The Common Application, a college application service first created in 1975, has helped billions of eager high school, transfer, and adult students take the first step to reach their educational goals. What first started out as a paper booklet designed to streamline the college application process has grown into a modernized online platform. The founders…
Among the many pieces of a college application is the Counselor Recommendation. While your transcripts and essays are among the most important parts of the application, what your counselor shares in their recommendation plays a significant role in putting your high school performance, activities, and experiences into perspective. Follow these steps to ensure you make…
There are many moving parts to the college admissions process, yet most students and families don’t understand the integral role their high school counselor plays. High school counselors can help students with the college admissions process in a number of ways. Here are some of the main ways they can assist students: Providing Information: Many…
No, college admissions is not solely about perfect GPAs and testing. While good grades and high test scores can certainly help, there are many other factors that colleges consider when evaluating applicants. First, it might be helpful to understand the difference between holistic and non-holistic college admissions. Holistic Admissions Holistic college admissions is an approach…
According to the Department of Education, enrolled adults ages 20-34 are usually in college or graduate school, and young adults ages 18-19 are typically transitioning to college education. Attending college can be challenging for anyone despite their age, however, it can be even more challenging for an older student. There are some challenges to consider…
In the first few months of college as a first-year student, many students consider transferring to a different institution. There are many reasons students choose to transfer such as fit, lack of school resources, or cost. Whatever the reason, it is key to do extensive research on each institution of interest before applying to transfer.…
For anyone navigating the college application process for the first time, students and parents, the new vocabulary you are presented with is daunting enough, let alone tackling the applications themselves. You must learn and understand the nuances of the Early Decision binding agreement and how that differs from Restrictive Early Action, which should not be…
Simply put, financial aid is money that helps you pay for college. This funding comes from a variety of sources but does not include money from family or personal savings or earnings. For many students, financial aid is essential to making college affordable. An important key to understanding financial aid is to recognize the vernacular…
Yes, you can add reading (or any other activity) to your college application. However, like many things in college admissions and in life, just because you can doesn’t mean you should. But what if you are stuck staring at the 10 allowed spaces for the “Activities” section of the Common Application and only have 9…
Colleges determine financial aid packages for admitted students based on the results of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and in some cases the College Scholarship Service Profile (CSS Profile). If your financial aid offer is lower than what you were expecting, requesting more financial aid – read, ask politely, is an option.…