Next week’s blogpost will likely post final decisions from all (or almost all) of my students. There are several reasons for some students' hesitation. The delayed FAFSA has postponed financial aid packages so many families must wait to compare them. Political unrest on some campuses has some students second guessing an initial choice. It's stressful for everyone who would like to be done with the waiting and move forward.
While we wait, here's a political story that will please everyone:
Generally, colleges that reach out to students with merit aid offers are what Jeff Selingo calls “buyers.” However, these schools do not offer every applicant, or every admitted student, merit money. Instead, they use these awards strategically in order to yield high-performing students who have been admitted to even more selective schools. Many savvy families realize that their driven, academically-curious, creative students will maximize the college experience wherever they go, so they take these generous schools up on their offers.
I tell my families that there are bright students at every college–this is just one reason why that’s true.
Last year, one of my top students who had been admitted to several highly-competitive colleges chose an Honors College at a popular state university that offered her significant merit aid. Several years ago, I had an Ivy admit choose a full ride at a small liberal arts college that felt like home to her. She knew she would have a great experience and be successful there, and the money she saved went towards dental school.
Motivated students will do well in college and in their future careers.
That said, many colleges that deny most applicants do not give much, or any, merit awards to students who do not qualify for need-based financial aid. This year, there were a few surprises, especially from two popular schools that are “reaches” for many applicants. One college with a 27% admit rate offered $130,000 to one student and $86,000 to a second. Another school that admitted only 25% of applicants in 2024 and gives little non-need based merit aid offered a student $60,000. (Award amounts are over four years.)
I’m still waiting for 12 students to commit to their colleges, but three students have chosen schools they are excited about–ones that have also given them major merit awards that bring the cost of college down 30-50%.
This may sound a little strange. Unlike many people, even some of my colleagues, I actually look forward to helping students with their essays! After years of teaching students to construct arguments and interpret literature, a 650 word max, page and a half personal statement is a pleasure for me (not that I didn’t enjoy the other stuff).
That’s why I am excited to announce that our new video “Moments, Not Topics” is live on the Less College Stress website!
Why is our video unique? It helps students approach the essay positively by eliminating the “what’s my topic?” question. Instead, we focus on the moments found in stories, because well-crafted storytelling holds readers’ attention.
After helping hundreds of students through the essay process, I get it. Students are not always ready to dig down to find their stories. That doesn’t stop me, and it won’t stop our essay coaches. We ask a lot of questions, the kind that students can’t answer with a yes or no. The more we engage, the more we discover. The best story is there to be found, and once it reveals itself, structuring the events and refining the language is the easy part.
My mission is to help families avoid college process stress whenever possible. What can be more frustrating than trying to get your teenager to “find something to write about?” I get that too! We provide a buffer, which can help a student relax, open up, and reflect more easily. We get to work on essays as soon as the challenges of junior year wind down, which can be as early as April but more typically in late June, depending on the student. Best of all, we encourage students to develop confidence about their writing and produce unique essays that admissions officers want to read.