A ACT (American College Testing): A standardized college admission test featuring three required sections (English, Math, and Reading) and two optional sections (Science and Writing/essay). The composite score (1-36 scale) is calculated as the average of English, Math, and Reading scores only. The Science section, which became optional starting in April 2025 for digital tests and September 2025 for paper

Waiting is hard.  Whether you were deferred or just waiting for later admission decisions, like UMD Early Action decisions on February 1 or Regular Decision answers that come in March and April, you’re stuck in that very hard place of having to wait. It may seem that you are powerless, but you aren’t. You can take meaningful action. First, focus

Why Documentation Matters Don’t trust your memory! After visiting multiple campuses, details start to blur. That picturesque quad–was it at UVA or Richmond? The amazing recreation center–LSU or Alabama? Thorough documentation is your best friend for making informed college decisions. If you don’t have a preferred note-taking system, you can use this handy sheet, either electronically or by printing it

If you applied in the Early Action/Early Decision round, you’ve probably started hearing from some of your colleges by now. I hope you’ve opened an email or letter in your portal that starts with “Congratulations!” and confetti. I know how disappointing it is to read “We regret to inform you that we cannot offer you admission. . . .”  Or

One life skill that I like to teach my college-curious kids is calendaring. It’s common for Mom to maintain a master calendar for the family, and that makes sense when the family has so many moving parts. But as teens hit their junior and senior year of high school, they need to be responsible for scheduling and managing their own

This week a high-achieving student of mine was deferred from a school where she was more than qualified to be admitted. I called, and the admissions representative checked her file. “She didn’t engage with us at all. We leaned heavily on demonstrated interest in the Early Action round,” she said. They admitted 50% of the EA applicants, but this student

A small college can offer a big return on investment by concentrating on doing what it does well. Hood College, located in Frederick, Maryland, 45 miles from both Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, has strong programs in education, business, nursing, and psychology, and pre-professional pathways to law, medicine, dentistry, and veterinary schools. It prioritizes experiential learning and inclusivity. Hood is a

Kids tend to ignore their emails. (Perhaps you’ve noticed.) When you ignore college emails, you miss important information about portals, missing documents, scholarship deadlines, and even acceptance notifications. The hundreds of unsolicited emails from colleges can be overwhelming, but creating folders gives you POWER over your mailbox. Sorting, reading, unsubscribing, and deleting is easy and satisfying. Students, do this: Now

Honors Course Characteristics Honors courses are designed to be broader, deeper, and more complex than regular courses. They often feature smaller class sizes and discussion-based formats that encourage active engagement. H seminars are particularly distinctive, offering interdisciplinary content that often focuses on leadership, research, and global engagement themes. Program Structure: Three Paths The JMU Honors College offers students three distinct

Otterbein University cares about supporting you from Day 1 through launching your career. It’s also very attuned to affordability. Just 15 miles from downtown Columbus, Otterbein University is located in a quaint suburb, Westerville, Ohio, known for its parks, restaurants, and shops. Otterbein University is loosely associated with the United Methodist Church but has no religious requirements. The campus is