DC College Counseling

It’s been a while… but we’re back 👋 Early Decision results are in, UVA’s Board of Visitors is seeing a major reset, testing is back at Alabama, and college enrollment just hit a 10-year high. Plus, it’s championship night 🏈💚 🧡

Catch up with our latest blog post: www.dccollegecounseling.com/blog/jan192026

What a wild ride it’s been over the past 16 years. I’m so grateful to Goldman Sachs for giving me a seat at the table at the largest gathering of entrepreneurs in U.S. history this week: the 10,000 Small Businesses Summit. Very proud to stand alongside so many other small business owners and business icons driving innovation, growth, and opportunity across the country!

🚨 College Admissions Shake-Up 🚨

From the DOJ’s new stance on “Overcoming Obstacles” essays to a $220M Columbia settlement, early decision lawsuits, and a White House push for more admissions transparency – the last two weeks have been WILD in higher ed. We’ve got the scoop on everything, plus the August rush of supplemental essays.

📅 Weekly Update: August 11 → Don’t miss this one!

https://www.dccollegecounseling.com/blog/august112025

🤖 ChatGPT can help. But it can also wreck your college app!

Too many students are using AI to write their essays, and it’s entirely detectable. Colleges are watching. Teachers are flagging it. And the stakes are way higher than a bad grade!

This week’s post breaks down:

- What happens when you rely on AI for the wrong things
- How overuse can tank your memory, grades, and voice
- Smart, ethical ways to use ChatGPT for brainstorming and grammar

✏️ Bottom line: AI should support your story, not steal it.

Read the full post 👉 www.dccollegecounseling.com/blog/chatgpt-for-success

CHEERS to Common App Day! 🍎
I’ve been glued to this chair for the better part of 24 hours since the 2025–2026 opened last night… but our first three application guides for the Class of 2026 are DONE! ✅📚👩🏼‍🏫 Let the applications begin!!
(Also: anyone want to speculate why UVA ditched their essays? 👀)

📣 We already posted about Virginia Tech's recent admissions review process change:
Starting this fall, every applicant essay will be reviewed by both AI and a human reader.

The stated goal? Efficiency. We think there's more to the story, though, especially when it comes to authenticity and AI-written work.

Our full take on what’s really going on 👉 www.dccollegecounseling.com/blog/vtchanges

📣 This Week in College Admissions: Big Shifts and Bold Moves 🍉

🚨 Top headline: Virginia Tech is now using AI to help score student essays – a first-of-its-kind move that could reshape how applications are reviewed. They've also bumped their Early Action deadline to Nov. 1, so don’t wait to get your drafts in shape.

But that’s not all this week:

🎓 Harvard launches a $100K scholarship for public service
💰 University of Delaware lands a $71.5M gift for business
🇬🇧 Record numbers of U.S. students apply to UK universities
🏈 Trump-era politics meet college sports reform
🎮 Minecraft entrepreneurs and AI essays at Michigan Law
😊 Yes – there's even a PhD in Happiness now

Check out the latest update and keep an eye out for our deep dive on Virginia Tech’s AI rollout next week! www.dccollegecounseling.com/blog/july252025

☀️ Mid-July storms can’t slow us down – supplemental season is here, and the headlines just keep coming. This week’s update dives into:

✅ Drexel’s bold new co-op strategy
✅ What China’s grad school boom means for U.S. students
✅ The growing list of schools under federal investigation – and the next Virginia university making headlines
✅ A breakthrough autism study from Princeton
✅ Plus, what your supplemental essays are really signaling to colleges

Read the full post and stay one step ahead this admissions season!

🔗 https://www.dccollegecounseling.com/blog/july162025

Gone are the days of slimy chicken and lukewarm pizza slices. From kosher shawarma to late-night sushi, today’s college dining halls are offering more than just calories — they’re serving up culture 🌍, connection 🧩, and climate consciousness 🌱.

For students who care about food (and let’s be honest, most do), dining can shape the daily experience — and even influence where they’ll thrive.

Whether your student is a serious eater 🥗 or just hopes to avoid surviving on Pop-Tarts, these colleges are worth a closer look.

Check it out 👉 http://www.dccollegecounseling.com/blog/bestdininghallculture

🚨 MAJOR CHANGE: University of Michigan adds Early Decision for the first time in school history 🚨

This is big news – especially since our students LOVE Michigan. Year after year, it is almost always one of their most popular choices. We break down what this means for applicants and how the new leadership-focused essay marks a big shift in tone and strategy.

Also inside:
💸 Columbia’s $9M rankings fallout
🏛️ Federal budget shake-ups and what they could mean for college aid
🏠 The Texas real estate loophole helping families save $90K on tuition (featuring homes that smell like Febreze and bad decisions)
📈 Why flexibility, AI, and soft skills matter more than ever in career planning

AND! 💡 Whether you cheered or groaned at the passing of last week’s “big, beautiful bill” – we wanted to point out that families can now use 529 funds to pay for ALL of our services (plus SAT/ACT prep, too). That’s a game-changer for saving BIG 🎉

Catch the full update 👉 dccollegecounseling.com/blog/july112025

🔥 Higher ed is heating up – and not just because it’s July!

Jim Ryan resigned. The UC system is under investigation. New accreditation battles are brewing in the South. Meanwhile, recent grads are staring down a tough job market and wondering: Was college even worth it?

This week’s blog breaks down:

🏛️ What Jim Ryan’s resignation means for DEI on campus

💸 Why value rankings like Princeton Review’s still matter

🧭 How new grads can find meaning even if their first job isn’t a dream job

Don’t miss this week’s deep dive! www.dccollegecounseling.com/blog/july022025

✈️ Planning summer college visits?

We’ll be real: it’s not the best time to see campus life in full swing – but if summer is your only shot, there are still great ways to get a feel for a school’s vibe!

New on the blog: 5 campus festivals and local events that can bring a quiet campus to life ☀️🎶🎨
Plus, tips for making the most of your visit.
👉 dccollegecounseling.com/blog/coolestsummerevents