“Be nice to your college counselor – we write your letter of recommendation.” These words stood out in bold white letters on a bright red coffee mug that sat on my office desk for years. The cup’s blunt advice always received a chuckle from students and parents, likely because the suggestion was a gentle reminder…
MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses), have been available since 2012, with edX and Coursera being the most widely known. They’re an excellent way to learn about any possible topic from history, science, language, and many STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) and CS (computer science) courses. Here are some of the benefits of attending a…
The college search process can immediately feel overwhelming with close to 5,000 colleges and universities in the U.S.! Since this is your first time exploring college options, you are likely unsure of what factors you should even be considering. Spend some time thinking about what you want the most out of your college experience. The…
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…
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…
College application season can be a stressful time for high school seniors. But, did you know that there’s a way to apply to colleges early and potentially have a less stressful senior year? This is where early action comes in! Early Action (EA) is an undergraduate college admissions option that allows students to apply to…
High school is a time when students begin to develop skills that will be impactful in college and beyond: skills developed in the classroom, during school activities, or delving deeper into academic areas of interest. This skill development has an important impact during the college application process. Colleges and universities look for students who challenge…