COMMITMENT DAY IS COMING….
EDITOR'S NOTE:
We've been talking to a lot of families lately—and there's so much going on right now.
With Commitment Day around the corner, waitlists still in motion, and families making some very real decisions, this part of the process can feel both emotional and overwhelming.
In this issue, we're diving into what an Ivy League education really gets you, how to approach a letter of continued interest, and the latest conversations around admissions—including changes being discussed at Yale University. We're also looking at how weather and travel factors can play a bigger role in campus visits — and choosing the right school — than you might expect.
We're sharing a quick update from our trip to Washington, D.C. for my daughter's "We the People" competition 🇺🇸, hosted by the Center for Civic Education as part of the 250th anniversary of America—a full circle moment in the middle of all this college planning.
And of course, something sweet for the future college mom for Mother's Day.
Ready. Set. Go!
IN THIS ISSUE:
🎓 What an Ivy League education really gets you
✍️ How to approach a letter of continued interest
✈️ The weather + travel factors
🇺🇸 A quick update from our trip to Washington
🎉 Commitment Day gift ideas
🍪 A sweet Mother's Day college cookie collab with Anytime Treats
✨ Make sure to follow us on Instagram for daily tips, trends, and must-know moments!
What an Ivy League Education Really Gets You
The graduates of America's most elite universities dominate our economy and culture so disproportionately that the statistics can seem like a mathematical glitch. Students at Ivy League schools and the similarly selective University of Chicago, Duke, Stanford, and MIT together comprise less than half a percent of America's undergraduate population. Yet their alumni represent more than 12 percent of all Fortune 500 CEOs, 32 percent of all New York Times journalists, and 13 percent of the wealthiest 0.1 percent of the population. Read More
College Graduates Are Finally Catching a Break in This Job Market
At long last, the job market might be giving the Class of 2026 an early graduation present. After years of steady deterioration, there are early signs entry-level hiring is picking up. A widely watched survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers shows employers expect to boost new-graduate hires by 5.6% this spring from a year ago—a turnaround from their much grimmer forecasts last fall. Read More
Yale Considers Changes to Admissions & Grading to Regain Trust in Higher Ed
Yale University is considering major changes to its admissions, cost, grading and other areas in a sweeping effort to combat the stark erosion of trust in higher education. Maurie McInnis, the school's president, recently told the campus community that the university would ensure people can take intellectual risks at Yale, confront grade inflation and redirect more money to teaching and research, among other changes. Seventy percent of Americans say higher education is generally going in the wrong direction, up from 56 percent in 2020, according to a Pew Research Center poll published in October. Read More
Bad Weather on Campus Tours Lowers Student Application Rates
College administrators have a new problem to worry about when it comes to students' application decisions. It turns out that the weather during campus tours can affect the likelihood of prospective students applying for admission to that campus later on. According to a recent report from the National Bureau of Economic Research, students are 10 percent less likely to apply to a college when the weather during their campus tour was hot and 8 percent less likely when precipitation fell during their tour. Read More
Check out our post about the weather factor from our recent family trip to see University of Michigan.
What to Write in a Letter of Continued Interest When You Have No Major Updates
Every spring, thousands of highly qualified applicants find themselves in the disappointing position of being waitlisted at their dream school. Most students know that one of the most important steps to take after a waitlist notification is to write a Letter of Continued Interest—a brief note that enthusiastically reaffirms a student's interest in a school and provides relevant updates on their candidacy since the application deadline, such as a new award, an updated GPA, published research, or a recent leadership role. Read More
The Flight Factor ✈️
We've been traveling a lot for college visits lately… A thought hit me at the airport on the way home from Nashville—so I made this video. Now it's sparking a lot of conversation 👀 Click here to see it and help us get to 100,000 views!
🎉 Commitment Day Is May 1st!
Make sure to order everything you need for your commitment/bed party!
🍪 Mother's Day Is Around the Corner!
Mother's Day is coming up so we thought it was the perfect time to show them a little college LOVE! We partnered with Anytime Treats for these special Mother's Day treats. Shop Cookies Here
📸 Pic of the Day
I recently spent the weekend at my daughter's "We The People" competition. Click the image to learn more about this amazing program sponsored by The Center for Civic Education.
Want to read previous volumes of our newsletter "The Cornerstone?" Click Here