College admissions is competitive,

Geography can pay a role in college admissions. Colleges are looking for diversity on many fronts including where you are from in the world. I would doubt that it gets down to the town you live but which state or country is taken into consideration.

It depends on the student's profile. If the student's academic record has been consistent since 9th grade, he or she has completed all standardized testing by the end of junior year, and has a definite first choice school which matches their academic profile, they should apply early, usually a November 1st deadline. Many state colleges have rolling admissions and if applying to a college with rolling admissions, the student should complete the application sooner rather than later. For many colleges, the admit rates for early or regular admission are not very different and so regular is advised particularly if the student's grades from the fall of senior year are likely to be much stronger and or they will not complete the required ACT or SAT tests until the fall.

Follow their instructions. Thank them for their input and give them plenty of time to write you recommendation.

The college application process is very stressful for all involved. An important part of my role as a counselor is to try to bring down the stress levels of both parents and student by giving them information and reminding them there are many options in any given situation. It is not my job to sort out family politics or solve long standing family issues. Often family members have different views of acceptable outcomes and the most challenging part of the job is to encourage family members to share their views and listen to each other. I also make sure the student applies to at least two colleges which in my view are a good match and there is a good chance of admission. Finally, I remind parents that it is not productive to compare their child with others. Each student presents specific strengths and weaknesses which may not be obvious to others.

Many colleges use their alumni to interview applicants. In most cases, the an alumni in your area will contact you once you have submitted either the school's supplement (Common App) or Part I of the application. If you already know an alum, you may contact them on an informal basis to ask for information or advice, otherwise it is best to follow the protocal listed on the college's website or check with the Admissions Office.

Early action is another way to indicate it. The student can mention it in an interview.

If you are a top athlete, athletics can be a valuable hook for college admissions. If you want to be a recruited athlete, you need to familiarize yourself with the process as early as 10th grade as coaches can begin to contact athletes after June 15th of 10th grade. That being said, it is important to keep your grades up as academics still play a big role in the process.

The most important part of an application is the student's high school transcript. Assuming the GPA and rigor of curriculum are a match, many schools next look at standardized test scores. This is not applicable for test optional schools. Each school then has its own policy in terms which parts of the application it emphasizes. Colleges understand that applicants are not always able to visit-particularly the college is more that 500 miles from home. A visit demonstrates interest but is not a deciding factor. Applicants are not expected to network with admissions reps and at many schools do not even have a chance to meet with them except for the information session as many schools no longer offer on campus interviews.

College applications are a lot of work and application and test score submissions can get to be expensive. I suggest doing careful research about each college before starting the applications. This allows you to eliminate colleges that are not good matches before you apply. As each year seems to be more competitive it is important to be very realistic about how your academic profile stacks up with last year's admitted students. When your research is complete, make a list of 2 "likely" schools where your g.p.a and standardized test scores are above mid 50% range of last year's admitted students, 3 colleges where you stats fall within the published 50% range of GPAs and scores, and 2 colleges where you scores are slightly below. It is a good idea to check with a counselor to see if our list matches up with their view of academic profile. Each one of us likes to think that we will be the exception and the truth is that most of us won't be unless we have some extraordinary talent or mitigating factor.

The admission process for expat applicants who are US citizens is the same but it is important to allow yourself more time. Make a point of visiting colleges each time you are in the US, as early as 9th grade. Check the standardized testing schedules well in advance as they tend to be more limited than domestic options. Start the discussion with your high school early as they may or may not be used to processing applications for the US. Try to spend at least some time in the summers in the US to get to know the culture.

I am a big fan of gap years, particularly for boys. That being said, what a student does during a gap year is important. Personally, I like the British model where students spend a year supporting themselves and travelling rather than "doing" a program. As many countries still require boys to do military service, this is another option as there is never a convenient time to do one's military service.

The more legwork or preparation you do before your visit the more you will get out of your visit. Do you know any current students that you could contact before you arrive and arrange to meet while you are on campus? The student can show you their dorm room and give you an honest assessment of the food or even have you for a meal which you won't get on the tour. They can describe their workload and accesibility of the professors. When you research a college see if there are any special programs that are of particular interest to you and ask ahead of time if you can sit in on a class or meet current students in the program. I am a fan of visiting fewer colleges for a longer visits than drive by visits of many colleges. I also recommend that your visits include diverse colleges in terms of size, setting (urban versus rural), and selectivity vis a vis your academic profile.

They vary considerable and need to be considered on their individual merits.

The ones that mean the most to you and where you have excelled and or shown leadership.

The best time to visit is when school is in session. Colleges often begin and end earlier than high schools and so late summer is a good time. You can also check to see if your high school's spring break is at a different time than the colleges you wish to visit.

Despite all the hype about the difficulty of getting into college, it is important to begin your search by remembering that you are choosing colleges as much as they are choosing you. Think about your parameters: size, location, specific academic interests, cost, housing, sports, etc. The more you know about yourself; your learning style, social comfort zone, etc. the better you will be able to find your college matches. And remember there are many colleges that will suit you and want you.

Which rankings? There are so many available that if the ranking you are consulting is not very specific they may not be very useful.

If you are interested in specific programs ask about them. I recommend that if possible, visiting high school students should sit in on a class.

1. Take the ACT or SAT at least once

2. Visit at least a few different types of colleges

3. This about which teachers you will ask to write recommendations for you and perhaps ask them if they write them over the summer.

4. Complete several drafts of your college essay.

5. During the summer, start working on the individual college supplements..

Not all applicants are able to visit the colleges they would like to apply to for a variety of reasons. Assuming the college is more than 500 miles from home, colleges will understand that lack of a visit does not mean lack of interest. In place of a visit, take the virtual tour that many colleges offer on their website. Use sites such as Unigo or Collegeprowler to read what other students are saying about a particular school. Ask you guidance counselor if any recent graduates attend the schools you are interested and ask if you can contact them by Skype or email. Ask the admissions office if there are any students from your area you could speak to or how to contact their "student ambassadors". If you are interested in a specific program, ask to speak to students or professors in that area.

What makes a school large or small to an applicant is the applicant's frame of reference. A student coming from a high school with 4,000+ students may find a college of the same size to be similar or even too small while a student coming from a high school of 300 students may find a college with 4,000 students to be much bigger. Size alone may not determine a student's experience at college. So much depends on class size and how the colleges are organzied. Are students split up into residential colleges where they spend all four years? Are most classes held as large lectures or smaller seminiars. In terms of advantages and disadvantages, again size does not always correlate. For example some of the small liberal arts colleges have incredible athletic and research facilities which one might expect to find only at large schools and some large schools may cap class size below a smaller college. Which college is the right size for you? Only you can decide once you done your research and taken into account your personal priorities.

There are no "right" extra curriculars. Your extra curricular activities should be of interest to you and help you develop outside the classroom. Your grades and teacher recommendations will reflect your dedication as a student. If math is your passion, it makes sense to be a member of the math club, but if you prefer chess that is fine as well.

The biggest and most avoidable mistake students makes in the admissions, process is not sufficiently researching the schools to which they apply. When completing the individual supplements almost all schools a variation of why do you want to come to this college. Students often have absolutely no idea which not only makes it difficult to answer the question but does not bode well for figuring out if they are a match. "My friends/parents/counselor think it is a great school for me" is not an answer. The student who is going to be (hopefully) spending four years there needs to know why he or she wants to go to a particular college. The admission committee wants to know that you are have sufficiently interested in the school to learn about the college and make the argument as to why you would be a good addition.

The best way to start is by spending time on colleges' website. I also recommend Fiske's "Guide to Colleges" as well as "The Insider's Guide to College", our school or local library should have copies of both. In addition, find out from your high school if any recent graduates are attending the colleges you are interested in and try to get in touch with students either when they are visiting home or by Skype or email.

I suggest 2 likely, 3 target and 2 dreams. Be sure that your schools are indeed in those categories.

Early decision (ED) is binding and if accepted the student must withdraw all other applications. Early action (EA) is not binding and the student is free to apply to other colleges and does not have to accept the EA offer until May 1st.

Yes present and past applicants

The most obvious benefit is that if accepted EA or ED, the student's application process is complete with one application.

Some colleges take up to 40% of their class through ED or EA while others take fewer. Georgetown University states on its website that a chances or admission are about the same whether EA or RD. Check the individual websites for the colleges where you will be applying.

The only way you can "get out of it" is if you can not afford to attend based on the financial aid package offered. Students requiring FA are generally advised to apply RD so that they have the opportunity to compare packages from different colleges.

Many colleges have supplements to the common application because they want to know more about the student. In some cases, they want to know what and how much the applicant knows about them.

Applications that stand out are well written, cohesive and interesting to read.

Colleges which participate in the Common Application all accept part 1 the application which includes a family and school data. Many colleges ask students to complete a supplement which asks for data (sometimes duplicating Part I) and usually contains some specific questions regarding their institution which can either be short answers or an additional essay.

Most colleges prefer online applications.

From their website www.commonapp.org:

The Common Application membership association was established in 1975 by 15 private colleges that wished to provide a common, standardized first-year application form for use at any member institution. With the administrative support of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), the organization grew steadily throughout its first 30 years.

Now in our fourth decade, the Common Application currently provides both online and print versions of its First-year and Transfer Applications. Our membership of more than 400 institutions now represents the full range of higher education institutions in the US: public and private, large and small, highly selective and modestly selective, and East Coast, West Coast, and every region in between. We have also welcomed our first two international members.

A college admissions hook is a special talent or attribute that makes the student stand out from other applicants. Examples of hooks include athletics, legacies, musicians, artists, linguists, or interest in a specific program offered at a particular college.

Think carefully about whom you will ask. Ask the person who knows you and your work best not necessarily the class where you get the best grade, although the two are not always mutually exclusive. Prepare a summary of the points you would like covered in the recommendation and include some specific examples from class. Allow the teacher plenty of time to write it.and be sure to thank you teacher, preferable in writing.

By asking for the recommendation well in advance and providing a written summary of the request you are showing respect for their time. Most teachers do not receive additional compensation for writing letters of recommendation which can be quite time consuming and so make it easy for them by giving them adequate time to write you a great letter of recommendation.

Start early and have all of your materials well organized.

Yes. Schools, that participate in the Common Application, have a process for fee waiver requests. Assuming you meet the financial need criteria, you may request up to four fee waivers. The form is available from NACAC's website http://www.nacacnet.org/studentinfo/feewaiver/Pages/default.aspx. Print out up to four copies, ask your high school counselor to sign them and mail the signed copy to the admissions office. On Common App, when you get to the payment page, check "Fee Waiver Requested". .

ACT versus SAT? It depends of what type of tester you are. My motto is do many practice tests and take either test a maximum of three times. For the subject tests, a student will need 2-3 depending on where he or she will apply.

It varies by college. Some state schools require a minimum score for admission others are more flexible. Some colleges are test optional and do not require test scores.

Memorize the directions before taking the test. Answer the easy questions first and mark any questions you skip so you can go back to them quickly.

Make sure the essay is about you. Don't write about illegal activities or situations which put you in a bad light.

A great college essay is one in which the student's voice and though process comes through clearly. It should be consistent with the rest of the application and showcase an aspect of the student not highlighted in the rest of the application. It is also well written and grammatically correct.

The college essay should not be a complete surprise in terms of the rest of the application. It should tie into the student's academic and or extra curricular interests and also show his or her thought process.

Depending on the college, the essay can be quite important. The most important component of any application are the student's grade and academic rigor. Assuming the student meets the academic criteria, the essay can set the student apart from others in the potential admit pile.

Every essay is read. Most colleges hire readers during the application season. How many people read each essay varies by institution with two being somewhat standard.

It is recommended to have someone such as your English teacher, college counselor or parent proofread your final draft. Allow each of these individuals time to do a good job which means you complete the essay by the end of October. They may make valuable comments which should be incorporated in your essay. Proofreading and commenting is ok, rewriting by anyone other than the student is not.

It depends on the parents. If they read through and make light edits, grammatical and typos, yes. If the parent re-writes or writes the essay the answer is no.

It varies by institution. Some colleges give campus interviews by admissions officers or students and others offer off campus alumni interviews. You need to check the individual college websites.

Yes, many on campus interviews are conducted by current students.

Be familiar with a colleges strengths and weaknesses and be prepared to articular why you are interested in attending. Practice and have three points you wish to make to the interviewers.

Be prepared to talk about an aspect of yourself which ties in with you application and why the college is of interest to you. Keep it brief and limited to three points.

If the student is a top athlete in a sport which is important to a particular college and thus is the coach's top recruit it can be a very important hook. However, not only does it have to be the right sport but also the right position, ex. goalie for the soccer team or line backer for the football team. The relationship with the coach is key.

Prospective student athletes need to be in contact with the coaches of the schools they have targeted. The process starts early and is strictly governed by the NCAA.org eligibility rules both in terms of academic requirement and rules of contact between coaches and student athletes.. By the end of junior year, student athletes should register with the NCAA. During summers, student athletes should attend player identification clinics and also create a website with their stats. For some sports, such as swimming or crew, a player's stats are a good start while for others such as soccer, the coach may need to see game footage or better yet a live game.

The first step is to identify which colleges offer the programs you are interested in pursuing. A conversation with your art teacher can be a good start. If you have any art schools or colleges with an art department that offers what you are interested in studying, visit and ask to meet the art teachers. Even though you may not apply there, it is good practice to learn about the application process for the arts.

From the question, I assume the the student is asking about majoring in art at a liberal arts college rather than attending an art school such as RISD or Parsons. Given that very few artists are able to support themselves by selling their work, I would urge a student/artist to consider a double major in an academic area of interest. Many colleges offer dual degree programs in several areas including art. For example, art therapy is a growing field. The world of work is everchanging and offers opportunities to those who can evolve with the changes and apply their learning. Steve Job credited a caligraphy class with the strong design element of Apple's products.

Students need to be aware that some colleges and potential employers look at a student's FB page. If the posts are responsible there is nothing to worry about but if not ...

The applicant needs to decide which factors are most important to him or her. Each applicant is an individual and at the end of the day it is about determining the best fit and finding it.

If you have applied for financial aid, the first step to compare the packages. If your preferred school is offering a less generous package think seriously about what makes it your first choice. Graduating in four years with as little debt as possible for you and your parents is an important consideration. Assuming several packages are comparable, visit the schools prior to the May 1st response deadline. Many colleges host overnights or other events for accepted students and this is the time to get any final questions answers. In the end go with your gut feeling as to where you would be most successful.

Freshman retention rates reflect the percentage of freshman that return for sophomore year. They can be an indication of how good a college is at keeping students engaged. In light of the ever increasing cost of higher education, more meaningful statistic is the six year graduation rate.

If at all possible, visit both and plan to spend at least a half day at each one. If possible, arrange to spend the night on each campus and attend two or three classes. The more time are able to spend the more you will see the differences. If you can not visit speak to as many current students as you can and ask them why they chose to attend school A versus B. If the two colleges are very similar it is likely that a number of current students also applied to both. It is a good idea to speak to many students as they will each have their own biasis and reasons.

The questions to ask a tour guide on a college visit are about student life. If you are not a big drinker, ask about the party scene. Is there a lot of throwing up in the bathrooms on week-ends? How can you avoid that? Do they have quiet dorms and what does that mean exactly. Ask which clubs the tour guide participates in and how active it is. Ask where else they applied and why they chose college X.

If at all possible, sit in on a class or two and eat a meal in the student union.

If you are interested in a particular program, ask if you can meet some of faculty who are part of the program. Better yet, plan to sit in on a class or two. This can usually be arranged through the admissions office.

Overnight stays, particularly on a week-end night can really give you a sense of the scene. In terms of preparing for an overnight stay, check with admissions for the details. A number of colleges organize overnight visits for high school students.

During a college visit, try to get all your questions answered and sit in on a class in a subject that interests you. It is not about networking per say as much as really seeing if this is a place that would suit you for college. Be sure to ask how to get in touch if additional questions come up after your visit.

Yes! Colleges are looking to accept or reject the student not the parents.

Once a student is 18, by law colleges may not keep parents informed unless the student has signed a waiver allowing for this to happen.

The best way for parents to help wtih the application process is to be involved and supportive while at the same time listening to their child's thoughts and concerns. Take your child on college visits but allow him or her to ask the questions and form an opinion. Encourage them to make notes after every visit and ask about their impressions. College tuition is very expensive and should be calmly discussed in terms of what the family's finances allow. Help your student brainstorm about possible essay topics but let him or her write it themselves. Make comments on the essay rather than do rewrites. Ask you child how you can help but don't take over the process.

Almost every tour I have been on, a parent has asked "how safe is the campus" which prompts a discussion of the blue light system and the police's response time. This is a time for the student to be asking questions about the different aspects of life on campus. How are room mate problems handled? What is the party scene like? Parents should take the tours and attend the information sessions but should let the students ask the questions.

1. Set a good example by remaining calm

2. Be honest about your concerns, especially financial. College is very expensive. Parents and student need to have a frank discussion about the financial parameters.

3. Ask how you can help rather than making suggestions.

4. Knowing that you are there to listen rather than to nag can be a huge help.

First, reassure them that you understand the importance of college. If you have reservations about going to college in general or a particular college share these thoughts. The more specific you can be the better. For example, I know you loved college X but I don't feel it is the right place for me because ...... It may be easier to email your parents rather than a face to face discussion as that way you are sure to express yourself as you wish. Ask if they can articulate their specific concerns. Perhaps ask about how the cost of college will impact the family budget. Give your parents an overview of where you are in the process (applications complete, SATs sent etc.). They may also be stressed at the thought of you leaving home. Parents naturally want what they perceive to be best for their child which may not be what you perceive as best for you. Hear them out and their reasons and respond respectfully which is not the same as agreeing with them.

Set up a college fund for them and be clear on how much you can afford. Apply to public and private colleges. After FA and scholarships the private colleges, particularly those that try to minimize loans may be more affordable. Realistically your child will not be able to pay for college on their own, given the cost of tuition. The cost needs to be a discussion for between parents and the student so that the best choice can be made by the family.

It varies by college and year. The last few years a number of colleges have not taken any students off their waitlist. Check with the specific college.

Timing. A student who is accepted by "regular acceptance" hears when the college sends out their acceptances, April 1st for many. A student who is wait listed is unlikely to be accepted off the wait list prior to May 1st the response deadline for the regular acceptance students when the college gets a sense of their yield. Some schools experience "summer melt" which means sometimes students are accepted off the wait list during the summer.

First, follow the college's instructions precisely. Write a letter to the admissions office stating why you wish to attend this particular college. The more specific your one page letter the better. If indeed, the WL college is your first choice, let admissions know that if you are taken off the WL you will attend but only do this is it is true. Often when students are taken off the wait list they are offered 24 hours to accept of decline the offer so have your answer ready.

Follow the directions from the college on how to stay on the waitlist. Write a letter to admissions telling them that you will come if admitted. Only write such a letter if it is true.

Each institution is looking for slightly different things to put together their class. At this level, there is no specific answer.

Use the time before May 1st to visit the colleges where you were accepted. Many hold accepted student events in April to help students decide.

A gap year can be harmful if it is a year wasted. It is a chance to learn and grow not live at home, play video games and party.

A gap year is a golden opportunity to explore one's interests, grow up and learn to manage on one's own. There is no one right way to spend a gap year. As I noted in another posting, for kids from countries that still require military service, this is a good time to meet this obligation. Travel or work are other good options. If a student has a particular non-academic interest this is a good time to explore it.

When working with either domestic or international students, I recommend they apply to 10 schools; 3 "Likely" where they have a strong chance of admissions, 4 "Target" where the chances of admission are 50/50 and 3 "Dreams" where the chance of admission is low. For me it is crucial that students apply to at least 3 "Likely" and 4 "Target" schools that are good matches and where they would be happy to attend. If a family insists on applying to more than three dreams, the overall number of applications increases to be sure to have at least 7 colleges where the student has good chance of several acceptances. The goal is to ensure that the student has several good options in April.

As with many aspects of the college application process, the answer depends on a student's particular circumstances. Many students are not able to visit colleges prior to submitting their applications. In this scenario, I would advocate early action rather than early decision as if at all possible the student should visit before making a final decision. However, some students are able to visit a college more than once prior to applying. In that case, assuming their grades and scores put them academically within a particular school's range and they are certain a particular college is their first choice, I would support an ED application. There is a misconception that ED increases an student's odds. I say misconception because generally the criteria for ED are not lower than RD and in some cases the admission rates are similar.

While the IELS is growing in acceptance by US universities, the TOEFL is still more widely accepted. If you prefer the IELTS, check that it is accepted by the colleges on your list and its availability locally. I recommend either be completed at the end of Junior year or the summer before senior year. Both tests can be taken several time if necessary.

The TOEFL is expensive and they do not offer fee waivers. TOEFL offers fee reductions for non-native English speakers in a US high school http://www.ets.org/s/toefl/pdf/toefl_fee_reduction_service_guidelines.pdf.

Each college has a minimum TOEFL score requirement of at least 80 on the IBT version. Check on the individual college website for the specific policy. In view of the time and expense, although there is not limit to the amount of times a student can take TOEFL, I suggest doing preparation and taking the test no more than three times.

The essay is the applicant's opportunity to speak directly to the admissions committee. My advice does not differ for international students. On Common App. chose "topic of your choice" and then come up with a topic that is meaningful and unique to you. You are not expected to be a Nobel Prize winner as senior in high school. Rather, admissions officers are looking into how you think and your character. At a conference, I heard the Admissions Director of Swarthmore say that the best essay she received was about baking a cake. Use specific examples to illustrate your points and use active rather than passive verbs. Each student has a story to tell and this is the time and place.

The majority of admission interviews are conducted by alumni interviewers. Many colleges have networks of alumni interviewers all over the world. Some colleges use these purely for informational purposes and to market the school. Others are evaluative and in most cases come into play when the student has met all the other criteria. Check the websites for a particular college's policy. For schools that offer interviews by the admissions office, it is usually possible to set up a Skype interview. I recommend requesting an interview as it one more way of demonstrating interest in a particular college.

If you require financial aid in order to be able to attend a particular college, you must indicate this on your application. It is very difficult to successfully apply for financial aid once you have been accepted. Only a handful of colleges are "need blind" for international students. While FA is more limited for international students it is available at a number of schools. International students should also apply to colleges where their grades and scores put them in the top percentages of applicants. Many colleges offer the most generous merit scholarships to those students look to be the strongest students.

The truth is that financial aid for international students is very limited. A college's website financial aid information usually indicates whether they are need blind or need aware for international students even if they are need blind for US students. The application process for financial aid can also be quite daunting to international families who are required to complete the CSS Profile for private colleges and a comparable document for public universities. I prefer to advise my international families to look at colleges which offer substantial merit aid to international students. In some cases, athletic scholarships are also an option. In either case, the student should be in the upper ranges of the average admitted student's academic profile.

The first step is to be sure the colleges you are applying to offer FA to international students. The next step is to visit the websites of the colleges you are interested in and read about their individual requirements for awarding FA to internationals: CSS Profile and Certification of Finances. Once you have narrowed down your lists, it is worth contacting the admissions officer who covers your area to ask questions about the amounts available and the level of competition. Start the process early as some colleges have early application and FA deadlines!

At many colleges, international students are evaluated using the same criteria as domestic students. The major difference is that financial aid for international students is often much more limited. Many colleges required that international students submit the certification of finances along with their application. In addition to the standard testing requirements for all students, international students are often required to submit the TOEFL.

The official website is a font of valuable information. It is also a marketing tool. An applicant's research would be much more difficult without college websites.

Important statistics include:freshman retention rate. 4 & 6 year graduation rates, strength or weakness in particular programs or fields of study of interest to the applicant and data on financial aid and scholarships.

Assuming students have access to a kitchen, I suggest you buy the Joy of Cooking. Here are a few fast and healthy meals:

lettuce, cucumber, red onion with cottage cheese or sliced chicken and oil and vinegar

broiled chicken with steamed broccoli and brown rice

pasta with fresh tomato sauce (saute tomatoes in olive with chopped onions and add some fresh basil

Omelets with chopped vegetables and cheese

soups: tomato, vegetable, butternut squash