October 1st doesn't get nearly as much fanfare as August 1st in the college application world, but it probably should. It's the day the FAFSA opens for the 2026-27 academic year, and if financial aid is any part of how your family is thinking about college, today is the day to start paying attention! Even if you're not sure financial aid applies to you, keep reading. I'll get to that in a second. First, a quick word on the "we probably won't qualify" instinct I tell every single family I work...

The 2026-27 Common App is officially live tomorrow! Unlike last year's big visual overhaul, this cycle is relatively quiet in terms of changes, which is actually good news. It means if you've been doing any prep work over the summer, you're in great shape and nothing has shifted under your feet.! A fun headline worth knowing: Georgetown University is FINALLY accepting the Common App for the very first time this cycle. If Georgetown is on your list, you'll find it in the dropdown today...

The Common App Activities Section is one of the few places on your application (outside of your essay) to bring some of your own voice and that makes it powerful. It is also offering you the opportunity to highlight your priorities by demonstrating to colleges how you choose to spend your (limited) time outside of school. Here are my top tips on how to get the most bang for your buck out of this brief section: Account for everything you do outside of the classroom. Many students are shocked...