All in Applying to Colleges
How do my PSAT scores affect National Merit Scholarships? Junior year PSAT test takers are automatically considered for the National Merit Scholar competition, so the PSAT for juniors is officially known as the NMSQT/PSAT. Each scaled score out of 1520 is assigned to a national merit selection index score out of a maximum 228 points.
As the pandemic eases and college campuses finally start to open up to outsiders, you may be gearing up to visit colleges. This blog post covers common questions that help you research and prepare for your college visits. In addition to FAQs I include two free download to help you organize your research.
You may start to get acceptances from rolling and early action schools now. After all your hard work, that’s the best news ever! Keep track of anything required, but in general, you should hang tight even while the school sends you approximately 967 emails each day pressuring you to commit. Under no circumstance should you put down an enrollment deposit-- you can only put down an enrollment deposit at one school-- until you are certain you want to attend the school.
There's plenty to do early on in your high school career to help you prepare for college applications and admissions. From choosing the right high school courses, Whether or not to prepare for the SATs, ACTs, and AP/IB exams, What activities to engage in, Relationships with teachers and mentors, and College research.
Should I answer that optional writing question on Common App about COVID? Do I really need to write a resume? The Additional Information section confuses me-- is that for problems or for bragging? We covered all these topics and more in our twice-monthly small virtual coach group for seniors, CTK College Access. Next month we’ll be tackling how to track all those submitted applications and how to schedule and prepare for interviews.
You may be ready to take admissions tests as early as freshman or sophomore year if you have completed the math through Algebra II (including Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II) and are a strong test taker. If you are sitting for a test soon, review my test-day checklist.
Welcome to the official beginning of the college application season with the opening of the Common App, Coalition App and University of California applications in August.
How Do Real Families Pay for College?
It used to be that getting into college was about finding the “best” schools available and then giving them a shot. Now we all lie awake at night wondering, How will I pay for college?
Everything you need to know about when and how to garner the strongest letters of recommendation + a free template download to use when following up with recommenders.
