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Brought to you by the American School Counselor Association What are college admissions committees looking for when they read your application and check your extracurricular activities? Are they looking for someone who is involved in many pursuits outside of school? Students who stick with one… Read more
What's the typical class size for freshmen? For upperclassmen? Asking about student:teacher ratio won't really give you the information that you want because it will vary from year to year. Ask about how large the specific freshmen classes are to get the best idea of what your child will experience… Read more
This quiz was written by Dr. Frank Burtnett of Education Now. Take the following college admission quiz and see how much you really know about how colleges admit students. Have some fun! And guess what---your score won't hurt your chances for admission anywhere. The most important factor influencing your… Read more
Presented by ACT, Inc. If you're locking into your career plans, college counselor Nancy Donehower has three words for you: Don't do it. Huh? A college counselor telling you not to lock into plans? What's that all about? Actually, Donehower isn't the only counselor advising students to take their time in discovering who they are… Read more
Use help
Nobody makes it without a team. I know, I know, you hate help. Help means you're stupid. Help is all those nice adults who think you can't hack it. Help is parents, teachers, and tutors who torture you until you do things their way.
Well, get over it. Get your own help. No successful person does it alone. Investment broker Charles… Read more
by Clint Page
Brought to you by the American School Counselor Association
There are four major sources of scholarships:
1. The federal government
2. Your state government
3. Post-secondary institutions themselves (endowments, etc.)
4. Private sources (businesses, service clubs, fraternal and religious organizations)
Most scholarships fall… Read more
If you are a high school freshman, the road to college looks a long way off. If you're a senior, it probably feels all too close! Either way, the earlier you start thinking about this stuff, the easier it will be to manage. Start Thinking About Life After High School It's never too early to start thinking about… Read more
 When editing, make sure to pay careful attention to: Substance | Structure | Interest | Proofreading Substance Substance refers to the content of the essay and the message you send out. It can be very hard to gauge in your own writing. One good way to make sure that you are saying what you think… Read more
"Proofread! Have others proofread! Spell check! It's stunning how many people have careless, even really obvious typos in their statements. It makes the applicant look sloppy, uninterested, unintelligent." -- Admissions Officer You would be amazed at the things that get written in admissions essays--even at the top… Read more
Read Your Essay Out Loud To help you polish the essay even further, read it out loud. You will be amazed at the faulty grammar and awkward language that your ears can detect. This will also give you a good sense of the flow of the piece and will alert you to anything that sounds too abrupt or out of place. Good writing, like good… Read more
Introduction "If one thing could be perfect, it should be the essay." -- Admissions Officer Writing is not a one-time act. Writing is a process. Memorable writing comes more from rewriting than it does from the first draft. By rewriting you will improve your essay -- guaranteed. If you skimp on the rewriting… Read more
 Introductions The introduction is the first sentence of your essay and it plays the dual role of setting the theme of your essay and engaging the reader. The introduction should not be overly formal. You do not want an admissions officer to start reading your essay and think, "Here we go again." Although admissions officers will… Read more
The conclusion is your last chance to persuade the reader or impress upon them your qualifications. Endings are the last experience an admissions officer has with your essay, so you need to make those words and thoughts count. You should not feel obligated to tie everything up into a neat bow. The essay can conclude with some… Read more
Introduction Surprised to see introductions as the topic of our second-to-last lesson? Most writers find that it is nearly impossible to craft an essay by beginning with the introduction. The best leads often develop during and after writers have written the remainder of the essay. Maybe a fantastic introduction or… Read more
Many students think that the longer the sentence they write, the better the sentence. This is far from the truth. You do not need long, complicated sentences to show that you are a good writer. In fact, short sentences often pack the most punch. The best essays contain a variety of sentence lengths, mixed within any given… Read more
Applicants often ignore transitions to their own detriment. A good essay must use transitions within paragraphs--and especially between paragraphs--to preserve the logical flow of the essay. An essay without good transitions is like a series of isolated islands; the reader will struggle to get from one point to the next. Use… Read more
As you write your essay, remember to focus on verbs and keep adjectives to a minimum. Pumping your sentences full of adjectives and adverbs is not the same thing as adding detail or color. Adjectives and adverbs add lazy description, but verbs add action. Passive Tense Our editors find that one of the greatest… Read more
Top Ten Essay Clichés According to the Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary, a cliché is "a trite phrase or expression," "a hackneyed theme, characterization, or situation," or "something that has become overly familiar or commonplace." The last thing you want in your essay is any of the above. Clichés make your writing… Read more
Don't "thesaurusize." The second trap into which many students fall is thinking that big words make good essays. Advanced vocabulary is fine if it comes naturally to you, and when used correctly in an appropriate context. After reading thousands of essays, admissions officers know which students have come up with difficult… Read more
Introduction Over the years, our editors have seen some amazing stories become dreadfully boring and some ridiculously dry topics transform into an exciting read. The culprit (or hero): writing style. Witness the advice of some admissions officers: Use a conversational style and easy-to-understand language to project… Read more
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