It’s A New Admissions Year – 2021

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January 20, 2021January 20, 2021 ~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

Happy New Year! Welcome to Dr. Paul Lowe Admissions Expert Blog – 2021

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The past year has been full of uncertainty. As a consequence of the myriad of transitions, changes, adjustments and adaptations, now there’s a whole new admissions world. Education has moved from in-person to online learning and there has been an increase in the number of applications to top private day and boarding schools, Ivy League and highly selective colleges and universities and BS/MD programs! The College Board recently announced that it is eliminating the SAT subject tests and optional essay-writing section!

The one constant we have observed last year and the beginning of this year, is that parents want the best education for their children whether it’s K-12, college or graduate school.

As families navigate through these extraordinary and unparalleled admissions times, having an expert who can help make objective decisions is invaluable. As experts, we understand the fluctuating landscape and degrees of complexity in the current admissions scenarios so that students can avoid mistakes, stay focused and attain successful admissions decisions. Our knowledge-intelligence that results in our admissions success involves our ability to plan, to know how to adjust and when to change effectively.

Following last year’s admissions season, we heard from many parents and school counselors whose students applied ED to the Ivies and were rejected, yet we have clients who were accepted ED to Harvard, Yale, Brown, UPenn, Columbia and Cornell. And our Brown PLME acceptance rate was just amazing! Brown PLME: Early Decision Results

Year after year, parents and fellow consultants ask us, what’s your secret? How do you provide stellar admissions results? It’s actually quite simple and conspicuously obvious….We are DIFFERENT!

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Dr. Lowe and his team collectively, through their insight, foresight, proprietary- knowledge, wisdom and confidence, choose the best admissions strategies to be applied prudently for the best decision results – That’s our secret!

This year, many parents will be extremely happy because they will use our SECRET!

Each year, admissions policies and strategies change, so stay tuned for my upcoming, informative, helpful and thought-provoking admissions blogs!

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“Being different and understanding differences allow me to help our clients stand out and be accepted!” – Dr. Paul Lowe

“Admissions is a competitive sport! Why gamble with uncertainty?” – Dr. Paul Lowe

“Parents hire us because they choose to pay an admissions expert who will help them avoid making mistakes.” – Dr. Paul Lowe

Dr_Paul_Lowe_Admissions_Advisor_Educational_Consultant — **Dr. Paul Lowe, Admissions Expert**

The Value of Expert Admissions Advice: Post-Application Submission

December 21, 2020December 27, 2020 ~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

Since the increased number of applicants to Ivy League colleges was reported last week and the subsequent, inevitable increase in rejections (and deferments), my team and I have been receiving a deluge of calls from anxious-ridden and sometimes even angry parents wanting to know what can they do about upcoming regular decisions or even early decision II.

With several parents, their children were rejected not only from the Ivies but also from early action schools that they had perceived to be safety schools.

One parent, whose son was deferred from Harvard, wanted to immediately know: “what is your price?” Another parent, whose son was rejected from Yale and rejected early action from a perceived safety also wanted to know immediately: “how much do you charge?” And another parent, whose daughter was deferred from her perceived safety school, rejected from Columbia, had already submitted applications to Dartmouth and UPenn and was in the midst of applying to Princeton and MIT, wanted to know: “what’s your price?”

It’s obvious from these types of questions that these callers are shopping for the cheapest price and/or attempting to negotiate. This is counterintuitive to obtaining the best service for a process that requires specialized skills.

The reality is that this is not about a price or haggling….it’s about your child’s educational future! This is not like purchasing a new luxury SUV, legacy furniture, a second home, a club membership fee or a kitchen renovation – It’s an investment in your child’s future.

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We all know the true VALUE of Harvard, Yale and Brown (and BS/MD programs) degrees…….PRICELESS.

Our firm provides “Post-Application Submission Deferred Strategies”. What’s that worth?

Even with 4 months left in this admissions cycle there is still lots to be done to enable a student to stand out and not cause subsequent rejections or worse “perpetual waitlist limbo”! We provide “Post-Application Submission Strategies”. What’s that worth?

What’s your child’s future worth? According to the US Department of Agriculture, the cost of raising a child for a middle-income family born in 2001-2003 through the age of 18, not including college costs is $224,000 to $227,000 for middle income families and $327,000 to $330,000 for higher incomes. This does not include private school tuition, summer athletic or music camps, or specialized college summer camps.

Wouldn’t it be wise to invest in valuable advice whereby your next $250,000 investment (college education) is towards an Ivy League and highly selective college or university or a BS/MD program?

College-graduation-Dr_Paul_Lowe_Admissions_Advisor_Independent_Educational_Consultant — **What’s the value? HAPPY FAMILIES!**

Indian_parents_graduate_Dr_Paul_Lowe_Independent_Educational_Consultant_Admissions_Advisor — **What’s the value? HAPPY FAMILIES!**

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Avoid_College_Admissions_Mistakes_Dr_Paul_Lowe_Advisor_Independent_Educational_Consultant — **“Parents hire us because they choose to pay an admissions expert who will help them avoid making mistakes.”** **– Dr. Paul Lowe**

Dr. Paul Reginald Lowe, founder and managing director of Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors Group, provides comprehensive counseling advice, exclusively for admissions to top private schools; Ivy League and highly-selective colleges/universities; BS/MD programs; graduate and medical schools and top visual and performing arts programs. The admissions affiliate: Ivy League Admissions Advisors specializes in admissions to Ivy League and highly selective colleges, Dr. Lowe also specializes in helping students who have been wait-listed, deferred or rejected gain admission into their top-choice schools: College Application Rejected. and student who wish to transfer to another college: College Transfer Admissions Advisors. For colleges and universities that recommend or require videos: College Admissions Video Productions.

Ivy League Early Applications Increase

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December 19, 2020December 26, 2020 ~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

This week seniors received their application decisions! What was discovered is that the the number of early applications had soared as compared to last year.

I recall at one of my webinars that several parents surmised that the numbers would decrease as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the expected decrease in international applicants. I disagreed! Based on our analysis, we know that the Ivies’ brands soar in tough times.

Let’s take colleges that just released their early admissions results. Harvard had 10,086 application and accepted 747; last year 6,424 applicants and admitted 895. Brown University‘s early application rose by 22%, 23% at UPenn, 29% at Dartmouth and 49% at Columbia. From, time to time I have heard parents, high school counselors and even fellow educational consultants state that “it doesn’t really matter where you attend college as long as it’s a good fit“. Really! These numbers or increase percentages speak otherwise!

Now what, may you ask accounts for the soar in early applications? Here’s a blog that I wrote: Why Your Child Should Apply to an Ivy League College or University. and another blog: Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education U.S. College Rankings 2021.

What does this mean for students who were deferred? They are now in the regular application pool and it’s going to be even more competitive! Since you are in the larger pool, you will need to continue to attempt to standout and distinguish yourself from other applicants who were deferred and regular decision applicants. Our firm we provides “Post-Application Submission Deferred Strategies”.

**“Admissions is a competitive sport! Why gamble with uncertainty?”** **– Dr. Paul Lowe**

Dr. Paul Reginald Lowe, founder and managing director of Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors Group, provides comprehensive counseling advice, exclusively for admissions to top private schools; Ivy League and highly-selective colleges/universities; BS/MD programs; graduate and medical schools and top visual and performing arts programs. The admissions affiliate: Ivy League Admissions Advisors specializes in admissions to Ivy League and highly selective colleges, Dr. Lowe also specializes in helping students who have been wait-listed, deferred or rejected gain admission into their top-choice schools: College Application Rejected and student who wish to transfer to another college: College Transfer Admissions Advisors. For colleges and universities that recommend or require videos: College Admissions Video Productions.

2020 Best BS/MD Program: Brown PLME

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October 26, 2020 ~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

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“Your BS/MD Admissions Game Plan” is a blog series created by Dr. Paul Lowe that discusses BS/MD Admissions. With such a competitive environment and the immeasurable value and benefits of BS/MD programs, the need for an admissions game plan is ESSENTIAL.

At BS/ MD Admissions, we discern that many students and parents are clueless about what to do, when to do it, where to do it, who to contact, and why do it. They fail to discover what they are doing that’s wrong, or they discover what they’ve been doing is wrong when it’s too late!

BROWN UNIVERSITY’S PROGRAM IN LIBERAL MEDICAL EDUCATION (PLME)

Before continuing into this blog, we must mention two disclaimers: (1) Dr. Paul Lowe is a Brown graduate and was an Area Chair of the Brown Alumni Schools Committee which interviewed applicants to Brown University and the PLME, and Dr. Nadine Cartwright-Lowe is a graduate of Brown PLME (2) Year after year, we have clients who are not only accepted to Brown undergraduate, but also Brown PLME. Therefore, we know Brown!

The most prestigious BS/MD programs are Northwestern HPME and Brown PLME. However, because Northwestern’s Honors Program in Medical Education (HPME) will not be taking applications for 2020. Brown indisputably is the 2020 BEST BS/MD program.

Brown’s Program in Liberal Medical Education (PLME) is the only Ivy League – BS/MD program. On the undergraduate side, through its Open Curriculum, it allows students the academic freedom to enroll in the courses that interest them rather than a “premed curriculum” PLME also does not require its students to take the MCAT and the only academic requirement is that a minimum 3.0 GPA be maintained in biology courses. PLME is also one of the few BS/MD programs that accepts international students.

PLME students may choose any one of the nearly 100 departmental and interdepartmental concentration programs offered at the University. PLME students complete a four-year undergraduate program by receiving a A.B. or Sc.B. degree. Students can then proceed directly to Brown’s Warren Alpert Medical School.

What makes Brown University PLME the top and most prestigious BS/MD program?

Ivy League
Open Curriculum
No MCAT requirement
Accepts international students

At BS/MD Admissions Advisors, we know Brown! Unlike other educational consultants, we constantly visit Brown and understand the nuances and changes in its admission policies. Our BS/MD admissions experts: Dr. Paul Lowe is a Brown graduate and active alumni and Dr. Nadine Cartwright-Lowe is a Brown PLME graduate, an active alumni and a licensed internist.

HOW DOES DR. LOWE KNOW BROWN AND THE BROWN EXPERIENCE?

LET US SHOW YOU!

**Dr. Paul Lowe at The Alpert Medical School of Brown University**

**Dr. Paul Lowe at Brown University’s Van Wickle Gates**

**Dr. Paul Lowe with Dr. Katherine Sharkey MD PhD, associate professor of Medicine and Psychiatry & Human Behavior at the Alpert Medical School of Brown University**, **at the Women In Medicine conference** **at Alpert.**

**Dr. Paul Lowe in front of his freshman dormitory, Littlefield Hall, Brown University**

**Dr. Paul Lowe at his Brown Reunion with Bruno**

Professor Barrett Hazeltine and Dr. Lowe at a Brown University Commencement. As a freshman at Brown, Dr. Lowe enrolled in Prof. Hazeltine’s famous Engine 9 and Engineering 90 course (Entrepreneurship).

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Our BS/MD Admissions practice is specialized: Dr. Lowe and his team only work with parents who understand that the BS/MD admissions process is competitive, who desire help from an admissions expert and who see the value and investment in paying for expert advice through a detailed and ongoing comprehensive admissions advisory service for their child’s dream of becoming a doctor. He also specializes in helping international students in the BS/MD process. BS/MD Admissions Advisors – 2020 Acceptances. Parents who chose to use our services want to call their son or daughter – “Doctor” when they are seniors in high school.

Dr. Paul Reginald Lowe is the managing director of Pinnacle Educational Center Admissions Advisors Group network. He and his team of admissions advisors, through the admissions affiliate, BS/MD Admissions Advisors, help high school students get accepted to BS/MD programs.

Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education US College Rankings 2021

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September 19, 2020September 24, 2020 ~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education College Ranking 2021 (WSJ/THE 2021) was just released. Harvard is number one again (Harvard Produces Wealthy Alumni)! All of the Ivy League universities are among the top 15 schools. With their rarefied, global social alumni networks, door-opening reputations, prestige and superior academics, it isn’t surprising that the schools mentioned are all brand-name institutions.

The rankings emphasize how well a college will prepare students for life after graduation. The overall ranking is based on 15 factors across four areas: Outcomes, Resources, Engagement and Environment. Each school’s overall score is determined by student outcomes (including a measure of graduate salaries), the school’s academic resources, how well it engages students and the diversity of the students and staff. The data come from a variety of sources: the US government (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System – IPEDS), the College Scorecard, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the THE US Student Survey, the THE Academic Survey, and the Elsevier bibliometric dataset.

My team and I personally visit top colleges three times annually to understand each of their ever changing and unique admissions policies as well as the campus environment. As a result, we garner and develop our proprietary knowledge to help our clients achieve admissions success. (Why Dr. Paul Lowe Visits College Campuses). This ranking is very accurate!

The WSJ/THE College Rankings takes a different approach as compared to other rankings; it emphasizes the return on investment students see after they graduate. Schools that fare the best on this list have graduates who generally are satisfied with their educational experience and land relatively high-paying jobs that can help them pay down student loans.” These two factors are clearly why our clients retain us as admissions advisors who specialize in Ivy League admissions: Ivy League Admissions Advisors and seek the personalized superior admissions advice from Dr. Paul Lowe.

Here is a list of THE TOP TWENTY:

1. Harvard University (Dr. Lowe Visits Harvard) | (Harvard University Produces Wealthy Alumni)

2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

3. Yale University

4. Stanford University

5. Brown University, Duke University

7. Princeton University, California Institute of Technology

9. Cornell University

10. Northwestern University

12. Dartmouth College

13. University of Pennsylvania

14. University of Chicago

15. Columbia University, Rice University

17. Vanderbilt University

18. Washington University in St. Louis

19. University of Southern California

20. Carnegie Mellon University

Parents and students often use ranking as a resource and reference. Why would you have college rankings if it doesn’t really matter? Our blog: Does it Matter Where You Attend College? Absolutely!

Our clients care about WHERE their children will attend college!

“Admissions is a competitive sport! Why gamble with uncertainty?” – Dr. Paul Lowe

“We provide our clients access to our specialized knowledge!” – Dr. Paul Lowe

U.S. News World Report Best College Ranking: Top 20 in 2021

September 15, 2020September 18, 2020 ~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

The 2021 U.S. New World Report Best College Ranking is out! I often hear that it doesn’t matter where a student attends college as long as it’s a “good fit”. Really!!! Why are rankings used? Why are they so important? Because we are a consumer-based society where a college’s reputation, prestige and brand does matter!

WHERE YOU ATTEND COLLEGE MATTERS!

Here is the list of the top 20 college/universities:

1. Princeton University

2. Harvard University (Dr. Lowe Visits Harvard) |(Harvard University Produces Wealthy Alumni)

3. Columbia University

4. Massachusetts Institute of Technology

5. Yale University

6. Stanford University

7. University of Chicago

8. University of Pennsylvania

9. California Institute of Technology

10. Johns Hopkins University

11. Northwestern University

12. Duke University

13. Dartmouth College

14. Brown University

15. Vanderbilt University

16. Rice University

17. Washington university in St. Louis

18. Cornell University

19. University of Notre Dame

20. University of California – Los Angeles

“Admissions is a competitive sport! Why gamble with uncertainty?” – Dr. Paul Lowe

“We provide our clients access to our specialized knowledge!” – Dr. Paul Lowe

Coronavirus Effect on Back To School

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August 20, 2020September 1, 2020 ~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

It’s Back-To-School season! As we enter the seventh month of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on secondary education, many of our clients, private as well as public school administrators and teachers are reporting to us their potential approaches to education in the current COVID-19 environment.

Some parents are forming learning pods. Some parents are hiring tutors to supplement online learning at schools that are fully online. Some parents are forgoing traditional schools that will be open in favor of homeschooling. Some parents have elected to build on their lots to provide their own “private” schools with virtual classrooms

We are also seeing parents who have sent their children to suburban public schools switching to private day and boarding schools, many of which have spent the late spring and summer busily preparing new rules, procedures, and protocols, while improving HVAC systems and technology for the new term.

Many elite private day and boarding schools, with their immense resources, have adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic with online classes, or for in-person schooling, using COVID-19 specific guidelines for social distance spacing, upgrading ventilation systems and adding antibacterial film on desks, handrails and doorknobs. Some have purchased new buildings or adapted old ones to accommodate spacing guidelines. As many are aware, private schools have seen a flurry of new interest from families who view private schools as being better equipped to provide robust instruction, given their financial resources, space and nimbleness in adapting.

According to a recent survey of members by the National Association of Independent Schools, nationwide, 40% of independent schools planned to open fully in-person this fall, 19% fully online, and 41% in a hybrid model. By contrast, most of the country’s 20 largest public districts expect to start with only remote instruction.

Regardless of the approach, as high school seniors and juniors are beginning to return to schools, it will be important for them to maintain their focus on their educational goals. When the dust settles and students are into their educational routines, high school seniors and juniors will need to consider how college admissions and their school counseling landscape has been disrupted and changed in this unfamiliar environment. Much has changed! It will be important to keep abreast of the changes and understand how this new environment and uncertainty applies to future educational goal.

“Admissions is a competitive sport! Why gamble with uncertainty?” – Dr. Paul Lowe

“Parents hire us because they chose to pay an admissions expert who will help them avoid making mistakes.” – Dr. Paul Lowe

Your BS/MD Admissions Game Plan: College Application Essays

August 9, 2020August 11, 2020 ~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

COLLEGE APPLICATION ESSAYS

When we review and perform an in-depth student profile analysis of clients’ college application-essay drafts that they submit to us, we ALWAYS find mistakes that can result in rejections! This is unfortunate because essays can tip the scales when colleges and BS/MD programs are trying to decide between two otherwise equally qualified applicants. We find that students (even with high GPAs, great extracurricular activities and high SAT/ACT scores and excellent “manufactured” personas) don’t put much thought into their essays. Or when they do, they overlook key points in their essays. These are big mistakes because essays are crucial.

Applications for competitive colleges and BS/MD Programs ask the applicant to write a reasonably significant and compelling essay (in the 500-750 words range) about what is seemingly a broad topic. What admissions officers (there are usually two or more readers) are looking for in the essay is an insight into how well the applicant thinks, how well they can articulate a point or view, how the applicant is unique, the applicant’s emotional and cultural intelligence, what matters to the applicant, and most importantly the applicant’s character, personality and honesty.

Essays should be successfully written so that they leave a lasting positive impression on the admissions committee. When reading essays, admissions officers strive to gain a reasonably complete picture of student – strengths, achievements and aspirations as well as challenges they face and how they overcome them. At Ivy League and highly selective schools, and especially BS/MD programs, admissions officers look at every essay from every applicant, and for students who reach the level of serious consideration, essays may end up being read multiple times.

Through our years of experience, we know that the main requirement for writing a convincing, compelling, memorable and winning essays, aside from a command of the English language, grammar, coherency, optimal tone, readability, structure and flow, is to convey who you really are. Find your “voice”. We help our clients find their unique voice during our numerous in-depth interview questions and student profile analysis. Your voice is that writing style that lets your admissions officers “hear” who you are.

Competitive colleges and BS/MD program also require applicants to write several corresponding supplemental essays and short answers on a variety of topics. These essays are interconnected and interrelated. A 150-character answer as well as a 250-word essay is as important as the main essay. Naturally, your essays should not be repetitive, but should present a consistent image of the applicant. We know that a well-coordinated essay set has a synergistic effect on the admissions committee: It provides a 360-degree view of the candidate on both a professional and personal level.

Our analogy to an essay is music: We help you revise your lyrics using our knowledge of you, your character and activities so that the admissions officers can happily sing your songs – your essays!

Dr. Lowe and his team of admissions advisors provide advice to make your essays personable, enlightening, energetic, harmonious and memorable to admissions officers. We suggest content improvement and help you develop admissions-effective essays. Our goal is to make our clients standout from the crowd and pass that all-important final cut!

Our over 20 years of advisory admissions experience and long-standing professional relationships with admissions officers provide us with the tool-kit of strategies and knowledge to help our clients successfully navigate the BS/MD Admissions process in the COVID-19 landscape.

Rising Seniors: Now Is the Time to Start the College Application Process

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August 5, 2020August 5, 2020 ~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

It’s August and for some rising seniors, school starts in approximately 30 days. For many students, school will be closed and taught in an online fashion. That in and of itself will be an additional disruption in the dynamics of the college admissions process. You can use this time to continue to vacation, relax and enjoy the summer or take full advantage of all this free time!

For rising seniors, now is the best time to commence working on your college applications. Why so soon? The 2020-2021 Common Application is now ready! The senior year of high school is extremely busy with students taking difficult courses, working on activities, preparing for college applications and just trying to enjoy the last year of high school!

We believe that you should enjoy the summer, HOWEVER, at this point, you need to start putting some work in to your college applications. It will make your senior year more pleasant AND your college admissions application and journey smoother.

The Common App is more than just the main essay! Every section is devised so that the admissions officers get to know (or find ways to reject) a student. When reading an application, admissions officers strive to gain a reasonably complete picture of a student – strengths, achievements and aspirations as well as any particular challenges they may have overcome. Statistically, it takes top colleges approximately 8 minutes to review an entire application!

We spend countless hours reviewing our clients’ entire Common Application to help them successfully navigate and avoid the unnecessary and devastating landmines that cause rejections!

Biographical Section (Profile, Family, Educational & Testing): The admissions committees or your regional admissions officers assess who you are. It’s important to answer the questions honestly and with precision!
Personal Statement:We ensure that our clients’ Common App 650-word main essay accurately reflects the information that they want to convey to the majority of colleges to which they are applying.
College-Specific Questions: Academic interest, program(s) applying to. Some colleges may also ask additional questions about your family, state of residence, activities, and general interests. Admissions officers/committees use this as a way further understand a student’s past and their academic goals and objectives and how they are all interrelated and interconnected.
Short Answers: Then there are the school-specific (short answer essays)! Although short, these little essays (50-250 words) can play a meaningful role in your application. They provide a small window into your passions and personality, and because of this, they are important “decision-breakers”, especially with selective colleges that use the holistic admissions approach. We spend just as much time brainstorming and helping our clients to revise these, seemingly simple essays, as we do with their personal statements because we know how admissions committees use them to determine acceptance or rejections. Types of supplemental short essays include but are not limited to:

The ‘why us’ essay

Tell us more about an extracurricular

Design a class/a major

Tell us about your major

Diversity-in-community essay

Specialty small essays (list, words or one sentence or a phrase)

Activities Section: Whereas the personal statement will show college admissions committees who your child is, the Common Application Activities section will allow colleges to understand what your child has done and is doing outside of the classroom, offering one of the best opportunities to stand out among other applicants. The activities section has a limit of ten extracurricular activities. The restrictions mean you will need to be selective in reporting your activities, limiting you to the most important ones or those that are most meaningful to you. In our experience, students can make costly mistakes in this section!

Without college essays and extracurricular activities lists, colleges would be limited to grades, class rank, and ACT and SAT scores to make their admissions decisions. Given that so many students with strong numbers apply to college each year, it’s important for your child to use the Activities section to develop an application theme, that is, their “WOW FACTOR” and specialties. We leave no stone unturned in this section!

Courses & Grades (Self-Reporting Transcripts). In this section, you have an opportunity to self-report your grades. In reviewing our clients’ answers, we find errors. It’s important to review this section. A discrepancy with what you report and your transcript raises a red flag! These flags translate into a rejection letter.

The Common Application is not just an application. It’s a puzzle filled with landmines that if not reviewed, interpreted and completed correctly will result in students being rejected from schools. The most frequent form of self-inflicted damage is careless preparation of the application. A poorly presented application can, in fact, have a negative affect on an admissions decision.

When assisting our clients with the completion of their Common Applications, we take into consideration their student admissions profile and character as well as the specific admissions policies and missions of their target schools that we gather from our research by visiting schools and professional relationships. Our proprietary knowledge and experience help our clients to WIN (not lose) in the college competitive admissions game!

The ‘why us’ essay

Tell us more about an extracurricular

Design a class/a major

Tell us about your major

Diversity-in-community essay

Specialty small essays (list, words or one sentence or a phrase)

Activities Section: Whereas the personal statement will show college admissions committees who your child is, the Common Application Activities section will allow colleges to understand what your child has done and is doing outside of the classroom, offering one of the best opportunities to stand out among other applicants. The activities section has a limit of ten extracurricular activities. The restrictions mean you will need to be selective in reporting your activities, limiting you to the most important ones or those that are most meaningful to you. In our experience, students can make costly mistakes in this section!

Courses & Grades (Self-Reporting Transcripts). In this section, you have an opportunity to self-report your grades. In reviewing our clients’ answers, we find errors. It’s important to review this section. A discrepancy with what you report and your transcript raises a red flag! These flags translate into a rejection letter.

“Admissions is a competitive sport! Why gamble with uncertainty?” – Dr. Paul Lowe

“Parents hire us because they choose to pay an admissions expert who will help them avoid making mistakes.” – Dr. Paul Lowe

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Schools Closed This Fall?

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July 29, 2020July 30, 2020 ~ drpaulloweadmissionsexpert

We are currently receiving calls from parents who are receiving emails about the upcoming school agenda from their local school districts. The shift to online instruction is a predicament for many schools. Some school districts are still figuring out whether to reopen, how they should reopen and if they should reopen. Some school districts are still in the midst of the planning stages of best practices for each grade level of education, including distance learning and online instruction. This uncertainty has beset the over 13,000 school districts nationwide, with many pushing back start dates, planning hybrid models or deciding to go entirely online.

A recent study published by the Journal of the American Medical Association stated that school closures this past spring may have prevented 1.37 million cases of COVID-19 in the country between day 17 and day 42 of schools’ closure periods. The researchers estimated that 40,600 fewer Americans died overall during that period because schools shuttered.

Even with the possibility of some schools reopening (which, based on the current progression of COVID-19, is a low probability), many parents in our “Dr. Lowe’s Admissions Strategies” discussion groups were reluctant to have their children return to school, not only for the safety of their children, but also because of the risks of dissemination to other demographic groups. Their concern is based on the fact that there have been reports of parents sending their children to summer camps and within weeks of attending (even with social distancing policies and strict safety and hygienic measures) there have been COVID-positive tests among attendees. The worry is that the school environment will be an even more challenging venue to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks.

Parents are understandably concerned about the safety of their children at school amid the complexities and unknowns of COVID-19. Several parents from different areas in the U.S. have told us that they are pooling resources for their children’s education. They are gathering small groups of children to learn at home this fall called pandemic pods, home-school pods or learning pods in which groups of three to 10 students learn together in homes under the tutelage of the children’s parents or a hired teacher. Other parents have formed parent pods with the intention of not sending their children to schools and conducting their own home school networks.

In terms of college counseling, parents have expressed concerns because of the shift to online education and the reduced in-person contact with high school counselors. With college admissions dynamically changing and the effect of COVID-19 on college admissions to Ivy League and highly selective colleges and universities and BS/MD programs, our goal is to ensure students successfully navigate the college admissions process. This can be especially more challenging for current rising juniors and seniors. Admissions requirements have changed and many students will need more comprehensive, individualized guidance. The new milieu created by COVID-19 will require innovative approaches to successfully navigate the new college admissions environment.

“Admissions is a competitive sport! Why gamble with uncertainty?” – Dr. Paul Lowe

“Parents hire us because they chose to pay an admissions expert who will help them avoid making mistakes.” – Dr. Paul Lowe