Here are the top five myths about paying for college our counselors hear. Don’t fall victim to these myths! 1. My family makes too much money to qualify for financial aid. This is one of the biggest myths out there. You may not qualify for aid at one school, and qualify for lots of money at

Seniors, did you get started late on applying to colleges? Got your December test scores back and you’re reconsidering what colleges you are applying to? Don’t worry! There are many colleges that you can apply to in January and after (even some through August). Here are a few tips for finding colleges/universities with open applications: Schools With Rolling Admissions: Once your application

Last week, the Common Application announced that the essay prompts for 2019-2020 will remain the same as they were in 2018-2019 application.  So, what are you waiting for?  Now is a great time to start brainstorming topics for your Common App essay.   2019-2020 Common Application Essay Prompts  Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent

Have You Considered Taking a Year Off After High School?  What? Is that insane?! Not at all. This is the perfect moment to take a deep breath and consider taking a break from school before plunging into the next pressurized step. Now is the time to think about a gap year or semester that allows

What are your plans for summer? Now is the time to find programs for next summer to participate in. Do it this month! Many programs fill up early. Many have deadlines as early as February. What Types of Summer Programs are There? Educational Want to take an AP government class or a Biology AP class in

Welcome back from winter break! Now is the time to review your MIDYEAR CHECKLIST. January is a great time to get organized and jump start your college search.   1. Meet With Your High School Counselor Review your PSAT scores with counselor and parents (if you took it in the fall) Ask for recommendations for summer programs Schedule next year’s courses Schedule your standardized tests for

Seniors, Now is the time to search for scholarships! College scholarships come from three sources: The colleges to which you have been accepted Local community organizations National or larger regional organizations At Your College  Most scholarships come from the schools that have admitted you.   The schools lists academic scholarships offered to eight or more students. Start Local 

Now that your first semester is under your belt, it is tempting to take it easy during your second semester. Why does it matter if some of my grades slip this semester? What You Do Now Matters Colleges are going to ask the following questions of you: Did you challenge yourself? Did you take the hardest

SAT Subject tests are based on curriculum you have in class. It’s an opportunity to demonstrate your mastery of a particular subject. According to the College Board, “The SAT Subject Tests offer you an additional opportunity to show colleges what you know and what you know you can do. Many colleges use the SAT Subject Tests

Seniors, it’s high season for college applications. Students are polishing off college essays, waiting on final test scores, pushing for that last GPA point. Meanwhile, parents are biting their nails and wrestling with financial aid forms. So, let’s talk about postponing college. What? Is that insane?! Not at all. This is the perfect moment to

Seniors, it’s December! Holidays, family, days off from school – and college decisions! That’s right, if you applied to any of the schools on your list in the first round of early action or early decision, you’ll probably be receiving decisions soon (if you haven’t already). This month be sure to: Watch for admissions emails or letters

It’s pointless to take a test if you can’t learn and improve from your experience. The PSAT is meant to help you do just that. Be smart by using your PSAT scores to improve your score on the “real” SAT.  Your score report explains what areas you need to review before taking the next test.

Seniors, don’t sing this song! Singing the Senioritus Blues I worked my rear off four years straight Taken tests over and over with my classmates Volunteered in every school club Took AP classes until my brain was numb Ran for office more than was my due Played Varsity football, soccer, and wrestling too Made a

Many college applications require you to select a major or state that you are “undeclared”. But, what is the best way to choose a major? Here are five ideas to guide you. Start early. It’s never too early or too late to start exploring your interests and connecting them to majors or careers. Learn about yourself. Take advantage of

How competitive for admissions will you be at a given school? This is based on several factors. Some factors are more objectively measurable in the college applications process than others. The easily measured factors include: Your GPA Your tests scores on ACT, SAT, subject tests, and AP Less measurable, but equally important in your college

 When should you take the SAT or the ACT? Identify which statement below applies to you to help determine the best timing for the test.   Juniors Using the test dates for your personality type, plan your testing schedule for the next year. Sophomores and Freshman You will have the opportunity to take the PSAT 10

Seniors, you are on the home stretch!  Only a few more weeks and your college applications will soon be done. Here are 5 ways you can keep sane during these last few weeks! Setup Application Plans. Know what is needed to make a complete application at each college where you are applying.  Need recommendations? Transcripts? Essays?

When applying to colleges, which is better – a higher GPA or harder classes (rigor)? What are colleges really looking for, and how do they decide who to admit? Challenge Yourself!   Of course, having good grades AND rigor in your courses is the best goal. But, if the choice is between a challenging class (like AP or

College admission representatives travel far and wide during the year to share information with you about their school. It’s a great opportunity for you to learn more about the colleges you are considering – especially for the colleges you can’t visit in person. There are two chances for you to meet college representatives: College visits

Seniors Applying for Financial Aid: Start Now! The first step to getting financial aid is to be sure you apply for as much as possible. The two most used forms are available to be completed now. What is the FAFSA? FAFSA stands for FREE Application for Federal Student Aid – it is the free government application to

You are signed up and ready to take the ACT or SAT test! Here are five test day tips to help you ace the test by starting off on the right foot. Have everything you need ready when you leave to take your test on a Saturday morning. Five Test Day Preparation Tips 1) Get

There are over 2800 four-year colleges and universities in the United States alone. How do you search for and compare the qualities of a college? How do you find one that fits you best and offers you value? As you search the web and visit colleges, ask yourself these questions: What is the academic atmosphere like at

Seniors, the buzz around school right now is all about recommendations.  How do you get the best recommendations for your college applications? Follow these three steps: 1. Get Ready. Before you start asking teachers, counselor or others for a letter of recommendation, do your homework. It will pay off for you in the end with outstanding recommendations.

The essay portion of the SAT and the Writing section of the ACT are both optional. At press time, according to the Princeton Review, only 15 colleges require the SAT Essay and only 17 colleges require the ACT Writing section. Just a note – ALL of the University of California System schools require the SAT Essay. However, odds are

Do you know the entire name of the PSAT test? It is officially the PSAT/ NMSQT test. “NMSQT” stands for “National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test”. The only time you can be consider for the National Merit Scholarship is during your junior year. Taking the PSAT is the only way to be considered. Taking the PSAT by Grade Level

A few days ago, we attended an event with all State Universities of Florida. Following are some updates on the college admissions process several of the public universities in the sunshine state! University of Florida (UF): The University of Florida is ranked ninth of public universities in the nation and offers the third-best college value. The

Seniors, knowing the differences between the SAT and ACT may help you decide which test works best for you. Research shows a third of students do better on ACT, a third do better on SAT, and the remainder do equally well on both tests. So, which one is best for you? View the full PDF from Applerouth Test Prep to

Seniors, how do you like to learn? Do you like to talk to the teachers, raise your hand and stay after class? Or, do you prefer to learn by being quiet, checking in with your friends, and blending in with your classmates? This reflects your learning style. Your learning style is an important thing to

Seniors, are you struggling with those dreaded college essays?  Don’t know where to start? “The College Essay Guy”, Ethan Sawyer, breaks down the process of getting to a first draft of your college personal statement in three hours! In his free guide, “The Essay Workshop in a Box” – Ethan teaches you how to write a great

It will soon be time to your teachers and/or your counselor for letters of recommendations. But, before doing that, it helps to have done some self-reflection. Think about your three favorite classes on campus. Answer the following questions about yourself and how you have performed in each class. What have you demonstrated in class that

COALITION APPLICATION SCHOOLS 2018-2019 (Subject to Updates—Current as of 07-09-2018)   Adelphi University (NY) – also accepts Common Application and has own “home-grown” application Allegheny College (PA) – also accepts Common App and own home-grown app American University (DC) – also accepts Common App Amherst College (MA) – also accepts Common App Arizona State University

It’s not too early to register for SAT or ACT tests if you plan to take them in the fall. Register in the summer to get best choice of locations, as some locations will fill up. Register to take the ACT as early as July.  www.actstudent.org/ Register to take the SAT as early as August. www.sat.collegeboard.org/register/ Check

Seniors, many colleges use activities to understand you more as a person. Create an activity list with the following information: Make a master list of all your activities in high school, starting with 9th grade. Write down everything – you can prioritize later. Ask parents and friends for input. They will remember something you forgot. Be

 Colleges and Universities Worldwide that Require Subject Tests From Some or All Applicants (School Year 2018-2019)   The following schools require Subject Tests from all applicants, regardless of what other standardized testing results are shared:   California Institute of Technology Harvey Mudd College (CA) Massachusetts Institute of Technology   The following school requires Subject Tests

Colleges and Universities that Recommend SAT Subject Tests 2018-2019 School Year   The following schools recommend Subject Tests for ALL admissions candidates   Brown University (RI) Dartmouth College (NH) Duke University (NC) Georgetown University (DC) Harvard University (MA) (except “if the cost of taking the tests represents a financial hardship or if you prefer to have your

You have probably heard this term a lot already. Your counselor talks about it, your parents are looking for it. What is it? What is college fit?  Think of fit as a picture of college that brings four elements together to make the best fit for you. Consider Academic, Social, Physical, and Financial perspectives. YOUR

You may have already started to look at different colleges, but how do you compare them? Here are five categories that you should consider when evaluating a college.  General Information – Where is it located? Is public or private? How many students go to school here? Academic – What majors are offered? Does the school offer the academic area you are

Seniors, you did it! You are officially a college freshman! Now is the time to: Pat yourself on the back! Congratulations on a job well done. High five your friends! You succeeded together. Hug your parents or loved ones! You could not have done it without them. Give your teachers a thumbs up! They appreciate knowing their

It’s all about you!    Enjoy this summer and start thinking about what you like, and what is important to you. Summer is a good time to do as much preparing for next year as you can. Here is an activity you can do with your friends. It is fun to compare notes and learn

You said it when you were growing up, “I can’t wait to be an adult.” Your parents yelled it at you, “We can’t wait until you are an adult.” How do you know when you are an adult? Take this quiz to see what your grade is as an “adult”.  Respond to each statement with

It’s officially summer now!  You may not want to think about school, but now is a good time to reflect on this past year and set your goals for the upcoming school year.    Look back at this past year: Are you happy with your grades?   Did you enjoy your classes? Did you spend enough

As you are researching colleges, you will hear comments about how one campus is “very liberal” or another is “conservative”, or another is “middle of the road”.  These are references to the political leanings of a college campus. Is it red (conservative), blue (liberal), or somewhere in between? How do you know? Here are some

The wait is over! AP tests come out this week. Scores come out by physical location. View the date and location schedule, and your scores, on the College Board schedule.   What is the AP exam score scale? There is no “pass” or “fail” on the AP tests. It’s important to understand the definitions of the

There is more to going to college than showing up on campus the first day with books and computer in hand.  Whether it is next summer or years away, use summer time to plan and prepare for going away from home and for getting on campus. Hear what advice two experts in this field have for you. One

“None of us got to where we are alone. Whether the assistance we received was obvious or subtle, acknowledging someone’s help is a big part of understanding of saying thank you.”  Harvey Mackay  As you finish your senior year, take time to acknowledge the people who have made a difference in your life. These are

Do you dream of spending less time studying and still getting great grades? Turn your phone or device into a study machine. With finals just around the corner, now is the time to learn how to use some of these great resources. You may find a favorite that you’ll continue to use in college!  

Graduation completed? Check! Dorm room selected? Check! ATM card for college! What? Get an ATM card? Before you leave for college, you need to learn how to handle money. Here are six tips for you to consider as you prepare to go off to college in the fall. Open a bank account NOW and get an

There are lots of tests and testing dates to keep track of. Knowing what tests are offered when, and the months of registration deadlines are important for scheduling. Some ideas of how to proceed with testing: 1. Plan your test schedule for taking the ACT, PSAT, SAT, and SAT Subjects. 2. Schedule tests with time

Going from high school to college is a big step! A current college student shares five tips for excelling as a freshman in college.   1. Learn to manage your time. Classes in college are arranged different than high school. You will have gaps in time between classes. Plan each day’s schedule carefully, including study

Summertime! Dreaming of sleeping in, hanging out with friends and producing YouTube videos? Time is precious! Plan now to use your summer time to explore careers, build upon your extra-curricular experiences, learn new skills or have new experiences.   Here are some summertime ideas: Take up a new form of exercise (swimming, biking, running, etc.).