Here is a scholarship opportunity for high achieving seniors who also are involved in their communities.  The application is due September 10
Byron Cameron Education Foundation 

Several organizations, including the National Association for College Admission Counseling, have asked US News to remove SAT and ACT as a criteria within their rankings.  "​"Using average scores of incoming students to rank an institution has never made sense, but is even more preposterous during a deadly pandemic."

​​Inside Higher Ed:  Groups as US News to Exclude SAT and ACT

I found this to be an interesting article for many reasons:  Women in STEM, college majors and our "need" to have kids know what they want to do at age 17 or 18, finding a sense of belonging, and doing what is right for you, no matter what others say.  From Medium.com.
You Only Got in Because You're a Woman

This article, an opinion piece by a recent college grad, emphasizes that "it's okay to not have all the answers" as you graduate from high school, as well as the very individual path students can follow.  Education is the goal, rather than simply attending a college that everyone has heard of.  

What I Wish Someone Told Me About Applying to College

First, we know that there is never one perfect college, but students still feel the sting of a rejection from ones that they think would be the best one for them.  This article provides a perspective that, by attending a less selective school, students will still be surrounded by highly-academic students.  
​So You're Bummed Your Favorite College Said No.... ​

This recent article from the Los Angeles Times sheds a bit of insight into the admissions process at the University of California during the year of COVID-19.
UC Explains Admission Decisions - LA Times

An interesting article with many facts about admission at the University of California and California State University systems.  Interesting to note that UCLA's acceptance rate will probably drop below 11%, down from 14% last year and San Diego State has placed 6,000 students on their waiting list.  

In An Unusual Admissions Year...

A very thoughtful article from Brennan Barnard and Forbes about the "fallacies and delusions" in college admissions that just need to die out.  So many great points, but rankings have always been a hot button for me.  From the article:  "Stefanie Niles, vice president for enrollment and communications at Ohio Wesleyan University says that one of the biggest zombie ideas in college admission is that “rankings matter.” She counters, “they don't. Fit matters. A student's ability to take full advantage of the opportunities available to them on a campus is what matters, and one does that best when they feel challenged yet supported and encouraged.”
College Admission Zombies:  Ideas That Need To Die

This article is from last year, but the steps for appealing financial aid are the same.  Since many families may have experienced a reduction in income during the pandemic 2020, compared to 2019 which is being used for financial aid awards this year, I expect more colleges to receive a significant number of appeal letters. Please get yours in early!
​How To Appeal a Financial Aid Award

Great news from the University of California Regents and UC Riverside.  Money has been approved to build a new medical school building.  This important step will allow UCR to increase the size of each medical school class to offer more opportunities for students as well as develop more doctors for underserved areas in California.
New Medical School Building Approved for UCR

From the Wall Street Journal, more about the crazy state of college admissions this year, caused in part by colleges going "test-optional" since many students were not able to take the SAT or ACT.  Waiving the SAT and ACT has resulted" in an unprecedented flood of applications and what may prove the most chaotic selection experiment in American higher education since the end of World War II."
​College Admission Season Is Crazier Than Ever...

From the New York Times, this article explores how five high school students managed to find volunteer activities during a time when most things are shut down.  
NY Times:  These 5 Teenager Managed to Volunteer This Year

From Rick Clark and his Georgia Tech admission blog, a great article about creating your "roadmap" for college.  I love the last paragraph, especially:  "Like college itself, the college admission experience is all about learning, expanding, researching, and being open to new ideas and possibilities."
Georgia Tech Blog:  NEEDED - New College Admissions Roadmap

Another thoughtful article from educator Brennan Barnard. Using a speech that Martin Luther King made to middle school students in 1967, Brennan highlights how current high school juniors should think about their college search.
Forbes:  Blueprint for Your College Search