Encourage your kids to challenge themselves with AP courses in high school

October 26, 2011

While having a great GPA can certainly help your child's chances of getting into his first choice college, many institutions like to see that your child has challenged himself. When your high school student is entering his junior and senior years, be sure to encourage him to take some advanced classes to strengthen his transcript.
Advanced placement (AP) classes are great options for your child to accrue some college credits while improving his admissions package in the process.…

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A college essay can make or break your chances for admission

October 25, 2011

The college application process is a harrowing time of filling out forms, writing essays and securing recommendations, and many prospective students are just happy that it's over. If there's one facet of your admissions package that could use an additional review, it's likely your essay, which could be a determining factor in the college's final decision.
Go through your college essay with a fine-toothed comb and make sure that more than two pairs of eyes gets a glance at it.…

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Focus on a few important extracurricular activities to strengthen your transcript

October 25, 2011

While test scores, grades and a college essay play important roles in the application process, involvement in extracurricular activities is also a huge boost for a prospective student's transcript. But you don't want a laundry list of groups that you're barely interested in - it's best to choose a few academic or sporting clubs and put your focus into them.
Colleges will want to see how your passions and leadership skills have translated from these activities into your daily life, so focusing on a few instead of a vast amount will show your dedication to them.…

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Supplemental information can help narrow down your college decision

October 24, 2011

Choosing the right college is a huge decision in anyone's life, so if you're mulling over the your choices, there are a number of methods to help narrow down your list. While visiting the campus, talking with students and looking into the academic programs are great starting points, there are some other avenues that can help inform you.
College directories are put out yearly by many reputable organizations, and they can be a viable means of comparing the merits of schools that are high on your list.…

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College scholarship workshops are great opportunities for high school students

October 24, 2011

College scholarships and grants are one of the ideal forms of college funding for prospective students, but making one's application stand out from the rest is a tough task. Luckily, colleges have recognized the growing expense of higher education and many are offering college scholarship workshops to educate students about the proper process to accrue these funds.
According to the Seattle Times, the University of Washington recently held a seminar for incoming students to give them an edge in the application process and offer tips to write some compelling essays.…

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Keeping your senior grades high can improve your chances of receiving a college scholarship

October 21, 2011

Colleges and universities have been putting increasing stock in the success of a prospective student during his senior year, so if you've been letting your grades slip, you could lose your acceptance altogether. However, one area where senior grades can matter even more is in your chances for college scholarships.
While colleges have only recently been paying attention to a student's senior grades, these have been very important to scholarship committees for quite some time.…

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Look for college scholarships that are specific to your field

October 21, 2011

College scholarships and grants have become one of the most viable ways to fund your tuition, and the number of businesses and organizations that offer scholarships is growing every day. If you have a major in mind, you may be able to find college funding sources that focus your chosen field and could be a boost for your resume.
Finding scholarships is a mixture of luck, perseverance and knowledge of where to look.…

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A part-time job will provide valuable job experience during college

October 20, 2011

As a college student, part-time jobs are a fact of life, as they are one of the only ways to make money on the side while putting the majority of your time into schoolwork. As an added bonus, a part-time job could provide some invaluable experience that you can use in a future job interview as evidence of skills that can translate to your new position.…

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Keeping an orderly calendar can make the application process much easier

October 20, 2011

The college application process is a time-consuming venture that could get out of hand if you're not staying on top of everything that needs to be done. Between applying for college scholarships and grants and sending certain applications off for early decision, it's vital that you strive for organization to ensure that nothing falls through the cracks.
Start by taking a small piece of paper and outlining each specific date that holds significant importance.…

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Combining a bachelor’s and graduate degree could provide the most bang for your buck

October 19, 2011

Combining your bachelor's and graduate degrees into one program, also called a joint degree program, could be the ideal way for students to complete both degrees in four years. If you're planning on going to graduate school sometime down the road, this may be the ideal option to hit the ground running when you leave school.
Finances are a huge concern for many students, so it doesn't make sense to split your academic career into two phases when you can complete all of it at one time.…

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