Hi, I'll be quicker than a politician's backpedal, 'cause we're about to go live with our webinar,"The College Admissions Edge:  How to get an almost unfair advantage over tens of thousands of competitor-applicants...and win a TON of fat, juicy scholarships -- even if you think you'll never qualify for anything."

It's not too late for you to join us, here's where to go:

Get The Admissions Edge!

- Andy "Almost Ready for Prime Time" Lockwood

P.S.  Here's the tip of the iceberg of what's about to be covered on the webinar:

How to Construct a Strategic, Balanced College List

BREAKING non presidential cabinet-related news:

We managed to record last night's 5 Star webinar,  "The College Admissions Edge:  How to get an almost unfair advantage over tens of thousands of competitor-applicants...and win a TON of fat, juicy scholarships -- even if you think you'll never qualify for anything."

We'll keep the recording up all weekend, so that you can watch or rewatch, as the case may be.  Here's where to go:

College Admissions Edge Webinar

Enjoy!

- Andy "One More Time" Lockwood

P.S.  If you have a youngster in grades 8-11, gunning for an Ivy League or highly selective college, I highly recommend you carve out time to watch this presentation.  

C'mon, football can wait (esp. if you're a Jets or Giants victim, um, fan) and how much more political stuff can you stomach, anyway?

P.P.S.  Here are a few highlights of what I covered last night, see which ones you find tempting:

College Admissions Workshop | Financial Aid Consulting

A few recent questions from our clients:  which ones do you have?

*Is my kid doing enough volunteer hours?

*How important is "leadership?" - he doesn't have any.

*What extracurricular activities should she do?  She doesn't stand out.

*He wants to drop AP Spanish.  Is that OK or will it hurt his chances of getting accepted to a good college?

You might not be getting answers to these and similar questions from your guidance counselor, even if you're at a private high school.  But fear not, mon ami, I've got you covered!

Tonight, you're invited to attend a new, informative workshop for parents of 9-11th graders, especially if your kiddo is gunning to get into an Ivy or other super-competitive college.

It's called "The College Admissions Edge:  How to get an almost unfair advantage over tens of thousands of competitor-applicants...and win a TON of fat, juicy scholarships -- even...

What are admissions committees at Ivy League and other selective colleges looking for from applicants?

The answer may not be as random as you think.

Tomorrow night, you're invited to attend a new, informative workshop for parents of college-bound teens who are looking, hoping and dreaming of getting into an Ivy or other competitive college. 

It's called "The College Admissions Edge:  How to get an almost unfair advantage over tens of thousands of competitor-applicants...and win a TON of fat, juicy scholarships -- even if you think you'll never qualify for anything."

Here's a short list of what's on tap tomorrow night:  

How to Construct a Strategic, Balanced College List

Good morning!

Two non-political announcements today:

1 .We're hitting the airwaves this morning -- 10:00am EST --  for College Coffee Talk, our live show about college admissions and financial aid news that you can use!  

Today's topic:  "Hidden" Common Application Tips.  Here's where to join us at 10am EST (recorded if you can't make it).

2. Tonight, our head tutor Marissa is conducting a live test prep strategies presentation, 5 Score-Killing SAT and ACT Prep Mistakes and How to Avoid Them.  Here's where to sign up for tonight's free class

Grab a cup of joe and we'll see you at one or both events today (each will be recorded)

- Andy "Two Times the Fun" Lockwood

Hi there,

I'll be quick like a vanishing apparition you thought you saw out of the corner of your eye...

Right now -- until midnight, tonight -- you can hire us to help you complete the FAFSA, CSS Profile and all financial aid applications...

...ACCURATELY, on-time and STRATEGICALLY....

...so that you can get the MOST money for your own Children of the Night, and comfortably afford their college tuition...

For a Whopping 10% Off

Plus, there's an EZ Payment Plan, as well as a discounted 1-Pay plan.

I don't want to make this email too long, because we're about to put this promotion back into the crypt when the clock striketh 12 of the clock, tonight, Hallow's Eve.

In a nutshell, here's what you get when you enroll before DEADline:

• Expert help avoiding all DEADLY, money-losing mistakes on the FAFSA, CSS Profile and all other ghastly, gruesome financial aid applications (we prepare them for you)
• Strategies to maximize your eligibility for need-based and merit-based...

Tutoring | Financial Aid Consulting

Big news in California, where Governor Gavin signed a law that bans the consideration of legacy In college admissions for all colleges in Cali, whether public or private.  The law is slated to go into effect in Fall 2025.

It's clearly a reaction to the Varsity Blues scandal of 2017, which featured celebrity and wealthy parents bending and breaking rules to get their kids into California colleges USC and Stanford, among others. But how much will change?

I was interviewed on NewsNation in the wee small hours of the morning today and, as usual, didn't have time to spit out all my talking points that I'd like you to know. So here's an abridged version:

How big a "problem" is legacy admissions?.  At Stanford and USC, approximately 14% of the class admitted in 2024 were legacies.  Apparently most of them were within the academic range of the entire admitted class.

Point #2.  There are no...

I messed up last night.

Based on the 5 star reviews and the comments and questions in the chat , it looked like last night's "Late Stage" College Planning webinar went over well.

However, at the end, I learned that I did something pretty stupid.  

When I mentioned that if anyone wanted a free College Strategy Session, all they had to do was click the green button, a couple of people replied:

"Where's the green button"

I didn't post it, somehow.  Impressive!

To make things right in the world again, I'm publishing a recording of the webinar momentarily, and will keep it up all weekend.  If you want to chat about our college advising services, there will be a button under the video recording.  (I mean it this time. :)

Here's where to go: 

Watch Replay

- Andy "Not That Tech Savvy"  Lockwood

P.S.  The topics on the webinar were...

*The Inconvenient, Politically Incorrect Truth About What It Takes to Get Into an Ivy or...

I'm -ss deep reviewing our clients' college applications, and have noticed one thing they all have in common:

Everyone applying to college is a leader!

Apparently, followers don't go to college.  

I'm being SLIGHTLY facetious, but there is a point embedded in my snark:

If everyone is a leader, how important or special can leadership be to an admissions officer?

What if you're not the president, vice-president or one of 17 co-founders of a club?  Can you still stand out on your college applications?

I'll take a stab at answering that question, tonight, in a new workshop called  "Late Stage College Planning". 

The class is free and we're not set to record it.  Nothing will be sold, either.

Here are additional topics I'm planning to cover:

*The Inconvenient, Politically Incorrect Truth About What It Takes to Get Into an Ivy or Any Top College -- What do admissions officers REALLY want?   

Getting into an Ivy or other top college is about far more than merely curve-breaking high grades and standardized test scores.   Harvard and a handful of other super-competitive colleges brag every year about how many applicants with perfect scores didn't manage to get in.

So what does it take to get into an Ivy or near-Ivy college?

A superior academic record -- grades, scores and "rigah" as we say up in Boston --  is important.  But that's only 60% of the equation, give or take.

The other 40% is composed of stuff that's out of your control, such as race (still), ethnicity, your parents' educational and economic background...

...and stuff that's IN your control, like extracurricular activities.

There are two types of extracurriculars, Typical and Atypical.

The latter is the type that needs to be perfected to give yourself the best shot at getting accepted where you want to be accepted.

What's an example of an atypical extracurricular activity?

It's not being a...