In Part 1, we looked at the visible trends: record-breaking applications, shrinking admit rates, early decision pressures, and a growing reliance on data-driven reviews. But there’s a second layer that often gets overlooked — and that’s where real risk and real opportunity live. This is where policy shifts, funding changes, and demographic pressures start to…
If you’re the parent of a high school junior in the Class of 2026, you’ve probably started to feel the pressure. Maybe you’ve heard friends say, “We’ve already started test prep!” or “Our college list is finished!” and suddenly it seems like your family is already behind. Let me assure you: much of that stress…
Every fall, I work with families who are navigating senior year, one of the most emotionally charged seasons in the college journey. For many, the focus is on deadlines, applications, and decisions. But beneath that is something deeper: a shift in the parent–child relationship that can leave both sides feeling unsteady. Senior year brings out…
When you read about “last year’s admissions trends,” it shouldn’t feel like old news. For the Class of 2026 (current juniors), those trends form the clearest roadmap we have. The most recent full cycle to study is the Class of 2024, students who applied in fall 2023 and entered college in 2024. The Class of…
For Seniors Starting The Process Late, Here’s What To Do Now First, don’t panic! By this point in senior year, many students are deep into the college application process. Essays are finalized, résumés polished, and school lists narrowed down. But every fall, I hear from families whose students are only just starting. If that’s…
The Common App has transformed college applications since its inception in 1975, when it was introduced by 15 private colleges. Its evolution has focused on simplifying the process for students, leading to a digital format in 1998 and a complete redesign in 2013, resulting in the streamlined CA4. While the Common App has undoubtedly made…
Join us to learn little-known secrets of paying for college, college funding, and essential college information to skyrocket your student’s school year at several FREE upcoming events! Tuesday, Aug. 23, 7 – 8:30 pm First, I will join Michael Russell of the College Funding Coach to bring you an information-packed session designed to prepare you…
I am excited to announce that Klaar College Consulting will be co-hosting two free webinars with The College Funding Coach® on July 15th, 2021 at 12 noon and 6:30 p.m. This virtual event on “Little-Known Secrets for Paying for College” is for any family wanting to learn how to pay for college (designed for families with students…
With independent educational consultants, as with most things in life, you get what you pay for! If you were searching for an eye surgeon, would you go with the cheapest one you could find? Probably not. After all, these are your EYES! You would likely ask for recommendations, research the professional background of the surgeon,…
If you brag about yourself now and then, you aren’t a braggart. But we all know some people who overdo it. It’s especially tempting for applicants to overdo it in the college admissions process of competitive colleges. Although understandable, bragging is harmful to an applicant. In our society, excessive bragging is considered a negative trait.…