Notes from the desk

The Admision360 Blog

Field notes on U.S. college admissions, financial aid, essays, and the small operational details that quietly decide who gets in and what it costs. Written in plain English by Luis Aramayo.

Financial Aid

The 2026 FAFSA: What Actually Changed for Families This Year

The new Student Aid Index, divorced-parent rules, sibling discount removal, and the small wording change that quietly costs families thousands.

April 12, 2026 11 min readBy Luis Aramayo

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Essays

How to Write a Common App Essay That Doesn't Sound Like Everyone Else's

Three openings to avoid, two structural moves that work for almost any story, and the question I ask every student before they write a single word.

March 28, 2026 14 min

Planning

A Quiet Checklist for First-Generation Families in the Last 12 Months Before Senior Year

If you're the first in your family to apply to a U.S. four-year college, here is the unglamorous list of things that actually matter — and the four that don't.

March 9, 2026 9 min

Scholarships

Eight Scholarships Bilingual Students Should Apply To Before Anyone Else

Awards specifically designed for Spanish-English bilingual high school seniors, with deadlines, eligibility, and the line in your essay that wins each one.

February 17, 2026 10 min

Inside Admissions

Should a Chicago Student Stay In-State? The Honest Numbers for 2026

UIUC, UIC, Northwestern, and 12 out-of-state options compared on real cost after aid, four-year graduation rates, and median earnings ten years out.

January 30, 2026 13 min

Inside Admissions

What Admissions Readers Actually Look For in a Recommendation Letter

Seven years of reading committee at a top-20 university taught me what makes a letter help, what makes one hurt, and the three sentences every great letter contains.

January 8, 2026 8 min