Join us on today, November 12, 2009 ALL day for EducationXpo! EducationXpo, the premier virtual college and career fair, for students and parents. EducationXpo offers potential students of all ages access to the essentials involved in the college planning process. Talk live with admissions experts, and job recruiters, take virtual campus tours, get financial aid information and more – 100% FREE ...

Sorry to be gone for an extended absence. My only excuse is the INCREDIBLE volume of applications Mason is receiving which has me buried. A couple of things seem to stay the same year after year: Applicants continue to use very embarrassing email addresses. And yes, we pass them around the office. We have a contest for the most offensive, funniest, ...

Admit-Deny: Some schools will admit marginal students, but not award them any financial aid. Very few schools use admit-deny, because studies have shown that lack of sufficient financial aid is a key factor in the performance of marginal students. Associate Degree: A degree which is granted to a student who has completed a two-year program (64-66 credits) and is equivalent to ...

Talk To Your Counselor. Between the books in the counselor’s office, and the knowledge in your counselor’s head, he or she will be a virtual treasure trove of information. Take advantage of the opportunities you have to work with a counselor to make plans for your future. Many counselors know more than any one book or website, and they are ...

It's a long and bumpy road. It's a challenging road. It's definitely wide open for you to travel. Getting through the college application process involves a lot of time and effort, but the results can generate a significant investment in you. Use these tips to get moving on the path to college success. Rule #1 Adhere to the NACAC (National Association ...

In case I have insufficiently vented about this topic, the winter holidays are inconveniently located in the middle of our application deadline season. While I realize most of you have visions of sugarplum-coated dreidels dancing in your heads, or something like that, your guidance counselors are working desperately to get that last recommendation letter out that you accidentally forgot to request ...

Every few years there’s a new series of books on dating that discourage you from showing any interest whatsoever in the person you want to date.  You probably know how that works -- don’t be the first to call, don’t act too excited to go out, NEVER be the first to admit you like the other person, never buy them a really ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

You may have seen the headlines: College Rejection Rates at Record Highs. With schools like the University of Pennsylvania and Pomona College admitting less than two out of every 10 people who apply, you may think you'll never get into your top-choice school. Don't despair. The headlines appear daunting, but there's more to rejection rates than these headlines would lead you ...

The college you’re considering offers your major, a variety of extracurricular activities and the ideal social mix. You’ve done your research and checked out the school’s location, class size, teacher/student ratio and dozens of other factors. You’re ready to accept their offer to attend. However, before you mail the deposit, make sure you ask some questions that are frequently overlooked in ...

Working and going to school at night is no picnic: Getting a degree seems to take forever, and the toll on social and home life should not be dismissed either. Nonetheless, working and being a part-time student is the best option for many ambitious employees. Here are some reasons to carry your briefcase and your book bag at the same time. ...

February and March are tense times for everyone involved in the college admissions process.  College hopefuls all over the country are waiting to hear from their top choices.  Angst is rising, and parents are helpless to end it.  And colleges are reading files and moving them through evaluation stages in the rush to “get the decisions out.”  This week, visiting blogger ...

College education is one of the single biggest purchases that you’ll ever make. And yet, the average consumer knows more about buying a car or a washing machine. Why not get the most for your money? 1. Go see the prof. You might think that lectures and discussions are the main part of the college class. And you’d be right. But ...

Sometimes I get a bee in my bonnet — the kind that just keeps flying around and refuses to land. When it comes to my intellectual interests, I can be compulsive and downright obsessive at times. Such was the case several weeks ago when I attended a four-year transfer fair at my community college. After talking with several representatives from the ...

On one not-so-different Friday evening, I glared at the computer with my eyes wide open. Exhausted from a strenuous week, I sat with a deep exasperation and wondered why my computer must warm up so slowly. On that Friday, I would learn whether the University of Florida accepted me. Recently, the competition has skyrocketed for that college, and many students from my ...

College admissions offices are busy places. Think about an admissions office receiving 5,000 to 10,000 or more applications. That is a lot of reading. What will make your application stand out? How colleges decide Before we address that question, let’s look at the process in general. I don’t believe any two admissions offices do everything alike, but there are similarities. Most ...

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 ...