You've thumbed through the glossy brochures and visited the Web sites. But beyond the pictures, what's life on a college campus really like? The best way to get the inside scoop is to go offline and take a campus tour. After all, there's nothing virtual about your college choice. Scheduling Your Trip Pick a normal school day when the regular flow ...

Test day is fast approaching, 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. Your Preparedness Level: "PSAT? What PSAT?" With limited time, the best way to prepare is to use a PSAT review book. Kaplan and Princeton Review offer books on ...

A college admissions interview doesn’t have to be a nerve-wracking experience. You’ll make the best impression if you’re relaxed. Get comfortable with some typical interview questions before you sit down for a face-to-face with the admissions interviewer and ease your anxiety. Practice what to say to these common interview questions. 1. Why Do You Want to Attend this School? Colleges look ...

As a homeschooled student, your trek to college has taken you off the beaten path. But even if you don't have the "typical" credentials colleges are looking for, you can still impress admissions counselors with a dazzling—and unique—application. Keep a Portfolio and a Logbook Without a transcript, it's hard for colleges to know about your academic background. So prepare a portfolio—a ...

Let's be honest, most college tours are standardized. The tour guides, though students, are most likely employed by the admissions department at the college and therefore are given instructions on what to do and say on the tours. While the information on tours is helpful, there is so much more to know about a school, especially if you’re seriously thinking about ...

Question: What part should my parents play in my college application? Parental involvement in the college admissions process varies from family to family, and is sometimes a point of conflict. At the very least, your parents will have to fill out financial aid forms so that your application process can be completed. Parents can perform other valuable tasks for your application ...

While many students believe there’s a college out there that is absolutely perfectly suited to their needs, the truth is, that’s unlikely. Although it's true that some colleges may be better suited than others, you will likely be happy at several different colleges. As long as you get a wonderful education in the meantime, you likely won’t have many complaints about ...

"Where are you applying?" This is a question I have to answer multiple times a week. Both of my parents ask once a week or so, and usually some friend's parent asks me at some point in the week. And of course I'm asking myself the same question numerous times a day at this point. I get so frustrated when people ...

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 ...

Getting to college seems a lot like buying a new car. Before you can even think about buying a car, you have to have a good credit rating, which will mean a good loan. Then, you choose the car. Do you want black, green, red, silver, white? Do you want Honda, Hyundai, Acura, Toyota, Lexus? Do you want four-wheel drive, power ...

You may be dropping your child off for college in a few weeks but you’ll by no means drop them from your life. Knowing what’s happening in your son or daughter’s life at school is more important than ever. They’re meeting new friends, taking on different interests, and challenging themselves in a unique academic setting. To combat these big changes, they ...

The massive, concrete block building looms frigidly over a flat expanse of green lawn. It’s a far cry from the red-tiled roofs and ivy-covered walls of University of Colorado Boulder. There are no breathtaking views of the nearby Flat Irons here. Instead, wedged between commuter traffic on Santa Fe Avenue and quaint, old-town Littleton, rests my new scholastic home – Arapahoe ...

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 ...

Life can give you moments of various emotions. Personally, I tend to cherish my moments of happiness, inspiration and laughter. These emotions came to me when I first made a soufflé rise, single-handedly mastered a tough calculus problem, or laughed at a horrible movie with my friends. However, I often wince or laugh at my less-flattering moments when I felt sad, ...

As I was translating Latin this week, I came across one of my favorite Latin words: cupio. Cupio literally translates to, “I want” or “I desire.” While a myriad of derivatives come from this Latin word, my favorite is Cupid, the infamous deity of love. Most people recognize this deity around Valentine’s Day as the annoying diaper-clad baby who shoots love ...

Columbia, NYU, The Cooper Union, The New School. Four very different universities located in one very happening city. Most New Yorkers would promise that, in a city this big, there is something for everyone. However, any student looking for the simple life need not apply. Columbia University might offer the closest to an idyllic campus life in the city that never ...

Are you in the "I have to pick a major -- now what?" mode? If so, don't panic. If you're like many college students, the major you select won't have a huge impact on your future career anyway. But even if it will, there are plenty of things you can do to help yourself make a sound decision. Meet with a ...

In a move to court foreign students, US News and World Report has just released its first-ever issue of the World’s Best Colleges and Universities. These new rankings, released November 20th and based on the Times Higher Education-QS World University Rankings, are a befuddling play off of their annual America’s Best Colleges rankings, a 25-year-old who’s-who of the country’s top colleges. ...

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 ...

Pacing yourself during standardized tests can be a difficult task. Your adrenaline is at an all-time high, not to mention your nerves. So how do you keep your cool during this difficult task to show what you really know and complete such lengthy exams? Here are some helpful timing tips to help guide you along during the process of standardized test-taking:[gate] ...