September 2025

Ah, September! Fall is absolutely my favorite season. Even before the weather cools off (we’ve still been in the 90s in Houston) and before late-fall festivities like Thanksgiving. I don’t even drink pumpkin spice lattes. I think it probably has to do with being either a student or teacher for most my life—and even now I still work on an academic calendar. September just feels more like a New Year and a New Beginning than January does for me. I don’t think I’m alone in that?

While two months ago it seemed like every college admission headline had the term “AI” in it, that focus has now shifted to “Trump.” I don’t want to downplay how much the present administration is changing higher education. At the same time, the changes don’t affect what you should be doing now in any essential way. The best way to prepare for college is still to be a good high school student. Research, diversifying your options, and making wise choices are still key to finding the right schools for applying. And treating the process like the beginning of a long-term relationship instead of an honor society is still the most effective and efficient way to go.

Whether you start college next year or in four years, you can still apply with sanity even if so much of the world seems insane at the moment.

—Benjamin

Was this newsletter forwarded to you? You can sign up to receive it monthly here.

All of the material on Apply with Sanity is free to anyone. No ads, no pop-ups, no pressure to buy or do anything. All it needs is readers. Will you please take a moment to share Apply with Sanity with a friend, colleague, child, or teacher? Will you share a blog post on a social media feed? Thank you for supporting Apply with Sanity!

Here’s what I covered on the website in August:

What should seniors be doing this fall? Here is a month-by-month breakdown of the application process, from August until January.

What should juniors be doing this fall? Work at being good at high school; research colleges; pursue your interests.

What should sophomores be doing this fall? Work at being good at high school; think about college; find a mentor; expand your interests.

What should freshmen be doing this fall? Work at being good at high school; explore your interests; begin good habits; start talking to your family about paying for college.

Three Quick Questions:

The full Three Quick Questions archive. I ask the same three questions:

What is a course, tradition, program or event that is unique to your school?

Naturally every college wants to recruit the perfect student--high grades, high test scores, involved in their community, leadership...everything. But what kinds of imperfect students tend to flourish at your school?

When people come to visit your school, what's a place off campus that you recommend they check out while they're there?

Have a look at this:

Why the boundary between high school and college is crumbling. (Chronicle of Higher Education) I hope every high school student--and their parents--will read this. Not to encourage or discourage AP and dual enrollment, but just to understand the benefits and limits to the classes.

The over-the-top world of luxury dorm decorating (Washington Post) I just moved my oldest into their first college dorm room, and I guess maybe I shouldn’t have questioned the need for a $50 mattress topper?

Here are some blog posts from the archive that are good for this September:

Choosing, and explaining, your extracurricular activities. Colleges ask about your activities for two reasons: they’re interested in making their community as vibrant as possible, and because what you do in high school is the clearest indicator of what you’ll do in college. Understanding why they ask about your activities goes a long way to knowing how to choose and explain your own activities in high school. It’s not about making yourself look good or seeming impressive. It’s about being an interesting and interested part of your community.

Some basic rules for email. For those who may not be adept or enthusiastic about email, let me give a few brief rules that will make it more efficient and effective.

Creating a balanced college list, for everyone. Guesses about whether a school is a Target, Reach, or Safety—they’re just guesses. They’re imprecise guesses that take up a lot of time and energy. I don’t think the time and energy are worth it. I use the same three “buckets” for everyone I work with.