GPA or Rigor-Which is more important? 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

Asking for recommendations? You might find this easy, or awkward, or somewhere in between. How do you get the best recommendations for your college applications? Follow these three steps:   Step 1: Get Ready- Before you start asking teachers, counselor or others for a letter of recommendation, do your homework. Focus on familiarity: Teachers who know you best

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 learn

I’m not meaning to add any pressure at an already stressful time, but as you enter your senior year of high school, the college application clock is ticking.  In just a few months, you will need to complete the application process, so, if you haven’t already settled on your top college choices, now is the

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 know

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 are there? Academic – What majors are offered?  Does the school offer the academic area you are interested

Seniors, Colleges use activities to understand you more as a person – how do you like to spend your time and what types of activities have you committed yourself to?  Essentially, what makes you, you?  Colleges typically look for depth of involvement – assessing how long you have been a part of the activity and whether you’ve held a

Seniors, Yesterday was August 1, a significant date in college admissions.  It’s essentially the “kick off” date for the college application process – the day the Common App goes live.  Common App you say?  What’s that?  Let’s review some frequently asked questions:  What is the Common App?  To put it simply – it’s a college

Seniors, Maybe you are happy with the test scores you have.  If so, congratulations – that’s one part of the application process completed.  If not, there’s time to take the SAT or ACT and get your results before early college deadlines.  It’s not too early to register for SAT or ACT tests if you plan to

Seniors, The wait is over!  AP test scores were released starting Friday, July 5th.  Scores are released by the state or geographic area you are located in.  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

Summer is the perfect time for a good book!  And how about a book that will give you a new perspective on college, education, yourself, or the world? Each year, The Washington Post publishes a reading list assembled by Brennan Barnard.  He is the director of college counseling at the private Derryfield School in New Hampshire and college admission program manager of

Seniors, Although you may be deep in summer vacation mode, you are officially a high school senior and college application season is just around the corner!  We’d like to welcome you to the Senior year version of the weekly blog.  Here are a few pieces of advice to kick off the college application process:   Get

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. Academic: 

If your family will need to depend on financial aid to attend college, your best bet is to find a school that will offer an excellent financial aid package to your child. A great way to assess the generosity of any school is to look at the percentage of financial need it typically meets for