Estrela Consulting Blog

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. ...

College application season has almost started, and for many rising seniors this means that it’s about time to start on the Common Application...which includes the dreaded essay. If you’re like me, then you may have found the idea of writing a personal essay to encapsulate yourself for colleges a little stressful, to say the least. Having survived the process with minimal pain, I can safely say ...

Most college-bound students expect to attend college directly after high school and are excited to do so, looking forward to freshman year traditions and exploring independent life in a new environment. While there are some students who defer their enrollment, the overwhelming majority choose not to during “typical” circumstances. During a typical year, only about 2% of college-bound students ...

If your teen is having trouble adjusting to all of the change in the world right now, that’s totally understandable! After all, they weren’t prepared for this — none of us were. Your teen is probably sad that their activities have been cancelled, overwhelmed with their school work, and frustrated that they can’t see their friends. Who wouldn’t be extra stressed (and probably extra irritable)?

It's no question that the Class of 2020 is one that will be remembered throughout history. Their high school careers are ending in a way that no one could have ever predicted, and their college journeys are beginning on a path that is still being paved in the wake of COVID-19.