By Kate Sonnenberg:

College admissions consultants work with students to help them “build” their college list. But, there are a lot of amazing colleges and universities out there, so how do students choose which colleges to put on their college list?  One critical consideration is academic fit – the college must have the majors and programs that appeal to the student!  While some (usually large) universities admit students directly into a major, even those that do not often ask students what their intended major is (although “undecided” is typically an option). While non-binding,…

With questions about location, academics, accommodations, and campus life, this questionnaire is meant to guide high school students as they begin researching colleges.

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By: Valerie Erde

In my work as a tutor, many teens have walked through my door reluctantly, to say the least. They weren't interested in studying for the ACT or SAT, and at times weren't even interested in college at all. Sure, they knew that it was important for their future in a general way, but they definitely wanted to do something more fun than ACT/SAT practice tests with their limited free time.

I'm also a parent, so I know just how frustrating it can be to watch your child fritter away time and talent and fail to reach success or mastery of a skill. Of course you…

With the opening of FAFSA this month, we consulted Edmit.me, a college financial planning platform with the mission to help families make great financial decisions about college, on FAFSA - What is it, and how does it work? Here is a blog post from Edmit, with all of the information you need to get started on filling out the forms.

The Edmit Guide to the FAFSA

Key Takeaways:

This Comprehensive Guide was developed to bring together all of the information that we provide families on College Admissions process, in one place so that you do not miss anything. This guide is here to help you see all of the different components of the admissions process, weighing the importance placed on each section. A must have guide for seniors, but a great overview for juniors, sophomore and freshmen who want to see how they will be evaluated in the future.

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20% of Harvard first-year students are opting to defer their admission this year according to the Harvard Crimson. Amidst the Covid pandemic, many students decided to take a gap year rather than start their university experience online.

According to the Boston Globe, at MIT, 8 percent of first-year students deferred, up from normally around 1 percent, according to the university. At Williams College in Western Massachusetts, 90 students took a gap year instead of the usual 25. And at Bates College in Maine, 10 percent of students have requested deferral, up from 4 percent. Beyond…

By: Emily Cho

Decades of rising  tuition costs have made college education largely unaffordable for most families without financial aid and merit scholarships. However, for many families, even financial aid and merit scholarships may not be enough. For those that do not qualify for any financial aid, many are left with a smaller set of schools to consider that is affordable. Scholarships are a great way to help reduce the cost of school, and every student should consider applying as there are thousands of scholarships in every category that students can apply for.

From…

By: Valerie Erde

As an ACT/SAT/AP tutor and college essay advisor who has worked with dozens of families over the past several years, I often hear from parents who are very concerned about their children getting into top colleges. This is natural — we all want what's best for our children, and we know that a high-quality education plays an important role in their future success. I've been through the college application process with my own two children, and I know just how intense that can be.

But all too often, parents of eighth and ninth graders  - or even of younger…

By: Emily Cho

There are two types of financial aid that a student may receive: merit and need based.

Merit scholarships are scholarships and financial aid universities will offer students based on their academic performances or specific skills. These awards are outright grants that the students do not have to repay.

Need based financial aid is awarded strictly based on a student’s financial profile, which takes into account the student’s family assets and income, with no consideration of the student’s academic merit. Federal government provides the bulk of the…

By: Emily Cho

1. Engage in meaningful summer activities

Covid-19 has upended many summer plans, including summer internships and jobs that are cancelled. While the Common App will have space for students to explain how their summer plans got cancelled or altered, colleges still want to see how students used their time during the summer. Whether it be taking care of family members, volunteering to help the community, or taking the time to learn new skills, students should devote time to making the summer meaningful and productive to the extent that their circumstances allow…