Scholarships matter a lot for students headed to college because college is so expensive. But myths about scholarships hold people back from finding and applying for scholarships.
College admissions isn’t just about getting in, it’s about finishing and thriving in life. That’s why it matters that you find a great fit college.
Visiting colleges can be expensive. Between airfare or gas, hotel rooms, rental cars, parking and food, you could end up spending thousands of dollars. So before you fly, travel in the virtual world. College virtual tours can be a great way to screen colleges and find your fit.
Here’s how to focus students’ attention on a few areas of interest and aptitude and build an outstanding college application portfolio.
The Coalition Application is one of the biggest changes in the college application process this year. Here’s what it means for you.
Each September, the week the vaunted U.S. News and World Report college rankings come out, you’ll find parents looking over them anxiously. For many universities as well, these rankings are critical, since universities vie for top spots on this widely-publicized evaluation of their quality. For parents and students, the report adds to the complexity of decision-making about college. Here are tips on how to think about college rankings.
The number and percentage of high school students who go on to four-year college have been rising steadily for years. But as the costs of college increase and many college graduates see only middling job prospects, more and more families are asking the question: is college the best choice for everyone?
At many high schools, counselors don’t start engaging with students about planning for college until spring of junior year.
But if you’re a parent or student, waiting till spring of junior year makes college planning harder for many reasons. In fact the best advice for parents is to start early: as early as possible, in freshman year if you can. College planning really starts the first day of high school, since its when all the work your teen will do starts making a difference.
Parents I speak to often ask “What’s the best university to study engineering?” or “Where is the best place for my daughter to study biomedicine?” There are many ways to answer this question. The answer I always give is: “It depends on your child.” I tell them to focus on fit, not rank.
For teens starting out in life after high school, or parents helping them, remember: your first gig after college doesn’t have to be your final “true passion,” but it does have to pay the bills so you can keep searching. So find a way to balance pragmatism and passion in your choice of college and major.