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…
As you start your college search and application process, you may wonder if physically visiting a school will help your chances of admission. The simple answer: yes, it does, on…
In short, a 504 plan does not hurt college admissions. Let’s explore what a 504 plan is, and how you can address it during the college application process. What Is…
Whether income affects college admissions is not necessarily a straightforward answer. It can impact admissions on a certain level, but that really varies by school. To understand this better, let’s…
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,…
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…
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…
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…
When the pandemic hit, many colleges became test optional in relation to their application process. There really was no other option given the inability to offer the SAT during lockdowns…
If you are looking to receive financial aid, or even simply the Federal Direct Student Loan or a Federal Parent PLUS Loan, you will need to fill out the Free…
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…
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…
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…
So you’re wondering what type of GPA you need to get into college. Actually, there is no specific overall set GPA that is required per se. There are over 3,000…
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…
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…
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…
We get asked by our students all the time as to what makes a good college admissions essay. By this, they are referring to that personal statement that goes to…
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…
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…
Trying to figure out how to fund your college education can be overwhelming. You’ve heard that you can get loans from the federal government, but how do they work? How…
As college consultants, we’re often asked how much student loan payments will be. After all, it is something that should factor into the college search; you want to be able…
When college coaches can offer athletic scholarships to students varies by sport and division. The rules continue to change. What we outline here today may not be accurate for tomorrow,…
One common question we receive from our students and families is whether you can accept offers from multiple colleges or universities. In short, the answer is no, you cannot. When…
Congratulations! If you are reading this, chances are that you have already been accepted to the college that you want to attend. Your hard work has paid off. But, now…
It’s that time of year. The responses to your early action and early decision college applications are starting to roll in. While you are hoping for a yes, you open…
You’ve worked hard, taking advanced placement classes. These courses are incredibly challenging throughout the year: the reading, the homework, the insight needed for class participation. Then, of course, there are…
GPA or SAT – which is more important to college admissions counselors? We are often – actually almost always – asked this question by students and parents throughout the college…
With the cost of college today, students and families are always trying to find ways to pay for those ever increasing tuition, room and board expenses. One question we are…
If you want to receive any financial aid from the federal government for college, including federal student loans, a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) must be completed. But…
Each high school determines which features of Naviance they want to implement for their school and students. Although there are some high schools that allow you to request transcripts through…
Letters of recommendation are key components of your college application. There are various ways to request these letters. Some schools want you to do so through the Common App. Others…
The applications are in and now the angst begins! How long will it be before you hear back from the colleges you applied to? Around the holidays? January? Spring? Unfortunately,…
You’ve submitted your college applications. Congratulations! The hard work is finished, but there is still work to be done. You need to make sure the application was received and that…
For those of you wondering if it is better to apply early decision over regular decision, it is important to note that for many schools, applying early decision can increase…
Our students and families always ask: • How many colleges should I apply to? • How many college applications is too many? • How many reach schools should I have…
Generally, you can apply early decision to one school and early action to other schools; however, there are some caveats. Remember, early decision is binding, it is contractual. You can…
As the saying goes, the early bird catches the worm. And that also applies to submitting college applications. With all the technology and data available today, colleges can tap into…
Today, there are about 135 schools and colleges that are members of the Coalition for College, using their application for admission. You can find the complete list of schools that…
There are several ways you can apply to a college – depending, of course, upon the type of options they offer. Our article Early Action, Early Decision, Regular Decision, Rolling…
When it comes to completing college applications, one of the most daunting aspects is the essay. While “What should I write about?” may be the top question we get from…
There recently have been articles about the upcoming changes related to the Expected Family Contribution, which is part of the financial aid calculation. Our article Changes To The FAFSA: Student…
Sometimes students are cautious about applying to a school undeclared or undecided because they are not really sure what it means by doing so and what impact it has on…
Colleges want to know which students have a significant interest in attending their school – and they go to great lengths to find out. They carefully track students that show…
In short, even though a 529 account is for a child, it is considered a parental asset and is figured into the Expected Family Contribution, which affects financial aid awards.…
In short, yes, financial aid does cover the cost of books. Financial aid covers anything that falls under the cost of attendance, which includes: • Tuition • Room and Board…
Throughout your college admissions journey, you will be asked to provide your High School Code. If you’re like most students, you may be confused as to what that even is.…
College admissions counselors want to learn more about you through recommendation letters. Typically, you send in two recommendation letters with your application. I’m often asked by students if those letters…
All FAFSA forms/applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. central time on June 30th of the academic year for which you are applying. For example, if you are applying for…
We work with so many students each year on the college application process. One of the most popular and frequently asked questions is: “How long should my college application essay…
When it comes to college applications, it is so important to put your best face forward. And part of that involves highlighting your achievements. So often we are asked by…
The college acceptances have arrived. You’ve narrowed down the options and made your decision. You know which school you want to attend. Now you just need to let them know…
You’ve worked hard, put in the time and commitment, and now it’s paid off. You have a group of college coaches wanting you to come play for them. They have…
When March rolls around, so do the final college admissions decisions. In addition to acceptances and rejections, you could possibly receive a notification that you have been put on a…
The college search and application process is incredibly important. The sooner you start preparing, the more successful and enjoyable this journey will be. There are plenty of things sophomores can…
Visiting colleges is a really important piece of your college journey. You want to get a true feel for the school’s personality, and stepping foot on campus will help you…
While you may be able to appeal a college rejection, the chances are incredibly slim that the school’s admission decision will change for the positive. Every so often, I am…
A 529 plan impacts financial aid as it is considered in the determination of whether you qualify for financial aid, and the amount of aid for which you qualify. Below…
College admissions officers will look at disciplinary records IF a high school provides them. Most college applications, including the Common App, inquire about disciplinary information. By disciplinary records, we mean…
There are a lot of myths about athletic scholarships. One of the biggest misconceptions is around full ride scholarships. I work with many high school athletes who go on to…
We are asked pretty frequently by our students and families how you go about requesting more funding from colleges, whether it’s in the form of financial aid or a scholarship.…
Signature College Counseling: College Planning & Financial Aid: What You Need to Know This video presentation, hosted by Liz Levine of Signature College Counseling, offers parents and students all they…
We’re getting a lot of questions these days about whether colleges are going to make the SAT and ACT “test optional” for the class of 2022. The honest answer is,…
Let’s face it, the FAFSA is time consuming and can be overwhelming. So, it’s quite tempting to skip filling out the federal government’s financial aid application if possible. While you…
The basic answer to when student loans start accruing interest is right away. Whether you have to start paying that interest immediately depends upon whether it is a federal or…
Being deferred from a college versus being put on a waitlist are two totally different college admissions responses. Let’s say you applied early action or early decision and you get…
So many of my students ask me if there is a deadline for accepting their college admissions offers. When you apply to a number of colleges, the admissions responses will…
In short, college interviews can be a very important part of your admissions process. They are a way to bring your application to life for the school’s admissions officers. Interviews…
Just Follow these 3 Simple Steps Setting up a college visit is fairly simple. It really hinges on knowing where to go online to schedule your visit. Practically all colleges…
There are some things you can do if you are deferred from a college to help with your admissions process, which are outlined below. But before we get into the…
The timing for admissions decisions vary by school and the way you apply. A college could reply in as little as two weeks or as long as months! Here is…
The regular decision deadline is the last day that you can submit your application for admission to that particular college or university for the following school year (unless there is…
You have been invited to go on an official college visit. After the initial excitement over the invitation dissipates a bit, you begin to wonder what this all entails. You…
So you have applied to one or more schools regular decision. Now, the waiting begins. The anticipation is driving you crazy. How long will it take for the schools to…
Yes, you can apply for financial aid after a deadline, but it is very important to note that doing so can impact the amount of funds you receive. When you…
You have sent in those early decision or early action applications and now you are sitting on pins and needles waiting for the responses. After several excruciating months, you finally…
In working with students and their families on the college planning and financial aid process, I am frequently asked how students can apply for the direct Stafford loan. Let me…
There is so much to consider in the college planning process. One key factor is the high school classes that you take. When making class schedules for the next year,…
When reviewing college applications, admissions officers look at more than just the courses you took and the grades you received in those courses. They dive deeper to see who you…
This is a question that typically weighs heavily on every student’s mind. You’re taking more difficult classes – honors, AP, courses offered through colleges. These more difficult classes require more…
One very common question related to the FAFSA is which parent fills out the form and supplies their financial information if the parents of the student are separated or divorced.…
When you apply to college, you may have options as to the way in which you apply: • Early Action • Early Decision • Regular Decision • Priority Application •…