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...]
3 Things to Know About the 2016-17 Common Application
The 2016-17 Common Application opened on August 1. For those of you eager to get started, here are three key pieces of information to help you begin. And for those of you who aren’t quite ready to give up on summer, don’t worry. These tips will be just as useful in September. Your Account- If you previously created an account, it should rollover. Log in with your email address and password (be sure to write it down!), answer a few … [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...]
You Got Accepted! Now What?
Many seniors are getting college acceptance letters and emails this time of year. Some are still waiting to hear from a college or two that they are really hoping for. It’s a time of anxiety, worry and celebration! Once you have heard from the majority of colleges you applied to, it’s time to make a selection. Many students think this will be an easy decision: just go to your "top pick". But what if your #1 choice college doesn't … [Read more...]
College Dorm or Apartment?
The choice between living on- or off-campus can be as difficult as choosing which college to attend. Just as you debated the pros and cons of each college campus and how each one best served your academic needs, similar consideration should be given to your housing choice. For incoming freshmen, the choice will probably be made for you; many colleges require first-year students to live on-campus. But if you are a sophomore or … [Read more...]
When Are Admission Decisions Released?
Here's When Colleges Are Releasing Regular Admissions Decisions for the Class of 2016 It’s March and there’s finally a light at the end of the admissions tunnel for anxious high school seniors – colleges will soon start releasing their regular admissions decisions! Here are regular application decision notification dates for current seniors, class of 2016, or soon to be- the Class of 2020. Expect these dates to change as we draw closer to … [Read more...]
How To Prepare for the College Interview
Some colleges require an in-person interview with all applicants. Other colleges allow the students to request an interview if desired, and will consider it as part of the admissions file. In both situations, college interviews provide an opportunity to learn more about the college and whether or not the student would be a good fit on the campus. If you are applying to a college that doesn't require, but does allow for, college interviews, you … [Read more...]
Updates for the Common App
Good news from the Common App! Update #1-The system is no longer purging accounts. They used to only allow seniors to create an account after August 1st and then delete those accounts every summer. But NOW, junior students can create an account after Jan 1st, a full year before many college deadlines. NO, you shouldn't submit anything for the first six months, but it will let you poke around, add colleges of interest, see essay and writing … [Read more...]
Comparing University of Texas and Texas A&M: A Look at the Numbers
University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M at College Station are the best public universities in Texas. Many families have a strong preference for one college over the other. Whether it's the football team, the academics or the legacy, students usually favor one as well. To help families decide which college is right for their students, we'll take a look at the college's statistics and admissions data. University of Texas- … [Read more...]
