College Visits – Fall 2024

*All sessions are held in the C3MPR unless otherwise stated.

>> Sept. 11 (Wed) 11:40 am – 12:25 am / University of British Columbia (UBC)/Vancouver, Canada

>> Sept. 11 (Wed) 13:00 pm – 13:55 pm / Singapore Management University (SMU)

>> Sept. 13 (Fri) 9:10 am – 9:40 am @C3Art Room / Savannah College of Arts and Design (SCAD)

Dartmouth University to Re-instate SAT Testing

“Informed by new research, Dartmouth will reactivate the standardized testing requirement for undergraduate admission beginning with applicants to the Class of 2029.”

Read the announcement article here. Here’s a summary (via Chat GPT):

  • Dartmouth College is reinstating the standardized testing requirement for undergraduate admission, starting with the Class of 2029.
  • The decision to suspend the testing requirement in 2020 was a response to the global pandemic, and it was initially considered a short-term practice.
  • A new research study commissioned by Dartmouth’s President and conducted by faculty economists and an educational sociologist supports the reinstatement of standardized testing as a valuable element in the admissions process.
  • The study suggests that high school grades paired with standardized testing are the most reliable indicators of success in Dartmouth’s course of study.
  • Standardized testing is seen as a valuable tool for identifying high-achieving applicants from low and middle-income backgrounds, first-generation college-bound students, and those from urban and rural backgrounds.
  • Contrary to the critique that standardized testing inhibits access, the study found that it broadens access, especially for under-resourced students.
  • Dartmouth experienced record-breaking access during the test-optional period, with contextualized testing viewed as an opportunity to admit a diverse range of students.
  • Lessons learned from the test-optional period include the observation that some low-income students withhold test scores, potentially missing positive signals to admissions.
  • Dartmouth will reimplement required testing for applicants from high schools within the United States starting with the Class of 2029, with no preference for the SAT or ACT.
  • Results of multiple test administrations will be super-scored, and for international applicants, various standardized exams will be accepted.
  • Dartmouth aims to develop a new testing profile that focuses on localized scores rather than the class mean and mid-50 percent range, aiming to empower students to understand how their scores align with admissions parameters.
  • The reinstatement of required testing is part of Dartmouth’s enduring commitment to holistic admissions, with contextualized testing being one factor among many in the evaluation process.

Essay Writing Workshop (Johns Hopkins University)

Johns Hopkins University is offering essay writing workshops for students applying to colleges. You can sign up (FREE!) to learn how to craft a personal statement or learn how to tell a story that will get you into college!

  • Application Workshop: Personal Statement, Wednesday, Sep. 13, 7:00 PM (EST)
  • Application Workshop: Telling Your Story, Wednesday, Sep. 27, 7:00 PM (EST)

JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY — APPLICATION WORKSHOPS

News Update Aug. 14, 2023

Dear AST Students and Parents,

Welcome to our new College Counseling website. I wanted to create a one-stop location that you can bookmark for all the college prep and application questions and needs. This is quite ambitious and will take some time to develop. I have begun by setting up a page “College Application Timeline 2023-2024” for juniors and seniors to keep in mind when and how to prepare for applying to colleges. Another important tab you want to check routinely is College Visits where I will be adding information about upcoming college visits. You can register to attend through the links attached to each announcement so that I may have a better idea of the audience size. We are planning to begin a newsletter and also provide information on colleges and universities that most prople are interested in so that you can kind of have a one-stop resource website for all your college needs. Please feel free to email me through Contact if you have any questions.

Welcome!

At AST, we offer a comprehensive college counseling program that guides students, starting from their freshman year, to plan out their high school academics and extracurricular life, and to provide insights and sneak-peaks into what life in college will be like.  Transition into college is an exciting and important milestone for our students, families, and our staff. We understand the importance of making informed decisions and how the role of social-emotional learning impacts college admission choices. Counselors at AST are committed to providing the best support we can to our students in preparing them for college and life beyond.