Posts by Cindy Pendergast

Why do colleges have waitlists? Although colleges use past experience and algorithms to predict the targeted class size, it is an imperfect science. The waitlist helps to fill out numbers if deposits fall short of the target. Some colleges waitlist students who may be admissible but have not expressed a strong interest in attending and…

If you have been reading our Education Station Resource Guides and Blogs this year, you will know that college admissions has not returned to pre-pandemic policies and what we would describe as “normal.” All predictions based on past admission statistics and algorithms are off the table. Below is a  re-cap and some updates about the…

What is Enrollment Management? Strategies and methods used by college admissions offices to reach the enrollment goals set forth by the institution Usually involves specific recruitment targeted areas/schools Always involves financial considerations that will enhance the enrollment goals  Colleges often hire outside agencies to help them develop algorithms to guide them in achieving their enrollment…

Need based financial aid for families is determined by the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) which is required by every college and university in the country. Additionally, some private institutions also require families to complete the CSS Profile. As the cost of higher education has increased at an alarming rate in recent years,…

Ninth Grade Enjoy the journey, it is not just about the destination. Don’t try to build a resume based on your perception of what colleges value. Explore different activities to discover what you enjoy doing, and then pursue that. Course selection does matter. You should always challenge yourself to the best of your ability. When…

Test Optional and Test Blind Test optional first became news in the early 1970s when Dick Moll, then the Director of Admissions, declared that Bowdoin College would no longer require the SAT or ACT as part of the admissions process. Since then, hundreds of colleges and universities have followed suit, most notably many liberal arts…