The SAT and the ACT are very different college entrance exams and most colleges are now accepting both. This has led to most students taking both the SAT and the ACT tests, although that is not required or suggested by many professionals in the college admissions field. Junior and senior year of high school are already very busy times so planning ahead really helps! When should my child take the SAT or ACT? While it looks like there are plenty … [Read more...]
10 Most Important College Financial Aid Terms
Your college education is an extremely important and expensive investment. Before you shell out thousands of dollars for an advanced education, you need to give yourself a basic education in the financial aid process. Navigating the college financial aid process can be hard enough even for the most highly educated people. So to help, I’ve put together a quick reference guide on the 12 most common financial aid terms used. 1. FAFSA (Free … [Read more...]
The 20 Biggest Colleges in the United States
Many students want to attend a large national university, with a strong football team and all of the perks that come along with it. But what size is too large? Some schools have over 40,000 undergraduates, making them the size of a small city. These schools can provide great opportunities to students, but they may also be a little overwhelming. Why So Many Students? Many of the colleges on this list are public state universities, which … [Read more...]
Average ACT Scores for Texas Universities
Colleges admissions offices evaluate each student individually based on: SAT or ACT scores GPA/Class Rank Strength of Curriculum (courses chosen, including AP classes) Extracurricular activities, including leadership roles Community service Others, including essays, teacher recommendations and achievements/awards Each column lists the ACT score for the 25-75% of accepted students in 2015 admissions process. Keep in mind … [Read more...]
New College Application: The Coalition App
The Coalition Application is brand new for class of 2017. Because it's not been tested or reviewed, my professional suggestion is only to use this application if necessary. If your college takes another application, use it instead. If you must use Coalition Application, your high school counselor might not understand how to upload transcripts orletters of recommendation. The application is supposed to open in July for students to apply for the … [Read more...]
Best Colleges for Computer Science
If you've ever wanted to build a robot or create a computer you can have a conversation with, Computer Science might be the major for you. Computer Science majors analyze the way computers and humans interact so they can build programs or systems that aid people in solving problems. Classes in calculus, data logic, information management, artificial intelligence, software engineering, and data structures and algorithms among others will give … [Read more...]
Top 50 Master’s Degrees with the Highest Salaries
Considering going back to earn your Master's degree but don't know if it's worth it? Payscale.com searched data of more than 200 Master's degrees and ranked them according to salaries. These first top 25 Master's degrees are packed with STEM subjects and high salaries. The second group of 25 job titles are Master's in Business (MBAs). Related Articles: Best Colleges for Engineering Comparing UT and Texas … [Read more...]
How High School Courses Impact SAT Scores
Every year, high school juniors and seniors take the SAT. More than 1 million students annually across the nation participate and many take it more than once. Many students have been preparing for months after realizing how important high SAT scores are in college admissions and scholarship awards. Others don’t prepare or study much, many believing that it’s an ‘intelligence test’ and can’t be studied for, or that they want to just see how well … [Read more...]
10 Things to See and Do on a College Tour
Students and parents should plan college tours starting in 9th grade. That should give high school students enough time during freshmen, sophomore and junior years to visit several different college campuses, take the official college tour, and narrow down their preferences and final college list before senior year. Most colleges offer daily walking campus tours during the week and some also offer these on weekends. You can search "visit" … [Read more...]
Student’s and Parent’s Responsibilities in College Planning
Student and Family Responsibilities While working with the college consultant, families and students have certain responsibilities in order to help the process run smoothly. The consultant's job includes guiding the student and family through selecting colleges, applying to those college, through the financial aid process, and to assist with college essays and scholarships. It is not within the consultant's services to write essays, complete … [Read more...]
