A recent American Enterprise Institute study identified the highest and lowest graduation rates for America’s institutions of higher learning. It’s “most competitive college” category consisted of colleges requiring “high school rank in the top 10-20 percent, grade point averages of a B+ to an A, and median test scores between 655-800 on the SAT and 29 on the ACT.” They “typically admitted fewer than one-third of applicants.” The schools, their graduation rates over six years, and useful information follow:

Colleges with Highest Graduation Rates:
1. Harvard University, MA: 97%
T-2 Amherst College, MA: 96%
T-2 Yale University, CT: 96%
T-4 Brown University, RI: 95%
T-4 Princeton University, NJ: 95%
T-4 Stanford University, CA: 95%
T-4 Univ. of Notre Dame, IN: 95%
T-4 Univ. of Penn, PA: 95%
T-10 Duke University, NC: 94%
T-10 Pomona College, CA: 94%
T-10 Swarthmore College, PA: 94%

Ten Colleges with Lowest Graduation Rates
1. Webb Institute, NY: 60%
T-2. Reed College, OR: 76%
T-2. Tulane Univ., LA: 76%
T-2 Univ. of Miami, FL: 76%
5. US Air Force Academy: 77%
6. George Washington Univ., DC: 78%
7. Scripps College, CA: 80%
T-8. Case Western Reserve Univ., OH: 81%
T-8. Occidental College, CA: 81%
T-8. US Military Academy, NY: 81%

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According to a national study conducted by UCLA’s Higher Education Research Institute this past academic year, American college freshman have a favorable view of their academic and social skills. Their confidence falters only in a few select areas.

Student Self-Assessments

Students rated self as “Highest 10%” or “Above Average” as compared with the average person their age in:

Ability to work cooperatively with diverse people 77.7%
Drive to achieve 75.8%
Tolerance of others with different beliefs 72.2%
Cooperativeness 71.8%
Ability to see the world from someone else’s perspective 66.5%
Understanding of others 66.4%
Ability to discuss and negotiate controversial issues 62.4%
Leadership ability 60.4%
Self-confidence (intellectual) 59.3%
Openness to having my own views challenged 57.9%
Self-understanding 57.1%
Computer skills 37.2%
Spirituality 35.7%
Artistic ability 29.2%

Conclusion
Self-confidence that doesn’t evolve into arrogance is a positive trait. Top Test Prep with its test and admissions specialists can enhance your confidence that you will gain admission to your top schools.
David Dickson is an admissions expert with Top Test Prep; Top Test Prep provides private tutoring, test prep and one-on-one admissions counseling for students. Call 800-501-7737 to learn more.

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A just released study by the Center for Education Statistics provides a profile of American college students. Selective results of the study entitled, “2008-09 Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study” follow.
Majors Twenty-three percent of 2007-08 first time bachelor’s degree recipients majored in a business-related field; 16 percent in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics; 16 percent in a social science; and 12 percent in the humanities.

Education After College
As of the 2009 interview date, 30 percent of 2007-08 first-time bachelor’s degree recipients had enrolled in another education program or had been accepted to a program and would enroll in the 2009-10 academic year following the interview date. Three percent had entered or were entering a program leading to another undergraduate certificate or degree, and the remainder had entered or were entering a graduate or first professional certificate or degree program.

Employment After College and Earnings
When interviewed about a year after completing their degree requirements, 84 percent of 2007-2008 first-time bachelor’s degree recipients were working; 9 percent were unemployed ( i.e. looking for work, but not working); and 7 percent were not in the labor force.
Among 2007-08 first-time bachelor’s degree recipients who were employed full-time, one quarter earned less than $27, 457 while another quarter earned more than $49,200 in 2009. The median earned income was $36,000.

Conclusion
Students who attend nationally competitive institutions of higher learning earn incomes beyond the median, and have the opportunity to enter highly ranked graduate and professional programs with a commensurate increase in opportunity and earning potential. Top Test Prep will assist you in gaining admission to your top schools – call today to learn more – (800) 501-Prep.

David Dickson is a college admissions counselor with Top Test Prep; Top Test Prep provides private tutoring and expert admissions counseling for students applying to the best schools.

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Reasons why students go to college…and other useful information.

What is the impetus behind the decision of American students to go to college and what do they regard as important in life? The most comprehensive national analysis of college freshman conducted in the last academic year by the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA provides answers to these questions.

Reasons for Going to College
The following reasons were “Very Important” in deciding to go to college:
To be able to get a better job 84.7%
To learn about things that interest me 82.8%
To get training for a specific career 77.6%
To gain a general education and appreciation of ideas 72.4%
To be able to make more money 71.2%
To prepare myself for graduate or professional school 60.2%
To make me a more cultured person 50.9%

Life Priorities
Objectives considered to be “Essential” or “Very Important”:
Being very well off financially 77.4%
Raising a family 73.4%
Helping others who are in difficulty 69.1%
Becoming an authority in my field 58.0%
Obtaining recognition from my colleagues for contributions to my special field 54.8%
Improving my understanding of other countries and cultures 49.1%
Adopting “green” practices to protect the environment 42.3%

Conclusions
The monetary and career value of a BA alone is well established with college graduates earning more than a million dollars more in a life-time than their counterparts who just completed high school. Unemployment levels of high school graduates are two and a half times greater than college graduates. Relative financial stability then opens up opportunities for the realization of an array of life goals. Top Test Prep will assist you in gaining admission to your top schools.

David Dickson is an admissions counselor with Top Test Prep. For more information, or to interview and education expert, call (800) 501-Prep.

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A newly released federal report, “2008-09 Baccalaureate and Beyond Longitudinal Study,” confirms the wisdom of going straight into a private four year bachelor’s program immediately after completing high school. The report observes that bachelor’s degree recipients in 2007-08 who began their post-secondary studies at a community college took almost 20 percent longer to complete their degrees than those who started out at four year institutions, and those who began at four year private colleges finished faster than those at four-year public and for-profit institutions. Moreover, students who delayed entry into college by more than a year out of high school took almost 60 percent longer to complete their degrees than those who went directly to college.

Data on the median number of months to complete a bachelor’s degree follows.

Type of Student (time in months)
All Bachelor’s Recipients: 52
Delayed Entry into College: 80
Did Not Delay Entry: 51

First Institution (time in months)
Public 2-year: 63
Public 4-year: 52
Private 4-year: 45
For-Profit 4-year: 57

Institution Where Degree Earned
Public 4-year: 55
Private 4-year: 45
For-profit 4-year: 103

Major (time to complete in months)
Computer Sciences: 58
Engineering: 56
Biological/physical sciences, math: 45
General studies: 57
Social sciences: 45
Humanities: 45
Health Care: 57
Business: 53
Education: 54

Conclusion
While attending a four year college right out of high school is clearly in the interests of non-procrastinators, the strategy for finding your ideal institution is not as self-evident. Top Test Prep will assist you in finding that school and maximizing your chances of admission.

David Dickson is a counselor with Top Test Prep which offers private tutoring and test preparation with admissions experts who help you gain entry to your top choice prep schools, colleges and grad schools.

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Games Pro Media, the publisher of GamePro magazine has identified the top ten undergraduate programs in video game design. Their selections are based on surveys of administrators at 150 colleges that offer video game courses. The results follow…

The Top Ten Programs for Video Game Design / Computer Engineering:

1. University of Southern California, Los Angeles
2. University of Utah, Salt Lake City
3. DigiPen Institute of Technology, Redmond, Wash.
4. The Art Institute of Vancouver, Vancouver, British Columbia
5. Michigan State University, East Lansing
6. Worcester Polytechnic University, Worcester, MA
7. Drexel University, Philadelphia
8. Champlain College, Burlington, VT
9. Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
10. Becker College, Worcester, Mass.

Conclusion
It’s time to get to work or is that to play? While computer engineering is the clearest path to a career in video-game design, there are alternative paths. Consult the undergraduate schools on which you are deliberating on their offerings in this area and keep in mind that a graduate degree is frosting on the cake and will maximize your opportunities.

David Dickson is an admissions counselor with Top Test Prep, which offers private tutoring and test preparation with admissions experts who help you gain admission to your top schools.

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An article on how to select a college, and factors you should consider…

You worked hard during the academic year and you just want to chill out this summer. You can make that trip to the beach, however, and still get the ball rolling on your college search. What criteria should you use for creating your college list? The guidelines which follow are intended to assist you in that process.

1. Financial Fit and Aid
Discuss college finances with your family. Federal, state, and college scholarships and assistance are worth exploring, though keep in mind that the most competitive colleges nationally often have the most generous financial aid packages.

2. A School’s National Academic Status Relative to Other Schools
Undergraduate schools rankings are often indicative of the quality of undergraduate life from classroom experiences to facilities and support services. Moreover, they count in the real world when you apply for graduate school or explore the job market. US News and World Report’s annual “Best Colleges” issue is worth examining along with alternative ratings produced by Forbes magazine and Kiplingers.

3. College Majors
Find out whether a school offers the academic subjects you are most interested in. As your college search progresses, you can contact academic departments to find out about class size and the percentage of courses taught by full-time tenured and tenure track professors.

4. Placement in Graduate/Professional Schools and Jobs
Pose questions to schools and departments of possible majors about how their students fare in their graduate school applications and in the job market.

5. Academic Environment
The location and size of the campus and surrounding community and the weather should be considered.

6. Your classmates
The composition of the student body including the male/female ratio, and student attitudes on studying, leisure activities, and even politics can be pertinent.

7. Programming and student life
Honors programs, academic advising, internships, health services, and job counseling are worthy of examination.

8. Extracurricular Activities
Clubs, inter-collegiate sports, intra-murals, and community service opportunities are areas of inquiry.

****

Conclusion

As you winnow down your college list, find out if there are alumni in the area that you can talk to. Plan college visits where you can arrange for an interview, meet staff and faculty, and informally talk to students. A college counseling and test preparation service can assist you with the logistics of finding the right schools and tailoring your applications to them.

David Dickson is an academic counselor with Top Test Prep, which offers private tutoring and test prep with admissions experts who help you gain admission to your top schools. Call (800) 501-Prep to learn more.

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Have you ever wondered how college grades today compare with grading in the past? How much grade inflation is there, and how common is it for professors to mark student’s scores arbitrarily higher? According to a new study published in Teachers College Record by researchers from Duke University and Furman University contemporary students have been the recipients of widespread grade inflation. Historical data was collected from 200 four year colleges and contemporary data from 135 schools. There has been an increase of 28 percent since 1960 and 12 percent since 1988 in the percentage of A’s awarded in higher education.

Grade distribution figures for different higher education sub-categories follow.

University and College Grade Distribution by Sub-Category

-Private Non-Profit Universities: A’s 48.2%; B’s 35.2%; F’s 2.3%

-Private Non-Profit Colleges: A’s 42.7%; B’s 36.6%; F’s 1.9%

-Public Flagship Universities: A’s 42.3%; B’s 34.5%; F’s 3.6%

-Public Satellite Universities: A’s 41.7%; B’s 32.0%; F’s 5.4%

-Public Commuter Universities: A’s 39%; B’s 31.8%; F’s 6.3%

Conclusion
More regulation of grades by universities and departments could alter the decades-long trajectory of grade inflation, but there are few signs that steps are being taken. Students and their families should recognize that even high grades may not distinguish them from many of their peers when they apply to graduate and professional schools. Attending a “brand school” helps, but the importance of standardized graduate and professional school tests including the LSAT’s and GRE’s has increased markedly. Top Test Prep offers tutoring and test preparation with admissions experts who help you gain admission to your top schools.

David Dickson is a counselor with Top Test Prep’s tutoring and admissions programs. Call (800) 501-7737 to learn more.

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Here’s some information on the best Universities in the world…

In a globalized world where job opportunities cross borders, proactive American student and their families should be aware of foreign educational options and how American universities measure up internationally. The United Kingdom’s Times Higher Education service has come up with global university rankings which serve this purpose. Drawing upon the expertise of 13,000 academics from 131 countries, these rankings are based on the following criteria:

-Teaching: The learning environment (30 per cent of the overall ranking score)
-Research: Volume, income and reputation (30 per cent)
-Citations: Research influence (32.5 per cent)
-Industry income: Innovation (2.5 per cent)
-International mix: Staff and students (5 per cent)
______________

The Twenty Top World Universities and Their Overall Scores
1. Harvard University 96.1
2. California Institute of Technology 96.0
3. Massachusetts Institute of Technology 95.6
4. Stanford University 94.3
5. Princeton University 94.2
6. University of Cambridge, UK 91.2
7. University of Oxford, UK 91.2
8. University of California, Berkeley 91.1
9. Imperial College, London 90.6
10. Yale University 89.5
11. University of California, Los Angeles 87.7
12. The University of Chicago 86.9
13. Johns Hopkins University 86.4
14. Cornell University 83.9
15. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology 83.4
16. The University of Michigan 83.4
17. The University of Toronto 82.0
18. Columbia University 81.0
19. The University of Pennsylvania 79.5
20. Carnegie Mellon University 79.3

Conclusion
The motto for students and their families in the new millennium should be to “think globally and act globally” in education and career-wise. Your future depends on it!

David Dickson is a college counselor with Top Test Prep which offers tutoring and test preparations with admissions experts who help you gain admission to your top schools.

For more information on Top Test Prep, call (800) 501-Prep.

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Here’s some information on Forbes Magazine’s Twenty Best Colleges in America:

Comparative assessments of America’s institutions of higher learning have become a hot commodity as embodied by US News and World Report’s widely circulated rankings. Forbes magazine has thrown its hat into the evaluation arena with its own distinctive approach. Its evaluative criteria include listing of alumni in “Who’s Who in America” (25 percent); student evaluations of professors from RatemyProfessors (25 percent); four year graduation rates (16 2/3 percent); enrollment adjusted numbers of students and faculty receiving nationally competitive awards (16 2/3 percent); and average four year accumulated student debt of those borrowing money (16 2/3 percent). Forbes most recent college ratings follow.

America’s Top-Ranked, Best Colleges:

1. Princeton University, NJ
2. California Institute of Technology
3. Harvard University, MA
4. Swarthmore College, PA
5. Williams College, MA
6. US Military Academy, NY
7. Amherst College, MA
8. Wellesley College, MA
9. Yale University, CT
10. Columbia University, NY
11. Northwestern University, IL
12. Wabash College, IN
13. Centre College, KY
14. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
15. Bowdoin College, ME
16. US Air Force Academy, CO
17. Middlebury College, VT
18. University of Chicago, IL
19. Smith College, MA
20. Pomona College, CA

Conclusion

Finding the best college fit in an increasingly competitive admissions environment is a full time job. Top Test Prep’s admissions experts offer counseling, tutoring, and test preparation to assist you in gaining admission to your top schools.

David Dickson is an admissions counselor with Top Test Prep. Top Test Prep provides private tutoring and expert test prep for students applying to top private schools, colleges and graduate schools. Call (800) 501-Prep to learn more.

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Recent years have witnessed a proliferation of university and college evaluation systems using criteria which differ from the highly visible and academically geared US News and World Report ratings. Washington Monthly magazine has come out with an interesting ranking system focused on which colleges do the most for the public good. The three broad criteria it uses are social mobility (recruiting and graduating low income students); research (producing cutting edge scholarships and PhD’s); and service (encouraging students to give something back to their country). The top ten national universities and liberal arts colleges by their contributions to the social good in 2010 with their overall scores follow.

Top Ten National Universities
1. University of California, San Diego 100
2. University of California, Berkeley 97
3. University of California, Los Angeles 93
4. Stanford University, Stanford, CA 87
5. University of Texas, Austin 83
6. University of California, Davis 81
7. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor 79
8. Syracuse University, NY 78
9. Harvard University, MA 78
10. College of William and Mary, VA 77

Top Liberal Arts Colleges
1. Morehouse College (GA) 100
2. Bryn Mawr College (PA) 94
3. Swarthmore College(PA) 89
4. Berea College (KY) 89
5. Amherst College (MA) 85
6. Harvey Mudd College (CA) 80
7. Williams College (MA) 79
8. Spelman College (GA) 77
9. Wesleyan College (MA) 76
10. Wellesley College (MA) 76
__

Students and their families are encouraged to examine alternative evaluative systems for institutions of higher learning when deliberating on colleges. This should be supplemented by college visits and meetings with faculty or staff in possible majors to discuss class size, the percentage of professors teaching who are tenured or tenure-track, and graduate school and job placement success.
David Dickson is a counselor with Top Test Prep which offers private tutoring and test preparation with admissions experts who help you gain admission to top schools. Call (800) 501-Prep to learn more.

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At a time of rising college costs and skepticism about the merits of a college education, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine has tackled the topic of institutions which offer the best educational value to their students. Its rankings measure academic quality and affordability with quality accounting for two-thirds of the total. Kiplinger’s ranking criteria for four year institutions with a broad based curriculum, and the rankings themselves for the 2010-2011 academic year follow.

Ranking Criteria for Best Public and Private Universities:

SAT or ACT: shows the percentage of the freshman class that scored 600 or higher on the verbal and math SATs, or 24 or higher on the ACT.
Students per faculty: the average number of students per instructor.
Graduation rate: the percentage of freshman who earned a bachelor’s degree within four years or five years.
Total cost for the current academic year: includes tuition, mandatory fees, room and board, and estimated expenses for books.
Cost after need-based aid: the total cost minus the average need based aid amount (excluding loans).
Aid from grants: the percentage of the average aid package that came from grants or scholarships.
Costs after non-need based: the cost for a student with no demonstrated need after subtracting the average non-need based aid amount (excluding loans).
Non-need-based aid: the percentage of all undergraduates without need who received non-need-based aid.
Average debt at graduation: the average amount owed by graduates who took out education loans.
To break ties, academic quality scores and average debt at graduation were used.
______________

Best Values in Public Universities
1. The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2. University of Florida, Gainesville
3. University of Virginia, Charlottesville
4. The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA
5. University of Maryland, College Park
6. State University of New York at Binghamton
7. State University of New York College at Genesco
8. University of Georgia, Athens
9. University of Wisconsin, Madison
10. University of Washington, Seattle

Best Values in Private Universities
1. Princeton University, Princeton, NJ
2. Yale University, New Haven, CT
3. California Institute of Technology, Pasadena
4. Rice University, Houston, TX
5. Duke University, Durham, NC
6. Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
7. University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
8. Columbia University, New York City
9. Brown University, Providence, RI
10. Dartmouth College, Hanover, MA

Best Values in Liberal Arts Colleges
1. Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA
2. Pomona College, Claremont, CA
3. Williams College, Williamstown, MA
4. Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA
5. Davidson College, Davidson, NC
6. Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME
7. Claremont McKenna College, Claremont, CA
8. Amherst College, Amherst, MA
9. Hamilton College, Clinton, NY
10. Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY

Conclusion
A more comprehensive and detailed analysis of the best values among institutions of higher learning can be found at Kiplinger’s website. Navigating the application process for these institutions can be facilitated through a private college counselor.
David Dickson is a private counselor at Top Test Prep which offers tutoring and test preparation with admissions experts who help you gain admission to your top schools. For information on private tutoring and admissions counseling, call (800) 501-Prep.

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The online service College Prowler conducts student surveys on a wide variety of topics including college and university facilities, atmosphere, overall experience, and perceptions of campus men and women. Its most recent survey results for student views of academics on their campuses are listed below. It uses a seven point scale with a seven being the highest score.

Here are the rankings/ratings for smartest professors, most flexible curricula, and best college courses:

Smartest Professors
1. Bowdoin College, Brunswick, ME 7.0
2. Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 6.92
3. Rice University, Houston, TX 6.91
4. Wheaton College, Wheaton, Illinois 6.91
5. College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA 6.88
6. Duke University, Durham, NC 6.88
7. Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 6.88
8. Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau, MO 6.88
9. York College Pennsylvania, York, PA 6.86
10. Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA 6.88

Most Flexible Curriculums

1. Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY 7.0
2. Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA 6.83
3. Pitzer College, Claremont, CA 6.71
4. Yale University, New Haven, CT 6.67
5. Smith College, Northampton, MA 6.53
6. Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT 6.50
7. Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 6.45
8. Grinnell College, Grinnell, IA 6.43
9. Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT 6.38

Best Courses Overall/Variety
1. Yale University, New Haven, CT 6.89
2. University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 6.75
3. Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 6.64
4. Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA 6.63
5. Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 6.62
6. Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 6.57
7. Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 6.56
8. Stanford University, Stanford, CA 6.53
9. Penn State, University Park, PA 6.51
10. Hamilton College, Clinton, NY 6.50

Conclusion:

Proactive students and their families should go beyond student survey results and conduct research on schools of interest by going to their web-sites and acquiring a copy of US News and World Report’s annual “Best Colleges” issue to compare them. Moreover, contact departments in possible majors to ask about class size, the percentage of teachers who are tenured and tenure-track, and placements in graduate schools and jobs. Campus visits are also highly recommended where questions can be posed to students and staff. Experienced private college counseling services can help you make sense of the application process and maximize your chances of finding the right school.

David Dickson is an admissions counselor at Top Test Prep which offers tutoring and test preparation with admissions experts who help you gain admission to your top schools. Call (800) 501-7737 to learn more.

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The summer is a good time to acquire work experience, take a course or two, and chill out. You can do this, however, and still get a head start on your college applications. What steps can you take to be ready for fall and the college application season?

(1) Narrow Your Colleges of Interest List

You shouldn’t spread yourself too thin as you explore colleges. Limit yourself to around ten to twelve schools for additional research. Consider size, region, academic strengths, attrition and graduation rates, and extra-curricular opportunities as you winnow down the list. Moreover, examine admissions standards including GPA and median test scores to determine your prospects for being accepted. This information can be found in US News and World Report’s annual “Best Colleges” issue.

(2) Contact Departments in Possible Majors

The savvy applicant will move beyond conventional criteria for evaluating schools and contact departments in possible majors. Prioritize teaching by asking about class size and the percentage of classes using full-time tenured and tenure-track professors. Pose questions on placement rates in jobs and graduate schools.

(3) Visit College Campuses and Arrange Interviews

Once your school year starts there will be limitations on how many colleges you can visit. Use the summer to jump-start this process and try to arrange an interview. This is crucial at small schools which are often more inclined to accept students who display an interest beyond an application. Find out if there are professors with whom you can meet. Talk to students while clarifying whether they attend school during the regular academic year. Ask about student support services such as writing and tutoring services and the career services office.

(4) Identify Application Requirements for Colleges of Interest

Look into essay topics, test requirements, recommendations, and submission deadlines of your priority schools and record them on a spread sheet.

(5) Outline a Personal Statement That You Can Incorporate into Applications and Create a Resume

Your personal statement will be tailored to individual schools, but as a preliminary step deliberate on your academic and non-academic strengths and what makes you distinctive. Think about how these traits have been exhibited in your academic work and non-academic activities. In addition, formulate a one page resume highlighting your accomplishments inside and outside of class.

(6) Examine Financial Aid Options

With your parents, investigate federal, state and local, and college based sources of financial aid. The more selective colleges are often costlier than others, but usually provide more financial assistance.

(7) Arrange For Letters of Recommendation

Contact teachers concerning recommendations. Provide them with your resume and indicate that submission details will follow.

Conclusion
Preparing for your college applications is an investment into your future. The payoff is no less than more opportunities and a better life.
***

David Dickson is an admissions counselor at Top Test Prep which offers private tutoring and test preparation with admissions experts who help you gain admission to your top schools. Call Top Test Prep at (800) 501-Prep to learn more about how you can improve your college applications.

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Here are the Universities and Colleges With Highest and Lowest Costs (Tuition + Room + Board = Total Cost)

The US Department of Education has released its list of institutions of higher learning with the highest and lowest costs. The figures were compiled for the 2009-2010 academic year and include tuition, room, and board. State budget cuts and increasing requests for financial aid have contributed to escalating costs. The average cost nationally for public not for profit universities with four year programs or above was $6,397. The average cost for private not for profit colleges with four year programs or above was $21,324. Institutions and their costs follow.

Public Institutions With Highest Costs

Penn State University, Main Campus (PA) $14,416
University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Campus $14,154
University of Vermont $13,554
St. Mary’s College of Maryland $13,234
New Jersey Institute of Technology $12,856

Public Institutions With Lowest Costs
Haskell Indian Nations University (KS) $430
Dine College (Arizona) $805
University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus $1,320
Brazosport College (TX) $1,542
University of Puerto Rico in Ponce $1,815

Private Institutions With Highest Costs

Bates College (ME) $51,300
Connecticut College $51,115
Middlebury College (VT) $50,780
Union College (NY) $50,439
Colby College (ME) $50,320
Private Institutions With Lowest Costs
Webb Institute (NY) $ 0
Berea College (KY) $876
Sinte Gleska University (SD) $1,574
Magnolia Bible College (MS) 1,740
Turtle Mountain Community College (ND) $2,000
______

While cost is a factor in the considerations of many families when deliberating on college options, it should be noted that the most costly institutions of higher learning are often among the strongest academically according to educational experts. They also often offer the best financial aid packages.

David Dickson is a counselor at Top Test Prep which offers tutoring and test preparation with admissions experts who help you gain admission to your top schools. For information on college application and college admissions counseling, go to our site: TopTestPrep.com or call (800) 501-Prep.

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The summer is an ideal time to get a head start on college application personal statements. Tips for writing a strong essay follow.

(1) Be Personal and Display Growth

Essay writers want to know about an interesting experience in your life, but they need to know what you did with that experience to change your life for the better. You must demonstrate how this experience affected you, what you gained, and how it helped you to mature. Show passion in your writing.

(2) Good Writing is Clear and Succinct

Don’t use difficult or unusual words and don’t be wordy or flowery. Moreover, longer is not better. Readers have many essays to read so don’t burden them with a lengthy essay when a five paragraph essay will work better.

(3) Watch Your Grammar (The Colleges Will)

Write in an active strong voice, not the passive voice. “I found the wet, dripping dog” vs “The dog was found.” Avoid unnecessary adverbs and adjectives and focus on clarity.

(4) Avoid Generalities and Be Specific

For example, if you are writing about a trip, do not give your itinerary. Focus on an interesting detail instead. The more specific you are, the more likely it is to be interesting and meaningful to the reader.

(5) Be Careful of Humor

Most attempts at humor fail because people think they are funny and rarely are.

(6) Topics to Avoid Writing About

Your religious beliefs unless applying to a religious college and your political beliefs. This doesn’t include working for a candidate. Also avoid writing about how great you are or anything that would make a reader embarrassed. In addition, don’t write about anything which reveals you to be a poor student or assert that the only reason you want to go to college is to make a lot of money.

(7) Have a Strong Writer Proof Read Your Essay

Don’t write your admissions essay in isolation. Have a strong writer such as a private counselor read it over for content, style, and grammar.

Conclusion
Remember that your essay must demonstrate that you can write and that you are a mature and interesting person that they would enjoy having at their school. It’s time to start brainstorming on that essay!

David Dickson is a college admissions counselor at Top Test Prep which offers tutoring and test preparation with admissions experts who help you gain admission to your top schools. Call (800) 501-7737 to learn more about college counseling programs for students.

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