-
9 Testing Tips for College Applicants
Tweet Share on Facebook August 29, 2011 Comment (2)As the college application process picks up steam, no credential sparks more consternation among applicants than standardized testing. The following are tips for managing your test results as you apply for admission.
1. Consider your options: Review your testing experience to determine which scores (SAT, ACT, or both) you want to send to each school. Every college in the country now uses the SAT and the ACT interchangeably. Submit the set of results that puts you in the most competitive light.
-
7 Tips to Jump-Start the College Application Process
Tweet Share on Facebook August 22, 2011 Comment (2)The calendar may say August, but it is not too early to begin thinking about—and working on—college applications. The applications are unavoidable, so what better way to occupy yourself during the waning days of summer than by getting a head start in the college application marathon!
Happily, doing so is easy. The more you are able to accomplish now, the less stress you are likely to feel as the school year begins to unfold and you have to deal with competing agendas. The following steps will make it easier to manage the application process later in the school year without taking too much of a bite out of your summer regimen.
-
The Best College? The One That Values You
Tweet Share on Facebook August 15, 2011 Comment (2)During the month of college ranking sweepstakes, it is important to remain focused on the factors that will give you the best opportunity to achieve your educational goals. "Fit," more than rankings, rhetoric, or the emotional logic that is bound to emerge, is the greatest determinant of success in both gaining admission and completing the degree requirements at a given college or university.
The best college for you, then, will be the one that fits you best. It will be a place that:
-
How to Tackle College Application Questions
Tweet Share on Facebook August 8, 2011 Comment (3)As the college application season grows nearer, students and their parents are beginning to raise good and important questions relating to their preparations. The following is a sampling of those questions.
I am applying to mostly small Northeast liberal arts schools and plan to major in English (more than 80 percent sure). Is it more beneficial to my chances of gaining admission if I put down "undecided" for my major, or should I declare English? (I have indicated a strong interest and strength in English in my interviews, in a great recommendation by an English teacher, by taking extra English elective courses and AP English, and by working as an editor of my school newspaper).
-
5 Scenarios to Avoid When Choosing a College
Tweet Share on Facebook August 1, 2011 Comment (5)A recurring theme in this blog has revolved around the notion of "fit": The best college for you is the one that fits you best. Unfortunately, this notion seems to be lost on many students as they plan for college. Instead, emotion takes over, leading to college choices that are often regretted.
This can be problematic considering the potential costs involved when a college doesn't work out—your time, your parents' money, and the lost opportunity to you as a wage earner upon graduation. Therefore, it might be a good idea to avoid the following emotional factors that can contribute to unproductive college choices—colleges to which you are drawn initially but that do not fit well in the long run.
