The College Unraveled Blog
It’s September – time to finalize your college essays. Here are some Do’s and Don’ts to guide you.
College Essay General Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s
- Do be concise and write about something you know about.
- Do be open and authentic. Reveal something about your identity in your essay.
- Do show rather th ...
The essay portion of the SAT and the Writing section of the ACT are both optional. At press time, according to the Princeton Review, only 15 colleges require the SAT Essay and only 17 colleges require the ACT Writing section. Just a note – ALL of the University of California System schools require...
Sports, clubs, academic competitions, music, work, social activism? Colleges care about how you spend your time outside of class. Here are 3 steps to the Ultimate Activities List.
Write down ALL the activities you have been involved in during high school. As your get this information down, include:...
It’s all about you!
Enjoy this summer and start thinking about what you like, and what is important to you. Summer is a good time to do as much preparing for next year as you can. Here is an activity you can do with your friends. It is fun to compare notes and learn about each other.
Star...
The wait is over! AP tests come out this week. Scores come out by physical location. View the date and location schedule, and your scores, on the College Board schedule.
What is the AP exam score scale?
There is no “pass” or “fail” on the AP tests. It’s important to understand the definitions ...
Standardized testing can be daunting! Follow these tips to reduce your stress and help you do best on your tests.
1. 3 Times is Enough
Plan to take the SAT/ACT no more than 3 times each. You should be done testing by fall of your senior year.
2. Try both the SAT and ACT
...Graduation completed? Check!
Dorm room selected? Check!
ATM card for college! What? Get an ATM card?
Before you leave for college, you need to learn how to handle money. Here are 6 tips for you to consider as you prepare to go off to college in the fall.
- Open a bank account NOW and get an ATM card ...
Going from high school to college is a big step! A current college student shares five tips for excelling as a freshman in college.
1. Learn to manage your time.
Classes in college are arranged differently than high school. You will have gaps in time between classes. Plan each day’s schedule ca...
How do you describe where you live? City? Suburb? Country? As you explore colleges, one thing to consider is the location of the college. Location can make a significant impact on your college experience. Think about where you want to go to school.
Here are terms used in college “locations” wi...
It will soon be time to ask your teachers and your counselor for letters of recommendations. But before doing that it helps to have done some self-reflection. Think about your three favorite classes on campus. Answer the following questions about yourself and how you have performed in each class.
W...
How do you get to know your teachers or counselor better? Here are 3 tips to building relationships with your teachers and counselors.
- Show up! Make sure your counselor or teachers know you personally by showing up for class, for appointments and for school activities. Drop by the teacher’s ro ...
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