Tactical Blog

MIT, Penn, Columbia, Dartmouth, & Duke Early Applications Rise as Jobs Spur Move

2010-12-14T20:15:00.003-05:00

In a nasty economy college applicants are most attracted to the names that seem to bring the most bang for the buck.

More via Bloomberg News

Above: Students tour MIT

Early Admission is Back at UVA

2010-12-10T20:20:00.000-05:00

In news to rival the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of Communism, University of Virginia has realized the folly doing away with an early admission option. While UVA will not revert back to the early decision, it will start offering EARLY ACTION in fall of 2011!

"They want you so they can reject you"

2010-11-05T12:19:00.002-04:00

At what point does a college have too many applicants.

A thought-provoking story in The New York Times.

High School Juniors: Now is the Time to Vote for Your Future!

2010-11-01T20:02:00.001-04:00

The students who have the most success when applying to colleges are those who have taken the time to analyze their preferences, personality, and overall goals. Tactical College Consulting offers students the opportunity to do just that. The Tactical College Consulting Strategy Session also evaluates a student's learning style, academic interests, past academic performance, academic potential, and extracurricular profile in order to pinpoint the colleges the student should be targeting for undergraduate admission.

Our one-of-a-kind introductory Strategy Session includes personal interviews with the student and his/her parent(s), a personality assessment, and administration of the student C.Q. (College Quotient) exam and Parents’ Expectation Questionnaire. This meeting is also the opportunity for parents and the student to inform the consultant of any particular concerns they may have regarding the college admissions process (questions about grades, SAT scores, LD accommodations that may be required at college, or other client-specific issues). The information gathered during the Strategy Session can then be synthesized and integrated with client-specific research to develop a list of "best fit" colleges, a week-by-week college admissions calendar, and a personalized college admissions strategy. The Strategy Session is ideal for juniors who have completed their last PSAT or who have taken their first SAT or ACT.

If you could use the guidance provided by our Strategy Session, or if you would like to learn more about our full menu of services, call us at 410-526-2558 or email us at info@tacticalcc.com.

Thank Gosh the Early Rush is Over!

2010-10-31T20:06:00.000-04:00

Are you exhausted from completing your Early Decision, Early Action, or Rolling Application? You're not the only one. More in The New York Times.

Jump Start Your College Applications with Get Into College 2010

2010-08-01T16:07:00.001-04:00

On August 1, the 2010-2011 edition of the Common Application was released. The updated Universal College Application was released on July 1. University of Maryland recently released its new 2010-2011 college essay questions. In short, students no longer have any excuse to put off completing their college applications. Now is the time to tackle the most time-consuming components of college applications and Tactical College Consulting is ready to lend a hand.

In addition to providing personalized in-person, online, and phone support, every summer Tactical College Consulting gives students the chance to Get Into College!

Join us for the 3rd annual college admissions colloquium know as Get Into College, which propels rising high school seniors to college admissions success.

In one day participants will:
• Learn how to navigate the Common Application, Universal College Application, and U of MD College Park Application
• Learn how to write amazing college application essays that will wow admissions officers
• Understand what details colleges are looking for in extracurricular resumes
• Discover how to seal the deal in on-campus/alumni interviews
• Give themselves the best chance of getting into all the colleges on their college lists!

The entire Get Into College seminar is led by college guidance and admissions expert Craig Meister, founder and president of Tactical College Consulting.

Mark your calendars and reserve your space! Get Into College 2010 will be held on Saturday August 7, 2010 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Get Into College will take place at Gerstell Academy in Finksburg, MD and is available at the amazing price of only $100/student (parents accompanying students welcome free of charge, parents attending without students $100 each)!

Space is severely limited. Reserve your seat today by calling 410-5262558 or emailing info@tacticalcc.com.

Brought to you by Tactical College Consulting & Gerstell Academy

UMD College Park: Essay Questions That Flummox

2010-08-01T16:04:00.002-04:00

University of Maryland College Park is a hot school right now. More out-of-state students are looking to attend because of the quality of the university's programs at the same time as more in-state students are looking to attend because of the low cost of tuition. With roughly only two in five freshman applicants accepted, these must be heady days for Maryland's undergraduate admissions committee. Maybe this explains why the University of Maryland freshman application is one of the hardest to complete - in the nation!

UMBC joins Common App

2010-07-23T14:54:00.002-04:00

University of Maryland Baltimore County is the first member of the University System of Maryland that has awaken to the value of the Common Application. As one of twenty seven new member colleges to the streamlined one-stop-shop application, UMBC can expect to see a huge increase in the number of applications it receives this year and hopefully that will force other Maryland state schools and their administrators to wake up and realize that their institutional applications are not only unnecessarily cumbersome, but that their outdated institutional applications are also preventing more applicants from applying.

Tactical Class of 2010

2010-05-31T12:56:00.004-04:00

June is here, which means it's time to bid a fond farewell to the Tactical College Consulting Class of 2010. Each Tactical class if different, with its own priorities and personality, and this year's class is no exception. Tactical alumni will travel far and wide this August, settling in at colleges from Los Angeles to Paris.

I personally want to wish each and every graduating senior nothing but the best in the years to come. It was a pleasure working with you all and know that while much has changed in the last year, college is still the best time to discover your passions, your interests, and yourself. Be fearless. Experiment with classes and clubs that arouse your interest. Be open to becoming friends with individuals unlike any at your high school. Remember it's okay to fail as long as you learn from your experiences or mistakes. Try the local food and take in the region culture. Most of all, enjoy yourself!

- Craig Meister, President of Tactical College Consulting

2009-2010 College Acceptances

U of Pennsylvania
Cornell
U of Southern California
U of Virginia
McGill
Vanderbilt
University of California Los Angeles
Wake Forest
Boston College
Lehigh
Fordham
Emory
Northeastern
Northwestern
Johns Hopkins
U of Michigan
IU Bloomington
U of Miami
Rochester
Catholic
U of Arizona
New York University
U of Maryland College Park
Occidental
Bucknell
Connecticut College
Syracuse
U of Connecticut
American University of Rome
College of Charleston
Franklin & Marshall
James Madison
U of Pittsburgh
U of Vermont
U of Rhode Island
Rutgers
Smith
Dickinson
Washington & Lee
Florida State
Penn State
BU
George Washington
American
Ithaca
Clemson
U of Denver
American University Paris
Towson
Case Western Reserve
McDaniel
Randolph-Macon
West Virginia Wesleyan
Salisbury
University of Maryland Baltimore County
St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Loyola College of Maryland
West Virginia
Delaware
Virginia Tech
U of Baltimore
Frostburg State

Some Good Points About Sketchy Consultants...

2010-03-13T15:57:00.000-05:00

Of course, Tactical College Consulting doesn't play games. We give honest answers and tactical support that only serves to help our clients. With that said, we have clients from both small private schools and large public schools, and sadly, we have to report that the vast majority of high school counselors are not up to the task of guiding students aiming for the country's best colleges and universities. The reasons for this are many, but in the case of public schools in particular, counselors are hired more for their ability to mediate disputes and act as a school social worker than their ability to know much if anything about selective college admissions. In the case of private schools, many spend the majority of their time writing recommendations and coordinating on-campus visits and not nearly as much time helping students put together strong apps or target colleges that are uniquely suited for any particular student.

More: 10 Things College-Prep Advisors (other than Tactical College Consulting) Won't Tell You

Blogs are Big

2009-10-02T18:47:00.003-04:00

Tactical College Consulting has been blogging for a while, and many college admissions Web sites are beginning to add blogs to their sites. While Tactical is a blogging pioneer, so are MIT students.

Schedule Your Essay & Résumé Icebreaker Today!

2009-09-15T13:52:00.000-04:00

This is the time of year when parents and students start banging down the Tactical College Consulting door with pleas for help in drafting, writing, and completing great college essays and résumés. Colleges accept students who successfully communicate what makes them special; yet, often students have no idea where to begin elaborating on their extracurricular activities or how to bring life to their essays. Writing excellent essays and renowned résumés is predicated on building from a strong foundation that frees up a student to write in his or her own unique voice, strike the right balance between "show" and "tell," and use proper placement, wording, formatting, and style. No matter the essay topic or the number of extracurricular accomplishments, learn how to write extraordinary college essays and a clear, succinct, powerful résumé with Tactical College Consulting's Essay & Résumé Icebreaker. This meeting includes one-of-a-kind writing exercises and in-depth reviews of sample résumé templates and essays. Only offered to rising seniors and seniors.

For more information on this valuable service, contact Tactical College Consulting at 410-526-2558 or info@tacticalcc.com.

America's Best Dorm?

2009-09-02T16:26:00.003-04:00

BU is where it's at!

Getting in Based on Your Personality

2009-08-20T16:30:00.000-04:00

Demonstrated interest is so 2005. According to The Wall Street Journal, some colleges are actually making admissions decisions based on students' personalities. Apparently, one's potential can be ascertained by new assessments, and some colleges are buying it.

Congrats to the Tactical Class of 2009

2009-06-26T13:44:00.011-04:00

June is here, which means it's time to bid a fond farewell to the Tactical College Consulting Class of 2009. Each Tactical class if different, with its own priorities and personality, and this year's class is no exception. With the global economy in upheaval and family budgets stretched, this year's class was more serious than ever in selecting colleges that will help students traverse increasingly competitive job and internship markets in the years to come. A focus on obtaining real-world experience and strong career guidance meant that fewer families were comfortable looking at liberal arts colleges that did not provide majors or fields of study with a pre-professional component. The result is a list of college acceptances that is as pr actical as it is impressive.

I personally want to wish each and every graduating senior nothing but the best in the years to come. It was a pleasure working with you all and know that while much has changed in the last year, college is still the best time to discover your passions, your interests, and yourself. Be fearless. Experiment with classes and clubs that arouse your interest. Be open to becoming friends with individuals unlike any at your high school. Remember it's okay to fail as long as you learn from your experiences or mistakes. Most of all, simply enjoy it! - Craig Meister, President of Tactical College Consulting

2008-2009 College Acceptances

U of Pennsylvania
Duke
Georgetown
U of Southern California
U of Virginia
McGill
Vanderbilt
Wake Forest
Tufts
Pitzer
Lehigh
Colgate
Emory
Washington U in St. Louis
Northwestern
Johns Hopkins
UNC Chapel Hill
U of Michigan
IU Bloomington

U of Miami
Lafayette
NYU
U of Maryland College Park
Occidental
Bucknell
Connecticut College
Syracuse
U of Connecticut
College of Charleston
Franklin & Marshall
James Madison
U of Pittsburgh
U of Vermont
Rutgers
Smith
Dickinson
Washington & Lee
Florida State
Penn State
BU
George Washington
American
Ithaca
Whittier
U of Denver
U of Toronto
U of Central Florida
Towson
Stevenson
McDaniel
Randolph-Macon
West Virginia Wesleyan
Lynn
Salisbury
UMBC
St. Mary’s College of Maryland
Drew
Goucher
Hampshire
Muhlenberg
Loyola College of Maryland
West Virginia
Delaware
Virginia Tech

Start Drafting College Essays & Resumes

2009-06-06T13:57:00.000-04:00

Colleges want to accept students who can successfully communicate the depth of their extracurricular involvement over three+ years in high school. Thus, when writing a résumé, students must give a great deal of attention to providing just the right amount of detail, while also ensuring proper placement, wording, formatting, and style throughout in order to put their best foot forward for critical admissions officers.

Equally as important – but more daunting for most students – is the process of brainstorming, drafting, and perfecting multiple college essays. All colleges who ask students to write essays actually have admissions officers who read them, so this is not an area of the application to rush through.

In fact, college essays are the best way for admissions officers to get a three-dimensional understanding of an applicant; therefore, college admissions officers are placing increased importance on essays with each passing year! Juniors have no excuse not to start drafting college essays NOW! This is because most colleges don't change their essay questions from year to year, and for those that do, usually only minor changes occur. Yet, the best college essays take weeks to write – and this is not even counting the time it takes to actually choose a topic about which to write! Don't put off starting your essays today, and make sure you get the support you need draft by draft in order to put together the best possible final product.

Most support that Tactical College Consulting can offer you with your résumés and essays can be accomplished in person or via the Internet. For help writing and editing extracurricular résumés and college essays, call 410-526-2558 or email info@tacticalcc.com.

Tell Your Friends - It's Back: Get Into College 2009!

2009-03-31T15:33:00.000-04:00

What: Tactical College Consulting is proud to announce the second annual Get Into College! college admissions prep camp.

The intensive and personalized camp is for students who don't just want to imagine completing their college application in one week - they want to actually do it. With Get Into College! they will.

Put together outstanding college application and take the stress out of the college admissions process by completing the Common Application, creating a personalized college list, writing a powerful resume, personal statement, essay, learning how to ace the college interview, taking interest and personality assessments, and so much more.

When: June 22 - June 25 with mandatory Student & Parent orientation on June 15

Where: Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore Owings Mills Campus

How: $1000 per student

For more information: Contact Tactical College Consulting at

410-526-258 or info@tacticalcc.com

Accepted to college? 10 things to do now.

2009-03-26T13:43:00.002-04:00

Kathryn Elizabeth Tuggle of FoxBusiness.com has compiled in useful little list of ten things every student should do as they begin to get college acceptance letters.

More...

Texas may allow more out-of-state students into UT

2009-03-25T06:44:00.001-04:00

A bill has been approved by the Texas Senate that would change a state law, which required University of Texas Austin to accept all in-state students who ranked in the top 10 percent of their high school class.

More...

Demonstrated interest is as important as ever

2009-03-15T21:46:00.001-04:00

For years, I have explained to my clients how important it is that they demonstrate interest for the colleges they want to attend. Demonstrated Interest is actually a term used in college admissions offices across the country to describe students who are very hot on a college.

More...

College degrees in highest demand for 2009

2009-03-04T20:48:00.002-05:00

CNBC has put together a list of the most in demand college degrees of 2009.

More...

Earn your undergraduate degree in just three years

2009-02-24T17:55:00.001-05:00

As the economic conditions worsen, colleges are finding unique ways to differentiate their offerings.

More...

Harvard not immune to financial pain

2009-02-20T20:04:00.000-05:00

If you are broke, or close to it, you're not alone. Grand old Harvard has lost staggering amounts of money as a result of the global economic crisis.

Senior slump exposed

2009-02-11T21:05:00.000-05:00

Rachael Bogert of McClatchy Newspapers investigates the myths that surround the drop off in productivity most high school seniors exhibit (or wish to exhibit) during their final months in high school.

Get ready for free online university

2009-01-28T19:10:00.001-05:00

An Israeli entrepreneur has announced that he is starting the first global and free online university.

More...

College life has never been blander

2009-01-27T18:11:00.000-05:00

There is no better time than winter to curl up with a good book, and for college bound students and their parents, there is a good chance this book will have something to do with college life. But beware: not all books in the college survival guide genre are worth your time. Today we continue a recurring series of articles about college survival guides - some worth reading, and others worth skipping.

More...

Early decision grows in popularity

2009-01-26T20:13:00.000-05:00

Add George Washington University to the growing list of colleges proving that more high school seniors want to know where they are going to college before the start of the second semester of 12th grade.

More...

Paying for college getting dicey

2009-01-23T21:15:00.000-05:00

Despite all the talk about finding the right academic fit and the perfect campus, with college tuition more expensive than ever and the economy on life support, more college bound students are reporting that financial aid is going to be a major factor in their choice of college this fall.

More...

A student guide to college survival secrets

2009-01-12T20:18:00.000-05:00

There is no better time than winter to curl up with a good book, and for college bound students and their parents, there is a good chance this book will have something to do with college life. But beware: not all books in the college survival guide genre are worth your time. Today we start a recurring series of articles about college survival guides - some worth reading, and others worth skipping.

More...

An American college with an Iraq campus

2009-01-04T14:19:00.000-05:00

University of Maryland University College is taking its worldwide reach to a new level by offering on the ground classes to US troops in Iraq.

More...

As the SAT turns

2008-12-30T12:20:00.000-05:00

The makers of the SAT may allow a student to opt for score-choice, but not all colleges will.

More...

AP Human Geography: worthwhile or worthless?

2008-12-23T16:27:00.000-05:00

Whatever happened to the big five subjects: English, Math, Science, History, and a foreign language?

AP Human Geography is a course that is increasingly being taught to ninth grade students, which capitalizes on administrators' and parents' fears about their students having plenty of sought after AP credits on their high school transcripts.

More...

Early Decision ‘08: Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Worst

2008-12-22T17:05:00.000-05:00

More students than ever are applying early decision, even in a year full of financial uncertainty. For college applicants waiting to hear their fate some time in December, such news must come as an important reality check. The fact is that many very qualified students are not going to be happy come the Holidays.

More...

Visit the College Prep Examiner!

2008-12-17T10:10:00.000-05:00

We have received many emails asking, "Where did the blog go?" Well, it's still as strong as ever, but the most updated posts are currently only viewable at Examiner.com.

Bookmark the above link today!

Fewer apply, more get in early at Johns Hopkins

2008-12-16T20:30:00.000-05:00

Johns Hopkins University saw nearly identical numbers of early decision applicants this fall as they did last fall. Last year, 1055 students applied early, compared to 1049 this year, a drop of only one percent.

More...

Early decision aftermath

2008-12-15T07:34:00.001-05:00

Some students got in, others didn't, but everyone needs to look forward.

More...

Harvard loses $8,000,000,000!

2008-12-03T19:36:00.000-05:00

The long-emulated Harvard endowment has lost a startling 22% of its value since June. That equals over eight billion dollars.

More...

I lie, cheat, plagiarize…I’m ethical.

2008-12-01T07:37:00.000-05:00

American high school students are treading in some dangerous territory, according to a new survey.

More...

Can't swing Harvard or Yale? Try St. Andrews or McGill.

2008-11-30T23:39:00.000-05:00

If an international degree seems even more thrilling than one from the Ivy League, plus you don't have what it takes to get into the Ivy League anyway, the New York Times says we are living in an era made just for you.

Consider Study Abroad Options When Creating College List

2008-11-16T21:41:00.001-05:00

With more students than ever studying abroad at some point in their college career, now more than ever college applicants must consider a college’s study abroad opportunities – or lack thereof – when deciding where to apply.

More...

Ace the College Admissions Interview

2008-11-14T20:48:00.000-05:00

Many colleges offer applicants the opportunity to interview as part of the application process. Working as I do with students throughout every stage of the college admissions process, I’ve seen students become stressed over a lot of different things, but no one aspect of applying to college seems to bring as much acute consternation as the college interview.

More...

Dorm Room Must-Haves

2008-07-24T12:26:00.005-04:00

It's time to pack for college. But what should you make sure you have in your newly appointed dorm room? Here are the top five must-haves for your dorm room to be sufficiently stacked.

-Craig Meister in Examiner.com

Transcending Race on Your College Application

2008-07-21T22:25:00.001-04:00

"Bottom line for the soon-to-be-college applicant: colleges will consider many factors other than your grades and scores when they make their admissions decisions. Some you have control over (like how you communicate about your accomplishments and how you communicate about yourself in your resume and essay(s)). Others (like your race) you have no control over. Each college applicant can only make the best of what he or she has, so make sure that the factors that you do have control over build the best case possible for your acceptance."

More at Examiner.com

Is Maryland College Park Just Not That Into You?

2008-07-17T23:23:00.001-04:00

The numbers are clear: University of Maryland College Park does not give in-state students nearly as much preference as other large state schools like UVA, the UCs, and UT Austin.

More at Examiner.com

Hopkins: Worth the Hype?

2008-07-16T13:20:00.002-04:00

Johns Hopkins is great at promoting itself, particularly its hospital. But does that mean it's right college for you? Even aspiring doctors shouldn't take the view, "Hopkins or bust!"

More at Examiner.com

Forbes Magazine: Most Lucrative Majors & Ecomomic Woes and College Majors

2008-07-15T13:18:00.001-04:00

With the changing economy and mortgage crisis, you may be surprised at which majors earn the most out of college.

More at Examiner.com

Univeristy of Maryland College Park vs. Indiana University Bloomington

2008-07-10T13:15:00.001-04:00

Which do you prefer, and why?

More at Examiner.com

All 2009 College Applications...Coming Soon

2008-07-08T13:13:00.001-04:00

"...we wait with eager anticipation to see which colleges have actually changed their freshman applications, and which have just reprinted their old one with a ‘2009' instead of a ‘2008.'"

Read more at Examiner.com

Check Out The College Prep Examiner

2008-07-01T09:23:00.000-04:00

Check out my new college admissions blog at Examiner.com.

BREAKING NEWS: Kids Can Pick Which SAT Scores a College Sees

2008-06-24T14:22:00.002-04:00

This is a major change that will make the SAT more student-friendly, while also benefitting those students willing to take a tests multiple times to reach an acceptable scores. Unfortunately for the Class or 2009, this change only begins in March 2009, well after the date when most rising seniors will have already applied to college!

More: By Lucia Graves, US News & World Report

A Bullish Year for College Admissions

2008-06-14T15:55:00.002-04:00

The stock market, housing prices, and the dollar all may be in decline, but 2008 was another "bullish" year in the world of college admission.

By Tim Johnson, Burlington Free Press

Princeton University Faces Expanded U.S. Bias Probe

2008-06-12T21:09:00.000-04:00

"Princeton University is facing an expanded investigation by the U.S. Education Department into whether the school's admission criteria discriminated against Asian students."

By Brian K. Sullivan, Bloomberg News

UC System Braces for Most Freshmen Ever

2008-06-12T13:03:00.000-04:00

By Tanya Schevitz, San Francisco Chronicle

Yale to Expand Undergraduate Enrollment by 15 Percent

2008-06-08T19:05:00.000-04:00

From 5,200 undergrads to roughly 6,000 undergrads will unfortunately not bump up the acceptance rate by anywhere close to 15%.

More: By Tamar Lewin, The New York Times

Oxford's $2.5 Billion Fundraising Drive to Rival Ivy League

2008-06-01T12:14:00.001-04:00

The famous British university ups the ante in an effort to compete with the big boys.

By Polly Curtis, The Guardian (UK)

Opinion: Quantitative Data Necessary for College Admissions

2008-05-28T15:59:00.000-04:00

By Valerie Goranson, Chicago Tribune

No SAT or ACT Required to Attend Wake Forest

2008-05-26T16:24:00.000-04:00

By Devetta Blount, AP via digtriad.com

The College Visit - Does It Do Any Good?

2008-05-25T09:21:00.000-04:00

A different perspective on college visits by Steven Winn, San Francisco Chronicle Arts and Culture Critic.

More About "Get Into College!" - For Some Students, Summer Camp Means Prepping for College Admissions

2008-05-21T11:12:00.000-04:00

Don't just dream about completing your college applications in one week - DO IT!

More: By Kelsey Volkmann, Baltimore Examiner

More: Get Into College! details

Waiting Out the College Wait Lists

2008-05-19T07:27:00.000-04:00

"Schools dig deeper into their wait lists - and take longer to do it."

By Kathy Boccella, The Philadelphia Inquirer

JUNIORS: Finish Your College Applications In June With Your Own Personal College Admissions Expert

2008-05-10T00:00:00.001-04:00

WHAT:

This June, Tactical College Consulting and the Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore are proud to present Get Into College! This exclusive, innovative, and highly individualized college admissions prep camp will teach participants the keys to the college admissions process and help them get a jump start on putting together outstanding college applications! All participants will:

• Write a creative, powerful, and up-to-date résumé

• Write personal statements & essays

• Complete the standard Common Application

• Create/focus a personalized college list

• Learn how to ace the college interview

• Hear from real admissions officers

• Talk with college students

• Take interest & personality assessments

WHY:

To take the stress out of the college application process!

WHEN:

Session I: 6/16/08–6/20/08

Session II: 6/23/08–6/27/08

Both sessions will be capped at no more than 8 students - giving all participants plenty of personalized attention (slots are filling up fast, so send in your application soon)!

WHERE:

The JCC in Owings Mills, MD

WHO:

Craig Meister, the president of Tactical College Consulting, will be the lead instructor of Get into College! He is an authority at shedding light on the often intimidating and confusing, yet vitally important world of college admissions.

HOW:

The total cost for the one week session is $950 for JCC Members and $1000 for Non-members. To reserve your space or for more information call 410-526-2558.

As More Take a Year Off, Colleges Often Don't Mind the Gap

2008-04-21T06:00:00.000-04:00

By Valerie Strauss, The Washington Post

College Admissions Process Sets Records Across the Country

2008-04-19T14:17:00.000-04:00

By Dan Woznica, Student Life (Washington University)

Photo By Lucy Moore

Perfect College Entrance Exam Scores Don't Help Student Who Dreamt of the Ivy Leagues

2008-04-18T19:05:00.001-04:00

Proof once again that successful college applications are made up of much more than perfect scores. Scores, while important, are just one piece of the puzzle. Contact Tactical College Consulting to find out how we can help you get into your dream colleges, whether you have a 2400 on the SAT or not.

Read the full article by Laura Heinauer of the Austin American-Statesman

How to Get Off the Wait List and Into College

2008-04-16T17:13:00.000-04:00

By Kim Clark, US News & World Report

Emerson Lands a Role in Hollywood

2008-04-06T18:30:00.000-04:00

"The Boston college, already known as a Hollywood pipeline, has landed property for a permanent center on Sunset Boulevard for its successful Los Angeles program."

More: By Peter Schworm, The Boston Globe

Admissions Season Makes Colleges Sweat

2008-04-05T12:00:00.000-04:00

By Justin Pope, The Associated Press

An Un-Common Class: Vanderbilt Acceptance Rate Reaches 23 Percent with Nearly 31 Percent Increase in Applications

2008-04-03T15:06:00.000-04:00

By Nikki Bogopolskaya, InsideVandy.com

Ivy Admissions Prompt Frenzy

2008-04-03T14:35:00.000-04:00

By Caitlin Roman, Yale Daily News

Bad News U

2008-04-02T23:00:00.000-04:00

Now more than ever, students need to seek out guidance in order to meet with college admissions success.

More: By Anjali Athavaley, The Wall Street Journal

NYU Admission Rate Drops to 24%, Lowest in Years

2008-04-02T17:55:00.000-04:00

By Eric Platt, Washington Square News

Elite Colleges Reporting Record Lows in Admission

2008-04-01T14:45:00.000-04:00

By Alan Finder, The New York Times

Fitzsimmons Defends SAT II

2008-03-21T08:32:00.000-04:00

"As a faculty panel at the University of California considers dropping SAT II subject tests from its admissions requirements, Harvard stands behind its decision not to do so."

By Lingbo Li, The Harvard Crimson

Top 10 Rule Limits UT-Austin, Says School President

2008-03-21T08:26:00.001-04:00

By Lisa Sandberg, Houston Chronicle

Record Numbers Apply to College

2008-03-19T07:29:00.000-04:00

By Paula Pant, Colorado Daily News

Math Suggests College Frenzy Will Soon Ease

2008-03-09T18:49:00.001-04:00

By Alan Finder, The New York Times

(Some) Colleges Reduce Out-of-State Tuition to Lure Students

2008-03-08T07:13:00.001-05:00

By Jonathan D. Glater, The New York Times

Higher Education Mess In Japan: Class Dismissed

2008-03-06T20:45:00.002-05:00

It's not just foreign students who are abandoning Japanese universities - so are the Japanese themselves.

By Coco Masters, Time Magazine

Competition in College Admissions Follows Students into Internship Application Process

2008-03-06T11:37:00.000-05:00

By Charlotte Steinway, The Tufts Daily

Extracurriculars That Count

2008-03-05T08:37:00.000-05:00

By Derek Thompson, BusinessWeek

IU Admission Standards Increase

2008-03-03T08:40:00.002-05:00

By Katherine Fay, Indiana Daily Student

Op-Ed: End of Angst-Ridden, College Admissions Process Nears for Teens — and Their Parents

2008-03-01T06:01:00.001-05:00

By Nikki Starrett, The Salem News

Students Believe in the SAT

2008-03-01T06:00:00.001-05:00

More students than ever are taking the college admissions test, along with often pricey preparation classes.

By Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times

Senioritis Can Derail College Plans

2008-02-24T21:14:00.002-05:00

Slacking off can put admission in remission.

By Larry Gordon, The Los Angeles Times

Get Into College! – a College Admissions Prep Camp for Rising Seniors & Juniors

2008-02-19T08:38:00.000-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The JCC and Tactical College Consulting want you to

GET INTO COLLEGE!

New JCC summer program 'Get Into College!' gives high school students a jump start on college admission.

With competition to get into college rising to new heights, college prep camps are springing up from New York to Los Angeles. This June, the JCC of Greater Baltimore will offer Get Into College! – the first college admissions prep camp in Maryland. No other JCC in the nation offers such a comprehensive college admissions prep experience for students with an eye on their future.

"Get Into College! is a personalized and intensive one-week program ideal for students wanting an edge in the college admissions process," explains Craig Meister, president of Tactical College Consulting and lead instructor of Get Into College!

Each Get Into College! student will define an application strategy, write a compelling resume and college essay, and complete the Common Application. Additionally, students will take part in mock college interviews and meet with college students and admissions officers.

"It's essentially boot camp for students who want to get a lot done in a short time," said Esther Gunter, Director of the JCC College Center. Students get to choose between two one-week sessions in late June, which will allow them focus on other endeavors like summer jobs or travel for the rest of the summer.

"Get Into College! could not have come along at a better time and the JCC could not be luckier to have Craig Meister heading up this effort. Students will benefit greatly from his attention and expertise." said Gunter. "This camp will focus students who have yet to think much about college, but it's also for students who have thought a great deal about college because it's going to propel them - and their applications - to the next level," she added. This is important because while more students are applying to college than ever before, the colleges themselves have not increased their capacity to meet the surge in demand.

"It's no longer enough to be a strong applicant; you have to present yourself as a strong applicant. Get Into College! is going to help students do just that!" declared Meister.

To reserve your space or for more information call 410-526-2558.

Free Prospective Student (and Family) Information Sessions at the Owings Mills JCC:

Sunday February 24, 11:00 a.m.

Sunday March 30, 11:00 a.m.

Sunday May 4, 11:00 a.m.

Md., Va. Among Top 3 In Passing '07 AP Tests

2008-02-15T11:02:00.002-05:00

By Jay Mathews, The Washington Post

More:
By Kelsey Volkmann, Baltimore Examiner
By John-John Williams IV, Baltimore Sun

NYU Sets Record for Applications

2008-02-12T19:35:00.000-05:00

"More than 37K seek admission, most of any private university"

By Eric Platt, Washington Square News (NYU)

College Applications Can Be Too Good

2008-02-12T19:30:00.000-05:00

By Peter Schworm, The Boston Globe

University of Maryland College Park Reporting Spike In Applications While Cutting Size of Freshman Class

2008-02-07T18:56:00.000-05:00

Via the Baltimore Sun

US Universities Woo Israeli Students

2008-02-04T15:19:00.000-05:00

From Ynetnews.com

Tel Aviv, Israel

Focus on Either ACT or SAT Test, Some Experts Suggest

2008-02-03T15:44:00.000-05:00

This Fort Worth Star Telegram article may be an eye-opening article for those students and parents who are just starting to think about tests. For a personalized standardized test game plan, call Tactical College Consulting at 410-526-2558 to schedule a strategy session appointment.

By Katherine Cromer Brock

Letter: College Admissions Taken Too Lightly

2008-02-02T15:30:00.000-05:00

This thought-provoking letter to the editor of the Pike County Courier comes from Flora Mendoza, a Yale senior.

College Freshmen: Parents Helicoptering OK

2008-01-24T08:41:00.000-05:00

By Justin Pope of the Associated Press

Openness, Outreach Trademarks of New (Penn) Dean

2008-01-23T08:36:00.001-05:00

By Alyssa Schwenk, The Daily Pennsylvanian

More Students Head Overseas

2008-01-22T12:33:00.000-05:00

By Anjali Athavaley, The Wall Street Journal

Dreaming of college? Behave.

2008-01-21T12:27:00.000-05:00

Admissions officers ask about drinking, cheating, suspensions

By Lisa M. Krieger, San Jose Mercury News

Applications to Colleges Are Breaking Records

2008-01-18T19:41:00.000-05:00

"Applications to selective colleges and universities are reaching new heights this year, promising another season of high rejection rates and dashed hopes for many more students."

By Karen W. Arenson, The New York Times

Applicants on Rise After Halt to Early Admissions

2008-01-17T12:37:00.000-05:00

By Linda K. Wertheimer, The Boston Globe

(Melbourne) Uni Hails Move to US-style System

2008-01-15T00:00:00.000-05:00

By Richard Kerbaj and Brendan O'Keefe, The Australian

College Hopefuls Get Creative to a Fault

2008-01-14T12:35:00.000-05:00

Admissions gimmicks rarely work...

By Linda K. Wertheimer, The Boston Globe