The College Unraveled Blog
Stories abound of students and even teachers sharing inappropriate items on social media. You would think students who are about to apply to colleges and be evaluated by admission officers would know better. The truth is that the vast majority of high school students are very responsible...
Most students are confused about the difference between an Honors College and an Honors Program. A simple way of understanding the two academic options is this: an Honors College is typically a separate undergraduate college within a more prominent university. An Honors Program is a set or range...
Colleges that practice holistic admissions consider factors beyond grades and test scores when making admission decisions. For most colleges, grades earned and courses selected make up the bulk of the admission criteria; selective colleges want to see evidence of high grades in a challenging...
While the Ivies and other elite schools put their resources into need-based rather than merit aid, a majority of private colleges, in an effort to attract top students, award substantial scholarships or grants based on merit.
Merit scholarships are beneficial in attracting students whose...
With so much competition for admission to selective colleges, students want to do everything right in preparing their applications. They often seek to write what they think admission officers want to read. Not a good plan. Students often think they need to impress the reader with their...
Although business is currently the most popular major, the social sciences account for the second most frequently chosen major. The social sciences address the problems and challenges that affect our world today and apply the knowledge and skills gained in these areas to nearly any career path...
Young people today are often characterized by social media as impatient, entitled, and easily distracted. However, that’s not what we see. A significant number of high school students enrich both their communities and their souls by volunteering for a plethora of projects. Today’s...
One question college advisors hear almost every week is, “How many colleges should I apply to?” There’s not one number that is right for everyone. Some students apply to as few as three or four colleges when the schools they are most excited about also happen to be schools where...
The bulk of college financial aid money comes from the federal government; this aid is distributed by colleges using information supplied by families when they complete the FAFSA, beginning October 1st. However, about 400 colleges, universities, and scholarship programs use an additional form,...
Most students add the names of a couple of likely' schools to their college lists without giving these 'safe' colleges much thought because the applicants don't imagine they may need to attend one of them. However, students should apply only to colleges they are willing to attend (and...
How do College Admissions Work?
Getting into college is a major milestone for many people. This part of life is becoming increasingly important in the modern world, with more and more employers requiring that their teams have degrees. But how can you make sure that you get into college? And more...
The FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) is the primary form used by colleges to determine eligibility for need-based aid. A small number of colleges will not even consider an applicant for merit aid unless that student has first submitted a FAFSA. Therefore, the FAFSA should be filed...
