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GPA, SAT and ACT Data for the Ivy League

Fri, 24 May 2013 11:00:19 +0000

The eight Ivy League schools are among the most selective colleges in the country. This doesn't mean that you need a 4.0 gpa and 2400 on the SAT to get in (although it doesn't hurt). All the Ivy League schools have holistic admissions, so they are looking for students who will contribute more than good grades and test scores to the campus community. A winning Ivy League application needs to present a strong academic record, meaningful extracurricular activities, glowing letters of recommendation, and a compelling application essay. Your college interview and demonstrated interest may also help, and legacy status can give you an advantage.

GPA, SAT and ACT Data for the Ivy League originally appeared on About.com College Admissions: U.S. on Friday, May 24th, 2013 at 11:00:19.

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Low SAT Scores? What Now?

Thu, 23 May 2013 09:30:18 +0000

With the release of May SAT scores today, a lot of prospective college students are worried that their scores won't be high enough to get into their top choice schools. If you find that you're panicking over your scores, take a deep breath. Sub-par SAT scores don't have to ruin your college aspirations. Check out these 5 tips for getting into a good college with low SAT scores.

Related Reading:

Test-Optional Colleges
SAT Score Comparison Charts
A to Z College Profiles (includes SAT score information)

Low SAT Scores? What Now? originally appeared on About.com College Admissions: U.S. on Thursday, May 23rd, 2013 at 09:30:18.

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Scores for the May 4th SAT Available on Thursday!

Wed, 22 May 2013 09:06:25 +0000

Scores from the May 4th SAT will be available on the CollegeBoard website beginning Thursday, May 23rd. If your scores aren't as high as you had hoped, don't panic -- you have plenty of options with low SAT scores.

Also, keep in mind that all highly selective colleges have holistic admissions -- they evaluate the whole applicant, not just some numerical data. A winning essay, meaningful extracurricular activities, demonstrated interest and good letters of recommendation can help make up for less-than-ideal test scores. Most important of all is a strong academic record with challenging courses.

That said, if your SAT scores are significantly below the norm for a selective college, your chances of getting accepted will be diminished. These SAT articles and comparison charts can help you figure out how you measure up to matriculated students at different colleges and universities:

What's a Good SAT Score?
SAT Subject Test Information
SAT comparison charts for The Ivy League | Top Liberal Arts Colleges | Top Public Universities | Top Engineering Schools | Top Private Universities | Top Catholic Universities | University of California System | The Cal State System | The SUNY System | The Atlantic Coast Conference | The Southeastern Conference | The Big Ten | More Comparison Charts
GPA, SAT and ACT graphs for admission to hundreds of colleges
SAT scores for colleges in: Alabama | California | Florida | Georgia | Illinois | Indiana | Maryland | Massachusetts | Michigan | Minnesota | Missouri | New Jersey | New York | North Carolina | Ohio | Pennsylvania | Tennessee | Texas | Virginia | Washington | more states
Colleges that Don't Require Test Scores

Scores for the May 4th SAT Available on Thursday! originally appeared on About.com College Admissions: U.S. on Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013 at 09:06:25.

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How to Squander Your Summer

Mon, 20 May 2013 11:27:58 +0000

I recently published some ideas on how to spend your summer so that you impress college admissions officers and build your resume. For the flip side of the equation, here are 10 ways to waste your summer. You'll find some great advice for wearing out your couch cushions and damaging your skin at a young age.

How to Squander Your Summer originally appeared on About.com College Admissions: U.S. on Monday, May 20th, 2013 at 11:27:58.

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The Best Summer Plans for High School Students

Sun, 19 May 2013 09:30:33 +0000

If you're planning to attend a selective college, you shouldn't think of summer as a time to kick back and do nothing. Successful college applicants tend to do something productive during the summer. Come up with a plan that will challenge you, develop your skills, and contribute to your educational and career goals. Some great options include

Work -- try to find a job that is intellectually challenging or develops your leadership skills
Travel -- learn about different cultures and improve your language skills
Classes -- get ahead in math or a language, or earn credit from a community college
College Visits -- narrow down your options

For more information and more summer options, read this article on the best summer plans for high school students.

The Best Summer Plans for High School Students originally appeared on About.com College Admissions: U.S. on Sunday, May 19th, 2013 at 09:30:33.

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Scholarships for Underrepresented Students

Fri, 17 May 2013 09:00:36 +0000

A college degree is often touted as the ticket to a better job and a lifetime of financial security. At the same time, the college admissions process often seems to privilege those who are already privileged. Fortunately, students from underrepresented groups and students who are the first from their families to go to college have an advocate in a relatively new initiative, College Greenlight. Raul Alvarez at College Greenlight recently shared with me a list of scholarships specifically geared towards first-generation and underrepresented students. Be sure to check out the opportunities for college funds, and act quickly -- many of these scholarships expire soon: 26 Scholarships for First-Generation and Underrepresented Students.

GPA, SAT and ACT Data for Top New England Colleges

Tue, 14 May 2013 18:26:14 +0000

GPA, SAT and ACT Data for Top New England Colleges originally appeared on About.com College Admissions: U.S. on Tuesday, May 14th, 2013 at 18:26:14.

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22 Scholarships with June Deadlines

Mon, 13 May 2013 12:38:11 +0000

The only thing harder than getting into a selective college is coming up with the money to pay for your education. Many of the country's most elite schools now have a total price tag around $60,000 a year.

June isn't a time when most students are thinking about applications. The majority of seniors are done with their college searches, and most juniors are still working on coming up with a short list of schools. But don't be complacent -- there are billions of dollars out there to help you fund your college education, but you can't win the money if you don't apply. These 22 scholarships with June deadlines range in value from $200 to $25,000. Entry requirements vary from writing an analytical essay to making a prom outfit out of Duct Tape. Look through the options to see which scholarships match your interests.

More Scholarship Articles:

22 Scholarships with June Deadlines originally appeared on About.com College Admissions: U.S. on Monday, May 13th, 2013 at 12:38:11.

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Junior Year College Preparation

Sat, 11 May 2013 13:51:42 +0000

Rising high school juniors have an important year coming up. Junior year is the last for which colleges will see a year's worth of grades, and ideally those grades will be as good as (if not better than) freshman or sophomore year. Your application will look best if your grades are trending upwards, not down.

Junior year is also a time for advanced placement courses, the PSAT, a first run at the SAT or ACT, and deeper involvement in extracurricular activities. It will be early in senior year when you apply to college, so you can't put off strengthening your credentials until your final year of high school.

These 10 tips for junior year college preparation can help keep you on track as you gear up for college applications.

More College Preparation Articles

Junior Year College Preparation originally appeared on About.com College Admissions: U.S. on Saturday, May 11th, 2013 at 13:51:42.

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The Hidden Costs of Community College

Thu, 09 May 2013 19:40:30 +0000

With the cost of college continuing to outpace the growth of the economy, the number of students going to community college has gone up significantly in recent years. The logic is simple -- a student can save tens of thousands of dollars by spending two years in community college and then transferring to a four-year college. Indeed, there are many good reasons to go to community college, and community colleges make higher education accessible to millions of people who would otherwise have difficulty furthering their educations.

However, you need to be deliberate and careful if you plan to transfer from community college to a four-year college. If all of your credits don't transfer or if you've chosen community college classes that don't fulfill major requirements at the four-year college, you may find that you need more than four years to complete your bachelor's degree. If this happens, your cost savings suddenly disappear.

To learn more, be sure to read the article on the possible hidden costs of community college. If you've had a frustrating experience transferring from a community college to a four-year school, please share your experiences with other readers.

The Hidden Costs of Community College originally appeared on About.com College Admissions: U.S. on Thursday, May 9th, 2013 at 19:40:30.

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