blog

40 gems across the country

The paperback of the book, out now, has practical pointers for college applicants.

It also has Smitty's list of "40 Overlooked Gems" - colleges that more students should consider.

Here's Smitty's comment on one of those colleges:

“I’ve been impressed by the College of Wooster since the first time I set foot on that inviting, well-maintained campus. The students were easily approachable, I found a real sense of community, and I saw that the college does a remarkable job of fostering student activities.

Sunday, June 27, 2010 - 20:56
The quads are going to Hartwick College

Some readers asked about my piece on the quadruplets from Long Island's Mele family. Here's my Newsday follow-up about the decision by the two girls and two boys to attend the same college:

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/education/e-setauket-quads-all-to-att...

E. Setauket quads all to attend same upstate college

by DAVE MARCUS April 18, 2010

For months, Grace Mele resisted Hartwick College's offer of admission.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010 - 22:28
Inside an Admissions Office

Here’ an unusual look at the admissions process of a state university. It ran on Sunday March 6 in Newsday.
(Access for most of our stories is limited to subscribers and Cablevision customers, but here’s the URL:
http://www.newsday.com/long-island/education/colleges/admissions-officer... )

Admissions officers at Stony Brook often look beyond grades

By DAVE MARCUS (c) Newsday

Saturday, March 13, 2010 - 14:36
Who gets in? A look at four college applications

This is part of my college admissions feature that ran in Newsday on Sunday March 6:

Stony Brook University's admissions officers say they try to look beyond test scores when making decisions. In the two sets of cases here, the admissions office denied applicants with very strong SAT scores while accepting applicants with significantly weaker SAT scores who showed more effort in the classroom, had better grades and overcame some type of hardship.

COMPARISON No. 1

STUDENT 1
More driven, SAT scores: 590 critical reading, 580 math, 590 writing

Saturday, March 13, 2010 - 14:32
2 brothers, 2 sisters consider attending the same college

This is my story from Newsday about four great brothers and sisters:

Lons Island Quads Ponder: Attend College Alone or Together?

by DAVE MARCUS / Newsday

As the Mele family of Setauket waited for word from the admissions office of Hartwick College, unspoken questions hung in the air.

Would Erin get in?

Would Grace?

What about Danny?

And Bobby?

Monday, January 11, 2010 - 16:54
Don't Go to College!

Smitty's provocative op-ed piece from the Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/06/AR200911...

Saturday, November 7, 2009 - 03:57
Keeping families sane during application time

Smitty's seven tips for parent-teen harmony -- on SparkNotes: http://www.sparknotes.com/college/2009/11/02/staying-sane-during-applica...

Friday, November 6, 2009 - 17:49
Dave talks about the admissions race on an unusual radio show

A 40-minute interview with WLIB in Los Angeles: https://rcpt.yousendit.com/755081271/00f0b7250e5cbe17c4b0f69e8ac64c5b

Saturday, October 17, 2009 - 19:27
On the road!

Just back from meeting business leaders in New Jersey, and educators in Southampton, NY. Enjoyed listening to John Katzman, founder of the Princeton Review, who agrees that parents and applicants should calm down and enjoy the application process.

Sunday, October 11, 2009 - 12:08
A baby!

We interrupt this site to announce the birth of Dashiell, who is adorable. His older siblings have been incredible in welcoming him into Recession-time America. Back to publicizing ACCEPTANCE when I recover sleep.

Friday, September 18, 2009 - 17:30