Ask a College Expert: Jen Hambleton

Jen Hambleton is our guest on Ask a College Expert. She is an educational consultant based in Portland, Oregon.
 
Focus Collegiate: Thank you for being part of our interview series. Tell us about yourself.
 
Jen Hambleton: I work with wonderful colleagues in a group called the College Consulting Collaborative, or CCC. We support students with learning differences/neurodiversity (LD/ND) on all aspects of the college planning and application process. Prior to starting this work, I was a career and academic advisor and directed the fellowship and study abroad programs for a graduate school in California. I knew that I wanted to segue and work with students in high school, which is how I found the field of educational consulting.

After my daughter was found to be “twice exceptional,” I realized that I wanted to specialize in working with LD/ND students, so I pursued additional education and training towards that goal and became involved in relevant professional communities within the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA). I currently chair the IECA’s LD/ND Committee.   
 
FC: Why are you so good at what you do?
 
JH: Oh, that’s very kind. I’m told I have a calming vibe, which can be so important during what can be a fraught time for families. I love helping students reflect on where they are now and where they’re going and determine how best to tell their story. At its best, the college application process can be an intentional learning experience for students that can genuinely help prepare them for their next steps after high school and beyond. My goal is to keep the focus on that learning while guiding students step-by-step through this journey. 
 
FC: Please give us the nuts and bolts of the Common App.

JH: The Common App has two primary sections: the main Common App tab and the My Colleges tab. The Common App tab is where the information that will go to ALL of the student’s colleges is input. This includes the personal essay, the activities list, biographical and high school information. The My Colleges tab is where students will answer questions for each specific college to which they are applying. If a college requires supplemental essays, they’ll be found here, too.

FC: What are common mistakes students make on the Common App?

JH: The Common App can be complicated and overwhelming. One mistake I see students make is guessing their way through the confusing sections. Resources like the AXS Companion, a tool created by Oregon State University and the IECA, can help students get the answers they need to complete the application correctly. (Here is a link to the tool.) 

It’s also easy to make minor errors in the Common App that can be quite consequential. Students should check their own work carefully and have someone else – a parent, counselor or other trusted person – check the application over before hitting submit. 

FC: What is the best approach to the Common App?

JH: The best approach to the Common App is a systematic one. Break the process of completing the application down into smaller steps and set internal deadlines for completing each step. Don’t try to do everything all at once! Students should try to complete the main essay and activities list over the summer, and start filling out the Common App questions and writing supplemental essays once the application opens in August. The student’s senior year will be less stressful as a result! 

Also, don’t try to draft any of the writing within the Common App itself. Create separate documents for the main essay, activities list, and any supplemental essays. 

FC: How can students show the best version of themselves on the Common App?  

JH: It is easy to overlook the importance of the activities list. Students should use the 150 characters allotted to describe each activity in a way that demonstrates what they learned, what impact they had, and what skills they developed/utilized during that activity. Too many students simply describe what they did, rather than take the opportunity to tell colleges WHY that activity was meaningful to them. 
 
FC: How about the personal essay? How do you recommend a student showcase themself in the best light?

JH: With the Common App personal essay, it’s important to step back and ask, “why are colleges asking me to do this?” Yes, they’re looking for good writing skills. More importantly, though, they are seeking to create a community on their campus. They want to understand applicants’ values and experiences in order to predict who they might be in college and beyond. Before students start writing, it’s a good idea to think about their values, what’s most important to them, and then brainstorm on potential essay topics that reflect those values. The essay should illuminate who each student is as a unique individual.

FC: How about Using AI? yea or nay?

JH: AI is a powerful tool that I think most of us are going to be using in one way or another in the coming years. Writing a business memo, creating a PowerPoint presentation, even researching a college list are tasks that can be made easier by technology. That said, college applications are meant to give colleges a view of how well students will be able to manage college-level writing and give insight into who they are, two things that become quite challenging when AI is involved.
 
And it’s important to note that many colleges are now asking students to verify that they did not use AI in their applications in the Common App itself. “Better safe than sorry” is a good motto to live by in this case. 

FC: What questions do you wish you were asked more often? In other words, what is the biggest gap in Student/Parent understanding of the Common App?

JH: One key question comes up for me, “As a parent, what can I do to help my student complete the Common App in a timely manner?” Too often we see parents trying to control the college process. Yes, it can be complicated and overwhelming, but we feel that the application process should be treated as rehearsal for completing a large college project.
 
We use this process to teach students time management skills such as breaking the project into smaller parts, creating “to do” lists, and setting time limits for each piece.
 
Parents can help ensure that the students are utilizing these tools but should allow them the opportunity to develop the skills on their own. Check-ins by parents are welcomed and encouraged, but parents should refrain from doing the work themselves. After all, in just a few short months, the student will be in college!