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: 

Seniors, As our admission process journey comes to an end, you should be proud of what you have achieved. All your hard work has paid off and you will be off to college in the fall! Now is the time to: Pat yourself on the back!  Congratulations on a job well done. High five your friends! 

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 tips for

Seniors, AP scores will be available online at the beginning of July.  Scores are released over several days based on the state in which you tested.  View the date and location schedule, and your scores, on the College Board website. What is the AP exam score scale? There is no “pass” or “fail” on the

Seniors, It’s officially summer now.  What are your goals as an incoming college freshman?  Look back at this year. Are you happy with your grades? Did you enjoy your classes? Did you spend enough (or too much) time in extracurricular activities? Are there activities or classes you wish you could have taken? What one change are

Struggling with those dreaded college essays? Don’t know where to start? Here is an exercise… Start by answering the following questions: Have you faced significant challenges? (You define “significant”.) Do you know what you want to study? Having answered the questions above, you could classify yourself into one of four essay types: Take Action Keep a

College-bound students, You said it when you were a child, “I can’t wait to be a grown-up!”  Your parents asked you, “When will you act like an adult?”  Is high school graduation the magic moment that turns you into an adult?  Maybe, maybe not.  Take this quiz to see what your grade is as an “adult”.  Respond to each statement with a

Test changes are accepted up to the Late Deadline – fees apply NATIONAL TEST DATES TEST REGULAR DEADLINE LATE DEADLINE SCORES AVAILABLE 2019         August 24th SAT July 26th August 14th September 6th September 14th ACT August 16th August 30th September 24th October 5th SAT I & II September 6th September 24th

There is more to going to college than showing up on campus the first day with schedule and books in hand.  Whether it is next summer or years away, use the summer to plan and prepare for going away from home and for getting on campus.  Below we’ve shared interviews with two experts – one

Seniors, One of the biggest changes for freshman year is a new peer group.  You may have friends that you’ve been with since the beginning of high school of even longer.  Although graduation time is exciting, it can also bring with it some anxiety as you think about moving on without your same friends to support

“Warm, welcoming, smart, and unpretentious– our university is filled with students who are driven to be the best they can be without striving to do so at the expense of others. They excel at allowing everyone to be comfortable with who they are, and not having to be a certain type of person in order to fit in.” 

Sports, clubs, academic competitions, music, work, social activism? Colleges care about how you spend your time outside of class. Here are three steps to the Ultimate Activities List. Write down ALL the activities you have been involved in during high school. As your get this information down, include: Name of the organization or activity you were

Standardized testing can be daunting!  Follow these tips to reduce your stress and help you do best on your tests. 3 Times is Enough Plan to take the SAT and/or the ACT no more than 3 times each.  You should be done testing by the fall of your senior year. Try both the SAT and ACT Take a

There are lots of tests and test dates to manage.  Knowing what tests are offered when, and what registration deadlines those tests have, is critically important for scheduling. Planning Your College Entrance Tests Plan your test schedule for taking the ACT, PSAT, SAT and SAT Subjects. Schedule tests with time in between to get your scores back.  This

Seniors, Going from high school to college is a big step!  Here are 5 tips from a current college student to help make your freshman year a success       1. Learn to manage your time. College classes are arranged differently than high school.  You will have gaps of time between classes.  Plan each day’s schedule carefully and use

The Washington Post recently published an article on choosing a college major titled “The most consequential, and least informed, decision that college students make.”  The crux of the article is that major selection is often influenced by unimportant, or seemingly random, unrelated factors.  Additionally, some studies show as many as 50% of freshman enter college without having

Do you dream of spending less time studying and still getting great grades?  Turn your phone or device into a study machine!  There are great resources available to turn all that time you spend on your phone into something productive.  You may find a favorite that you’ll continue to use in college! Here are 10 apps you can

Seniors, are you worried about your upcoming finals?  Reduce stress and ace your tests by using these study tips from a graduate student. Find a study space that suits you. For students who need a bit of chaos while they work: coffee houses usually have the perfect amount of chatter and noise while also having private

Seniors, you are almost there!  What are your next steps? Finish strong! Strive to get your best grades this semester.  All college acceptances are CONDITIONAL.  They are based on the expectation you will finish strong.  If you do not, your admissions offer can be rescinded. Plan your room and board. Complete the forms to request a dorm, select a meal plan, and

Seniors, Congratulations!!  May marks the end of the application process.  And although senior year is not quite over, at least you can feel relaxed in knowing where you will be in the fall. As you wind down in your last few weeks of senior year, take time to acknowledge the people who have made a difference

As you explore which colleges are the right match for you, consider the size of the student body.  How many undergraduates attend the college?  This can make a big difference in your experience on a college campus.  Think of college sizes in these four categories (based on undergraduate student attendance only). Boutique Size (<2000)  Over 500 colleges in

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 summer ideas. Take up a new form of exercise (swimming, biking, running, etc.) Volunteer

Seniors, enrollment decision made? Check! College housing selected? Check! Credit card for college – What?!  Should I get a credit card? Before you leave for college, be prepared to budget your money.  This could mean having a credit card – or not.  Here are 6 money management tips for you to consider as you prepare to go off to

How do you describe where you live? City? Suburb? Country? As you explore colleges, one thing to consider is the location of the college. Location can make a significant impact on your college experience. Think about where you want to go to school. Here are terms and definitions used in college “locations”: • Major City:

Hoping to get a great recommendation letter for college admission or a scholarship or even a summer program?  It’s hard to write a recommendation for someone you don’t know.  You need to have strong relationships with your teachers and counselor.  Here are 3 tips to building good relationships.  Face Time!  No – not that kind of FaceTime.  This face

Do you have what it takes to play sports in college? Many students do – either at the varsity level, or in clubs and intramural sports. Each athletic division has their own athletic and academic eligibility requirements. More competitive divisions may want to see videos of your events. It’s a good idea to keep a

It’s almost here!  The National Candidates Reply Date for U.S. colleges is May 1.  As a senior, this is your enrollment decision deadline.  If you did not do an Early Decision application, you may still be weighing your options.  How do you approach this final, important decision?  Cyndy McDonald, college counseling expert, shared some tips in a webinar, “Now What? Making the Final Decision.”  Preparation

How do you know if you need to take College Board SAT Subject tests?  Some colleges require or strongly recommend that you submit subject test scores (often two tests in subjects related to the major you are interested in – i.e. Math and Science for Engineering majors).  Review the requirements of the colleges you are

When looking at financial aid awards from the schools you’ve been admitted to, one offer may appear better than others.  But is it really?  How do you know?  Once you have your financial aid offers in front of you, you can compare awards.  Ask yourself the following questions: Comparison Questions  Percent of need met:  Is the school meeting more than 50% of your need?  Average

Seniors, getting a rejection letter from a college can be a difficult blow. Especially this year with a college admissions scandal in every major newspaper, it may seem that the process is rigged or unfair to the core. You may wonder, “Why was I not accepted? What else could I have done?” The answer – nothing. College

Seniors, by now, application decisions should be rolling in to your inbox/mailbox.  If you haven’t already heard back from all your schools, the wait is almost over.  Most colleges aim to have final decisions to everyone who applied before April 1.  But what if your “final” decision isn’t so final?…  What does it mean to

Have you considered studying abroad? What if you could study abroad for your entire college experience rather than just one semester? Studying in the United Kingdom could be a great way for you to experience another culture for college without worrying about a language barrier. The UK has some of the most prestigious universities in

Seniors, one of the big questions you have as a student (and your parents too) is “Where will I be living next year?” Be sure to explore the housing choices on campus and learn which choices are available to you. Housing Styles Traditional residence halls typically have double occupancy rooms off of a hallway, with shared

So Many Questions… Have you signed up to take the SAT yet? Or maybe you’ve already taken the PSAT? Did you notice that there are a lot of questions about your grades, your interests, your intended college major, etc. in the registration? What’s up with all those questions?   The College Board Student Search Service Those questions are part

Seniors, you may have thought you were done with writing essays and sending applications, but not quite yet. Now is the time to look for scholarships. And don’t get discouraged.  In this case, one more essay or scholarship application could mean a big pay-off for you. A few more hours of your time could turn

Seniors, you got into the top schools on your list. Each has sent you a financial aid award. One offer looks better than the other two, but is it really? It’s important to compare apples to apples when looking at financial aid offers. Here are six questions to ask: What is the Student Budget? Does the college list all

Seniors, for many students, high school is like a second home. It’s a place you feel comfortable. You know where to find your friends and your favorite places to hang out. Now, you’re getting ready to embark on a new adventure – college. This will be unlike any experience you’ve had in the past. How do

Using your spring break to visit colleges is a great idea, but be aware of spring break schedules for the colleges you wish to visit. It’s best to see a college when students are on campus. Here are a few tips to prepare for your spring college visits:   Create a College Visit Itinerary. Using a map, look

Seniors, many states have connected their scholarship programs to the FAFSA. It makes it easy to apply for a state scholarship through the FAFSA as long as you make the deadline. Check with your counselor to see what the deadlines are for your state or region. Finding the Due Dates Some programs direct you to

How Can You Ace the SAT? Here are Seven Tips for You: Test Day Checklist. Get a good night’s sleep before the test. Be sure you arrive at the SAT prepared with the right tools. See TEST DAY CHECKLIST. Be sure to bring a protein snack, a watch, and an approved calculator. Consider Using Score Choice. Consider waiting to send your

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