Hello Fellow Parent, and Welcome!
This is the “What’s new this summer?” edition of the newsletter, in case you were wondering (and worrying).
What’s new with Jill?
I just signed a new book deal! Though the book won’t be published until January of 2026, I’ll include tips when they arise in ye olde Chill Parents’ Revolution (CPR) newsletter.
What’s new with the ACT?
Short answer: Not much yet, though some changes are brewing.
The most consequential ACT changes on the horizon: the science section will become optional and your kid can take the test online beginning spring 2025.
Why?
Short answer: money (as in another testing company pocketing yours).
Just a few months ago in April, a private equity firm, Nexus Capital Management, purchased the ACT. Now it’s a for profit company with the primary purpose of financial success (not helping your child). The writing section (not required by most colleges) is already optional for an extra fee. We don’t know yet if the company will charge another fee for the privilege of taking the science section, but I won’t be surprised if they do. As far as the online option goes, the ACT is just taking the inevitable step to keep up with the SAT and stay relevant. The rivalry between these two testing companies is as big as Ohio State vs. U of Michigan football.
What do these changes in the ACT mean for my kid?
Short answer: the double-edged sword of more options.
Opting out of the writing and the science sections would make the test-taking time shorter for the student (thumbs up). Not knowing whether it’s worth it to include those extra sections can add to testing stress (thumbs down) and tempt you to spend extra money unnecessarily just in case a college might require them (thumbs down). Deciding whether to take the test online or on paper is yet another decision to be thrust upon your kid (thumbs neutral on that one).
What’s new since the Supreme Court decided to limit the information colleges can use to make admission decisions?
Short answer: It’s the college’s problem, not yours.
A number of you have reached out to me about this. Colleges need to take care not to break the law. Some are handling the ban on “affirmative action” by crafting supplemental essay prompts that ask leading questions. These schools hope students’ written responses will clue them in if an applicant can add a diverse perspective to the fabric of the campus. But no need for your child to feel obligated to include anything that’s not a huge part of her fabric. If your child wants the college to know about her racial or ethnic background, beliefs, or anything else important to her, she can control this by writing about it in her application essay(s). How the admissions office uses this information and keeps it legal is up to them.
Will I get through college admissions with my teenager without losing my mind? (Sanity Saver coming right up…)
Short answer: You will! Some of my favorite calming college admissions facts:
Almost half of the colleges and universities in this country admit 80% or more of the students who apply. It’s not hard to get into college.
Only 11.8% of CEOs attended an Ivy League university as an undergraduate and 9.8% earned an Ivy League MBA according to Fortune magazine.
There are huge benefits for your kid to write his college essay for himself, not for “them” (colleges, universities, you). This empowering mindset boosts self-esteem, tamps down anxiety, helps guide students to apply to best fit colleges, results in much more impactful essays, and so much more.
Though I’m full for private consulting this summer, your child can use my Intrepid Applicant platform to guide her through writing her personal essay starting today. It works like a budget version of my private coaching process (an interactive course, not AI). My book, College Admissions Cracked, can help with the rest. My next book is coming, but in the meantime, you’ve got this, and so does your kid!
Warmly,
Jill
