A discussion about student debt and how majors can affect how much you’ll owe… (or won’t owe) after you graduate school.

Ideally, a student would pay the expense of college tuition and living expenses with accumulated savings, scholarships, grants and/or earned income; however, these means are not always enough to last the duration of a four to five year degree program. Furthermore, many majors offer a substantially higher return for a master’s level or doctoral degree, which almost certainly requires the use of debt.

The amount of student loan debt that is reasonable depends on the return on investment. A student may be willing to go into debt to increase earning power above what can be earned without the degree. The return on the debt is calculated by dividing the debt into the difference between the starting salary with the degree and the salary without the degree which is at least the minimum wage of $15,000 per year on a full-time basis.

For instance, let suppose a student would earn $20,000 without the degree but $45,000 with a degree that costs $50,000 to attain. The return on the investment would be 50% [($45,000-$20,000)/$50,000]. If that same student were to pay $100,000 to earn the same degree, the return on investment would only be 25% [($45,000-$20,000)/$100,000]. If the return on investment is 25%, it would take at least 4 years to pay off the loan with no improvement in lifestyle.

The higher the return on investment the less sacrifice and discipline is required to pay off the loan. Although many lenders allow students up to twenty-five (25) year to pay off student loans, it can begin to feel oppressive to have a loan outstanding for such a long term. By striving to keep the return on investment above 20%, the student can plan to payoff the loan early and enjoy some material rewards in the meantime.

In 2012, the highest paying majors are expected to be engineering, most math and science majors, economics, finance, and international business which pay starting salaries in excess of $45,000 per year according to payscale.com. Engineers and pharmaceutical majors can expect to earn more that $65,000 per year. On the other end of the spectrum, the lowest paying majors include psychology, visual and performing arts, studio arts, communications, social work, theology and early childhood education. Time.com posted that the starting salaries are low and the average pay hovers around $40,000 per year.

This article was written by Heather Bain, who is an instructor and test prep tutor for Top Test Prep’s programs. To learn more about Top Test Prep’s admissions counseling, call (800) 501-7737.

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More and more, colleges are beginning to consider students holistically. Admissions committees acknowledge and reward a breadth of interests, like athletic achievement, artistic endeavors, or other activities. Your application includes a variety of information: personal statements, academic records, and recommendations all play important roles. In light of this, you may wonder how important are your ACT scores? The answer: they are crucial. Although there may not be a huge difference between a 34 and a 35 in an admission officer’s eyes, there is a big difference between a 25 and a 35. You must, with few exceptions, score within a certain range to attend the nation’s best colleges.

So what is a good ACT score? It largely depends where you want to go! The nation’s most elite colleges, like Williams College, Yale, or Stanford, all have average ACT composites of 30-34. This means that only 25% of students scored below 30, and 25% of students scored above 34 at these schools.

Interested in schools like Washington and Lee, Georgetown, or University of Virginia? You’ll want to score between 28 and 31 or 32.

Lastly, make sure that you score comparably in all sections! It may raise a few eyebrows if you score 35 on your science, English, and reading sections, but earn a 25 on your math. Make sure to work on your weaknesses so that you earn a similar score on each section. This will demonstrate that you are a well-rounded student prepared to succeed in many different disciplines.

Keep in mind that these numbers do not secure an offer of admissions. You could score a 36 on the ACT, but if you have a few bad grades that you can’t explain, or you haven’t participated in any activities in high school, you still might not get an offer! Ideally, colleges are looking to confirm that your standardized testing complements your grades. Are you a straight-A student with a 33 on your ACT and a few strong extracurricular activities? You are well situated for the admissions process!
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This article was written by Beryl Manning-Geist, who is on the admissions counseling expert team at Top Test Prep. For more information on ACT Prep and Tutoring, contact (800) 501-Prep today.

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In recent years, it has become fashionable for families to consider a “gap year” for graduating high school seniors in which they take a year off prior to entering college to travel or participate in community service activities. A cottage industry of books, advisors, and even
“gap year” scholarships have emerged to promote and support this ostensibly maturing experience. Little has been written, however, about the down-side of not heading off to college once you complete high school. Once size does not fit all, and a “gap year” can have an adverse impact on some students. Concerns about the repercussions of “gap years” follow.

First, for those in cumulative disciplines such as science, math, and languages a year away from focused study can hinder your ability to master them. Noble intentions may not make up for a sustained period of time away from core academic subjects.

Secondly, for students who lack focus and a sense of purpose, a year removed from studies may have little impact on their overall motivational level. A sense of commitment to academic pursuits generally comes from within, a state of affairs which is not fostered over a calendar year removed from academia.

Third, your longer term earning potential is hurt every time you take time off from picking up the academic skills which are a pre-condition for success in the job market.

Finally, in an increasingly degree conscious society, the most logical period to take time off is between undergraduate and graduate school. You will then have a stronger skill base for the job market, and some professional graduate programs as business look favorably on experience acquired in the work place.

While the “in crowd” may be enamored with “gap years,” it may be of little utility once you decide to pursue undergraduate studies and move into the work force beyond.

David Dickson is an admissions expert for Top Test Prep which provides test preparation to help students gain admissions to top private schools, colleges, and graduate schools. Call 800-501-7737 to learn more.

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High School seniors must be aware of the importance of not dropping any important spring semester courses. The senior classes students list on their college applicatons include course work for the spring 2012 semester. College admissions officers base their decision to accept students on their grade transcripts and course curriculum which includes spring semester classes. If a student elects to drop a course in the spring semester, they have submitted a false college application. Consequently, colleges could rescind their offer of admission because the information submitted on the application is no longer true.

If you feel compelled to drop an elective spring course that you don’t need, contact the admissions officers in charge of your college files to ask how doing so will affect your application. However, don’t drop classes in core subjects such as math, science, English or social science. This will be frowned upon by college admissions officers when your submit your final grade transcripts in June 2012.

David Dickson is an admissions expert for Top Test Prep which provides tutoring including SAT tutoring and ACT tutoring to help students gain admission to top colleges and graduate schools. Call 800-501-7737 to learn more.

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We all know that standardized test scores and grades play a major role in college admissions. What about community service, however? What does it mean to be a “good citizen?” JP Morgan partnered with on-line educational service providers to conduct an annual survey of the top 50 colleges according to US News and World Report on admissions topics including how they treat community service.

Some of the key findings include:

-70 percent of admissions officers prefer students to be consistently involved with one issue over a variety of causes.

-69 percent of admissions officers considered a political campaign to be community service. However, they cautioned that it is not considered “community service” if the work is paid.

-95.8 percent of admissions officers value a student who took a gap year and did a service project while only 4.2 percent value a student who spent the time traveling the world.

Follow your passion on social change by committing yourself to a cause that it is meaningful to you. Use your application essay to explain why that cause matters to you.

David Dickson is an admissions expert for Top Test Prep. Top Test Prep provides test preparation to help students gain admission to top private schools, colleges, and graduate schools. Call (800)-501-7737 to learn more.

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Here are a few tips for those of you finishing up your college admissions essays.

1.Use care in responding to the short queries. Admissions staffs use them to gain insights into your character and suitability for their institution.

2.View each prompt as a chance to display another aspect of your personality. Give them something they don’t know about.

3.Strive for originality. Another essay about getting cut from the team and then playing for five minutes isn’t helpful.

4.Don’t write in such a generic fashion that it could apply to any college. Tailor your response to the institution you are applying to.

5.Avoid the common error of inserting the wrong college’s name in the essay.

Essays are an integral part of your application package and should be treated as such.

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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Once you push the “submit” button on your college application, the process is not complete. Ten steps that will help you keep it moving follow.

1. Check in with teachers who agreed to write recommendations to confirm they have been submitted.

2. Make sure that your standardized tests have been sent by the appropriate testing agency.

3. If you submitted applications electronically, review your “receipts” and confirm that the application supplements and payment were all sent.

4. Check with your guidance counselor to ensure that transcripts and secondary school reports were sent.

5. If you applied early to a school requiring a CSS Profile for financial aid consideration, verify that your parents have sent all required information.

6. Regularly review e-mail and telephone messages. You may get requests for interviews or follow-up information.

7. If you have been given a log-in to check the status of your application, do so.

8. Update colleges on important information like strong senior year grades or new awards occurring after you submitted your application.

9. Follow-up with the admissions office if you are concerned about the status of your application.

10. Keep focused on your school work. Declining grades will hurt you if you are deferred from early admissions or wait listed.

With effort you can increase your chances of achieving your admissions goals.

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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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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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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College Applications and Attendance Up As Value of College Degree Grows
Recently released findings from the National Association of College Admissions Counseling and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics shed light on the state of American higher education and the continued value of a college degree.

1. College Applications Have Increased
In 2010, 73 percent of colleges saw an increase in the number of applicants. Only 19 percent of schools reported a decrease in applicants.

2. Matriculation is Up
In 2009, a record 20.4 million students were enrolled in a post-secondary institution. This number is expected to reach 23 million by 2020.

3. Overall Acceptance Rates High, but Not At Competitive National Schools
While four-year schools accept 66 percent of applicants on average, this percentage drops to the low double and single digits at the most competitive institutions nationally.

4. Workers with College Degrees Earn Much More and Have Significantly Lower Unemployment Rates
A bachelor’s degree holder earns about $53, 976 annually on average, whereas a high school graduate averages less than $21,454 per year. Moreover, the unemployment rate for individuals with a bachelor’s degree was 5.4 percent in 2010, as opposed to 10.3 percent for those with only high school diplomas.

David Dickson is a counselor with Top Test Prep; To learn more about SAT private tutoring and ACT Private Tutoring, simply call 1-800-501-7737.

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[This article discusses how to approach getting the best college recommendations]

College recommendations are an important part of your college application package. Recommendations can set you apart from other applicants and provide the admissions committee with personalized insights. How should you approach them?

1. Read the Fine Print
The number of letters required and the positions of those who are to write them can vary from one school to another. Some schools provide hard copies of the recommendations forms, while others encourage online recommendations.

2. Plan Ahead
Know your deadlines and give as much time as possible. At least three or four weeks prior to the application deadline would be preferable.

3. Ask, Don’t Assume
Ask recommenders whether they can write a strong recommendation on your behalf and meet the deadline.

4. Assist Your Recommenders with the Process
Provide recommenders with a copy of your transcript and an information sheet, known as a brag sheet, which lists your honors, and extra-curricular and community activities.

5. Simplify the Process

Supply recommenders with stamped envelopes addressed to the college admissions office if they are not doing them online.

6. Consider Your Future Major
Solicit recommendations from teachers in your future major.

7. Evaluate Who Can Help You Most
It may be a teacher in a course in which you excelled or where you struggled initially but then turned things around. A teacher in the latter course could testify to your perseverance.

8. Reconnect with Your Recommenders
A week prior to the deadline, get in touch with your recommenders to confirm that the letters have been mailed.

9. Confirm Receipt
Follow up with colleges to ensure that your application folder is complete. If the college recommendations are being submitted online, note your user name and password for each college.

10. Express Thanks to the Recommenders
Send a handwritten note to your recommenders once all materials are in and provide them with the results of your college applications.

David Dickson is a counselor with Top Test Prep; Top Test Prep offers private tutoring and test prep to help students gain admission to top prep schools, colleges and grad schools. Call (800) 501-7737 to learn more.

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Here are Ten Important College Admissions Trends, for students applying to colleges:

The most recent results from the National Association for College Admissions Counseling’s annual survey of what is transpiring in the world of college admissions follow.

1. College Enrollment Is Up
As of 2009, 20.4 million students were enrolled in college, representing 70 percent of all students who completed high school that year.

2. College Applications Are Up
Almost 73 percent of the colleges responding to the survey reported an increase in the number of applications received.

3. College Acceptance Rates Are Down
Overall national acceptance rates declined from 71 percent in 2001 to 65.5 percent in 2010. The most competitive national universities and colleges have acceptance rates in the low double and single digits.

4. Applications Per Student Are Up
More than 77 percent of freshman submitted three or more applications and 25 percent submitted seven or more applications.

5. Admissions Yield Is Down
Colleges are enrolling increasingly smaller percentages of their accepted student pool, declining in fall 2010 to 41 percent from 49 percent ten years earlier.

6. Admission From Wait Lists Is Down
Colleges accepted an average of 28% of all students who chose to remain on wait lists, down from 34 percent in fall of 2009.

7. On-Line Applications Are Up
On average, colleges received 85 percent of their applications online, up from 58 percent in 2006.

8. Admissions Selectivity Is Up
The national share of colleges accepting fewer than 50 percent of applicants rose to almost 20 percent in 2010.

9. Social Networking Is Up
The proportion of colleges linking admissions web-sites to social networking sites increased from 73 percent to 91 percent.

10. Emphasis on “Demonstrated Interest” is Up
The percentage of colleges attaching considerable or moderate importance to demonstrated interest increased from 48 percent in 2009 to 54 percent in 2010. Demonstrated interest is exhibited in different ways including a willingness to participate in interviews with college representatives.
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David Dickson is a counselor with Top Test Prep; Top Test Prep’s private tutoring programs allow students to improve test scores on subjects like the SSAT, ISEE (Private School) to colleges (SAT, ACT) to graduate schools (LSAT, MCAT, GRE). Call 1-800-501-7737 to learn more.

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Conventional wisdom from friends and family on the college admissions process is often wrong. Four common college admissions myths and the truth follow.

College Admission Myth One: It Doesn’t Matter Where You Go to College

A common refrain from peers and sometimes parents is that education is basically the same everywhere and you will get out of it what you put into it.
Reality: Colleges vary enormously in resources available for students and faculty, the quality of teaching, and placement rates in good jobs and graduate programs. Examine peer reviews of colleges and institutional resources as reported in US News and World Report’s annual “Best Colleges” issue. Moreover, ask prospective colleges about post-graduation placement rates.

Myth Two: Class Size Does Not Affect the Quality of the Learning Experience

Reality: Smaller classes taught by full-time tenured or tenure-track faculty increase the probability that you will receive direct attention and feedback from your professor. Figures on class size and the percentage of full-time faculty can be found in US News and World Report’s annual issue.

Myth Three: Attending an In-State Public Institution is Much Cheaper than Attending a Private Institution

Reality: This is at best a partial and highly qualified truth. Elite highly rated private colleges generally provide more financial assistance than public institutions. Moreover, they will put you in better higher paying jobs and stronger graduate programs than most of their public counterparts.

Myth Four: Large Hub Public Universities Will Provide a Better Education in the Sciences Than Quality Small Liberal Arts Schools

Many people presume that the hub public institutions with their research faculty and science facilities will do a better job of teaching science to undergraduates than small liberal arts schools.

Reality: Public hub universities generally tailor their science programs to graduate students and the research faculty themselves. This has become somewhat less pronounced at select schools which have developed undergraduate science honors programs. Nonetheless, faculty at the most competitive small liberal arts schools must conduct research for tenure, but are also rewarded for their attentiveness to teaching. Moreover, these schools often do a superb job of placing their science graduates in highly ranked graduate and professional schools.

Conclusion
As you embark on the college admissions process, it is crucial that you separate legend from reality. Top Test Prep will facilitate this and provide you with tutoring and admissions experts who help you gain admission to your top schools.

David Dickson is an admissions counselor for Top Test Prep. For information on Top Test Prep’s private SAT and ACT Tutoring, call us at (800) 501-Prep.

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College interviews are often an integral part of the application process at colleges with competitive admissions processes. College admissions interviews don’t have to be tough! Here’s some help for that all important admissions interview.

Four ideas for a successful admissions interview follow.

1. Be an Interesting Interviewee by Getting Out of the Typical Teen-Age Comfort Zone
Check current events for a week or two prior to your interview, read a great book, and see a worthwhile film. You will be speaking to an adult who will be evaluating your maturity and perspective on life.

2. Research the College You Will Be Interviewing With
Look into prospective majors, college internship and exchange programs, and what makes the college you are interested in unique.

3. Have Specific Questions prepared for the Interviewer
Be prepared with three to five questions on the college which can’t be addressed by looking at the college web-site. Academics, student activities, and post graduation opportunities are legitimate areas of inquiry.

4. Be Prepared to Discuss Your Academic and Non-Academic Achievements
Reciting information from your transcript is not enough. Be prepared to discuss why you had a passion for certain courses and why a non-academic activity or experience was meaningful in your life.

Conclusion
Strong colleges are interested in thoughtful students who have a perspective on life and can explain how their institution will facilitate your goals. Careful preparation for you interview is a necessity if you are to excel!

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

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(Ten Recommendations for Writing a Strong College Admissions Essay)

The prospect of writing multiple college admissions essays may appear to be overwhelming. It can be managed effectively, however, with organization and deliberation. Recommendations which will assist you in writing strong admissions essays follow.

1. At the Start of the Process, Make a Chart of Required Essays
Being organized is crucial in the admissions process. Early in the process identify essay questions which are similar.

2. Read the Previous Examples/Essays of Successful Applicants to Individual Schools
If the schools you are applying to provide access to applicant essays, take advantage of it to extract lessons for your essays.

3. Create a Resume Focused on Your Academic and Non-Academic Accomplishments
Think about why your accomplishments are important and how they would assist you in contributing to individual institutions. Integrate these accomplishments selectively into your essays which should be tailored to those schools.

4. Formulate a List of Personal Attributes that You Want to Highlight in Your Essays
You no doubt have many great attributes – so explore which are the best, and let the admissions office know more through specific examples in your life.

5. Search for Inspiration in Your Daily Activities
Find things which are meaningful to you that are pertinent to your essays.

6. Be Authentic in Your Admissions Essays Speaking in Your Own Voice
It is usually self-evident if you are trying to be someone other than yourself as a student and person.

7. Start Off with the Smaller Essays Before You Proceed to the Longer Ones
Doing so will provide you with ideas for the comprehensive essays.

8. Recycling Parts of Essays is Legitimate but Make Sure You Address the Essay Questions Directly
Your college admission essay may have commonalities with other ones, but should be adjusted to the distinctions of the institution to which you are applying.

9. Keep Your Admissions Essays Brief and Close to the Minimum Word Count Delineated
A superior essay is shorter and to the point. Your admissions readers only have a short period of time before they move on to the next application so make the most of what you write. State in five words what you could have stated in ten words.

10. Find an Outside Editor to Offer Advice on Your Essays
Even the most experienced writers need good editors to provide feedback and perspective. Top Test Prep has some awesome college admissions counselors who can help you – give the team a call at (800) 501-Prep or contact us online.

Conclusion
Admissions Essay writing can even be enjoyable if you approach it methodically and with a basic understanding of the ingredients of essay preparation.
David Dickson is a counselor at Top Test Prep which offers private tutoring and expert test preparation with admissions experts who help you gain admission to your top schools.

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Families are bombarded these days with fancy brochures, slick web-sites, and savvy college representatives singing the praises of their institutions. How do you separate hype from reality and focus on what is really important in a college education? Seven recommendations for choosing colleges the right way follow.

1. Avoid Official Campus Tours and Class-room Visits, and Take Student Comments with a Grain of Salt
You want to be in charge of your own college investigation so there are common approaches to college visits to be avoided or placed in context. The official campus tour is just that, and is designed to manipulate your perception of the college. Skip it, and while you’re at it don’t bother to visit classes since colleges will steer you to those which shed the best light on them. Talk to students, faculty, and staff but keep in mind that they may be unrepresentative of the college as a whole.

2. Find out About Availability of Faculty Members
Look into the number of weekly faculty office hours set aside for students, and survey students on whether they have a faculty mentor. If you can’t meet with professors with regularity outside of the class-room, you are being robbed of the intimacy which is vital to an effective education.

3. Make Inquiries about the Advising System
Ask how often and comprehensively academic advisors discuss course options and academic concerns with their advisees. You don’t want to flounder as you search for the right major or combination of courses.

4. Scrutinize Student and Alumni Satisfaction Levels with Academics and the College Climate
Most institutions survey students and alumni about the quality of education and college life. Request this data including the NSSE(National Survey of Student Engagement:nsse.iub.edu/html/annual_results.cfm) or similar surveys. Moreover, ask about the CLA (Collegiate Learning Assessment: facwww.collegiatelearningassessment.org), which measures whether students’ analytical reasoning skills improve between their freshman and senior years.

5. Look into Campus Health Facilities
We all get sick so make inquiries about health facilities, including those addressing mental health issues. Ask how long it takes to get a routine medical appointment?

6. Examine How Satisfied Faculty Are
How collegial are faculty members and how committed are they to the institution’s missions and values? You can tap into this data through the HERI (Higher Education Research Institute: www.heri.ucla.edu) survey of faculty attitudes. A satisfied faculty will often bring positive energy into the classroom. Morever, scrutinize whether the college has a “learning and teaching center” to help young and seasoned faculty improve their teaching.

7. Request Graduate School and Job Placement Data
You’ll be amazed at how fast four years of college fly. The college should have data for post graduation placement in graduate and professional programs and jobs. Also examine how alumni are faring five, ten, and even twenty years beyond graduation.

Conclusion
If you are stonewalled on any of the inquiries just delineated, then the institution is overlooking a crucial component of the undergraduate experience or the well-being of its alumni. This is a bad sign and it’s time to move on. With strong teaching, advising, health support facilities, and job and graduate school placement, an institution is meeting its student obligations. Without them, your school experience may prove to be an unsatisfying one. Top Test Prep offers tutoring and expert test prep with admissions experts who help you gain admission to your top schools.

David Dickson is a counselor with Top Test Prep; visit Top Test Prep’s contact page and request more information today or call (800) 501-Prep.

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So, what are the standards for choosing students to gain admission? And how do the best colleges select applicants – what criteria is applied in the admissions process?

There are different college application admissions systems, but elite national institutions generally use the following criteria:

1. Grades and Rigor of Course Work (Honors, Advanced Placement, and International Baccalaureate)
This criterion is based on the courses students take over time and the grade trend. Good grades and challenging course work are looked upon favorably.

2. Standardized Test Scores (SAT, ACT, SAT Subject, and AP exam)
Some colleges use an average of the highest SAT scores, while others use the highest in a single setting, and still others use the best scores achieved by a student. Keep in mind that schools may note the number of times you took an exam, despite their denials.

3. Extra-Curricular Record (Brag Sheet)
The duration and level of involvement in activities inside and outside of school are significant. Highlight activities such as community service, employment, summer experiences, hobbies, and honors.

4. Teacher and Counselor Letters of Recommendation
Colleges assess the quality of these reports.

5. The Admissions Essays
This includes essays and short responses that students are responsible for. The essay which asks why a student has chosen to apply to a college is of particular importance.

6. Extra-Credit Points
Additional factors in admission, though controversial, include legacy status, ability to pay, minority or first generation college status, and special gifts in athletics, music or another pursuit.

Conclusion
For the most selective elite schools nationally, strong grades and test scores may count for 70 percent of the admission decision. The other indicators may be used to distinguish between those who meet grade and test score standards. Top Test Prep offers tutoring and test preparations with admissions experts who help you gain admission to your top schools.

David Dickson is an expert admissions counselor with Top Test Prep; call Top Test Prep today (800) 501-Prep or visit us online at Private Tutoring and Test Prep Homepage.

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