In the competitive world of college recruiting, colleges are increasingly supplementing the traditional printed recruitment mailer with emerging technologies. Five illustrations of this development follow and some discussion of new ways colleges are using social media as a way to recruit students to their campuses:

1. Quick Response Codes
Colleges are experimenting with posting Quick Response (QR) codes in recruitment mailers. A QR code is a barcode that sends users to a web address with the snap of a smart phone’s camera. Hamilton College in New York created an admissions poster with a giant QR code which leads visitors to a custom welcome page from the school. The poster resulted in 1,200 visits to the Hamilton web-site.

2. Video-Chats
During the academic year, Ohio Wesleyan hosts four or five video chats for students and their parents on topics ranging from admissions counselors discussing the application process to current students sharing their study abroad experiences. According to administrators, 220 of the 260 students who participated in a video chat last year applied to the university and 92 enrolled.

3. Facebook contests
To reach prospective students, Misericordia University in Pennsylvania offered university bookstore gift certificates as prizes to incoming freshmen who replaced their Facebook profile pictures with the university logo. About one-sixth of incoming Misericordia freshmen participated during the two week summer contest.

4. Tweeting Behind the Scenes
To add depth to the printed materials, Texas Tech used Twitter to cover a story included in the annual recruiting mailer on a student lab named by Popular Science as one of the country’s “Most Awesome College Labs.”

5. College Admissions/YouTube Video Series
The New School in New York City has created “Are You New School” recruiting videos featuring students discussing topics from the dating scene to life in the city.

While dynamic new technologies are being integrated into college recruitment, the admissions acceptance process still relies predominately on the traditional staples of GPA and standardized test scores. Top Test Prep is a private tutoring and admissions expert company that helps students get into top private schools, colleges and graduate schools.

David Dickson is an admissions counselor with Top Test Prep; call TTP today at 1-800-501-7737 to learn more, or visit private tutoring and admissions 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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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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The question of how many APs (Advanced Placement courses) one should take in high school is one of the most commonly asked questions from students enrolled in Top Test Prep’s private admissions counseling program. I would say that the number of APs you take in high school should depend on where you’re applying and whether you can balance your school, extracurricular activities, and athletic life.

I would recommend that students applying to the most selective colleges use the following rules in selecting AP courses:

(1) Take at least 1/2 the number of APs offered by your high school. The more, the better. In fact, because college admissions officers see your school’s profile when you apply, they’ll know exactly how hard you challenged yourself in school. If you take 2 APs and where 10 APs were offered, you’re missing out on a chance to shine.

(2) Challenge yourself with different courses. For example, if you’re more skilled in math, take AP US History. If you’re more skilled in Writing, challenge yourself in AP Calculus AB or BC.

(3) If your school doesn’t offer APs, but instead is on the IB program, enroll in the IB program – you’ll see a major benefit when applying to colleges. In fact, some argue that this program is more rigorous in preparing students for college.

(4) If your school offers neither APs, nor IBs, take courses at a community college or local University. Many high schools are missing challenging courses and lack the fundamentals needed to prepare students for college level course work. You can often attain a higher level of education outside of the classroom in local college settings.

However, there are important things to consider before taking as many APs as possible:

Can you allocate at least 1.5 hours a day per AP course and still fit in other extracurricular activities?
Are you trying to get into very selective colleges?
Can you manage an appropriate sports, school, and student life while taking tougher courses?

If you answered yes to all three of these questions, then I would recommend fully challenging yourself with as many AP courses as possible.

****

Ross Blankenship is a college admissions expert, and the Chairman of Top Test Prep. For more information on Top Test Prep’s private tutoring and admissions counseling programs, call (800) 501-Prep.

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So, maybe you’re struggling to create a college admissions essay that will knock the socks off the admissions offices. Doubts grow as you ponder how you can come up with an original insight or an idea separating you from the pack. It’s now time to formulate a game plan for a college essay that will set off bulbs in the heads of staff members and place you on the path to acceptance. In pursuit of this goal, advice will be offered on how to start your college essay, and ways to structure your personal statement in a way that offers the admissions offices insight into your life. This will be followed by examples of essay prompts and closing remarks.

How to Start Your Admissions Essay

1. Go to the admissions website – or Common App – and find materials of the school to which you are applying. This is the absolute first step. Write down your favorite topics and begin to brainstorm.

2. Look inward and identify your strengths and best qualities. You may be determined or creative or empathetic. Identify the strengths that you want to convey to the admissions committee. Ask what differentiates you from most applicants, and how you can make this clear in a personal statement.

3. Incorporate your strengths into the essay. For instance, convey a story about a time or experience when you displayed these strengths. Produce alternative beginnings and conclusions as you work on the essay. Remember: the clearer your examples are, the better your essay will be viewed.

How to Structure Your Essay

The essay is designed to demonstrate that you can convey your thoughts in an organized and persuasive fashion. To facilitate this, the essay should have the following components.

1. An introduction with a central idea expressing the intention of the essay and supporting ideas that will be used to refine the main point.

2. A body with a few paragraphs, each of which would have a supporting idea. Begin each paragraph with a topic sentence articulating its principal point. Stay within the stated page limits. Admissions essays are generally brief. Brevity beats verbosity!

3. A conclusion summarizing the essay, and reiterating the central idea and supporting ideas. A strong writer should look over the essay to check for coherence and to check whether you made a compelling case for gaining admission.

4. Consider having a peer review the admissions essay to get their feedback. You can also get admissions essay help from Top Test Prep’s programs.

Five essay prompts to get you thinking…

College admissions essay topics should be personal since you are selling yourself and why you are a good fit for that institution. Illustrations of possible topics include the following:

-Describe a significant interest or experience that has special meaning for you.
-Does any specific attribute, quality, or skill distinguish you from everyone else? How did you develop this attribute?
- What is your approach to life? Reveal your life philosophy.
-What is a major achievement in your life? Who and what assisted you in reaching your aim?
- Explain which of the negative features you possess you’d like to get rid of and which of the positive features you’d like to promote and enhance.

It’s time to find a quiet place and start deliberating on your admissions essays.
_____________
David Dickson is on the college admissions counseling team for Top Test Prep. Top Test Prep offers private tutor programs and admissions counseling to help students gain admission to prep schools, colleges and graduate schools. Call to learn more: (800) 501-Prep.

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How do college admissions officers use social networks like Google, Facebook, LinkedIn? Do you have a Facebook or LinkedIn account? Have you checked those accounts today? What if a friend posted a silly comment or hacked into your account as joke and changed your information – just to be funny? Or what if you’ve been tagged in someone’s photo and it shows a side you’d rather not let anyone see…?

The past two weeks, we’ve looked at issues surrounding students and the internet. An ubiquitous and seemingly benign tool, the internet gives us access to millions of websites and presents countless opportunities to network and connect with different people. It’s general knowledge that companies check potential employees’ online personas. Guess what? Admissions counselors are online, too.

Admission counselors at many schools have admitted that they check online profiles of students before interviews, and during the admission process. In the case of two comparable students, online profiles might be checked to see which applicant’s online profile matches their application materials most.

It’s not all bad news for students though. If you use Twitter or Facebook or have an open blog, use the publicity to your advantage! On Facebook, you can “like” the colleges you are applying to. If admissions counselors are checking your profiles, make sure your profile matches your application materials – favorite books, music, groups, activities, etc. If you put down “sleeping” as a favorite activity, you might want to edit that.

You also have the option of changing your privacy settings for almost any online presence you have. Remember – the default setting for most websites, blogs, and social networking sites is “public,” which means you are searchable in Google and Bing. Once you turn your privacy settings to “private,” it might take a week for the result to disappear from the search engine, but in the meantime the link will be inaccessible.

If you aren’t sure how much of a public profile you have – search yourself now. You can also go to information tracking websites like Spokeo to see what information about you is available to the public online. You’re not being narcissistic; you’re being safe.

_____________________________________________________________________________

This post is titled, “Students And The Internet Part 3: College Admissions.” It was written by Marta Casey, a writer on Top Test Prep’s team.

To learn more about Top Test Prep’s programs, call (800) 501 – Prep.

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How college admission offices use social networking sites‚ and why that matters for your MySpace, Facebook and other pages

Imagine taking the time to fill out your college app, write a stellar essay, then ending up being rejected from your top college choice or a scholarship opportunity because an admissions rep checked out your Facebook page and didn’t like what was there.

It happens.
Never before has it been so simple for admissions officers to get extra information about students. Simply looking at someone’s Facebook or MySpace page can be an excellent indicator as to whether or not they really fit the personality picture that their application painted.

A 2009 Survey performed by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) found that 88 percent of admissions officers said that social networking sites (such as Facebook or MySpace) were either somewhat important or very important to their current and future recruitment efforts.

How to deal?
Of course, there are some ways to avoid the negative impacts of social networking. Here are some.

1. Don’t use them. The simplest way to avoid this problem is to avoid social networking sites altogether.

2. Turn all privacy settings on. With applications such as Facebook, you can control who is able to view your profile. While applying to colleges, it may be worth turning all the privacy settings on.

3. Ask your friends and family for their opinion on your profile. Have them look at your profiles to ensure they won’t have a negative impact on your reputation. They will often give you the most objective opinion as to whether that latest party photo is too risky.

4. Always err on the side of caution. Here’s a good rule of thumb: If you think your social networking activities are too risky, then take the profile down.

Always consider the impact that social networking can have on your applications. Taking the time to do so now will ensure you aren’t left wondering why your application was denied.

Ross Blankenship is the president and director of TopTestPrep.com. He is an admissions expert who has helped students get into top prep schools, colleges and graduate schools through Top Test Prep’s private tutoring and admissions consulting programs.

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What Admissions Offices Want, Objective vs. Subjective Standards

There are two sides to an admissions application for both colleges and graduate schools: objective vs. subjective standards. An admissions office wants both of these components, although some admissions committees emphasize one more than the other.

For definition purposes: the objective side of your application includes your test scores and your GPA. Whereas the subjective side of your application includes your personal statement, letters of recommendation, resume, extracurricular activities, and academic (or other) awards.

For the most part, an admissions office wants the highest test scores. In fact, test scores are the only objective standard in which an admissions office can compare your academic potential to another person applying. Think of the objective standard – test scores – in the same way that a person buying a new home would want to compare the house they’re interested in with a house on the same block. You can never really know the value of that potential home, until you see how other houses near that address fare when sold.

Also, it’s not easy to know exactly what test scores an admissions office is looking for, but one good guess is to research “median” test scores published by that school. For example, many Ivy League schools, which are ranked in the top 10 – i.e. Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Penn, Columbia, generally have test scores that range above the top 90th percentile. This means for the SAT generally students score a 2000 or higher. For test such as the LSAT and GMAT, students generally score a 165 or higher and a 670 or higher, respectively, on these two exams for both schools. However, if you’re not quite in these ranges, you have two options: re-take the test, or make the subjective side (essays, resumes, recommendations) so good that they de-emphasize your test scores.

I would argue that objective standards such as your test scores and GPA are the gateway to having an admissions officer review the subjective side such as your essays and personal statements. In other words, many admissions officers won’t begin to look at your full application unless your test scores and GPA are strong enough and fit their median range. There’s a little bit of flexibility on the GPA, as there is some grade inflation at certain schools, and admissions offices know this. But for the most part, you want this objective component to also be as strong, as your test scores are. If the admissions office sees a higher GPA and a really low test score (or vice versa), you might have to explain why such a discrepancy exists.

On the subjective side of the admissions application, you really should focus on your admissions essay. In addition, your recommendations can make a big difference especially if the admissions office is comparing applicants with similar test scores. Overall, the subjective criteria that defines your application is the secondary component – but very important – to your potential admission into a top school.

If you need help with college admissions counseling or graduate admissions counseling, give us a call today or fill out our contact form.

Ross Blankenship
Admissions Expert, Founder of Top Test Prep

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I’ve had a few people ask me whether they should write about the Presidential election and how it is has shaped their lives. The answer is: if you can do it effectively without it being too clich√©d, then yes – it can be an acceptable topic. All too often, however, students let the election season take over their college applications- writing fervently for either Obama or McCain without any substance; they forget to come up with a solid theme about themselves. Don’t fall victim to such poor writing.

Writing an essay, whether it be for prep school, college or graduate admissions, requires students take an inimitable approach. You must write with clarity, consistency and care.

For example, the following essay is a sample of bad writing on the election:

“I’m supporting ______ candidate because we need change. Change is a good thing for America. Just look at the last 8 years; when I was in middle school students and teachers thought we were heading in the right direction.”

Why does this essay start off bad? Well, for one, it is about a concept, i.e. “Change,” which can be difficult to bring down to a tangible level where the audience can see how it has shaped your life. Instead, start broadly and narrow the concept into a form where the reader/audience knows where you’re heading with the topic. Further, supplement any political writing with solid examples of your participation in the election process.

Here’s an example of a better essay with more substance:

“Having volunteered in a local phone drive for __________ candidate, I have heard the voices of people desiring change; I want to be part of this change. I took part in the electoral process because I feel our government is too large and our individual voices are all too often drowned out by special interests and lobbyists.”

These two parallel examples – one bad, one good- hopefully clarify the essay topic of the Presidential election or any election for that matter. If you have volunteered before or been an active part of any local, state or federal campaign, tell the admissions office, be specific and bring any abstract topic such as change down to a manageable level. You don’t want to sound clich√©d like many political ads airing across the nation. Bring substance, candor and care to your essay and you’re bound to connect more with your audience.

Hope that helps…
For more information on college essays and private college counseling, check out one of our programs, or call (800) 501-7737.

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There are an increasing number of college admissions consultants discussing the benefits of applying to college from either a public or private high school. Further, many parents and students want to know whether going to a private high school will give them a greater advantage in the admissions cycle. So we’ll discuss the benefits of applying from either public or private schools.

Applying to College From Public High Schools:

There’s a greater chance that you might “stand out” more with higher SAT and ACT scores.

Most admissions offices have statistics of matriculated students from any given high school. These show the performance of students from any high school at their college. In fact, many high school admissions offices provide SAT and ACT medians from their respective school. So, if you score way higher or lower, it could be seen more or less favorably. If a recent study by the Center on Education Policy concluding that students score slightly higher on SAT Verbal / Math from public schools is correct, then you might stand out with a higher score.

You are more likely to be the only one applying to a “Top” College

Because some public high schools are more worried about students attending high school at all, if you’re one of the few students applying to an Ivy League School or to another “Top 50″ college (based on U.S. News and World Report), admissions officers will make note of this fact. Often times students recall of X student of 300 total from Y public high school getting into Harvard. In some cases, this is true. But work on increasing your scores and improving your essays, and then apply to college. Don’t worry about the fact that you have to apply from a public school.

Applying to College From Private High Schools:

Many private schools have greater resources.

Simply put: because many private schools charge tuition and don’t rely on state and local taxes to survive, private high schools can channel more resources into college counseling and other things like computer technology. So if you’re going to a private school use the resources wisely. And our admissions consultants help both public and private school students, regardless.

There’s a better chance you can speak with current and former students at top schools.

Because there are more students from private schools at the top colleges, your private school is more likely to put you in touch with a current student who can help facilitate a campus tour or discussion with the admissions office. In addition, these contacts will help you find out what school is a good fit for you. So find out what graduates went to your choice schools and contact them.

So now you know…

Overall, it is doubtful that an admissions office will think more or less favorably of your application whether at a public or private school; the most important thing is to create an application that shows you contributed to your high school (public or private) and will do the same in college.

Remember, the key to applying to colleges is making sure that you develop a strong theme in your admissions application that shows you stood out of the crowd, regardless of whether you went to a public or private high school. Don’t worry about whether you’re currently at a public or private school, the SAT and ACT create enough objective criteria to evaluate your applications that this fact becomes irrelevant.

Ross Blankenship, Education Expert and Founder of Top Test Prep

College Admissions Experts

(800) 501-Prep

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There are several college admissions myths which should be exposed before you apply. These myths often scare certain students from applying to the best schools. Never limit yourself from applying to top colleges because you believe these things:

(10)

Applicants are pre-screened.

Whether using the common application or a school-specific application, college admission offices have enough staff members to read your entire application. After all, you pay an application fee for a reason and colleges want to make sure you get your fair chance. However, if your application is incomplete or missing crucial components (essays, transcripts, or supplements) this might explain why it is rejected, or pre-screened out, before it reaches the full committee.

(9)

You must choose your major and stick to it.

When you apply to college, admissions officers know your major is bound to change. In fact, many admissions offices have reported that the majority of their students change their major by the end of their freshman year. Don’t worry about choosing your major. Pick a department or major where you have a genuine interest, and be open-minded to changing it once you’re enrolled.

(8)

You must apply early decision or early action.

Yes, applying early decision or early action shows a student is committed to a particular college. But you do not have to apply early to be accepted, even to top colleges. In fact, if you’re deferred in the early decision or early application round, your application goes right back into the regular pool and will be re-evaluated again.

(7)

Colleges have a certain profile of the perfect student.

While colleges strive to admit students who will fit into their college, there’s simply no way for a college to predict whether a student will be happy or whether they will actually succeed at their college. This is why colleges don’t set a particular admissions profile for the “perfect” student.

(6)

Ivy League schools don’t give scholarships.

Although Ivy League schools say they only allocate need-based scholarships, there’s no doubt that certain schools issue other grants and fellowships based on other criteria. If you’re a top athlete, recruit or a national merit scholar, an Ivy League school will go out of its way to make sure you can afford their school.

(5)

International students don’t receive scholarships or loans.

More colleges are looking to diversify their student body with international students; major banks and financial institutions offer the same financial opportunities for international students as they do American applicants. Scholarships and fellowships are available for international students.

(4)

You should pad your resume with extracurricular activities.

Every admissions officer is a human being. Imagine that. Applications aren’t accepted or rejected by a computer. So when filling out this section of the common app, know that admissions offices can (and do) spot superfluous extracurricular activities. Further, they can certainly tell whether you added an extracurricular because you have a genuine interest or because it looks good on your resume.

(3)

Recommendations don’t matter.

Great recommendations are vital. You cannot expect to be admitted simply with high scores and great grades. If an admissions officer sees a perfunctory or suspicious recommendation, it will set off a red flag. Bottom line: choose the person writing the recommendation who knows you best and make sure they know where you’re applying and what your qualifications are.

(2)

There’s a GPA Cut-Off.

Colleges generally don’t have a GPA cut-off. The reason admissions offices don’t have a GPA “cut-off” is because students come from all sorts of different high schools with varying curriculums and grade structures. Some students attend public schools, others private schools where the GPA ranges could be wider or narrower. Further, there has been much discussion about grade inflation, and colleges do know what particular high schools tend to have higher GPAs than others. Whether this is so-called grade inflation or not, the schools have an idea of what schools have a more competitive curriculum, including more AP, IB and honors courses. Be aware of your GPA and explain discrepancies in your transcript.

(1)

There’s always an SAT/ACT Cut-Off.

Some state colleges do have a cut-off for SAT/ACT scores. But the majority of American Universities do not. So keep working on your test scores but don’t fear the mythical cut-off.

If your SAT or ACT Prep isn’t as strong as you’d like it to be, TopTestPrep.com will help you improve your SAT and ACT scores.

Hope these admissions myths were answered. If you have any questions, feel free to contact the Top Test Prep team.

-Ross Blankenship, Education Expert and Founder, Top Test Prep

Test Prep and Admissions

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We have had a lot of questions about the new college rankings, particularly what sort of methodology was used to assess hundreds of schools throughout the country. Although there’s an entire school of thought on the efficacy of the rankings themselves, what we believe is that the criteria should at the very least be modified. One of the key criteria we believe should be factored into these rankings is post-graduation statistics, namely what students are doing from these prestigious colleges after they graduate.

We believe that much information could be gleaned by adding an additional category on post-graduation employment and/or statistics on graduate school entry. Adding an additional category would reflect a college’s ultimate purpose, i.e. providing employment opportunities and/or graduate program opportunities.

There are two reasons why adding this criteria into the rankings would be helpful: (1) this information would show the public exactly what the graduates do after college, and (2) it would create an incentive for colleges to improve their career services and graduate program counseling. If a parent were comparing two top schools, let’s say Cornell University and Washington University in St. Louis (both ranked 12th respectively), would it not serve the public well to know which school provides its graduates better career opportunities and/or graduate program opportunities? Further, colleges have for generations been adjusting their core curriculum and admissions based on the U.S. News rankings. Whether this is a good or bad thing could be debated for just as long. However, if parents are going to spend 40 to 50 thousand dollars per year on their son or daughter’s education, it would be helpful to know what exactly their son or daughter will do after graduation.

The U.S. News Rankings do provide valuable information on colleges, both public, private, as well as liberal arts and graduate schools. But the methodology could be improved with additional criteria like graduation statistics specific to employment and further education pursued by students. This addition would create major incentives to improve student resources, would give valuable information to parents and students and lastly, would provide a greater ability for parents to differentiate these schools.

-Ross Blankenship, Co-Founder, Top Test Prep

Test Prep and Admissions

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