College Admission — Ask the Experts

The Common App may offer an easy way to apply to many colleges at once, but it's easy to make mistakes too. Here's what to avoid for a perfect application!

Ivy League colleges are renowned in the US. But what makes their educational offerings so valued? An expert weighs in on this important conversation.

It's tempting to slack off the second half of senior year, but experts say your spring semester grades are more important than you think. Learn why here!

College application fees can stack up quickly. Here's some expert advice on fee waivers, how to know if you're eligible, and where to get them

A strong personal statement can make a difference in admission, but what if it isn't required? Here's some expert advice on this supplemental essay.

The AI bot ChatGPT is the latest craze taking the technology world by storm. Before you use it for college applications, our experts have some advice!

Students should build a balanced college list consisting of several safety, match, and reach schools. Learn why and how you should do this from an expert!

Many high schools use Naviance to help students plan for college, but what is it all about? Learn more about this college and career readiness tool here!

Many students consider taking a gap year but worry it will affect their admission status or future college admission. Here's what to know from an expert.

How does a school know you're interested in them? You have to demonstrate your interest, and our experts know exactly how you can do that. Find out now!

Is it okay to use a cliche in your college application essay? The answer might surprise you. Read our expert's advice here!

Students often worry about errors in their college applications affecting admission. Here are the worst mistakes that experts suggest looking out for.

Students often wonder if their high school's ranking in the country affects their college admission. Here's the answer!

There's a lot of advice on writing college application essays, but you need to be careful who you listen to. Find out the best (and worst) tips here!

Striking the right tone in your communication with colleges is important. Learn how to do just that with this expert advice!

Being interviewed can be difficult at first, but it gets easier the more you practice. Check out this expert advice for your admission interviews.

Since the pandemic, many colleges still offer the convenience of virtual admission interviews. Make sure yours goes smoothly with this expert advice!

Are you finishing up your admission essay, but it's just too long for the word count requirements? Our experts have advice for trimming it down!

You may be wowed by the name recognition of certain institutions, but there are many other factors to consider when choosing a college. Learn more here.

Is it smarter to take easy classes to boost your GPA or challenge yourself but risk lower grades in harder classes? Our experts have the answer!

Should you send in supplemental materials with your college applications? It depends—but you should definitely follow any directions given by the school.

Turns out you don't need to join nine clubs to stand out to colleges! Our experts explain why you shouldn't stretch yourself thin when it comes to activities.

Rolling admission gives you more options when it comes to applying to college. Schools with rolling admission evaluate applications until all of the available spots are filled for that year.

Students have probably heard about the Common Application before, but what exactly is it? And should you be using it for college? Our experts have the answer.

It's never too early to start planning your college search! Learn what you can do as early as your freshman year of high school with this expert advice.

The college application process can elicit feelings of excitement and anxiety, but applying early can help ease the worry and put you on the right track.

Admission counselors love to hear about your summer activities, but you need to know how to include them on your application. Learn more now!

There's a lot to keep track of when you're applying to college. Here are some important to-do's for completing applications, as recommended by the experts.

At most colleges, admission decisions are made holistically. But what does that mean? Learn all about it from our experts.

It's not the number of schools you apply to that's important; it's the thought and care put into each application. Learn more from our experts here.

There is so much that goes into the process of determining which colleges you should apply to. Find out what's most important.

Colleges often require or recommend a certain amount of years of study in a high school subject for admission, but what does it really mean? We have the answer!

Admission officers look closely at your activities outside the classroom on your application. Here's what to know about extracurriculars in college admission.

The experts weigh in on when high school students should start thinking about college (and when to begin their college search!).

The classes you take and the grades you earn are the most important factor upon which you are evaluated when you apply to college. Read more from our experts.

Though it varies from student to student, it's important to start planning for college sooner rather than later. Learn more from the experts.

It's critical not to let national rankings drive your entire college search process. Find out why here!

Your essay is the way that college admission officers get to know you as a person and see what kind of passion you'll bring to campus. Learn more about it here!

When college admission officers are evaluating your application, one of the characteristics they look for in you is initiative and another is love of learning.

Some summer programs require an application many months in advance. Some only require registration. Find out more on CX now!

How do you know when your college list is complete? Here are some questions to ask yourself, as recommended by college admission experts, to finalize it.

Should you be worried about college when you're just starting high school? No! But our experts say you should be thinking about it at least a little bit.

Yes, it's true that grades are very important in the college admission process...but that doesn't mean you need a perfect GPA to get into college.

Knowing exactly what makes a college application essay "good" is key to knocking yours out of the park. Here's some advice to get you started!

You can get guidance, but make sure it is the right kind of help. Learn more.

Being deferred isn't a rejection. Learn how to update your application, show interest, and improve your odds of admission with these expert tips.

College fairs are a great way to learn about schools and talk to admission reps without going to campus. Here's some expert advice on how to prepare for them!

Dual enrollment exposes you to college-level work in high school, but will it help you with admission? Learn more about dual enrollment from an expert.

Does where you go to school matter as much as what you study? Get expert insights on how to weigh campus location, environment, and distance from home against other priorities in your college search.

Being waitlisted isn't easy, but you don't have to sit back and do nothing. Here's some expert advice on things you can do to secure your admission.

Students don't often know exactly what admission counselors are looking for on college applications. If you're wondering, here's the answer form an expert.

Quality of involvement is more important than quantity. Find out from our experts why you should stick with activities that have always interested you.

How are different elements of your college applications ranked? Our experts have the answers from admission essay to your list of extracurriculars!

Is college right for you? Although we'd like to say it's right for everyone, that's not always true. These college experts weigh in to help you decide.

It's common for students and parents to disagree on which colleges to apply to, but in the end, it should be your choice! Start compromising with this advice.

This is really the million-dollar question for college hopefuls. Read our expert advice here.

Students who are willing to share who they are as a person, distinct from their academic record and test scores, are the students who stand out. Learn more.

The college search process isn't the same for every student, but these college experts have some advice for how you can get started finding great schools.

Early Decision, Early Action, or Single-Choice Early Action? Each mean something entirely different. Find out which is right for you.

Three might be the magic number--but the most important thing is that your recommenders know you well. Learn more here!

College applications stressing you out? Recommendation letters are the easiest part! Use the following rules of thumb as a guide to asking for them.

You may be using the Common Application to apply to school, but have you considered utilizing the Common App supplement? Our experts can fill you in.

When planning for college, good grades and high test scores are important. But what's just as important are activities outside the classroom.