Jane K. McGuire College Counseling

Having read literally thousands of college essays over the course of my career, I agree with much of what follows. I'd also add that many students find the essay writing process excruciating because of too much advice from too many advisors. You know what they say about too many cooks? The same is true with essays. My favorite part of the college process is working closely with students to help them capture their vision and voice in compelling essays.

How I Know You Wrote Your Kid’s College Essay The paradox of the overzealous editing of the college essay by many helicopter parents is that they don’t know what a college essay is really about.

An interesting look at an internal tension driving the admissions game....

Stanford Will Stop Reporting Its Admit Rate. Does It Matter? Stanford's recent decision not to publicize its undergraduate admit rate is an empty gesture that will have no effect on the process or applicants' approach to it.

I can't begin to say how many students have apologized to me for the lack of leadership or "star" quality in their applications. Yet some of the most thoughtful and compelling applications I've read -- both as an independent counselor and an admissions professional -- have been written by more introverted students. We are not all natural leaders, but we all have talents and experiences to contribute. Knowing your values and your value can help you capture your voice in your application.

Opinion | You’ll Never Be Famous — And That’s O.K. Social media make it seem as if meaningful lives are the extraordinary and attention-grabbing ones. That’s rarely the case.

An interesting take on finding a school where you'll flourish...

Some College Students Choose a School Where They Don’t Fit, on Purpose Being an outsider can cause culture shock. But that doesn’t have to be a bad thing.

Working with an independent counselor can help students assert themselves in the college process -- it can help parents take a step back and encourage students to become more independent.

How to Help a Teenager Be College-Ready Being admitted to college doesn’t mean a student is ready for it. Parents can encourage kids to step up their levels of personal responsibility while still in high school.

Looks like the beginning of an interesting discussion about the forces driving college admissions...

Trump and Elite Schools: A Harvard Athlete Weighs In Readers continue their conversation with James Fallows

As a former teacher, I couldn't agree more with this!

Commentary: Time to Ditch the SAT We need an education system that teaches students to be thinkers, not standardized test takers.

Virginia residents can qualify for in-state tuition at public colleges in fourteen states which participate in the Southern Regional Education Board's exchange IF they pursue majors which are NOT offered in Virginia colleges.

How to Get In-State Tuition at Out-of-State Colleges Students can save thousands in out-of-state tuition by participating in a regional exchange program.

Some helpful information about the difference between the SAT and the ACT. I'd probably try each exam once.

How to Evaluate ACT, SAT Math Before Choosing an Exam Timing differences between the math sections on the two tests are just one factor to consider.

It's so easy to lose perspective about the college process. I think we all feel this way at times!

Opinion | Stop Asking About My Kid’s College Plans “Have you guys made your list yet?” everyone asks. I hate this question. “We” aren’t going to college; my daughter is.

An interesting essay demonstrating an interesting phenomenon: the obsession with attending an Ivy League college -- regardless of whether it's the best fit for a student -- can create a sense of inferiority among students attending a "lesser" Ivy.

Isabella Simonetti | Life at the most insecure Ivy Penn might not be “the best” school in the Ivy League, but let me pose an important question: why does it matter? And why does it hurt our egos so much? Four years go by too quickly to walk around with chips on our shoulders.