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.

Tags: Admissions Advice // View Comments

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.

Tags: Admissions Advice, admissions essays // View Comments

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.

Tags: Admissions Advice // View Comments

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!

Tags: Admissions Advice // View Comments

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.

Tags: Admissions Advice // View Comments

The most recent figures for early decision (binding) and early action (nonbinding) applications at top 25 institutions of higher learning, according to ratings from US News and World Report’s annual “Best Colleges” issue, follow.

Early Decision Schools Early Applicants for Fall 2012 Percent Change in Applications Over 2012
Brown (RI) 2,904 5.48%
Columbia (NY) 3,088 -5.68%
Cornell (NY) 3,609 3.74%
Dartmouth (NH) 1,791 2.11%
Duke (NC) 2,716 23.06%
Emory (GA) 879 17.36%
Harvey Mudd (CA) 186 30.99%
Johns Hopkins (MD) 1,440 7.64%
Middlebury College (VT) 597 -8.85%
Northwestern (IL) 2,450 15.90%
Pomona (CA) 304 33.30%
University of Pennsylvania 4,526 0.98%

Early Action Schools
University of Chicago (ILL) 8,698 24.97%
Georgetown (DC) 6,750 1.40%
*Harvard (MA) 4,245 NA
MIT (MA) 6,102 NA
Notre Dame (IN) 5,590 5.47%
*Princeton (NJ) 3,547 NA
*Stanford (CA) 5,880 -0.83%
University of Virginia 11,417 NA
*Yale (CT) 4,310 -18.01%

NA means not applicable. School did not have early action policy previous year.
An asterisk * is placed next to schools which have restrictive single choice early action admissions policy where students can apply to regular admissions elsewhere, but not early decision or early action.

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

Tags: College Applications // View Comments

As old man winter approaches in many parts of the country, it isn’t too early to start thinking about summer pre-college programs (also known as summer enrichment programs) for junior and rising senior high school students. Many programs are booked by February or March so if you wish to find a good program for summer 2012, register as soon as possible.

What Are They
Summer programs are typically two to six weeks in length. Some offer scholarships, while others have costs ranging from $1,500 to $7,500. Students attending these programs experience college level work and a preview of college life. They choose their classes and live on campus. Pre-college programs may include courses taught by professors for college credit, themes of language and cultural immersion, or community service programs. Afternoons include leisure activities and weekends often include excursions to local areas of interest. Participation in these summer programs can assist students in making decisions about suitable colleges. You can also display the discipline and focus necessary to do the high level academic work which colleges look upon favorably.

How to Apply
If interested, research college web-sites or contact of college of your choice in the few weeks to see if they offer pre-college summer programs. It could be a summer to remember, and a road to your higher education goals.

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

Tags: College Counseling, Education Expert // View Comments

Your middle school grades and activities won’t appear on your college application, but you can use seventh and eighth grades to set yourself up to have the strongest record possible in high school. This will, in turn, increase your prospects of getting into an academically strong college. Additionally, if you’re applying to private high schools, these tips will help you as you begin to prepare for the SSAT and/or ISEE exams.

Seven tips for maximizing your prospects for top schools follow.

1. Work on Building Study Habits
Middle school grades won’t appear on your college application, so you can use seventh and eighth grade to work on time management and study skills. Start longer-term assignments well ahead of time and learn to focus on your work in a quiet setting.

2. Read a plethora of books
The more you read, the stronger your verbal, writing, and critical thinking skills will be. Reading beyond your homework will help you do well in high school, on the ACT and SAT, and in college.

3. Take Challenging Courses
When senior year rolls around, you will want to have taken the most challenging courses available at your school. The tracking of those courses begins in middle school (or earlier). Position yourself so that you can take full advantage of whatever AP courses and upper-level math, science, and language courses your school offers.

4. Work on Foreign Language Skills
Most competitive colleges want to see strength in a foreign language. The more years of a language you take the better.

5. Get Up To Speed in Math and Science
Advanced math and science skills are increasingly crucial in college and in the work place. If necessary, get tutoring help in these areas in middle school so you can excel as you move into high school.

6. Explore Several Extra-Curricular Activities
When you apply to college, you should be able to display depth and leadership in one or two extracurricular activities such as music, athletics, or drama. By figuring out your passions in middle school, you can better focus on developing leadership skills and expertise in high school.

7. Explore and Enjoy
Keep in mind that your middle school record doesn’t appear on your college application. Don’t stress out about college. Instead, use these years to discover explore new things, discover what subjects and activities excite you, and develop good study habits.

David Dickson is an admissions counselor at Top Test Prep; Top Test Prep’s educational programs and academic tutoring, allow students to improve exam scores and gain admission to top private schools, colleges and grad schools. Call TTP’s team today at 1-800-501-Prep.

Tags: Admissions Counselor, Education Expert, ISEE Prep, SSAT Prep // View Comments

Many students applied this fall, through early decision programs at their top choice colleges and universities. Now, we’re currently conducting a survey of our admissions and test prep blog readers to hear whether you gain admission early decision.

If you do, simply tweet us @toptestprep and let us know your decision when it comes. If you do, you could win a $100 gift certificate.

Tags: Early Decision Applications // View Comments

A survey conducted by the Annapolis Group of alumni from 130 liberal arts schools, the top 50 public universities and private universities reveals disparities in their assessments of the quality of their undergraduate educational experiences.

According to the study, 77 percent of alumni from liberal arts colleges rated their undergraduate experiences excellent, compared to 59 percent of alumni from private universities and 56 percent from the top 50 public universities. Liberal arts school alumni reported that their college experience made them better prepared for life after college including their first job, career changes, and graduate school than did alumni from other sectors.

The study places much of the credit for these outcomes on the smaller classes, enhanced faculty-student interaction, teaching focus, and greater emphasis on reading and writing of liberal arts college environments. Large public universities have attempted to compensate for their educational shortcomings by starting small honors colleges designed to offer a small college feel. Since a mere three percent of American college students attend liberal arts colleges, it is incumbent upon our private and public universities to improve the quality of the class-room experience for their students.

How Families and Student Applicants Can Identify Strong College Learning Environments
Families and students can find the best academic environments by paying attention to student selectivity, class size, attrition and four year graduation levels, and student and faculty resource figures found in US News and World Report’s annual “Best Colleges” issue. Additional inquiries can be made with the departments of possible majors on class size, the percentage of professors in the class-room who are tenured or tenure-track, and placements in strong graduate programs and good jobs.

***
David Dickson wrote this article to help guide people as they choose between Liberal Arts colleges and traditional public/private Universities. For more information on Top Test Prep’s admissions experts and private tutors, call (800) 501-Prep.

Tags: College Rankings, Colleges, Education Expert // View Comments

The Five Elite Small Liberal Arts Colleges; also, info on Liberal Arts Colleges’ Financial Aid Packages

As college sticker prices seemingly climb into the stratosphere, there are elite small liberal arts colleges which offer a better deal more than They place students in the best jobs and graduate programs while offering generous financial aid packages. Who are they?

Williams College, Williamstown, MA
US News and World Report “Best Colleges” Ranking: #1
Tuition (both instate and out-of-state) $43,000
Average Financial Aid Package: $10,440
Average Percent of Need Met: 100%
Williams College meets 100 percent of the demonstrated financial need of all students eligible for aid including all out of pocket expenses. Required books as well as lab or art supplies are part of the package.

Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY
US News and World Report “Best Colleges” Ranking: #12
Tuition (both instate and out-of-state) $45,000
Average Financial Aid Package: $10,263
Average Percent of Need Met: 100%
Vassar focuses on providing need based aid to its admitted students.

Amherst College, Amherst, MA
US News and World Report “Best Colleges” Ranking: #2
Tuition (both instate and out-of-state) $43,000
Average Financial Aid Package: $10,110
Average Percent of Need Met: 100%
Financial aid awards at Amherst College range from a few thousand dollars to the entire cost of attendance. Transportation costs are covered including airfare for one round trip.

Pomona College, Claremont, CA
US News and World Report “Best Colleges” Ranking: Tied for #6
Tuition (both instate and out-of-state) $40,000
Average Financial Aid Package: $9,259
Average Percent of Need Met: 100%
Pomona offers a work-study program, need-based awards, and merit scholarships to its students.

Bowdoin College, Brunswick, Maine
US News and World Report “Best Colleges” ranking: Tied for #6
Tuition (both in-state and out-of-state): $43,000
Average Financial Aid Package: $8,867
Average Percent of Need Met: 100%
Bowdoin attempts to avoid loans, when possible, and provide awards that don’t have to be paid back.

***
David Dickson wrote this article on liberal arts colleges; he serves within the admissions team for Top Test Prep.

You can gain admission to the small liberal arts colleges, and thus attend some of the best colleges in the country. Call (800) 501-7737 or visit our private tutoring program and test prep instructors.

Tags: Admissions Counselor, Admissions Experts, College Rankings, Colleges // View Comments

Here are some numbers for the 2012 – 2013 early decision/early action admissions cycle:

As the deadlines approach for early decision and early action applicants at America’s most competitive universities, a few institutions have released application figures. They indicate significant increases in applications over previous years. Early decision university applicants are contractually required to attend that school, whereas early action applicants can apply to additional schools early action or regular decision. Early decision and early action applicants at elite schools have an acceptance rate which is, on average, two to two and a half times higher than regular admissions applicants.

Early decision applications to Duke this fall have increased 23 percent over last year’s early decision applications.

Johns Hopkins early decision applications have experienced an eight percent increase over this period, and Dartmouth’s applications in this area are up two percent.

Princeton, which just re-instituted its early admissions option after a four year hiatus along with Harvard, revealed that 3,547 students had applied by its early November deadline, nearly triple the size of its freshman class.

Early decision and early action applications by students with their early deadlines, not only increase the odds of getting into the most competitive universities, but often increase the probability of receiving financial assistance.

The total pool of available money diminishes by the regular admissions deadlines at the start of the calendar year.

David Dickson is an admissions counselor at Top Test Prep which offers private tutoring and test preparation prep. Call (800) 501-Prep today.

Tags: Admissions Experts, College Counseling, Early Decision Applications // View Comments

The following is an article on the Ten Most Environmentally Conscious Universities…

Here’s the college ranking:

1. University of Washington, Seattle
The hydro-powered campus runs three farms, an extensive recycling program, and the conservation-research hotbed Pack Forest.

2. Green Mountain College, Poultney, VT
The school’s agricultural projects are an experiment in fossil-free farming. Instead of tractors, draft animals do much of the work.

3. University of California, San Diego
The institution’s cogeneration plant provides up to 85 percent of the school’s electricity, and heats more than 6 million square feet of building interiors.

4. Warren Wilson College, Asheville, NC
Students grow trees, alfalfa, and corn and raise cows, pigs, and chickens on the school’s 250-acre farm.

5. Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Almost two-thirds of Stanford’s 8, 180-acre campus is undeveloped open space, including the 1,200 acre Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, where students and faculty learn how climate change affects local biodiversity.

6. University of California, Irvine
One of America’s most energy efficient campuses has a cogeneration facility that produces heat and electricity that meets most of its power needs.

7. University of California, Santa Cruz
The fight against trash includes eschewing dining trays and bottled water, contributing to a water diversion rate of 84 percent.

8. University of California, San Diego
The university excels in nurturing sustainable methods of food production and has a new Brewery, Winery, and Food Science Laboratory.

9. Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA
With a goal of reaching carbon neutrality by 2020, students pay a self-imposed fee of $1 each academic quarter to buy renewable-energy credits to offset the college’s electricity consumption.

10. Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT
As part of its plan to be carbon neutral by 2016, the school installed a woodchip-powered cogeneration system that halved its oil consumption.

****
David Dickson is a writer and admissions counselor for Top Test Prep; Top Test Prep offers exclusive private tutoring programs that helps students gain admission to top schools through private admissions counseling.

(credit also to: The Sierra Club, an environmental advocacy group, has released its list of the ten most environmentally conscious universities)

Tags: College Counseling, College Rankings, Colleges // View Comments

The Basics of Electronic College Applications

What should you know about college applications in the high tech era? A brief explanation follows.

I. How to submit your college applications (options):

The Common Application: With 456 participating schools, it allows you to fill out one application. State schools participating include the University of Michigan and UNC Chapel Hill.
The Universal College Application: The name is deceiving since it includes only 59 schools to whom you can submit a single application.
State and School Specific Electronic Applications: Many large state schools and selective private institutions such as Georgetown and MIT have their own applications that can be found on their web-site.

How to submit your high school transcripts:
An increasing number of high schools are using eDocs through Naviance to send the transcripts electronically to your schools. Paper forms for sending transcripts through the mail, however, can still be picked up at many high school guidance offices.

How to send test scores:
Students must request that test scores be sent to all of their colleges by the deadlines. You can request your scores through Request SAT scores, and Request ACT scores. When you sign up for the ACT’s or SAT’s, use the same legal name and e-mail for all subsequent application materials to avoid confusion.

Follow-Up is the Key
Assume it will take two to four weeks or your application to be processed. If its arrival has not been confirmed in four weeks, call to clarify its status and whether there are any missing pieces.

David Dickson is a counselor with Top Test Prep which offers tutoring and test preparation with admissions experts who will help you gain admission to your top schools. For information on SAT Prep Tutoring, and ACT Prep Tutoring, or general college admissions, call (800) 501-Prep.

Tags: admissions consulting, Admissions Counselor, admissions essays, Admissions Experts // View Comments

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.

Tags: Admissions Advice, admissions consultants, Admissions Counselor, Admissions Experts // View Comments

[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.

Tags: Admissions Advice, College Applications, College Counseling // View Comments

[This article helps students understand the right and wrong reasons for selecting a college.]

As a college faculty member and administrator for more than a generation and the father of a college student, I have seen too many families choose colleges for the wrong reasons. Here are a few common mistakes students make in choosing a college:

1. My Friends Are Going There
College is an opportunity to meet new people and have learning experiences outside as well as inside of the classroom. Broaden your horizons and avoid the temptation to replicate your high school social circle in college.

2. I Like the Climate
Few relish cold weather, but you can do Club Med during your vacation time or following college. Your focus should be on a school’s academics. Moreover, it is not regional prejudice to observe that a disproportionate percentage of America’s strongest colleges are in the relatively cold northeast, upper mid-west, and northwest regions. Freeze now and thrive later!

3. They Have Great Sports Teams
As an ardent college sports fan this is a difficult one for me to concede, but college is an investment in the rest of your life and academic quality must be prioritized. Besides, every sporting event you could desire is only a click away on ESPN or on your computer.

4. It Is Cheaper Than Other Schools
While one must have a consciousness of finances, cheaper can often mean fewer student and faculty resources and academic inferiority. It may be in your interest to make a short-term financial sacrifice so you can go to a more expensive but better school. The payoff will be superior graduate school opportunities and better paying jobs for the rest of your life. Moreover, elite private schools have more generous financial aid programs than their less expensive public or private counterparts. You might even ultimately end up paying less.
***

What should you look for in a college? A short list of factors would include student selectivity, faculty and student resources, retention and graduation rates, and average class size, all of which can be found in US News and World Report’s annual “Best Colleges” issue. Additional factors such as class size in your possible major, and placement rates in strong graduate programs and good jobs will require you to make inquiries with faculty and staff members.

Top Test Prep’s academic counselors can assist you in finding and getting into your top colleges, and its private tutors and admissions programs can assist you in your test preparation.

David Dickson is a counselor with Top Test Prep; Call (800) 501-7737 or visit Top Test Prep education and test prep programs.

Tags: Admissions Counselor, Admissions Experts, College Counseling, Education Expert // View Comments

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.
***

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.

Tags: Admissions Advice, admissions consulting, Admissions Counselor, Admissions Data, Admissions Experts // View Comments

Here’s a better way to write your college admissions essays, so that you avoid the most common mistakes in applying.

Ten Mistakes to Avoid in Your College Essays

It is college essay time and you want this part of your college application package to complement your academic and non-academic achievements, and not distract from them. Ten common mistakes to avoid in writing your college admission essay follow.

1. Writing It At The Last Minute
You have plenty of time to write a carefully considered essay. Deferring your work to the last minute will compound many of the errors which accompany poorly executed essays.

2. Not Addressing the Essay Prompt
Admissions committees formulate questions to elicit information that is important to their decision. A failure to clearly answer a question will be regarded negatively by them.

3. Failure to Have a Central Idea
An essay which does not have a clear thesis will appear to be incoherent to admissions members.

4. Ignoring the Word Limits
If you violate essay word limits, your ability to follow basic instructions may be questioned.

5. Use words wisely
A self-conscious use of flowery vocabulary words when more straightforward language would be fine will undermine the clarity of your essay and the prospect that it will be received favorably. Yes, we encourage the use of SAT words even, but you have to use them wisely and appropriately in order to make your essay flow for the admissions officers.

6. Dredging Up an Overused Topic
You don’t have to reinvent the wheel in your essay, but try to write a distinctive essay which reflects your distinctiveness as a person.

7. Incorporating Embarrassing or Politically Offensive Material into Your Essay
Certain topics including locker room humor or politically divisive subjects may turn off your readers.

8. Including Unnecessary Material
Get to the point in your essay and don’t include extraneous material which isn’t pertinent to the topic.

9. Not Writing in Paragraphs
Essays presented as undifferentiated blobs or curt single sentences in paragraphs will not help your cause.

10. Grammatical and Structural Errors
Have an experienced editor or reader proofread your essay to ensure that it isn’t error-prone. You can even contact us at Top Test Prep get college application help.

Conclusion

College application essays are vehicles for explaining your academic and non-academic strengths in a personalized fashion, which explains why you would be a good fit for a specific college. Avoiding common mistakes in formulating them could play a significant role in a favorable admissions outcome.

David Dickson is a counselor with Top Test Prep. Get in touch with Top Test Prep today, by visiting TopTestPrep.com or calling (800) 501-Prep.

Tags: admissions consulting, Admissions Counselor, admissions essays, Admissions Experts // View Comments

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.

Tags: Admissions Office, College Applications, College Counseling // View Comments

As applications continue to climb for the most competitive colleges and acceptances sink to the single and low double digits, it is crucial that students and their families be conscious of trends which will impact upon their prospects. Four college admissions trends follow.

1. Challenging High School Courses Are a Must But in Moderation
While colleges look favorably at Advanced Placement (AP) and International Baccalaureate courses, your stress should be on performance not quantity. Better to take two AP courses in a semester for which you have a passion and can earn high grades than four AP’s for which you will be over-extended with a commensurate decline in your performance.

2. Students Are Expected to Think Globally in Course Selection and In Their Experiences
In an era of growing international economic, political, and cultural ties, competitive colleges are looking for a cosmopolitan student body. Intense language study extending over a period of years, and if possible, an international exchange experience will enhance your credentials with prospective colleges.

3. Basic Quantitative Skills Are a Necessity
You need not be a math whiz, but you can’t escape the need to establish a foundation of solid quantitative courses. This applies to potential non-science majors as well as science majors. Quantitative skills as statistics and economics are in great demand in the work place as a whole and it all begins with those high school math courses.

4. Depth in Extra-Curricular Activities is Important
It is a good idea to sample a number of extra-curricular offerings as you begin high school. However, colleges will treat students positively who have displayed a commitment to a high school or community activity or two over a sustained period of time. The nature of that activity is less important than persistence and consequently achievement.

Conclusion
You can enhance your prospects of getting into colleges of your choice, but prudent planning is a pre-condition. Top Test Prep offers tutoring and test preparations with admissions experts who help you gain admission to your top schools.

David Dickson is an admissions counselor & expert with Top Test Prep. To learn more about Top Test Prep’s admissions counseling and private tutoring experts, call 1(800) 501-Prep.

Tags: admissions consultants, Admissions Counselor, Admissions Experts // View Comments

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.

Tags: Admissions Advice, admissions consulting, Admissions Counselor // View Comments

College freshman retention can arguably be treated as an indicator of how happy freshman are. It is a factor that should be assigned importance when considering colleges. According to the Center for College Affordability and Productivity, an education think tank, the colleges with the best freshmen retention rates are as follows.

Top Colleges for Freshmen Retention

1. Yale University (CT)
2. Swarthmore College (PA)
3. Princeton University (NJ)
4. Stanford University (CA)
5. Williams College (MA)
6. California Institute of Technology
7. University of Chicago (IL)
8. Harvard University (MA)
9. Columbia University (NY)
10. Dartmouth College (NH)
11. University of Pennsylvania
12. Notre Dame University (IN)
13. US Naval Academy (MD)
14. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
15. University of Virginia
16. Hillsdale College (MI)
17. Washington University, St Louis (MO)
18. Rice University (TX)
19. Middlebury College (VT)
20. Brown University (RI)
21. Duke University (NC)
22. Haverford University (PA)
23. Carleton College (MN)
24. Pomona College (CA)
25. Davidson College (NC)

Conclusion
While the economic profile of a student body plays a role in freshman retention, colleges with high rates also tend to have strong advising and student support services. A retention method successfully employed at some colleges is to break the freshman class into student learning sub-communities with activities and close peer support.

David Dickson is a counselor with Top Test Prep which offers tutoring and test preparation with admissions experts who help you gain admission to your top schools. Find out more about Top Test Prep’s private tutoring programs by calling 1-800-501-7737.

Tags: College Rankings, Colleges // View Comments

The Top Test Prep team has compiled a list of ACT exam test dates. Hope they help you get prepared for the ACT!

Here they are…ACT test dates, Registration Closes, Late Registration Closes
22-Oct-11, 16-Sep-11, 30-Sep-11
10-Dec-11, 4-Nov-11, 18-Nov-11
11-Feb-12, 13-Jan-12, 20-Jan-12
14-Apr-12, 9-Mar-12, 23-Mar-12
9-June-12, 4-May-12, 8-May-12

*****

The ACT exam is coming up. Get prepared with the best…ACT private tutoring, give us a call at 1-800-501-7737.

Tags: ACT exam, ACT Prep // View Comments

Here is a helpful list of SAT test dates if you are taking the SAT Exam in 2011 or 2012:

SAT Exam Test Dates, Registration Closes, Late Registration Closes
Nov. 5, 2011, 7-Oct-11, 21-Oct-11
December 3, 2011, 8-Nov-11, 20-Nov-11
January 28, 2012, 30-Dec-11, 13-Jan-12
March 10, 2012, 10-Feb-12, 24-Feb-12
May 5, 2012, 6-Apr-12, 20-Apr-12
June 2, 2012, 8-May-12, 22-May-12

*****

Need help with SAT Tutoring and Prep? Give us a call at (800) 501-7737, or complete our contact form.

Tags: College Counseling, College Readiness, SAT Prep // View Comments