Answers to Your College Questions

Posted by Anna Costaras and Gail Liss on Thursday, 18 July 2013 in College Admissions

It’s essential to acknowledge that simply by being on social media sites, you’re conveying an image of yourself. Is this who you really are? Is this who you want to present to college admissions committees?

According to Kaplan Test Prep’s 2012 College Admissions Officers Survey, 27% of admissions officers Googled an applicant to learn more about them, and 26% visited an applicant’s social networking page (such as Facebook). Of those admissions officers, 35% discovered something about the applicant that negatively impacted their application.

Posted by Marjorie Hansen Shaevitz on Friday, 12 July 2013 in College

Incoming freshmen can increase their chances of having a happy landing at college if they attend their first-year orientation program. However, attendance is only half the battle—it is important that students take full advantage of what is offered by these programs. Check out these tips to help you make sure you get the most out of your freshman orientation:

Before You Arrive On Campus

Posted by Stefanie Weisman on Friday, 21 June 2013 in In the Classroom

Ah, summer. It’s a welcome break from the constant grind of classes, homework, and tests; a time to catch up on sleep and your favorite TV shows. But wait a minute! Before you melt into a puddle of summertime mush, take a look at the following tips to keep your brain sharp and get ready for the upcoming school year—which, after all, will be here before you know it.

1. Take a class.

If you’re in college, your school probably has a summer session where you can take courses for credit. You might want to get a required class out of the way now so you’ll have more flexibility with your schedule later. If there’s a class you’re really afraid of, consider taking it by itself over the summer so you won’t have other coursework to worry about.

Posted by Frank Palmasani on Wednesday, 19 June 2013 in Paying for College

Your interest rates for subsidized Direct student loans could increase this year. In 2008, a law was enacted to temporarily reduce interest rates on these loans from 6.8% to 3.4%. However, on July 1st, this bill is set to expire. Without further action from the government, increased interest rates could end up creating thousands of dollars in additional payments for students—particularly students in great financial need.

To understand the issue at hand, one needs to better understand how student loan interest rates function today. With the Direct loan (also commonly referred to as the Stafford loan), all dependent students in pursuit of an undergraduate degree may obtain $5,500 during their freshman year, $6,500 during their sophomore year, and $7,500 in each of their junior and senior years.

Posted by Dr. Gary Gruber on Thursday, 06 June 2013 in Test Prep

Are you prepared for the SAT writing test? Learn the strategies that will help you get your best possible score with Gruber’s Complete SAT Guide 2014.

Being that the plane was grounded, we stayed over until the next morning so that we could get the first flight out.

Posted by Frank Palmasani on Tuesday, 04 June 2013 in Paying for College

Summer is a great time to head to college campuses for a visit. Not only can you learn more about schools and get a feel for whether they’re a good fit for you, but campus visits are also an ideal opportunity to speak to admissions representatives and financial aid officers one-on-one about college costs and financial aid. When speaking to these college representatives, consider asking these ten questions to ensure you find the school that fits you best in every way, including financially.

1. What is the current cost of tuition and fees? Room and board?

Some colleges know what their listed charges (sticker prices) will be years in advance. Most don’t, but obtaining the current sticker price will at minimum provide you with an initial starting point for determining the affordability of the institution. If you intend to live in university housing for more than one year, be sure to ask how room and board plans typically fluctuate from year to year. Are all room prices the same? How about meal plan prices?

Posted by Marjorie Hansen Shaevitz on Tuesday, 28 May 2013 in College Admissions

It’s no secret that most colleges and universities, especially the selective ones, have to deal with more academically qualified applicants than they can possibly admit. By academically qualified, I mean your test scores, rigor of courses you take, and the grades you receive in those courses. But many colleges take it a step further and look for something else.

What is the “Something Else” that colleges look for?

Colleges are really interested in understanding you as a person. Who are you? What have you done outside of school that gives them a clue as to your interests and talents? Colleges care about the kinds of people they admit, so they look to see what you do after school, during weekends, and especially during the summers. You see, what you do tells them a lot about how you might act on their campuses.

Posted by Anna Costaras and Gail Liss on Wednesday, 22 May 2013 in College Admissions

If you’re like most rising seniors, you’ve been getting quite a few questions about college lately that you don’t have the answers to yet. Now is a great time for you to take control of your college application process and continue on your journey to college.

Posted by Anna Costaras and Gail Liss on Tuesday, 21 May 2013 in College Admissions

For rising juniors, summer break is the perfect time to think about your journey from high school to college admission. Here are a few things you should be sure to focus on in the months ahead.

Posted by Stefanie Weisman on Thursday, 09 May 2013 in In the Classroom

With finals just around the corner, the end of the semester can be a very stressful time. But never fear! By following these ten easy tips, you can enjoy the end of your term and still ace your exams.