So you are halfway through freshman year or maybe you’re even a sophomore and you’re thinking, “Hmm, I really don’t like it here- should I transfer?” Maybe your ‘dream’ school is not as dreamy as you first thought, maybe your grades slipped senior year and you ended up at your 10th choice, maybe you realized you don’t want to be an ...

Andrew Flagel currently serves as the Dean of Admissions for George Mason University. With over 20 years of service in college admissions, Dean Flagel is more than well-versed in the ins and outs of the admissions process. Even better, he is all-too-honest with his advice ...and his opinions.

There are many parts of a successful college application, the most important of which is high school grades. The second most important part is the SAT score. The SAT is typically taken in junior and senior years (it is typically taken twice). The key to getting a higher SAT score is working early, slowly, and consistently. No student should have to ...

"What do you want to be when you grow up?" This was easy to answer when we were kids: "I want to be a ballerina. An astronaut. A racecar driver. A doctor. A teacher. Superman." And the adults laughed and encouraged us to play out our dreams. As we get closer to becoming adults, people expect our answers to that question ...

A college degree is becoming more important for launching a career. But for some fields, you need more: more training, more specialized skills, more credentials. That's where professional school comes in. Earn an MBA, an JD or an MD to take your career to a higher degree. Business Preparation: An undergraduate degree in business is not necessary, but English and math ...

It's December. All remnants of turkey and stuffing have been expunged from the fridge. The days are getting shorter and temperatures are dipping lower. Wal-Mart is drenched in red, white and pine needle green. Leroy Anderson's "Sleigh Ride" is being piped endlessly through every department store PA system on this side of the Rio Grande. But those familiar Christmas jingles mean ...

In a move to court foreign students, US News and World Report has just released its first-ever issue of the World’s Best Colleges and Universities. [widget:1577] These new rankings, released November 20th and based on the Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings, are a befuddling play off of their annual America’s Best Colleges rankings, a 25-year-old who’s-who of the country’s top ...

Admissions committees care most about grades in certain subjects: Science Mathematics English Social Studies Foreign Languages

I was on a four-day college extravaganza recently and got to look at some fine colleges. Last week I gave Shippensburg a 9/10, which is a very good rating. After we left Shippensburg, we headed west to Edensburg, Pa., which is in the proximity of St. Francis University. We got to the hotel and relaxed while watching TV or reading. We ...

In the world of admissions officers, August is an incredibly stressful time. The source of this anxiety isn’t the students moving in, the recruitment travel restarting, or the summer ending--it’s THE RANKINGS. Most of my colleagues describe their feelings towards THE RANKINGS as ambivalent. "Ambivalent" means they hate them, they really hate them. Unless their college or university is blessed by ...

According to Dean Flagel, admissions committees want to paint students in the best light when it comes to standardized test scores. Here's how: • Take best score from each section and combine for best score • Some colleges look at writing score; others don't

Hello there, my fellow noblemen and magistrates. Another action packed blog update. Get the popcorn ready and tuck your younger brothers and sisters in. This entry is rated X…for XTREME! That's right. It's so extreme that it doesn't need the 'e' in extreme. On Saturday, my grandma and I went down to St. Joe's University in Philly for their open house. ...

Questions are like itches. You know you aren’t supposed to scratch, but sometimes you just ... gotta. One question that should remain tickly and untouched is the one everyone’s always asking: “So, what’s it like being a fourth year?” I’ll tell you. It’s dreadful. To be a senior in high school is to gaze at your future with bright eyes, ...

Junior Year Start thinking about college choice. Make an appointment to talk with your guidance counselor. Register with www.fastweb.com to find the money you need for college. Plan to take your PSAT during your junior year and start studying for the ACT or SAT. Summer after Junior Year Visit college campuses and ask friends in college for their advice. Request applications ...

Test day is almost here, but there's still time to study. Whether you're well-prepared, semi-prepared or not at all prepared, we have several last-minute prep strategies that can help you boost your score. Note: SAT deducts points for incorrect answers but there is no penalty for questions left blank. The ACT does not deduct points for incorrect answers. What this means ...

After the SAT you may have uttered, "Glad I never have to go through THAT again!" But if you plan to attend graduate school, you'll experience much of that same test-taking anxiety again. Most graduate school programs require a Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) score. And just like when you applied to college the first time around, scoring well on this test ...

U.S. News & World Report. The Princeton Review. The sheer number of college rating systems published around this time of year can be downright dizzying. Some rankings rate doctoral programs. Others focus more on careers. Some take a look at do-good colleges. Others focus more on faculty. Some shine a spotlight on academic programs ... and so on. What’s a curious, ...

Test day is fast approaching, but there's still time to study. Whether you're well-prepared, semi-prepared or not at all prepared, we have several last-minute prep strategies that can help you boost your score. Your Preparedness Level: "PSAT? What PSAT?" With limited time, the best way to prepare is to use a PSAT review book. Kaplan and Princeton Review offer books on ...

Some college applications require you to submit recommendations. Because this is such an important part of your application, you should be as organized as possible. To help you with this process, here is a list of things you should and shouldn’t do when asking for a recommendation. DO begin early. Most recommenders need at least two weeks, to write recommendations, maybe ...

The SAT and ACT measure what you have learned over the course of many years. While no amount of cramming can turn a 200 into an 800, organized preparation can go a long way. With books, videos, software and prep courses, you have options for getting the help you need. Free Materials Start with the free publications available at your high ...