myths

Myth: Test-Flexible Colleges Have Lower Standards Than Test-Required Colleges

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022

When creating your college application, you have to understand that each portion matters. Your essay, your extracurricular activities, your references, your GPA, your courseload: Everything carries some amount of weight. That includes your standardized test scores. At colleges where the test scores are mandatory, those scores help to balance out your GPA. It also balances …

college comparisons

5 of the Best Colleges for Pet Lovers

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022

It’s hard to resist the allure of animals. If you’ve had pets all your life, it’s not the easiest thing to leave them behind while you’re away at school. True, many schools have therapy dog programs nowadays (although usually only around finals week). But if you’re looking for a slightly more permanent animal situation, here …

ACT & SAT

Who Can Take the PreACT?

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022

In March of 2016, ACT announced that it had devised a new test aimed at 10th-grade students to help them prepare for the ACT their following year. This test, aptly called the PreACT, or Preliminary ACT, follows the same format as the full ACT: The two tests are scored the same way, they follow the …

myths

Myth: There Are Many Unclaimed College Scholarships Every Year

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022

We’ve all heard it. This idea that there are billions of dollars that are hiding away somewhere for college education. While there are indeed billions of dollars awarded every year, the myth of the unclaimed scholarship money is just that—a myth. Though there is some debate, this myth is thought to have its origins in …

college comparisons

Colleges with Interesting Histories

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022

 The Humble Origins of the Harvard Yard When Harvard was first founded in the 1630s, the first piece of property purchased by the school was a house and an acre of land. This property was located on “Cow-yard Row”. The school distinguished its property from the surrounding name by calling their acre the “College Yard”. …

scholarship search & applications

The Difference Between Grants and Scholarships

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on July 28, 2023

College costs a lot of money. In turn, students try to find as much financial aid as possible. In your search for financial aid, you’ve likely come across the phrase “grants and scholarships”. The money from grants and scholarships doesn’t have to be paid back, but you’re also wondering what the difference between the two …

financial aid

What Counts As “Demonstrated Need” For Financial Aid?

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022

There is a common misconception in the minds of many college students: They believe they do not qualify for need-based aid based on their family’s income. But the definition of “need” is actually a little more flexible than what income bracket your parents’ finances fall into. When a college or scholarship requires you to show …

college applications

How to Avoid College Application Fees

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022

Part of the college application process is paying all those darn fees… Or is it? Here are some ways you can avoid paying application fees. Attend a Campus Visit Some schools have arranged for application fee waivers if you arrange (and attend) a campus visit day. It’s best to do this through the school rather …

college applications

How to Revise Your College Application Essay

By Ellen AndersenLast updated on December 22, 2022

You’ve done it. You have the first draft of your college application essay. You feel good about it, about the point you are making for the admissions officers. But it’s only a first draft. Now it’s time to buckle down and revise. Here are some tips on how to revise your college application essay. Read …