UMatch Consulting

Please spread the word! I am actively recruiting new clients for the Class of 2025 (high school juniors), and I have limited space for seniors seeking essay and application assistance. New this year, I am available for in-home parties (fireside chats?) with groups of parents of 8th-10th graders to discuss high school planning, how to approach the college conversation, and what your kids can be doing today to prepare for college! Message me for info and scheduling.

In addition to being the daughter of my lifelong BFF, this happy senior was also UMatch Consulting's first official client! Congratulations, SB, on being accepted Early Decision to your first choice school, Bryn Mawr College! 🦉💚

I spent all of last week in Southern California networking with other Independent Education Consultants at the IECA Spring Conference and touring colleges. Here are a few snaps from my visit to Pepperdine! WOW, Malibu does not disappoint. Fun facts about Pepperdine: 3750 undergraduates, mission based on Christian values (about 70% of students identify as Christian), merit scholarships average $15k-$20k, 95% of students obtain internships while in school (most in LA area), and 75% study abroad in one of 6 satellite programs. If you're dreaming of SoCal, stay tuned. More sunny schools to follow!

New offerings!! In addition to my comprehensive college counseling packages, I am now offering one-on-one List-Building Workshops for juniors and Hourly Essay Coaching for seniors. Please spread the word!

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/14/podcasts/the-daily/college-student-debt.html

Today's episode of the NYT podcast "The Daily" digs into the rising cost of college, the difference between need-based financial aid and merit aid, and why some schools can charge more than others. Contact me with any questions about college affordability for your family!

The College Pricing Game In the wake of student debt relief, an exploration of how higher education costs became such a complex issue.

I want to introduce you all to a fantastic resource for families navigating the Common Application. The AXS Companion is a joint effort by the Independent Education Consulting Association (IECA) and Oregon State University to increase access to college among all communities. AXS is a tool to use alongside the Common App, full of video tutorials and explanations of of every aspect of the Common App. I got to see a preview of it this summer at an IECA training, and I recommend it for all seniors and their families. Applying to college should not be confusing, difficult, or prohibitive for any student. Please share with your friends!

AXS Companion – Open Resource Book Description: Welcome to the AXS Companion to Common App 2022-23!Common App is a college application platform that allows you to apply to over 1,000 colleges and universities. Every year, more than one million students apply to college through Common App. And interestingly, institutions on Commo...

This morning, I toured Reed College, yet another small liberal arts school tucked into a residential Portland neighborhood. A mix of old and new architecture and a lot of green space define the campus. Reed has about 1550 undergraduates and 15 graduate students (seeking a masters of liberal studies, the only graduate degree offered). All classes are seminar style, and professor feedback is given in a qualitative narrative style rather than by letter or numeric grades. All students complete a senior thesis and celebrate their submission by wearing golden laurels and burning all of their drafts in a giant bonfire! 📚🔥

Spent a lovely afternoon touring Lewis & Clark College in Portland. A beauty of a liberal arts campus inside the city limits. Average class size is 16; 15 minute walk to the Willamette River; adjacent to a state park with 8 miles of hiking trails; guaranteed graduation within 4 years (they will pay for your 9th semester if you can’t get into the classes you need in order to graduate on time); test optional since 1991 and no application fee!; most popular majors are psychology, biology, and international affairs.
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It’s August 1st! The Common Application is open. The personal statement prompts have not changed, but each college’s supplemental essays are now updated for the class of 2023. Note that some schools’ specific apps will not be open until September, but now is the time to fill in all of the preliminary info. Want to be ahead of the game for next year? I’m onboarding new clients for class of 2024 this fall!

Apply to college with Common App | Your future starts here Each year, the Common App goes offline to prepare for the launch of the new application. The 2021-2022 application will launch on August 1, 2021.

GREAT NEWS! UW Seattle is (finally) on the Common Application! The website is not even updated yet, but the news was confirmed today via email from their Admissions Director. The Application will open September 1, and UW will maintain their crazy early deadline of November 15. UW expects a measurable increase in applications this year, now that they’ve joined the Common App. Apply early to make sure you secure that financial aid!!

How to apply How to apply

Seattle friends with high schoolers: The NACAC College Fair will be held November 4&5 at the Seattle Convention Center. This is a great event for 9th-11th graders just starting the college search!

2022 Fall Seattle NCF Please search by Institution Name, State, and/or Country to see who will be in attendance. To un-apply filters, remove selections then click "Search" again.

ACT testing dates for 2022-2023 are open for registration! Book now for your desired location!

ACT Test Registration - The ACT Test Registration information for the ACT Test.