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College Applications

Social Class and the College Choices of High School Valedictorians

Lisa Wade | Posted 05.17.2013 | College
Lisa Wade

For the parents out there, it's a good idea to push past our own comfort zones when thinking about what might be possible for our kids.

An Open Letter to High School Juniors

Ana Homayoun | Posted 05.10.2013 | College
Ana Homayoun

I am not going to tell you everything is going to work out like you want it to, and I am not going to tell you that everything will be fine. What I will say is this: Millions of people have survived the college admission process, and you will too.

Applying to College? Four Things Juniors Should Do Now

Patrick O'Connor | Posted 05.03.2013 | College
Patrick O'Connor

Given this frenetic level of activity, this probably isn't the time to be talking about fall -- but there are a few autumnal things to put on the smartphone, personal planner, or family fridge.

Google Search Is a Teen's "Best Friend" When Looking for College Admissions Information

Marjorie Hansen Shaevitz | Posted 04.25.2013 | College
Marjorie Hansen Shaevitz

The City of San Diego Public Library system is at the forefront in California, if not the U.S., in providing information and resources about college a...

I Can Tell You Now -- Their Essays Were Meh

Patrick O'Connor | Posted 04.19.2013 | College
Patrick O'Connor

This is the second year in a row college admissions officers have told me that application essays, as a group, were pretty disappointing. They use phrases like "they're writing too safe" and "we appreciate the effort," but what they mean is clear; they were given celery when they were looking for steak.

You Can't Eat Prestige

Dr. Bonnie Snyder | Posted 04.17.2013 | College
Dr. Bonnie Snyder

To those of you with the prestigious admissions offers, a hearty, well-earned congratulations. But I want to offer you permission to think beyond the U.S. News & World Report rankings to make the best possible college decision for your future.

Applying to College: How to Make the Most Out of a College Fair

Patrick O'Connor | Posted 04.12.2013 | College
Patrick O'Connor

You'll get some solid information on which colleges are road trip-worthy, and some solid information about yourself as well -- truly a dynamic duo.

What College Admissions Offices Look for in Extracurricular Activities

Marjorie Hansen Shaevitz | Posted 04.11.2013 | College
Marjorie Hansen Shaevitz

Colleges care about the character of people they admit; therefore, what you do after school, during weekends and over summers tells them a lot about the kind of person you are.

What The College Application Process Taught Me

Erica DeMichiel | Posted 04.10.2013 | Teen
Erica DeMichiel

I knew that my chances were bleak at the outset, but I found that having a challenging school as my first choice helped motivate me throughout the application process. My dream, no matter how unrealistic, pushed me to work harder to reach my goals.

Better College Options? Michigan's Legislature Can Help

Patrick O'Connor | Posted 04.03.2013 | Detroit
Patrick O'Connor

A major breakthrough was announced last week to help low-income students attend college. The news gives educators and policy makers an opportunity to right a devastating wrong that has derailed the college dreams of many of Michigan's students.

Getting Off a College Wait list

Marjorie Hansen Shaevitz | Posted 03.29.2013 | College
Marjorie Hansen Shaevitz

Here is what to do that will increase your chances for getting off a wait list and onto a college's acceptance list.

Playing the Odds: College Admissions

Malcolm Gauld | Posted 03.29.2013 | College
Malcolm Gauld

Not only do today's high school seniors apply to as many as 12-15 colleges, they seem surrounded by adult "handlers." As we move into the highest anxiety phase of the annual college application cycle, I offer a few words of advice.

'I Just Want To Go To College Already!'

Anangie Martinez | Posted 03.27.2013 | Teen
Anangie Martinez

I just want to go to college already! I want to walk through the quad, make my own schedule and be freed of teenage angst. I want to listen to a lecture by a world-renowned scholar. I want to study abroad in Paris and drink cafƩ au lait. But alas, I'm still a high school senior.

High School Seniors: Deciding on One College From All of Your Choices

Marjorie Hansen Shaevitz | Posted 05.22.2013 | College
Marjorie Hansen Shaevitz

f you are unsure about which college you want to say yes to, this may signal that you don't have enough information to make a good decision or that the information you have is incomplete or possibly disorganized. Here is a list of things to do that will help you make a good choice.

How to Use Facebook to Get a Leg Up in College Admissions

Scott Weingold | Posted 05.21.2013 | College
Scott Weingold

You might not be surprised to learn that almost a full 25 percent of today's college admissions officers use Facebook when judging applicants.

Winning and Losing in Applying to College

Mindy Utay | Posted 05.17.2013 | College
Mindy Utay

With the Oscars behind us, it's time for America's next gladiatorial event: college acceptances and rejections.

How Should You Choose Your College Major? (VIDEO)

The Huffington Post | Krystie Yandoli | Posted 03.15.2013 | Teen

Even after the college applications are completed, the acceptance letters have rolled in and you've decided upon your school of choice, there's still ...

March Madness for College Admissions Decisions

Rebecca Joseph | Posted 05.13.2013 | College
Rebecca Joseph

The seniors have dedicated so much time and effort into their high school experiences, their decisions of where to apply, and their actual applications. The waiting process naturally causes feelings of extreme doubt and stress.

How Pop Culture and Comedy Can Help Millennial Teens Ace the SAT

Jared Friedland | Posted 02.28.2013 | College
Jared Friedland

I've found that the most effective way to defuse test anxiety and boost scores is to coach students in a way they find appealing: with pop culture and comedy. Here are three tips if you or someone whose cell phone bill you pay is taking the SAT this spring.

Is It A Parent's Right To Read Their Kid's College Essay?

Shelley Emling | Posted 04.27.2013 | Fifty
Shelley Emling

About six months ago, an unspeakable evil entered our house -- the college essay process. Until then, we'd always been a fairly typical family, neither sensational or completely unremarkable. Just typical, with three kids, a dog, a cat and a fish named Nini. But that was before the Essay. Oh, the Essay.

Applying to College? The Three Keys to Success

Patrick O'Connor | Posted 04.22.2013 | College
Patrick O'Connor

There may be fifteen weeks until June and much longer until fall, but now that the Class of 2014 has next year's plan on paper, the end of high school is in sight--and the start of college plans isn't far away.

5 Ways to Prep for College Right Now

GalTime | Posted 04.16.2013 | Parents
GalTime

College preparation does not begin with the student's senior year. Ideally, it should start their freshman year of high school.

The Dreaded Wait for College Admissions Decisions

Ishan Puri | Posted 04.14.2013 | College
Ishan Puri

It is that time of the year: the wait after you have submitted your applications and before you hear back from colleges. That infamous time that we all go through as we think about our future and try to stay calm as high school seniors.

Research Debunks Common Standardized Test Taking Strategies

Alex Mallory | Posted 04.14.2013 | College
Alex Mallory

Students' theories about standardized testing shortcuts are as numerous as they are incorrect, but they are usually easy to debunk with a little scrutiny.

A New World for College Applicants

Rebecca Joseph | Posted 04.08.2013 | College
Rebecca Joseph

For the first time in its recent history, the Common Application has changed its essay prompts for the 2013-2014 school year.