Deirdre Allen Coaching

One of my students just got in to UMICH! So exciting. He is a Michigander with the classic dream of going to UMICH. We knew it was a bit of a long shot, even with his high stats. He was initially deferred and just found out today - he's in!!

Acceptances are rolling in! I've worked with 16 students this year and there were a few I was quite worried about. Almost all of my students are test-optional. Most have ADHD. A number have gpas under 3.5. Most do not have leadership in clubs. Very few have done internships. I think only one has done research. I will say that most DO have fairly high rigor - meaning they have taken a number of AP classes.

l'm listing all of these things because students and parents especially those from high-achieving areas of the country) frequently hear you "need" all of these things to "get into college." Now, yes, you may need these things to get into a T20, but there are many more options than those particular schools.

All of my students worked very hard on their Common App essays and they strove to create an essay that presented an authentic picture of who they were. They also worked hard on their supplemental essays, when required, and strove to make their essays detailed and specific to each school.

Here are some of the schools my students have received acceptances to: Lewis & Clark, Santa Clara, The University of Puget Sound, the University of San Francisco, St. Mary's of California, Penn State, UMBC, Towson, VCU, George Mason, Willamette, Colorado School of Mines, Bard, Pace, The New School, Fordham, the University of Oregon, Oregon State, Chico State, Sonoma State, the University of San Diego, Gonzaga, and Reed!

And, oh, lest I forget, they are also getting merit offers left and right!!

https://www.deirdreallencoaching.com/post/what-parents-say-about-hiring-a-college-coach

What Parents Say About Hiring a College Coach What do parents love most about having a college coach? Well, they like having someone to help with the essay process and the selection of schools. They like hearing of schools that offer substantial merit. They like having someone to bounce questions off of and the like. But the NUMBER ONE thing pa...

It's July and My Rising Senior Hasn't Done Anything Yet!! It's July. It's actually halfway through July. And so far, it appears that nothing has been done. Many parents know that the summer before senior year is an ideal time to get started on the college application process. However, as the days go by and they find themselves gazing upon their rising seni...

What a beautiful story!

Reflections From a Formerly Disengaged Teen Student’s view: I used to sit in the back of class, trying my best to avoid eye contact with my teacher, but now I sit in the front row every day.

It's Hail Mary Time! ⚡️ Recently, I found myself inspired by Seth Perler’s wisdom on how to make the most out of this critical time of year. Are you ready to tackle your challenges head-on? Join me as I explore these empowering strategies! Check it out now:

It's Hail Mary Time! Recently, I found myself listening to an excellent video by Seth Perler, a popular executive function coach, on the time of year he calls "Hail Mary" time : (https://sethperler.com/students-hail-mary-end-semester-strategies/). He uses the metaphor of a sports team making a last ditch effort to win t...

Wahoo!! One of my students just got accepted to the Themed Entertainment major in USC's famed School of Cinematic Arts. This unique BFA program boasts a 3% acceptance rate and included a portfolio and an interview in addition to the regular Common App essay and USC's supplemental essays. It was a lot of work, but she did it!

There are many results still to come in, but so far my students have received acceptances to: University of San Diego, Santa Clara, University of Pittsburgh, Ithaca, Duquesne, Loyola (Chicago), Indiana University, Willamette, DePaul, University of Minnesota, Oregon State, Drexel, Colorado-Boulder, University of Puget Sound, Whittier, Loyola Marymount, Chapman, University of Utah, Gonzaga, CalArts, and Otis College of Art & Design. Lots of merit monies have been offered and one student has been given the Santa Clara Promise grant covering full tuition. Most of the UC's and Cal States are not out yet. Will be sharing on those and other acceptances soon!!

Attention parents of high school juniors! It’s time to take action! Our latest blog post shares 5 essential things you can do right now to prepare your child for college applications. Don’t wait until it’s too late - check it out! https://wix.to/tVnMjLb

5 Things Parents of Juniors Can Be Doing Right Now It's just about half way through junior year. Soon enough the school year will be over, summer will come and then, college application season will be upon you. What are some things you and your junior could be doing right now to kick off the college search and college application process? 1. Pay att...

https://wix.to/hMAduZD

Acceptances are beginning to come through! So far, students I've worked with this year have received admission (most with merit monies) to the following schools: Duquesne, Loyola (Chicago), DePaul, University of Pittsburgh, University of Minnesota, Santa Clara, Loyola Marymount, Oregon State, Willamette, Whittier and numerous of the Cal States. These are just the first results through. There should be many more to come!

Getting started on the college essay can be hard. Reach out if you need help - whether a little or a lot! See link in bio.