Estrela Consulting Blog

This year, new college students face a daunting challenge: starting a new chapter of their lives during an ongoing pandemic and their college plans very different than they'd envisioned. While some colleges are holding entirely in-person classes, others have opted for a fully-remote or hybrid model in the interest of limiting exposure to COVID-19. Interested to hear what current college students ...

At first glance, the Activities List seems like a straightforward section of the Common Application; a simple place to list up to 10 extracurricular activities and describe your personal involvement and contributions.  In reality, it is one of the unique opportunities for an admissions committee to gain an understanding of who you really are as a person and to see beyond your GPA and test scores. ...

It’s no secret that during these uncertain economic times, colleges are having a more challenging time than ever maintaining balanced operating budgets.  And while the question of whether or not families should apply for need-based financial aid comes up every year, the idea that there may be an “admissions edge” when not applying for financial aid seems to be more relevant than ever.  So, who ...

ED, EA, RD…the alphabet soup that describes college application plans can be confusing.  Let’s dive into what you need to know about each, and more importantly, how to determine which plans are the right ones for you.

  If you’re turning 18 before November 3rd, 2020, this will be the first time that you’re eligible to vote in a presidential election! While voting is an awesome way to make your voice heard, it can be a challenging process, especially during a pandemic. It might seem confusing or difficult to register to vote, to know how to approach voting if you attend school in a different state than you live ...