College Admissions Help Blog

Happy Wednesday! Hang in there everyone; Thanksgiving break start one week from today and you all deserve it!  This week in the Ask Admissions Girl column we are talking about recommendation letters. Love them or hate them they are a necessary part of applying to college.

A lot of high school seniors wonder who should write their college recommendation letters. Some students seem to have a ton of people they could ask while others only have one or two people they would feel comfortable asking. Either way, there are a few guidelines you should follow when asking for recommendations.

Choose people who you know will have good things to say about you: This one kind of goes without saying, but it is still very important to mention. Simply stated, if you did not hit it off with a particular teacher or coach they might not have anything fabulous to say about you. Instead, choose

Teachers are usually your best bet: Many students have coaches, club advisors and summer job bosses who would be more than willing to write letters of recommendation for them. However, most colleges like to see letters from people who know your academic experience. You are going to college for an education and, although it is important to show that you are a well-rounded person, your academics are most important.

If possible, ask someone who attended you first choice college: Unfortunately, sometimes it is not what you know, but who you know! Alumni connections are key. If you know that one of your high school teachers went to Boston College and Boston College is your first choice school, then they should definitely write one of your letters. You can ask the teacher to mention their time at the college in the letter or simply sign their name with their class year so that the school knows the recommendation is coming from an alumnus.

Scholarship Points Bonus Code: AAGWEEK4

Most people know that the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or the FAFSA, is the number one form you need to fill out to receive any kind of federal financial aid. However, there is another important financial aid form that every prospective college student should know about. The College Scholarship Service Profile, or the CSS Profile, is an application put out by the College Board. Over 600 colleges and universities use the information collected by the profile to determine student eligibility for nonfederal student aid. This application is much more detailed than the FAFSA and it gives financial aid officers  a closer look at the details of a student’s family finances.

This form is most useful for colleges with early decision and early action programs. These schools use the CSS Profile to make preliminary financial aid decisions for students because they cannot file a FAFSA until after January 1. Unfortunately, unlike the FAFSA there is a fee associated with filing the CSS Profile. The application fee is $9 and a $16 fee is charged for every school the information is sent to.

Make sure you find out if the school you are applying to require or accept this application!

Happy Veterans Day! Thank you to everyone who has served and is serving our country in the United Stated Armed Forces. Today we are talking about what is being done to make the transition from active service to college easier for veterans. Recently there has been a lot of talk about the new Post-9/11 GI Bill. This bill, which was signed last year, provides veterans who served on or after September 11^th 2001 with financial aid for education and housing.

This bill is the largest veterans benefit bill since World War II and since it went into effect in August it has achieved a high level of popularity. A overwhelming  275,000 veterans have applied for education benefits so far. Although this number has been hard for the Department of Veterans Affairs to keep up with many schools are being lenient with when payments come in and the problems are expected to work themselves out with time.

Many young veterans returning from tours of duty have a lot more to deal with than the average undergraduate student. Many times these people already have families to support which makes obtaining an education extremely difficult. The hope is that this bill will make education more accessible to more veterans and that if will ease any doubt that they may have about returning to school.

ScholarshipPoints Bonus Code: AAGWEEK3

For some students, there is no question about where they want to go to college. I was one of those students. I fell in love with one college and I knew that if I did not apply or get into any other school I would be happy.

For students like me most colleges have either an early decision or an early action application option. Early decision and early action allow students to apply to the college of their choice early in November and usually find out if they have been admitted before Christmas. Early decision is binding, meaning that you have to attend the school if you get in. Early action on the other hand is not binding. It allows you to receive an admissions decision early, but still decline the offer if you so choose. This option also gives you the opportunity to apply to more than one school early.

With early decision and early action you have the possibility of being accepted, rejected or deferred. Deferment means that the school is not sure if they should admit you and you will be reconsidered with the regular pool of applicants.

Early decision and early action have many benefits. First of all, they usually have a higher acceptance rate than regular admissions. Secondly, if you are accepted you will not have to worry about the college admissions process for your entire senior year of high school. After you find out you will be able to concentrate on other things. Finally, if you only apply to one school you can save hundreds of dollars in application fees.

If you decide to apply for early decision or early action it is extremely important to have a plan B in place in case you do not get in. When I applied I made sure I had three other applications ready to go out in case I did not get in.

For me early decision worked out great.  I applied to my first choice school in November and found out that I got in a few days before Christmas. The rest of my year was stress free and I was able to concentrate on my school work and applying for scholarships.

Happy Wednesday everyone! This week we are talking about everyone’s favorite subject: standardized tests! Recently I was asked, “what are the differences between the SATs and the ACTs?”  I realized that this is probably a question that a lot of high school students going through the college admissions process have.

The truth is that the SAT and the ACT are very different tests. Typically the ACT is described as a content-based test while the SAT is a test of critical thinking and problem solving.

The SAT is the standard college entrance exam and it consists of three sections; math, reading and writing. The first section is a written essay which takes 25 minutes and the last section is multiple-choice which takes 10 minutes. There are also six 25-minute sections and two 20-minute sections that can appear in any order.

The ACT is an entrance exam that covers English, math, reading and science. There is a multiple choice test for each subject as well as a 30-minute writing test.

The good news is that if you feel like you have strengths in one area or another you can choose which college entrance exam to take. However, it is important to make sure that the schools you are applying to accept the scores of the test you choose to take. No matter which test you plan on taking you should not cram the night before the exam. You should learn about how the test is set up and what the different test-taking strategies are, but you are really being tested on knowledge you have accumulated throughout your high school career. Finally, you should make sure you get a good night sleep before the test and eat a good breakfast the morning of the test so that your mind will be sharp and you will have the energy to get through it!

Scholarship Points Bonus Code: AAKWEEK2

If you are currently a senior in high school and applying to college you are probably well into the process by now. November is a month when deadlines slowly start to creep up and it is important to make sure you have all of your ducks in a row.

Early Decision: If you are planning on applying to a school for early decision or early action your application is probably due soon! Most schools have early decision deadlines in November so if you are planning on some good news around the holidays do not be late with your application. If you are applying to schools with rolling admissions it cannot hurt to get those applications out this month too since decisions are made as applications are received.

College Essay: Put down your pencils, time is almost up! You should be finishing up your college essays this month. You want to make sure you have time to proofread them before your applications go out. Also, it is not a bad idea to have your parents proofread your essays too!

SATs: You still have time to take another round of SATs this month if you are not happy with previous scores. Just make sure to have your scores sent to all the right schools.

Letters of Recommendation: This time of year teachers and coaches get a lot of requests for letters of recommendation. Make sure you have your recommendations lined up and that you will have them in hand in time to include with your applications. Also, make sure to thank the people who write your recommendations.

Finally, make sure you keep your school work on track. It might be hard to think about with everything else that is going on, but you are on the home stretch of your high school career and it is important to finish strong! On the bright side November comes with Thanksgiving break so take time to breath and enjoy yourself!

Today I am starting something new. Every Wednesday I will be answering your most common college admissions questions.

This week we are talking about choosing the right school. Recently I had someone ask me “how do I know that I am picking the right college to attend?” This is a tough one. The truth is you can never know for sure until you get there, start taking classes and immerse yourself in the campus culture, but if you follow this advice you can come pretty close to making a flawless decision.

1: Determine a location that suites you. Some people are city people and some people are rural people. Some people like a self-contained campus and some people like a campus that is spread out. You need to figure out where you think you will be comfortable. You also need to figure out how far away from home you want to go. Maybe you cannot wait to move to the opposite coast or maybe you would prefer to be able to go home on the weekends.

2: Make sure the schools you are looking at have the academics that suite your needs. If science is your thing try not to fall in love with a business school no matter how fun it looks. Additionally, you may think you know what you want to do now, but if you change your mind and go to a school with limited options you might have to go through the hassle of transferring.

3: Do an exhausting amount of online research. There are so many websites out there that connect you with college that might fit your needs. How To get In even has its own college and university search engine that allows you to do all of you preliminary investigation.  If you are considering the online education route Edvisors.com can help you learn everything you need to know about online courses and degrees.

4: Visit the top ten schools on your list. You cannot make an educated school choice without visiting schools first. Colleges are extremely visitor friendly especially during college application season.  Colleges and Universities schedule and extensive number of tours, group information sessions, and even overnights. While you are visiting schools make sure you see what the residence halls look like, eat in the dining hall, visit the classrooms take a tour of the athletic facilities. The more information you can get the better.

5: Make sure you have safety, target and reach schools that you are interested in. If all of your favorite schools are admissions long shots and you do not end up getting into any of them, you will probably end up having to make a choice you are unhappy with. Have at least one safety school that thrills you.

6: Do not limit yourself to only looking at schools you think you can afford. Usually you will have people tell you the opposite, but I believe that if you find the perfect school there are ways to make it work. The Student Loan Network can help you determine what all of your financial aid options are.

In the end the college you choose is a decision that will stick with you for the rest of your life. If you know yourself and your own personal needs you cannot go wrong.

There is one thing that every college student experiences at least once a semester; sticker shock at the bookstore. Textbooks are an added cost that most first year students are not prepared for. Textbooks cost some college students thousands of dollars annually and paying for them dries up months of summer paychecks and years of savings.

Although many students have their textbooks subsidized by student loans and scholarships, the upfront costs for $190 biology books and $98 statistics books comes out of their pockets. Students sometimes wait months to see that money back in their wallet. After all of the other costs associated with college paying for books, even temporarily, is painful. However, one Massachusetts school is making paying for textbooks a lot easier. Williams College has adopted a policy that will allow students who receive financial aid to swipe their college ID and get their books for free. The costs are then assigned to the student’s bill and paid directly by college grants. Hopefully, after recognizing the benefits of this policy other schools will follow William’s lead.

If you do not attend a school with this procedure there are other ways to save on textbooks. Buying used books is one way to save. Although these books may be already marked or highlighted they are significantly cheaper. Another way to save is to split the cost of the book with a friend.  If you know you do not have the same study schedule as another person in your class you might be able to get away with one book between two people. Finally, you can usually sell you books back at the end of the semester and then use the cash you get back to buy your next set of books.

Search for Cheap College Text Books

With the current state of the US economy, the task of financing a college education is increasingly difficult. Because of this, many students are forced to let go of their dreams of attending their number one school. After years of picturing themselves writing for the Harvard Crimson or attending UConn basketball games, senior year comes with a dose of financial reality. This is when many high school students realize that getting into their school of choice will not be a problem, but paying for it will be.

After you have passed the SATs with flying colors, received recommendations from the best teachers at your school, and have acceptance letters in hand, settling for the number two or three school on your list can be heartbreaking. However, if you are set on attending your dream school you can, and should, make it work.

First of all, apply for federal financial aid by completing your FAFSA. The FAFASA is the most important financial aid form you can complete. Without it you will not be eligible for the Stafford loan, PLUS loan or Pell grant. Many students qualify for this type of aid; even student who do not think they will be eligible at all. Visit FAFSAOnline.com to find out more about the FAFSA and apply.

Secondly, if you were accepted to your dream school you must have done a few great things to get there. Because of your achievements, there are thousands and thousands of scholarships out there that you are eligible for. StudentScholarshipSearch.com can help connect you with scholarships you should apply for.

Finally, if you need additional funds after federal financial aid and scholarships apply for private student loans. Private student loans can help you pay for expenses beyond tuition including room and board, and transportation. You can also apply for these loans at any time during the semester if unforeseen expenses come up. PrivateStudentLoans.com can tell you more about your private student loan options and even help you apply.

As juniors and seniors in high school you are probably well on your way to planning your college career. Getting ready for college can be extremely stressful on top of everything else you have to worry about, but luckily most high schools have resources to make the search and apply process a lot easier.

Many high schools host college information nights for juniors and seniors, and their families. Information nights give students and parents a broad overview of the college application process. Guidance counselors are on hand to provide direction and answer questions. Sometimes a school will even bring in a college admissions counselor to lend advice from their perspective. These events are particularly helpful to families who are sending their first child to college, but everyone should consider attending since things change so frequently.

The following is a list of topics that are usually covered at college information nights:

SATs and ACTs: All of your questions about when and where to take the SATs or ACTs will be answered. You will find out what the test dates are, where they are being offered, where to send your scores, what scores you should aim for and how many times you should take a particular test.

Visiting Colleges: You will learn how to schedule college visits and when the best times to visit are. You will find out what questions you should ask when you take a tour and how many schools you should visit to make the right decisions.

The Application Process: College applications are more than just pieces of paper. Someone from the guidance department will outline everything you need to include with your applications from the essay to the application fee.

The College Essay: Someone will go over the basics of writing a college essay. They will cover how to choose a topic, how long the essay should be and who should see your essay before you send it off.

Letters of Recommendation: Most colleges require that you submit letters of recommendation with your application. A guidance counselor will explain who these recommendations should come from, how many you should submit, and what they should say about you and your achievements .

FAFSA and Financial Aid: Financial aid can be the most confusing part of applying to college. Someone from the guidance department will go over when and how to fill out your FAFSA, what kinds of federal student loans and alternative student loans exist, and how to search for scholarships.