Patricia M. of Merrick, NY writes:

I'm the parent of a soon-to-be high school senior and want to know when we can get started on those college applications.

The College Whisperer™ responds:

That would be the editorial "we," right? LOL

The Common Application, which is the starting point for the admission process at nearly 500 colleges and universities, does not go "live" until August 1. Proprietary applications for colleges that are not members of Common App typically come online mid-summer to e...
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Assuming the beaches of Cancun aren't on the agenda for the coming Spring Break, high school students are likely to have some free time on their hands.

Here's a few things high schoolers (and not just Seniors) can -- and should -- do to prepare for college:

1. Visit Colleges. Seniors should visit or revisit colleges to which they were accepted, with a view toward deciding which school(s) would be the best fit. Sit in on a class. Stay overnight in a dorm. Check out the library (you may as well k...
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The news from College Board that they intend to "revamp" the SAT came as no surprise to The College Whisperer™.

After all, back in the day, SAT was the acronym for Scholastic ACHIEVEMENT Test, purporting to test what students had actually learned. It didn't.

As students, parents and college admissions committees began to figure out that Achievement was to the SAT as Water was to Oil, the less than venerable standardized test for college admission was "revamped," and, though it was still the ...
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As college acceptances (beyond those already in hand) begin to trickle in by snail mail and email, thoughts turn from "applying to college" to "which offer of admission do I accept?"

Decisions. Decisions. And all of them good!

Before making any decision [National College Decision Day is May 1], consider your options, giving weight to factors that are important to you and your family (including financial aid, academic programs, home or away), and give a read to an interesting and informativ...

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In a world where there is an App for virtually (pun intended) everything, it's no stretch to find Apps slowly creeping into the already cramped and convoluted world of college applications and admissions.

Yes, there are Apps to match students to colleges. Apps for scholarships. Even Apps to help you on the SAT (Number 2 pencil App not included).

And now, from the folks who brought you Naviance, The Musical comes Naviance, The App. Hold on to your iPhones, iPads and iWhatHaveYous, ladies a...

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No, that was not a mistake. We meant to say 20th Century, though we are now a decade and then some into the 21st.

For all of the complaints about Common App's cumbersome and convoluted three step process for submitting the Supplements, then paying, and then -- oooooops! Nearly forgot -- submitting the common portion of the application [Read, So You THINK You Submitted The Common App...], the folks at Common App have apparently caught on.

Indeed, in an email announcement to counselors and membe...
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G.R. of Old Westbury, NY writes:
My son, a high school junior, is in the process of finalizing his program for the senior year. His Guidance Counselor has suggested he take five (5) Advanced Placement (AP) courses, including Economics, Chemistry and Physics. He is also being offered a college level course, for which he will receive credit from a local college. I'm cool with the college level course, but five AP courses? Seems a bit much to me. What do you think?

The College Whisperer ™replies...
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Every year around this time we touch upon the critical need for students to search and apply for scholarships (read as, FREE money), both from institutional sources (once they know which college they will attend), AND, from outside sources, where billions of dollars in scholarship money lies in wait for the eager applicant.

So this post is well worth repeating, as is the advice contained herein well worth heeding. Keep up that search for scholarship money. Apply. Apply. Apply!

Remember, the dea...
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It all seemed innocent enough. The former Pontiff, waving to the admiring throngs, whisked away in a waiting helicopter (shades of Richard Nixon's departure from the White House? Hmmm.) [Why his Holiness Emeritus would need a helicopter to take him to his newly-built apartment just a block away from the Vatican befuddles us, but we digress.]

The sun rose over the Vatican this morning, Cardinals lounging by the pool in their red velvet Speedos, and then, from the Arch Bishop of St. Louis, Cardi...
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