Knowledge is power. The more you know, the closer you’ll be to a debt-free education. Our college scholarship news and tips will help.
Building the “Right Fit” College List
Trying to build a college application list can feel like having to find your keys in the dark. How do you know which direction to jump? And - horror of
Parsing Rigor: AP Classes vs. Community College
When it comes to college admissions, the rigor of the student’s high school coursework matters. Understandably, admissions committees want students who challenge themselves and who demonstrate that they’re able to
Stacking the Odds in Favor of College Completion
Every spring, the spotlight shines on high school seniors’ college acceptance letters and on college seniors’ graduation days. Both are cause for celebration, but more attention should be paid to
College News Flash – June 16, 2018
Top CEOs Didn’t Attend Elite Universities We’ve previously discussed reasons to resist the temptation of Ivy League schools, but here’s another: America’s top CEOs didn’t come from the Ivies. CNBC
Looking Under the Hood of “Holistic” College Admissions
Back in the day, many colleges made their admission decisions based largely on a calculation of GPAs and test scores – with a few letters of recommendation and a legacy
Overwhelmed by Your College List? “College Match” Can Help
Whether your student is a senior with college applications on the horizon, or a junior who’s starting to cast the net, they – and you – may be overwhelmed. College
5 Summer College Prep Tips for Rising Seniors
This school year is in the rearview mirror, and rising seniors are looking forward to a summer of sun, laughter, and friends. It’s time to tap the brakes. Before you
College News Digest – May 15, 2018
The Case for Optional College Admission Testing The ACT and SAT grind – doing test prep, registering for tests, and waiting with bated breath for the big score reveal –
AP Classes and AP Tests: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly
In the push to achieve, achieve, achieve, the importance of “rigor” is drilled into high school students (and their parents). According to many high school counselors, AP classes and AP
Head Over Heart: Making the Right College Choice
A zillion different factors are at play when it comes to a student’s college choice. A college’s features play a role, such as whether a campus is in the city
Ivy League Fundraising: Is Greed Good?
On April 27, Dartmouth announced a $3 billion (yes, that’s billion with a “b”) Ivy League fundraising campaign that they’re dubbing, “The Call to Lead.” The Ivy League school’s goal
5 Steps to Financial Independence for High School Students
Once the car has been unpacked, the dorm room bed has been made, and the tearful goodbyes have been said, it’s time for a college freshman to start “adulting.” Some
College News Roundup – April 14, 2018
California Community College Students Guaranteed UC Admission The San Francisco Chronicle reported that, under a new agreement between the California Community College system and the University of California system, students
Which College Application Deadline is Right for You? (Choose Wisely!)
Like much of the college admissions process, college application deadlines can be hard to decipher. Early decision…. Early action…. Rolling admissions…. Even though each option has significant consequences, it can
Hot News about College
What’s the Value of a Major? The Chronicle of Higher Education reports on a Texas initiative that allows students to compare the earning potential of various majors. The Census Bureau
Use the 5 Ws to Get Great Scholarship and College Letters of Recommendation
Great letters of recommendation can make a student stand out from the crowd. They can mean the difference between a college acceptance letter and a wait list offer. They can
How to Avoid Non-Resident Tuition Rates at Out-of-State Public Colleges
Applying to out-of-state public colleges can be appealing for any number of reasons. An out-of-state public university might offer a student’s ideal program or the school may be near members
The Insider’s Guide to Deciphering College Financial Aid Award Letters
The student has put in the work, received the grades, written the essays, submitted the applications, and – voila – has received prized acceptance letters from multiple colleges. Now it’s
4 Secrets to Writing a Spectacular College Admission Essay
Writing a college admission essay can be an anxiety-filled roller coaster of writer’s block, self-doubt, and indecision. A good essay can be the tipping point in gaining entrance into a
5 Reasons to Resist the Temptation of an Ivy League School Application
Quick. Can you name the Ivies?* What about the next tier of just-as-selective schools?** If you can rattle off Ivy League schools like you can the names of your siblings,
Diving into U.S. News’ List of “Least Student Loan Debt” Colleges
U.S. News & World Report recently published its list, “10 Colleges Where Graduates Have the Least Debt.” Essentially, the publication has sliced and diced its rankings data to produce this
Will Your Digital Tattoo Betray You? College Admission and Scholarship Committees Check Social Media
We hear about the “digital footprint” we leave as we walk through life, whether it’s on social media, though ecommerce transactions, or via email. Once a moment is digitized, it’s
RaiseMe Micro-Scholarships: Every Little Bit Helps
The idea behind microfinance is that providing small-scale financial services to people who don’t have access to traditional banking can lift them out of poverty. Muhammad Yunus pioneered the field
Demonstrated Interest: The Benefits of Letting a College Know You Care
When a student is considering applying to a college, it can pay – literally – to let the college know. This is called “demonstrated interest,” and it can deliver an
Private College Scholarships: When Private Colleges are Cheaper than Public Universities
When high school students gaze at the college horizon during the fall of their senior year, they often don’t see past their back porch. They opt for public colleges and