In a December, 2021, blog, Jenny Rickard, President and CEO of Common App, stated that its goal is to create “a college admissions process that sparks joy rather than anxiety.” For those students applying to the most highly selective colleges, and for those whose financial aid awards will ultimately determine if, or where, they matriculate, that goal, while admirable, is probably not attainable. An analogy, perhaps, would be to suggest that students and alumni of a lower-seeded NCAA March Madness basketball team could, prior to and during the game, watch with no anxiety – only joy. Highly unlikely! Whether the Common App goal, joy rather than anxiety, is relevant for all students is debatable, but it could be more broadly defined to include a second cohort: colleges’ Enrollment staffs.

When you apply for colleges, you usually have a pretty good idea of how to respond to a college letter of acceptance or rejection. However, you may find out that your application is "waitlisted." What does that mean for your college plan? Should you be concerned?

With early application and regular decision deadlines fast approaching, students may feel overwhelmed with the task of writing their essays. At SAGE Scholars, we're here to help prepare the next generation of prospective students for success. During this critical time in students' lives, college essays will be among the essential facets of their applications. Though high stakes, this aspect of the application is also open to the most creativity and personalization. Essays are a chance for students to explain their passions and dreams—while also exploring what makes them who they are. Below, you'll discover some helpful essay writing tips that can separate your application from the rest of the pack!

With so many media outlets covering the negative consequences of social media on students’ admission into college—i.e., admission rescinded for inappropriate content— we’re looking at how students might use these inevitable social media checks to their benefit for admissions committees.

Setting yourself up for success requires thoughtful and strategic long-term planning. We have put together four tips to help you figure out how to maximize your time while setting yourself up for an eye-catching college application.

Writing can be daunting. If you're like me, when you sit down to write, you slide into a series of what-ifs: What if I can’t do this? What if I don’t get the scholarship I need? What if they tell me no? Look no further! I'm here to help make scholarship writing a little bit easier!

While transferring colleges can be a big transition, it doesn't have to be a stressful process. If you follow these simple steps, not only will you find the college of your dreams, but earn a degree that works for you!