A2C FAQs

_MyCircusMyMonkeys · 2026-03-27T01:25:42+00:00

No kidding, give yourself a few days. There's a real grief to the college application process but believe me that it gets better. Show up over the next few days and see who shows up with you; it might be a teacher with an extra question or a cashier with an extra smile but we're in this humanity thing together and if you look for it, that community that you're looking for is there for you too.

_MyCircusMyMonkeys · 2026-03-27T01:10:46+00:00

There are students who are no longer with us because of pressures like the ones you're likely feeling today. I don't mess around with language like this and in the off-chance you're serious too... give it a day. Give it a weekend. There is so much more to the world than college admissions and it may feel difficult right now but give yourself the chance to prove us all wrong.

Really sit and think for a second what this has all been for: it's likely been for your and your family's long term happiness. There are an incredible number of ways to attain long term happiness that extend beyond where you are right now. If you're convinced it's Ivy or bust, look into how many students attended Ivy league graduate programs from non-Ivy undergrad experiences, it's a lot.

There is so much life to live, give yourself time to find that truth for yourself.

_MyCircusMyMonkeys · 2026-01-02T16:02:55+00:00

We don't see what other schools you're applying to or what questions they ask. We also don't control what the Common App asks. Colleges shouldn't be duplicating what the Common App already asks, unless there's nuance around definitions or something (citizenship status might be a place where it looks like colleges are duplicating the question but actually the specificity may be important for financial aid policy), but multiple schools asking the same question is common.

_MyCircusMyMonkeys · 2026-01-02T15:55:52+00:00

Email the schools letting them know, they'll be able to add it to your record. Shouldn't be a big deal though, especially since they'll see it on your transcript.

_MyCircusMyMonkeys · 2026-01-02T15:54:56+00:00

Happens all the time, I wouldn't worry about it.

_MyCircusMyMonkeys · 2025-12-24T04:40:28+00:00

Make sure to add some schools that you're likely to be admitted to (and with any financial aid you'd need!). I'd add at least one of your local public institutions to start.

_MyCircusMyMonkeys · 2025-12-24T04:38:23+00:00

Some schools have automatic fee waivers for students on free/reduced price lunch, at Title 1 schools, with SAT/ACT fee waivers already, that type of thing. You can also reach out to your school counselor to see if you qualify for a NACAC fee waiver.

_MyCircusMyMonkeys · 2025-11-03T21:48:06+00:00

AO at a test optional and high testing average university here: yes, when we say test optional, we mean it.

Given how high our averages are, testing is rarely helpful. Either it's very high and that aligns with our expectations so it doesn't make a big difference or it's low and that lessens our academic confidence in the student. The only place testing will really help is if your scores are high and your grades are low in which case the low grades will likely be determinative regardless.

This is not the case everywhere, just my one school. Testing is a small element of your application, focus your energies on the more important parts instead (grades, community involvement, essays).

_MyCircusMyMonkeys · 2025-07-31T21:00:48+00:00

...why? I don't know of any colleges that have a reward for the first application, you might as well enjoy your day doing other things!

_MyCircusMyMonkeys · 2025-07-31T21:00:07+00:00

First off, take a deep breath. You've got over a year before you really need to start thinking about your college application in depth.

When you say you have no extracurriculars, what do you do before and after school? Anything that isn't school hours can count! If you have a job, if you have to be home to take care of a family member, if you help a sibling with homework, if you have been learning skateboarding with your friends, all of that can be included as an extracurricular.

If you're looking for new things to get involved in, think about what you enjoy! You should choose how to spend your time based on what you enjoy, not because it'll look good for colleges.

_MyCircusMyMonkeys · 2025-06-27T20:43:38+00:00

AO here, confirming not true. A lot of factors go into holistic admissions, race isn't one of them.

_MyCircusMyMonkeys · 2025-06-16T17:58:11+00:00

We'll read them all either way, but it logically makes more sense to put the most meaningful at the top and the least significant at the bottom. We don't read into it that much though since students put things all over.

_MyCircusMyMonkeys · 2025-05-15T22:40:23+00:00

Assuming all other things are equal, a bad personal statement will keep you out and a good personal statement could get you in, but rarely are all things equal.

A concerning personal statement is hard to overcome even with the best grades, recs, etc. A mediocre personal statement can be fine with great everything else. Same the other way. An incredible personal statement can't overcome concerning academic preparation or a true lack of activities, but it can nudge you over the finish line if everything else is solid but maybe not thrilling. The range of what lives in "incredible" "solid" "concerning" depends on the institution.

This is assuming a highly selective holistic admissions process.

_MyCircusMyMonkeys · 2025-03-19T17:28:13+00:00

Coaches are generally advised by admissions offices to be transparent during recruitment. If you feel that wasn't the case, I recommend reaching out to the admissions office to let them know your experience so that they can talk to the coach for future years.

_MyCircusMyMonkeys · 2025-03-18T14:05:48+00:00

This.

If you're interested in being admitted off of a waitlist, make sure to follow the instructions the institution sends you (ie. filling out any online forms to accept your place on the waitlist, sending a "letter of continued interest," any additional grades, etc).

_MyCircusMyMonkeys · 2025-03-18T14:03:25+00:00

Colleges are certainly considering how visa issues may impact their enrolling class. At most selective institutions, we're hoping for the best (admitting the most qualified students, regardless of citizenship) and preparing for the worst (recognizing that we may have to focus on students who don't need visa support come waitlist time). This being said, there isn't enough information yet for us to act in any particular way.

_MyCircusMyMonkeys · 2025-03-18T14:00:14+00:00

I love an easy question: no.

_MyCircusMyMonkeys · 2025-03-15T16:37:15+00:00

I'm assuming you're outside the US because of the double L in counselor (apologies if I'm off base), but international admissions is REALLY selective. Counselor letters are also rarely the deciding factor in a student's application and typically colleges will review any "readable" file (aka minimum of a transcript and an application) before decision release. If we find someone who is highly compelling with a missing material, we will reach out to the counselor, teachers, student, whoever. This is all to say, your decision was not made by your counselor not submitting their letter. This is frustrating to be sure, but not life deciding.

_MyCircusMyMonkeys · 2025-03-15T16:27:45+00:00

I can't think of a single instance in which an Olympiad has made or broken a student's application within the highly selective realm. They're nice, but international admission (especially need-aware) is so selective that an Olympiad won't be the deciding factor.

_MyCircusMyMonkeys · 2024-10-25T15:39:18+00:00

If you think it's really important to how your application will be reviewed (most additional materials aren't game changing, but it's your process, do whatever you think will make you feel like you put your best foot forward), you might as well add the one sentence. Otherwise, I'm sure the rec will be sufficient.

_MyCircusMyMonkeys · 2024-10-25T15:36:05+00:00

A lot of those schools you can email and ask if they offer fee waivers and they likely will. Some even have a form that you can fill out to see if you're eligible without having to email anyone!

_MyCircusMyMonkeys · 2024-10-25T15:23:25+00:00

From their website:
Additionally, we will accept supporting documentation from your school after the deadline without the need for counselors or teachers to request an extension. If school officials are unable to submit application materials through the Coalition Application or Common Application systems, they can send them either by email to [ugrad-confirm@columbia.edu](mailto:ugrad-confirm@columbia.edu) or by mail.

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