As recently as 3 or 4 years ago, financial aid had a season. It was limited and finite, but much like Christmas music that begins to play before Thanksgiving or Valentine’s Day decorations that spring up January 2nd, financial aid season has also been affected by seasonal “creep”. It used to be that you couldn’t …
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What You Need to Know About Submitting an SAT or ACT Re-score Request
As you’re likely aware, there have been recent changes to both the SAT and the ACT. The “New” SAT has been changed from the 2400 scale back to a 1600 scale, along with a restructuring of the sections and scoring criteria. The ACT has also been changed. Specifically, the writing/essay portion of the test which …
How Athletes Can Pick the Right College
As if picking the right college isn’t complicated enough, throwing an applicant’s special talent into the mix makes the process that much more challenging. It even requires some special consideration from these athletes. Here are several things you should keep in mind if you are even considering playing a college sport: Find out where you …
The New SAT Test Dates
There was a surprise on the list of 2017-2018 new SAT test dates released by the College Board. A late summer test date is now offered for both the SAT and SAT Subject Tests. This change follows the popularity of the September ACT test date introduced several years ago. It is expected that the August …
What You Need to Know About Test-Optional Colleges
Bowdoin College was the first college in the U.S. to make the submission of standardized test scores (SAT/ACT) optional in 1969, but they were hardly trendsetters. It was not until forty some years later that over 800 other colleges and universities followed Bowdoin’s lead and are now either test optional or “test flexible”. Understanding the …
Why the Wrong College Match Can Be Bad for Your (Mental) Health
The top 50 or so colleges in this country have become some sort of Holy Grail. They are often viewed as a key to the kingdom of “success”. So, securing a spot at one of these incredibly selective institutions is considered a large leap on the road to a lifetime of triumph and achievement. It’s …
Why Work Study Isn’t Really “Financial Aid”
In the next few weeks, financial aid packages for college-bound high school seniors will begin to roll through the door. Interpreting and comparing them is one of life’s bigger challenges. In part because financial aid has its own language, in part because each school might do things just a little differently, and in part because …
The Best Ways to Jump Start a Junior’s College Search
Your junior year in high school is just about half-way over and your thoughts now turn towards selecting senior year courses and the quest to find the right college. Sometimes the hardest part of the college search process is actually the very first step. In a world where you have, literally, thousands of options, how …
Is Your Student a HYPSter? What It Takes to Get Into an Ivy League College
What the heck is a HYPSter? It’s part acronym, part tongue-in-cheek term, meaning the kind of student who is accepted and attends a highly selective college like Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, etc.–in other words, students attending the top colleges in the country. Many students aspire to these colleges, but many aren’t able to attend. What …
Does Applying to College Early Decision Improve Your Odds of Acceptance?
When it comes to applying to college, there are many factors that go into your decision. From majors and programs to costs and location, finding the “right” school can be complicated. But, once you’ve narrowed down your list, the act of applying still looms. And it’s a game of strategy. There are many ways you …