Many families begin college shortlisting with rankings and brand names. A stronger shortlist starts with the student, the real constraints, and the tradeoffs that matter.
Most college shortlists are built backwards Read Post »
For Class 9-10 families, it is not about activity shopping. For rising seniors, it is time to make the application plan less vague.
What should your child be doing in May and June? Read Post »
Some encouraging admits this cycle, and a reminder that good planning starts with understanding what colleges actually value.
What this year’s admits reinforced for us Read Post »
Prestigious internships and summer programs can look strong on paper. But small student-led projects often produce more credible and useful application material.
Why small student projects often work better than manufactured internships Read Post »
A new AltView piece on what to stop, not just what to add, plus a low-volume WhatsApp notes stream.
Profile-building is often more about elimination than addition Read Post »
US and UK admissions are not interchangeable. Here is how families should think about breadth, specialization, flexibility, and fit before applying to either system.
Should your child apply to the US, the UK, or both? Read Post »
A new AltView assessment platform, plus two recent pieces on profile-building and AI essays.
Clarity before strategy: introducing AltView MAPS Read Post »
Most weak student profiles are not weak because they did too little. They are weak because they did too many disconnected things. Here is the better way to think about profile building.
Profile Building Is Mostly About Elimination Read Post »
A February 2026 paper suggests AI can make essays cleaner while making students less distinct. Here is the balanced way to use AI for college essays.
Should students use AI for college essays? Read Post »
A new AltView piece on starting early, and what older students should focus on now.
What matters in Class 9 is different from what matters in Class 12 Read Post »
