n the interest of full disclosure, I recently accepted a nomination to be the Virginia representative to the national assembly for the ACT, which, some argue, is the only competition for the SAT. I don’t think that makes me biased, since I’m also a member of the CollegeBoard (motto: “You’ll be a member if you know what’s good for you.”), and ...

Unfortunately, brand names count. When employers decide whom to interview, seeing school names they recognize can be a plus. One way to add a better-known name to your resume is to complete a university extension certificate program. Many top colleges, such as Berkeley and Harvard, offer them. Harvard, for example, offers one-year programs in administration/management, public health, museum studies, publishing ...

In an attempt to start the New Year off right, a tip o’ the keyboard to some of my fellow bloggers whose musings I read on a very semi-regular basis. Admissions Blogs While I realize it’s hard to imagine any other admissions sites being worth your time, there are two I scan periodically. Scott White is a high school counselor and ...

Are you interested in training to enter a trade, or do you want to pursue a broader academic path? Do you want to study with leading researchers, or with professors who focus on teaching? The kind of school you choose will help you pursue the course of study that suits you best. Vocational Training School Description: * Offers a more focused ...

Personally, I think it is reasonable to assume that most Americans can shamefully (or proudly, in some cases) admit that they have watched a teen flick. Whether the movie is Clueless, High School Musical, Mean Girls or Napoleon Dynamite, they all have that same cafeteria scene. The stock characters isolate themselves in their cliques at the lunch tables while appeasing their ...

Have you ever wanted to explore a campus from your living room couch? Now you can! FastWeb and YOUniversity TV are teaming up to make the college search process easier for students and parents. We know you have a busy, demanding schedule and sometimes, college visits simply aren’t feasible, especially if the college is far away. First, check out the school’s ...

If you thought campaign season advertising, with all the e-mails and phone calls was fun, and if you think the best part of the holiday season was the incessant mailings begging and pleading with you to drop whatever you were doing and shop, then you must be loving deadline season.  By now most you are getting pummeled with e-mail, IM, facebook ...

I don’t usually indulge in information about the different personalities that populate the admissions profession, but today I make an exception for a true giant in the field. As long time readers already know, George Mason University was originally founded as a branch of the University of Virginia, and I received the sad news yesterday morning from our sister institution regarding ...

Families face tough choices when acceptance and rejection letters arrive. "Any parent who's shopped for a prom dress can tell you, window shopping is easy. It's the actual decision that's difficult," says Sally Rubenstone, co-author of Panicked Parents Guide to College Admissions. Rejection letters, expensive tuition, wait lists, reluctance to attend and an absence of acceptance letters are some of the ...

It seems like the sophomore year is one that you don’t remember. It’s not like your freshman year when everything is new and exciting. It’s not like your junior year when you start the college search process. It’s not like your senior year that is fast-paced, application-crazed, and meaningful yet fun. It’s the often-overlooked sophomore year that isn’t given nearly enough ...

Have you ever wanted to explore a campus from your living room couch? Now you can! FastWeb and YOUniversity TV are teaming up to make the college search process easier for students and parents. We know you have a busy, demanding schedule and sometimes, college visits simply aren't feasible, especially if the college is far away. First, check out the school’s ...

Last week I was on a panel for the Educational Policy Institute presenting to a large number of muckety mucks about what the new presidential administration is proposing and could do regarding access and affordability for higher education.  Now I’m sitting in Florida (where it’s bizarrely chilly) at the ACT meeting of state representatives hearing from colleagues on the issue of ...

During my spring break last year, I felt a little out of place at the airport. Most people migrated south for the lovely delights of sun-kissed beaches, refreshing gelatos and flip-flops. However, I, the high school junior, headed up north with my ski jacket to visit some potential college choices. When my dad drove our rental car through the thick, snowy ...

Have you ever wanted to explore a campus from your living room couch? Now you can! FastWeb and YOUniversity TV are teaming up to make the college search process easier for students and parents. We know you have a busy, demanding schedule and sometimes, college visits simply aren't feasible, especially if the college is far away. First, check out the school’s ...

When it comes down to it, no admissions decision is really final, but your investment of time and energy may vary widely depending on which letter you receive. Deferral Being deferred is generally an indication that your record is borderline for admission, and the admissions office wants to see some portion of your senior year grades and/or more recent test scores ...

Have you ever wanted to explore a campus from your living room couch? Now you can! FastWeb and YOUniversity TV are teaming up to make the college search process easier for students and parents. We know you have a busy, demanding schedule and sometimes, college visits simply aren't feasible, especially if the college is far away. First, check out the school’s ...

If you are a returning student, a shortage of time and money might prohibit you from enrolling in college full time. However, you can gain college credit for what you already know by taking one of several exams that test your knowledge in a particular subject. While the best known credit-by-examination program is the College-Level Examination Program (CLEP), there are three ...

The CLEP (College-Level Examination Program) is a test that grants college credit to students based on knowledge learned through professional experience, independent study, adult courses or advanced high school courses. The CLEP is recognized by about 2,900 colleges and universities, and is administered by the College Board. The CLEP is comprised of 33 different tests in a variety of subjects, much ...

Have you ever wanted to explore a campus from your living room couch? Now you can! FastWeb and YOUniversity TV are teaming up to make the college search process easier for students and parents. We know you have a busy, demanding schedule and sometimes, college visits simply aren't feasible, especially if the college is far away. First, check out the school's ...

Don’t know your SATs from your EDs…Here are some of the most popular questions when it comes to Admission and Application. Everything from campus tours to test scores to letters of recommendations. [photo:634] What does a campus visit consist of? A good time to get started with the college campus visit is the summer before senior year. The first step? Check ...