College planning
Do You Need a College Advisor? Three Problems Worth Getting Help With
A college advisor is useful when the help solves a problem your family can name.
Read articleINSIGHTS FROM ANGELA
A little clarity.
A fresh perspective.
Thoughts on college planning, finding your fit, and supporting your student through their next chapter.
College planning
Find colleges that fit, make campus visits useful, and decide where guidance could help your family.
College planning
How to Choose Colleges That Fit Your Student Before Planning Campus Visits
Choose the questions you want a college to answer before booking the visit.
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College planning
Is This College Worth the Cost? Look at Internships, Career Support, and Outcomes
A college’s value depends on what your student can do there, the support they can actually use, and the cost your family will carry.
Read articleApplications
Understand early plans and direct admissions, keep deadlines manageable, and review the whole application.
Applications
College Applications Due Soon? What to Prioritize in the Final Three Weeks
When college applications are due soon, the most useful thing you can do is decide what needs attention first.
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Applications
Early Decision vs. Early Action: How to Choose Without Rushing
Applying early is useful when the college, the application, and the family’s finances are ready. The calendar alone is a poor reason to commit.
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Applications
What Makes a Strong College Application? Five Areas to Review Before You Submit
Review the whole college application before spending another evening polishing one essay.
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Applications
Your Student Received a Direct Admissions Offer. What Happens Next?
A direct admissions offer deserves a closer look. It can introduce a useful college option, but your student still needs to understand the requirements, cost, and fit.
Read articleEssays & activities
Tell a story in your own voice and describe the work, interests, and responsibilities that matter to you.
Essays & activities
Can You Use ChatGPT for College Essays? What Families Need to Know
Your student needs to be the author of the college essay. Start there before deciding whether ChatGPT belongs anywhere in the process.
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Essays & activities
Common App Activities: How Jobs, Caregiving, and Everyday Responsibilities Count
Your student’s activities include the things they do outside a club roster.
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Essays & activities
Juniors: Build Your Activities Record Now, Before Application Season
Start recording your activities while the details are easy to remember. You’ll make better application decisions later, and you may see more clearly what deserves your time now.
Read articleEssays & activities
The Common App Essay: How to Find a Story That Sounds Like You
A college essay needs a specific student at its center. Start with an experience you can explain honestly, then decide which prompt helps you tell it.
Read articleTesting
Make SAT and ACT choices around your student’s college list and each school’s requirements.
Testing
ACT Science: Should Your Student Take the Optional Section?
Decide on the ACT science section after checking your student’s colleges and goals. “Optional” at the test level doesn’t answer every college or program requirement.
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Testing
Should You Submit Your SAT or ACT Score? A Decision Guide
Decide whether to submit a test score for each college on your list. One answer for every school can miss important differences.
Read articleFinancial aid
Put affordability into the search and get organized for the FAFSA, CSS Profile, and college costs.
Financial aid
FAFSA vs. CSS Profile: Does Your Student Need Both?
Completing the FAFSA doesn’t necessarily finish your family’s financial-aid paperwork.
Read articleFinancial aid
FAFSA: Your Family’s Next Steps
Put financial aid on the calendar while your student is applying. Waiting for an acceptance can leave you scrambling over a deadline you could have handled earlier.
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Financial aid
How to Build a College List You Can Actually Afford
Put the budget into the college list before your student falls in love with a price your family can’t manage.
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