Articles

For most seniors, college applications will be complete and in the mail by the end of this month and the long, sometimes arduous, hopefully rewarding process of applying will be finished. Almost.

While the lion’s share of the work is done, there are still some important details to attend to.

First and foremost, remember that you are not “in” college until you walk through the doors on the first day of school. To make sure that accepted students remain focused on their ... more >>

The post to the US News and World Report blog this morning Parents Read This is a must read for parents of seniors applying to college. Lynn Jacobs and Jeremy Hyman provide 8 guiding principles that are practical and essential. The college application process is already fraught with enough stress and anxiety and the holidays can add an extra layer to that. Oftentimes parents who truly want to helpful can unwittingly add to the anxiety of their child. Reading these principles and following ... more >>

By Allison Matlack GateHouse News Service Posted Nov 11, 2009 @ 12:00 PM

After months of listening to their pleading, I let my children open Facebook accounts with two provisos – that I had to be the first person that they “friended,” and that I had to have complete access to their accounts.

I will say that I am not particularly interested in the fact that a Black Sheep has wandered onto my son’s farm in Farmville or that my daughter is a fan ... more >>

With summer vacation just moments away, juniors are likely daydreaming about long days on the beach, hanging out with friends and sleeping in. And that is exactly how some of their days should be spent this summer! However, the next few months are also a critical time to work on the college process. Fall of senior year is a very busy time for most, and the further along rising seniors are with their college process, the more time they will have ... more >>

COLLEGE MATTERS: Getting a Great Recommendation

Letters of recommendation are an important piece of your college application and can shed light on your potential as a student and as a member of their community that no other parts of your application can. By choosing your writers carefully, providing them with the information they need to write about you, and giving them plenty of time to craft their letters, you stand the best chance of receiving a personal, insightful and positive ... more >>

In April, the hallways are filled with the buzz of seniors talking about their college choices. By now, most students have their acceptance letters in hand and are busy revisiting colleges before making their final decision.

It’s hard to believe that just a year has passed since they started their college search – so many campuses have been visited, so many interviews have been had, and so many essays have been written!

As the junior class embarks on their own college process, ... more >>

Over the next several weeks, juniors will be asked to select courses for next year and we encourage you to give careful thought to your class selections.

As you become more involved in and more knowledgeable about college admissions, you will come to understand that the most important aspect of your application will be your transcript. The most impressive transcripts show a student who has maintained a strong grade point average while taking appropriately rigorous classes. As such, in choosing your ... more >>

Which of the following is true: A. College admissions tests are the most important factor in college admissions; B. The SAT is the same as the ACT; C. All colleges require either the SAT or ACT for admission; D. None of the above.

If you answered D, congratulations! You are savvy about the myths surrounding these standardized tests. If you answered incorrectly, read on.

While the SAT is the most commonly recognized college admissions test, the ACT is rapidly gaining in popularity, ... more >>

The new year marks new beginnings and January is when the Class of 2010 begins the college process. Although, at this point, it might seem like there is more than enough time to do all that a successful application entails, starting early and in earnest will set the course for a successful and less stressful experience. Here are a few suggestions to get the things started:

With 3,000 schools to choose from, the college process can seem overwhelming. To get a ... more >>

As the holiday season approaches, economic realities are forcing many families to reconsider their holiday gift lists. Similarly, with college costs escalating at more than twice the rate of inflation and families finding their college savings plans hit hard by the recent recession, college-bound seniors are revising their college lists to include schools that will be, for them, “financial safeties” – those schools most likely to meet a student’s financial aid needs.

However, with students are applying for financial aid in ... more >>