HAPPY FRIDAY THE 13TH! DECISION DAY, NEW AP CLASSES & BED PARTY SEASON

EDITOR'S NOTE:

Happy Friday the 13th! Big decisions are coming out today (deep breaths), and we're covering everything you need to know. In this issue: why college might actually be getting easier to get into (yes, really — keep reading), the new Advanced Placement (AP) classes launching this fall, the biggest mistakes students make while waiting for decisions, our official Bed Party Guide, Valentine's Day dorm finds, and more!

Whether you're in decision mode, prep mode, or party-planning mode — we've got you covered from application to move-in.

✨ IN THIS ISSUE ✨

  • 🎓 Decision Day Updates
  • 📈 Is College Getting Easier to Get Into?
  • 📚 New AP Classes for Fall 2026
  • ⏳ Waiting Game Mistakes
  • 🎉 The Bed Party Guide
  • 💘 Valentine's for Your College Kid

🎓 BIG DECISIONS DROPPING TODAY

  • Johns Hopkins
  • Richmond
  • UChicago
  • Villanova
  • Colgate
  • UT Austin

📈 GETTING INTO COLLEGE IS GETTING EASIER THAN YOU THINK!

Think getting into college is all but impossible? Think again. Sure, the most selective institutions still take only a tiny fraction of the people who apply to them. But at almost all the rest, the odds of getting in are good — and getting better. READ MORE HERE

📚 NEW AP CLASSES LAUNCHING THIS FALL 2026

The College Board is introducing new Advanced Placement (AP) courses this coming fall as part of its AP Career Kickstart™ initiative, including AP Business with Personal Finance and AP Cybersecurity, which are designed to give high school students both college-level academics and real-world career skills. These courses, developed with input from employers and education groups, aim to better prepare students for the workforce and offer opportunities to earn college credit while learning practical business and technology concepts. READ MORE HERE

⏳ THE BIGGEST MISTAKES STUDENTS MAKE AS THEY WAIT FOR DECISIONS

As the New Year picks up, so does the second semester of the school year — and with it, hundreds of thousands of high school students across the United States who are hoping to receive an acceptance letter from their top university of choice. College Admissions Expert Sara Harberson shares more in People Magazine. READ MORE HERE

🎪 THE IMPORTANCE OF COLLEGE FAIRS

This spring's college fair season — including national events hosted by organizations like the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) — continues to showcase the enduring value of these gatherings. NACAC's fairs alone connect hundreds of institutions with tens of thousands of students and families each year, underlining how central these events remain in the admissions cycle. LEARN MORE HERE

🎉 BED PARTY SEASON IS HERE!

Everything you need. One place. 💙

The College & Dorm Corner's official Bed Party Guide just dropped — from backdrops to blankets to all the extras.

✈️ THE TRAVEL CORNER – SACRED HEART UNIVERSITY

Written by Bella Hagerty – MBA Student

Sacred Heart University is known for its beautiful New England campus, with a strong sense of community and close-knit student life. Located in Fairfield, Connecticut, SHU combines a classic college campus feel with easy access to beaches, downtown shopping, and nearby cities, such as New Haven, just 30 minutes away, and New York City, which is only a 45-minute train ride. READ MORE ABOUT SACRED HEART HERE

Want to read previous volumes of our newsletter "The Cornerstone?" CLICK HERE

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