Discovery College Consulting

Oxford College is a two-year college that is part of Emory University. Students spend their first two years at the Oxford campus outside of Atlanta and then transition to the Emory campus in Atlanta for their last two years. With just 1,000 students, Oxford offers the intimacy of a small liberal arts college while giving students access to the resources of a medium-sized university. Every student comes in undeclared and declares their major in the second semester of sophomore year. All students live on campus, and all freshmen take a Discovery Seminar with a professor who teaches about a passion project and serves as students' advisor for the next two years. Because they aren't competing with juniors and seniors, Oxford students have more research and leadership opportunities in their first two years than Emory students do.

Happening tonight! College Considerations for Jewish Students: A Webinar for Parents. Please share with anyone you think might be interested.

Following October 7, many U.S. college campuses became hostile or even unsafe for Jewish students. Current high school students are having to consider this as they explore their options for higher education, and parents may be wondering what they can do to ensure their child's safety.

In this webinar, we will offer information on how to help guide and support your teen with the college search process. We'll provide resources for learning about Jewish life on college campuses and for assessing how college staff, faculty, and administrators are responding to Jewish students' concerns. We will also discuss how students and families can find out what campus climates are really like for Jewish students.

When: Wednesday, June 19, 5:30 p.m. MST
Who: Parents of high school students (While this webinar is intended for parents, students are also welcome to attend.)
Registration: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_RwaQkcTYS7mFlD5KtFt-YQ #/registration (Can't make it? Sign up and we'll send you the recording.)

Georgia Tech University is a large public institution with about 18,000 undergrads, located in the heart of Atlanta. Once on campus, the city disappears and students describe campus as the Georgia Tech bubble. Georgia Tech is very STEM focused. However, engineers take marketing and business students take robotics. There are 12 maker spaces on campus. The largest receives half a million dollars per year to purchase new equipment. If a student has an idea, they are encouraged to explore. Unlike many colleges, Georgia Tech students own their intellectual property rights. Another difference cited by the school, 55% of engineering students study abroad or complete an international internship. Georgia Tech offers only 39 majors, however, students combine them in unique ways and ethics is integrated into all of the curriculum rather than being covered in just one required course. Administrators say companies love to recruit from Georgia Tech because they know they'll find quality, quantity and diversity.

With 30,000 undergrads and a football stadium that holds 93,000, the University of Georgia has the features and opportunities of most large public universities, with the addition of some unique programs. All freshmen take a First Year Odyssey course with a professor who teaches about a topic of interest, and students can take a class outside of their school/major. Double Dawgs enables students to earn a Bachelor's and Master's degree in five years, or to cut a year out of law school, pharmacy school, and some PhD programs. Experiential learning is a requirement, and this can be in the form of an internship, study abroad, or service. UGA's statistics are also impressive: it has a 95% retention rate, 75% four-year graduation rate, 88% six-year graduation rate, and 96% of graduates are employed or continuing their education within six months of graduation.

Agnes Scott College is a small, private, inclusive women's liberal arts college in Decatur, Georgia just six miles from downtown Atlanta. Of the 900 undergraduate students, 57% are women of color and 27% are first generation. Scotties are excited to create change, desire a diverse, tight knit community, want to explore academic and professional opportunities and are ready to dig into on and off campus experiences. Study abroad and internships are hugely popular. The most popular majors are psychology, business management, public health, neuroscience, biology and political science. Students can also choose three 3+2 dual degree programs: engineering with Georgia Tech and nursing or computer science with Emory. The campus can be quiet on the weekends. One student said, "attending an all women's college has helped me come into my own. I'm so supported by my peers."

Emory University is a private, medium-sized university in Atlanta, Georgia. According to students, professors encourage academic collaboration, students can explore and pursue a variety of academic areas, and there is a sense of community and belonging. Students also highlighted the diverse student body, internship and research opportunities, and a good balance between academics and social life. 50% of students double major and the university offers several joint majors that combine different subjects. 60% of students do research and there is a hospital on campus where students can shadow/intern.

We've spent the past two days at the Higher Education Consultants Association annual conference in Atlanta. We've learned about various topics related to college admission and have networked with colleagues and college admissions professionals. We look forward to using our new knowledge to better help our students.

College Considerations for Jewish Students: A Webinar for Parents

Following October 7, many U.S. college campuses became hostile or even unsafe for Jewish students. Current high school students are having to consider this as they explore their options for higher education, and parents may be wondering what they can do to ensure their child's safety.

In this webinar, we will offer information on how to help guide and support your teen with the college search process. We'll provide resources for learning about Jewish life on college campuses and for assessing how college staff, faculty, and administrators are responding to Jewish students' concerns. We will also discuss how students and families can find out what campus climates are really like for Jewish students.

When: Wednesday, June 19, 5:30 p.m. MST
Who: Parents of high school students (While this webinar is intended for parents, students are also welcome to attend.)
Registration: click below (Can't make it? Sign up and we'll send you the recording.)

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: College Considerations for Jewish Students: A Webinar for Parents. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar. Following October 7, many U.S. college campuses became hostile or even unsafe for Jewish students. Current high school students are having to consider this as they explore their options for higher education, and parents may be wondering what they can do to ensure their child's safety. In this webina...

Several colleges will cost over $90,000 next year, with some being close to $100,000. As college costs rise, so does student debt. Many students take out loans without realizing how much they're actually borrowing or how long it will take to pay off. This blog post highlights the importance of understanding college costs, having a realistic budget, and knowing how loans work. https://www.discoverycollegeconsulting.com/100000-per-year-rising-college-costs-and-student-loans/

As a high school student or the parent of one, you may be confused by the growing number of colleges that have recently announced changes to their test score policies. What do the various policies mean, why are colleges changing them, and how can you keep track of schools' policies? Read this blog post for more information: https://discoverycollegeconsulting.com/making-sense-of-colleges-changing-test-policies/

With 40,000 undergrads, 13 colleges and schools, over 170 fields of study, the University of Texas at Austin has something for everyone. Unique academic programs include First-Year Interest Groups (FIGS), the Freshman Research Initiative, the Kendra Scott Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership Institute, and a pre-health professions certificate program. In terms of campus life, there are 1,300 student organizations, Greek life, DI sports, and opportunities to see touring Broadway shows on campus. Plus, the campus is right in central Austin, a college town turned major city.

Grade inflation is a growing problem across the U.S. While getting straight A's may feel good, it doesn't benefit students' learning and makes the college admissions process more complicated, as explained in this blog post: https://www.discoverycollegeconsulting.com/the-problem-with-grade-inflation/

The new FAFSA has been plagued by technical problems and ongoing delays. This blog post explains how some colleges are responding to these issues in ways that are intended to help students and families: https://www.discoverycollegeconsulting.com/colleges-respond-to-fafsa-delays/

The University of Redlands is a small, private liberal arts college in Southern California. The 2,000 undergraduates are required to live on campus all four years. In order to graduate, they must complete at least 80 hours of community service. Students enjoy small classes and meaningful relationships with professors and advisors. The university offers generous merit aid and encourages students to study abroad. A unique program is the Johnston Center for Integrative Studies, in which students design their own majors and receive narrative evaluations rather than letter grades.

If you applied to a college Early Action or Early Decision and were deferred, it's important to demonstrate continued interest, as explained in this blog post: https://www.discoverycollegeconsulting.com/deferred-demonstrate-continued-interest/

Many colleges have Facebook groups for students' parents. These groups can offer helpful information and resources, but some parents use them inappropriately, as explained in this blog post: https://www.discoverycollegeconsulting.com/pros-cons-colleges-parent-facebook-groups/

When writing college essays, it's very important to read the prompt carefully and answer it fully, as explained in this blog post: https://www.discoverycollegeconsulting.com/when-writing-college-essays-read-the-prompt/

Southern Methodist University, SMU, is located just 10 minutes from downtown Dallas, TX, but the campus feels a world apart. The tree lined Boulevard is where SMU students go for their version of tailgating, called "Boulevarding". SMU has about 12,000 students equally divided between undergrads and graduate students. Every undergrad will have at least one class in Dallas Hall, the domes building which was SMU's first. SMU recently disaffiliated from the Methodist church and now is considered a secular university.

Texas Christian University, TCU, is located in Ft. Worth, Texas. In spite of the name, over 60 faith groups are represented on campus. Students are required to take one religion class during their four years. All of TCU's buildings are constructed from TCU Buff, a patented brick, which can only be used on the campus. TCU is a mid-sized college with outsized school spirit and 50% of students participate in Greek Life. Popular majors include Business, Nursing and Science and Engineering. TCU's acceptance rate for student's applying to med school is double the national average.

Fall is a popular time for college fairs. This blog post has information about upcoming fairs in the Denver area and beyond: https://www.discoverycollegeconsulting.com/fall-is-college-fair-season/

You may have heard that it's important to demonstrate interest in colleges. To understand what this means and how to do it, check out this blog post: https://www.discoverycollegeconsulting.com/understanding-demonstrated-interest/

San Francisco State University is primarily a commuter school, but about 20% of students live on campus in traditional, suite and apartment style dorms. Popular majors include nursing, psychology, social work, biology, and ethnic studies. In fact, the university was the first in the nation to create a college of Ethnic Studies in 1969. In addition to the expected student services like tutoring and career counseling, SFSU students benefit from free puppy therapy and massages. Students can also "rent" a bike from the new fitness center at no charge for an hour, a day or even a semester.

The University of San Francisco is located on top of one of the city's many hills. From the dorms and the dining halls, students get a spectacular view of the city. USF is a mid-sized Jesuit university whose students are passionate about social justice. Biology, nursing, psychology, computer science and business are the most popular majors. Applicants with a 3.1 GPA or higher are automatically considered for merit aid with scholarships ranging from $9,000-$29,000. Students who want a big city experience and a tight knit community should consider USF.

San Jose State University is the original Cal State college and Tower Hall, built in 1870, remains. SJSU is known for its Engineering school and boasts the only Aviation major in the Cal State system. Students from the school's Animation and Illustration major worked on The Incredibles and the college's track is featured in the final scenes. Students have access to many top employers in Silicon Valley and participate in regular on campus career fairs. SJSU is the top provider of business graduates in the Bay Area. While SJSU has a large commuter population, many students do live on campus in traditional, suite and apartment style dorms.

Located in Silicon Valley near many top employers, Santa Clara University is a mid-size, Jesuit institution. All students are enrolled in one of three colleges: Business, Engineering or Arts & Sciences and everyone must fulfill the core curriculum which focuses on ethics and civic engagement. The college was founded in 1851 and part of the old Mission still stands on campus. Not only are there plenty of things to do in Santa Clara, the beaches are about 45 minutes away and San Francisco can be reached in an hour by Cal Train.

You've probably heard that the Supreme Court recently ruled against the use of affirmative action race in college admissions. This decision will have significant impacts on college applicants, colleges themselves, and more, as described in this blog post: https://www.discoverycollegeconsulting.com/the-end-of-affirmative-action-in-college-admissions/

If you are the parent of a student who will be starting college in the fall, this blog post is for you! https://www.discoverycollegeconsulting.com/parents-empower-your-college-student-to-use-campus-resources-and-services/

Netflix's fourth and final season of Never Have I Ever offers several lessons on college admissions, as described in this blog post: https://www.discoverycollegeconsulting.com/college-admissions-lessons-from-netflixs-never-have-i-ever/

Congratulations to Discovery College Consulting's Class of 2023! They were accepted to 75 different colleges and awarded over $4.4 million in merit scholarships. This blog post provides more information about their accomplishments: https://www.discoverycollegeconsulting.com/congratulations-to-the-class-of-2023/

In March 2024, the SAT will switch from a paper to a digital test for students testing in the U.S. In addition to the change in format, there will be several other significant changes to the test, as explained in this blog post: https://www.discoverycollegeconsulting.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-digital-sat/