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Supporting your teen in their final college choice. It is the time of year when many students are facing decision emails from universities around the world. Students are experiencing a myriad of emotions, and now is not the time to push expectations on students who are already mentally fragile from virtual learning, lack of extracurricular and social opportunities, etc. Students and their families are active players in the game of life. Parents, guardians, grandparents, siblings, extended relatives, well-meaning close family friends, listen up. The university application process and acceptance rate has changed dramatically from when you at university. Dispelling the preconceived notion of a ‘good’ vs ‘bad’ school is one of the hardest things about our jobs as independent education consultants. We are not here to squash hopes and dreams of students and their families, but instead to provide an objective viewpoint that looks at all aspects of university to determine if it is the best fit for the student and their ambitions. We are here to tell you this not a game that is to be won, but a journey. And yes, there is a way to play right during the journey. We have students who apply to a wide range of universities including well-known institutions such as Harvard, Vanderbilt, Oxford, Tufts, NYU, and St. Andrews. Likewise, we also have clients who take their own path and attend junior college, applied science universities in the Netherlands, known European and North American universities such as Anglo-American University, University of New Haven, Rhodes College, Mount Allison, Dalhousie, and so many more. LAUNCH encourages students and their families to accept that fact that attending university is a lived experience for the student. Parents may have their hopes and dreams, but ultimately the student is the one who has to do the work every day. It's not about YOU... Students are the one that has to figure out where to find the tutoring center, their biology lab, a professor’s office, and how to use the interlibrary loan system. They are the one that has to check with their immigration officer on campus, spend late nights writing papers or doing math problems, and navigate unknown social/cultural scenes. They are the ones having to do laundry and ensure they have enough bonus points on their meal card to enjoy some tasty snacks during late night study sessions. They are the ones having to get tested weekly for coronavirus on campus, abide by campus rules, and manage their time away from home. This is a lived experience, and if it does not match what they are seeking, it will not work out in the long run. Then you enter the transfer admissions realm (you will be calling us for help!). We know families and friends mean well. We understand trying to give helpful advice. We do not ask you to stop caring for your student. We do ask that you reframe where you come from with advice. We have students receive advice about where to apply when people do not know their financial, academic, or learning difference situation. The advice is given based on their own lived experience, which is dated or unique to them. Since YOU (parents, guardians, grandparents, siblings, extended relatives, well-meaning close family friends) are not the ones going to university this year, we want to offer some advice to help your students own the university search, application, and ultimately, the decision process. We want you to play right. How to best support your teen in their college decisions Know your student’s values (and don’t let yours overshadow them). Attending university is a transformative time in a student’s life. It can be scary but beautiful. It can be hard but easy. Your student is the one who has to wake up and face their lived experience every day. You are paying for academic growth, network, connections, and skill development when you invest in university. Many universities outside the top 50 have wonderful resources to achieve this. Make sure you know what your child values, so you can help them match with the right environment for a wonderful lived experience. Remember that the student is applying to college. I admit you may be the one being asked for your credit card for application fees, to send test scores and transcripts, and to file the FAFSA or CSS Profile, but you ARE NOT the one writing the essays, filling out the application, securing recommendations, and attempting to put your best self forward on paper. You already did that. Let your child learn and grow through this wonderful (albeit sometimes stressful) experience. You may have your expectations, but they may not match your student’s. That is okay. Be okay with them disappointing you. Encourage and open heart and mind. While you may not agree with the benefits of a liberal arts degree, it may be what your student needs to gain a wider perspective on the world. You may not agree with psychology and be pushing business. You may be pushing STEM without realizing your student’s heart and soul lives in philosophy and linguistics. Encourage yourself and the support systems around your student to keep an open mind about their choices, options, and life goals. Students are individuals with dreams and ambitions that may be different from you and require a different support system at university. Recognize all fields of study and careers are competitive in some sense. At every school, there is always a top, middle, and bottom third. Don’t believe me, watch this wonderful talk by Malcolm Gladwell. When you get into the workforce, it will be similar. High, mid, and low performers. You will not always win. You will not always be at the top every time. Learn to compete, lose gracefully, and learn from failure. Learn to lead with intention, grace, and humility. It will make them a better person. Research and understand the social cues and norms. I grew up in a hard work household, but learned over the years that is not only how it works in different industries. Hard work is not the only way up and through this globalized, dynamic, and interconnected world. Networking does not just take place in person anymore. Teach your student to discuss pragmatically within both the personal and professional context. Have them read Dale Carnegie's, How to Win Friends and Influence People. Make them cognizant that their current social bubble has different norms than other social bubbles. You may even grow from the experience as well! Students who can navigate the complex fabric of social situations can understand group dynamics and make the best of situations. Read, research, and be curious. There are well-read people all over the world (including Third World countries). It is important to know what is going on globally, and you may be surprised to find another country that aligns with your student's values. There are good schools in poor countries and bad schools in wealthy countries, along with a plethora along the spectrum. Consider exploring schools all over the world. Also, do not just rely on rankings list. READ THE METHODOLOGY of those lists. It will give you a great amount of insight into how those lists are formed. This is why the same schools appear on all lists honestly. Do not take advice at face value no matter how well-meaning individuals are. Call the school and find out information yourself. Remember, where they go is not who they will be. While the name may get you through the door, it’s what you do once you are there. Smaller, less-known universities have caught onto the game played by the Top 50. In fact, they often invest significant amounts of resources in placing students in internships, co-ops, and professional development opportunities earlier in their university careers because they understand their name is not well known. Therefore, they know significant exposure to the workforce, networking, and complicated social norms is critical to a student's future success. Love them anyway. I witness parents comparing their student to others frequently, and I will be very blunt - it is soul crushing for your son or daughter. Comparison is the thief of joy. STOP IT! Your student may not choose your top choice, love them anyway. They may choose a different major than you would like; love them anyway. They may choose to attend school further away then you would like; love them anyway. The comparison game negates all effort a student puts forth in the process and inadvertently gives them the message, “You are not good enough.” That is simply not true. They are good enough. They have gifts to show the world. Their path has to be their path as sometimes there is only chance to choose your path. Comparison disempowers them from learning how to take risks, deal with failure, gain confidence through trial and error. No matter their acceptances, denials, and final decisions, love them anyway. I love working with high school and college students to make their dreams come true. I want nothing more than to see each student succeed and measure success to no one else but themselves. So to conclude, I leave you with a some advice from Kenny Rogers. “You've got to know when to hold 'em Know when to fold 'em Know when to walk away And know when to run You never count your money When you're sittin' at the table There'll be time enough for countin' When the dealin's done” -The Gambler Remember the dealing is not done because where your student goes is not who they will be in the game of life. Don’t believe me? Read Frank Bruni’s book Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania. If you decide to purchase it, try to support a local business and #shoplocal and remember to #dreamlaunchsoar.

LAUNCH Founder, Lauren Joyce Hensel, shares her experience in college counseling as a first-generation college student. I remember. It was a bright, sunny April afternoon. My mom picked me up from school for our 25-minute drive home. I asked her if the mail had come. “No,” she responded knowing I was nervously awaiting my college decisions as a late applicant. As we pulled up, there it was. A large, white envelope sticking out of our small, black metal mailbox that creaked when I opened it. Apprehensively, I lifted the lid and removed the envelope - hoping for an acceptance. You see, I applied to three schools - one that I believed was a low likelihood (Illinois Institute of Technology) and the other two were high likelihood schools. Despite having a wonderful high school experience, I only received 15 minutes of university guidance. My counselor asked me what I wanted to do, and when I told her, she photocopied two pages out of a college guidebook and sent me on my way. What my counselor did not know was I was a first generation college student trying to navigate being recruited to play college volleyball while keeping my grades up (3.8/4.0 in honors and AP courses), helping my sister with her homework when I could, holding down a part-time job, serving as a school student ambassador, volunteering to coach youth volleyball, meeting requirements for the National Honors Society, and making sure I stayed in shape for club volleyball season as it would help me get recruited and an athletic scholarship. During senior year, I filled out many applications but never submitted them. I feared the unknown. I feared rejection. I feared not being good enough. I feared opportunity. I started applications, but never submitted them. In my desk sat numerous lost opportunities - Western Illinois, Northwestern, Washington University St. Louis, Loyola Chicago, Northern Illinois. On top of that, there were the athletic scholarship opportunities I passed up because I didn’t know what they really meant and was fearful of leaving home - Washington State, University of South Alabama, DePaul University, University of Illinois Chicago, and SO. MANY. MORE. Three crates full of opportunities overlooked. In fact, Washington University St. Louis was ranked in the top 10 for volleyball and heavily recruiting me. I didn’t understand what my options were and what they could mean for my future. No one is to blame; this is the plight of so many first generation university students around the world. I was lost in the process and made fear-based decisions. Little did I know my family would have qualified for need-based aid at the Ivy Leagues or other highly selective institutions (Washington University!). I was only looking at the published price. I didn’t know what return on investment meant. I didn’t know that being in the top 25% of applicants meant more scholarship opportunities. In hindsight, I needed so much more guidance. I need the Lauren that exists now. My lived experiences drive how I work with families and students through LAUNCH. I push students to consider schools that are outside their comfort zone. I encourage students to look fear in the face and become comfortable conquering it. I inspire students to liberate themselves from societal expectations and work towards their own ambitions. I mentor families on how to productively understand university options across the world to maximize their opportunities - academically, socially, financially. I LAUNCH families into the future with confidence, courage, and determination as well as the resources to support them during their transition. When I opened that white envelope from Illinois Institute of Technology, I cried tears of joy, relief, and amazement. I expected a rejection, but received an academic and athletic scholarship. I was able to afford to attend university without making my family go into debt (although filling out the FAFSA was an agonizing process every year). So while I lacked guidance, my situation worked out, but that is not the case with most first generation college students or those stuck on name brand institutions. The lessons I learned going through the process as a first generation student brought me to where I am today - living in Europe, owning my own business, and helping students dream, launch, and soar.

The pandemic. It is here. Although the weather is nice, the sun shines exuberantly, and final exams are done, COVID-19 is still present. It is reshaping how we live our lives from every perspective including education. The fragility and inequities in America’s higher education system are more apparent thanks to COVID-19. Despite all this, there are some positives to come out of the virus. With students lacking access to stable internet connections to complete virtual learning, student support services being reduced to ensure personal safety, and the cancellation of standardized tests and closure of test centers, the already marginalized populations around the world face even greater hurdles to access American higher education. One way colleges and universities can combat inequity in access is to eliminate one hurdle for these populations - standardized testings (in the form of SAT and ACT). Despite all the hurdles presented by COVID-19, the virus served as a catalyst for change in standardized testing and its role in university admissions (at least for one year). Admissions Views on the SAT Colleges and universities across America are ushering in test optional policies - some for the Class of 2021 and others for 2021 and beyond. Yet, others are going test optional indefinitely including all public universities in Oregon. According to Oregon State University's news site, Jon Boeckenstedt, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management at Oregon State University said, “Standardized tests add very little to our ability to predict an individual student’s success at a university or college.” That being said, there will be some changes within the admission process for the Class of 2021 and possibly beyond. In 2019, 51 schools went test optional according to fairtest.org. 51 seems modest in comparison to the almost 200 who announced test optional policies this spring (2020). This phenomenal progress has COVID-19 to thank as a catalyst. “All told, U.S. News now lists more than 540 test-optional schools in the first tier of their respective classifications, including public university systems in California, Delaware, Indiana, New Hampshire, Oregon, and Washington State,” states a recent press release on fairtest.org. It is important to check what the policies are and to whom they apply. For domestic students (US citizens and permanent residents), please refer to this list from Fair Test. For international students, please refer to this list by Sarah Loring de Garcia. 3 Types of Test Policies Simply because a college/university goes test optional does not mean the policies are the same or even truly optional. It is important to note, test optional does not necessarily mean test blind. Test optional does not mean test flexible either. To help families understand, the definitions of each type of policy are below: Test blind - This policy does not require students to submit any standardized test scores. Test flexible - This policy allows applicants to submit various standardized test scores to support their application Test optional - Test Optional’ means it is not mandatory for students to submit their SAT or ACT scores as part of their application. Should you take the SAT? LAUNCH believes grades/academic achievement, academic rigor, personal statements/motivation letters, recommendations, and demonstrated interest/engagement will play a much larger role in the applicant process than in previous years. With one less data point on which to evaluate applications, colleges and universities will look to find ways to determine the best fit students for their university. Knowing this, we encourage students to apply to schools where they are a fit academically, socially, and emotionally. We encourage students to find schools that fit their values and where their gifts and talents will be seen, nourished, and encouraged. Going test optional brings some positive results for parents and students alike. With less stress placed on test preparation, students can dedicate themselves to achieving their best success in the classroom and through their extracurricular activities. They can find more time to learn that second or third language, learn to play an instrument, conduct science experiments, do research over the summer, or engage within their community to produce positive change. Schools should encourage students to embrace going test optional. While LAUNCH knows test scores are sometimes utilized as part of teacher evaluations, encouraging students to embrace a test optional approach to university applications can reduce testing anxiety and improve student performance in the classroom. It can also make the university search one degree less stressful than in previous application cycles. Things to Consider when Deciding to Take the SAT/ACT Test optional policies will vary per university so again, please check the lists mentioned above. For Ivy League schools, pay special attention to the language being used to describe the test optional policy. Cornell University among others, while stating they are test optional, puts forth their stance clearly in your policy that they prefer you submit your scores: "In Cornell’s review during the 2020-2021 application cycle, results from the ACT or SAT might still be a meaningful differentiator in particular for students who: live near or attend a school that will be open, and where testing will be offered, or who live near a testing center that will be offering more testing seats or dates than they did in 2019; and have not experienced lost income for one or more of their household providers or other significant new hardships and losses during 2020." If they are highly encouraging it still as in Cornell's case, LAUNCH believe educators and parents should advocate for these universities to embrace a welcoming test optional policy. Students across the world do not have access to testing. Carefully consider if your health is really worth sitting for an exam. If not, adjust your expectations and consider other universities. Currently, only a third of testing centers in the US are operating and even less around the world. With social distancing rules in place throughout the globe, students may not be able to travel upwards of 5-8 hours (where the nearest test center is located) to sit for this exam particularly if there are travel bans in place, they are immunocompromised, or have additional barriers to access. The use of a test optional policies increases access to students, which in theory, could increase diversity, inclusion, and promote equity. In fact, there are now 570+ “top tier” colleges/universities who are test optional for the upcoming year. In this particular situation, top tier means universities who excel nationally or regionally. This does not mean national universities are better than regional ones as they offer different undergraduate student experiences with regional universities being more geared towards the undergraduate student experience in all aspects of study. Test optional does not mean test blind. Some colleges/universities are saying it is ok not to submit, but if you have your score you should submit. However, LAUNCH encourages families to embrace this time and go completely test optional if you can and remember to #dreamlaunchsoar.

10 ideas to get you started Extracurricular (sometimes referred to as co-curricular) activities are a cornerstone of the American university application process. While still not as prevalent among European universities, there is a rise in universities who take a comprehensive approach to evaluating applicants. Part of the comprehensive approach is reviewing a student’s academic CV/resume. Doing so gives universities a better perspective on the student, and if their experiences match the course of study selected. Find our FREE guide to building your extracurricular CV below! Due to the pandemic, many in-person and school activities are cancelled including volunteer work, sporting events, and co-curricular activities. With the transition to online learning, lack of socialization, and the unknown end date of social distancing, so much is up in the air, and students feel stressed. At LAUNCH, we believe students can overcome this obstacle, in their own time of course. Today, we offer you a list of: 10 great activities students can do during a pandemic to add to their Resume If you enjoy an academic challenge and adjusted well to virtual/online learning, you may want to apply to summer institutes at some of the nations top universities. These programs provide participants with academic challenges, a glimpse into college-level coursework, and sometimes course credit! Some of our favorites include Columbia Summer Experience Programs and Stanford Summer Institutes. If you love to learn for the sake of learning, then you may want to consider enrolling in a Massive/Mini Open Online Course (MOOC). These programs allow students to explore areas of interest, can help you narrow down your major choices, and are open to everyone so you do not need to go through an application possess to learn. Check out courses on Coursera, EdX, mooc.org, FutureLearn, Open Yale Courses, or Khan Academy. If you love researching, collecting data, and want to have a positive impact on the world, you may want to consider Pioneer Academics. Led by faculty from leading universities, Pioneer Academics brings together students from all around the world to create meaningful connections, lasting impacts, and set a foundation for an ambitious future. The deadline is April 26, 2020. Have you always wanted to learn a new language? Are you aiming to become bilingual, trilingual, or a polyglot? The pandemic is an excellent time to invest energy into learning a new language. With numerous platforms out there including Babbel, Rosetta Stone, or Duolingo, you can take advantage of your time in a productive way. It is good to note that many universities will accept Duolingo for English language competency. Just because you are stuck inside, doesn’t mean you can’t bring nature into your life. You can transform your balcony, terrace, or rooftop into a garden during the pandemic. Not only will you practice patience, but you will also learn about botany. May be a great alternative for budding bontanists. Learn about creating and caring for a garden here: terrace, balcony, or rooftop, traditional. For the students interested in serving mankind through peace and humanitarian initiatives, you can check out becoming a virtual volunteer for the United Nations. Volunteers can choose from a variety of areas including COVID-19 response, Translation, Art + Design, Project Development, and more. The UN believes when skilled and passionate people get together, great things can happen. Join UN Digital Volunteer to make an impactful contribution to the world. If you are already bilingual or trilingual, there is a huge opportunity for your to contribute to making the world a better place by reducing language barriers. Aimed at improving Crisis Response, Development+ Preparedness, Capacity Building, and Advocacy, Translators Without Borders allows you to contribute to engaging projects to help humanity. You can help translate medical text, humanitarian communication, and more. With a simple app, be my eyes connects blind and low-vision people with sighted volunteers all around the world. Be my eyes hopes to increase accessibility for blind and low-vision individuals by reducing barriers to everyday tasks while reducing the stress load placed on friends and family. Simple tasks include reading instructions/directions for recipes, locating objects, and understanding important documents. The Human Voicebank in VocaliD is a project which collects English-speaking voices from all across the world. In doing so, VocaliD provides voiceless individuals with unique, synthetic voices allowing them to speak in a way that is unique to them. By offering voiceless individuals synthetic voices, they can be heard as themselves instead of their assistive technology. Project Gutenberg is an online library of 60,000+ free ebooks. The focus is mainly on older US books whose copyright has expired. Project Gutenberg is looking for volunteers in the following areas: Marketing and Promotion, Proofreading, Contribute Missing Books or Pages, or Record Audiobooks (through Librivox). Project Gutenberg may be a great option for literary lovers young and old. While the pandemic is not over and social distancing will continue for a while, don’t forget to continue to stay healthy, learn, and give back. #dreamlaunchsoar

In much of the Western world, March started like any other month. People went about their business, meeting, socializing. Prospective university students were planning their final university visits at upcoming Open Days, Admitted Student Receptions, and enjoying the last months of secondary school. Then the pandemic came, sweeping through Europe and into North America. Transcending all ethnicities, socioeconomic classes, regional and international borders, medical, transportation, and education infrastructures, the pandemic caused an abrupt change to our norms. Seniors found themselves quickly transitioning into virtual learning, seeing sports seasons cancelled, switching to digital-only socialization, and accepting the cancellation of final exams, senior activities, and graduation. Among all of this, many seniors lost their final opportunities to visit schools on their short list. While students make decisions every year without visiting schools, a campus visit usually gives students a sense of the campus culture and what their day-to-day life will look like. To help you overcome this obstacle, here is a list of ways to get a feel for campus without being on campus. College Websites Instead of just visiting the Home, Academics, and Major pages, go deep and start digging. By visiting pages that you normally would not, you will gain a better understanding of how the university works together as a whole. Some of our favorite pages to explore when researching schools for students are: Course Catalog, Student Handbook, Campus Organizations, Student Activities, Student Support, Disability Services, professor profiles. Some schools have student blogs you can follow as well through various offices. Take your time and explore what your shortlist has to offer from the university’s perspective. Virtual Resources Schools are quickly putting together virtual resources due to the cancellation of open houses and admitted student receptions. Examples of great virtual events to attend are: Webinars Universities will post on their websites, either through the apply/admissions pages or academic department/faculty pages, upcoming webinars or virtual open days. These will allow you to chat with students, hear about the unique aspects of programs, and understand what you daily student life may look like if you attend a particular school. Be sure to check university websites on your shortlist to get the latest information. Information Websites These information sites give you updated information regarding campus visit policies domestically in the US. In addition, the LAUNCH Coronavirus website provides up-to-date information regarding national responses to the pandemic. NACAC Site LAUNCH Coronavirus Website Virtual Tours You Visit Campus Reel E Campus Tours You Tube (make sure to type in XYZ School Campus Tour) YouniversityTV Campus Newspaper The campus newspaper is a great source to find out what is really happening on campus. It is unfiltered access because it is written by students, who oftentimes do great investigative journalism, uncover amazing opportunities, and highlight great stories. The campus newspaper gives you insight into the campus climate politically, culturally, religiously, and more. Third Party Resources We believe you should use a variety of resources to gain insight into the school atmosphere and student opportunities. LAUNCH loves utilizing the Fiske Guide to Colleges as it covers schools in the US, Canada, and UK. This third-party review provides highlights and the potential pitfalls of campuses while highlighting unique aspects of each university. Other valuable resources include: Colleges That Change Lives by Loren Pope The College Finder by Steve Antonoff Times Good University Guide Student Crowd (for UK universities) Colleges Beyond the States by Jennifer Viemont Directory of Canadian Universities Admissions Offices Universities not only have their own social media, many admissions offices, student organizations, and academic departments have their own. Follow them and engage with them. In addition, remain in touch with your regional admissions officer or point of contact at the university. They will be able to point you in the direction of appropriate resources and help you make connections with students, faculty, and additional staff on campus. Alumni Alumni are a great resource for you to learn about the future outcomes of a university. Connect with alumni and hear their stories. From telling you what the weather situation is really like to reminiscing about the best traditions on campus, alumni provide you an idea of continued commitment to their alma mater. One way to do this is through LinkedIn. Search for alumni from the schools you are considering, send them a messaging asking for a directed 10-minutes of their time. If they are willing to talk to you, they will usually give you lots of information. Your Application Your application is always a great place to return to so you can reflect on why you applied to each school on your list. You can read over your supplemental essays to compare how you were feeling then to how you are feeling now. LAUNCH encourages families to use good, relevant, recent information to conduct their decision making process. Doing so ensures you are making the best decision for you and your family. This is a big decision. So while we know you cannot visit campus in person, we believe these resources will allow you to gather a well-rounded view of the universities on your short list. We know you can do it! #dreamlaunchsoar

Dear Families: This moment in our lives is unprecedented. We live simultaneously with the invisible but dangerous coronavirus, and for many of us that means a changed way of life. Known as Disease X in pandemic preparedness circles, the coronavirus is challenging various infrastructures besides healthcare. Seemingly overnight, it changed education, finance, transportation, health and human services, and lower wage jobs. The economic impact changes hour by hour, day by day. This uncertain time is our new normal. Our new normal means diligently practicing social and physical distancing. It means more virtual learning, increased telecommuting for non vital jobs, and delicately balancing small space co-existence with our loved ones. For the Class of 2020, it means exam cancellations, a removal of social activities, and no graduation ceremony - a rite of passage often reminisced about during adulthood. In a moment, all this was swept away in the coronavirus tide. While this virus transcends national and international borders, socioeconomic class, race, ethnicity, religion, political stance, and stereotypes, it brings us down from our mighty perch in the animal kingdom. Your feelings, undoubtedly and with good reason, will appear erratic ranging from frustrated and scared to hopeful and confident. This is normal, and your feelings are yours to hold and acknowledge. Each student and family must savor this unique opportunity (yes, opportunity). This is a moment to slow down and reflect on your feelings, your future, and ponder how your life will be measured. It is a chance to witness the unity taking place globally. It is a chance to take monumental steps to improve the future of our planet. It is a chance to make virtual memories and embrace the omnipresent digital world, to improve your time management skills, to read the book on your shelf, to talk to each other, to deeply enjoy each other's company. This moment is merely that - a moment. You will always remember this time, the trials, tribulations, and victories. You will never forget it, and that is what will make the future a better place. We encourage you to continue working hard, showing empathy, extending grace, and believing the future is bright because you are the future of this world. You are the ones to make it the brightest world yet. Stay safe, stay healthy, wash your hands, and remember to #dreamlaunchsoar. Onwards and upwards, Lauren + Sara

Co-founder Sara Bittner shares her thoughts on how universities view extracurriculars and how LAUNCH helps clients structure their activities for the best application possible. Take our mini course on extracurriculars and building your student CV here We know the importance of extracurricular activities are quite unique to US college/university admissions, but how do admissions offices actually evaluate a candidate’s participation? As with most aspects of the holistic admissions process, the answer is a resounding IT DEPENDS! Every university does it slightly differently, but a well-rounded extracurricular resume might be the factor that lands an application in the admit pile. Your involvement in extracurriculars can demonstrate a wide variety of interests, or where you have a more in-depth interest. A well rounded list will have a bit of each, to show admissions how you will contribute to on-campus life. Here at LAUNCH, we advise our students to participate in 4 types of extracurricular activities: TIER 1: In Tier 1 extracurriculars, a student has participated in an activity at the (inter)national level, or attended a prestigious enrichment program. These types of activities demand a very large time commitment from the student, so we only expect ONE Tier 1 activity from a student. TIER 2: Tier 2 extracurriculars are similar to Tier 1 in that they show deeper involvement and a significant time commitment from the student. These include such activities as playing a sport with distinction, high ranking leadership positions in a club, or state level awards in a competition. A solid resume should include TWO to FOUR Tier 2 activities. TIER 3: Tier 3 activities should show a bit more varied interest. In these activities, a student might hold a less prominent leadership position, win local competitions, or participate in JV (2nd team) level sports. We expect ONE to THREE Tier 3 activities. TIER 4: Tier 4 activities showcase your diverse interests. A student is a general member of an organization that has few requirements. Because these activities require less time and energy, a student should have TWO to FOUR of these activities. It is important when selecting your extracurricular activities that you are a member of contrasting activities within the same tier. So if you are the president of your school’s debate team (tier 1 or 2), it is beneficial to have a contrasting interest, perhaps a sports team or music. The Common Application leaves 10 spaces for you to fill in your extracurricular activities, and at highly selective colleges, they do expect you to be able to fill all ten slots. Again, this depends on the commitment of Tier !, but most applicants are able to fill all 10 spaces through their combination to hobbies, volunteerism, school activities, sports, and work experience. Why do colleges evaluate prospective students’ extracurricular involvement? They want to be sure that admitted students align with their values, or might help in changing the culture on campus. Colleges should be able to tell which clubs on campus you might join (or start!) based on your extracurricular involvement in high school. At the end of the day, all universities want a well-rounded study body full of students who will thrive in and contribute to everyday campus life at the university and in society post graduation. At LAUNCH, we coach students to cultivate a well-rounded life outside of the classroom which showcases their gifts and talents to the world while continuing to #dreamlaunchsoar.

Founder Lauren Joyce Hensel provides insight into the definition of academic rigor and how to achieve it. In the American admissions world, you will hear university enrollment representatives (counselors, directors, vice presidents) speak with a variety of industry terms, which lead to confusion and misinformation. At LAUNCH, we want to help you understand more of the process in a transparent and meaningful way. One phrase you are bound to hear in the admission and application process is academic (or course) rigor. Before I explain academic rigor, I want to encourage parents reading this to throw out their perceptions and preconceived thoughts about universities. Times have changed, which means the admission process and school selectivity has changed in addition to entrance requirements. At the Spring 2019 IECA Conference, I attended a session with enrollment representatives from esteemed colleges such as Gettysburg College and Bucknell University. With 47% and 30% acceptance rates respectively, these schools are considered VERY selective in their admission’s process. Note - typically schools with less than a 50% acceptance rate are VERY selective. These numbers might surprise some families, but they are real and carry meaning. When I asked these schools what they consider academic rigor, I received the same answer (with some minor word changes) - the most challenging course load available to the student within the context of their school and abilities. What does that even mean?! Basically, I encourage students to follow this advice - take the most challenging courses available to you which allow you to be pushed without having detrimental effects on following your interests outside your courses or your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. What makes this so difficult to define is that there is no standard scale of rigor across all states or local school districts in America. Global nomads and third culture kids may have an added element of an international education from another country, which adds to the confusion. According to a study done by three PhD statiscians, “Rigor is multi-faceted and can be influenced by the type and sequence of courses taken, intensity and difficulty of the courses, alignment to postsecondary expectations, quality of instruction, and level of student engagement and effort. Through this conceptualization, rigor is an unobservable construct that can vary across schools and classrooms” (Allen, J., Ndum, E., and Mattern, K., June 2017). While elusive and deemed a social construct, admission offices still utilize the concept. Hence, it is important to provide simplified explanations to guide families. As a parent, encourage your child to challenge themselves in the classroom and admit when work is too easy so they know to enroll in more challenging courses the following year. If you notice your child struggling to keep up with the workload, encourage an honest conversation with their school counselor/career advisor or independent education consultant to discuss adjusting the course load for the upcoming school year. If you are unsure what to do, seek advice from a trusted, professional support group (not just parents or family members). If the child can take a higher level course and receive a slightly lower grade, universities will applaud the rigor. While there is no set formula, LAUNCH encourages families to follow these five simple practices to develop academic rigor: Enroll in more courses that will challenge you in your critical thinking, problem solving, interpersonal, and writing skills. Take the toughest courses you can do well in without sacrificing time to pursue interests and make a difference while doing them. Remember admissions office evaluate you in relation to your school profile. If your classmates are taking rigorous courses and you are capable of doing the same, they expect it of you. Schools would prefer to see a letter grade lower in a harder course. #truth If AP, IB, or Honors courses are not your thing or are unavailable, consider dual enrollment courses at a local community college. This shows you are capable of university-level work. Above all else, when in doubt, contact a professional for guidance. Something as simple as investing for an academic assessment and recommendations about course selection could pay dividends for a student. Selecting the right course load early on can help make the college/university search and application process easier in the future. If you have questions, reach out. We are here for you. And remember to #dreamlaunchsoar!

LAUNCH founder, Lauren Joyce Hensel, elaborates on 10 ways parents can create a cohesive, enjoyable college/university search and application process. The college/university search process does not have to be the terrible experience everyone preaches. Students and parents often get caught up in the competitiveness, but it does not have to be a constant race. The college/university search and application process is a time to expand your parenting abilities and encourage your budding adult. Here are 10 ways parents can create an enjoyable process for everyone. 1. Use gentle reminders to help move the process along. The university recruiting and application process is stressful for everyone. To help your child, we encourage the use of gentle or friendly reminders. While none of the below are requiring you to do the process for your child, they are ways to actively encourage them to complete the university application process independently with assistance from where where necessary. Would you like to do it on your own or have me help you? I need you to _____________. It's okay to feel ____________. How will you take care of ____________? I love you no matter what. You care, so I'd love for you to decide. You care, so I'd love for you to decide. 2. Discuss financial boundaries early. While financial discussions are often difficult, financial expectations on both the student and parent side are important when building out a school list. The more information your child has, the more informed decision they can make when building their list. If you know you can only pay for so much of school each year, be honest with your child about what you can and cannot afford. Never put yourself in a position to make unethical decisions to qualify for financial aid either. It will not go well. 3. Empower your child. Attending college/university requires a level of independence for a student to be successful. They will be in situations where they will have to make decisions without your input, and it is best to prepare for this newfound independence prior to their departure by encouraging them to: Conduct their own research. Talk with admissions and/or coaching staff. Ask for help in secondary school. Improve their weaknesses. Study for the ACT or SAT. Respect their decisions. You may not always like them, but at least they are making a decision. 4. Actively listen to your child’s concerns, comments, and priorities. Through the process, you may not agree with your child’s perspective on a school, but it is important that you do not let your wants and needs cloud or overshadow your child’s concerns, comments, and priorities. This is a chance for you to build a trusting relationship with your child, and truly hearing their perspective is critical to a productive school search. They are the ones who will have to attend class and be in the school’s environment for two to four years. 5. Keep and open mind. College/university admissions are drastically different than they were in the 1980s and 1990s. As I have written about previously, the only thing constant is change so it is important to put your previous perceptions and thoughts about universities aside. Encourage grandparents to do the same. Remember, rankings change, junior college is a good option, and dual enrollment courses can save you money. If you are unsure about remaining impartial, it may be best to hire an independent education consultant, who can provide clarity for both you and your child. 6. Put the rankings aside. While rankings provide a starting point for the college/university search, they should not be the basis of your child’s decision. Encourage your child to consider a broad range of schools not just the top 20 or 50. With more than 4,000 colleges/universities in America, there is a school for every single student. Although the allure of the top ranking school may sound appealing, you must encourage your child to ask if the top-ranked school is the right place for them. Every school has its own culture and feel. Put the rankings aside, visit campus, and remember bragging rights should not take precedence over best fit. 7. Designate a time to discuss. Too often, families let the college/university search process consume their everyday lives and conversations. To minimize the impact of the search on family time, set aside a designated time every week to discuss the search and application process. By doing so, you are able to compartmentalize the process and still be present and enjoy life. 8. Respect your child’s budding adulthood. During this time, your child will want to express themselves and their needs, their independence, and begin to establish who they aspire to become. They may come to you for advice and approval, but please let them show their gifts and talents to the world. Three important things we encourage parents to understand are below. Do not edit THEIR essays. It is THEIR story not yours. Expect that you may not be asked to read or even review their essays. Remember your child is an individual, and their needs may be different from their siblings. University selection is not a cookie cutter process. 9. Stay positive. It may be hard at times when your child’s emotions are up and down, but this is a transition in their life, when they need you to be positive and encouraging, but also realistic. Know that your child is human and will make mistakes (including missing deadlines). While they may have to accept the natural consequences of their mistakes, their mistakes do not define who they are as a person. Acknowledge that perfection is unattainable, and that only through trying can your child learn. Your child may be fearful of taking rigorous coursework or standardized tests among other things. Acknowledge their fears and what they are feeling is real because for them it is. Again, college/university admissions are not the same as when you may have applied so do not fully utilize your experience as the only example of a great experience or how to do things. Your child has a right to be nervous, scared, or unsure. What they need is a calm and secure environment to recuperate when the process is too much for them. Celebrate the deadlines they meet, the hurdles they cross, and the independence they assert. 10. Be happy with their decision. A college/university that was a great fit for you may not be the right fit for your child. By forcing your beliefs on your child, they may choose what is easiest. The school with the football team you love. The school you went to, schools only in big cities, schools only where it is warm - the list goes on. While all great, these may not be the best fit for your child. At the end of the day, your child is the one having to attend class, interact with classmates and professors, attend social events, make daily decisions, navigate course selections, meet with advisors, register for classes, attend study halls and tutoring, spend late nights in the library, etc. A college/university should allow them to blossom into the best version of themselves and allow them to #dreamlaunchsoar.

LAUNCH founder, Lauren Joyce Hensel, discusses how the latest tactic being used by parents to game the American university financial aid system can be unethical. And just like that, another college enrollment scandal breaks. This, ProPublica published a well-researched article uncovering massive financial aid exploitation tactics being utilized by parents in wealthy areas and affluent schools in the state of Illinois. To be fair, not all students who live in these wealthy suburbs of Chicago are in fact wealthy, but the article specifically states wealthy families utilizing this exploitation tactic. As someone who worked in college admissions for almost 10 years, I am disappointed in the integrity of the families, the so-called college consultant, and the judges who presided over these cases. During my years in admissions, I was often asked if a student situation made them independent and able to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid as such, and 99% of the time, my answer was no. I have sat across from parents who adamantly refuse to pay for school thinking it will make their child an independent on the FAFSA. When I have asked probing questions about having court documents to support the child being independent, many times these parents realize the lengthy and cumbersome process toward independent status This past school year, about 82,000 Illinois students who qualified for the state of Illinois’ Monetary Award Program (MAP) grant did not receive it as it is awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis. Basically, parents who willingly give up custody despite being able to afford university are depriving those who truly need financial assistance from receiving it - some of those students may even be in their own community. Depending on the situation, admissions/financial aid offices currently ask for a variety of verification documents including bank statements, utility bills, SNAP benefits, and more. When it comes to legal guardianship, schools typically request a copy of the court’s decision. However, this may not be enough as the article points out. Do we want to get to the point where admissions offices are asking for family wills, bank statements, and more if admissions offices cannot determine the true reason for guardianship or if the student is still receiving support from parents? "[Andy] Borst [Illinois’s Director of Undergraduate Admissions] said he first became suspicious when a high school counselor from an affluent Chicago suburb called him about a year ago to ask why a particular student had been invited to an orientation program for low-income students. Borst checked the student’s financial aid application and saw she had obtained a legal guardian, making her eligible to qualify for financial aid independently.” In the perspective of the IECA Principles of Good Practice, the “college planner” utilized in many of these custody cases, did not uphold these principles, but the school counselors did. In this case, the IECA views the practice as unethical as it does not “represent each student accurately and fairly based upon a professional evaluation of the circumstances, requirements of the case, and needs of the student.” Therefore, it is unethical because the student did not truly need financial assistance given the multiple options available for the student’s post secondary career. If college/university affordability is a concern to a family, LAUNCH encourages them to work with consultants who expand their perspective and are members of either IECA or HECA, which opens doors to opportunities in dual enrollment programs, junior college matriculation agreements with four-year universities, dual degree programs, accelerated bachelors/masters programs, intense scholarship searches, international university options, and work colleges. The article states, “The Illinois Probate Act, the law that governs guardianship, does not specify circumstances in which guardianship should be denied.” While emancipation and giving up custody of a child is not illegal, this tactic brings ethics into question as the US Department of Education Federal Pell dollars are meant to help the neediest students attending a school.As judges have been tasked with maintaining a just society, are they fulfilling their duties by granting these guardianship cases? In my opinion, no. Filing for emancipation and giving up legal guardianship is not something that should be done by most families despite its legality. It should be utilized in cases of unexpected and troubling events as the article points to: “Mothers are homeless, seeking mental health care or working two jobs and can’t care for a child, fathers are in prison, addicted to drugs or deported.” Guardianship to gain a financial aid advantage is not what guardianship is supposed to be utilized for. Therefore, judges are following the letter of the law but not the spirit of the law, thus enabling in unethical behavior. If judges did not grant guardianship in these cases, this tactic would not perpetuate and make a game of university admissions and their financial aid process. While I am disheartened by these unethical practices, I am optimistic that Directors of Admissions such as Borst will continue to uncover these types of tactics in an effort to make education more inclusive, equitable, and productive for all students. #dreamlaunchsoar

LAUNCH founder Lauren Joyce Hensel shares her thoughts about one of the biggest mistakes parents make while assisting their child in the university search process. Dear Parents, This blog post is for you. We know you love your child and want the best opportunities for them. We know this transition of them applying to and attending university is a difficult one. While your child is about to embark on a huge personal growth journey and develop into an even better version of themselves, you still see them as your child. We understand. Throughout the university selection process, it is easy to succumb to previous notions, but please keep an open mind. From parents I have spoken to over the years as a head volleyball coach and admissions director, making the right choice is one of the most stressful aspects for families. Although the selection process should allow discovery and encourage self reflection, I often see one big mistake made by parents - judging schools on their past rankings, views, opinions, or sentiments. While we will share our top 10 tips for parents on our Instastories, I want to bring you up to date on how outdated notions hinder and close doors to opportunity in the 21st century university admissions process. Times are changing I am here to tell you that getting into university in the 21st century is not the same as it was 20-30 years ago. Although you may have been just as stressed as a member of The Breakfast Club, the 21st century is different. The creation and widespread use of the Common Application, increased offering of AP courses, and society’s push to obtain a university degree caused the admissions landscape to become more competitive than in the 1980s and 1990s. Simply put, the process is more difficult due to the sheer number of students applying to schools and increased accessibility of the college preparatory curriculum. So while the number of seats for an incoming class have remained consistent year over year, the number of qualified applicants continues to rise at an exponentially higher rate. To compete for “the best” students, many schools have poured immense resources into campus and program revitalization, developed robust alumni engagement programs, and increased the amount of faculty research. All these factors among others can lead to an increase in university rankings. As schools are constantly chasing higher rankings on the US News and World Report among many lists, they will often increase their admissions standards year-over-year. If you are unaware of these changing standards, you cannot put your child in the best position for success. The safeties are no longer safe and the Ivies are even more difficult By combining more applications with the quest for higher rankings, even schools once considered “safeties” in the 80s and 90s are no longer safe bets for students. A perfect example of this changing landscape is the University of California system. Students who could once rely on being accepted to UC-Riverside, -Merced, and -Santa Cruz are now being handed denial letters. Another example is George Washington University (DC), which accepted 76% of its applicants in 1988 compared with 37% in 2018, all part of changing the competitiveness and future of the university, as mentioned in The Georgetown Voice article. In the past few months, I’ve heard parents state they “would only pay for school if their child was accepted into an Ivy League.” Based on data as seen in Chart 1, acceptance rates are at an all time low in the Ivies as well as Stanford, MIT, and Cal as well as other “top” universities with Columbia being the most dramatic with a 60 percentage point drop. Chart 1 - Acceptance Rates Over 30 YearsChart 1 - Acceptance Rates Over 30 Years Sources listed at end of post In regards to standardized testing, we researched the concordance of scores before 1995 to those in present day to see what scores you would need to obtain to get into two top universities. You can see that the SAT score needs to be higher now than it was before 1995 (Chart 2). So if you scored a combined (M+V) score of 1180, your child may need to score a 1360 to get into Cal today. If you got into Yale with a 1360 (M+V), your child may need a 1470 today. You may be asking, what does all this mean? It means while it may have been viable to get into the Ivies 20-30 years ago, a student’s application is going to have to be near perfection to obtain an acceptance letter. What is perfection? Perfection is high quality, rigorous coursework, often containing a minimum of 8 AP courses and a very high unweighted GPA, SAT scores of at least 1500 (34 ACT), international or national achievements with strong leadership roles (you can’t just be a member, you need to lead), and a thoughtful, carefully curated, insightful personal statement that has received professional feedback (let me stress professional is not a teacher or parent or peer). And while you may have all these factors, it does not guarantee you admission. It simply shows you are a competitive applicant. What can you do as a parent? Please keep an open mind when compiling a school list. Dig deep into research of a school to find unique programs that will suit your child. As my dad used to say to me, “the only thing constant is change.” This adage is true even in higher education. Universities evolve. They adapt. While some become stronger, others become weaker. Some develop unique programs to match the workforce needs. Universities change their program offerings. Some become test optional. Others become stricter with SAT/ACT scores. Others may start to offer generous scholarships based on family income. And remember, the 80s and 90s were a grand time full of opportunities for you. Your child is not in that decade so don’t forget about it, but remember the only thing constant is change. #dreamlaunchsoar Sources: Analyzing College Admissions & Acceptance Rates Over Time - https://tinyurl.com/y2pa35hr When Safety Schools Aren’t Safety Schools - https://tinyurl.com/y5nm7lcv The Stanford Daily - https://tinyurl.com/y5p6kqhm 2018 ACT/SAT Concordance Table - https://tinyurl.com/ya4zht5w Harvard Acceptance Rates Will Continue to Drop - https://tinyurl.com/yxwmka2r Is the College Admissions Bubble About to Burst? - https://tinyurl.com/y56gbq4l Yale Freshman Admissions - https://tinyurl.com/y68qnkjj 2023 Ivy Admissions Stats - https://tinyurl.com/y578wvlh Admissions Rate Changs at Yale, Stanford, and Princeton Since 1980 - https://tinyurl.com/yxcad8qk Freshman Class Sets Application Records - https://tinyurl.com/yy2cfcgv A Yale Book of Numbers - https://tinyurl.com/y2j59ex8 1992 freshman applications show little change from 1991 - https://tinyurl.com/y3knx2va New SAT vs Old SAT Conversion Chart - https://tinyurl.com/y5vtpwr4 The Recentering of SAT Scales - https://tinyurl.com/y2p8ef4l SAT Score Conversion Chart - https://tinyurl.com/y4nk8e6e The Effects of SAT Scaling on Percentiles - https://tinyurl.com/yy6py5wj 2008 ACT-SAT Score Concordance Table - https://tinyurl.com/y5thwgyl Princeton is pleased to offer admission to 1,895 students for Class of 2023 - https://tinyurl.com/y3v5thm6

LAUNCH co-founder and Guidance Coach Sara Bittner explains the differences between the different application types available at American universities. When looking up the application deadlines for a college or university, you will come across the terms Early Decision (I or II), Early Action, Rolling admission, and Regular admission. Choosing the right way to apply can significantly increase your chances of gaining admission (but remember admission is never guaranteed), but you need to know what you are signing up for when you apply. Early Decision Applying Early Decision is, quite frankly, the ultimate indicator of demonstrated interest. When you apply Early Decision, you are obligated to accept any offer of admission the university extends to you. If you cannot be certain that a university is financially feasible for your family, we usually do not advise this option because you would not have the choice to turn down the spot if the financial package is insufficient. However, if a student is set on a specific university and has been for quite some time, this can serve as a big stress reliever, as ED applications have an answer much faster. In fact, universities may (again not guaranteed) admit students that would not get in during the regular admission period. The only difference between ED-I and ED-II is the deadline, and the university will have already filled part of the class in ED-I, so by applying ED-II, an applicant is competing for a more limited number of places. Some ED schools will let you apply to other schools Early Action, but knowing these nuances requires in depth research of admission policies. Early Action Early Action (EA) applications are similar to ED in that you apply early; however, you can apply to as many colleges or universities as you want, and the decision is non-binding. This means if you are accepted, but cannot afford tuition with the financial package they offer, you are free to look elsewhere. If a university offers an early option, it will either be ED or EA, but they usually do not offer both. Applying EA is a great way to communicate to a college or university that they are your top choice, and if you are accepted, you will almost certainly attend. Again, another way to demonstrate interest without visiting campus. There is an exception to EA in a process called Restrictive Early Action (REA), which many universities use. With an REA application, you are only allowed to apply to one university EA. EA and Restrictive Early Action applicants have until May 1 to make their decision. Regular Decision When you apply Regular Decision, it is as the name suggests, regular. There is no limit on how many schools you can apply to, and acceptance into a university is completely non-binding. If you are applying regular decision after not being accepted in a previous ED/EA application, you still have the advantage of having demonstrated interest by applying early, and will have a slight advantage over students who did not apply early. Regular Decision deadlines are usually between January 1 and February 1 of your final year of secondary school, and you will receive a decision by April 1. A student then has until May 1 to decide which college they will go to. Although applications are due between January 1 and February 1, admissions offices read those applications as soon as they come in, so by applying well before the deadline, your application still stands a better chance than the one sent in 2 minutes before the application period closes. Rolling Admission Rolling admission is basically Early Action and Regular Decision rolled up into one. Students are free to apply at any point during the application period, and will typically hear back from the university in six to eight weeks. A student has the chance to demonstrate interest by applying early in the period, at which point they have less competition with other applicants, and the university has more spaces to fill. By waiting until the end of an application period, a student will be competing with more applicants for fewer spaces, so if a university has had an unexpected uptick in applications, their freshman class might already be close to full, at which point they can choose to be more selective. If a university offers Rolling Admission, it is a good idea to apply as early as you can to maximize your chance at getting in and receiving a quality financial aid package. The one point of difference of Rolling Admission and EA/Regular Decision is that you only get one chance to apply, so you will want to be sure you have all your application’s requirements finalized and no questionable grades in your current courses. At LAUNCH, we coach our clients into prioritizing their college list and guiding them in an application strategy that works best for them. We can anticipate potential weaknesses and recognize the strengths in their applications and come up with a plan that reduces the impact of the former while maximizing the impact of the latter. If you would like to #dreamlaunchsoar with us, feel free to contact us.