’t tell.” It sounds simple. But when students are revising a college essay, it can be surprisingly hard to know what that actually means. Does every emotion need a sensory description? Does every accomplishment need to become a dramatic scene? Should you avoid ever saying, “I realized…” or “I learned…”? No. In a college essay, the goal isn't to turn every sentence into creative writing. It's to give the admissions reader enough