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.
Students and parents always return from visiting the C of C with rave reviews. This way “beyond a college town” offers top dining, unique as well as popular shopping, colonial and early American cultural and historic sights, and a relaxing waterfront walkway featuring a pineapple-shaped fountain! Mid-sized C of C is located in the heart of it all.
I knew there were 60 majors, small classes with an 11:1 student-faculty ratio, and an Honors College providing advanced coursework for high-achievers. What about the strength of C of C’s academic programs and career opportunities?
The Biology department is strong, and the marine biology program offers specialty courses, research opportunities, and fieldwork to study local ecosystems.
The innovative Arts Management program combines business with art/art history to prepare students for careers in arts administration and museum management/operations. An allied program is Historic Preservation and Community Planning, which utilizes the city as a living classroom for preserving cultural resources. Studying business, sustainability, history, and art allows students who love the arts an opportunity to build solid careers.
The AACSB-accredited School of Business has two programs of special note: Supply Chain and Information Management, which prepare students for logistics roles.
These are a few companies that recruit C of C Students:
Blackbaud: This top international cloud software company located in Charleston hires C of C students for tech, operations, and sales positions.
MUSC (Medical University of South Carolina): Biology, chemistry, and allied health field students go on to careers or further education at Charleston’s medical school, which is nationally ranked second in adult and sixth in pediatric specialties, and rated high-performing in 4 adult specialties and 13 procedures and conditions.
Despite its recent troubles, Boeing remains an aerospace giant that recruits engineering, supply chain, business, and other majors for internships/jobs at its Charleston-area facilities.
EY (Ernst & Young), PwC, Deloitte recruit C of C accounting and finance grads.
The South Carolina-based hybrid technology distributor ScanSource and New Zealand-based Sims Distributing are major employers of C of C supply chain and business majors.
After three days in Charleston, I absolutely know why the College of Charleston has become a top destination for so many students. I encourage everyone to visit–and stay long enough to sample some shrimp and grits, hush puppies, and coconut cake for dessert.