Take a strong course schedule. Your class record is a big part of your college application. Don't take courses that simply pad your GPA. Challenge yourself. Take AP, IB or honors courses. If your school doesn't offer them, see if your local community college or university does. Do volunteer work. Make a difference and volunteer for activities that reflect your personality ...

During her first semester of college, Veronica Sorce and her dorm friends sat in the audience at the “Jerry Springer” show in Chicago. The college kids watched as couples on stage broke up and threw down. “The guys were getting in fights,” says Sorce, a graphic design major from Peoria, Illinois. Checking out the “Springer” show is just one of the ...

You don't expect to have homework until after you enroll in school. But if you're looking to learn a new trade and boost your standard of living you've got an important assignment to tackle before you step foot in class. There are many vocational and technical schools that train new chefs, automotive technicians, medical assistants, hair stylists, interior designers, electronics technicians, ...

While not as attention-getting as academic quality or price tag, the size and location of a college have a big impact on your college experience. Take time to evaluate the pros and cons. Large Schools vs. Small Schools One size doesn’t fit all. Don’t expect college life at a school of 50,000 to be the same as life at a campus ...

Are you intent on making a bad impression in a job or college admissions interview? Take a look at these six ways to get immediate rejection—and then read on for what our experts have to say about the right way to act. 1. Have no knowledge of yourself or the organization. Before walking in, make sure you have no idea about ...

Why attend college? You will learn skills that will help you both on and off the job. A person who attends college generally earns more than someone who doesn’t. How can I go about choosing a college? Colleges are located in big cities, suburbs, and small towns throughout the country. Some enroll tens ...

When it comes to diversity on a college's campus, enrollment percentages and brochures can't tell the whole story. How can prospective students dig deeper? Courses and Programs "Check the availability of different classes that reflect diversity, check out the student organizations," says John Kula, director of Penn State University's Upward Bound Program. Look for student-run clubs that interest you listed on ...

When researching colleges, you need to choose the institution that fits your needs. Size, location and price are important. But Hispanic students also have the option of attending a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI) - a school with an enrollment of full-time students that is at least 25 percent Hispanic. In addition, at least half of the Hispanic students must be low-income individuals. ...

I couldn’t understand how my friends could be so carefree. Didn’t they know it was almost spring? Didn’t they have college decisions to make? Mine took over my life - monopolizing my thoughts, afflicting me with insomnia and making my head spin. While I wandered dazed through each day, they were acting like there wasn’t a problem in the world. Out ...

The road to college is an exciting journey, but for the uninformed traveler, it is one that can be filled with risk and consequences. The savvy student-athlete needs first to establish a road map for her future. He needs to research, investigate, and explore a multitude of college options before deciding which offers the right fit. Just as an astute homebuyer ...

It's almost spring and you've got a lot on your mind as a senior in high school. Plenty of reports and projects are due, Prom may be coming up and you're beginning to realize that you'll be leaving your friends in a few short months. On top of all that, colleges are asking for deposits for enrollment. Your problem is you ...

The best mistakes are those you learn from. Below, guidance counselors and admissions counselors from around the country reveal the most common college application errors. Follow Directions A lot of mistakes can be easily avoided by following directions. All college applications may look the same, but read the directions carefully — they can be quite different. Keep a sharp lookout for ...

Glancing up from my exam, I noticed two of my classmates handing in their blue books to the professor and leaving the classroom. We were only fifteen minutes into the testing period. Were they already giving up without a struggle? I was amazed that at least a third of the class hadn’t even bothered to show up. Several tardy students were ...

As a student choosing a college to attend, you become a consumer. As you make this important decision in your life, you want to be aware of costs and attentive to your own needs. In order to assure that you will thrive at the college you select, you want to decide on a college with qualities that match your wants, needs ...

Before you start researching the average class sizes at your top choice colleges, you should assess your own learning style. Do you prefer a small environment with an emphasis on discussion? Or would you rather be in a large class with a lecturing professor? Both class sizes have their advantages and disadvantages, and knowing the style that fits you can help ...

Chess has always impressed me as a game that challenges two players to use all of their cognitive capabilities to outwit, outsmart, and outstrategize their opponent. Chess is a thinking person’s game where skill, planning, strategy, and some degree of gamesmanship are paramount. When I advise student-athletes and their parents, I remind them regularly how their preparedness must be strong and their ...

Insects and people. Crop sciences. Cinema studies. What do these things have in common? All are classes taught in liberal arts and sciences colleges. Many students aren’t clear about the liberal arts and sciences—and why majoring in liberal arts may be advantageous to their careers. Most universities have a college of liberal arts and sciences that offer a wide range of ...

A huge advantage of living in a major metropolitan area is the opportunity to attend a community college (also called a junior or two-year college). There are a variety of reasons why someone decides to become a student at a two-year college: With comparatively low tuition rates and flexible class schedules, community colleges can suit people in a variety of different ...

One thing that has surprised me the most about going back to school as an older student is how my view of professors has changed. Though I had a good rapport with several of my instructors in my early college days, the majority of my professors seemed omniscient and invincible fixtures of the establishment. Granted, this was at a large four-year ...

I often get asked why I chose Dartmouth. In my mind, there are too many reasons to name. I guess I should start with senior year and the exciting, stress-free college application process. I had gone through high school with the dream/delusion that I would go to Harvard. I had been the classic overachiever in high school, taking part in everything ...