One of the most important steps in applying to college is figuring out which ones you're going to apply to (go figure). I haven't made up an official list of colleges I'm applying to yet, but I do know what I'm interested in. My views have gone through a long evolution, and if you look at the past three years, I've ...

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 ...

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 ...

Many college students choose a major simply because it interests them. Others decide on a major that will guide them toward a specific career. But what if you want to do more? Depending on your school, you may have more options than you think. Adding a minor or a double or dual major can enhance your academic experience and give you ...

One reason George Mason University was voted the nation’s number one “Up-and-Coming University” by U.S. News and World Report is their straight-talking Dean of Admissions, Andrew Flagel. With over 20 years of experience, Flagel has been helping students all over the country navigate the admissions process. Now, he’s lending his talents (and sarcasm) to FastWeb users. “First off, no matter what ...

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 ...

I hear from a lot of people who think the admissions process is unfair because they don’t understand the goals that drive admission. Fair warning – much of this post came from my dissertation research, so it is long, even tedious, and only for those really obsessed with understanding the admissions process. Most people assume that colleges and universities should just ...

Applying to college for the first time is complicated enough, but the process of transferring from a two-year to a four-year college can be dizzying. With little consistency in transfer policies from school to school, there’s a lot to keep track of when changing colleges. Use the tips below to make a smooth transition. Know When to Transfer Prepare for your ...

According to Dean Flagel, the average admissions officer reads about 1,000 applications per month and spends roughly 7 or 8 minutes on each application. That's not a lot of face time for a student's essays, letters of recommendation, or resume. Oftentimes, students cram as much as possible into their application so that admissions officers can feel like they really get to ...

On one very lazy Sunday afternoon, I went shopping at one of my favorite stores, Barnes and Noble. I could get lost and spend hours looking at random books, CDs, journals and other various accessories in this magnificent store. However, the biography section of the bookstore caught my immediate attention during this shopping trip. On each biography, I saw the pictures ...

I’ve been answering questions that seem to be wildly misled about who actually reads your application. One site refers regularly to the "ADCOMM" -- admissions committee -- likes it’s some alien entity that always acts the same way, and not thousands of individuals. Questions like "how do admissions committees look at essays about my trip to Antarctica?" are almost as nutty ...

Richard O’Brien wasn’t sure he wanted to attend a community college. “Most of my friends were going straight to four-year schools and there is some negative stigma attached to attending community colleges,” he says. After considering the pros and cons, O’Brien decided to attend Danville Area Community College and then transfer to complete his engineering degree at the University of Illinois. ...

Before you put your college applications in the mailbox, here’s a quick checklist to make sure you haven’t left anything out. The General Application Don’t leave anything blank unless the application tells you to. Make sure all information is accurate and legible. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call the university’s admissions office. Did you wait until the last ...

You've written the college essay, signed the application and sealed the envelope, all before the deadline. Now, you'll spend the next four months wondering if you'll be accepted to the college you love, or if you'll need to rely on your safety school. Fortunately, many schools permit students to apply for "early decision" or "early action." Both options allow students to ...

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 ...

Thinking you might want to study abroad? For some, it’ll prove to be one of the most rewarding, life-enhancing experiences of their college careers. For others -- well, they’ll enjoy the fish and chips, but that’s about all. This week, visiting blogger Sara Dumont, director of the Study Abroad Program at American University, explores the 10 most common misconceptions about ...

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 ...

It’s breaking news!!! The admissions process isn’t fair! I know so because The Washington Post had a big article recently (ok, April, but I’ll admit I didn’t notice until one of our readers forwarded it to me for comment) on the subject. Their intrepid reporter, after what I’m sure was a grueling round of research involving at least three phone calls, ...

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

Graduate school requires a lot of hard work, a lot of time and a lot more money. So it's important to consider these issues when deciding whether or not to pursue a graduate degree, and just what level of degree you want to attain. General Definitions A general master's degree can either be a Master of Arts (MA) or Master of ...