The College World

My Short Reaction to the Legacy Admission Issue

Eliminating legacy admissions at “elite” colleges sounds like a noble thing but is also short-sighted and more in the realm of virtue signaling than anything else. It assumes that all legacies are admitted automatically because they’re legacies, which is untrue. It assumes that legacy applicants are all wealthy white kids, which is problematic. It also assumes that applications can somehow be…

What Does “Eliminating Legacy Preferences” in College Admission Really Mean?

“One day, lad, all this will be yours.” Amherst College recently announced it would end “the longstanding practice of legacy admission preference,” which is the practice of giving the children of alumni a “leg up” in the admission process. As the announcement from President Biddy Martin’s Office stated, “Legacy students—children of alumni who are academically well-qualified—have represented…

Students protesting gun violence reacall

Students protesting gun violence reacall the days when the NRA was actually FOR gun control. http://ow.ly/bWjB30jtYB1

April can be the cruelest month for kids

April can be the cruelest month for kids deciding on which college to attend. http://ow.ly/RMdb30jtCVS

A wave of teachers’ strikes reflects th

A wave of teachers’ strikes reflects the #NeverAgain movement’s anger: “We’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take it anymore!” Colleges and universities should take note and join in. My latest Forbes entry: https://www.forbes.com/sites/willarddix/2018/04/04/colleges-should-support-teachers-strikes-in-oklahoma-and-other-states/#dd050db103ff

THe resistance to the University of Wisc

THe resistance to the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point is heating up, but attempts to eviscerate college/university curricula have been increasing since 2008. My latest Forbes piece details some of them and why we should be worried: https://goo.gl/xZ6EVw

I marched in Chicago this past Saturday.

I marched in Chicago this past Saturday…It was a moving and powerful experience. https://goo.gl/oJFLoC

A new book adds little to the college ad

A new book adds little to the college admission debate over standardized testing. See my new Forbes entry at https://goo.gl/CVSifg.

A selection of recent Forbes posts. Some advice, some commentary. Enjoy!

Hello Friends– As you might have noticed, I haven’t been writing as much here as I have in the past. A lot of my writing energy and research about college admission have gone into my Forbes.com blog, which I write five times a month. So I’ve neglected this one.

I’m going to get back to College Counseling Culture soon. In the meantime, here are a few Forbes.com entries you might be interested in:

DOJ’s Investigation Into College “Reverse Discrimination” Likely to Backfire

My latest post at Forbes.com suggests that the Dept. of Justice’s look at supposed discriminatory behavior at “elite” colleges and universities will only create a worse situation. Also, hasn’t the Supreme Court already spoken on this issue?

Let me know what you think: https://goo.gl/oqy1yd

See My Latest Entry at Forbes.com: One Big Mistake to Avoid

Don’t try to conform to colleges; make them conform to you. See my latest entry HERE.

Perspectives on College and College Admission: Some Reading

You may already be tired of reading all the “how to get into college” books out there and I don’t blame you. On this blog I have a page devoted to books about college, college admission and related subjects (including teenagers) that offer some perspective and context about the whole ball of wax. I try to list volumes that are entertaining as well as thoughtful, insightful, and revealing.

I’ve…

College Admission Anxiety is a Systemic Problem

I haven’t posted here in a while because I’m writing for my Forbes.com blog. But my most recent entries are about how the college admission system is a major cause of anxiety and pressure in kids and families. Here’s the beginning of today’s entry:

Let’s face it, the problem of college admission anxiety encompasses a lot more than individual worries about whether or not students will get into…