“If I had more time, I would have written a shorter letter,” said Blaise Pascal, a 17th century French mathematician and philosopher. This quote, commonly misattributed to famous persons such as Benjamin Franklin or Mark Twain, holds a resonant truth that has kept it alive for over 350 years: Less is More.
Read MoreIf you’ve planned out your application writing process correctly, then you’ve made a list of every essay you’ll have to write before you began to draft them. And you’ve probably noticed that there is some overlap between what several of your colleges are asking you.
Read MoreLet us first begin by qualifying that there is almost always an exception to the rule. Any college advice you receive should be filtered through your own personal experiences because something that may be true for the general population may not apply to you. So, we don’t want you to automatically disregard a story even if it appears on this list.
Read MoreWhen admissions officers are deciding who they want to attend the college they represent, one factor that can make or break a student’s chances at many schools is demonstrated interest. This somewhat nebulous but nonetheless important term seeks to answer a basic question to the process: how clear have you made it that you love the schools high on your list and in what specific ways have you shown it?
Read MoreIt goes without saying (OK we'll say it) that senior year is incredibly busy. Many 12th graders have chosen to undertake the most difficult class schedule of their high school career, in addition to studying for standardized tests and completing dozens of college applications.
Read MoreSpoiler alert: Yes, they are! But let’s a take a step back….Senior year can feel like an ironman triathlon. You are taking your most rigorous course load yet, stepping into new leadership positions, and then writing a gazillion essays for college apps. Demands pile up, one upon another, and they do not seem to relent on any side.
Read MoreThe opportunity to spend the night on a college campus as a prospective student is very instructive in making your ultimate decision about where the right school is for you. And even more importantly, it can be very fun!But when you are on someone else's campus as a guest, it’s crucial to know how to conduct yourself.
Read MoreThe timing of your college visit will have a major impact on how you experience the campus. For a lot of students, summer is the only time they have a chance to see their favorite schools.While there is much you can learn from a college visit during the summer, visiting colleges in the fall will give you the best chance of experiencing campus life in action.
Read MoreLet’s talk about what you already know:Colleges expect you to be a top-notch student, score highly on standardized tests, and develop extracurricular interests that set you apart from the crowd.If you want to gain admission to your dream school, then you need to perform at your best—both in and out of the classroom. Developing a resume that shows a pattern of achievement and success is important.
Read MoreBefore the proliferation of personal computers and home internet, students had to send in all their college essays, test scores, transcripts, and other forms through snail mail.Can you imagine how nerve-wracking it would be to not only wait to hear back from colleges, but to also be uncertain about whether they even received your application in the first place? Phew!
Read MoreA while back we looked at ways you can make your personal statement shine. If you missed it, check it out here.For most of you, however, this is not the only piece of writing that will be necessary for your college applications. Many schools that use the Common Application also require you to write supplemental essays that are more specific to their institution than your personal statement.
Read MoreSkype interviews are becoming increasingly common as colleges aim to meet students where they are, no matter what region they live in.Large numbers of hopeful applicants simply cannot afford to fly to a college to interview with admissions officers in-person; other students do not have time during senior year to drive all over town to meet with alumni representatives for each college on their list.
Read MoreSo, you’ve clicked the “submit” button and sent in the application fee.All you have to do now is sit back, relax, and enjoy the show—that new Netflix show everyone has been talking about, that is. Right?Not so fast, young grasshopper. Your application process isn’t complete just yet. There is one last major component to your work: interviews.
Read MoreWho knew 650 words could feel so hard? I normally finish writing assignments with ease!For students who are used to earning As in their English classes and on papers that they write, the college application process can present some unique challenges. Often writing the “perfect” essay requires more drafts and a longer editing process than most students are used to.
Read MoreAs summer gives way to fall and that back-to-school feeling sets in across the country, rising seniors turn their thoughts to life after graduation. Which college should I attend? Will I get into my dream school? How can I make a good impression?
Read MoreThroughout your college search and application process, there is one central figure who looms large: the admissions officer.These are the gatekeepers who ultimately decide whether to offer you a place in their college or not. In spite of this, they are almost all very nice people who enjoy working with teenagers.
Read MoreEach year, teachers write tons of letters of recommendations for promising students. In some cases, these letters can be the glue that binds the rest of a student’s application materials together. In other cases, they can be the shining gem that helps elevate an average application into one that is outstanding.
Read MoreOne of the keys to your success in the college application process is forming good relationships with the adults supporting you. That includes your parents, teachers, mentors, and your high school college counselor. Getting to know your college counselor should be at the top of your priority list.
Read MoreApplying to college can be a uniquely stressful time, not just for individuals, but for the entire family. Like most valuable challenges in life, a small dose of healthy pressure can help you succeed in the process. Too much stress, on the other hand, can interfere with your well-being or create tension among those you love.
Read MoreOn the surface, the equation to get recruited as a student athlete may seem simple:Play Well + Get Noticed = Get RecruitedWhile those are the basic ingredients for athletic recruitment, there are many components that go into getting noticed. In the United States alone, there are over 35,000 high schools for college coaches to dig through.
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