A college tour is your opportunity to get to know the campus and start picturing yourself as a student there. You can research colleges for weeks on end, but nothing beats the experience of walking on campus and seeing the college with your own eyes. Many students know as soon as they step foot on campus whether or not they see themselves attending.
Read MoreWe don’t want to think about summer ending either. But to make sure you’re ready for what’s ahead, we broke down some of the resources and important dates for you to be aware of as we enter the college application season.
Read MoreDeciding whether or not to take a Subject Test? If you’re worried about adding another test to your junior or senior year, don’t panic! Luckily, many colleges do not require the SAT Subject Tests. Requirements vary program to program, but in a lot of cases, it’s up to you whether you want to try out the SAT Subject Tests.
Read MoreWe’ve put together a guide to simplify the college essay writing process. Writing your college essay is a gradual process that takes a lot of reflection and time. These steps aren’t intended to be completed in one day or even one week. By following these steps, the writing process will be less stressful. If you’ve been procrastinating, our step-by-step guide will help you get started.
Read MoreDecisions, decisions. Throughout the college application process, it starts to feel like everywhere you turn there’s another decision waiting for you. Of all the decisions, choosing between application types doesn’t have to be stressful. Most of the time, the decision might be made for you, especially if the college you’re interested in only offers one type! Here’s everything you need to know about the Universal Common Application.
If you’re entering your senior year, now is the perfect time to start thinking about the college admissions timeline. The College Board recommends students apply to 4-8 schools. According to C2Education, approximately a third of all high school students apply to 7 or more colleges. By September, you should have a running list of colleges that you’re interested in before narrowing them down to your top schools.
Read MoreLooking for a unique education experience? If you’re trying to find a sure-fire way to prepare for college and get out of your comfort zone, the IB diploma program might be a good fit for you.
Read MoreThere are a ton of scholarship websites out there and it’s hard to know which ones are legit and which are well-cloaked scams. So, I felt the need to put together a list of websites I’ve personally used and vetted (mostly as a recent grad student). Below is a list of my favorites for 2019.
Read MoreDid you know that the majority of low-income, qualified students don’t apply to top colleges? With high grades and academic achievements, many would be as competitive as their peers at the most selective schools, including Ivy League institutions like Harvard, Yale, and Princeton. Yet, a number of socioeconomic factors either dissuade or prevent low-income students from applying to these schools. In comes QuestBridge.
Read MoreBalancing extracurricular activities and academics is hard enough. With the added rigor of an AP course, and the stress that comes along with it, deciding to enroll isn’t to be taken lightly. Below, we’ll walk you through the pros and cons to help you decide.
Read MoreQ: Does the ranking of your high school matter to college admissions?
A: Yes, at least at the university I’ve worked at.
Read MoreSummer is the perfect time to give reading a second chance. Even if you’ve been overwhelmed by your high school reading requirements and swore you’d never read again, there’s something magical about getting engrossed in a new book. I promise.
Read MoreAmong some of the most selective institutions, low-income students have a low representation--a fact that’s “relatively unchanged from 20 years ago.” The adversity score has been created perhaps in response to this achievement gap and in an effort to support students who are beating all odds by applying to college in spite of their circumstances.
Read MoreIf you have a GPA of 3.0 or above, you may be eligible for the National Honor Society (NHS). The NHS is a great way to stand out on your college application, especially if you take advantage of all that the program has to offer. Here’s more information about the NHS, including how to apply for the National Honor Society Scholarship Program.
Read MoreIt’s still early. You don’t need to create your dream college list or polish up your resume just yet. In your 9th and 10th grade year, you should be focusing on your studies, getting involved in extracurricular activities, and setting up healthy habits to carry you through the next few years.
Read MoreDavid Coleman, CEO of The College Board, recently announced plans to assign an adversity score to every student who takes the SAT in an effort to capture their social and economic background.
Read MoreAs a 9th or 10th grader, it can feel like it’s too early in the game to start worrying about the actual process of applying to college. And you’re right. Your goal in the first two years of high school should really be to lay the foundation for success--focus on doing your best in school and finding the extracurricular activities that you enjoy--so you can develop your interests and grow as a student.
Read MoreLike the name implies, extracurriculars are the things you do outside of your normal curriculum. In other words, an extracurricular is any organized group activity or hobby that is an extra to what you do in your studies.
Read MoreIf you’re worried about which test to take for college admissions and going back and forth, look no further! There are enough decisions to make in the coming months; don’t let choosing which test to take add to your list of stressors. In fact, many students take both. Taking both tests allows you to compare which scores reflect your abilities better. Colleges accept both, so whether you choose the ACT or the SAT, you won’t be making the wrong decision.
Read MoreAs an experienced admissions file reader, there are some basic guidelines I would give any applicant, that if followed, would make their application profile more competitive for top schools, like the Ivies.
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