Thursday, July 3College Admissions News

Author: Editor

Student Loan Forgiveness: Programs for Relief, Mass Forgiveness
Financial Aid

Student Loan Forgiveness: Programs for Relief, Mass Forgiveness

Student loan forgiveness can wipe out part or all of your student loan debt. Each forgiveness program has its own requirements, and some are more difficult to qualify for than others. The big news on the student loan forgiveness front is that the federal government is forgiving up to $10,000 in federally held student debt, or up to $20,000 if you previously received a Pell Grant. (See more below) This new program — and the wide variety of other ways to get your student loans forgiven — offer a chance to relieve your debt burden. Here’s an overview of what’s out there, plus other ways to find help for repayment beyond forgiveness.   The latest on Biden administration’s mass student loan cancellation As announced on Aug. 24, 2022, the federal government is offering...
How to Get Into a BS/MD Program: Step-by-Step Guide
College Planning

How to Get Into a BS/MD Program: Step-by-Step Guide

Is your goal to become a doctor? Do you want to put yourself on a fast track to medical school and making your dream a reality? If so, you may want to consider applying for a BS/MD program. In this article, I'll explain what these programs are and go over exactly how to get into a BS/MD program, so that you can be one step closer to your dream of becoming a doctor.   What Is a BS/MD Program? A BS/MD program offers you admission to medical school if you meet certain minimum requirements while you're in college or applying to colleges. You can apply for a BS/MD program as a high school student during the regular college application process. Additionally, there are BS/MD programs you can apply to as an underclassman in college. Most people begin applying to med school the summer between the...
The Best Small Colleges in the United States
College Search

The Best Small Colleges in the United States

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...
The 17 Best Fine Arts Colleges in the US
College Search

The 17 Best Fine Arts Colleges in the US

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...
What’s the Average College GPA? By Major?
College Search

What’s the Average College GPA? By Major?

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...
Applying Early Decision: Advantages and Disadvantages
College Planning

Applying Early Decision: Advantages and Disadvantages

From Applying early decision to college is often a highly effective way to increase the odds of getting accepted at many colleges that offer this admission option. At plenty of colleges, applying early action can also boost admission odds. Students and parents, who are interested in applying early decision or early action, need to know the advantages and disadvantages of this strategy. Here are things to consider: Applying Early Decision Definition 1. Early Decision refers to the admission practice of allowing students to send in their applications and receive an admission verdict before teenagers who use the regular admission process. 2. The deadline for early decision applications can be November 15 or even earlier. In contrast, the application deadline for regular admission can be in Ja...
Which Coalition Essay Prompt Should You Choose? 2022-2023
College Planning

Which Coalition Essay Prompt Should You Choose? 2022-2023

If you're submitting a college application through the Coalition Application, you likely already know that you'll have to write a personal essay. The purpose of the Coalition Application essay is for you to showcase a side of yourself that colleges don't get to see through your transcripts and test scores alone. There are six Coalition essay prompts to choose from. So which one should you pick? In this article, we go over what the Coalition Application essay is and take a look at all six Coalition essay prompts. For each prompt, we give you potential topics you can write about and key tips for answering it effectively. Keep reading to learn which Coalition essay prompt might be the best fit for you!   What Is the Coalition Application Essay? The Coalition App is a centralized college...
4 Tips for Writing Perfect USC Essays
College Search

4 Tips for Writing Perfect USC Essays

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...
The 11 Best Pre-Med Schools to Help You Become a Doctor
College Search

The 11 Best Pre-Med Schools to Help You Become a Doctor

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...
Potential Recession Evokes Graduation Worries
Financial Aid

Potential Recession Evokes Graduation Worries

Imagining life after graduation is understandably stressful for many college students — particularly for the 55% of undergraduates who’ll be leaving with student loan debt. Yet, amid today’s struggling economy, it’s not just student borrowers who have some apprehension about what comes next. The latest Student Loan Hero survey of more than 1,000 U.S. undergraduate students reveals that 46% of college students are worried they’ll graduate during a recession. But despite this real worry, their optimism appears to win out: 59% think college has prepared them for a career and 74% are confident they’ll find a job in the field they’ve chosen. Here’s what else we found. Key findings 46% of college students are worried they’ll graduate during a recession. This jumps to 5...
Full List of 1,000+ Colleges That Don’t Require ACT Scores
College Planning

Full List of 1,000+ Colleges That Don’t Require ACT Scores

Applying to college usually means writing some essays, asking for letters of recommendation, and submitting your transcripts. But what about the ACT and SAT? Is the ACT required for college? The answer is, not necessarily! In this guide, we explain what test-optional colleges are and give you the complete list of 1,000+ colleges that don't require ACT scores from applicants. We also offer a few tips for what to do with these ACT-optional college lists. Note: for a list of schools temporarily not requiring test scores due to COVID-19, read this article instead. Otherwise, read on to see which schools are always test-optional, test-flexible, or test-blind.   Is the ACT Required for College? Not Necessarily First off, is the ACT required for college in the United States? Or not? Though ...
What Is the SAT Waitlist? Should You Get on It?
College Planning

What Is the SAT Waitlist? Should You Get on It?

Did you miss the registration deadline for the SAT test date you wanted? Don't fear—you still might have a chance to take the test if you get on the waitlist. In this article, we give you instructions on how to register for the SAT waitlist, followed by some advice on whether it's the right choice for you. (more…)
Colleges Not Requiring SAT Scores
College Planning

Colleges Not Requiring SAT Scores

Not all admissions processes are created equal. One major point of difference among colleges these days is how admissions officers consider your SAT scores. More and more schools are de-emphasizing SAT scores as part of your application with test-optional and test-flexible policies. Some colleges has even eliminated SAT scores completely! There are now more than 1,000 accredited, bachelor-degree granting institutions that have changed their approaches to standardized test scores. Keep in mind that the majority of colleges, especially the more prestigious schools, do still require (and strongly consider) SAT scores. Let's take a look at the different score policies and the schools that no longer require applicants to submit their SAT scores for admission. Schools Temporarily Going Test O...
14 Summer Engineering Internships for High School Students
College Planning

14 Summer Engineering Internships for High School Students

Want to be an engineering major in college? A great way to set yourself up for success before you even begin your freshman year is to do an engineering internship or camp as a high school student. However, summer engineering internships for high school students can be tough to find. That's where we come in! We've compiled a list of the 14 best engineering opportunities for high schoolers, including some that pay you to participate!   How Can High School Students Learn About Engineering Careers? If you're interested in a career in engineering, there are multiple ways you can get more knowledge and experience in the field before even graduating high school. Below are the three best ways high school students can get engineering experience.   Job Shadowing Job shadowing is where you spend a ...
The 12 Best Journalism Schools
College Search

The 12 Best Journalism Schools

It can be hard to find good information on the strength of journalism undergraduate programs. To help you get your college search going, we've rounded up a list of the best journalism schools for aspiring writers, editors, and reporters.   Ranking Criteria for Top Journalism Schools College ranking lists can be really helpful if you're just starting your college search—they're great if you want to get a general idea of what schools are out there and whether they fit your interests and criteria. The danger comes with using them as the be-all, end-all source of info about college quality—ranking organizations all use different methods for coming up with these lists, and they're not always transparent about the process. Although this ranking list should also just be used as a jumping-of...