Archive for the ‘College Applications’ Category

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“Top 10″ List – Your College Search Just Got Easier!

Thursday, July 21st, 2011
Questions about getting into college

Got questions about getting into college? We have the answers.

Summer is fast winding to a close, and when it does, the college search process will heat up for millions of students across the country. Worried about how to start? Trying to simplify your search? Are you even ready?

To help you get prepared, we’ve created My College Guide’s “top 10″ list based on our most popular college search posts!

Why are they popular? Easy, they provide helpful information on finding the college that’s right for you, figuring out the college admissions process and identifying ways to pay for college.

Let’s get started.

1. Got a pet that you just can’t stand to leave behind? In You Can Take Them With You: Pet Friendly Colleges and Universities, you’ll see which colleges and universities are pet friendly.

2. Need help paying for college? Who doesn’t? Colleges for Low Income Students: Free Tuition, No Loans, and Full Rides provides a list of colleges that offer full rides or free tuition.

3. Looking for a college scholarship? Think the scholarship options are limited? There’s more out there than you think! Be creative, think outside the box and check out our Super List of College Scholarship Websites.

4. Wish you could get advice about getting college scholarships? Read tips about finding scholarships from the pros in Fastweb, Scholarships.com, Super College: Scholarship Tips From Pros in the Know.

5. Trying to get through the financial aid process? Worrying about all the forms to fill out for college funding? Learn about the financial aid process from the people behind the scenes at the University of Michigan in our post, College Tuition and Financial Aid Explained at the University of Michigan.

6. Searching for affordable colleges? Need to find a college that’s affordable with or without financial aid? We’ve got you covered. See our list of  8 of America’s Most Affordable Public Universities.

7. Want to get an edge on the competition for admission to your dream college? Check out 3 Ways to Get into Your First Choice College (Besides Getting Good Grades) and discover things you can do before you ever fill out a college application to help you get the attention of college admissions officers.

8. Nervous about those upcoming college interviews? Read 5 Tips to Help You Prepare for Your College Interview and learn what you need to know to succeed.

9. Want to make sure admissions officers remember your name? Learn how to stand out from the pack with How to Increase Your Odds After Sending in Your Application.

10. Worried about the economy? Want to get a job right out of college? Then you should read The Most Employable Majors: 5 Concentrations That Will Land You a Job Straight Out of College.

We’re always sharing more information on getting into college, paying for college and college help,  so subscribe to our blog today and stay ahead of the curve!

If you’re looking for answers to specific college and career readiness questions, Ask The Guru.

Photo courtesy of Ninja M.

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Posted in Choosing a College, College Admissions, College Applications, College Interview, College Search, Financial Aid, Online Tools, Paying for College, Preparing for College, Scholarships, Social Media | No Comments »

3 Summer Activities To Make Your College Application Shine.

Wednesday, June 15th, 2011
Spend time padding your college application this summer.

Will your summer plans help your college application?

Did you know that the things you do this summer could make a big difference in the quality of your college application?

It’s true! Make the right moves now and you’ll have a leg up over your competition when the college admissions process begins—not to mention some great experiences to talk about when school starts again in the fall.

Want an impressive college application? Participate in a pre-college summer program.

Whether you’re interested in art or computer science, theater or engineering, there’s sure to be a pre-college summer program that’s right for you. Ranging in length from one to six weeks, these programs are designed to immerse you in a specific field of study, giving you the opportunity to really explore a topic that interests you. Enrolling in a pre-college program can be a great way to explore a potential college major!

Another plus? In addition to looking good on your college application, Many of these programs can earn you college credit!

College applications look great when you volunteer.

Many top colleges like to see community involvement on your college application. And you know what? Summer is the perfect time to volunteer! To get started, think about what you’re passionate about—animals? Healthcare? Global warming?

Once you’ve identified what kind of volunteer opportunity you want to pursue, do some research to find local organizations dedicated to your area of interest. Sometimes it’s obvious. If you want to be a doctor, getting involved with the local hospital makes sense. If you love animals, your local Humane Society is a good place to start your search.

But if you need help finding the right opportunity, you might try looking online. Check out the Google Directory page dedicated to teen volunteering opportunities—there’s bound to be something that interests you!

Make your college application stand out with an internship.

Think internships are just for college students? Think again! For motivated high school students like you, a completed internship can be a great way to stand out in a crowded pool of college applications.

So think about what you’d like to major in, then research local companies that work in those industries. Don’t be afraid to get in touch with them! You might be surprised at how receptive corporations can be to high school students.

You can also use the internet to  find listings of internships currently available. The College Board has lots of great information, as well as links to internship directories.

Put your summer to good use with activities like these and you’ll be well on your way to breezing through the college application process—and attending the college of your dreams!

Want to learn more about what it takes to be your first choice college’s top pick? Subscribe to our blog today!

Photo courtesy of Kara Allyson.

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Posted in College Admissions, College Applications, Extracurricular Activities, Preparing for College, Summer Programs | 6 Comments »

The Admissions Game: The Difference Between Selective and Non-Selective Colleges

Tuesday, June 7th, 2011

Browse around enough college websites and you’ve probably come across the terms “selective” and “non-selective.” It’s a very important part of figuring out where to spend your time and energy when it comes to applying to college!

Rice University

Rice University

There is a difference between selective schools and Ivy League schools. In general, Ivy League refers to athletics and encompasses schools like Harvard and Yale. However, there are many selective schools that aren’t considered Ivy League, like MIT and Stanford University, that are also competitive.

Selective Colleges

While any college is more likely to accept a well-rounded student with a great GPA, at a selective college? It’s doubly important! Your involvement in extracurricular activities, community service, and other activities is a key factor of college admission—and having more than good grades is a big part of achieving admission at your dream school.Selective schools are in great demand yet typically admit a very small percentage of students who apply.

Less—Selective or Non-Selective Colleges

Don’t let the term fool you: A non-selective college doesn’t mean they let just anybody in! Like any other college, a non-selective will still have standards. They usually operate on a more open admission basis, or rolling admission, where they will accept college applications until their student body is full—which is good news for you if you decide to apply at the last minute!

Who Gets in to Selective Colleges, Anyway?

Selective colleges admit the best of the best: those over-achievers who are very involved in not only their high school or homeschool groups but their community as well. They have taken (and survived) AP classes and Honors courses and passed with flying colors. They may be fluent in a second language or have some other well-developed talent or skill.

MIT

MIT

Highly selective schools consider many factors of college admission. They look at your application as a whole and decide whether or not they need someone who fits your profile.

If they have only one cello player who happens to be graduating that Spring, and you happen to play the Cello, you might get in. The same goes for students from a particular state. If the school needs a student from that state so they can mention with pride that they have students from every state in the US, you might get in.

Again, don’t think that this means that your GPA, test scores, and community service don’t matter—they most certainly do! However, a selective college has many factors to consider. Your legacy status and notable achievements are just another piece to fit into the selective college admissions puzzle.

Where Do You Fit In?

Public or private college, big campus or small, it doesn’t matter—any college can be selective or non-selective. The key to choosing a college isn’t about shooting for the most selective school, it’s about looking for the school that is the right fit for you!

Image #1 Courtesy of Flickr, Onilad.
Image #2 Courtesy of Flickr, Francisco Diez.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For 20 years My College Guide has produced an annual magazine chock full of free college info for high-achieving high school sophomores. Check out our participating colleges. Subscribe to our blog via RSS or email and stay on top of everything college!

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Posted in AP Classes, Choosing a College, College Admissions, College Applications, College Campus, College Classes, College Life, College Search, Extracurricular Activities, Homeschool, Preparing for College, SAT/ACT Test, Summer Programs | No Comments »

Online College Application: 5 Tips to Perfection

Tuesday, April 26th, 2011

So you’ve finally narrowed it down and are ready to turn in your online college application. While you may feel overwhelmed and more than a little nervous at this point, My College Guide is here for you! We’ve got 5 handy tips to help you turn in a winning application!

Tips to remember before turning in your online college application!

Tips to remember before turning in your online college application!

Online College Application Tips

Polish That Essay – If you should spend a lot of time on any one portion of your online college application, make sure this is it! Ask your spouse, friend, parent or other trusted individual to give your college essay a quick read for errors and to make sure everything makes sense. You have one chance to make a first impression – make sure it’s a good one!

Connect – Many online colleges and universities assign someone to you as a prospective student to answer your questions. It can help to make a lasting impression! If you receive an email from your admissions representative, be sure to send back a simple thank-you. After all, your admissions representative can pass on much needed information, like scholarships for women your way or even waive your application fee.

The Fine Print

Busy Bees – Adults going back to school lead busy lives. Sometimes, just sometimes, we don’t pay as much attention to detail as we probably should. Don’t make that mistake! Make sure to completely read each statement before filling it out and sending it off. While it may look like the others you’ve already filled out, don’t skim it, read it!

Follow Directions – Don’t press the back arrow on your browser if the online college application says to use the arrows on the page. Don’t neglect deadlines or fail to get your high school transcript sent over. If you want to go back to school, complete the online college application the right way. Stay on top of your due dates and get everything turned in before the deadlines.

Speak Up

Ask – Online college application fees can really add up—especially if you plan on applying to more than one college to see where you financial aid dollars will stretch the farthest! Speak with an admissions representative to see if there is some way for you to get out of paying the fee. At some colleges, you can complete your application while on the phone with them and they will completely waive your fee (you will submit your essay later). At others, there is never a fee for college applications submitted online!

Image Courtesy of Flickr, Éktor.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For more than 20 years, My College Guide has provided information to help students find the best college degree and career for them. Get information on subjects like online college application tips and find the right career for you!

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Posted in Career Colleges, Choosing a College, College Admissions, College Applications, College Campus, College Search, Distance Learning, Online Colleges, Online Degrees, Online Education, Vocational School | No Comments »

College Deans: Who They Are

Thursday, April 21st, 2011

College terms like “dean” make your brain want to explode? Have no fear, My College Guide is here! We’re helping you understand the terminology behind the place where you’ll be spending the next four years of your life.

Heading to college? You should know what is a college dean!

Tom Haymes / Tom Haymes

What is a College Dean?

A college dean is someone who has responsibilities that involve students and faculty at a particular school. These can include academic or even duties that relate to student life.

There can be different levels of dean that pertain to different areas or different college majors in the school. While every college may have deans, the duties of deans are not necessarily interchangeable.

Who Does a College Dean Do All Day?

A college dean is someone who’s been there, done that, and has more than a firm grasp on their subject or area of which they are dean. They may be the dean of the college library or the dean of the college admission and financial aid department. Whatever it  is, they may be involved in things that range from student needs to budgetary concerns.

The role and duty of a dean varies between colleges. No two deans will have the same responsibilities because higher education and the needs of the students and faculty are always changing. This is especially true now that online colleges have gained a firm foothold!

While deans are in charge of their area of expertise, they most likely have plenty of help and support from assistant or associate deans who are always ready and willing to lend a hand.

Why Should You Care?

If you are still hemming and hawing over what college is the best fit for you, you may want to consider scheduling a campus visit. This time, why not see if you can schedule an appointment with the dean who heads the particular field you are interested in?

For example, if you like the sound of the theater program at a given school, see if you can set up a time to meet with the dean of the theater department so you can get a more in-depth look at what the school has to offer. Of course, you should be doing your homework ahead of time so you have a pretty good idea to start with as to what the school has to offer — and make sure it fits in with your future plans!

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For 20 years My College Guide has produced an annual magazine chock full of free college info for high-achieving high school sophomores. Check out our participating colleges. Subscribe to our blog via RSS or email and stay on top of everything college!

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Posted in Choosing a College, College Admissions, College Applications, College Campus, College Classes, College Life, Preparing for College | No Comments »

Tips for Getting Off the College Waitlist

Thursday, March 31st, 2011

You expect a clear answer but then your dream school puts you on the college waitlist! While it may seem hopeless—there’s still plenty a little hope! You’ve got a chance to impress college admission one last time. You don’t necessarily need to just sit there and wait it out. Here’s a few tips from My College Guide for getting off the college waitlist and into your dream school!

Stuck on the college waitlist? What are your options?

cesarastudillo / César Astudillo

What Are Your Chances? – The waitlist is a way for a college to fill in the Freshman class with qualified candidates. It could be very technical: like if too many soccer players don’t accept an offer of admission, college admission may use the waitlist to fill in the blank with more soccer players from the waitlist.

Sometimes, it can just be down to numbers. You were close to making it in but fit the academic profile of numerous other students. In that case: you’ll end up in or out based on whether enough other students decline and where you are on the waitlist! Knowing where you are on the list (if your college shares that information) can help you make an informed decision about your next move.

Act Fast – So you received an offer to sit it out on the college waitlist. Don’t just hem and haw about it! You know whether or not you seriously want to attend this school. Let the college know either way. Send in your deposit and commit to attending. Keeping them hanging will seem like indifference on your part—and you want college admissions to be pulling for you (just make sure you have a back-up plan just in case)!

Call in a Favor – Do you have someone on your side? Politely ask your advocate if they can put in a good word and get the facts! If your coach, band director, or someone else important to your academic life, who is also well-connected to the college, can find out the facts for you (like your chances of admission)—why not nicely ask him or her?

Send a Letter – This is the only school you can see yourself at for the the next four years. You like the learning style and know that this is the right fit for you! Let admissions know. See if you can find out who is in charge of your college application and send him/her an updated letter!

Fine tune your recent accomplishments if you are on the college waitlist!

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Point out what you’ve done the last few weeks or months since you applied that changes the game: do you have new hobbies? Stellar grades? More community service? Did you win some big award? Let your admissions counselor know. It could mean the difference between staying on the college waitlist or finally receiving that acceptance letter!

Before you get in touch with the school, be sure to read the fine print! How do they feel about waitlisted candidates? Do they want to hear from you again or are you supposed to sit tight until they come to you? Find out before you start your “getting off the college waitlist” campaign. Be careful not to overdo it. Sometimes just doing nothing is the best thing that you can do.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For 20 years My College Guide has produced an annual magazine chock full of free college info for high-achieving high school sophomores. Check out our participating colleges. Subscribe to our blog via RSS or email and stay on top of everything college!

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Majors in College, The College Admission Process, and Other College Questions: Answered!

Tuesday, February 15th, 2011

When applying to college seems overwhelming, don’t forget about My College Guide’s awesome free resource: our College Admissions Guru! Straight and to the point, our Guru will answer your college questions. Did we mention it is free and anonymous? Here’s the latest from the Guru!

College questions? Get the college advice you need!

SMJJP

Latest Questions
Question: I am a high school freshman, and I am currently taking Japanese as a foreign language. I enjoy the language and hope to someday become fluent. However, I’ve heard that there could be issues with college admissions recognizing certain foreign languages like Japanese. Is this true, and if it is, what is the general range of languages accepted at colleges?

Answer: Don’t worry about it. Japanese is a wonderful language to pursue fluency in, and if you want to continue it, simply apply to colleges that offer Japanese as a language option to study. In one of our magazine articles, we even interviewed a school official who talked about how essential knowing Japanese or Chinese will be to new students studying…continue reading our Latest Questions!

College Admissions Process
Question: What do you write in college application essays? Can you write an essay about your experiences in extracurricular activities? Or do you list your extracurricular activities? Also, is there a limit to how many recommendations you can get from your teachers? If not, is it better to get a lot of recommendations from your teachers? Even if the recommendations are not well-developed, it’s better to have lots, right? Thanks.

Answer: Great questions! You can really do a lot with a well-written, interesting essay. If your grades are good but not fantastic, you could push yourself over the edge to acceptance with a great personal statement. And even if your grades and scores are great, presenting yourself in a poor essay could… continue reading the College Admissions Process!

SAT and ACT Tests
Question: Thanks for taking the time to read my question! I am currently a rising senior in high school. I scored an 1870 on the new SAT, have an unweighted GPA of 3.8 and am very involved in extracurriculars. For example, I am the president and founder of my school’s Young Democrats Club and am completing internships under the Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates and under the local teacher’s union. By the time I finish high school, I will have taken 6 AP classes along with 15 honors classes. I have a list of several schools I’m interested in. I was wondering, how many “reach schools” should I apply to? I’m working with a private SAT tutor to bring up the SAT scores. What other advice would you have for me to make my application more desirable to a school like Georgetown? Finally, would I be considered a legacy candidate at a school if my grandfather attended it?

College questions on your mind? Ask our Admissions Guru (it's free and anonymous)!

the.sprout

Answer: It sounds like you’re doing all of the right things! You have a strong record and should be in the running at a number of fine schools. In response to your specific questions, the only thing I can think of that you could do to possibly improve your chance of getting into a top school is to take the SAT again, as you mentioned. You have a very good score, but if you think you could…continue reading SAT and ACT Tests!

Majors in College
Question: What is the difference between priority and regular decision? Also, what are majors and minors? If I want a bachelor’s degree, does that subject have to be my major, or can it be my minor? Do colleges generally offer the same minors as majors? Should my minor be a more specific subject within my major…or at least related in some way?

Answer: Priority decision is just another name for early action or early decision. In other words, you apply to the school by an early deadline, and you hear back from them earlier than you would if you applied “regular” decision.

When you go to college, you will have at least one major…continue reading Majors in College!

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For 20 years My College Guide has produced an annual magazine chock full of free college info for high-achieving high school sophomores. Check out our participating colleges. If you’re a student, enter for a chance to win an Apple iPad or iPhone or cash!

SMJJP (b and w –> the.sprout

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Posted in Choosing a College, College Admissions, College Applications, College Campus, Legacy Status, Preparing for College, SAT/ACT Test | 1 Comment »

Why You Won’t Receive an Instant Admissions Response

Friday, February 4th, 2011

Wondering why you don’t receive an instant response from your dream school? This great YouTube video from Dartmouth College relays a few impressive facts regarding the admission process from actual college admission professionals!

Here’s a few of the highlights from last year’s process (and we’re guessing that this year will be even bigger!): Dartmouth Admissions read 40,000 teacher recommendation, received college applications from 138 countries, and looked over 187 applications from people named John. You know My College Guide loves when colleges get personal and this inside look at the Dartmouth College admissions process is certainly insightful and worth a look! Watch Dartmouth College Class of 2014 on YouTube or below.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For 20 years My College Guide has produced an annual magazine chock full of free college info for high-achieving high school sophomores. Check out our participating colleges. If you’re a student, enter for a chance to win an Apple iPad or iPhone or cash!

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Posted in Choosing a College, College Admissions, College Applications, College Campus | 1 Comment »

What Happens to My College Application: Video From Butler University

Friday, January 28th, 2011

You’ve worked hard on your college application. You filled in all the blanks, you have amazing letters of recommendation, and your essay absolutely rocks! Did you ever wonder what happens to your college application after you mail it out? This video from Butler University goes behind the scenes to show you the faces of college admissions at work!

Watch What Happens to My Application (for Early Action and Regular Decision) on YouTube or below. Take planning your college education into your own hands: do the research so you can make an informed decision. If you don’t know what early action is, we’ve got the perfect supplemental reading just for you!

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For 20 years My College Guide has produced an annual magazine chock full of free college info for high-achieving high school sophomores. Check out our participating colleges. If you’re a student, enter for a chance to win an Apple iPad or iPhone or cash!

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Posted in College Admissions, College Applications | 1 Comment »

Mathematically Minded and So Much More: Engineering at Georgia Tech

Thursday, January 27th, 2011

Engineering majors are always in demand. My College Guide got connected to Matt McLendon, the director of communications, at the Georgia Institute of Technology to learn about the great programs, contests, and exciting academic paths for skilled engineering majors!

Georgia Tech is the number one producer of women and minority engineers in the United States.

Courtesy of Georgia Tech

What do engineers do? Why is this a worthwhile career choice in today’s job market?
Engineers design and create everything from artificial organs to eco-friendly skyscrapers and a synthetic fabric that is durable, lightweight, and bulletproof. Engineers are some of the most sought after professionals in our society today because they imagine the future and make it happen. There are a wide variety of career paths open to them, and they can work nationally and internationally. Additionally, engineers are always challenging themselves to create and imagine new useful products or discoveries that help in everyone’s health, happiness, and safety.

What academic paths can Georgia Tech engineering students take?
Georgia Tech offers Bachelor of Science degrees in Aerospace Engineering, Biomedical, Chemical and Biomolecular, Civil and Environmental, Electrical and Computer, Industrial, Material Sciences, Mechanical, Nuclear, and Radiological Engineering.

What are some ways that Georgia Tech encourages engineering students to think outside the box? (programs you want to highlight? contests?)
Competitions, such as the InVenture Prize at Georgia Tech, encourage students to develop a new product from concept to market, awarding them patent opportunities and cash to support their entrepreneurial goals. Georgia Tech also offers a variety of extracurricular opportunities to allow students to develop their specific interest. Students interested in racing vehicles and car development may want to join GT Motorsports. GT Motorsports is a student-run, research-based group that designs, builds, and races vehicles in the national Formula SAE competition.

The Wall Street Journal ranks Georgia Tech engineering graduates as the most desirable hires by major corporations.

Courtesy of Georgia Tech

RoboJackets is a group of Tech students, faculty, and alumni that aims to enhance the understanding of the field of robotics. For the further reaching engineering student, Engineering Students Without Borders creates sustainable solutions for third-world countries, with volunteers working around the world, Atlanta, and campus. These are just a few of the many organizations that Tech has to offer undergraduate engineering students.

Are there any particular character or personality traits that engineers seem to share? (a particular way of looking at the world, etc.)
Engineers are creative, collaborative, innovative, logical, and committed to improving our world. Engineers observe the world around them to identify problems and have the imagination to develop multiple solutions.

What can a high school student do to boost not only their chances of admittance but their success level in the field of engineering?
Selective college admission offices are looking for students who have taken and excelled in the most rigorous course work available to them. Students interested in engineering should develop a strong base in math and science, as the undergraduate core curriculum revolves around these areas and professors will expect competency.

With assistance from the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC) and Georgia Tech's VentureLab, Qualtre is commercializing the next generation of motion sensors, further broadening their applicability in consumer electronicsdevices such as cellular handsets, personal navigation devices, and gaming controllers.

Courtesy of Georgia Tech

Do you have any advice for a student who wants to pursue engineering at Georgia Tech?
We recommend that students visit campus to ensure that Georgia Tech is the right fit. There are a variety of visit opportunities available, from a daily campus tour and admission information session to more extensive open houses and overnight programs.

So — what cool things are going on in the engineering world at Georgia Tech?
Students can get involved in undergraduate research, co-ops, internships, and study abroad while they are at Tech! Students will also have the opportunity to join faculty research teams studying epitaxial grapheme as a replacement for silicon, micro needles as a way to deliver a less painful shot, and how robotic innovations are improving quality of life. Not a day goes by that you don’t see Georgia Tech innovators mentioned in international press!

Anything else that our readers should know?
For more information about Georgia Tech and our admission process, please contact our admission office at admission@gatech.edu or 404-894-4154. You can also read more about Georgia Tech at www.gatech.edu.

Who We Are: Information you can trust. For 20 years My College Guide has produced an annual magazine chock full of free college info for high-achieving high school sophomores. Check out our participating colleges. If you’re a student, enter for a chance to win an Apple iPad or iPhone or cash!

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Posted in Choosing a College, College Admissions, College Applications, College Campus, College Classes, College Life, Fun Stuff, Study Abroad | 1 Comment »

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