Blog – College Dollars and Sense

Performing Yourself: A Musician’s Guide to the Video Essay

Distinctive College Consulting
Admissions
55 views

By Adrian Cho, Ph.D. The note arrives before the thought does. A high E, fortissimo, shouting into the crowd: “Barabbam, oder Jesum?” In J. S. Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, Pontius Pilate asks the…

Making the Most of Your Summer–Your Way

Distinctive College Consulting
Admissions
89 views

By Caroline Matas, Ph.D. Have you ever heard Frank Sinatra’s song “My Way?” It’s kind of a dirge, and honestly I don’t really recommend it. I only listened to it for the first time when I learned…

The 3 Biggest Brag Sheet Blunders

Distinctive College Consulting
Admissions
128 views

By Victoria Tillson Evans, Ph.D. Besides the bursts of pink cherry blossoms, the sugary gooeyness of Cadbury Crème Eggs, and the mulchy petrichor following drizzly afternoons, nothing says spring quite…

Beyond the Rankings: Building a Thoughtful College List

Distinctive College Consulting
Admissions
321 views

By Adrian Cho, Ph.D. Happy New Year, dear readers! As we begin 2026, the time comes to begin seriously considering the list of colleges you will build (if you are a junior). It’s not just about finding…

The Monster, the Myth, the Legend: The Admissions Counselor

Distinctive College Consulting
Admissions
388 views

By Caroline Matas, Ph.D. It doesn’t take a deep dive into college admissions Reddit, TikTok, or discussion boards to encounter tall tales about the mythical creature at the center of it all: the Admissions…

College Fairs for Introverts and Extroverts

Distinctive College Consulting
Admissions
313 views

By Victoria Tillson Evans, Ph.D. As an ambivert, I feel pretty lucky to sit squarely in the middle of the personality scale. On some days, I want a packed room and new conversations with everyone I meet…

Mastering the Mic Drop: How to End an Essay

Distinctive College Consulting
Admissions
1,271 views

By Caroline Matas, Ph.D. Are schools still assigning The Great Gatsby these days? Candidly, it wasn’t my favorite required reading, but I’ve got to hand it to F. Scott Fitzgerald: the man could write…

How to Revise When You’re Stuck in Your Own Head

Distinctive College Consulting
Essays
772 views

By Adrian Cho, Ph.D. “Rewriting is the essence of writing well: it’s where the game is won or lost.” – William Zinsser (1922-2015), On Writing Well You’ve read your essay multiple times. You…

The Deadline Decision: When Regular Decision Makes Sense

Distinctive College Consulting
Admissions
621 views

By Adam Muri-Rosenthal, Ph.D. Each fall, high school seniors around the US and the world race against early college deadlines, hoping to maximize their chances by applying Early Action (EA), Restrictive…

Application Season’s “October Angst”

Distinctive College Consulting
Admissions
514 views

By Victoria Tillson Evans, Ph.D. October always brings change. While I’m sure all of us are excited about the earthy purple mums decorating front steps around our neighborhoods, the crackling oak leaves…