Blog

College List Building
UC Berkeley Common Data Set

Sifting through a college’s Common Data Set can take a lot of time. Instead, we’ve gathered the most important information from UC Berkeley’s most recent Common Data Set to provide you with the information you need at a quick glance. This guide contains key information from UC Berkeley Common Data Set 2025-2026. Berkeley Common Data…

September 13, 2026

College Admissions
September 12, 2020

High School Resumes May Be More Valuable Than Ever for College Admissions

Students who invest time creating a high school resume for college applications may be handsomely rewarded in the admissions process. Of the Common Application member colleges and universities that are “live” as of this writing, over 300* — or more than one-third — have made specific provisions for submitting this handy document. Resumes haven’t always been so popular. In…
Applications
September 10, 2020

How Test Optional Colleges Evaluate Students for Admissions

With so many schools going test-optional, how do test optional colleges evaluate a student’s readiness for college? What qualities does a school look for? We did some research, and here’s what we learned about teacher and counselor recommendations and evaluations, and how the character of your student factors in. Test Optional Colleges: What Does it…
College Financial Planning
September 9, 2020

Tulane Merit Scholarships

Finding individual college merit scholarship information can take a lot of time. Instead, we’ve gathered the statistics you need to know about Tulane’s merit scholarships, at a quick glance. Before diving in, make sure to review The Ultimate Guide to Merit Scholarships. Tulane’s Merit Scholarships Statistics Partial Scholarships Requirements: No application is required. These awards…
Apply
September 4, 2020

How Family Finances Sway College Admissions Decisions

Excerpted from WHO GETS IN AND WHY by Jeffrey Selingo. Copyright © 2020 by Jeffrey Selingo. Reprinted with permission of Scribner, a Division of Simon & Schuster, Inc. Lafayette College is a need-aware school and one of the few I found willing to show me how they make financial aid trade-offs in selecting a class. Located in…
College Financial Planning
September 2, 2020

Northwestern Merit Scholarships

Finding individual college merit scholarship information can take a lot of time. Instead, we’ve gathered the statistics you need to know about Northwestern’s merit scholarships at a quick glance. Before diving in, make sure to review The Ultimate Guide to Merit Scholarships. Northwestern’s Merit Scholarships Statistics To learn more about Northwestern’s Merit Scholarship opportunities, visit…
College Life
August 30, 2020

Child off to College? Reflection Can Help You Grow, but Don’t Get Stuck in the Past

Introspection at this point in life—when the kids are headed off to college, and we’re transitioning to an empty nest—is right on cue, especially an analysis of our own parenting skills. It makes sense if you think about it—we’ve stepped back to take a new look at the child we’ve nearly raised, because he or…
Applications
August 29, 2020

Continuing Extracurricular Activities Despite the Pandemic

Your teen can round out their high school resume despite COVID-19. Most high school students have lost the opportunity to participate in spring extra- curricular activities due to the impact of the coronavirus. Athletic seasons have been cancelled, along with spring theatre productions, community service projects, music concerts, dance recitals, tutoring sessions, and more. For juniors, this…
College List Building
August 27, 2020

College Rankings in the US: Which Site to Use?

Each year, as college decision deadlines approach, new rankings are released in large numbers on numerous websites. How can you know which ones to trust and which ones to ignore? We’ve compiled a description of a few of the most prominent sites to help you decide which is best. Prominent US College Ranking Sites U.S.…
College Search
August 20, 2020

Is Your College Financially Healthy?

Your student has worked hard to make their list of preferred colleges, visited them in person or virtually, written the essays, and filled out the applications. The colleges know a lot about your student – and your family’s finances, but what do you know about theirs? Why Assessing a College’s Financial Health Is Important Based…
College Financial Planning
August 17, 2020

How to Bring Down a College’s Sticker Price

This is reality and where I encourage people to look pragmatically at the magnitude of two things related to college: These are the current sticker price costs for my oldest four kids at the colleges they’re now attending. DD2– $320,000 over four years. DS4 – $172,000 over four years DD3– $160,000 over four years. DS1…
Applications
August 14, 2020

The Trouble With Test-Optional Admissions: What the Experts Are Saying

Most colleges have now either gone test-optional or test-blind for this school year. Students and parents are wondering what that means, exactly–for those who have taken the tests, and those who haven’t. It also brings up questions about how to proceed with scheduling, studying for, and actually taking the SATs/ACTs during the pandemic, as well…
Applications
August 9, 2020

Opinion: Worried About Colleges Closing? Don’t Be

In the past few months there have been a number of stories predicting the closure of colleges. We reached out to Jeff Doyle, Associate Director for Institutional Planning & Assessment at Baylor University, to ask him to weigh in on the topic. The News on Colleges Closing Has Not Been Good Recently One of my…
High School Academics & Activities
August 7, 2020

What Should You Put in a Brag Sheet for College?

The brag sheet is an integral piece of the college application process, and yet it’s not talked about often enough. For many, its exact role in the entire operation is unknown. However, a brag sheet serves a very specific and important purpose: helping recommenders write a recommendation letter. Students generally have little control over their…
College Life
July 30, 2020

The Parental Dilemma of the Year: Should We Let Our College Kids Return to Campus?

It’s the question heard ’round the country, and the answer is complicated—and different for each family dealing with its own health, education, and financial concerns. To help with the process, we turned to several sources. Here’s the latest about COVID-19 on campuses; what questions to ask; how to decide what’s right for your family; and…
College Life
July 28, 2020

A Novel Idea: Ask Students What They Think About Returning to Campus

With the new school year just a few weeks away and coronavirus cases on the rise, many college and university presidents have shared ambitious plans for a never-before-executed fall semester. Students will have to wear masks in class, keep social distance as much as possible, get tested for Covid-19 and more to prevent spreading the…
College Financial Planning
July 24, 2020

Full-Price Tuition for Remote Learning: Is It Worth It?

COVID-19 has changed not only how students learn, but the perception of what qualifies as a worthwhile educational investment. So much so that over the last few weeks, the most discussed topic within our Paying for College 101 Facebook group has been whether it’s okay to be asked to pay the same price for off-campus…
Applications
July 22, 2020

NSHSS vs. NHS: What Are They and Which One Is Right For Your Child?

National honor societies are very popular within the academic world. In particular, high school students see admission to an honor society as a big boon on their profiles. Like every other part of the college admission process, deciding on which honor society is worth the time and investment, can be a difficult decision. In this…
College Financial Planning
July 21, 2020

Why Online Only Education is Still Worth the Cost

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, there’s been much discussion about the future of higher education. With more schools opting for hosting classes online to adhere to social distancing and keep both students and faculty safe, many students and parents are demanding tuition refunds. As institutions move classes online and many are only offering online…