Niranjana Iyer’s Post

"She was rejected by Duke, Vanderbilt, Stanford, Columbia, and the University of Southern California" even with a perfect score on the ACT. This article highlights that the college application landscape is changing, and now, students need more than great GPAs and SAT scores to get into top schools. If you're a student or parent of one who's applying to college this year, please do not hesitate to reach out. I would be happy to chat and help 😁 #collegeadmissions #NewYorkTimes #highereducation #CollegePrep

Three Truths and a (few) Lies in College Admissions False: 1. Where your students get admitted is a reflection of your parenting 2. Students’ GPAs and test scores measure their worth and value 3. Where students go to college dictates their success True: 1. Where a student gets admitted is a reflection of many things, including financial circumstances, academic support, innate characteristics, and natural talents. 2. Parents all want their kids to feel valued for their personal qualities and how they treat others, along with their achievements. The college admissions process makes parents forget this sometimes, and the focus on outcomes often creates students' anxiety (as high as 56%, according to Edweek.com). 3. Student success is determined more by their major and how they take advantage of their opportunities and resources than by where they attend college. As highlighted in the NY Times article “Why Parents Can’t Quit the Elite College Arms Race,” the median earnings for a computer science major at Binghamton University four years after graduation are $114,997, compared with $126,103 at the very selective Georgetown University. The median earnings for a history major from UCLA are $47,888 four years after graduation, less than the $51,858 median for a history major from tiny Centre College in Kentucky. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gVJA27iF. College Bound & Ready believes students can be successful via many different pathways and focuses on helping students recognize and share their multiple value points with all kinds of colleges. #CollegeAdmissions #AdmissionsProcess #AdmissionTips #AdmissionTruths #CollegeBoundandReady #StudentSuccess #PathwaysToSuccess

In a recent conversation with Inside Higher Ed, Craig Goebel discusses students who are not planning to go to college, referencing findings from a recent #studentPOLL report, “perhaps what’s more important than understanding why high school seniors decide not to enroll immediately at a four-year institution is knowing they still intend to pursue a bachelor’s degree at some point.” Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/eVmRJKbR #studentPOLL #IHE #strategy #highered #admissions #research #collegesanduniversities #enrollment #enrollmentmanagement

Selingo accurately highlights the increasing complexities of the college admissions process. He offers one way to look at it: “All this reveals that the ultimate win in the game of admissions is less about the applicant and their needs, and much more about a college protecting its prestige (or better yet, improving its standing) as well as its bottom line in filling a class that meets certain enrollment and revenue goals.” I prefer to think of the “win” as helping students reflect on their growth as a student and a person, and identifying environments that will support the next phase of their academic, social and personal development.

This is a fascinating read about the increasing complexity of admissions decisions. I especially appreciate the attention to how the most selective institutions' approaches and policies shape the actions of less-selective institutions, which of course makes an already challenging process even more difficult for students and families to navigate.

Currently ranked No. 38 in social mobility, by U.S. News & World Report data, Clayton State University #CSU aims to reach No. 1 in the nation. Thanks Georgia Trend for the feature. Great article! 🎓#education #socialmobility #success #students #claytonstateuniversity

Did you catch the news about Dartmouth this week? Standardized testing is making a comeback at Ivy League and other top schools. In an interview with The New York Times, Dartmouth's President and Admissions Dean explained why they are returning to required testing. Dartmouth ran a study that proved standardized test scores are a better metric for predicting college success than GPA. Many other schools, like Yale and Princeton, are reassessing their "test-optional" policies. What does this mean for you? The truth is tests do reflect a student's academic ability. Parents often tell me, "My kid is not a good test taker, so we're going the test-optional route." I often wonder if this approach truly benefits students. While you may be a "bad" test taker, low test scores also reveal skill gaps that need to be bridged to ensure a successful college (and professional) career. School doesn't get easier. It gets harder. Now is the time to catch up! We have partnered with the best results-driven test prep experts in the industry. We're seeing 200+ point increases with one round of test prep. Do you want results like this? Message me or comment below. I look forward to helping you create the strongest possible application. Shine on, Kate --- PS: Our early admissions results include successes at Yale, Princeton, Stanford, NYU Tisch, Tulane, Middlebury, and more this year! BIG congratulations to our students for all their hard work this year. 💪👏 #nytimes #collegeadmissions #collegeprep #collegeapplications #collegeplanning https://lnkd.in/gVUp5HGF

Now, more than ever, it is imperative that students and families block out the college admissions cognitive dissonance created by a media chasing clicks and social media influences looking for likes. There are plenty of fantastic colleges with impressive outcomes that admit more than 50% of students. Continuing to woo the most rejective institutions results in wasted time, effort, and money, as well as overwhelming disappointment and toxic, negative self-beliefs in young people. Further, it perpetuates the reality in which headlines such as this one are the norm. It's time to reassess what a "good" college is (i.e., it is not only those that admit sub 30% of students). Inside the Craziest College-Admissions Season Ever. More applicants, new rules, and even less clarity from schools. #collegecounseling #collegeadmissions https://lnkd.in/gzjCgsAv

This insight from a recent Texas Tribune article is worth sharing to shed light on the challenges community college transfer students, particularly students of color and older adult students, face in completing their undergraduate degrees at 4-year universities. 🎓 This highlights the critical importance of prioritizing earning an associate degree as the first step toward unlocking the full potential of higher education. Let us empower students with the tools and support they need to thrive on their academic journey. #CommunityCollege #TransferSuccess #AssociatesDegree #HigherEducation #TexasTribune

Niche Direct Admissions is helping 7️⃣ universities across Missouri boost enrollment and alleviate stress in the admissions process for students! 🚀 #collegeadmissions #highered #directadmissions #missouri