The pros and cons of taking a year off between high school and college, a.k.a. “taking a gap year” Pros: If done intentionally and with clear purpose, taking a gap year can be a year of growth and fulfillment. You can take a break from the study-test-repeat cycle of school and experience a different kind of education: traveling and learning about

Frederick, Maryland Students who go to Hood College, with 1,100 undergraduates and 1,000 graduates, get the personal touch that only a small school can give. Admissions counselor Ryan DiGirolamo, a former newspaper student of mine, found his place in Frederick, first as a Hood Blazer, and later in admissions. This small liberal arts and sciences college is test optional; in

Here are the schools I’ve visited: In Florida: Eckerd College University of South Florida, St. Petersburg Rollins College New College of Florida Flagler College Ringling College of Art and Design University of Tampa Stetson University In Maryland: University of Maryland, College Park Hood College McDaniel College Stevenson College In New Jersey: Princeton University The College of New Jersey Caldwell University

Site will be closed July 28-31.

You may have heard about the SAT’s new “adversity score.” College Board calls it the Environmental Context Dashboard, and it does not affect the student’s actual SAT score. It’s an attempt to contextualize a student’s score by providing colleges with information about the student’s school and neighborhood. They use 31 measures, none of which includes race or ethnicity. Check out

Based on a comprehensive survey of independent educational consultants, here are the key factors that can make or break your college application: Academic Excellence Personal Character & Growth Beyond the Numbers Practical Considerations See the Results Note: Each institution weighs these factors differently based on their specific mission and needs.

Did you apply early and get deferred? If you applied early action or early decision to your top-choice college, you hoped that your future–at least the fall of 2019–would be clear. But at most schools, the majority of early applicants get deferred to the regular decision pool. That isn’t a bad sign; it usually means that the school wants to

Pro Tips On Writing Your Personal Statement Friday at 20:33 Follow By the admissions staff at Johns Hopkins University Hello high school seniors! We know that writing your essays can seem especially daunting when applying to college. But the essays are a great opportunity to add depth to something that is important to you and address a topic you’re not able

The Common App website was down for a refresh July 27 to 31, but it’s back up and running now with the new 2018-2019 Common App. If you’re a rising senior, you probably started an account through your high school counselor’s office, but if you don’t have an account, you can start one today. Need help setting up the account?

Did your grandfather serve in the military? You may qualify for a scholarship because of that association. Even the Navy Seabees have scholarships available for undergraduate school.