Building a strong engineering application takes preparation and should begin no later than your junior year. Six tips for facilitating this process follow.

1.Research colleges with strong engineering programs. Examine their engineering department web-site to learn about them. Arrange visits to the schools that most appeal to you. When you do so, make sure that you talk to an engineering advisor in addition to participating in a regular college information session and tour.

2.Talk to different types of enginners to learn about their jobs. Learn the differences between civil, mechanical, chemical, electrical, chemical, and bio-enginnering.

3. Look into engineering internships prior to your senior year. A start would be to explore Google Engineering Opportunities for High School students.

4. Sign up for an academic enrichment course related to engineering at a local college.

5. Bolster your computer skills since computer science where you learn programming languages is an important part of engineering programs.

6. Examine the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Handbook on earnings and job prospects for different areas of engineering at www.bls.gov/oco.

Engineering, like other fields, requires deliberation and preparation to produce the strongest possible college application.

David Dickson is an admissions counselor for Top Test Prep; Top Test Prep provides college admissions counseling and private tutoring to help students gain admission to top private schools, colleges and grad schools. Call (800) 501-7737 to learn more.

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If you’re studying for the SAT and ACT, you can easily use the Christmas break to prepare wisely.

Here are three quick tips to help you prepare for both the SAT and ACT exams during your vacation.

(1) Practice at least 1 hour a day during the week. Split your time between Math, Reading and Writing for the SAT (15-20 minutes each) and the same for the ACT.
(2) Do at least 2 practice exams per week, with at least 2 days separated from each exam. Use the middle day between your exam as a time to review every problem you missed.
(3) Prepare your SAT vocabulary questions by using sentences filled with Christmas spirit (Don’t laugh! This works as a great memory device). For example… Santa’s rotund figure was an impediment to crawling down the constricted chimney. Have fun preparing for the SAT vocab with these sentence…

Last, but not least…consider getting an ACT private tutor or SAT private tutor during your break. Give us a call if you need help preparing for these exams! (800) 501-Prep.

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Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine has published a list of private colleges that “provided enough financial aid to get their students across the finish line for $14,000 or less” in loans. Some of the ten schools have price tags exceeding $50,000. The list follows with the average debt and the percentage of students who borrowed.

1. Princeton University (NJ):$5,225, 23%

2. Berea College (KY): $5,836, 73%

3. Williams College (MA): $8,369, 43%

4. Yale University (CN): $9,254, 28%

5. Scripps College (CA): $9,435, 36%

6. Harvard University (MA): $10,102, 34%

7. Claremont McKenna College (CA): $10,280, 35%

8. Pomona College (CA): $10,592, 47%

9. California Institute of Technology: $10,760, 43%

10. Wellesley College: $12,495, 58%

David Dickson is an admissions counselor for Top Test Prep; Top Test Prep provides college admissions counseling and private tutoring to help students gain admission to top private schools, colleges and grad schools. Call (800) 501-7737 to learn more.

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You may not be able to get an in-person preview of colleges you are interested in. What do you do?

1. Get Online: The first resource you should consult for comprehensive information about a college is its official web-site. Gather information on size, location, and degree programs. Jot down a few contact names and e-mails.

2. Talk to Alumni: Most colleges offer an alumni resource page on their web-site, where students can see whre alumni are currently working and read about their college experience. Moreover, get in touch with graduates of your high school who attended the college you’re exploring through the counseling office.

3. Take a Virtual Tour: Many colleges showcase their campus via video tour.

Basic information about colleges of interest is only a click away on your computer.

David Dickson is an admissions counselor for Top Test Prep; Top Test Prep provides college admissions counseling and private tutoring to help students gain admission to top private schools, colleges and grad schools. Call (800) 501-7737 to learn more

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College interviews can be an important part of the admissions process, particularly at selective institutions. Tips for prpearing for your interview follow.

1. If you know that you may be called for an interview, always be ready for the call. Check your e-mail and phone messages regularly.

2. Arrive at least ten minutes early. Dress appropriately and keep the fashion on the conservative side. Nice slacks and a button-down shirt are appropriate for men. Women should wear nice pants and a blouse or a nice dress. Make-up and jewlery should be simple and non-distracting. You want the interviewer to focus on what you are saying, not what you are wearing.

3. Practice for your interview. Be ready to discuss your long-term goals and talk about your activities. You may be asked about your accomplishments, but you may also be asked about weaknesses. Prepare a few questions for the interviewer on topics such as the curriculum and student life.

4. Bring along two copies of your resume and any other helpful documents.

5. Smile and make eye contact.

6. Thank your interviewer with a note or e-mail afterward.

Keep in mind that the interview is a significant aspect of the admissions process and prepare accordingly.

David Dickson is an admissions counselor for Top Test Prep; Top Test Prep provides college admissions counseling and private tutoring to help students gain admission to top private schools, colleges and grad schools. Call (800) 501-7737 to learn more.

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If your early application for admission is deferred, you can increase your chances of admission by taking the following four steps.

1. Find Out Why You Were Deferred: Within a few days of receiving your deferral, contact the admissions office and ask to speak with the office responsible for your application file. In a respectful tone, emphasize that his/her college is your first choice and ask if there is anything which prevented you from being accepted. If a reason is provided, politely ask if you have a reasonable chance of admission because if there is, you will work toward that end.

2. Improve Your Shortcomings: Address the reasons for your deferral if specific ones were mentioned. For instance, if your SAT/ACT scores were too low, contact a test preparation service to assist you, and retake the exams in late January or early February. If your recommendation letters were inadequate, ask one of your current teachers to write an additional letter of recommendation. Moreover, if your GPA is not high enough, work to excel in this semester’s courses.

3. Keep in Touch With the Admissions Officer For Your File: Over the next few months through a couple of messages reiterate to the admissions officer that college is your first choice, why this is the case, and that you will attend if accepted. Describe new accomplisments not included in your original application. It is counterproductive, however, to bombard the officer with telephone calls or e-mails.

4. In Early Spring Contact the Admissions Officer Again: Write a letter outlining your recent accomplishments such as improved SAT/ACT scores or outstanding grades. Call him/her a few weeks later to summarize these accomplishments.

If all goes well, you will receive a notice of acceptance. Don’t neglect applying to other schools, however.

David Dickson in an admissions counselor with Top Test Prep which offers expert tutoring and test preparations and will help you gain admission to our top schools. Call 800-501-PREP to learn more about the admissions program.

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Some schools have recently added the option of creating a video essay for your admissions package. How can you take advantage of this opportunity and highlight your strengths?

1. Address the question and follow any directions which are offered such as length. If a short video is requested, a minute in length is best.

2.Brainstorm ideas about what you want to say.

3. Collect visuals that help to explain your central theme.

4. Write a first draft.

5. Edit.

6. Get feedback.

7. Record your script until it is as perfect as you can make it.

The video is designed to complement other application materials so use your imagination to create one which puts your best foot forward!

David Dickson is an admissions counselor with TopTestprep which offers expert private tutoring and test preparations which will help you gain admission to your top schools. Call 800-501-PREP to learn more about the admissions program.

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College admissions essays are an important part of your admissions packet. As such, they should be written with care and tailored to the questions posed by the institution to which you are applying. Basic stylistic and grammatical errors reflect poorly on you and should be avoided. A listing of common errors on the college admissions essay follow:

1.Poor Proofreading. Proper proof-reading takes time. Do not rely on on-screen reading. Read your writing aloud to catch errors.

2.Unnecessary Words and Phrases. These are things that sound good but are meaningless like “in my opinion.” When you make a statement in your essay, do so without these qualifiers.

3.Poor Vocabulary. Do not rely on the thesaurus feature of your computer. It may suggest words that are not correct in the context of your writing. Work on improving your vocabulary and making sure you understand the full meaning of words you use.

4. Lack of Thoughtfulness. Gaps in reasoning waste a reader’s time. Vague generalities are sometimes used to mask a lack of thought and research.

5.Repetitiveness. When a writer says the same thing over and over, it appears that she or he doesn’t have much to say.

6. Colloquialisms and Slang. Learn that the kind of writing that’s appropriate when texting friends isn’t appropriate for other contexts.

7.Little Sentence Variety. Check the beginnings of sentences and be sure that there are not too many that begin the same way. Watch overuse of pet phrases or words.

8.Long Paragraphs. Question your writing if it is one long paragraph.

9.Absence of Clear Introductions, Transitions, and Conclusions. These things are necessary.

College admissions offices pay attention to your ability to express yourself in a clear and fluid fashion. A consciousness of good writing style and proper grammar is a must for your admissions essays.

David Dickson is an admissions counselor with Top Test Prep which offers test prep tutors and tutoring programs and can help you gain admission to your top boarding schools, colleges and grad schools. Call 800-501-Prep to learn more about the admissions program.

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As many students hit the “submit” button and send off their college applications, they forget that the application itself is just one part of what needs to be submitted. There are several other documents that must be received in order for a college to consider your file ready for review. Here are four ways to avoid having your application sidelined in the admissions process

1. School Forms: Make certain that your school based college counselor has the list of colleges that you will be applying to several weeks before your first deadline arrives. That way he/she can prepare all the forms that need to be submitted from the school. Teacher recommendations, the guidance counselor recommendation, your transcript, and the school profile Must All be received by each of your colleges. Give your counselor plenty of notice as to where you will be applying.

2. Test Scores: Your SAT, SAT II, Subject Tests or ACT scores must be sent directly from the reporting agency to colleges unless you are applying to a test optional school. Be sure to request your scores two weeks before your deadlines whenever possible.

3. Payments: Your payment must be received in order for your application to be processed. Most colleges allow you to do this via credit card on the payment tab of the Common Application or on their web-site. Checks are also accepted, but make certain that you put your social security number on the check and send it directly to the admissions office.

4. Supplements: Most colleges have a supplement to the Common Application which includes personal informaton, your desired major, and sometimes, essays. If your supplement is not sent by the deadline, your application is likely to be rejected.

The college application process is a challenging one, but with organization, it can be managed effectively.

David Dickson is an admissions expert and admissions
counselor for Top Test Prep; Top Test Prep provides college admissions counseling and private tutoring to help students gain admission to top private schools (SSAT/ISEE), colleges (SAT/ACT) and grad schools (LSAT, MCAT, GRE);  Call (800) 501-7737 to learn more.

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The most selective colleges place a particular emphasis on admissions interviews. How can you prepare?

1. Do Your Homework: Demonstrate how well you know the college. Research the web-site, including possible majors of interest, study abroad programs, and extracurricular activities.

2. Be Yourself: Authenticity is important. Allow your personality to shine.

3. Make it a Conversation: The more you can make it a discussion with questions for the interviewer, the better off you’ll be.

4. Share Information, but Not Too Much Information: Don’t restate your application, don’t blame your teachers, and don’t talk about family conflicts.

5. Come Prepared With Questions: The curriculum and student life are important areas. Make sure your questions are ones that can’t be answered on the college web-site.

6. Dress for Success: You should look neat and professional. Jeans, shorts, and tennis shoes or sandals will create the wrong impression.

7. Remember the Basics: Arrive early, bring a copy of your resume, and thank the interviewer.

8. Be Prepared For a Variety of Questions: Your favorite courses, meaningful extra-curricular activities, and why you are interested in the institution are common areas of inquiry.

9. Stay in Touch: Be sure to send a thank you note. Handwritten and delivered via postal service is the best.

A one-on-one admissions interview is an opportunity to set yourself apart. Take advantage of it!

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A variety of factors should go into your college selection, but few are more important than those related to a possible college major. Exploring a major requires research which goes beyond a standard college web-site, but the rewards of doing so will extend to your college experience and your subsequent ability to find a good job or a strong graduate program. Passion for a field bolstered by good grades and test scores in it should play major roles in your selection of a possible major. It’s also necessary to identify whether the career path produced by the major leads to jobs in the emerging national and international economy. Internet research and questions posed to family friends, and professionals in your community can assist in that process. You’re ready to find suitable colleges. What factors should you take into account?

1. Student Selectivity: US News and World Report’s annual “Best Colleges” issue provides figures on student selectivity for the institution as a whole. You may have to directly contact the department or honors program you are interested in to get additional data on your major.

2. Class Size: Your academic experience will be enhanced if you have small enough classes to receive significant feedback from your professor. Contact departments in which you are interested to get information on the size of introductory and upper level classes.

3. Quality of Faculty: The annual US News “Best Colleges” issue includes information on the resources available to faculty for teaching and research at the institution. You can also find information on the national ranking of a department on-line. Call individual departments to clarify whether you will taught by full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty, a pre-condition for a quality academic experience.

4. Placement in Strong Professional/Graduate Programs and Good Jobs: Undergraduate schools, unlike some professional graduate programs, are not required to provide this information. Nonetheless, any school worth it’s salt should have data in this area. If it does not, it’s time to head to your next institution.

Finding the right academic match requires initiative and a willingness to gather data not readily available on many college web-sites. While location, climate, and other factors often play a role in college selection, always keep your eyes on the prize. You’re going to school to pick up academic and life skills which will maximize the probability that you will find a strong graduate program and a good job! It will take a willingness on your part to ask the tough questions!

David Dickson is an admissions expert and admissions counselor for Top Test Prep; Top Test Prep provides college admissions counseling and private tutoring to help students gain admission to top private schools, colleges and grad schools. Call (800) 501-7737 to learn more.

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