The Common Application is the platform used by 900 schools to submit your application. The main components are the personal statement and the activities list, but there are other aspects to submitting your applications which are important as well, all outlined for you in this blog.

Your personal statement is your 650 word “elevator pitch” here are some tips for writing it.

A key part of your college application is your recommendations. This year probably more than before, those recommendations will be an integral way a college will learn about how you will contribute to their academic and social environment.

Learn how to write your extracurricular activities so they show your hard work. There are tips and tricks to writing this section, give it the time it deserves to tell colleges about all your passions and interests.

You want to study theater in college, it’s a long worthwhile road, here’s how to prepare your applications. 

BFA applications start with the Common Application, but then there are many more requirements… essays, artist statement, descriptions of artwork, writing samples, creative samples. Read how you can be prepared to answer all the prompts.

There are many different types of application deadlines: early decision, early action, regular decision, and rolling. Determining the best deadline for you means considering all the application requirements including creative supplements, as well as your financial aid requirements as different deadlines have different implications for aid.

We all hate bragging about ourselves, but sometimes you have to do it. Here are four great tips for writing a brag sheet and getting strong counselor recommendations, and ideas for your personal statement! A win-win for you!

Junior year in high school can be very busy. Creative students need to start researching colleges early as they will need to prepare and submit portfolios and audition materials, in addition to writing many supplemental essays. This checklist tells you what you should focus on and when as you apply to college.

There are good reasons to set up a college specific email to allow you to read important emails related to your applications, however, you have to remember to check it. If you don’t want to manage two separate emails then you might be better sticking with just one.

FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, is your gateway for receiving aid from college as well as being able to apply for Federal loans. This blog also acquaints you with other financial aid terms you need to understand to determine the cost of the colleges to which you are applying.

The supplemental prompts on college applications can be as important as the personal statement and other materials. Spend the time to write responses that show colleges who you are and that you support their values.

What are your experiences? What are your hopes and dreams? Who is your treasured community? What makes you come alive? Start answering these questions and you’ll be brainstorming your college essay.

Submitting test scores is a nuanced decision, depending on where your scores fall with respect to other applicants at a college. There is no right answer, but we give you some thoughts and data from the last few years to help your decision.

Have fun over the summer, but squeeze in time to do some of these college application tasks and your fall will be less stressful, and you’ll feel so accomplished!

Here are 12 things that students can do to finish the year strong. Juniors and even Sophomores can take these easy steps to set themselves up for strong college applications.

6 Tips to learn how to use your social media to your advantage both to research schools and to let them know you care about them.

College decisions are released and you find yourself still in limbo placed on the waitlist for a school you’d really like to attend. Here are four steps to take now.

You want to research the academics, and also the culture and physical aspects of the college. These are all the pieces to making your four years successful and a good ROI.

Second semester Junior year could be the last full semester colleges evaluate in your applications. Make it a great semester with these tips.