Academic Accommodations in College: How to Prepare
As college counselors, we often remind families that college isn’t just a new academic chapter. College is the start of a new level of independence. This is especially true for…
College Admissions 2025 Trends
What UGA’s Early Action Update Reveals About This Year’s Applications If you’ve been following college admissions trends over the past few years, you’ve probably heard about the surge in applications.…
What Is the UCAS?
A Guide for US Students Considering College in the UK If you’re a high school student dreaming of studying abroad or just curious about how college works outside the US,…
Finding Your Dream School: Rethinking Your Definition
Lessons from Jeff Selingo’s Dream School Every year around this time, as college lists take shape and application deadlines loom, the same phrase starts to echo through households: “What’s your…
Changes to Financial Aid for the 2025 – 2026 Admissions Cycle
If you are applying to college this Fall, you need to understand that big changes are coming to federal financial aid. These updates will affect how much you and your…
Five Common College Admissions Myths
When it comes to applying to college, there’s no shortage of opinions, advice, and even rumors. From hallway chatter to well-meaning family friends, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all…
What Is the Common App Used For?
If you’re starting to think about college applications, you’ve probably heard the term “Common App” tossed around. This online college application platform, which is accepted by over 1,000 colleges and…
How Important is Choosing a Major for College Applications?
If you’re applying to college and feeling pressure to pick the perfect major, you’re not alone. Whether it’s your high school counselor asking, a college rep at a fair, or…
Is There a Maximum Number of Colleges You Can Apply To?
Generally speaking, the answer is no maximum number of colleges to which you can apply, but in practice, the number isn’t limitless. Read on to learn more. College Application Platforms…
Determining College Fit Through a School’s Mission and Values
When you’re choosing a college, it’s about more than rankings, location, and the strength of your intended major. It’s also about finding places where you feel like you belong –…
What is a Cybersecurity Degree?
We live in an increasingly digital world where cyber threats are on the rise and so is the need for skilled professionals to defend against them. If you have a…
What Is an Exercise Science Degree?
As the world continues to focus on health, wellness, and physical performance, you may be interested in learning more about the expanding field of exercise science. If you’re passionate about…
How to Help Your Child Find the Right College
As college counselors, we know firsthand that parents play an important role in supporting their child through their college admissions process – from making lists of schools and taking them…
How to Stand Out on College Applications
Ever wonder how you can make your college application shine? Is it about perfect grades, a laundry list of activities, or something more? Here’s the truth: it’s less about telling…
Wildfire Science Degree: Exploring this Growing Field
A changing climate and increase in wildfires has shone a light on the growing field of wildfire sciences. If you’re interested in environmental issues, science, engineering, and the outdoors, this…
What Is a Computer Science Major?
Wondering if majoring in computer science is the right fit for you? Read on to find out. We break down exactly what this major is all about, the career opportunities…
What Is Direct Admissions?
Several states have implemented direct admissions programs for their public university systems for the benefit of their in-state high school graduates. These programs set forth clear criteria for guaranteed admission,…
What to Do After Submitting a College Application
Too often students submit their applications and assume it’s okay to forget about them until those admissions decisions start rolling in. We wish that were true, but the fact is…
Do Recruited Athletes Apply Early Decision?
When it comes to applying to colleges as a student-athlete, many students consider taking advantage of early decision admissions, a pathway that can increase your chances of acceptance, especially at…
Navigating Early Decision: What You Need to Know
When Do Early Decisions Come Out? What You Need to Know About General Dates and Responses If you applied Early Decision, it means you found your best fit college, and…
How to Make a Resume for the Common App
Among the various parts of the Common Application are the Honors and Activities section. Here you’re provided the opportunity to add up to five honors and ten activities, along with…
When Does FAFSA Open for 2025-2026?
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a crucial tool for high school students planning to attend college. It determines eligibility for federal grants, loans, and work-study programs,…
Tips for Writing a College Application Essay
Writing your college admissions essay can be quite daunting. Where do you even start? What topic should you write about? How long should it be? While there are many different…
Do Colleges Look at Extracurricular Activities?
When getting ready to apply to colleges, students often ask if colleges really pay attention to whether or not they participated in extracurricular activities. In short, the answer is yes,…
College Admissions Stress – Strategies to Manage Overwhelm
College admissions is becoming an increasingly stressful time for high school students. Between maintaining grades, participating in extracurricular activities, and completing college applications, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Managing this…
Pros and Cons of Applying to College as an Undecided Major
Has anyone asked you what you want to major in when you attend college? It’s a common question with a common answer of, “I don’t know.” Some students have a…
Signature College Counseling by the Numbers
11Years in business 10Team members, including coaches and counselors 2IECA certified college counselors 6Essay coaches 1Copy editor 2Application specialists 2Interview prep coaches 5Pets owned by team members and spotted during…
Can Colleges Rescind Admissions?
You’ve been accepted to the college you want to attend. “Phew,” you think, “The pressure is off!” Not so fast. Don’t take that acceptance for granted. Colleges can rescind your…
Do AP Scores Affect College Admissions?
At Signature College Counseling, we are often asked if AP scores impact college admissions. In general, they don’t really affect your admissions chances. As with many questions about college admissions,…
What Counts as an Extracurricular Activity for College Admissions?
Every student who applies to a college is going to have to list their activities on some level or another on their applications. But what exactly do college admissions officers…
College Admissions Timeline – What You Need to Know
The college admissions timeline really hinges on when you enter the college journey. Are you starting in 9th or 10th grade? Beginning of 11th grade? End of 11th grade? Summer…
Do Colleges Prefer Dual Enrollment or AP Classes?
In determining admissions, colleges do not prefer dual enrollment over AP classes or vice versa. Rather, the admissions officers will look at course rigor. Why? Because not all schools offer…
Early Action Acceptance Dates
You’ve submitted your early action applications and now are waiting to hear whether or not you’ve been accepted. Just when do schools start sending out their decisions? Well, it really…
Is FAFSA Required for College Applications?
You’ve heard about the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), but do you NEED to complete it with your college applications? The short answer is no. Applying to colleges…
Do Clubs Look Good on College Applications?
If you’re looking to try to optimize your college admissions chances, you might be wondering if you should join clubs in high school. At Signature College Counseling, our students often…
What Does Early Decision Mean?
There are a variety of ways to apply to colleges and it’s important to have a clear understanding of what each means so that you can make an informed decision…
How Early Should You Submit a College Application?
Many of our students ask us how early they should submit their college applications. We always recommend the earlier you submit your college application the better. But how early you…
When Does the Common App Open for 2022
For students entering college in the fall of 2023, the Common App opens on August 1, 2022. But, that doesn’t mean you have to wait until August 1st to start…
Is It Bad to Put Undecided on a College Application?
We can’t tell you how many times we have been asked by our students if it is ok to put undecided on their applications to colleges. Our short answer to…
How to Start the College Application Process
The college application process starts with compiling the information you will need to fill out your applications. You should begin to gather this information as soon as you decide to…
Searching for Colleges by Major
If you want to search for colleges by major to see which schools have majors that are of interest to you and you are not sure where to get started,…
Is It Better To Apply Early Action?
I get the question many times from my students and parents, “Is it better to apply early action to a school?” My simple answer: Yes, it is! Why? Because as…
Are College Applications Due on the Deadline or Before?
So you ask, are college applications due on the deadline or are they due before the deadline? The simple answer is that your applications are not technically due until 11:59PM…
Where Is the FERPA Waiver on Common App?
Every year, almost every student and parent asks our team members “Where can I find the FERPA waiver on the Common App?” This important form – which must be completed…
Do You Need a Resume for College Applications?
Do you need a resume for your college applications? It is an excellent question to ask. The short, and very to the point, response is emphatically yes! Why Drafting a…
What Should I Write My College Essay About?
I get asked this question more times than I can count: “What should I write my college essay about?” This essay you submit with your college applications is not like…
Does Visiting a College Help You Get In
We all know that when you are able to visit a college campus, attend their information session and go on their campus tour, hosted by a friendly student, you take…
Do College Admissions Look at Social Media Accounts?
They Can, So Be Prepared. You’re applying to college, or at least beginning to think about it. Good for you! You wonder, do those admissions counselors who are going to…
What Size College Is Best For Me
When you think about deciding on which colleges may be right for you, one of the top and clear decisions to consider is how large a school will you want…
How to Narrow College Search
You have your initial list of colleges that you have brainstormed and it contains 50+ schools! What do you do now to refine your college list? Here are some ways…
When to File the FAFSA
Completing the FAFSA (Free Application for Student Aid) is the first step in determining your eligibility for federal grants, federal loans, work-study, and at many colleges, institutional aid. This form…
Tips for Common Application
You’re finally sitting down at your computer and are ready to complete the Common Application but where do you start? Read on for a helpful list of Common Application tips…
How to Connect Naviance to the Common App
It’s very simple to connect or “Match” Naviance to your Common App (FYI – within Naviance calls it Match rather than Connect). Just follow these step-by-step directions. BEFORE You “Match”…
When Are College Applications Due Early Decision?
You’ve decided that you know the one school that is, by far, your top choice, and you want to apply Early Decision. But when do you apply? What is the…
Should I Send SAT Scores to Test Optional Schools?
Each year more and more institutions are choosing to make submitting your ACT and/or SAT scores optional. This does not mean that you can’t submit them, but that you have…
Common FAFSA Mistakes
How important is it that you complete your financial aid forms – particularly the FAFSA – properly? VERY! So how do you go about doing this? You need to understand…
Which Application Should I Use for College?
There are three types of college applications: (1) the Common Application,better known as the Common App, (2) the Coalition Application, and (3) a college’s proprietary application. Here is a breakdown…
Can You Use the Same Essay for Different College Applications?
Personal statement or the primary essay, supplemental essays, additional information essay. I’m so confused! Can I use the same essay for all my college applications? You can use the same…
What to Put on Your College Application
While all colleges are different, colleges generally look for smart, ambitious, and passionate students. Your college application should emphasize your best, most impressive qualities and represent who you are. A…
How to Make an Activities Resume for College Applications
When it’s time to write your college resume, you must list your experiences in a very specific way. The resume is – in essence – an overall snapshot of what…
Do All Colleges Use the Common App?
When you head down the road in your college admissions journey of deciding to embark on completing your college applications, you sit down, open up your computer and stare at…
When is the Deadline for College Applications?
Not only are you enmeshed in trying to complete your college applications, presenting yourself to be the best candidate you can be, but you also have to navigate the timeline…
Demonstrated Interest College Admissions – There Is a Correlation
A parent and her son came to me asking for help in searching for and applying to New York State schools. His core course GPA was in the high 70’s…
Summer Before Senior Year of High School Checklist
Seniors are graduating from high school, and those that have chosen to move onto college in the fall have been through the grueling and stressful college admissions journey and feel…
When Do College Applications Open for Fall 2021?
You are thinking about all of the work you need to do to get into college, of which one is completing your college applications. Well, when do applications open for…
Final Admissions Decisions Released: It’s Going to be OK, I Promise
It’s going to be OK, I promise Now that final admissions decisions are being released, I feel it is important to put everything into perspective when not all of your…
Self-Reported Academic Record, SRAR: Do I Need to Complete It?
WHAT IS A STARS (fka SRAR) AND DO I NEED TO COMPLETE IT? So, you’ve submitted all of your applications and you breathe a sigh of relief. Woohoo! I’m golden!…
Additional Information on Common App
[ultimate_spacer height=”20″]Additional Information on Common App: What is it Used for Anyway? What is that Additional Information section on the Common App used for anyway? To complete or not complete…
Should I Report a Disciplinary Incident on My College Application?
Wondering whether you should report your disciplinary incident on your college applications?
College Acceptance Rates Decline Over Time: A Must Read
College Acceptance Rates Decline Over Time: A Must Read We knew it was happening but did we know to what extent? There are more articles than I can count on…
Common App: August 1 – A Date You Should Take Note Of
Common App: August 1 – A Date You Should Take Note Of Now is a quiet time, so to speak. The Common App is offline to get ready for the…
College Application Follow Ups
The colleges you have applied to will begin to send you Emails letting you know that they have received your application…
Rising Seniors – Start Working on Your College Applications!
There will be plenty of time for that after you’ve accomplished those important tasks for your college admissions journey. Now is the time to put the pedal to the metal, yes, it’s crunch time.
What Is Coalition Application and Who Should Complete It
The Coalition for Access, Affordability, and Success is more than just an application when you are ready to apply to college, it’s a commitment from about 135 colleges to provide the best college experience for the low-income and the first-generation student, from the college application process up to graduation.
Regular Decision College Application: Hurry Up and Wait
Regular Decision College Application: Hurry Up and Wait I know, just being a senior and on the cusp of adulthood and major life changes, can be enough stress to strain…
Extracurricular Activities and College Applications
Extracurricular Activities and College Applications: Where are your hours going vs. what are you doing – If you have to take care of a sibling every day after school for your family then it is fine since you can’t participate in after school activities
Common App Questions: To Answer or Not To Answer
Common App Questions: To Answer or Not To Answer The only questions that a student is required to answer on the Common App have a red ‘*’ next to them.…
When Should You Submit College Applications?
You should submit your applications to your selected colleges when they are complete and before the deadlines – in fact, the earlier the better. Here I am referring to the…
Early Action, Early Decision, Regular Decision, Rolling Admission
Early Action, Early Decision, Regular Decision, Rolling Admission? Which one should I choose? Application submission choices vary by college. The four types are listed below and not all colleges offer…
Early Decision versus Regular Decision for College Acceptance
Early Decision versus Regular Decision for College Acceptance
Find out how applying Early Decision vs. Regular Decision can affect your chances for being accepted to your school of choice.
Summer Before Senior Year of High School Checklist
Seniors are graduating from high school, and those that have chosen to move onto college in the fall have been through the grueling and stressful college admissions journey and feel…
Students Who Apply Early get Twice the Money
Next fall’s crop of college students can start applying for federal financial aid Jan. 1. And if they jump right on it, they have a greater chance of getting significantly more money.