Ask an Admissions Expert: Dr. Oliver McGee
Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Dr. Oliver McGee served 5 years on the Faculty Admissions Committee of The Ohio State University. Working in admissions for the largest public university in the U.S. provided him with incredible experience to become an expert on the college application process, as well as a widely known STEM education mentor. He is currently an American Council on Education Fellow at UCLA, where he has gained further insights into all areas of admissions. Dr. McGee has additionally mentored several students who have went on to receive extremely prestigious... Read More About Ask an Admissions Expert: Dr. Oliver McGee
How to Choose Summer Activities for Your College Applications
The following piece was written by Rachel Korn. Rachel has been featured in our Admissions Expert series and is a former University of Pennsylvania admissions officer, as well as the founder of her own admissions consulting firm. In your applications to college, you will be asked what you did during your high school summers. Why? Your choices of summer activities actually say a lot about your personality, what you love, and your skills. Admissions offices care about your summer activities because they want you to be productive. They do not expect you to work all the time and never play – in fact, admissions officers lam... Read More About How to Choose Summer Activities for Your College Applications
Ask an Art School Admissions Expert: Scott Linzey
Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Scott Linzey is currently the Vice President for Admission and Student Financial Services at the Savannah College of Art and Design. He has over two decades of experience in admissions and higher education consulting. Scott has served as a guest speaker for topics related to college and university admissions as well as student recruitment and many other topics on both regional and national levels. VT: How can a student determine if an Art School is the right path for them, versus attending a regular university with a strong Arts departmen... Read More About Ask an Art School Admissions Expert: Scott Linzey
Ask an Admissions Expert: Dr. Joan Martin
Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Joan Martin, Ph.D., has been helping students gain admission to their first choice colleges in the U.S. and Europe for two decades. She is the founder of CollegeStartOnline.com and has written two eBooks, Writing the Common Application and How to Jumpstart the College Application Process. Dr. Martin holds degrees from the University of Michigan, Harvard University, and MIT. VT: How far ahead of time should a student begin working on his or her college application? Joan: My best suggestion is to start writing the Common Application essay ... Read More About Ask an Admissions Expert: Dr. Joan Martin
Ask an Admissions Expert: Dr. Carol Langlois
Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Dr. Carol Langlois has over 17 years of experience in higher education admissions and recruiting. She has been on the admissions boards for many schools including the University of San Francisco and also holds a Doctorate in Education. Dr. Langlois has handled all aspects of the admissions process and reviewed thousands of applications during her time in past positions as well as her time as an independent admissions consultant. VT: How far ahead of time should a student begin working on his or her college application? Carol: Famil... Read More About Ask an Admissions Expert: Dr. Carol Langlois
Ask an Admissions Expert: Abby Siegel
Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Abby Siegel is a College Entrance Consultant at her self-started firm, Abby Siegel & Associates. After graduating from Vanderbilt University, she went on to graduate school at Loyola University Chicago where she directly worked in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Abby has worked in college guidance counseling for over a decade and was a recipient of the University of Miami’s Excellence in Counseling Award. See what she had to say about the college application process: VT: How far ahead of time should a student begin... Read More About Ask an Admissions Expert: Abby Siegel
The True Cost of College Infographic
The True Cost of College How much is the average American spending on higher education? More than you might expect. This infographic goes beyond tuition and offers a comprehensive breakdown of the real costs of college, as well as what goes into financing a degree, including the realities of student loan debt. Get the info you need to plan and pay for college.... Read More About The True Cost of College Infographic
Ask an Admissions Expert: Susan Goodkin
Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Susan Goodkin is a national college consultant specializing in admission to highly selective colleges such as Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Brown, and much more. She is a graduate of Harvard University, as well as Oxford University where she was a Rhodes Scholar. Susan has been featured in several well-known publications such as The Washington Post and The Miami Herald. She currently does college admissions consulting at the California Learning Strategies Center. VT: How far ahead of time should a student begin working on his or her college ap... Read More About Ask an Admissions Expert: Susan Goodkin
Top 3 Goals for High School Juniors
The following piece was written by Shannon Duff. Shannon has been featured in our Admissions Expert series and is a former Yale University admissions officer. She is also the founder of Collegiate Compass. As students prepare college applications, they must be focused on telling their story and showcasing what stands out about them! Now is the time when students are CREATING and GROWING in ways that will help them stand out through their academics, extracurricular activities, and summer activities. Let’s say you are an 11th grader who is passionate about drums and science. What are you planning this summer? Why not try a summer progra... Read More About Top 3 Goals for High School Juniors
Top Questions to Ask at a Campus Information Session
The following piece was written by Joie Jager-Hyman. Joie has been featured in our Admissions Expert series and is a former Assistant Director of Admissions for Dartmouth College. She is the founder of her own admissions consulting service, College Prep 360. As spring break approaches, many families with 10th and 11th graders are gearing up to hit the road for campus visits. Many students and parents are tempted to focus on certain data points like size, location, selectivity, cost, and choice of majors. All of these are important things to consider in your college search—but not at the expense of overlooking how you feel... Read More About Top Questions to Ask at a Campus Information Session
How to Write a Personal Statement for Medical School
The following piece was written by Dr. Michelle Finkel. Michelle has been featured in our Admissions Expert series and is a former Harvard Medical School faculty member. She is the founder of Insider Medical Admissions. At first glance, medical school admissions might seem a far cry from the subjects of reality television confessionals. The players are stalwart, steady characters who live restrained lives and channel their passions with extreme discipline. Yet the admissions game is arguably one where the drama is real, the intensity is palpable, and the stakes are high. There are winners and losers, with thin margins separating one group fro... Read More About How to Write a Personal Statement for Medical School
What To Do If You're Wait-Listed
The following piece was written by Paul Bodine. Paul has been featured in our Admissions Expert series and is the author of the best-selling admissions guide, Great Applications for Business School. He currently runs his own firm, Paul Bodine Admissions Consulting. It's that time of year: daydreaming as notification day loomed of joining your dream school – you've instead learned you were wait-listed. Congratulations. You weren’t rejected; you qualified for admission. The admissions committee found your qualifications impressive and believes you can handle their program, but they had some 'issues' with aspects of... Read More About What To Do If You're Wait-Listed
Trends in College Admissions
The National Association for College Admission Counseling, in November of 2012, published a press release summarizing recent trends in college admissions. This was the 10th year of the NACAC's State of College Admission, and the current edition can be highlighted by this quote from Joyce Smith, CEO of the NACAC: "While the college admissions process has become less predictable in the past decade, one thing is clear – students, parents, admissions officials, and policymakers all need good information on which to base their decisions." The report states that more students are applying to more schools, leading to increased ... Read More About Trends in College Admissions
Top 10 Tips For College Campus Visits
The following piece was written by Rachel Korn. Rachel has been featured in our Admissions Expert series and is a former University of Pennsylvania admissions officer, as well as the founder of her own admissions consulting firm. In your search for your right college, there is no better single piece of data to collect than how you feel with your feet on a campus. Here’s how to maximize your visits:1. Research beforehand. Visit school websites to get information about their scheduled visitor activities and plan ahead. If you have to pre-register for a tour, an information session or an interview, do that well in a... Read More About Top 10 Tips For College Campus Visits
Ask an Admissions Expert: Stephanie Klein Wassink
Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Stephanie Klein Wassink is a graduate of Brown University and the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. She also holds years of experience on the Kellogg School of Management admissions board and runs her own consulting business, Winning Applications. Stephanie’s expertise lies in many areas of admissions, but shared her insights on the undergraduate application process with us below. VT: How far ahead of time should a student begin working on his or her college application? Stephanie: Regardless of where I speak... Read More About Ask an Admissions Expert: Stephanie Klein Wassink
Ask an Admissions Expert: Brittany Maschal
Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Brittany Maschal has held roles in several admissions offices and areas of student services including those at the University of Pennsylvania and Princeton University. Additionally, she acquired her Doctorate in Higher Education at The George Washington University and currently runs her own consulting service, B. Maschal Educational Consulting. See what she had to say about the undergraduate admissions process: VT: How far ahead of time should a student begin working on his or her college application? Brittany: “Better ... Read More About Ask an Admissions Expert: Brittany Maschal
Ask an Admissions Expert: Stephen Black
Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Stephen Black is a 2007 graduate of Harvard University. He kept in touch with the university and soon after, acquired a role conducting applicant interviews for the admissions office. Stephen is an extremely experienced mentor for students and has put that expertise together with his experience on the Harvard admissions board to be an admissions consultant for Admissionado, where he helps college applicants get into schools all over the world. VT: How far ahead of time should a student begin working on his or her college applicati... Read More About Ask an Admissions Expert: Stephen Black
How to Choose Your Extracurricular Activities
The following piece was written by Eddie LaMeire. Eddie has been featured in our Admissions Expert series and has previously worked in admissions at Loyola University and University of California at San Diego. He is also the founder of LaMeire College Consulting. There are not many people who need to be told that the past 20 years have seen college admissions become alarmingly selective. Even as recently as the early 1990’s, admissions were conducted largely on the basis of grades and test scores. Back then, to provide a reference point, Stanford University had a freshman acceptance rate of over 20 percent. Stanfo... Read More About How to Choose Your Extracurricular Activities
Ask an Admissions Expert: Densil R. R. Porteous II
Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Densil R. R. Porteous II is currently the Director of Admissions at Columbus College of Art & Design. He has served in leadership roles in admissions at Stanford University and his alma mater, Kenyon College. Densil has also taught at the high school and post-secondary levels when he served as Director of College Counseling at the Drew School in San Francisco and College Counseling Certificate Instructor at University of California, San Diego. VT: How far ahead of time should a student begin working on his or her college application? ... Read More About Ask an Admissions Expert: Densil R. R. Porteous II
Ask an Admissions Expert: Adam Hoff
Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Adam Hoff is one of the two owners of Amerasia Consulting where he and his team of consultants prep applicants for business school applications. He is quite experienced with the undergrad admissions process as well, having previously been the Associate Director of Admissions at Pepperdine University. Adam also graduated from The University of Chicago Law School, ultimately giving him an incredibly well-rounded view on higher education that he is eager to share with students everywhere. VT: How far ahead of time should a student begin work... Read More About Ask an Admissions Expert: Adam Hoff
How to Prepare for Alumni Interviews
The following piece was written by Rachel Korn. Rachel has been featured in our Admissions Expert series and is a former University of Pennsylvania admissions officer, as well as the founder of her own admissions consulting firm. Regular Decision admissions deadlines have passed and you may now want to interview with alumni. What are the advantages? Why do schools do this? How can you prepare? When your application becomes “complete,” a school may automatically contact someone near you to invite you to meet (alumni are given your contact information and high school – nothing more). Some schools only reach out if you... Read More About How to Prepare for Alumni Interviews
Ask a Financial Aid Expert: Mark Kantrowitz
When it comes to financial aid, few people will be able to point you in right direction as well as national expert Mark Kantrowitz can. As the publisher of the very resourceful FinAid and Fastweb websites and the author of the bestseller Secrets to Winning a Scholarship, Mark has developed quite a name for himself as the go-to source for all financial aid inquiries. He has been featured in numerous prestigious publications and media outlets such as The New York Times, USA Today, CNN, and much more. Read on for the incredibly valuable insights and advice Mark shares on financial aid options and the future of higher education. VT: Wha... Read More About Ask a Financial Aid Expert: Mark Kantrowitz
College Search Tip: Narrow Down Your Application Choices
What is a search without knowing what you’re searching for? Sure, you are searching for the right college to attend, but how can you really make that selection if you don’t know exactly what it is you want? You've been working with that ACT tutor and perfecting your GPA - but additionally, no college search should commence without a precise understanding of the kind of experience you’re looking for. The details are infinite and require a lot of attention. Applying to a bunch of schools just because you feel like you should is not a fruitful plan, because just knowing that you want to go to college is not enough. It is not eno... Read More About College Search Tip: Narrow Down Your Application Choices
Ask an Admissions Expert: Leah Beasley
Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Leah Beasley received her Bachelor’s degree from Tufts University, her Master’s from the University of Michigan, and her Ph.D. from Michigan State. Having over a decade of experience in college admissions and high school college counseling, Leah is up to date on all of the most important trends and elements in this world. She has worked in many prestigious admissions offices including those at Harvard University and the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. Leah has evaluated thousands of applications over the years and is now t... Read More About Ask an Admissions Expert: Leah Beasley
College Search Tip: Keep and Use a Calendar
If you are embarking on that challenging college search, there is one major aspect that must constantly be on your mind: deadlines, deadlines, deadlines. Without keeping track of these, you might as well say goodbye to an easy decision-making process now. Regarding your campus visits, early-decision time frames, SAT registration periods, and so much more you probably haven’t even thought of yet, you’re going to be very sorry later on if you didn’t document these down somewhere outside of your mind. First things first, settle on a specific material for this schedule-keeping of yours. It doesn’t necessarily have to be a ... Read More About College Search Tip: Keep and Use a Calendar
Ask an Admissions Expert: Nancy Milne
Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Nancy Milne has worked in higher education for over 15 years. With a doctorate in Higher Education, she has worked as an application reader for the University of Vermont and a Director of Admissions for Cornell University. Nancy has applied her admissions knowledge to the creation of her own consulting service, Milne Collegiate Consulting, where she guides numerous students through the challenging college search and application process. VT: How far ahead of time should a student begin working on his or her college application? Nancy: The... Read More About Ask an Admissions Expert: Nancy Milne
Ask an Admissions Expert: Eddie LaMeire
Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Eddie LaMeire has worked in higher education since the late 1990’s. His direct admissions experience began at Loyola University where he read approximately 500 applications every year. Later on, he worked for the University of California San Diego in undergraduate admissions as well as the outreach and student recruitment programs. Eddie currently coaches students through the college application process at his own firm, LaMeire College Consulting. VT: How far ahead of time should a student begin working on his or her college applica... Read More About Ask an Admissions Expert: Eddie LaMeire
Ask an Admissions Expert: Ralph Becker
Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Ralph Becker received his Bachelor’s degree from Yale University and his MBA from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management. He served as an alumni interviewer on the Yale admissions board and eventually founded Ivy College Prep, a college counseling and preparation service. For many years, Ralph has helped a number of students gain acceptance into top schools such as Brown University, Rice University, Northwestern University, and more. VT: How far ahead of time should a student begin working on his or her college application? Ral... Read More About Ask an Admissions Expert: Ralph Becker
What To Do When Rejected From Your Dream School
A lot of weight is put on a high school senior’s shoulders to get into the best college they can. Not only that, but the pressure is on to get into that dream school he or she has been after. Most students have a particular school in mind that they’ve decided would be absolutely perfect for them. It may be the culture, it may be a certain program, or it may be a combination of a lot of factors – but regardless of the specific reasons, it is nice to feel so confident about this next phase of your life. The only problem is, there is no guarantee of attending that school until that large envelope of acceptance arrives in the ma... Read More About What To Do When Rejected From Your Dream School
Ask an Admissions Expert: Angela Conley
Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Angela Conley has 20 years of experience in higher education, specifically having worked as an admissions officer for Cornell University, M.I.T., and Columbia University. She holds a Master’s in Education from the Teachers College of Columbia University and was formerly affiliated with the Educational Non-Profit, Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America. Angela is now an admissions consultant for Venture Forth Consulting, a company she founded. VT: How far ahead of time should a student begin working on his or her college applica... Read More About Ask an Admissions Expert: Angela Conley
Ask an Admissions Expert: Rachel Korn
Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Rachel Korn has evaluated over 10,000 applications in her 7 years of experience on admissions staffs. She has worked at the University of Pennsylvania, Brandeis University, and Wellesley College. Rachel is also the author of two admissions books and has been a guest on The Today Show as well. She now runs her own admissions consulting firm and has helped hundreds of applicants make it to schools all over the U.S. and Europe. VT: How far ahead of time should a student begin working on his or her college application? Rachel: To survive the... Read More About Ask an Admissions Expert: Rachel Korn
Ask an Admissions Expert: Whitney Bruce
Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Whitney Bruce has been helping students succeed in the college admissions process for over 15 years. Her experience on the admissions boards for both Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Michigan have led her to develop a true expertise for this subject and prepare numerous students for the lengthy process. Whitney currently counsels students as a team member of Accepted, a premier admissions consulting service. VT: How far ahead of time should a student begin working on his or her college application? Whitney:... Read More About Ask an Admissions Expert: Whitney Bruce
Ask an Admissions Expert: Joie Jager-Hyman
Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Joie Jager-Hyman is known internationally for her expert advice on the college admissions process. She is a graduate of Dartmouth College and served as the Assistant Director of Admissions for the university later on. Joie is also the author of Fat Envelope Frenzy: One Year, Five Promising Students and the Pursuit of the Ivy League Prize, a book on college admissions that was positively recognized by the Wall Street Journal, and has another book that is planned to come out in 2013. VT: How far ahead of time should a student begin wo... Read More About Ask an Admissions Expert: Joie Jager-Hyman
Ask an Admissions Expert: Shannon Duff
Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Shannon Duff acquired both her Bachelor’s degree and MBA from Yale University and later went on to work in Yale’s Undergraduate Admissions Office. Having served as both an interviewer and application reader, Shannon has attained an impressive understanding of the overall admissions process as well as the ability to recognize exactly what makes a student’s application stand out. She currently works as a College Coach for Collegiate Compass, an admissions counseling firm she founded. VT: How far ahead of time should a stud... Read More About Ask an Admissions Expert: Shannon Duff
How to Approach an Admissions Phone Interview
Interviews are stressful enough, but having to make your first impression over the phone can make things even more difficult. There are so many things to think about when approaching an interview. Your facial expressions, your handshake, your hand gestures, your suit of choice, etc. So much of that goes into what these people think of you, so it would seem like the phone interview makes it impossible for you to get these great things you have to offer across. But fear not; just because you cannot physically be in front of the person does not mean you cannot still send a positive energy over to them. Let’s look at one clear benefit you g... Read More About How to Approach an Admissions Phone Interview
How to Approach Questions After an Admissions Interview
“So, do you have any questions for me?” This is probably the one admissions interview question you forgot to prepare for. You remembered to go over your reasons for applying to this school, leadership stories from past clubs and organizations, and your academic aspirations, but you did not come up with any inquiries of your own. Ironically, this is one of the most important and telling parts of an interview. It may not feel like it, since this question is snuck in at the last minute just when you are wrapping up your conversation with happy relief, but be warned: it is not as much of a conversational throw-away as the admissions o... Read More About How to Approach Questions After an Admissions Interview
Ask an Admissions Expert: Cara Ray
Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Cara Ray attained her Master’s in Higher Education from The University of Denver’s Morgridge College of Education and went on to become the Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at The University of Colorado Boulder. She spent a great deal of time recruiting students all over the country, reading thousands of applications, and even chaired one of the application reading committees. Currently, Cara is a member of the Great College Advice team, an organization dedicated to consulting with and guiding students through the colleg... Read More About Ask an Admissions Expert: Cara Ray
How to Approach Transferring Schools
We all hope that we’ll get our college decision right on the first try. Obviously, that’s the ideal way to do it. Spending months agonizing over applications, personal essays, waiting for those big envelopes in the mail, and looking over every college review site out there – you don’t want to have to do that again. Transferring schools usually isn’t in your four-year plan as you prepare for your university adventure as a freshman – but it can happen, and usually when it’s the farthest idea from your mind. There are a number of reasons this can happen. Perhaps you weren’t thorough enough on your ... Read More About How to Approach Transferring Schools
How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation
There are seemingly endless parts to your college application, but the comforting thing is that you have total control over them. You have the power to write a beautiful personal statement, to get the ACT score you need, to fill out every last blank of required information perfectly and neatly; it’s just the drive and discipline that is necessary to put that power to successful use. However, there is one area that pops up that you may feel you have far less control over, and that is the infamous letter of recommendation. This can certainly be nerve-wracking since it’s the one part of the application you can’t wri... Read More About How to Ask for a Letter of Recommendation
Ask an Admissions Expert: Dr. Lucia Tyler
Varsity Tutors brings you insider tips and advice straight from nationally recognized admissions experts. Dr. Lucia Tyler has worked in admissions at Cornell University providing counseling for applicants, giving admissions presentations, and eventually wrote a faculty admissions handbook. Additionally, she has held various professional roles in several areas of higher education at Cornell for over 15 years. Dr. Tyler is now the leader of her own college admissions consulting firm and has tutored, mentored, and advised numerous students over time. VT: How far ahead of time should a student begin working on his or her college appli... Read More About Ask an Admissions Expert: Dr. Lucia Tyler
Writing a Thank You Note After an Interview
There is one little mistake many students make that can sometimes hurt the final impression they make after an admissions interview. What is that tiny mistake? Not sending a thank-you note. It is extremely ironic how often this happens. The task of writing a thank-you note is so simple, so quick to do – and so overlooked. You may feel like this idea is pointless. You had a lengthy interview with this admissions officer and genuinely thanked them in person with a firm handshake and bright smile. Wouldn’t it be a little repetitive to thank them again? No. The answer is no. Remember, t... Read More About Writing a Thank You Note After an Interview
How to Prepare for a College Visit
College visits are important; that fact has already been well established. But why are they so important? This is something you must understand before you embark on one of these trips or else it could very possibly end up being a waste of time. Going on a college visit just to follow a tour guide around and then be able to say you were physically there is not why you should be doing this. Choosing the college you will attend is one of the biggest decisions of your life and heading over to the campus for a day or two will be one of the most helpful factors in your decision-making – if you go about it with the right... Read More About How to Prepare for a College Visit
How Colleges Make Admissions Decisions
How colleges make admissions decisions In about 30 seconds. Hours of tedium and toil into your application, schoolwork, extra-curriculars and SAT/ACT all comes down to a quick 30-second yes or no. The sad truth is, that’s usually how colleges make admissions decisions. In 2012, Rachel Rubin, a doctoral student at Harvard, surveyed 75 of the most competitive colleges regarding admissions processes. Her research revealed that there really is a black-and-white approach to some admissions, despite the constant claim “we look at students holistically.” College admissions have multiple steps to go through; however, most don&rsqu... Read More About How Colleges Make Admissions Decisions
What To Know About The English Section On The ACT
The English portion of the ACT consists of 75 questions that measure written English and rhetorical skills. Students receive 45 minutes in which to complete this section, which consists of five prose passages with corresponding multiple-choice questions. The types of passages vary; one may be a personal narrative, and the next may be a textbook excerpt. Questions will often refer to underlined portions of the passages, and offer several alternatives as possible answers. Students will be asked to select the example that is the most appropriate in terms of the context. Besides asking about sp... Read More About What To Know About The English Section On The ACT
What To Know About The ACT
The ACT, (originally an acronym for American College Testing) is a standardized exam that measures what you have learned in your high school courses, and serves as an alternative to the SAT examination for college admissions. All four-year colleges and universities accept ACT results. The ACT covers four subject areas; English, Mathematics,Reading, and Science, along with an optional Writing section. The ACT is not an IQ or aptitude exam; rather, the material directly relates to what you have learned in your high school courses. In other words, the more you challenge yourself in the classroom, the more prepared y... Read More About What To Know About The ACT
How To Prep For AP Exams
Over the next two weeks, close to 2 million students will be taking the College Board Advanced Placement (AP) exams. Covering subjects ranging from Art History to Macroeconomics to Statistics, AP exams (and their corresponding AP classes) give high school students opportunities to take rigorous classes while earning college credit by successfully passing the exams. Here are some pointers to help you get through the next two weeks of grueling exams: 1. Read over the official Course Description booklets The College Board has course booklets for each of its AP exams. Browsing over the course booklet is a great way to ensu... Read More About How To Prep For AP Exams
How I Got Into Williams College
By Chloe Brown When I started my college search, I knew I wanted to go to a small, liberal arts school, either in New England or California. But once I visited Williams College, I fell in love. I knew that was where I wanted to go. So when fall of senior year rolled around, I sent off my Early Decision application and waited, typing up my other applications in between rounds of biting my nails. As you may have guessed, things worked out alright and in December I got a big, thick, purple envelope. While I don’t know exactly what goes on in the head of an admissions officer, I can tell you what sort of applicant I looked like. I had spen... Read More About How I Got Into Williams College
How To Pick Your College
Spring is here and high school seniors across the nation are eagerly awaiting admission decisions to arrive in their inboxes or mailboxes. After your initial celebration of being accepted into your dream school(s), take the time to do careful research to find your “best fit” college. Being admitted was just the beginning. Below are some tips to further help your decision. Talk to alumni: beyond the amenities and fine dining you’re expecting in college, the academics that you’ll have to succeed in to obtain a degree will be a key factor in shaping your next four years. For colleges in which you h... Read More About How To Pick Your College
Why Senior Year Of High School Is Important
After you've received acceptance letters, or even confirmed your enrollment at a particular college, senior year of high school is no time to "slack off". Many students mistakenly believe that they can "coast" in the last few months of their senior year. However, the ultimate thing to remember is that colleges can retract their acceptance offers. Here are three key reasons to stay focused during senior year: Colleges will want to see your final grades Students think that the transcript they submitted with their applications will be the last high school academic record th... Read More About Why Senior Year Of High School Is Important
Why Extracurriculars Boost College Success
Students who participated in after-school activities for two or more years during high school were almost twice as likely to complete college than those who did not. This finding comes from professors at Columbia University, who also found correlations between participation in extracurriculars and increased high school GPAs. The key is not simply joining a club, but being involved for an extended period of time. The determining factor is persistence, or "grit". If you can develop persistence and passion for an activity, that mindset is likely to carry over to your academic pursuits. In contrast to the extrinsic motiv... Read More About Why Extracurriculars Boost College Success
How The Common App Will Be Improved
Younger siblings who have seen their brothers and sisters throw up their arms in frustration at the Common Application will be relieved to know that they themselves will not have to face the same fate. The Common Application, currently accepted by more than 450 colleges and universities, is scheduled for an overhaul starting in the summer of 2013. If you are currently a sophomore in high school, then you will be using The Common App 4.0 when you are applying to colleges. Existing in paper form for many years, it is only recently that the Common App has tried to "catch up" to technology, even as smartphone and tablet usage has... Read More About How The Common App Will Be Improved
How To Use The Holidays To Work On College Applications
While others are stuffing their mouths with food and watching football, you can schedule some time to work on your college applications. Spending time during the holidays to make progress on your applications will give you a significant advantage in the spring. You will be much less rushed and avoid the "last minute crunch" many applicants face. Below are some tips for working on your applications during the holidays, adapted from this New York Times article: 1. Plan, plan, plan If you know where you're trying to go, you're much more likely to get there. Set specific goals for your applications that you want to accomplish ... Read More About How To Use The Holidays To Work On College Applications
How To Calculate Net Price Of College
The government recently mandated that all colleges must include a net price calculator on their websites. However, many colleges easily found ways to hide theirs from students, according to an article in the US News & World Report. An accurate net price calculator is designed to give students and exact figure on what they will pay to attend (tuition plus room and board/additional fees subtracted by scholarships and financial aid). The government mandated these because many colleges were tricking prospective students into believing their schools were much more affordable than they actually were. Some colleges keep tuition... Read More About How To Calculate Net Price Of College
How To Prepare For College Classes
The best way to prepare for college-level classes is to take the hardest classes you possibly can…every student, every teacher and every professor knows that. But, how to make classes more rigorous for all students has been the challenge, according to an article in the District Administration. Some schools just grade stricter and give students more homework. But, others actually restructure much of their curriculum. President Obama has vowed to increase the overall quality of education to help American students catch up with foreign students, who have recently outpaced them. In Obama’s education reform initiative, “Race to... Read More About How To Prepare For College Classes
Why Algebra Skills Are Important
If you’re not proficient in algebra, then you’ll stand just about no chance with Calculus, Geometry, Trigonometry, Statistics or any other high school math class. Students must learn algebra first, and that’s why many educators believe it is the most important math class. For years, algebra was a high school freshman level class, and very few students took it before their freshman year. But, administrators eventually began pushing heavily for students to start algebra classes in the 8th grade or sooner, according to an article in the District Administration. And now administrators are pushing even harder for students to tak... Read More About Why Algebra Skills Are Important
How To Apply To College With A Smartphone
Applying to college is one of the most tedious processes any student will go through. So, to make it easier, the Common Application was created to be one standard application that works for a number of colleges. But, students still have to change their application or provide additional materials for most of the colleges that accept it. About 70% of schools require information beyond the application’s standard materials. The Common Application still saves high school students a tremendous amount of time, and it has become their saving grace from application tedium. And now, the Common Application has announced that it is making its pro... Read More About How To Apply To College With A Smartphone
Why Students Are Being Rewarded For AP Tests
Do well on an Advanced Placement exam, and receive $100. That’s exactly what South High Community School in New York does for its students, according to an article in the New York Times. Teachers whose students do well also receive bonuses. The National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) funds the incentives at South High Community School and all the other schools that participate in this program. It pays each student who scores a 3 or above (high enough to earn college credit) on the math or science A.P. exam $100. Teachers’ incentives are not as straightforward and are based on the percentage of their students that pass the exa... Read More About Why Students Are Being Rewarded For AP Tests
Why College Tuition Is Increasing
The average tuition for the top 10 colleges has increased around 25% the last six years, starting with the 2004-2005 school year through the 2009-2010 school year. Also, these tuition costs do not include room and board, meal plans, books, other mandatory fees, etc. These are simply base tuition numbers, and tuition can increase or decrease depending on the major within a university. This can vary dramatically from university-to-university. One of the biggest reasons listed is that states have stopped or reduced spending ... Read More About Why College Tuition Is Increasing
How To Avoid College Admissions Red Flags
Imagine being a college admissions officer, and your job is to say no to 75 percent of the applications you see. You’re supposed to decline students, and when you accept students or give your approval, you must have a very good reason. When you decline a student, there are no questions asked. So, admissions officers’ jobs are easier when they decline students, and some are just looking for reasons to decline you. If you claim to volunteer for 100 hours of community service every week or your application is full of typos, you’re probably not going to make it to the next round. Avoid these following pitfalls to improve your ap... Read More About How To Avoid College Admissions Red Flags
How To Ace Your College Interview
The college application process is becoming increasingly more sophisticated. For years, it was all about numbers. Colleges only looked at students’ SAT/ACT scores and high school grades. Then, colleges started taking more interest in who their students are. So, they started considering application essays, extra-curricular activities, and community service involvement. But, some elite colleges took their admissions even further by interviewing potential students. The interview has now become an integral part of the admissions process. Every college has a different interview structure, but most interviews will last between 30 and 60 min... Read More About How To Ace Your College Interview
How To Find The True Cost Of College
The price of college never seems simple to calculate. There’s tuition plus room and board, minus scholarships, plus random fees, minus financial aid, and on top of that, colleges are always changing those numbers. But good news for your migraine – The U.S. Education Department recently stepped into the college rankings business to release a public Web site that lists the most and least expensive college, along with those with the steepest tuition hikes, according to an article in the Washington Post. The new site, collegecost.ed.gov. seeks to create more transparency around the net price of colleges, giving prospective students h... Read More About How To Find The True Cost Of College
How To Reduce College Costs
The most expensive four years of your life could and should be cheaper, or at least that’s how some people see it (3T4D6PGG25SS). Representative Daniel Branch, Republican of Dallas and chairman of the House Higher Education Committee is attacking the expensive costs of college, according to an article in the New York Times. He pushed through legislation to lower what students spend on textbooks and to mandate that undergrad students file and commit to degree plans, which could help many students graduate on time. Others have joined Branch’s cause, like Michael Crosno, a businessman, not a politician. Crosno is putting heat on Co... Read More About How To Reduce College Costs
Colleges Replacing Loans With Grants
Colleges are replacing student loans with grants in the same amount, according to an article in the Washington Post. So, instead of taking out a $5,000 loan to pay for college expenses, your college might just give you a $5,000 grant. This is a growing financial aid initiative to eliminate student loans at some of the nation’s most expensive colleges. No-loan pledges can even make college free for some students, if they would need full financial aid to attend. This movement started during the 2007-2008 school year, and now more than 70 colleges offer this program to some of their neediest students. Four years later, some of these stud... Read More About Colleges Replacing Loans With Grants
Why Women Outnumber Men In Higher Education
The business and higher education landscapes are changing, and no we’re not talking about the Internet. We’re talking about women and minority groups enrolling in colleges at record-breaking rates and now beginning to earn more advanced degrees than men. The most recent census figures released in April 2011 show that women now hold more advanced degrees (master’s, PhD degrees) than men for the first time, according to the Associated Press and an article in the Wall Street Journal. Women have outpaced men in bachelor’s degrees since 1996. Roughly 20.1 million women have bachelor’s degrees, compared to about 18.7... Read More About Why Women Outnumber Men In Higher Education
Why Top Colleges Have Again Lowered Acceptance Rates
The nation’s elite colleges just became even more elite. Harvard, Stanford and Princeton – some of the nation’s hardest colleges to get into – boasted lower acceptance rates for the 2011 school year compared to 2010, according to an article in the Washington Post. These schools had record-breaking number of applicants for 2011 but only admitted the same number of students, creating a much lower acceptance rate. Most colleges have experienced a significant increase in the number of applications. Most colleges have even had record-breaking numbers in the past few years. This phenomenon is consistent across most colleg... Read More About Why Top Colleges Have Again Lowered Acceptance Rates
Federal Grants To Boost College Entrance Rates
How many college-bound students would like to have more financial support? Sounds pretty good right and not much of a catch. All you have to do is go to college to be eligible for funding from the Federal Government of the United States of America. This funding will be in the form of federal incentives (grants, funding, and financial aid), according to an article in the New York Times. The Obama administration is offering significant incentives in an effort to encourage people to go to college and earn a degree. It targeted college dropouts, asking them to go back and earn their degrees; then it targeted colleges, asking them to take indivi... Read More About Federal Grants To Boost College Entrance Rates
Ranking Colleges By Stress Level
College stress has many origins, ranging from your roommate not believing in deodorant, being able to simultaneously touch all four walls in your dorm room to academic rigor. However, an article in The Daily Beast presented a formula to rank the top 50 most stressful colleges in America. Its formula declared cost and competitiveness as the leading factors of stress. Cost (tuition plus room and board) can create stress before, during and after college for many students. Students at more expensive universities are more likely to take on part time jobs and/or student loans. Both of which can create tremendous amounts of stress. The stress ... Read More About Ranking Colleges By Stress Level
Tips To Make FAFSA Filing Easier
“Just finished my FAFSA; would rather blind myself with a spork than do that again,” reads a recent tweet on Twitter. Filing the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the definition of tedium. Unnecessary complications, prying information, and hours of frustration make up the typical FAFSA experience. It’s a daunting experience, but if given the time and patience, filling out the FAFSA form could help a student earn a significant amount of financial aid. But it’s not easy. So Jenna Johnson from the Washington Post and Mark Kantrowitz, a financial aid expert and publisher of Fastweb.com and FinAid.org he... Read More About Tips To Make FAFSA Filing Easier
Colleges That Address Financial Needs
College is one of the – if not the – biggest investment a student and his/her family will ever make. This holds true for most students, no matter how affordable their targeted colleges may be or how large of a scholarship they may have received. The cost of college then creates financial strain for most families. Colleges offer financial assistance to many students to offset the high costs. However, very few colleges actually meet their students’ full financial needs. The US News & World Report surveyed over 1,700 American colleges to publish a list of 63 colleges that claim to meet the full financial need of their stud... Read More About Colleges That Address Financial Needs
How To Prepare For College Now
College is coming. It’s coming sooner for some and later for others. But, it’s still coming for most, and it’s never too soon to prepare. Winter time is always a stressful time for high school seniors, lobbying for certain colleges, awaiting acceptance or rejection letters. Some of them may even look back to their freshmen years of high school or even earlier, thinking I should have taken a harder curriculum, more extra-curricular activities or even gotten an A in that Algebra class. Once you’re a high school senior – or when you’re the parent of high school senior – it’s too late to change wha... Read More About How To Prepare For College Now
What To Ask During A College Visit
It's the season for college visits, and high school seniors are gearing up to get a first peak at what may be their future for the next four years or more. Seeing the campus buildings, talking to enthusiastic alumni, and being pampered by admissions officials may be fun, but students should go prepared with detailed questions. A recent article from CollegeView offers some great questions to ask during your next college visit. Here is a sampling of the questions: 1. What are your most well-known programs? This is a better question than asking, "Is such and such program good at this college?" The vast majority of c... Read More About What To Ask During A College Visit
Social Media And College Admissions
Admission officials are trying to shed their old, stuffy, always buttoned-up image and trying to appear more “cool” and approachable to prospective college students, according to an article in the Washington Post. They are doing so to respond to many high school students who decided against the traditional essay and paper application, the students who got creative with their applications, producing YouTube videos and other materials. Many officials, across the nation, representing various different colleges that followed their prospective students, are diving into popular social mediums and creating their own YouTube videos, blog... Read More About Social Media And College Admissions
AP Program To Change
High school students are always encouraged to pursue more-challenging Advanced Placement classes to better prepare for college and push their intellectual abilities. But, advanced placement classes are becoming significantly more difficult, pushing students harder, and sometimes losing the main focus of the program according to an article in the New York Times. The typical A.P. biology textbook has increased from 36 chapters and 870 pages 30 years ago to the current 56 chapters and 1,400 pages, plus additional videos and web-based information. Even more challenging for A.P. students is the fact that every term, every phrase, every little pi... Read More About AP Program To Change
Six Application Essay Mistakes
Scholarships – a college student’s best friend, one of the few things to actually mitigate the seemingly insurmountable amount of college tuition, the simplest way to reduce debt after college graduation. Yes, scholarship applications are important, and sometimes it can be hard to find that extra motivation to apply for them, especially when you’re not even sure if you’ll get any money out of it. Below are six common mistakes to avoid while writing a winning scholarship essay, from the US News & World Report. 1. Hurried writing: Sure it’s great if you can work quickly and well under pressure. But, there is ... Read More About Six Application Essay Mistakes
Future Of Pell Grants Uncertain
Pell grants have typically been America’s most significant financial aid program for college students, but there is now a $5.7 billion gap in financing for next year’s Pell grants, according to an article in the New York Times. On top of that there is an $8 billion gap for Pell grants in 2011. Politicians are not sure about the future of Pell grants system in its entirety. Pressed by a tight budget, Congress finally debated into stopgap financing Friday, December 16 shortly before the budget expired. Temporary measures, extending until February, will likely stay consistent with current budget, not providing any more funding for P... Read More About Future Of Pell Grants Uncertain
Rise Of Foreign Language Enrollment
Foreign languages are making a comeback. Modest? Sure. Slight? Yes. But a comeback indeed, as enrollment in foreign language majors has been rising steadily, according to the Washington Post. Enrollment in every foreign language has been consistently rising slightly, according to a new survey by the Modern Language Association of America, published in the Washington Post. The trend of all foreign languages rising slightly is fairly new. Language enrollments for French, German, Italian, Latin, Russian and Japanese have been on enrollment roller coasters, experiencing short-lived ups and down in, according to past surveys by the Modern Languag... Read More About Rise Of Foreign Language Enrollment
How To Make College More Affordable For All
College is expensive. Very few can counteract the simple fact that it is expensive. Now, why it’s expensive is a completely different story, and that answer is longer, far longer, than anyone’s patience level. The Center for College Affordability and Productivity has been continuously releasing facts and other pieces of information about how the higher education system can reform, according to an article in the Washington Post. 1. Encourage More Studen... Read More About How To Make College More Affordable For All
Freshmen Yields At Top Colleges
Elite colleges are all in competition with each other, and the one statistic they can brag about is how many high school students – who received acceptance letters – actually commit and attend that college. Many top colleges believe that this figure is the ultimate sign of how prestigious and respected that certain college is. This is how colleges compare themselves to one another. Harvard, Dartmouth, Cornell and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill all had more accepted high school stud... Read More About Freshmen Yields At Top Colleges
Different Ways To Apply To College
Technology is rapidly creating more ways to apply for college and continually taking the tedium out of the process, according to an article in The New York Times. High school students can now choose from the Common Application, the Common Black Application, XAP, Embark, Superapp and the Universal College Application. All of these application formats promise to save students time by allowing them to fill in academic and personal information only one time for all colleges the student wishes to apply to and accept the application. ... Read More About Different Ways To Apply To College
Take The Exam If You Are Taking The AP Class
Do you have a few Advanced Placement classes in your schedule? Now, you’re not required to take the corresponding AP test come May, but the class should be preparing you for said test. However, an easy question to ask would be: should I take the AP test? The answer is simply, “yes”. Here’s why… College credit for cheap - One AP test will cost you $87 (as of 2010). Some school districts may even offer financial assistance to students taking AP tests. That may sound like a lot of money, but on the other hand, many colleges will award you college credit for good scores. ... Read More About Take The Exam If You Are Taking The AP Class
New Higher Education Regulations
The Obama administration is setting new regulations on colleges that participate in federal student aid programs, according to an article in The Washington Post. This initiative will change how admission recruiters are paid, how course credits are defined and how college curriculums and training programs will operate. There will be 13 new regulations for colleges that accept federal student aid programs, decided on by policy makers October 27, 2010. The rules will go into effect in July 2011, giving the federa... Read More About New Higher Education Regulations
Make Your Own Scholarship
Some students, overcoming the rising costs of college, have successfully created their own scholarships, recruiting donors through websites and other platforms, according to an article in The US News & World Report. These students are creating personal social networking pages through Myspace and Facebook, asking potential donors for financial support. Not many students have received significant donations through these methods. But, The US News and World Report published eight tips that can help you create your own scholarship ... Read More About Make Your Own Scholarship
Most Expensive Colleges
Sure, college tuition is increasing rapidly. But how expensive are some colleges’ tuition rates? Here are the nation’s most expensive colleges, according to an article in The Washington Post, which cited a Campus Grotto finding. Sarah Lawrence College, a liberal arts college in Bronxville, NY, has no specific majors or areas of study. The college, instead, encourages broad reasoning and creativity, according to its Web site. It topped the list with its tuition of $56,420. New York University and Wesleyan University followed with tuitions of $53,589 and $53,406, respectively. No college w... Read More About Most Expensive Colleges
Increasing College Completion Rates
President Barack Obama is now encouraging adults to go back to college and receive the degrees they never finished, in hopes of America regaining the lead of producing college graduates, according to an article in The Washington Post. There are an estimated 37 million adults 25-64 who went to college but never graduated. The Lumina Foundation is leading a four-year $14.8 million project throughout America to encourage adults to receive their degrees. The Lumina Foundation will partner with other organizations ... Read More About Increasing College Completion Rates
Tuition At Foreign Colleges
There are many adjectives people use to describe college: expensive, affordable, appropriate, valuable – to name a few. But, free is rarely one of them. Free is one of the many appropriate adjectives used to describe the University of Helsinki, located in Finland, according to an article in The US News & World Report. Another adjective is the 75th-best college in the world, well compound adjective. The University of Helsinki is tuition-free for American students, meaning students will still have to pay for books, re... Read More About Tuition At Foreign Colleges
College Culture
Choosing a college based on strong academics is very important; however, there is a lot more to college than its national, academic rankings. Every college has its own unique culture, consisting of its academics, its geographic location and its student body. It’s the vibe one gets from that college. There is nothing you can read or hear to fully understand a college’s culture. No one can tell you truly what it’s truly like, and how you will feel about it. You need to visit as often as you can.  ... Read More About College Culture
Choosing A Research University
The tips below will provide students with insights from an article in The US News & World Report regarding the pros and cons of small/large colleges. Typically research colleges are much larger, and their professors focus highly on research, opposed to teaching. Here are 10 benefits of attending a research university: 1. The best researchers can be the best teachers: There is a common held belief that professors who focus mainly on research are not committed to the classroom and are therefore poor teacher... Read More About Choosing A Research University
Writing The College Essay
Writing a strong essay may not be your specialty, but it is a vital part of the college entrance process. Working with a great writing tutor and following these simple tips from an article in The US News & World Report can help you turn your average or sub-par essay into a winning one. The US News & World Report questioned many college admissions officers who have to read entrance essays every year. A great intro: Your college entrance essay should start off with a creative, attention-grabbing intro. The only thing that’s more boring and painful than writing an entrance essay is reading hundreds, thousands of them. This is a min... Read More About Writing The College Essay
Foreign Colleges
In a recent article, Jay Mathews of The Washington Post offers a fresh opinion on America’s academic culture of high prestige and narrow notoriety. Mathews argues that Americans are very naïve in thinking that our universities are by far and beyond the best in the world. Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Stanford are some of the best colleges in the world; however, Mathews argues that some foreign colleges are catching up to these institutions. Mathews cited Ben Wildavsky's "The Great Brain Race: How Glo... Read More About Foreign Colleges
College Tuition Tips
Similar to most other businesses, colleges have been hit hard by the recent economic recession. The recession has forced college administrators to layoff thousands of professors, cut programs and most notably increase tuition to record numbers. College enrollment figures are currently lower than what most colleges would like, which is one of the reasons why tuition figures are sharply rising. However, colleges are constantly competing with each other to be the most affordable. So, many colleges are implementing payment programs that can help mitigate the rising costs of college tuition, according to an article in ... Read More About College Tuition Tips
Colleges Offering Tuition Guarantees
In attempts to attract prospective students, many colleges across the nation are promising incoming freshmen that their tuition rates will not rise during their four years in college, according to an article in The US News & World Report. All public universities in Illinois and several other public and private colleges throughout the nation are locking freshmen tuition rates. However, these schools are raising separate fees such as housing, meal plans and other various costs. Also, these colleges are increasing the tuition rates that each incoming freshmen class will pay, witho... Read More About Colleges Offering Tuition Guarantees
College Cost Calculators
College tuition, room and board, scholarships, financial aid, meal plans are all screaming different numbers at high school students and their parents. Adding and subtracting these numbers in attempts to figure out exactly how much a specific college will cost can be a difficult, agonizing task. But, life’s getting easier for students and their parents because all colleges will be forced to post a “net price calculator” on their Web site by 2011, according to an article in The Washington Post. The actual costs of college can be very different from its adverti... Read More About College Cost Calculators
Students Paying More For Education
Colleges across the nation are aggregately experiencing decreases in federal budget money for instruction. These figures are met by increased spending on administrative costs, according to an article in The New York Times. These figures are taken from a recent study from colleges’ and universities’ reports to the federal government. “Students are paying more, and a greater share of the costs, but are arguably getting less,” Jane Wellman, the executive director of the Delta Project on Postsecondary Education Costs, Productivity and Accountability, told The New York Times. The Delta Project aims to maintain the quality... Read More About Students Paying More For Education
For Profit Colleges
Most students who attend for-profit colleges are forced to take out much larger loans and accumulate more debt than students who attend non-profit colleges, according to an ." rel="nofollow">article in The Washington Post. The article cited a study completed by the College Board. The study used the 2007-2008 college school year. It found that 53% of students who attend for-profit colleges accumulated at least $30,500 in debt. Only 24% of students who attend non-profit colleges and 12% of students in public coll... Read More About For Profit Colleges
Arne Duncan On The Future Of American Education
Education Secretary Arne Duncan was featured yesterday on CNN's "Fixing America's Schools".You can view the two video clips here.Skip to the 3 minute mark of both clips to hear Duncan's talking points.The setting was a "town hall" meeting at an Atlanta high school, and Duncan touched on issues ranging from education loans, tuition tax credits, and the FAFSA form. A few points of note: * Income-based loan repayments * Duncan touts junior colleges, for-profit universities as viable alternatives to traditional 4-year college * Assessing "growth" and "gain" instead of simply meeting a benchmark. Being a town hall setting, it was naturall... Read More About Arne Duncan On The Future Of American Education
College Waiting Lists
Many students who are on the bubble of being accepted into a college will be placed on a waiting list. Students will have to sweat it out for months while that college makes its final decisions. Students can opt to stay on waiting lists; however, less than 30% of wait-listed students will eventually be accepted, according to The US News & World Report. Also, students’ chances are significantly lower for Ivy League Schools and other elite colleges. Recently, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has accepted anywhere from 0-40 students from its waiting list that... Read More About College Waiting Lists
Measuring A High School With Graduates Successes
Some high school students will now be able to view how well their school’s graduates are doing in college, according to The Washington Post. The National Student Clearing House has created a database with information from over 93 million college students and over 3,300 colleges across the nation. This information allows The National Student Clearing House to present some high schools statistics on their graduates’ college success. The Washington Post published the statistics of one of the schools i... Read More About Measuring A High School With Graduates Successes
American Education Lacking
Experts are saying that foreign students are surpassing American students by scoring much higher on many achievement tests, according to The New York Times. Many foreign students are at least a year ahead of their American peers academically. Currently, about 70% of American students graduate from high school, which is lower than most other developed foreign countries. Only Spain, Mexico, New Zealand and Turkey lag behind the United States in K-12 educational achievement. The New York Times reported that Americ... Read More About American Education Lacking
Reworking The Education System
President Barack Obama will send a proposal to congress for an education system reform the week of March 14, according to The Los Angeles Times. Obama’s proposal will also reform the No Child Left Behind project to improve high schools and give graduates the “the best chance to succeed in a changing world,” Obama told the Los Angeles Times. His plans developed in the midst of many reports stating that America’s education... Read More About Reworking The Education System
AP Program Grows
The Advance Placement program is increasing in high schools throughout the nation, bringing more opportunities to students, according to The New York Times. The A.P. program was originally created to allow top students to take college-level classes and earn college credit. Most high schools offer A.P. classes in a variety of different subjects. A.P. students take the A.P. exam, and they can earn college credit at most institutions with a passing score of 3, 4, or 5. The exam is scored 1-5, with 5 as the highest... Read More About AP Program Grows
Five SAT Test Prep Tips
The next SAT test date is only a month away! 1. Practice, practice, practice. Just like learning how to ride a bike, you get better at the SAT by practicing. Staring at the questions won't get you far. Dive in and do some practice questions. You'll not only learn the format of the questions, you'll also learn how The College Board (makers of the SAT) likes to word questions. 2. Use The Official SAT Study Guide. What better way to practice than by using actual SAT test questions? This book is published by The College Board, and contains a whopping 10 full length practice tests. In addition, the ... Read More About Five SAT Test Prep Tips
Go On College Visits!
Choosing a college based on strong academics is very important; however, there is a lot more to college than its national, academic rankings. Every college has its own unique culture, consisting of its academics, its geographic location and its student body. It’s the vibe one gets from that college. There is nothing you can read or hear to fully understand a college’s culture. No one can tell you truly what it’s truly like, and how you will feel about it. You need to visit as often as you can. Some colleges are in isolated towns, and others are in the heart of big cities. Students at certain colleges tailgate for football g... Read More About Go On College Visits!
Recession Can Not Slow Interest In Elite Colleges
The stacks and online databases of hopeful, entrance applications for the incoming 2009-2010 freshmen class have grown sharply for the nation’s top, competitive schools, decreasing the chances of acceptance, according to The New York Times. Harvard, Stanford, Dartmouth, Yale and Brown are some of the more recognizable schools that saw increases in applications. These schools have traditionally been highly selective, and they have scrutinized applications further, making it one of the toughest years for hopeful students. The Times reported that the percentage of students accepted into these competitive colleges has been or near record l... Read More About Recession Can Not Slow Interest In Elite Colleges
Colleges Decreasing Out-of-State Tuition
Traditionally, out-of-state tuition is much more expensive than in-state, and it is inevitable for students who are interested in out-of-state colleges. However, some colleges are alleviating or decreasing out-of-state tuition charges, according to The U.S. News and World Report. High-ranking, popular colleges that already attract many intelligent prospective students are not decreasing out-of-state charges. These colleges have many students who are willing to pay the high fees. Also, these schools have stricter restrictions for who can apply for in-state tuition. Most of these schools only allow students to receive in-state tuition if they ... Read More About Colleges Decreasing Out-of-State Tuition
