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. ...

It feels like not a day goes by right now that an announcement isn't made about a college or university becoming "test-optional." Some have announced temporary plans that apply solely to the class of 2021 or even 2022, while others have decided to remove testing requirements indefinitely. However, there is one question that we keep hearing from students and parents: Does "test-optional" really ...

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 ...

More than 300 college admissions deans (and growing) have signed a statement about what they expect and value in the admission process during this time. Here is just a snippet of the "why":