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 ...

The graduate school application process can be tricky. Not only because it's like your senior year in high school all over again but because you have to balance a rigorous course schedule and a full extracurricular calendar with visits, interviews and essays. Just like your senior year of high school, you'll need to follow a strict time line of what you ...

Will a business degree get me a job? And if so, what types of business degrees should I look into? Answer: No degree will get you a job all by itself. It will most certainly HELP you get a job; it just won't GUARANTEE you a job. If you're already in college -- or you soon will be -- this is ...

Hopefully, you’ve already been studying for your upcoming standardized tests for many weeks and months. But even hours of preparation can be undone on test day by forgetting a calculator or losing the testing center’s address. Mapping out the details beforehand (i.e. what to bring and what not to bring) will ensure you do your very best on test day. Here’s a ...

1. Register for standardized tests NOW Most students wait until the summer after their Junior year to study and cram for the SAT/ACT. As a result, once you get your scores in October, you only have one or two more opportunities to re-take the exams to improve scores. Give yourself more time to improve by taking the tests early in the ...

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 ...

1. Take it again. Some colleges will accept the higher score. Some will combine your scores for the best possible number. If you didn’t do as well as you could have on the SAT or ACT, call your prospective college for advice: Should you retake it? If the college rep says you may be eligible for more scholarships or a better ...

It’s September and the start of another busy fall semester. If you are a Junior or a Senior, you know that this is the time of year when college representatives are in your hometown. They are either visiting your school, having evening receptions, or attending local college fairs. This is an excellent way to get information without visiting the campus. It ...

When August and September roll around, it’s just as difficult to say goodbye to your furry friends as it is Mom and Dad. Unfortunately, the majority of college campuses don’t permit students to house pets in on-campus housing, but some colleges across the country are breaking the mold and merging pet life with student life. After all, pets are known to ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

There are a lot of reasons students choose to transfer colleges. Some plan from the start to save money by starting at a community college and finishing at a four-year college. Others are simply not happy with their choice and want to explore other options. Whatever the reason, if you're thinking of transferring, you need to plan ahead to make sure ...

Many students spend so much energy deciding on college majors that they sometimes overlook a related – and sometimes equally important – question: What minor, if any, should you choose? As with so many career issues you'll face during the college years, there is no straightforward correct answer. Insofar as prospective employers are concerned, it all depends. But one thing is ...

It may be summer, but you know there's an SAT bubble sheet in your future. Whether it'll be your second attempt or first encounter with the SAT, summer is a great time to boost your test taking abilities. Here are some simple things you can do this summer that will serve you well on test day. Read Whether it's a book ...

ACT, SAT, PSAT - little words that cause big anxiety. If you're getting ready to apply for college, then you know what these tests can mean to your applications. Follow these simple test-taking strategies to get your angst under control. [gate] Know your test. Make sure you know the format and scoring standards of your test ahead of time. Take a ...

By now, you’re probably familiar with early decision deadlines in the admissions process. And if you’re not, it’s a pretty simple concept. If you apply early decision to a school by submitting your application before the ED deadline, you are letting that college know that if you are accepted, you are 100% committing to that school. Essentially, the decision is binding ...

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 ...

Q: “I get so nervous before a test. What can I do?” A: “The first time I took the SAT, I was so nervous, I couldn’t even remember what year it was,” says Lindy Robinson, who graduated in 2005 from the Detroit Country Day School in Michigan. “I’m not kidding! My hands began to shake right before time was called, and ...

"Make the call that will change your life and get you on the right track toward a rewarding future." Sales pitches like that are helping to draw record numbers of students to for-profit schools that offer job training in everything from welding to massage therapy to medical billing. Buoyed by the recession, these money-making career colleges are filling a niche with ...