With the College Board's recent announcement that SAT Subject Tests will be eliminated, grades, AP Tests, and SAT/ACT tests will be the primary academic drivers for college admission decisions. A recent article by Ron Lieber, NYTimes columnist and author of the forthcoming book, "The Price You Pay For College," highlights the link between good grades during high school and the subsequent receipt of significant Merit Aid awards by colleges as they compete for these students. Students with strong academic records can actively pursue these generous aid packages by taking the reins and actively comparing the offers they receive.  Understanding this early and making good grades a top priority throughout high school can pay off!
NYTimes - "High School Grades Could Be Worth $100,000. Time to Tell Your Child?" 

I recently organized a gap year panel featuring Julie Lythcott-Haims, former Dean of Freshmen and Undergraduate Advising and Richard Shaw the current Head of Admissions at Stanford University, Abby Falik the founder and CEO of Global Citizen Year, and two college students. Increasingly, colleges are encouraging students to embark upon a gap year experience before entering college, which is accelerating the trend and desire amongst students to do exactly that!
 
The panel discussed the myths associated with taking a Gap Year:
 
Myth #1:  You will fall behind or get off track.
Reality:  Students who take a gap year enter college more mature and better prepared to learn, and they have added significantly to their resumes for future internships and jobs.