TaborTalk Blog

 Early Decision II. What makes it unique and sets it apart from other college application deadlines? First, there are just under 100 colleges that offer ED II as an option. Second, the ED II deadline for the majority of these colleges is in early to mid-January, giving students the gift of time -- time to visit colleges, to improve test scores, and to make decisions. In this scenario, a student will likely be applying to an ED II college, along with filing their regular decision applications. The difference is that students applying ED II will hear back from their ED II college in early to mid-February as opposed to March. Remember though, ED II is like its big sister ED I in that the language around commitment to the ED II school is the same -- ED II is binding and requires a non-refundable deposit in short order should a student be accepted. Besides students who simply need a couple of extra months to pull necessary application materials together, others may apply ED II if they have been deferred or denied admission to their top choice school and as a result are strongly committed to attending an ED II school as their next best option.

The line from the Mamas and the Papas isn’t a perfect fit, but I couldn’t get it out of my head – California dreamin’, on such a winter’s day. That was the soundtrack playing as I made my way west last March. California has an undeniable appeal.

The flood of colleges switching to test optional and “test flexible” admissions began as a trickle in 1969 when Bowdoin became the first college in the U.S. to make the submission of standardized test scores optional. Now, almost fifty years later, over 1000 colleges and universities have followed Bowdoin down the test-optional path.

Since my son Jackson was seven years old, we have carved out at least one week each summer to take a father-son trip.

The college counselor’s hand eagerly shot into the air.  

“Yes, please go ahead,”  said Shawn Felton, director of undergraduate admissions at Cornell University, making eye contact with the woman with her hand up.

Did you know there are over 5,000 institutions of higher education in the United States? I was reminded of this fact during the recent college tour through the Mid-Atlantic. On this trip, 14 Tabor students, along with Chris Rorke, college counselor, and yours truly, had the chance to see seven different colleges over the course of three days. A whirlwind trip to be sure, it served as an introduction for the students (and welcome reminder for me) of the plethora of options available in the United States. Students also learned about the importance of finding the institutional type that will best fit and support their unique personalities and academic/extracurricular aspirations. It was a productive start to the summer for all of us.

When Malia Obama decided to take a gap year before enrolling at Harvard University, the world took notice. “The Malia Effect” means that scores of high school seniors now consider deferment at their university of choice, taking a break from the “education treadmill” to do something different before getting back on and running for another four years.

I didn’t put on my blue suede shoes, but just a few weeks ago I boarded a plane and touched down in the land of the Delta Blues.

March’s two-week long break allowed me to both get caught up on some loose ends in the college office and also make a trip to the Southwest.  I was sorry when the time approached for me to head back East, especially when I looked at the weather and realized that my flight coincided with the third Nor’easter in several weeks, so I changed my reservation to arrive in Boston a day earlier than originally planned.  

My job as a college counselor requires that I visit colleges and universities across the globe to maintain and develop relationships with college admission officers and to stay current on new and innovative academic programs and trends in the industry.

I grew up the son of a college football coach, played football at Dartmouth College, and spent the last 28 years coaching and recruiting at both the Division I and III levels.

Southern California is well known for its majestic Pacific coastline and beaches, Hollywood, the red carpet, sunshine, and traffic…lots of traffic, but it also boasts a broad and diverse array of excellent college options.