For many of you, the most stressful part of the admissions process happens AFTER you apply. First, the waiting, hoping for the thicker envelope (or the email with more megabytes), wondering how a bunch of people you don't know can have so much to say about what you get to do next year. So then you get admitted (I hope). Unfortunately, ...

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 ...

I find it ironic that my classroom windows overlook the Littleton Cemetery. Strangely enough, in a rare childless moment, I found myself meandering among those very headstones just three months ago. As I wandered aimlessly, I looked down the grassy burial grounds across the train tracks towards Arapahoe Community College disheartened and unsure if my dream to go back to school ...

The staples of packing well are comfortable shoes. I know that most students want to look good, but comfort needs to come before style when studying abroad. You are going to walk a whole lot more than you think, and you need to be prepared. It’s also important to pack light. While it is a scary thought to have to pack ...

Deborah Schneider spent far more time researching the $15,000 car she once bought than she did on a slightly larger purchase -- her $90,000 law degree. "Years later, I realized how common that is," says Schneider, who coauthored Should You Really Be a Lawyer? with Gary Belsky and produces its accompanying Web site. "Each year, many college students spend more time ...

You may think your school's career center is only for senior year. But throughout college the career center can help you choose a major, secure a summer internship or find a job after graduation. Explore Majors and Careers "We help people look at themselves," says Jennifer Kimbarovsky, career counselor at Northwestern University's career development center. "We want to help students ...

Ever wonder about those schools that advertise on daytime TV? Can you compare traditional American colleges to schools that say they will prepare you for a career in just a few months? As it turns out, you can. Francis Giglio, former director of Enhancement for the (ACICS), the accrediting body for many of these schools, offers some insights into the nature ...

Credibility. Confidence. A big-picture perspective. Appreciation for other points of view. That's what MBAs say when asked what the degree has done for them. "It gave me a broad perspective of the business world. How the economy works [and] how my industry works," says Susan Odegaard Turner, founder of Thousand Oaks, California-based consultancy Turner Healthcare Associates. Her MBA, from California Lutheran ...

Question: What part should my parents play in my college application? Parental involvement in the college admissions process varies from family to family, and is sometimes a point of conflict. At the very least, your parents will have to fill out financial aid forms so that your application process can be completed. Parents can perform other valuable tasks for your application ...

Q: How many schools should my junior apply to? Is there really such thing as a “safety” school? What does that mean? A: Trying to decide how many and which colleges to apply to can be one of the most challenging aspects of the admissions process. Fortunately, by beginning this process in the junior year, your son or daughter has more ...

A good plan is essential when applying to graduate school. Use FastWeb’s timeline to help you find out what you should be doing and when you should be doing it. Junior Year: Keep your grades up. Don’t allow your plans for graduate school to take your mind off of your first priority: success in your undergraduate courses. Your grade point average ...

Are you a realist or a go-getter? The answer could define your strategy for selecting your college of choice. There are three legs on the college application stool. You could apply to a "reach" school -- one you might get in. You could apply to a "safety" school -- one that you should easily get in. Or you could go after ...

A rigorous course schedule through high school is important. Good grades are key. High SAT/ACT test scores certainly don't hurt. But what else are colleges looking for in students? Genuine interest in the school Colleges want students who show genuine and well-researched interest in their school. "A student who has gone beyond name recognition and reputation and has decided that the ...

I’m on my way to the Association for College Admissions Counseling national conference where a massive amount of time will be spent (one might say wasted) on technology issues. There are a slew of sessions on the use of technology, and, of course, a whole bunch of companies that claim to offer THE NEXT BIG THING. Of course it’s assumed that ...

The essay: It's one of the most important parts of your college application, and it can be the hardest. But it doesn't have to be. Take a look at some of the most commonly asked essay questions and use them to prepare for your applications. Brainstorm ideas, do some research or create your own "stock" of application essays from the ...

How colleges make decisions and what they look for when they read applications remains a great mystery to many families. Whether it's the fear of being a number or the competitiveness of the institution, many students and families feel as if they've lost control of their fate once their applications are dropped in the mail. Nobody can guarantee your admission. I ...

Why are you applying to this college? That is one of a few standard questions former Harvard alumni interviewer Gerald Bradshaw used to ask recent high school grads hoping to get into the Ivy League school. It seems like a simple question – most questions in the alumni interview are – but the question and the interview itself have tremendous impact ...

Does the prospect of talking face-to-face with admissions officers give you fits? Before your nerves get the better of you, learn what to expect - and how to ace your college interview. Understanding the Process There's no doubt that the college admissions interview causes a lot of angst. And yet, it's rarely the deciding factor in admissions. Many schools don't even ...

College tours provide a great opportunity for you to visit campus and learn more about what a college has to offer. However, tour guides are told to stick with talking points and established routes to pass through the nicest parts of campus. To become an astute prospective student, you’re going to have to investigate off the beaten path. Here are ...

You've narrowed your choice of colleges down to seven different schools. Now comes the fun part: filling out seven different applications. This means entering your name/address/school data over and over and writing multiple personal essays. And if you can't apply online, this means reacquainting yourself with a typewriter. At long last, an alternative is gaining momentum: the Common Application. What Is ...