College admissions is competitive,

Parents should begin saving for college as soon as possible. In no way is it recommended that parents utilize their retirement savings to cover the cost of college tuition. Building a savings plan for college is important and can definitely grow over time. It is best to work with a financial planner to best maximize your savings.

The sooner you begin to save money for college the better. There are numerous college savings plans that both parents and students can utilize to best meet post-secondary costs. Parents should not sacrifice their retirement monies in order to pay for college. Stocks, mutual funds, and a 529 Plan are some of the ways that allow you to save money for college.

Also, keep in mind that a student may be eligible for grants and scholarships based on their academic and/or extracurricular performance. Both of these awards often times do not have to be paid back and could be made available each year the student is enrolled in college.

If you can not afford a college application fee, you may be able to have it reduced or eliminated by utilizing a fee waiver form. The National Association for College Admission Counseling(NACAC) provides an application on its website for families that are currently experiencing financial hardship. A student is recommended to ask their guidance counselor to assist him or her with the completion of this form. The NACAC provides an informative FAQ page that specifies the requirements that are necessary to receive a fee waiver for college applications.

A 529 Plan is a college savings plan that provides its saver with tax advantages. There are two types of plans: Prepaid and College Savings Plan. All states throughout the US offer one type of plan and in addition, some individual colleges offer a prepaid tuition plan.

A prepaid plan allows its saver to purchase credits/units for future tuition costs. It locks in tuition prices at eligible private and public colleges. The enrollment period for this plan is limited.

A college savings plan permits its saver to open an account with their money and offers him or her various investment options. The tuition price is not locked in at either a private or public college. The enrollment period is open all year.

It is recommended that the saver research their states 529 Plan option and/or speak to a financial advisor.

The FAFSA stands for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It is a form used to apply for aid to fund higher education. This form is free to complete and is likely required by colleges you plan on applying.

The FAFSA is a process that can be completed without having to pay someone to assist. There are multiple hotlines that the Department of Education provides to families for their questions and advice. As long as you have the necessary documents for its completion, then completing it should be timely but not impossible.

If the application allows for a resume to be submitted, then yes include it. It is more than likely that you have included all this information in the body of your application so if there is an option to upload a resume than do so however, if not, then it is best that you not include another document. The college admissions counselors have an abundance of paperwork they receive on thousands of other applicants...following directions is important.

Athletics can certainly strengthen your college application in the admissions process however, keep in mind that the term "student-athlete" is highly regarded on the collegiate level. Understanding the academic requirements to play D1 or D2 is essential for students to understand as soon as they enter high school. You may be the top running back in the country however, if you fail to meet the academic standards for a D1 school, you may not have the opportunity to play for their program. Be well versed in all rules and regulations set forth by the NCAA.

The best possible resource for any student considering intercollegiate sports is the NCAA website. You must have a solid knowledge on the requirements and available opportunities that exist at D1, D2, and D3 colleges throughout the country.

Understand that although you may have been running a football since you could stand up, the playing field for college will be extremely competitive and absorb a large amount of your time throughout your college years.

Remember that the word student proceeds the word athlete on the collegiate level. Not only do your coaches expect you to perform on the field but your performance in your courses is essential for your to become a successful student-athlete.

Get to Know This Website:

beRecruited.com is an amazing resource for student athletes throughout the country who are interested in pursuing athletics in either a D1, D2, or D3 school. Both male and female student athletes can market themselves by uploading their athletic highlight films and creating an athletic profile to showcase their talent.

Showcase Time:

Take advantage of club teams or showcases happening in your area. Talk with your high school or club team coach about learning more about the available athletic opportunities that will have college recruiters in attendance.

Network:

Email the coach at your interested college and introduce yourself and discuss your potential interest in participating in athletics at their college.

If your high school has Naviance, you can complete a search that will produce colleges that offer a major in the arts. There are many ways to customize your search.

Depending on the amount of statistical information in Naviance(GPA, PSAT Score, SAT Score, ACT Score), you may be able to see where you stand academically against past graduates from your school for a particular college.

Other websites to check out...

AllArtSchools.com

ArtSchools.com

Collegeboard.com

Petersons.com

A conservatory dance program concentrates specifically and entirely on the study of dance. The curriculum will allow students to fully immerse themselves throughout their attendance with the main goal of obtaining a full-time career in dance. A college dance program, although prestigious, will not offer the full immersion of the study of dance in the years attended by the student. The competitiveness in a conservatory program is much greater than that of a college department program. In addition, the dedicated time to dance is much greater for a student.

Adelphi University

American University

Bard College

Barnard

Boston Conservatory

Brandeis University

Butler University

Brown University

Columbia University

Cornell

Elon University

Indiana University

Juilliard

Oberlin

Ohio State

Rutgers University

Swarthmore

University of South Florida

Vanderbilt University

On the road to your "big break in Hollywood" you may not land a full-time job right out of college. Now, needing a full-time job with a major in the arts may have you scratching your head as to what employment opportunities you can pursue.

Some options to consider:

1. Teaching: Fine and Performing Arts Programs throughout the country are being supported by local government officials and parent groups more so now than ever before. Educational research has continuously shown the importance of these programs in schools and although funding may not be at a all time high, the voices to support these school programs are.

2. Children's Parties: It may sound silly, but we all remember the birthday parties that we went to when we were younger that had performers, clowns, musicians, or the popular pony rides. Think about advertising and charging a fee to do performances at children's birthday parties to showcase your performance talents. You never know a parent at the party may be a Hollywood Agent who may be blown away by your talent.

3. Consider going back to school: You hopefully graduated from a college that allowed you to form positive relationships with professors and department chairs. Consider applying for a position as a Graduate Assistant. Graduate Assistants can sometimes have their entire graduate program paid for by working for the college and a particular school program. For your graduate program, you may want to continue your study in the arts or you may wish to explore a new area of interest. Be open minded!

Cappex, Kaarme, and Zinch has altered the playing field for college admissions and how colleges and students interact with one another. Consider these websites the "Facebook" of college admissions. Check out each website to learn more about the digitally connecting to your potential schools.

Remember if you "Like" or "Favorite" a college of interest, that college will be able to view your profile. Always be smart about items you post on your Facebook or Twitter Account.

If you receive word from a college that you have been waitlisted or deferred, you should continue to correspond with the school to show your genuine interest in attending. In addition to emailing admissions explaining your continued desire to attend and to update the school on your academic/extracurricular progress, you should also pick up the phone and contact admissions personally. If an interview is offered by local alumni or by admissions themselves, plan on scheduling time to sit down and articulate all that you could contribute to the college campus while completing your undergraduate studies. Many students take a WL or DF as a rejection and could not be more inaccurate about either status. Keep in mind, the admissions team would love to accept all students who want to attend their prestigious institution however, that is not a reality. Think of it this way, a rejection letter is the end of the road while a WL or DF letter is a continued journey towards a possible acceptance. Be sure to continue to show genuine interest in the school and continue to do well in your academic studies and extracurricular activities.

The transfer process is much different than that of the undergraduate application process. A student considering transferring should be mindful of the courses they have taken at their current college and see if their potential transfer college will accept any or all the courses. The transfer application is different and will pose different questions to its transfer applicants. Also, the materials required to be sent to a schools of interest are much different than what was required when you were in high school. For example, if you have been attending a college for over a year, the application may not require that you send your SAT scores. Most if not all colleges will require a high school transcript and your college transcript. Be mindful of deadline dates for transfer applications for both the fall and spring semester. It is always best advised to contact a transfer admission counselor to assist with your application and to pose your questions regarding the transfer process.

I have advised students to consider having three plans.

The Plan A List: These are the schools that get you most excited when speaking about the possibility of attending. Perhaps you have worn a sweatshirt for one of these schools since you could walk and still have the sweatshirt in your possession. (Place three schools in your Plan A List; One of these schools may be your potential ED choice or all three may be your EA selections.)

The Plan B List: These are the school that make you excited about the possibilities and opportunities that could exist if you attended. You may have visited the campus, had a good feeling about the school, and know friends or family who have attended and have insisted that this school would be a good fit for you. (Place three schools in your Plan B; these most likely will be either EA or Regular Decision Schools.)

The Plan C List: These are the schools that you may or may not have had the opportunity to visit however, you have done your research, worked with your college counselor, and have networked with admissions representatives prior to your applications submission. (Place 2-3 schools in your Plan C: these schools will more than likely be your Regular or Rolling Decision Schools.)

Dedicate your time and resources according to your categorized letter plans. Your top choices will automatically pull more of your time and efforts however, be confident and proud in all of your application submissions. Applying to a total of nine schools is reasonable and depending on your time and efforts can reduce your stress and anxiety throughout this exciting process. It is essential to dedicate time to researching your schools in order to create a list of schools that match your academic strengths and extracurricular activities. Remember you can only attend one college in the fall.

Tip!

Be knowledgeable on your chosen application type: ED, EA, EA Restrictive, Regular Decision, and Rolling Decision: Visit each college website for their application type definitions.

Early Decision Pros for International Applicants

-You apply to one school and if you are accepted, you application process is over.

-You will receive an admissions decision more quickly than that of a regular decision candidate

-Financially, you will save a large amount of money on application costs since you will only be applying to one single school

Early Decision Cons for International Applicants

-Many colleges will want to assess their global applicants as a whole and therefore, may defer your application for regular admission

-You must be mindful of the cost of tuition and create a plan for affording all years of attendance at your chosen school

-You must have solid TOEFL and SAT scores to be considered a competitive candidate

Visit each school website to understand the Early Decision regulations set forth by admissions

Colleges view the IELS as a more competitive test due to its personalized-speech format. Although the TOEFL now requires a recorded speech to be submitted through the internet.

Be sure to review each school website to have a better understanding of what test is preferred and/or accepted.

Plan your exams accordingly. With proper preparation and remediation you score can improve significantly. There is no limit on the amount of times you can take the TOEFL test however, keep in mind that preparation and dedication are key in increasing your score. Be mindful of application deadline dates. You want all your application materials and test scores to be available when a college counselor is reviewing your application. To register and take a test close to the application deadline, may hold up the review of your application because of a missing TOEFL score.

Keep in mind that you will need to focus time and attention on your applications. If you have to take exams on top of completing applications, you may be adding stress to your college process.

Fee waivers are accepted for US residents. An application for a fee-reduction can be found on the TOEFL website in addition to reduction guidelines.

It is imperative that an applicants essay answers the question that is being asked of him/her in the most authentic way possible. Sounds simple, right? Unfortunately, many applicants approach the essay thinking more about what they believe admissions counselors want to hear than the actual question itself. This is the one part of the application that will tell your story. A high school transcript and standardized test scores tell one story. You took these courses, you got these grades. You took this test, you got this score. The essay is your opportunity to share your voice, your vision, your potential.

Some things to keep in mind...

1. Follow directions. 500 words means 500 words.

2. Proofread, Proofread, and then when you have time Proofread again

3. Share you essay with a friend and/or teacher and ask for feedback

4. Answer the question thoroughly. For example, ff the essay asks you to write about a person in your life who influenced you and how they did, make sure at the end of the essay, an admissions representative knows more about you than the person you chose to write about. Remember this is YOUR application, not the person who has influenced you.

5. Be sure you type your essay and include any application number that you may have received

6. Keep in mind that your short answer questions(if applicable) are also important components to your application. The short answer questions should be given the same amount of time and attention as your essay. Remember, all parts of your application count!

Each college and university sets their own guidelines for interviews. Since the global college applicant pool has soared in numbers over the last five years, an international candidate may wish to contact the international admissions counselor at their potential school and request to have a sit down with him or her. This may be more of an informal interview however, it will assist an applicant greatly when their application is being reviewed and an admissions counselor has had a personal conversation either formally or informally with the candidate. Applicants should take advantage of any opportunity that exists to speak one-on-one with an admissions counselor at their potential school.

Most US colleges will encourage international students to apply for financial aid. Although many items are needed to receive aid for attending college in the USA, if not eligible, the college may still like to review the financial aid paperwork to potentially award the applicant with other monies such as grants and scholarships.

The FAFSA will ask the applicant for a social security number. If the applicant does not have a SSN#, he or she can apply as a eligible non-citizen. Unfortunately, if an applicant is attending school on a student visa, he or she will not be eligible for financial aid.

The best resource to utilize is the financial aid office at your potential school of interest. Also, additional information can be found on the FAFSA website.

US College Admissions and the Chinese domestic college entrance exam are similiar in that a component of the application process involves a test score.

In the US, each college requires a different standardized testing score from its applicants(either the SAT or ACT). In China, each providence requires a different score to gain admission to its area school . The more competitive of a providence, the higher the score needed by an applicant. The US college admission process is similar in that an Ivy League school, think Princeton, requires a higher SAT/ACT score than the state college, Rutgers University.

Carefully read all literature available regarding the available majors at your potential school. Read course descriptions under each major to see what your likes and dislikes are. If you are unsure, you may wish to go in as an undeclared applicant. A majority of students do go in as undeclared and be assured that his will not hurt your chances for admission. A misconception is that admissions will deem you as a student who does not know what they want to do with their life. That could not be further from the truth. A college would not offer "undeclared" if they wanted their candidates to declare a major.

It will be more than likely that an international admissions representative from your chosen school will work with you through the registration process. Your admissions counselor can assist you with choosing courses available in their ESL Program. A majority of colleges throughout the US offer ESL specific courses, an opportunity to utilize language labs, and sometimes even have and ESL advisor that can work with you throughout your time in college.

A student should plan on contacting the Disability Services Office as early as possible. This will allow the office time to review information and have a better understanding of the necessary accommodations required for an individual student. When planning your campus visit, a student should either schedule a meeting with the Disability Services Office or stop by to pick up any paperwork that may assist the student through the application process.

Students with disabilities should do their research early on in their high school career. Since every student may require different modifications and accommodations, it is essential that what you need to best succeed on the collegiate level is readily available on the campus you are considering attending.

The disability services provided in college are not the same as those you may have received in high school. Students in grades k-12 are covered by IDEA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; this law requires that special education and related services be designed to meet the needs of the eligible students. It is the schools responsibility to seek out the students in need of special educations services. In college, institutions are only required to provide "reasonable accommodations". A student attending a college/university must disclose their disability and request services that will allow him/her to be successful in the collegiate level.

Students should be able to disclose their disability when they apply to college without fear of discrimination. Remember, when you sign your application, you are attesting to the fact that all information is truthful and is not altered in any way. According to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Section 504, "No otherwise qualified handicapped individual in the US shall soley by reason of his handicap, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving financial assistance." A college can not limit the number of students with disabilities they admit.

A student must disclose to the Office of Disability Services that he/she will be in need of accommodations/modifications. The earlier the paperwork is filed with the office, the better. More than likely, your IEP from high school and additional documentation will be required in addition to the colleges disability services application.

Both the SAT and ACT have different requirements that need to be met by the student prior to the student being approved for when requesting additional time or other accommodations. In most cases, with both the SAT and ACT, formal documentation is needed from the students school and/or a physician. The one main different between applying for accommodations with the SAT and ACT is that once you file with College Board and are approved for accommodations, each test you register from that point forward will automatically place the student under special testing; meaning that no application is necessary to be filed for each test. However, when registering for the ACT, the student will have to file paperwork for EACH test he/she plans on taking from that point forward. Both the College Board and ACT website have detailed information regarding the application and documentation process required for accommodations.

Both four year and two year colleges offer disability services to students in need of assistance. The most important thing to keep in mind when a special needs student is researching potential colleges is the type of disability program he/she will need to be successful in their post-graduate years. The two programs: Structured vs. Self-Directed. A structured program offers above and beyond what is dictated by the government through Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. This program typically has an additional if not entirely different application process that requires documentation that accommodations and/or modifications are needed. A self-directed program typically does not require an additional application and is more than likely handled through the Office of Disability Services. The structured program is much more hands on with the special needs student.

One word...IMPORTANT. You should navigate through all components of both the undergrad and graduate admission material. Not only could you wind up attending there after high school but, you could also potentially want to remain at that chosen school for your graduate work. There is so much information available on each college website that it can be a little overwhelming...here are some MUSTS that you should view...

1. Admission Criteria

2. Financial Aid-Net Price Calculator

3. Housing Options

4. Majors and Minors offered and their required courses

5. Clubs, Sports, Greek Life

6. A link to the school newspaper

When conducting your research on chosen colleges you must be aware of what the average acceptance rate...the lower the percentage accepted, the more selective the school. When applying, understand your chances of getting in to highly selected schools. A well balanced list that contacts a well balanced list of highly selective and selective schools, given you meet a majority of the criteria, will most likely lead to a successful college application process.