Author: Editor

The University of California schools are widely regarded as some of the best public universities in the nation. Because I have provided college counseling to hundreds of students in California and chaperoned college visits to UC campuses, I'm very familiar with these colleges and know people who have attended each of the nine UC schools that offer undergraduate education.In this article, I will describe the UC system, profile each of the University of California colleges, and explain how to choose which UC school to attend.Keep in mind that University of California schools are still accepting AP, IB, TOEFL, IELTS, and other international test scores. However, note this important change: Because the College Board has discontinued SAT Subject Tests and adopted a test blind policy for the SAT...

If you're interested in going to college in New York, you may want to consider a State University of New York school. Unlike The City University of New York (CUNY) colleges, the majority of SUNY schools are outside of New York City, and many of them are in rural areas. In this article, I'll describe the SUNY system, profile the 4-year SUNY schools, and explain how to decide which SUNY to attend.   About the SUNY System The State University of New York (SUNY) is the largest comprehensive university system in the United States. SUNY colleges are New York public colleges; there are 64 SUNY institutions of various types and sizes.In this article, I'll focus on the independent 4-year SUNY colleges with baccalaureate programs that you can enter as a freshman student. There are 25 SUNY scho...

If you're interested in attending a small college, you may be wondering which schools offer the most rigorous academic experience combined with the best quality of life. In this article, I'll give you a list of the best small colleges in the nation based on student reviews and academic ratings, as well as some more specific great small college options.   What Is a Small College? For the purposes of this article, I'll define "small" colleges as colleges with undergraduate student enrollments below 5,000. These colleges are characterized by small class sizes, close student communities, and professors who engage directly with students. Attending a small college is sort of like being a part of a big family that's brought together through shared experiences and pride in the school. You ca...

If you're interested in attending a fine arts college, your college search may be trickier than the average student's. It's relatively simple to compare standard undergraduate degree programs, but fine arts schools can be so different: they have different specialties, different facilities, and different curricula. How do you know which fine arts colleges are the best, and how do you know which ones would be good fits for you? I've taken the first step for you by compiling a list of the top fine arts colleges and bachelor's programs in the country. Each one offers something a little different, making this ranking list a bit more unique (and a bit more interesting) than your average college ranking list. Because it's difficult and perhaps unhelpful to give these schools a definite rankin...

If you're still in high school, you might be curious about how college GPAs work and what you can expect for grades given your major of choice. Just like high schools, colleges vary in how they calculate GPA. Grade inflation also significantly affects college GPA at most schools, causing many students to end up with higher GPAs in college than they had in high school. In this article, I'll give you the facts about average GPAs at different types of colleges and within a variety of college majors.   What's the Average College GPA? The average GPA for students at four-year colleges in the US is around 3.15, or a B average. This is much higher than it's been in the past, a trend that demonstrates that grade inflation is a very real phenomenon for colleges. For example, a C used to be th...

So you have your heart set on going to the University of Southern California. That's great—it's one of the best schools in the country! Unfortunately, that makes it tough to get into: only 12% of applicants are admitted each year. But don't worry. This guide will teach you everything you need to know to write an outstanding USC Writing Supplement. We'll answer all of your questions, including the following: What is the USC supplement? What are the questions, and how do I answer them? Are there tips and tricks for knocking your USC essays out of the park? What steps do I take to finish my USC application? Let's get started! What Is the USC Supplement? The USC Writing Supplement is an additional part of the USC application that you fill out on the Common App website. The supplement i...

Choosing an undergraduate school is the first major step any student will make on the path to becoming a physician. If you're an aspiring pre-med student, you'll want to give yourself the best opportunities and support networks in college and beyond. Applying to (and succeeding in) medical school is a grueling process, so you'll need to be prepared. Here, I'll talk about what actually makes a school good for pre-meds before getting into the good stuff: the list of best pre-med schools.   What Makes a School Good for Pre-Meds? 6 Key Factors Pre-med students need a lot of specialized resources and opportunities as undergraduates in order to boost their med school applications. It's important that aspiring physicians attend schools that aren't only highly ranked but that also provide un...