What is the PLAN? The PLAN is a curriculum-based test that covers material commonly taught in the classroom. It measures what you have learned and how well you can use that knowledge. Students typically take the PLAN during their sophomore year of high school in preparation for the ACT, which is taken in the junior or senior year. The PLAN contains ...

It’s September and the start of another busy fall semester. If you are a junior or a senior, you probably already know that this is the time of year when college representatives are in your hometown visiting your high school, having evening receptions, and attending local college fairs. These are all excellent ways to get information without having to visit the ...

As I relax during my deeply cherished winter break, I watched one of my favorite films, Gladiator. Not only do I love the film for its superb action sequences, but I also find the semi-accurate story of a power struggle quite compelling. At the beginning of the film, Emperor Marcus Aurelius chooses between a courageous general and his son, the legacy ...

When I pictured college, I thought of hardcover textbooks, highlighters, gallons of coffee and living in the library. In my undergraduate years, I personally have yet to experience this. (But for the record, my friend in law school experiences all of the above!) I pictured college being so academically driven, I would be spending time with nothing other than class material. ...

There's a reason college applications are comprised of more than your GPA and test scores. Admissions officers utilize all aspects of the application to assess if you’re right for the school you’re applying to. Who you are and the qualities you possess are important because you’ll become a part of the school, bringing any unique aspects of your individuality along with ...

Fastweb members share their schools! The size and location of your campus can make a big difference on your college experience. Fastweb users attend all types of schools—from big urban universities to small rural colleges. They share what they love about their schools. -- “I attend Nebraska College of Technical Agriculture in Curtis, NE. This is a small school maybe a ...

I'm a college student in my second semester and I still can't decide what I want to major in. My major is currently "undecided." I want to choose a major that I will enjoy years later, and in which there will be job openings by the time I graduate. Answer: You aren't alone in not knowing what to major in. In ...

Acceptance Form: This form documents the student's receipt of an award letter. The form usually includes a space to indicate acceptance of offered aid, declination of all or part of the package and some means for requesting an appeal to modify the award. Acceptance letters and award letters are frequently combined into a single document. Admit-Deny: Some schools will admit marginal ...

Regardless of your child’s grades or test scores, he or she will likely struggle with his or her personal statement, commonly known as “the college essay.” Here are six questions to consider when your child asks you to help edit his or her personal statement. 1. Did your child follow directions? Many students fail to accurately answer the question posed in ...

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 ...

UntitledUntitledWe've offered plenty of advice throughout the past few weeks on how to save money for school: part-time jobs and deferring student loans…just to name a few. But here's something you never thought you'd hear: save money by skipping out on school for a year. Gap year: defined as the increasingly popular option to forego college or graduate school for a ...

It can be difficult to stay on track during the lengthy college application and admissions process. Now, more than ever, it’s important to focus on your future and think about what you’d like in a college, despite where others would like for you to go. Remember, it’s ultimately your decision and your life! According to The New York Times, here is ...

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. Bring the Work World into the Classroom Many graduate programs prefer that students have some work ...

There are many ways parents can help their students manage exam stress, including those that not only improve their ability to perform on the tests, but also help them stay healthy in the process. One of the first things parents can do to help their students through their exams is to make sure they don't wait until the last minute to ...

You're at the top of your game and schools are clamoring to recruit you to play on their teams. Before you sign on the dotted line, ask these questions to make sure you're picking the right athletic program for you! 1. Does the school offer the academic program that interests me? 2. What are the academic performance requirements to remain a ...

Many colleges offer study abroad programs and many students are able to take advantage of them. Unfortunately, I wasn't one of them. At the time, shelling out $2,000 for program fees and another $4,000 for credit costs didn't seem too appealing. I did manage to go to London with a friend on spring break last year, and the overall cost of ...

With the first black president elected and affirmative action programs now defeated in four states, some are wondering the fate of the programs and how they'll be affected.  The programs, designed to level the playing field for perceived minorities, have been under attack for years, most actively by anti-affirmative-action guru Ward Connerly. In 2003, the Supreme Court affirmed the use of ...

I will be graduating next year with an education degree. However, I've realized that I'm not interested in teaching in a classroom, and I'm more interested in the corporate world. If I want a job other than teaching, do I have to go back and get a different degree, or can I work with what I have? Answer: You can do ...

One morning, a credit card in hand (and Handel’s “Halleluiah Chorus” playing in my mind), I gleefully clicked the ”Submit” button for my Common Application. After I paid the application fees and filled out the school transcript forms, I was finished with the whole process. The thing I was wondering about ever since I was six had reached its completion. As ...

I couldn’t understand how my friends could be so carefree. Didn’t they know it was almost spring? Didn’t they have college decisions to make? Mine took over my life - monopolizing my thoughts, afflicting me with insomnia and making my head spin. While I wandered dazed through each day, they were acting like there wasn’t a problem in the world. Out ...