College Access Counseling

If you are interested in low-key but directed college counseling for high school juniors and seniors. I help students set prior, consider college choices, and get through the application process with a minimum of angst. No fancy contracts, reasonable per-hour charges.
I have extensive experience as an admission officer and high school teacher/college counselor. Call me directly at 224-398-5233 for more details.

Will Dix
Chicago IL

Hello! Since the college application season is well in progress, I thought I'd reintroduce some of the articles I wrote a while back for Forbes.com about the various aspects of applying to college. You can check them out here: https://goo.gl/EJst32. I'd be happy to hear your reaactions.

Willard Dix Willard Dix's stories. I cover the college admission process and how it affects families.

College application season is upon us! For advice, counseling, essay review, and more, give me a shout and learn what I can do for you. I'm a former dean of college admission at Amherst, college counselor at a prestigious Chicago private school, and a longtime supporter of students from every background. I can help ease you through the process.

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College Access Counseling updated their information in their About section.

College Board's "Adversity Score" Succumbs To...Adversity

https://www.forbes.com/sites/willarddix/2019/08/31/college-boards-adversity-score-succumbs-toadversity/

forbes.com Students aren't merely data points. They're real live people still coming into themselves. The College Board's "adversity score" was wrong from the start.

Lending Your Kids To Neighbors Should Not Get Them More Financial Aid

https://www.forbes.com/sites/willarddix/2019/08/05/lending-your-kids-to-neighbors-should-not-get-them-more-financial-aid/

forbes.com Lending your kids to a neighbor, business partner, postal worker, or a ​perfect stranger to qualify for college financial aid is a Dickensian scam.

A Tale Of Two Institutions: Amherst And Wisconsin Take Education Down Different Paths

forbes.com The contrasts between Amherst's and the University of Wisconsin's new science research centers shine a spotlight on disparate views of higher education. Are we educating independent thinkers or training worker bees?

U.S. News Changes Its College-Ranking Methodology Again; Why You Shouldn't Care

forbes.com College-ranking methodologies change nearly every year, so what do they actually reveal besides their creators' estimates of what's important? It's better to create your own "methodology" and establish your own priorities in the college search process.

Five Ways To Keep Your Sanity During College Application Season

forbes.com Parents, as much as you'd like to control the college process and determine its outcome, you can't. So let up a bit and take time to assess your outlook.

Pay Attention To Students Protesting Gun Violence

Students protesting gun violence reacall the days when the NRA was actually FOR gun control. http://ow.ly/bWjB30jtYB1

forbes.com Students protesting gun violence aren't just fighting for their/our lives and they're not even radicals. They're trying to return us to a time when the NRA supported gun control and even helped draft legislation that imposed commonsense restrictions that would save lives today.

How To Make April Less Cruel For Students Admitted To College

April can be the cruelest month for kids deciding on which college to attend. http://ow.ly/RMdb30jtCVS

forbes.com Don't agonize too long over your college acceptances. After some basic comparisons, you'll realize you'll probably be happy wherever you go.

Colleges Should Support Teachers' Strikes In Oklahoma And Other States

A wave of teachers' strikes reflects the movement's anger: "We're mad as hell and we're not going to take it anymore!" Colleges and universities should take note and join in. My latest Forbes entry: https://www.forbes.com/sites/willarddix/2018/04/04/colleges-should-support-teachers-strikes-in-oklahoma-and-other-states/

forbes.com Public school teachers in many states are finally pushing back against hostile legislatures. Public and private colleges and universities should support these efforts to ensure that the students they eventually accept will be adequately prepared for college and career.

Parkland Students' Passion May Temporarily Outweigh The Call Of College

I marched in Chicago this past Saturday...It was a moving and powerful experience. https://goo.gl/oJFLoC

forbes.com The Parkland killings have produced powerful student leaders and a movement. What's next for them and how will college play a part? Maybe the issues are bigger than that.

New Book Keeps Thumb On SAT Side Of Standardized Testing Debate

A new book adds little to the college admission debate over standardized testing. See my new Forbes entry at https://goo.gl/CVSifg.

forbes.com A new book has plenty of research about standardized tests and test-optional policies in college admission, but it's not exactly an even-handed debate. The writers' thumbs consistently tip the scale toward the value of the SAT/ACT.

Tell Colleges You Love Them

https://goo.gl/AoKgfc

forbes.com

DOJ's Investigation Of Colleges Will Lead Straight Into A Morass

https://goo.gl/oqy1yd

forbes.com A possible DOJ revisit of colleges' affirmative action policies promises to do more harm than good for colleges and for applicants. At the same time, prospective applicants should widen their field of vision when applying to college.

Plan Ahead To Be College Eligible

Please visit my column at Forbes.com for plenty of information about the college process and college admission. https://www.forbes.com/sites/willarddix/2017/07/31/plan-ahead-to-be-college-eligible/

forbes.com Deciding to apply to highly competitive colleges can't be a last-minute decision. It takes planning that starts at the end of 8th grade to ensure students are in a position to far exceed "minimum" requirements for college admission. I use the University of Illinois's list as an example.

Plan Ahead To Be College Eligible

https://www.forbes.com/sites/willarddix/2017/07/31/plan-ahead-to-be-college-eligible/

forbes.com Deciding to apply to highly competitive colleges can't be a last-minute decision. It takes planning that starts at the end of 8th grade to ensure students are in a position to far exceed "minimum" requirements for college admission. I use the University of Illinois's list as an example.

Plan Ahead To Be College Eligible

https://goo.gl/zZ9KxE

forbes.com Deciding to apply to highly competitive colleges can't be a last-minute decision. It takes planning that starts at the end of 8th grade to ensure students are in a position to far exceed "minimum" requirements for college admission. I use the University of Illinois's list as an example.

Consider Using 529 Plans To Pay College Tuition And Fees

https://goo.gl/89eCqf

forbes.com States' and colleges' 529 investment and savings plans offer big advantages for college-bound kids. They can offset tuition and other educational costs while offering tax advantages. But parents still need to open these accounts early to take full advantage of them.

In College Search, Look Beyond Admission Office Glitz

https://goo.gl/qqyPm4

goo.gl Go beyond the hype of the college admission office by contacting departments and professors you're interested in. You might be surprised at what you learn.

http://bit.ly/1a2b3c4

Ten Ways For Parents To Get On Top Of The College Admission Process

https://goo.gl/HFU7IQ

forbes.com It's not too early for parents to prepare for their high school junior's college process.

Five Reasons To Stay Confident In Your College Application List

https://goo.gl/P1zPwb

forbes.com Applying to highly competitive colleges just to see if you can get in doesn't make sense. If you've done your research, you're better off going all in with your final list.

Ten Last Minute Tips For Crushing The College Application Essay

http://www.forbes.com/sites/willarddix/2016/12/02/ten-list-minute-tips-for-crushing-the-college-application-essay/

forbes.com What you choose to write about indicates what's important to you, which opens a window to your world for others to see.

Keep Your Top College Choices On The Hook With These 6 Application Tips

http://www.forbes.com/sites/willarddix/2016/11/28/colleges-need-love-too/

forbes.com When answering the "Why our college? question, be specific and imagine your significant other asking "Why do you love me?"

Elitism in the Name of Access

https://goo.gl/rzcmf9

collegeculture.net Providing access to college for all students who desire it has long been a worthy goal for schools, organizations, and colleges themselves. Why wouldn’t it be? We want our young people to be …

Early Decision Results Have Ups And Downs

https://goo.gl/YHVhba

forbes.com No matter what the decision, here are some ways to cope with the results of Early Decision.