What Should I Go to College For?

author image
Posted by Laura Staffaroni | Jun 11, 2019 12:32:51 PM

College Admissions

Applying to colleges is a rough enough process on its own. If you're interested in a lot of different subjects that don't necessarily mesh nicely together into one major, then figuring out what you should go to school for can seem like an impassable obstacle on the road to figuring out where to apply to.

In this article, I'll take you through the same steps I (someone with multiple different interests) took back when I was looking at colleges to figure out what I should go to college for.

I'll also go through how, as a well-rounded student, you can narrow down what kinds of schools you should apply to.

Read More

 

What Does a College Acceptance Letter Say? Expert Guide

author image
Posted by Hannah Muniz | Jun 3, 2019 1:51:00 PM

College Admissions

Whereas fall means college application season, spring means admission notifications time. All high school seniors want to get a college acceptance letter to their top-choice school. But what exactly does an admittance letter look like? And what does it say?

In this article, we go over what information a typical college acceptance letter includes and show you real college acceptance letter samples so you can get an idea of what they look like. We also give you our top four tips for what to do after you get an admittance letter.

Read More

 

Announcing Accepted - The PrepScholar College Admissions Podcast

author image
Posted by Melissa Brinks | May 16, 2019 1:27:52 PM

College Admissions

If you love our strategy guides, we have great news: PrepScholar is launching a college admissions podcast! It's hosted by PrepScholar co-founder and Harvard grad Allen Cheng and writer Melissa Brinks.

Download our podcast now at iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, and Libsyn (or wherever you get your podcasts).

Read More

 

The 5 Tools You Need to Prepare for Your College Interview

author image
Posted by Ashley Robinson | Mar 16, 2019 12:00:00 PM

College Admissions

So you’ve just landed a college interview for the school of your dreams. That’s amazing! Once you finish celebrating, it’s time to start preparing for the big event.

But the process of preparing can feel overwhelming. That’s why we’ve put together our top five tools for preparing for your college interview. Keep reading to learn more about our expert recommendations for the tools you must have to knock your college interview out of the park!

Read More

 

How to Get Help With Your College Application

author image
Posted by Melissa Brinks | Feb 21, 2019 12:00:00 PM

College Admissions

College applications can be both difficult and stressful, especially if you don’t have someone in your life who’s familiar with the process. But there are all kinds of resources for college application help—you just have to know where to look.

Not all help with the college application process is created equal. Some are a little too hands-on, which can mean your application doesn’t sound like you. Others may not offer the kind of help you need. When you’re looking for assistance, you need services that help boost your own skills, not ones that do the work for you.

It’s perfectly okay to get college application help. This guide will walk you through some options for assistance, including what you should seek help for, what you shouldn’t, and some of the best places to find reliable assistance with your college application.

Read More

 

3 Tips for Writing a Successful Letter of Continued Interest

author image
Posted by Hayley Milliman | Jan 20, 2019 12:00:00 PM

College Admissions

If you’ve found yourself waitlisted or deferred from your dream school, you might be worried and frustrated. What does being on the waitlist mean? Do you still have a chance of getting in? What can you do to improve your chances?

While there’s not one singular way of ensuring your eventual admission to your dream school, a letter of continued interest can show your continued dedication to the admissions committee. In this article, we’ll talk about what a continued interest letter is and give a letter of continued interest sample so you know how to write your own if you need to.

Read More

 

70+ Academic Honors Examples for Your College Application

author image
Posted by Hannah Muniz | Jan 17, 2019 12:00:00 PM

College Admissions

College applications are all about showing off to the admissions committee, and what better way to do so than to lead with your most impressive academic awards. What are the best academic honors and awards to put on a college application?

In this guide, we give you 70+ academic honors examples to give you an idea of what types of achievements colleges like to see most on applications. In addition, we explain what counts as an academic honor or award, go over different impressive academic honors and awards examples you can get, and give you useful tips for effectively talking about awards on your application.

Read More

 

When Don't SAT/ACT Scores Matter for College Admissions?

author image
Posted by Rebecca Safier | Jan 1, 2019 8:30:00 PM

SAT/ACT Score Target, College Admissions

Have you started researching how to apply to college? You may know that most college-bound students take the SAT and ACT. But just how important are they, and when can you get away without taking them?

Let's look at when SAT and ACT scores are important for college admissions, and when they're not.

Read More

 

Transfer Student Requirements: What Do Universities Look For?

author image
Posted by Melissa Brinks | Dec 25, 2018 12:00:00 PM

College Admissions

Being a transfer student has benefits, but it can be even harder to navigate than applying as a freshman straight out of high school. Transfer student requirements can be tricky to figure out, as many college application guides are written with freshmen in mind.

Despite the difficulty, being a transfer student is worth it. Whether you want to transfer because you're ready to move from community college to a four-year university or because your school isn't the right fit, this guide will help you learn what colleges look for in transfer students and how to make your application more appealing to colleges.

Read More

 

4 Top Tips for the Common App Honors Section

author image
Posted by Hayley Milliman | Dec 20, 2018 12:00:00 PM

College Admissions

When you’re applying to college, each part of your application counts. You want to maximize every opportunity to make yourself stand out from the thousands of other applicants vying for a spot at the school of your dreams.

One of the many places you can distinguish yourself is in the Common App Honors section. In this article, we’ll talk about what the Honors Common App section is and how to maximize it to show your best work.

Read More

 

Who Is the Admission Committee? What Do They Look For?

author image
Posted by Hayley Milliman | Dec 15, 2018 12:00:00 PM

College Admissions

The admissions committee that decides whether or not you get into your dream school can often seem shrouded in mystery. Who, exactly, are these people? A group of soulless office workers who delight in stamping “Rejected” across applications? A team of well-trained robots who data-mine your application and input it into an algorithm?

While it may seem like the admissions committee process is secretive, that’s actually not the case. Admissions committees are made up of real, live humans whose sole job is to put together the best incoming class possible for their college or university.

Let’s learn a little more about college admissions committees.

Read More

 

College Interview Attire: What to Wear to Your Interview

author image
Posted by Melissa Brinks | Dec 8, 2018 12:00:00 PM

College Admissions

As if college applications aren't stressful enough, an interview with the admissions department can ramp anxiety up to eleven. Though an interview is a great way to make a lasting impression, it also introduces some new things to worry about in addition to your application, such as what you're supposed to wear.

Like all parts of the college application process, you want to make a good impression, but also be yourself. Not everyone is a fashion maven, and there are additional barriers for students experiencing academic hardship.

If you have questions about what to wear to a college interview, you're in luck—we've got answers. From how to style yourself to how to afford business casual on a budget, this guide will help you look sharp and feel confident during your college interview.

Read More

 

Here's Exactly What to Wear on Your College Visit or Tour

author image
Posted by Melissa Brinks | Nov 21, 2018 12:00:00 PM

College Admissions

A college tour is one of the best opportunities you have to learn about what a campus is really like. Reading promotional material, or even student blogs, isn't the same as seeing and experiencing it for yourself, but, like any other aspect of applying to college, you need to make sure you're prepared for a college visit—and that means wearing the right outfit!

Most of the time, dressing for a college tour is a casual affair. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t consider the best way to go about it—comfort and classiness are key.

This guide will walk you through the best way to dress for many different college visit scenarios. A bit of planning will help you have the best possible experience, as well as prepare you for interviews, auditions, and just exploring your dream campus. Read on to find out how!

Read More

 

10th Grade College Planning: 7 Early Steps

author image
Posted by Justin Berkman | Nov 4, 2018 10:03:00 AM

College Admissions

In your sophomore year, you may start to feel anxiety about college, or you may believe that you don't have to think about college yet. While I'm not a proponent of intense worrying and don't think stress is healthy, you should start planning for college in 10th grade.

In this article, I'll walk you through the steps you should be taking in 10th grade to maximize your college options and reach your college goals. Also, I'll let you know which aspects of the college process you don't have to worry about yet.

Read More

 

What Are the Best Questions to Ask at a College Fair?

author image
Posted by Melissa Brinks | Oct 26, 2018 3:00:00 PM

College Admissions

A college fair may not feature popcorn and carnival rides—sorry, folks!—but they are a great source of information for prospective college students. Coming prepared with a detailed plan, including a list of questions to ask at a college fair, will make sure you get the most out of your experience. This is often your first chance to meet with a school's representatives, so use that time wisely!

Read More

 

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!