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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

You found it! The college of your dreams looks perfect ... in the catalog. But you can't find all the answers about your school in brochures. Contacting the school and asking the right questions will give you a better idea if this is the college for you. Academics and Life After College Your college should help you reach your goals in ...

So many schools! So many choices! Take it step by step to find the right college for you. Step 1: Develop your ideal college profile You can't find your perfect college until you figure out what you want. Start by breaking it down. Make a list of the characteristics you want in a college. Think about: Size: Large schools can offer ...

Before you select a college or university, you must have a clear idea as to what you are looking for in a college or university. You may not know exactly what you wish to study or your career goals and that is okay. I will discuss five simple things you must consider even before you browse through the web pages ...

So many colleges, so hard to find the best fit. Most students find that creating an expansive list of schools they’d like to go to is easier than winnowing down the list. Here are some tips from Dr. Kat to help narrow your focus. *1. Make sure the list is balanced*. Have a conversation with your high school college counselor to ...

Academics, living arrangements, and costs may be at the top of your list of factors in choosing the right school, but experts say you should pay attention to one more thing: a school’s efforts to welcome students of your heritage. "It is crucial for a college-bound student to select an institution that reflects his or her values, cultural heritage, and aspirations ...

Maybe you're planning to go to school at night while you work a full-time job. Or maybe you're scheduling class time around daycare for your preschooler. Or perhaps you're going back to school after a stint in the military. If any one of these describes you, you're part of one of the fastest-growing groups on college campuses. Non-traditional students include a ...

FastWeb partnered with Maguire Associates, a firm that specializes in market research, analysis and predictive modeling for colleges and universities, to evaluate the impact of the economy on college choices by high school seniors and their parents. Initial surveys were sent in February and March 2009 to identify the initial selection of colleges. Follow-up surveys were sent in May 2009 to ...

If you're like most people, you flip to your prospective school when you see the college ranking editions of U.S. News, The Princeton Review and other publications. We all want to see how our choices measure up. But what do those numbers mean? How big of a role should a college's ranking play when selecting a school? Wealth of Information Want ...

Brian Donovan recently graduated from the US Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He made the decision in high school that he wanted to go to a military college. "I wanted to challenge myself," Donovan says. "I didn't want to be just a normal college kid. I wanted to do something different." Every year, thousands of students make the commitment to attend ...

When picking out a college, you need to choose the institution that's best for you. Size, location and price are important. But for many black students graduating from high school today, an even greater consideration is whether or not to attend a historically black college or university. Check out the pros and cons to decide if one of these schools ...

I periodically scan the Washington Post blog Admissions 101, and recently came across a ridiculous debate about school size. The author, my longtime acquaintance Jay Matthews, asserted that large schools offer more options, then noted that he received a ton of feed back that smaller schools do an even better job of helping students look at options. That's just hooey (that's ...

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 ...

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 ...

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, ...

As promised, here is an exceprt from the first of my posts on navigating the admissions process. Just a reminder (DANGER! legal jargon coming), the information in these notes does not necessarily reflect the views of my institution , or anyone else in admissions or counseling (even though, no matter what anyone else has told you, I’m right and they’re wrong). ...