Applying to college? You’re likely hearing a lot of talk about your GPA and how much it matters in the college admissions process. Your GPA is your grade-point average. It indicates your overall performance in school, i.e., your grades. Your GPA is a calculation of your letter or percentage grades and is a number from […]
How to Tell if Your GPA is Inflated
On ACT and SAT score release days, there’s a phone call that never fails. A distraught student or student’s parent is on the other line, distraught and confused. Why did they, with a 4.5 GPA, receive an 18 on the ACT? Teachers and administrators may be quick to jump on the test anxiety bandwagon. They […]
3 Common Myths About College Admissions
When applying to college, you’ll inevitably run into myths and misconceptions. From what schools look for, to the importance of participating in every extracurricular possible, to who should write Recommendation Letters. All of them have a story attached to it. One of the most important things you can do to get ready to apply to […]
3 Common Myths About College
When it comes to college, everyone has their own ideas of what it will be like, what they will do, who they will meet, and how it will all go. There are a few pervasive myths that many college hopefuls seem to hold on to once they here it. Let’s take a moment to debunk […]
March Madness and College Admissions: Who Will Win the Bracket(s)?
It’s that time of year again: March Madness, when the sports world loses its collective head over the wins, losses, and upsets of college basketball teams. While I’m a huge fan of March Madness myself, and will probably be looking for my said-head come Friday night (particularly if Michigan State decides to bow out early […]
How to Ace Your Alumni Interviews Part II: Dressing the Part
The alumni interview is not the time for a tee shirt and jeans, and decidedly not the time for shorts, sweat pants, or other athletic gear. Keep in mind that some interviewers are professionals, and they expect you to present yourself in the same way. Yes, the interview is informal, but that does not mean […]
How to Ace Your Alumni Interviews Part III: What You Should and Shouldn’t Do in the Interview
After showing the interviewer that you are polite, organized, punctual, and maturely dressed, you are well on your way to acing the alumni interview. Here are some tips for how to capitalize on your initial good impression. What You Should Do 1. Make eye contact We said this in our first post in the series, […]
How to Ace Your Alumni Interviews Part I: Before, During, and After the Interview
About the Interviewers Before we get started, here’s a brief introduction about the alumni interviewers and the role they play in your interview. Alumni interviewers are passionate about the school and love their alma mater. Ranging from recent graduates to alumni of 50+ years, they cover the spectrum in terms of majors, activities, religions, ethnicity, […]
Paying for College 101: When Financial Aid is Not Enough
One of the most stressful parts of college admissions is figuring out how to pay for the next four years. The process alone is daunting: you must fill out pages of forms and applications, complete the FAFSA and CSS PROFILE, submit tax returns for both you and your parents, and get everything sent off and […]
5 Recommendations for Your College Application Essays
After your SAT and ACT scores and your GPA, your essays are the most important part of your college application. Why? Because they are the only part of your whole file that encompasses you and your personality entirely. Your essays let schools see how you think, what you find important, how you write, and how […]