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The college admission process wasn’t nearly as anxiety-producing thirty years ago. Parents who haven’t been through it yet have heard horror stories from friends and relatives, but they don’t understand why things are so different now.

Although no one enjoys taking standardized tests, there are a number of good reasons for 10th and 11th grade students to experience the PSAT or PLAN exams before taking college admissions tests. The reports generated by the PSAT or PLAN give you feedback on your strengths and weaknesses in those skills necessary for college study. By taking these practice tests well in advance of the SAT or ACT, you will be able to focus your preparation on those areas that will most benefit from additional study or practice.

Peter Thiel, the co-founder of Pay-Pal and a graduate of Stanford University, is paying 24 entrepreneurial college-age students $100,000 NOT to attend college for two years.  Instead, the students will spend their time and energy developing business ideas while participating in a mentorship program in Silicon Valley.  This program is the outgrowth of his idea that the high cost of college education is not justified in today’s world.  But is he right?  Does the money invested in a college education pay off?

How will you benefit from attending our college? What will you contribute to our college? Although you may not see these questions on college applications, if you answer them in your applications, you will be setting yourself apart from other applicants and making a persuasive case for your admission.

According to the Federal Advisory Committee on Student Financial Assistance “it is essential that students and parents focus on net price, which is the dollar amount that must be paid after subtracting financial assistance from cost of attendance. Throughout the decision making process — from considering whether college is a financial possibility, to choosing which college to attend, to assessing whether to continue once enrolled — net price, rather than list price, is of singular importance.” But comparing net prices used to be impossible until students had completed the college application process and had received their student aid awards.

Now that you’ve brainstormed the perfect topic, you’re finally ready to cozy up with your computer and write the best college essay you can muster. The following tips will help your essay appear polished and professional throughout the writing process.

There's a fifth calendar season that appears during senior year: application season. With so much going on during this time, it's often difficult to stay organized and ahead of the game. The following tips are suggestions to help you stay on track and on time with your college applications.

Once you’ve chosen what type of application to complete, filled out the forms, and gathered all the paperwork, you’re now faced with the problem of figuring out how you’re going to submit your application! With choices like ‘Rolling,’ ‘Regular,’ ‘Early Action,’ and ‘Early Decision,’ it’s important to know the differences between them. Now that you’ve chosen the schools, this can help you choose how to apply for them. There is no ‘right’ way to apply, and your individual circumstances should always be taken into consideration when looking at the options.

Now that you’ve written your college essay, it’s time to put it in your college application and gather the rest of your information together. However, the type of college application you submit can vary from college to college: paper or online? Common or Universal? And what’s this about a supplement? The following is a brief overview of the different types of applications you can expect to find.

Chances are good that if you’re reading this blog, you found it via Facebook or another social networking site. With over 500 million active users on Facebook*, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking you’re just another face in the crowd, but think again. 80% of college admissions offices are using Facebook to recruit prospective students**, which means that the person checking out your profile might be someone more important than your Aunt Ethel. The following are tips for keeping it classy on Facebook, and more importantly, can also help keep you safe from online predators.