​This Pandemic year there was even more attention given to the joy and competition in college basketball.  Over the past three weeks several supposed “giants” fell, and some Cinderella teams made it farther than many expected. ​

We are all facing uncertainties regarding the beginning of the new school year. Some of you will be managing your students’ online education, others a hybrid model, and others are weighing the risks of having your teen return to school. Your role this year will be the same as any year.  Help your freshman or sophomore student develop good learning habits and become the best student they can be. Pay attention to the school portal that lets you know whether or not your student is completing their assignments on time. Work with your student to establish a consistent time and place for schoolwork. Emphasize the benefits of working without distraction. Help your student find a balance that includes exploring non-school interests, communication with friends, managing screen time and getting enough sleep. Now is the time to encourage them to learn something new. Can they cook, fix simple things around the house and do their own laundry? Have they always wanted to learn to code, compose music or understand the history of space exploration? The list of new, free, online learning opportunities is endless.

​We are all facing uncertainties regarding the beginning of the new school year. Some of you will be managing your students’ online education, others a hybrid model, and others are weighing the risks of having your teen return to school. The media is ripe with speculation about the impact of these changes on college admissions. First, be reassured that we at Athens Advisors track professional sources and will be on top of any news that will impact our students. Second, colleges evaluate students’ accomplishments in the context of their opportunities. All of the students in this cohort will have had to deal with the changes in their school’s delivery of instruction. Colleges understand that grading policies varied last spring and may also be non-standard this fall. This will be explained in the high school documents that accompany the application. 

This is not going to be the senior year your high school student imagined. He or she will need you to help them stay positive during these uncertain times. Some things we do know. Colleges will make admissions decisions in the context of the opportunities and challenges of each student’s experience. Grades will still count. The role of the SAT and ACT will be different.

In This Issue:
A calendar for College Admission Testing
Information on Applying for Financial Aid and Scholarship Searches
 
Two Articles We Recommend Reading:
From the New York Times . . . Salary Race / Sprint for Engineers and English majors 
From the LA Times/Daily Pilot . . . Don’t Focus on College Ranking Lists 

Ole’s are friendly, intelligent and ambitious. Together they create a strong community that learns and plays together. They engage with their heads, hearts and hands; with their heads in a vibrant liberal arts and sciences curriculum, including a renowned music program; with their hearts by saying “yes” to solving the world’s problems and making things better; and with their hands through programs including nursing, science research, business, etc. They learn both theoretical and practical approaches to solving problems, leading to outstanding graduate school and job placement.

In This Issue:
Parenting Through the College Application Process in the Senior Year
Parenting During College Exploration
 
Two Articles We Recommend Reading:
College Rankings: Get A Second Opinion
The Debate Over Early Decision In College Admission:  Who Is It Good For?