Improve your chances of getting into college,

Many colleges offer virtual tours. Some allow you to customize your virtual visit and see the things you want, while others provide a general overview. YouTube is also an option. you can find many campus videos there. Keep in mind that these videos are generally created by the admission office. So, they're showing you all of the best things. That said, you should use the videos to get a general feel for the schools. Once you are admitted to schools, you should make an effort to visit the campuses in person.

There are many factors to consider when searching for colleges. Size, distance from home, available majors, opportunities for internships, and your chances of playing a sport you love are just a few of the things to think about. When you're ready to make a college list, make a list of the criteria that are important to you. Next, choose the one or two items on your list that are deal breakers. For example, if you absolutely must be able to study criminology, then that's your deal breaker. Use your deal breaker to begin your search. That is, begin by looking for all of the schools that offer criminology. Once you've got a list of schools offering criminology, beginning narrowing your list with the other criteria you identified.

If supplemental materials are not requested, they are generally not even looked at. If a student submits a CD of a piano performance, it might be listened to as background noise while the counselor reads files, but it will not impact the admission decision.

Because of the volume of applications they need to read in such a short amount of time, counselors simply don't have the time to review supplemental materials. And, because they are not required, it would not be fair to other students, who haven't submitted anything, to use them in the evaluation process.

The number of applications each counselor reads varies depending on how large the admission office is and how many applications they receive for each spot. I've worked in a two person office, where I read every single application, But, it was a small school at which we received maybe 3 applications for each spot. So, I only read about 150 applications each year. But, I've also worked at a school with nearly two dozen counselors and close to 30,000 applications. There, I read about 3,000 each year.

The information captured on the Common Application is information that all participating schools need and want. The questions asked on the Supplement are of interest to that school but may not be of interest to other schools. For example, one school supplement asks if applicants have participated in any robotics competitions. That's not something that every school needs or wants to know, so it's included on that school's supplement but not on the Common App itself.

Yes, students can apply on-line. In fact, most colleges prefer it as the data often feeds directly into their student management system.

The Common Application is accepted by more than 450 colleges. It allows students to enter information that all colleges need, e.g. address, senior courses, activities, and achievements one time and submit it to multiple schools. The number of colleges that accept the Common App increases each year.

Most schools, particularly those that do not accept the Common App, have an on-line application on their website.

All pieces of your application should be easily identifiable as yours, i.e. have your name or ID number according to the guidelines provided by the school.

However, you don't want to "waste" space in one part of the application sharing something about yourself that can be found in another part. For example, don't answer a short essay question by continuing a story you started in your larger essay. Each question that you answer is an opportunity for you to share something new with the committee. Take advantage of each of those opportunities to set yourself apart from all of the other applicants.

Not all students have regular access to the internet. Therefore, no student will be penalized for submitting a paper application. However, many schools no longer print them as they want as many of their applicants as possible to apply on-line.

In general, supplemental materials are not required. Therefore, it would not be fair for committees to evaluate them for some students and not others. Most counselors don't even have time to look at the supplemental materials.

However, if you are applying to a program that requests supplemental materials, it is critical that you follow the guidelines for submission precisely.

Schools with rolling admission review applications as they are received and become complete. They generally promise students a decision anywhere from 4-12 weeks after their application becomes complete. However, most schools wait until they have a critical mass of applications before they begin reviewing them, so there is not an advantage to submitting early.

A downward trend in grades, i.e. going from As and Bs to Cs and Ds is the most common red flag. Similarly, if a student has taken a lot of honors and AP courses and then shifts to a less rigorous curriculum, it will raise questions. Some colleges will also be alarmed if they see an excessive amount of unexplained absences on a student's transcript.

The best recommendation letters convey specific details about a students ability, effort, strengths and weakness. Colleges can see the grade you earned in a class by looking at the transcript. They want to know more from your teachers. Specifically, they want to know what sets you a part from other students and whether or not you will be successful on their campus. So, if you got an A in a class, without much effort, that might not be the best teacher to ask. Instead, think about a teacher who watched you struggle and ultimately master some challenging material or the teacher who witnessed you going above and beyond the rest of your classmates.

Dropping a recommendation form in a teacher's mailbox with a post-it note and the due date, doesn't show a lot of respect for her time. So, chances are that teacher won't put a lot of effort into the letter. I encourage students to schedule a meeting to ask for a recommendation letter. Take the time to show your teacher your list of schools (so they know how many they have to write) and explain to them why you're interested in each school. Talking to them about your list might reveal information that could help you. Perhaps your teacher attended one of the schools on your list. If she's familiar with the college's curriculum, her evaluation of your ability to succeed within it, is more meaningful. Similiarly, if she knows other students who've attended and done well at particular college and can discuss your abilities relative to that student, it is more meaningful. These conversations can't be had if you wait till the last minute. Ideally, you will give your teacher at least 4 weeks to write the letter. If you want to meet with her first, you need to allow five weeks.

Some teachers now request that students notify them at the end of their junior year, if they want to have a letter of recommendation. This allows the teacher to write the letter over the summer. This is beneficial for the teacher because she has fewer things on her plate; and, it's beneficial for the student because his performance is freshest in the teacher's mind.

Most colleges will waive the application fee for students. However, each school's process is a little different, so it is important to read the instructions for each school. Some schools, for example, will request that you provide some additional information in order to receive the fee waiver. Other schools allow you to request the waiver right on the payment screen of the Common Application process.

If you feel you need the waiver, don't be shy about asking. Schools want to do what they can to help you achieve your goal of a college education.

At some colleges, students can earn college credits for high scores on the AP exams. For some students, at some colleges, they will earn enough college credits that they can graduate early. That is where the tuition savings are. If you finish a semester early, you could save anywhere from a couple to ten thousand dollars in tuition.

A few things to keep in mind:

1. Every school requires a different AP score to receive credit. For some it's 3, and for other schools it's 5.

2. Even if you have the required score, each school awards credit differently. Some give elective credit, some allow you to place out of certain requirements.

3. At many schools, the evaluation of AP credits happens after you have committed to enroll at the school. At that point, it is too late to evaluate the impact on the financial burden compared to other schools.

If you need to know the exact dollar amount your family will need to pay before commiting to a school, you should not apply to any schools under a binding early decision plan.

While schools with binding early decision plans are doing a much better job of presenting financial aid packages earlier in the process, applying early decision does not allow you to compare the financial aid awards at different schools.

It's important to compare financial aid packages from different schools. Some may offer a lot of loans, others mostly grants, and some might include work-study. It is important that you be able to compare them and determine which is best for your family.

It's important to distinguish between need-based and merit-based aid. Need-based aid is determined solely by your parents' income and assets. Stellar SAT scores and high GPAs have no impact on need-based aid. It is determined by an evaluation of the FAFSA and/or CSS Profile.

Merit-based aid, on the other hand, is based on your academic success. The higher your SAT or ACT scores are, the greater the chances of receiving merit aid will be. Many schools post general guidelines for their merit scholarships. With a little research on your part, you can determine the likelihood of earning merit money with your scores. Keep in mind, though, that scores are not generally the only criteria for scholarships.

If the financial aid package you receive does not meet your expectations, you can ask for it to be re-evaluated. It helps if you have new information for the financial aid office to consider. It also helps to convey your sincere interest in the school and to be super polite.

Calling a school and saying, schools X gave us Y, why can't you will not get you very far. But, calling a school and saying that you're really interested in attending but financially it will be difficult so is there anything more they can do or any other information you can provide that might help them, will get you closer to your goal of a new award package.

If there is a change in a family's financial situation, it should be shared with the financial aid office. The more information the financial aid office has, the better equipped they are to create a package that meets the family's needs.

If the change means the family has less money, it could mean an increase in the financial aid award.

If the change means a family has more money, it does not automatically mean that a financial award will be decreased. Sharing the information will show the financial aid office that you are acting in good faith. They will be more inclined to work with you if they feel you are not trying to conceal information and/or assets.

FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Every student who applies for need-based financial aid, needs to submit it. It cannot be completed until January 1 of a student's senior year of high school, and it needs to be filed each year that a student applies for aid.

Data from the FAFSA is used to determine how much a family can contribute to their child's education and how much aid they may be eligible for.

Travelling expenses can add up pretty quickly, especially if you're considering more than a handful of schools. So, how can you see a campus and save money? Start with virtual tours or YouTube videos. They won't show you everything, but they'll give you a general feel for the campus and whether it might be one you want to visit in the future.

Can't get to campus for an information session? Visit the school's website and see if an admission counselor will be in your area.

Local and regional college fairs are a great way to get a lot of information in one place. Once you've gone through all the literature you picked up at the fair, you can identify the handful of schools you want to spend money visiting.

Financial aid officers will gladly review your offer and try to work with you, if they don't feel you're simply trying to negotiate a better deal.

The best approach is to present any new information that has impacted family finances. This could be a move, divorce, job loss or change, new baby, caring for an elderly family member or unexpected medical expenses. Be as specific as possible and share as many details as you can to help convey that the numbers determined by the FAFSA or CSS Profile are not reflective of your actual situation.

It's OK to say that another school gave you X (be prepared to show the award) and to ask if this school can do the same or help you understand why they can't.

Be honest, if a school is truly your first choice, tell them. You can say, this is my first choice, and I really want to enroll, but the numbers just don't work for us, is there anything you can do?

These strategies are more likely to yield an increase in aid than simply demanding more or that a school match another school's offer.

Who conducts your college interview varies. If you are interviewing off-campus, it will most likely be with an alumni interviewer. These are graduates of the school who volunteer their time to meet with prospective students. Some counselors will also conduct interviews while they are "on the road" recruiting. If you have an interview on campus, it could be with an admission counselor, an alum, or a student volunteer. It is different at each school. Most schools are pretty clear about their interview policies, and you can generally find this information on their website.

At some colleges, the interview is a part of the candidate's file; at others, it is not. Most schools are upfront about letting you know whether the interview will be used to make an admission decision. Because of the volume of applicants, the school's inability to meet requests for all interviews, and the fact that some students are unable to arrange an interview, most schools now offer the interview as a informational opportunity for the student. In other words, it's a chance for a student to meet with someone who is knowledgeable about the school and ask some basic questions and get a general feel for the school.

Yes, your interview may be with a current student. Many schools have seniors, tour guides or admission volunteers do the interviews because the counselors simply don't have the time to offer every interested student an interview.

When you make your interview appointment, ask whether you'll be meeting with a counslor, student, alum, or other volunteer so that you are not surprised when you arrive.

The addage is true...you don't get a second chance to make a first impression. So, you want to go into your interview with a positive and confident attitude. You want to avoid being negative, both about your own performance and/or interests and, naturally, about the school and other schools. You don't want to put down other colleges or programs. You also don't want to criticize your parents or teachers. Saying you got a bad grade because the teacher didn't know what she was doing or that you can only apply to a few schools because you're parents don't want you going to far or can't afford other options will not make a good impression. Similarly, you don't want to rave about other schools. One of the goals of the interview is to show your sincere interest in the school. If you say you're applying as a safety or because another school you like better is too far away or too small, it doesn't make the school you're with feel like you really want to be there.

Have you ever tried to have a conversation with someone who was fiddling with her phone or staring off into space? How did that make you feel? How you present yourself, that is what you wear, how you carry yourself, how you sit, whether you establish eye contact are all as important as what you actually say. You should sit up straight and make eye contact with your interviewer to show that you are focused and interested in what she is saying. You should dress well to show that you take the process seriously. Showing up in ripped jeans and a sloppy shirt suggests you don't think the interview is important and you just threw something on. A firm handshake is always a nice touch too!

The differences begin at the admission stage. Conservatories almost always require auditions. The next difference is in the curriculum. In general, college dance (or theater or music) majors are designed to give students a general overview of the discipline along with general education requirements of math, English, history, etc. The dance classes usually make up about one third of all the courses the student will take. Conservatory programs, on the other hand, are designed to train students in the discipline. Usually two thirds of their requirements are dance classes and the remainder are general education requirements. The other difference is in what is expected of students. Conservatory students, for example, have very rigid requirements about attendance and participation. However, if you miss a handful of classes as a dance major, no one will kick up much of a fuss.

There are dozens of ballet programs. It is impossible to label any "the strongest" without knowing about the student considering the program. Are they interested in staying in the US or going abroad? Do they want a conservatory or just a ballet major? Are they interested in classical training or a more modern approach? How much training in pointe have they already had? Do they want a tiny program or a larger one? What do they want to do upon graduation? Do they want to be in a city with lots of dance companies or do they need to stay closer to home? These are just some of the criteria to consider. As with any college search, a dancer needs to identify the criteria that are most important and begin shaping a list based on the schools that meet those criteria rather than chasing an elusive "best" program.

Creative individuals are always in demand!

With a background in the arts, particularly performance (either acting, singing, dancing) you can always earn money providing lessons. You can offer group or individual lessons.

Parents of elementary school students now hire artists for birthday parts. Older students are looking to perfect their abilities as a means to set themselves apart.

If you don't want to teach or provide lessons, and you have a major in fine arts, you can work at design firms or marketing companies.

If you like to travel, you might look for work as an admissions counelor at an art school or conservatory.

Staying close to home is not better than going away and vice versa. Each has its advantages.

If you stay close to home, it's easier to visit for long weekends or shorter breaks like Thanksgiving or Presidents' Weekend.

But, if you're far away, you get to experience a new part of the country!

Social media has absolutely impacted the way colleges communicate with students. Many, if not most, schools now Tweet on a regular basis and have Facebook pages. These websites enable colleges to share exciting developments, like new majors or study abroad locations, instantaneously. They also allow students to get a feel for the campus.

When colleges admit students, they expect that they will finish their senior year with the same academic and social success that gained them admission. So, if a student submits a final transcript to the college he plans to attend and his grades have gone from all As to all Cs or Ds, his acceptance may be revoked. Disciplinary issues are another reason.

If a student is expelled from school, he can't graduate. Without a high school diploma, he can't begin college.

The best way to protect yourself is to keep your grades up and stay out of trouble!

While it's true that most counselors at most colleges simply don't have time to research candidates on Facebook, there are some schools at which counselors do review Facebook profiles. Before you change your status or post on someone's wall, think about whether you would want an admission committee to see it and whether you'd want that to be their first impression of you.

Before you head to campus, make a list of all the things you want to know that can't be found on the school website or in their marketing materials. Asking a tour guide what the average class size is can be a missed opportunity. He is going to give the answer he is trained to give. Instead, you might ask something like, "I read that the average class size is 19. How may classes have you had that were larger than 19?" That question will provide a more useful answer.

Every prospective student has different goals and therefore different questions that are important. What's a deal breaker for you? Class size, the quality of the dorms, the availability of internships, the possibility of graduating early? The most important questions to ask are the ones which will help you determine if the school can help you achieve your goals.

Many parents wait until April to file their income tax returns. But, information from the tax returns is needed to complete the FAFSA and CSS Profile forms. While you can complete the forms with estimated information, it will delay the process. Colleges also request copies of your tax returns, usually by March. Missing deadlines may mean there's no more aid at that school.

Get your taxes done as early as you can so that you can get the financial aid process started. Getting actual, as opposed to, financial aid numbers sooner rather than later will allow you to plan better.

The most important thing to consider before transferring is how many credits you will receive for the work you've already completed. Some colleges will only accept a certain number of transfer credits. You don't want to have to re-take any courses at your new school. That will cost you both time and money. Some colleges have a feature on their website which allows you to enter the classes you've taken to determine if you'd receive credit as a transfer student. Take advantage of this opportunity or arrange an appointment with a transfer counselor so that you know as much as possible about what credit you will receive and how long it will take you to complete your degree.