A month after taking the GRE, what I remember most is the GR part. (“Grrrrr” n. 1. exclamation indicating extreme frustration, 2. sound a bear makes.) You see, I’ve gotten my scores. I’m in the 91st percentile on verbal, which means only 9 percent of this year’s test takers scored higher than me. (I am also in the 91st percentile 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 ...

Q: How many schools should my junior apply to? Is there really such thing as a “safety” school? What does that mean? A: Trying to decide how many and which colleges to apply to can be one of the most challenging aspects of the admissions process. Fortunately, by beginning this process in the junior year, your son or daughter has more ...

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 ...

The essay portion of the SAT is a welcome change in the eyes of colleges, but a scary uncertainty in the eyes of students and parents, because the essay can also be viewed by admissions officers during the application review. SAT takers have 25 minutes to read a prompt, formulate an opinion, create an outline and write a coherent, astute three- ...

In a perfect world you'd study in London, Paris - or maybe even Brazil - next semester. But your double major, extracurricular activities and half-empty bank account dictate otherwise. What's a would-be globetrotter to do? Don't despair. There are innovative programs designed just for students like you with little time, little budget and lots of dreams. Work abroad BUNAC offers students ...

Ever wonder about those schools that advertise on daytime TV? Can you compare traditional American colleges to schools that say they will prepare you for a career in just a few months? As it turns out, you can. Francis Giglio, former director of Enhancement for the (ACICS), the accrediting body for many of these schools, offers some insights into the nature ...

Freshmen are like snowflakes. They all look the same, but each one of them is unique. They come to college with their unique dreams and fears, goals and ambitions, fears and anxieties. One size does not fit all, although many universities are now providing customized advising and helping freshmen transition through freshmen initiatives and programs. Here are a few tips: 1. ...

One of the most important parts of your college application isn't written by you: the letter of recommendation. But that doesn't mean you're off the hook. Get the best recommendation you can to make a winning impression. Get Organized Organization is the key to making sure your recommendations get where they need to go on time. Make a chart of your ...

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 ...

When choosing a college, you need all the information you can get. But visiting each campus can be expensive. And who has time research hundreds of Web sites or call each school individually? That's where college fairs come in. "College fairs are a 'one-stop shopping' kind of experience," says Greg Ferguson, director of the National College Fairs program of the National ...

Your students may have already begun to approach you in a panic. They’ve looked all over the Internet and in local newspapers for summer internship and job opportunities, but the economy has left little to no choices for high school students. How will this look on their college applications? While they may not have work for the summer, there are plenty ...

Key West. Myrtle Beach. Yosemite National Park. A college admissions office. Maybe that last one isn't a top vacation destination but it's worth a visit. Just as you wouldn't waste precious vacation minutes sitting in a hotel room figuring out what attractions are in the area, some planning before you head for campus will help you maximize your visit. Pick Up ...

When Nancy Rodriguez began planning for college, she quickly noticed that her parents’ involvement in the process was limited. “They just knew about where I wanted to go,” says Rodriguez, a senior at the University of Southern California who grew up in Los Angeles’s inner-city community of Southgate. With two parents who worked constantly and viewed education differently than other parents ...

Warren Buffet. Meredith Vieira. Ted Turner. Tom Brokaw. Besides being very successful, these famous business moguls and television personalities have something else in common. They were rejected from their first choice colleges. While you may think your rejection letter is signaling the end of the world, it’s not. Just consider it a speed bump in the admissions process and look forward ...

You envision a college degree as part of your child's future. So choosing a college where they're comfortable, happy and can be successful is important. But you're also curious if that school's party reputation is deserved, and if your child really understands what it'll mean to be six states away in a town with no major airport. As you accompany your ...

Earning a graduate degree can further your career and raise your salary. In fact, master’s degree holders earned an average of $10,000 more a year that those with only a bachelor’s degree, according to the US Census Bureau. It also demands a lot of hard work, a significant time commitment and substantial financial support. For some professions, like medicine and the ...

Need a bigger challenge from your high school classes? Ready to delve more deeply into your favorite subject? Want to save money and advance more quickly once you enter college? It's time to check into AP classes. AP stands for "Advanced Placement," a series of 37 college-level courses available to high school students looking for a head start. AP courses cover ...

You may think your school's career center is only for senior year. But throughout college the career center can help you choose a major, secure a summer internship or find a job after graduation. Explore Majors and Careers "We help people look at themselves," says Jennifer Kimbarovsky, career counselor at Northwestern University's career development center. "We want to help students ...

Hispanic cultures have always had a major influence on shaping the United States, especially with increased immigration from Latin America in recent decades. Studying abroad is an amazing opportunity for you to showcase the great diversity that makes up the United States. Here are 10 reasons why you should study abroad: See the world and broaden your experience There are so ...