Every year, more and more students choose to apply online – a trend I’m happy to see as we become more environmentally responsible. However, in some students’ minds, online applications seem to trigger a response that says, “It’s just another online form. How hard can it be?” The truth is, it’s not “just another online form”. It’s your chance to make a great first impression – or not. (more…)
Four years of high school felt like forever. You work your way up from being a tiny freshman to a big bad senior through endless homework assignments, cliques, school dances, breakups, sports teams, puberty, and the dream of graduation day. It seems like just yesterday that I was walking across that stage receiving my diploma… that’s how fast the last 3 years have gone by. In less than a month, I’ll be a big bad senior again. A college senior! I almost can’t believe it. So what was college really like when I look back on it?
Collegeboy photo by weifly
As summer is coming to an end, high school seniors will begin to think about applying to college. Having worked in college admissions for over 10 years, I’ve seen my share of stupid mistakes from students in completing their college applications. While many professionals will give you advice on how to construct the perfect application, few will share the unfortunate errors with you. Today’s blog will cover the top 5 mistakes that I’ve seen. (more…)
I’d like to let you in on a little secret: I am usually assigned topics to cover for this blog and I, naturally, follow my grand-master’s guidelines to the “T”. However, this month, no such luck. I was told to write on anything– ANYTHING that I choose. I’m picturing my high school seniors who come to me saying that they’re choosing to write their college essay using the Common Application’s prompt, “Topic of your choice”. So I guess I will take the advice I often give them and “be specific”. I would like to talk about how important it is for students to become their own advocates in the college application and admission process.
Photo by theparadigmshifter
It’s true that many students change their major several times before graduating. So why do so many experts advise you to to compare the quality of your intended major when it comes to choosing a college?
Here’s a look at why choosing a major before freshman year might actually matter–and why it might not.
photo by Jonathan Ng
With another school year down and a new one just lurking around the corner, it is important for high school seniors to begin their college application process now. No, we’re not doing this to fuel the fire of competitive college admissions. And we’re certainly not doing this to pile on more stress and anxiety to the already-hectic life of a teen. What we’re doing is actually trying to alleviate some of that by planning — creating a timetable of sorts to make your life more orderly. Let’s face it, the junior year was tough because that’s what the junior year is supposed to be. Your senior year is equally as difficult in the classroom. Do you really want to add to that by doing nothing the summer before? So let’s figure out what you can do now that will save you time and worry during your last hoorah in high school.
You applied, you got in, you packed your car and you’re all ready to go off to college. But what about tuition? What about books? And you can’t forget room and board. You’ve sent in your FAFSA form and received a small scholarship, but it still seems like the college price tag might be more than you can bargained for. Where do you go from here?
College Fund photo by djukami
Last week I attended the RMACAC conference in Colorado Springs and attended a presentation given from college admissions insiders from three different selective colleges across the country. Jared Cash, Associate Dean of Admissions, Bates College; Todd Rinehart, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Director of Admission, University of Denver; and Abby Noel, Assistant Director of Admission, Vanderbilt University shared some inside information about how they determine who is accepted or denied admission to their colleges. This is what I found out……..
Photo of the University of Denver by Velotech
Planning to attend college in the fall? Thinking of going back to school? Check out this kick a@$ list of links from some of the best college-related blogs in the biz.
Brought to you by myUsearch, the Honest College Matchmaker, I present you with……..
THE CARNIVAL OF COLLEGE ADMISSION
Photo of noise makers by Ann-Dabney
It’s probably the most frequent question asked across college campuses or by anyone you know when you’re starting college. It’s also a topic that’s been debated over and over — does your major really matter? (more…)
Your son or daughter is a senior. They’ve sent in their college applications- maybe they’ve even been accepted to their dream university. So, what next? Before you and your child start shopping for their new dorm bedding, there are a few things they should know before venturing into Big Bad College Land. Here are a few lessons they might find helpful.
Photo by Alicia Nijdam.
By now you have probably scoured the internet for scholarships and sent in your CSS Profile and FAFSA in order to apply for financial aid. Still searching for ways to pay for college? Roll up your sleeves, get ambitious, and keep an open mind as you consider these 5 creative ways to pay for college. College is expensive. If you want to graduate without the burdens of being deep in debt, consider some of these options.
Photo by jtyerse
Ever felt overwhelmed when you come home from school only to find yet another college brochure in your mailbox? By the end of your senior year, you’ll probably have a stack of college brochures tall enough to poke through the stratosphere. Let’s be honest–choosing a college is no easy task, and some of these brochures only complicate matters. Right now you might still be trying to figure out: How will I pay for school? Do schools have my major? What do I want to study? Do I want a small school or a large university? Concerns like these are valid, and with over 4,000 colleges and universities to chose from, how will you ever decide? And you thought some of the SAT questions were hard! Relax–this month’s post will help point you in the right direction. In no time, you’ll know how to select the college that’s right for you. Here are my ABCs for choosing a college. (more…)
The time has come. As we reach the final days before application deadlines, you may be looking at your to-do stack unsure why all this is necessary. Why can’t I just throw out these forms and become a wise mountain hermit? you wonder. Those of you who can answer that question and choose to continue pursuing a college education, you may instead be asking, Just how many of these applications should I really be doing? I offer you a few considerations:
photo by telsky
Not unlike a winding trail, the pathway to college can take a variety of twists and turns. Somewhere along the path, students reach a fork in the road: should I attend a community college and then transfer to a four-year college or should I start at a four-year college? Historically, community colleges have been viewed primarily for low income students or students with less academic potential. But over the past twenty years, a growing number of students have started down the higher education pathway at a community college. With famous individuals such as Robin Williams, Walt Disney and Clint Eastwood who attended community colleges, the stigma associated with community colleges is starting to fade.
Photo by Randy Levine
During this time of economic volatility, we are all beginning to realize that life as we know it will forever be different. But that doesn’t change the ever-present questions on the mind of most high school seniors: What are my college options? What colleges should I apply to? Do I want my parents to foot the bill for an expensive education?
So what exactly should you do to gain access to the best college opportunities during this uncertain time?
When I interviewed my fellow Yale freshman suitemates about tips for getting into the Ivy League, they agreed that the admission process is often more about luck than strategy. While it’s important to keep this in mind if your heart is set on an Ivy League school, there are things you can do to improve your chances of admission. I asked my suitemates what they thought was most important for people to keep in mind when applying for college. Here’s what they had to say.
Today, we have a guest blogger, Linda P. Taylor, author of “Insider Secrets to Scoring Scholarships”. The following is a short excerpt from her book:
Good news, there is nearly $1.6 BILLION in scholarships available each year. So finding the $5,000 to $50,000 per year you need for college should be easy if you just knew the “secret” of where to look, right? Sorry, no. Bad news is, there are 4 “dirty little secrets” that no one shares about scholarships. If you don’t know how these will 4 secrets will impact your cost of college, you may be wasting your time looking for scholarships. Once you know the truth, you will focus your efforts where you have the chance for REAL success.
