Seniors, when looking at your financial aid offers from the schools you’ve been admitted to, one package may look better than others. But is it really? How do you know? Once you’ve entered your financial aid offers into a file on your computer, you can compare awards. Which of your college offers adds up to a

How do you get to know your teachers or counselor better? Here are three tips to building relationships with your teachers and counselors. Show up! Make sure your counselor or teachers know you personally by showing up for class, for appointments and for school activities. Drop by the teacher’s room or your counselor’s office during lunch,

Seniors, it is here! The National Candidates Reply Date for U.S. colleges is May 1.  As a senior, this is your decision deadline. If you did not make a decision, you may still be weighing your options.  You must make your enrollment decision by May 1. How do you approach this final, all important decision? Preparation In preparation,

Seniors, by now you’ve received financial aid awards from the schools that have offered you admission. But interpreting those awards might seems a bit like reading a foreign language. Here are six common terms that you will see on a financial aid award. Cost of Attendance – The Cost of Attendance is more than just tuition, it is an

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

Do you have what it takes to play sports in college? Many students do – either at the varsity level, or in clubs and intramurals. 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 record of

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

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,

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

Here is some important information for 2019 seniors applying to Penn State University… We want to make you aware of some changes to Penn State’s dates and deadlines for students applying for admission for summer/fall 2019. We want you to be among the first to know! The essence of our changes to dates and deadlines are: ·        August

Good Things Come in Pairs  Take this survey, pass it around, and compare your answers with your friends. Everything is better in pairs! What are: 2 things in my room that are important to me? 2 words that I would use to describe myself? 2 people who are important in my life? 2 things I would do

Getting a rejection letter from a college can be a difficult blow especially if it was your first-choice school. Why doesn’t the college want you as much as you want to be a student there? You may wonder, “What else could I have done?” The answer – nothing. College admission is competitive and some rejections

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

At this point, you probably have several college offers now with more coming this month. You are excited about your options, but one school in particular stands out as your first choice. You wonder if you can afford the school. Now is the time to use the “First Choice” Strategy.  This strategy may help increase

You got into the top three 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 financial aid offers. Here are six questions to ask: What is the Student Budget? Does the college list all the costs for going to

The College Visit  Depending on your time and interest level, plan one of the following types of college visits: Basic Visit  Attend an information session. Ask questions about admissions, financial aid, choice of majors.  IMPORTANT: Get a business card from an admissions person. Do a college and dorm tour. What does the campus look like? Where

Use your spring break to visit colleges 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 at college locations and decide on an itinerary that fits within your given time. Don’t worry if you

Receiving your letter or email of admission is a time for celebration! What’s your next step? Many colleges will be inviting you to visit the campus as an “admitted student”. These visits can be: A designated day event on campus A designated weekend or overnight event on campus A designated window of time to visit (between two dates)

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

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 check

Alan Katzman, founder and CEO of Social Assurity, recently shared information about how students can create a winning social media presence. Here are his top four reasons why you should be aware of how social media can impact your college planning.   Reason #1: Admission Officers are Looking at Your Social Media  Thanks to Kaplan Test Prep and its annual survey of

Here are the top 5 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 another

Cameron Russell is a model. She seemingly has it all- she’s tall, beautiful, and a model. In this fearless TED talk, Cameron looks at the glamour connected to the modeling industry, and the difference between beauty on the outside and the inside. Other issues about gender and racial identity are discussed openly and frankly. Click

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

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 is

The average college graduate has more than $30,000 in debt, according to The Institute of College Access & Success, and it can take decades to repay. Student debt could impact your ability to save for retirement, have disposable income or qualify for other loans, including a mortgage. No private student loan refinancer is perfect for every

Taking PSAT is one step in preparing for the SAT. It’s also the test used to determine if you qualify for the National Merit Scholarship Program.  A test for sophomores (the PSAT 10) will be offered by some schools between the end of February and early March.  PSAT/NMSQT scores are made available online.   Follow these steps to make the most of

January equals the mid-point of your school year. NOW is the time to review your MID YEAR CHECKLIST. This is an exciting but busy time for you. 1. Meet With Your High School Counselor  Review 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 spring Discuss any school

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 you

Did you know sometimes you can SAVE your family money when attending a Private college.  How is that possible? See Jack’s story below.   Jack Awesome Jack is a student living in Los Angeles. He has applied to several colleges, both in state and out of state. He has applied to CSU Los Angeles because

As we begin to hear back from the colleges you applied to in round one of early applications, be sure to: Watch for admissions emails or letters from colleges Make plans for next steps Which type of early application did you complete? Pick from the following list the types of early college applications you used.

Start the New Year with these New Year’s resolutions: 1.  Make it a date on your phone!  Use your phone to track your school and personal life deadlines. 2.  Learn about yourself.  Take a personality or learning styles survey.  Find free online or ask EduPlan for links to surveys. 3. Use social media responsibly.  Does it pass the “parent” test?

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 time and opportunity to refocus, polish skills, explore an interest,

How Do You Get Money for College? Are you reading about college financial aid online or chatting about it with your friends? Are your parents wondering how much your college education is going to cost them?   Beginning and Ending Premise of College Funding Colleges and the government say the primary responsibility for paying for

Seniors… There are multiple steps to getting a COMPLETE application into the college of your choice. Use the following checklist to see where you are in the process.   College Applications Filling out the college application is only the first part of the process. Common Application Coalition Application State colleges/universities Application Individual colleges/university applications   Transcripts

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

Singing the Senioritis Blues I worked my rear off four years straight Taken tests over and over with my classmates Volunteered my face in all the school clubs Took AP classes until I was ready to hit the local pub Ran for office more than was my due Played Varsity football, soccer, and wrestling too

“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 for admission, for course placement, and to advise students about course selection. Some colleges specify the SAT Subject Tests that they require for admission or placement;

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

Paying for college is often compared to paying for airline tickets. No two people pay the same price. What will your costs be at college? How much you pay for college depends on so many factors. Knowing what those factors are, and how college will look at your family’s financial situation, will help you know

 Do you dream about finding the perfect prom dress? Or the perfect hamburgers (In and Out comes to mind)? How about the perfect college? How do you know which college is perfect? You need to know what is important to YOU.  Here are the Top 10 Factors to consider for your “Perfect” college: Academics: How important is

The process of applying to and selecting a college is becoming more competitive and complex. Students and parents need all the assistance and information they can get. Claudine Vainrub, CEO of EduPlan was the recent guest speaker at the PTSA meeting at the Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Senior High School. The Principal, Mr. Christopher Shinn, introduced Ms.

When completing college applications as a senior, you are asked to select a major.  When do you start looking at future majors? Here are five ideas to guide you. 1.  Start early. It’s never too early or too late to start exploring your interests and connecting them to majors or careers. 2. Learn about yourself. Take advantage

As the process of applying to and selecting a college becomes more and more competitive and complex, students and parents need all the help and information they can get. Attending a college fair is the best way to gather information about colleges and universities. Claudine Vainrub, CEO of EduPlan was the recent guest speaker at

You are on the home stretch! Only a few more weeks and your college applications will be close to done. Here are five ways you can keep sane during these last few weeks!  Set-up Application Plans. Know what is needed to make a complete an application at each college where you are applying. Need recommendations? Transcripts?

Have you been receiving emails about “filing the FAFSA”  from colleges or your high school counseling office?  Are you wondering what information you need in order to file a FAFSA? What is the FAFSA? The Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a form students and parents must complete and submit to the federal government to

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

Don’t be afraid to guess on the PSAT.  The penalty for guessing (deleting a ¼ of a point for each wrong answer) has been eliminated. The SAT has taking a leaf out of the ACT book, which has been testing students for years without a penalty for guessing.   Scores Ranges Differ   The PSAT

Who better to learn about a college than from a college representative?  There are two ways to meet representatives from colleges: College visits to your school College fairs in your area   College Visits Check your school calendar for dates/times of college visits.  Mark these on your calendar.  Research the college before you go into

When applying to colleges, which is better? To have the honor of valedictorian at your high school (perhaps taking less hard classes to make that happen), or taking the hardest classes possible and sacrificing the chance to be valedictorian?  Does GPA trump rigor in your class schedule?   Rigor is the Trump Overwhelmingly, the first