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Extra Help: College Admissions
Helping parents get their teen to college
Sept. 9, 2019
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College Application Season Is Here
A new school year is upon us. As your family continues to narrow down your teen's list of school options, check out the 2020 Best Colleges rankings - released today. See which schools comprise the top ranks of National Universities and National Liberal Arts Colleges.
With the Common App open, students would be wise to wrangle letters of recommendation from trusted teachers and sharpen their resume before college. Here’s a look at how students can get started on soliciting letters of recommendation. Hot tip: They should start asking soon.
Happy Tuesday!
The U.S. News Education newsletter team: Josh (@byJoshMoody), Melissa (@melissayshin) and Briana (@b_boyington).
TAKING THE FIRST STEPS TOWARD THE COLLEGE JOURNEY
How Colleges Weigh Applicants' Extracurricular Activities
Whether it's soccer, chess club or anything in between, colleges want to know how students spend their time outside of the classroom. But how do colleges assess the value of those experiences? Experts suggest that students seek opportunities that aid in their career goals.
What Are the Right Choices in College Admissions?
Applying to college can prompt a lot of questions. Should your student declare a major right away? Send multiple letters of recommendation? Submit test scores to test-optional schools? This slideshow aims to answer all of those admissions questions and more.
Why Colleges Look at Students' Social Media Accounts
A survey of admissions officers found that most colleges don’t seek out applicants' social media posts, but some do, which can help or hurt your teen’s chances of getting into college, depending on how they use it. Here’s how your student can be strategic on social media.
What 'Demonstrated Interest' Means in College Admissions
The world of college admissions is awash with jargon. One term, demonstrated interest, refers to a student’s enthusiasm and curiosity about a school. Some colleges track demonstrated interest because it helps predict the likelihood of a student enrolling if he or she is accepted.
EXTRA CREDIT
How to Find an LGBT-Friendly College
As diversity has grown on college campuses, many have made efforts to welcome the LGBT community. LGBT teens should consider a variety of factors to assess their comfort level at a school and look at its nondiscrimination policy, campus resources, clubs and curriculum.
RANKINGS SPOTLIGHT
Looking to get the biggest bang for your buck? U.S. News has a ranking for that.
Best Value Schools are determined by looking at academic quality alongside the net cost of attending that college for a student who was awarded the average level of need-based financial aid. Among National Universities, Princeton University in New Jersey stands atop this ranking followed by Harvard University in Massachusetts. But it's not just Ivy League schools that are generous with aid. See the full list here, and check out all the Best Colleges rankings here.
FIND YOUR SCHOOL
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Enter your preferences and profile information here, and we'll show you a personalized ranking of which schools are the best fit for you.
PREPPING, PLANNING FOR AND TAKING COLLEGE ENTRANCE EXAMS
Use Your PreACT, PSAT Performance to Choose a College Entrance Exam
One indicator for student performance on the ACT or SAT is how well they performed on practice tests, the PreACT or PSAT. Here’s how students can use those tests for a trial run.
What is a good SAT score, anyway? The answer depends on the school your teen is trying to get into. According to College Board data, 1068 was the national average SAT score in the 2017-18 school year, but highly selective schools demand much higher marks from applicants.
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