A reader from Connecticut asks:
I am a senior applying to two “reach” schools. I have a B-minus grade-point average and a combined score of 1770 on the new 2400-point SAT. (I am in a review class and will take the test again in October.) I play varsity sports and have been involved in several student groups in the past few years. I am considering applying to a state school and a smaller liberal arts college nearby. At this late date, what can I do to improve my chances of getting in? Read the rest of this entry »

Should you apply early? Some 270 four-year colleges around the country offer early-application programs, under which you know your fate weeks or months before everyone else. Applying early can increase your chances of getting in; last year, for example, Johns Hopkins accepted 59 percent of early-decision applicants and only 28 percent from the nonearly group. It’s time to get moving if you are considering either option, since most early applications are due by early November. But there are some drawbacks. Read the rest of this entry »

As you zero in on a short list of colleges–or as those of you already off to campus settle into dorm life–it’s vital to keep in mind the importance of the personal connections you’ll be able to make. The first few weeks of college are often the most exciting–and the loneliest. Homesickness visits nearly every freshman to some degree. Those who aren’t supported, and prepared to weather the adjustment, are at an increased risk for depression, eating disorders or substance abuse, and social isolation. Read the rest of this entry »

Comfortable back at your desk now after an all-too-brief summer vacation? Good. Because it’s time to start thinking about your fall test schedule. Many seniors are old hands by now at the SAT and ACT; they’ve got until this Wednesday, September 14, to register and pay a late fee for the October 8 SAT and until Friday the 16th to register for the October 22 ACT. But sophomores and juniors should also be getting set to take the PSAT next month. (Administering the PSAT is the responsibility of high schools, so test dates and times vary.) Read the rest of this entry »