Kate Stone College Consulting & University Gurus

10/25/2024

Are these thoughts adding to the stress of upcoming early application deadlines?

"Do my essays truly reflect who I am?"
"Will my application catch the eye of admissions?"
"How can I make this better?"

First, you're not alone!

Second, it's tough to know for sure when you're so close to your work.

That's why a fresh, expert set of eyes can level things up.

Take my smart and passionate student, "Grace," from last year. She was struggling to get her true self down on paper. After working together, we didn't change her story; we just brought it into focus.

The result? Essays that were undeniably Grace, just clearer and more compelling.

If you want essays like this, I'm offering a special this week. Call our office at 203.714.4435 or schedule a time to chat here — https://universitygurus.com/call-me

Shine on,
Kate

10/22/2024

Is your college "hook" strong enough...?

Building a profile for college admissions starts early.

That's why we prepare early with you.

We'll help you align your profile with what colleges are looking for.

Here are a few examples from our incredible students:

The student who focused on urban planning by creating a civic engagement app with 2,000 users, drafting a comprehensive 90-page plan for food justice in urban areas, and serving as the first voting student trustee to influence school policies (plus, he mapped the entirety of his city's bike lanes). .

The student who revitalized her school as Beta Club President led two beautification projects with student committees, drove community outreach and won national creative writing competitions while serving as editor of her school's literary arts magazine.

The student who combined biotech and coding by interning at Emory to research rare genetic diseases, launching a tutoring nonprofit during the pandemic (which scaled to 100+ peer tutors), and winning the top prize in the Stanford CS106A computer programming competition (competing against undergrads, no less).

See why we like to start early?

For the next two weeks we are providing free in-depth college prep assessments and action plans to the first 5 families.

Apply here: https://go.universitygurus.com/call-me

Shine on,
Kate Stone

10/04/2024

I see it all the time – students working hard throughout high school to prepare for college.

But when it's time to apply, something is missing from their profile.

They've done a lot of work but lack proof of their passion.

It's like, "I want to go into marketing, but I haven't actually done any marketing."

It's too late to fix this when applications are due!

It's fumbling the ball right before the touchdown.

This is why the latest you should start working with a college coach is the beginning of junior year!

https://universitygurus.com/services

If we start now, we can fix these mistakes:

- Too few meaningful activities
- Too many low-impact commitments
- Experiences that don't align with their passions or intended major
- Time wasted on things that don't add value
- A patchwork of random activities that don't tell a clear story to colleges

Here's the truth: building a strong, intentional profile now is much easier – and more effective – than scrambling at the last minute.

You can't create proof of passion out of thin air when applications are due.

Let us help you design a purposeful, focused path for your student: https://universitygurus.com/services

For a limited time, we're offering our College Prep service FREE to the next three junior year families who sign up for our full-service college coaching package!

You read that right.

Schedule a call now: https://universitygurus.com/call-me-

Shine on,
Kate

"Working with Kate was a game-changer for my daughter."

09/27/2024

We are less than six weeks away from early deadlines!

Students who apply early can have a 10-12% higher acceptance rate.

Note: This isn't a blanket rule. The advantage depends on the school.

With so much on the line, wouldn't it be great to have an expert to answer your questions, guide you through every step, and help you finish the process faster?

That's exactly what we're here for.

If you're feeling the pressure, that's totally normal (and probably good).

Unsure where to start? Schedule a quick call with my partner, Zac: https://universitygurus.com/call-me

He's the best at supporting stressed-out families and will 100% take care of you.

Don't wait any longer.

Shine on,
Kate

PS: Have you reserved your spot for our free workshop next Saturday, October 5th at 1:00 pm ET, “How to Write the Best College Essay”? https://universitygurus.com/workshops/

09/25/2024

Hey!!

If you have any students applying early decision or early action, I'm doing open Q&A feedback at all my workshops this month to help them get their essays done!

Could you please share this opportunity with students you know?

How to Write the BEST College Essay Workshop (w Q&A)

Saturday, Oct 5 at 1 pm ET
Saturday, Oct 19 at 1 pm ET

Link to Register For FREE: universitygurus.com/workshops/

Shine on!
Kate

09/09/2024

This year, celebrating my 38th in the Catskills was the perfect backdrop for reflection, and I'd like to share a few thoughts on the past year and what's inspiring me as I move forward.

It's been a year of saying "yes" to big goals while making sure life stays fun—navigating that elusive balance between pushing forward and enjoying the ride.

In the process, we doubled our business, helped 38 families (so far) navigate college apps, welcomed 600+ students to our workshops, and even shot our first ads on Yale's campus.

But it wasn't all work—true to my role as the self-appointed CFO (Chief Fun Officer), we squeezed in two engagement parties, rocked out at an Avett Brothers concert, and hit the road again with our van-life adventures. I even spent a month in the Azores, Portugal, working on my motivation book for teens (turns out, there's no better editor than a good ocean breeze).

What really stood out was rediscovering the joy of rewriting my own story, just like I guide my students to do with theirs.

Students often come to me feeling like their essay topics—or even their lives—lack a compelling story. But once we start writing, they find there's more to their story than they initially thought.

Here are three life lessons that stand out from this year:


1. Progress isn't pretty. The key is to get moving, even when things feel unfinished.
2. Know when to pivot: Have the courage to change course. Whether it's shelving an essay draft that's not flowing or rethinking a business offering that doesn't provide enough value, real growth comes from letting go.
3. Digest your wins: I'm naturally a nitpicker (the editor in me), but this year, I'm learning to appreciate my wins, big and small.

I pull in these lessons with students as we look for the real, honest moments in their essays.

I'm so grateful that my work with families goes far beyond applying to college. Thank you for letting me be a part of it.

Want to send me a personal note? You can do that here: https://forms.gle/n4VejTZ1BMf2kTMB7

I've grown to love reading your notes and feedback each year.

I'll read every one.

With gratitude,
Kate

09/04/2024

Your friendly college coach is back for the fall with a new set of free college essay workshops.

We experimented extensively over the summer with how to find excellent essay topics more quickly. Great news! Our new 60-minute hands-on workshop is helping more students find unique essay topics.

Could you please share this opportunity with students and families you know?

How to Write the BEST College Essay
Saturday, Sept 21 at 1 pm ET
Link to Register For FREE: https://universitygurus.com/workshops/?mc_cid=cedc38ff08&mc_eid=48ea66e7a4

Thanks!
Kate

PS - Here is a flyer you can share out!

08/23/2024

What topic should I choose for my Personal Statement essay?

I spend my days helping students figure out this very question.

It's not just about how well an essay is written; the topic itself needs to be powerful.

Admissions officers remember students by the topic of their main college essay.

They might not recall a student's name, but they often remember their essay topic: "Urban Gardener," "Origami Girl," or "Beekeeper Kid."

The best essays are about aspects of you that aren't represented elsewhere in the application.

Admissions officers are eager to learn something *new* about you.

They want to know the person behind the application, not just a recap of what's already in your Activities List.

Here are the four key traits of an outstanding Personal Statement topic:

1. It puts you in the best possible light.
2. There's some natural adversity built into the topic (an essay shouldn't present a perfect story).
3. You're the only one in your community who could write about this topic.
4. It reflects an unknown part of you that couldn't come up in any part of your application.

Would you like help choosing your topic? Schedule a call here - https://universitygurus.com/call-me

Shine on,
Kate

PS: We've just revamped our virtual college essay workshops! Sign up for our new event dates starting in September through December. Join us—I'm on a mission to help students write better essays faster than ever.
https://universitygurus.com/workshops/

PPS: Are you local? Sign up for our College Essay Workshop at the Darien Library on Monday, September 16th from 5-7 pm. Pizza will be served! 🍕🍕🍕
https://www.darienlibrary.org/event/college-coaching-workshop-57028

08/20/2024

There's one common mistake that every student makes when writing the 'Why Us' essay!

The guide below will show you the steps to fix it.

(The Why Us essay asks why you want to attend that college and how you plan to pursue your interests there.)

I'm giving you the one tool that makes the difference between a school taking you seriously or dismissing you as a candidate.

It's that important.

Get this free guide now: https://go.universitygurus.com/why-us-guide?hs_preview=XstVaSbE-174954163885&utm_source=University+Gurus&utm_campaign=cf88ded7dc-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_08_05_03_54&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-cf88ded7dc-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D&mc_cid=cf88ded7dc&mc_eid=5e00ec1651

Happy writing,
Kate

08/02/2024

The Common App is officially open yesterday, August 1st, 2024!

When the Common App "opens," you can start submitting your applications.

It also means you can finally find out which school-specific 'supplemental' essays you have to write.

Pro tip: Organize them in an Excel sheet.

How many essays you have to write depends on the school. On average, it's between 0-3 additional essays per school.

I've heard families say, "Oh, the supplemental essays will be easy!"

But, there is a real strategy to avoid giving superficial answers to these school-specific essay prompts.

Each prompt asks for something particular.

Most students underestimate the research and specificity needed for a high-quality essay (especially those 150-word essays and short answers).

For families that want the best possible essays, we have a limited number of hourly coaching sessions available.

If you'd like help, schedule a chat here: https://universitygurus.com/call-me

Shine on,
Kate

PS: Congratulations to our students who have finished their Personal Statements! We love working with you and are proud of your hard work and dedication.

07/30/2024

The ACT dropped bombshell news that changes are coming!

Just when we thought we'd seen it all... more surprises.

The following changes will take place starting in April 2025 for online tests and be fully implemented by September 2025:

1) More Time, Fewer Questions: Each section will feature fewer questions, giving you more time per question to reduce the usual time pressure.
2) Optional Science Section: Most surprisingly, the science section will be optional, similar to the essay section. 👀

The sudden announcement raises questions about how colleges will respond, which could complicate your test submission strategy.

We're not complaining about a shorter test, though—the ACT was long!

Our in-house test prep expert, Dr. Kelly, recommends that rising juniors stick with their current prep plans and not wait for the new test.

Sophomores should talk to a test prep expert in the spring to figure out their testing strategy.

Schedule a call here if you are interested in getting help:
https://universitygurus.com/call-me

Looking forward to helping you navigate these changes.

Shine on,
Kate

07/19/2024

Here’s what you need to know to boost your kid’s college essay:

This isn't just a writing test. It's an opportunity for admissions to understand your child's personality, growth, and potential contributions through conversational and genuine writing focused more on substance and storytelling than on sophisticated language.

I’m currently meeting 1:1 with parents to review their child’s Common App Personal Statement—the main 650-word essay that goes to every school. You know your child best, often remembering details they might forget, which enriches their essay.

Here’s how you can help:

Identify any general or "telling" parts of the essay and assist your child in finding specific events, stories, or anecdotes that add depth.

Our goal is to create vivid images in the reader's mind through detailed development, making the ordinary interesting and relatable.

Please note: Avoid making line edits; admissions want to hear your child’s authentic voice.

If you need assistance, feel free to schedule a consult: http://universitygurus.com/consult

Remember, students often aren’t familiar with memoir-style writing, and these techniques may not come intuitively.

Shine on,
Kate

Schedule a chat with leading college consultant Kate Stone. Gain complete confidence in your application process.