April College Success Newsletter
Welcome!
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“Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” — William Butler Yeats
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As spring blooms and decision season begins, we’re here to support families navigating the next steps in the college journey. Whether you're narrowing down college choices, exploring majors, or preparing for the application process ahead, this month’s articles are filled with timely tips and practical insights. From understanding how artificial intelligence is reshaping college programs to writing merit aid appeals and gathering standout recommendation letters,
we've got you covered.
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Take a look at what’s inside—and as always:
We're here to support you every step of the way!
Topic of the Month
Making the Final College Choices
Deciding which college to attend can be one of the toughest decisions for high school seniors. With so many options, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure. If you’re struggling to make your final decision, here are some tips to help you sort through your choices.
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Choosing a college is a big decision, but stressing out won’t help. Take a deep breath and remember that you have time. The decision deadline is May 1, so there’s no need to rush. Sometimes, taking a break from the decision-making process to relax or do something fun can help clear your mind. If you’re feeling pressure from parents or friends, tell them you need more time to decide.
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Before comparing colleges, it’s important to start with yourself. Reflect on what you want in your college experience. Make a list of qualities that matter most to you—think about academics, campus culture, size, cost, location, and more. It’s also helpful to consider less tangible things such as the social atmosphere and overall "feel" of the campus. Once you’ve written your list, rank the factors based on their importance to you. This step helps you get clear on your priorities before diving into comparing schools.
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While it’s tempting to compare colleges right away, it’s best to evaluate each school on its own first. Look at each school’s strengths and weaknesses based on your prioritized factors. If you don’t have enough information about a particular school, take time to research further. Visit the campus if possible, check out the website again, and talk to current students, faculty, or admissions staff.
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Don’t forget to trust your gut feelings about each school—your intuition can play an important role in making the right decision.
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After evaluating the schools, you’ll probably realize that some just aren’t a good fit for you. It’s okay to let those go. Remember, you can only attend one college, so don’t feel bad about eliminating options. It’s also a good time to let go of schools that no longer work out, whether that’s because you didn’t get in, didn’t get enough financial aid, or circumstances have changed. It can be hard to let go of schools you were once excited about, but try to focus on the great options that are still available to you.
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Still torn between a few schools? Try comparing them in pairs. Create a chart with the schools along the top and the qualities you want down the side. For each pair, mark which school better matches each characteristic. This method will help you make a more objective decision by comparing each school based on what’s most important to you. Once you finish, you’ll have a clearer idea of which school stands out as the best fit.
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There’s no such thing as the perfect college. It’s easy to feel like you need to be 100% sure that your choice will guarantee happiness and success, but that’s simply not the case. Your college experience will be shaped by how you approach it, not just by the name of the school you choose. Once you’ve made your decision, move forward confidently, knowing you’ve made a thoughtful choice and that this next chapter will be an exciting one.
College Spotlight
Dean College, Franklin, MA
Founded in 1865, Dean College is a private liberal arts school located in Franklin, Massachusetts, offering a suburban campus with a tight-knit community. With approximately 1,200 full-time undergraduate students and a 16:1 student-faculty ratio, Dean provides personalized bachelor’s and associate degrees, emphasizing hands-on learning. The college is deeply committed to student success, offering robust support services—including accessibility resources, academic coaching, and specialized programs like the Arch Learning Community—ensuring every student thrives academically and personally.
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By the Numbers
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Undergraduate enrollment: 1,180
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Women: 51%
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Men: 49%
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Admission rate: 75.3%
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Student Faculty Ratio: 16:1
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Campus Type: Suburban
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Student Quotes
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“It was a lovely campus. Very small in size but very personal at the same time.”
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“Classmates are wonderful, supportive people, wheather your full time or part time you make wonderful friends who are there to encouarge you.”
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“I love our professors! Each one wants our students to succeed. I love that every professor you have knows your name and what your individual needs are.”
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​​​Academics
Dean College offers a dynamic academic landscape with over 22 bachelor’s degree programs across its Schools of Performing Arts, School of Liberal Arts, and the Dean R. Sanders ’47 School of Business. The college continues to expand its offerings, recently introducing Neuroscience, Public Health, and Arts Leadership majors, along with specialized tracks like Dance Science and Applied Behavior Analysis. Among its most popular majors are Sport & Fitness Management, Business Administration, Dance, Drama & Theatre Production, and Psychology. The Psychology major now includes an Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) track, reflecting the college's commitment to aligning its programs with emerging industry demands.
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Dean has introduced cutting-edge programs to align with industry trends. For instance, the Arts Leadership program focuses on marketing, production, and organizational leadership in performing arts, replacing the previous Arts & Entertainment Management major. The Dance Science program integrates health sciences with dance training, leveraging the on-campus Athletic Training Clinic for injury prevention. Additionally, the Business School has introduced Data Science & Finance Tracks, preparing students for careers in fintech and analytics.
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All programs at Dean emphasize experiential learning, including internships with Boston-area organizations, performance opportunities for arts majors, and clinical placements for health and science students. This hands-on approach, combined with tailored support services like the Morton Family Learning Center and the Arch Learning Community for students with learning differences, contributes to the college's strong 75% graduation rate. This reflects Dean's commitment to ensuring student success through both academic rigor and personalized support.
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​Student Life
Dean College offers over 80+ clubs and organizations, NCAA Division III athletics, and modern residence halls that create a tight-knit community.
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As a Division III school in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC), Dean fields 19 varsity teams, including football, basketball, lacrosse, and dance. The Eames Way Athletic Complex features a turf field, fitness center, and arena for games and pep rallies. Club sports like esports and intramurals (flag football, dodgeball) ensure all students stay active.
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Over 85% of first-years live on campus in suite-style dorms, themed housing (e.g., wellness floors), and traditional halls. Popular spots include the Campus Center (with a game room and Starbucks) and Green Family Library. The historic town of Franklin, MA, offers cafés, trails, and free shuttles to the commuter rail (35 mins to Boston).
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Learning Support Programs
Dean College is committed to providing individualized support for students with disabilities through its Office of Accessibility Services. The college offers a range of accommodations tailored to meet the unique needs of students with documented disabilities, including executive functioning disorders, sensory processing issues, and nonverbal learning challenges. Services include assistive technologies like dictation software and electronic pens, housing and meal plan accommodations, and access to service animals.
The Morton Family Learning Center serves as a hub for academic support, offering quiet study spaces, professional and peer tutoring, and programs like Strive4Success and academic coaching. These initiatives are designed to help students transition to college life and develop essential skills such as note-taking, time management, and writing.
The Arch Learning Community
The Arch Learning Community provides specialized courses, one-on-one academic coaching, and career advising for students with learning differences. This program has been a cornerstone of Dean's commitment to accessibility for over 20 years.
The Engage Program
In 2024, Dean launched the Engage Program—a comprehensive initiative aimed at helping incoming students navigate the social and emotional challenges of transitioning to college. This evidence-based program includes benefits such as early campus move-in, peer mentoring, low-sensory meeting spaces, and weekly social skills groups. The success of the program is evident: its pilot cohort achieved a 100% retention rate from fall to spring semesters, with more than half making the Dean’s List.
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Random Things
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Annual Tree Lighting
Each year, Dean hosts an Annual Tree Lighting on Awpie Way, which brings together the Franklin community for holiday festivities, including performances by Dean students and hot chocolate
Late Night Breakfast
During finals week, Dean College hosts a Late Night Breakfast, where faculty, staff, and the dining team serve students a midnight meal to help them power through exams
Boomer's Statue Ritual
Every student, faculty and staff member pats the bronze bulldog statue's head during the Commencement procession for good luck. The beloved Boomer mascot (named after the college's founder) has been a campus icon since the 1920s, and rubbing his head has become a rite of passage for graduates
Major Spotlight
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the world, changing how we work, learn, and make decisions. Universities are responding by updating courses and programs to prepare students for careers in an AI-driven future. While some worry about AI’s impact on jobs, ethics, and education, colleges are embracing it as both a tool and a subject of study.
Students who understand, analyze, and apply AI across different fields will have a significant advantage in the job market. AI is no longer confined to computer science; it’s essential in business, media, medicine, and the arts. Those who grasp AI’s potential and limitations will be positioned to lead industries increasingly reliant on technology, data-driven decision-making, and automation.
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AI isn’t just for tech students. Small colleges, even those without specific majors in AI or engineering, incorporate AI into philosophy, ethics, and media studies, helping students critically examine its role in society. For example, at Pomona College, Bowdoin College, and Wesleyan University, students explore AI ethics, bias in machine learning, algorithmic decision-making, and AI’s influence on democracy and privacy. These courses encourage discussions on responsibility in AI development and policy.
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Courses at Brown University examine AI through modern culture and media, where students analyze AI-generated content like deepfake videos and AI-written articles. Swarthmore College courses link AI to cognitive science, studying how machine learning mimics human decision-making. Meanwhile, the Rochester Institute of Technology and the University of Arizona programs incorporate AI into digital humanities and computational linguistics, offering hands-on work in natural language processing and AI-assisted creative writing. These programs highlight AI’s broader impact on communication, culture, and society.
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As AI becomes integral to business, universities are training students to apply AI-driven strategies in finance, marketing, and supply chain management. USC’s Marshall School of Business offers an AI for Business program, where students learn predictive analytics, customer insights, and automated decision-making. Case studies explore AI’s role in optimizing digital marketing and logistics. At the Wharton School, students use AI-powered analytics for market forecasting and financial risk assessment. Similarly, the University of Texas at Dallas integrates AI into business analytics, offering hands-on experience with AI-driven customer insights, fraud detection, and automation tools used by major corporations. These programs showcase AI’s transformative impact on business and the growing demand for AI-savvy professionals.
For students drawn to AI’s technical side, universities are at the forefront of AI research in robotics, deep learning, and autonomous systems. While institutions such as MIT, Carnegie Mellon, and Stanford continue pushing AI innovation, AI-focused education is expanding.
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Georgia Tech offers an AI minor available to all disciplines, ensuring that business, humanities, and science majors gain AI literacy. The University of Michigan and UC Berkeley provide AI tracks in computer science, covering reinforcement learning, generative AI, and AI-driven cybersecurity. Oregon State University and Cal Poly SLO emphasize industry collaboration, partnering with companies to solve real-world AI challenges in automation and software development. These programs make advanced AI education more accessible and emphasize practical applications.
AI is shaping industries beyond STEM, particularly healthcare and gaming. The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) offers a Dual Degree in Medicine and AI, training future doctors to integrate AI into diagnostics, personalized treatment, and robotic-assisted surgeries. AI-powered tools, such as machine learning models for radiology and AI-driven drug discovery, are revolutionizing medical care and research.
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AI is also transforming gaming. At UC Santa Cruz, the Games and Playable Media program explores AI-driven storytelling and dynamic gameplay. AI is used in procedural content generation, allowing game environments to evolve based on player behavior, and in designing intelligent non-player characters (NPCs) that adapt and respond more realistically. These programs highlight AI’s growing influence in creative and interactive fields.
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As AI reshapes industries, universities are preparing students to navigate this evolving landscape. By integrating AI education across disciplines, colleges are not just teaching technical skills but also encouraging critical thinking about AI’s ethical and societal impact. Whether students engage with AI
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through liberal arts, business, or technical studies, they will have opportunities to apply this technology in meaningful ways.
For high school students planning their futures, AI literacy is becoming essential, opening doors across a wide range of careers, some of which don’t even exist today. As universities expand AI-related programs, students will have more opportunities than ever to explore how AI can shape their professional paths, regardless of their chosen field.
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Careers for Language Majors
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Liberal Arts & Interdisciplinary Studies
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AI Ethics Consultant
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Digital Media Strategist
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Computational Linguist
Business & Industry Applications
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AI-Driven Market Analyst
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Financial AI Analyst
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AI-Powered Supply Chain Manager
STEM & Engineering
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AI Research Scientist
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Autonomous Systems Engineer
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AI Cybersecurity Specialist
Medicine & Gaming
AI Healthcare Specialist
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AI Game Designer
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Biomedical AI Engineer
Money Matters
Asking for More Merit Aid
Your teen has just received their college acceptance letters, and one of those schools is their first-choice college—exciting news! But then, the reality sets in: the merit aid awarded is lower than expected, and now that “favorite college” feels like it may be financially out of reach. What do you do next?
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The good news is that it’s possible to ask for a higher scholarship award through a merit-based appeal. While merit aid is not given based on financial need, many colleges will review requests for more aid, particularly if there are new or updated circumstances that weren’t part of the original application.
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Before doing anything, review the college's merit-based appeal process on its website. Look for information on deadlines and required documentation. It is also important to find the name of the office or person to whom you should address your appeal. Students should write a concise letter that is kept to one page.
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Make sure you understand the requirements for submitting an appeal and any deadlines involved. In a merit-based appeal, your teen will need to write a letter to the admissions office. Here are the key components to include:
Start by expressing genuine excitement and gratitude for being accepted to the college. This shows that your teen values the opportunity and is thankful for the initial offer.
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If any academic or extracurricular developments have occurred since the original application, this is the time to mention them. Whether it’s a higher GPA, new awards, leadership roles, significant achievements, or if there have been any extenuating circumstances that weren’t in the initial application, it should be explained in this letter. These updates can strengthen the case for why your teen deserves more merit aid.
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Your teen should also emphasize why this particular school is the best fit for their academic and professional goals. Highlight specific programs, faculty, or resources at the school that align with their aspirations.
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Make it clear that while this college is their preferred choice, the cost of attendance is a major factor in their decision-making process. It’s essential to be transparent but polite in expressing the financial challenge the current aid package presents. This should never come across as demanding but rather as a way to provide context for the request.
After your teen sends the letter, it’s important to follow up with a polite email or phone call to ensure the admissions office has received the appeal. This will also provide an opportunity to answer any questions or provide additional information if necessary.
It's important to have realistic expectations. Some colleges may only be able to offer an additional $2,000 to $5,000 in merit aid, if any. While this can help reduce the gap, it may not fully cover the difference between what was awarded and what your family can afford.
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If the financial package still makes the college unaffordable, it may be necessary to reconsider other options, including colleges with more generous financial aid or scholarships.
By helping your teen write a thoughtful and respectful merit-based appeal letter, you’re also giving them an important life lesson in advocating for themselves in a professional setting. It’s a chance to demonstrate maturity and clear communication while navigating a situation that many students face as they head into college.
Now is the Time
Understanding Letters of Recommendation
The application requirements for most colleges in the US include a letter of recommendation from the student's high school guidance counselor and often one or two of their classroom teachers. These letters provide colleges with insight into who you are beyond your grades and test scores. Typically, there are two main types of recommendations you’ll need:
Colleges often ask for letters from teachers who have taught you in core subjects such as English, math, science, social studies, or a world language, preferably during your junior or senior year. The teacher you ask should be someone who knows your academic strengths well and can speak about your potential for success in college courses.
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A letter from your school counselor gives colleges a sense of your role within the school community. Many counselors are busy and may not know every student personally, and colleges understand this. However, some colleges require letters of recommendation from the counselor as they value the counselor’s perspective on your academic journey and personal character.
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Teachers are busy professionals, and writing a recommendation is a favor they’re doing for you. Here’s how you can make their job easier:
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High schools, colleges, and individual teachers may have specific guidelines for recommendations. Before asking for a letter, make sure you’re clear on the requirements and deadlines for both your school and each college.
Pick teachers who can write a personal and thoughtful recommendation. A teacher who knows you well and can speak to your work ethic and character will provide a strong letter.
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Request recommendations well in advance—ideally, at the beginning of your senior year or even before the end of junior year. Waiting until fall can be risky, as teachers and counselors will be overwhelmed with requests by then, and they may not have enough time to write a letter for you.
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Provide your recommenders with at least a month’s notice before the application deadline. Writing a great recommendation letter takes time, and the earlier you ask, the better.
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Never demand a letter. Instead, politely ask, “Would you be willing to write a positive letter of recommendation for me?” If someone declines, don’t take it personally. Thank them and move on to another teacher.
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Many schools ask students to complete a questionnaire or "brag sheet" to help recommenders write a more detailed letter. Be thorough and turn it in early, giving your writers plenty of time to review your achievements.
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Lastly, once your letters are complete, take the time to thank your recommenders. Also, keep them updated on your college admissions results. They’ll appreciate hearing about the outcome of your applications!