Great College Advice

JULY 1, 2023

College libraries are important centers of the campus. In the 21st century, what is a college library for, anyway? Not too long ago, there was a major ethnographic study of how college students actually use libraries for research and learning demonstrated the degree to which students make use of libraries and librarians: not much.

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Great College Advice

AUGUST 29, 2023

Families and students often ask us, “does volunteer work matter for college admissions?” Does volunteer work matter for college admissions? sports, the arts, research, internships, paid work, or volunteer work). College admissions officers like both of these things. Or are colleges looking for something else?

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Great College Advice

JANUARY 16, 2024

You might grab a coffee with them after class to discuss your research paper. Faculty incentives are different in liberal arts college than in major research universities. Teaching is more highly valued at liberal arts colleges–even as research is also encouraged and supported.

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Great College Advice

JANUARY 2, 2023

While my colleagues and I have done hundreds of campus visits as a way to research colleges, our families are embarking on these adventures for the first time. In our conversations, here are some of the things that families tell us that we wish the admissions offices around the country should hear. The gee-whiz videos.

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Great College Advice

SEPTEMBER 6, 2023

College admissions officers, too, are very often out of the office entirely–finally getting a few days to spend with their families during a grueling travel season. You may be able to meet with someone in the admissions office, but it will be difficult to get a feel for the college culture without students present.

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Great College Advice

AUGUST 25, 2023

After all, in the United States, our admissions process is very subjective. For example, a student who spends 4 hours every Saturday for four years shelving books at the local library performs an important service to the community. By his own admission, he wasn’t very good at it, nor did he like it much.

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Great College Advice

JULY 21, 2023

I’m here just kind of outside the library in a little courtyard, the azaleas are in bloom, and students are packed in the library right now studying for finals. So, to give you some examples, I picked up this fact sheet outside the admissions office. It’s just absolutely stunning.

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