Some Colleges to Drop Out of U.S. News Rankings

By Alan Finder, The New York Times

Schedule a Personalized College Admissions Consultation to Meet Your Unique Needs

Now is the time to call Tactical College Consulting, LLC in order to get personalized advice on what tests to take, when to take them, who to target for recommendations, how to ace the college interview, which colleges to visit, what to be on the look out for when visiting colleges, when to apply (Early, Rolling, Regular), which colleges to apply to, what to emphasize on your resume, how to put together an extraordinary application, and so much more!

Don't get lost in the application shuffle this fall. Get the individual attention you deserve. Schedule your Tactical College Consulting, LLC consultation or "strategy session" today! For more information, or to learn about our other service options/packages, call 410-526-2558 or visit our main page at tacticalcc.com.

In Case You Missed It: Google Bans Essay Writing Adverts

Good news from the UK - not that any Tactical College Consulting, LLC client would need such a service, but interesting nonetheless.

More: BBC News

Quick Background on SAT's Optional Subject Tests

Via California and the Orange County Register

With Applications From Nontraditional Students Rising, More Universities Are Revamping Evaluation Methods

By Michael Alison Chandler, The Washington Post

U.S. High School Courses Lack Rigor Needed to Prepare Students for College-Level Coursework

As we take stock of the academic year that was, the folks at the ACT give us sobering news that should spur action from both parents and school administrators across the country.

"U.S. high school core courses too often lack the rigor they need to adequately prepare students for college-level work, according to a new report from ACT, Inc. The research report, titled Rigor at Risk, suggests that even students who take the recommended college preparatory curriculum in high school are often ill-prepared to handle college material. The findings also suggest that many students lose academic momentum during their last two years of high school."

To read this important report in its entirety (60 pages) or simply a press release on the report summary, click here.

NY Times: Getting Into College, Strumming His Own Tune

This New York Times article by Samuel G. Freedman is intriguing for a variety of reasons. First, the author rightly asserts that stress need not be a part of the college admissions process. Second, the article makes clear that students need not have "shockingly impressive" (think providing clean drinking water to war ravaged mothers and children in Burma) summer jobs and internships to get into America's best colleges and universities. Finally, whether he realizes it or not, the author of the article illustrates just how poorly advised many students are when he describes how Kevin only got into one of five schools to which he applied. All students should have a few "saftey" schools on their list (or at least one sure bet) so they will have some sort of control over where they end up the fall after their senior years in high school. Kevin is an impressive student, but his acceptance into GW was not a sure thing, rather a very lucky result. What if he had not gotten in? Most likely his only options would be community college or a four year school with a very late deadline. With Tactical College Consulting, LLC, students and parents approach the college admissions process holistically. We help students craft college lists that include a variety of colleges that - no matter each college's admissions rate - meet the academic and personal needs of our students and will be places from which they will be proud to earn a degree.