Application season is winding down and admission season has begun. Congratulations to all of you who are starting to receive good news!

As you get your offers of admission you should also be getting financial aid offers. When comparing offers, focus on what you actually have to pay, rather than the amount you are being offered. (I always say a school can offer you a million dollars, but if it costs $2 million to attend, it’s not a very good aid package!) Instead, do a side-by-side comparison of what you will have to pay out-of-pocket and what you would be borrowing. If you need guidance on interpreting your award or appealing your award, I hope you’ll contact me.

The COVID high school experience has been a slog, and I know many seniors who are considering a gap year. Many are feeling burnt out, others want to do things like travel that have been limited over the last two years, and some want to have more time and develop more independence before enrolling in college. I always recommend that students plan their gap years thoughtfully to make the most of them. These gap year fairs are a great place to start, and our gap year experts would love to work with you one-on-one to plan your “year on.”