College Planning

Have you ever wondered to yourself, “What do college applications look like?” You’re not alone!  For many students, the college application process can feel overwhelming, especially when they see all the different forms, sections, and essay prompts.  But here’s the good news: most college apps have a similar structure. Once you understand the basics, the entire process of applying for college becomes much easier! In this article, we’ll break down each part of a typical college application to give you a better idea of what to expect when you begin writing your own. Think of this as your personal roadmap through the application process—by the end, you’ll know exactly what colleges are looking for and how to complete each section with confidence. Let’s get started!     What Does an Applicat...

When it comes to crafting a strong college application, it’s easy to focus on numbers: GPA, test scores, number of AP courses, etc. And all of those factors can be important! However, what really sets applicants apart often comes down to less measurable, but equally important, qualities. Colleges want students who will have a positive impact on campus and beyond. That means they care about who you are as a person, too. The admissions team is aiming to build communities, not just collect transcripts.  How can you show colleges you're the type of applicant they're looking for? Read this article to learn the top 10 qualities colleges are looking for and how you can show them in your application.   Do Colleges Care About Your Personality? Colleges absolutely care about the type of person you...

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District leaders and administrators know that navigating the complexities of school budgets is a constant dance. With funding landscapes ever-evolving, finding the right groove to maximize impact on student achievement can feel like a delicate balancing act. For Title 1 schools, the mission to provide equitable, high-quality education demands strategic investments, especially in solutions that demonstrably boost academic success. Federal funding for schools is crucial in fostering educational equity. It enables schools serving specific populations to invest in student achievement, paving a vital pathway to accessing resources that might otherwise be out of reach. This post explores the financial realities schools face, how to navigate the question, “What is a Title 1 school?”, and ho...

There are many reasons you may want to email a college admissions office. You might have questions about deadlines, application requirements, financial aid, or getting off the waitlist, among other topics. Whenever you interact with a college, it's important to showcase your best self. This means you'll want to be thoughtful about any email you send them.  But how do you write an email that’s professional, respectful, and gets your questions answered? In this guide, we’ll walk you through exactly how to write an email to a college admissions office, with examples, tips, and mistakes to avoid. (more…)

If you've done any research into college essays and how to write a great one, you've likely come across the esteemed "Costco Essay." This essay, published publicly in 2016, has since achieved near-legendary status in the world of college admissions. The Costco essay focuses on the writer's lifelong love of Costco and helped earn her spots at multiple Ivy League schools, as well as Stanford. Since then, it's been held up as a shining example of a college admissions essay. But is the Costco essay still good? Was it really that impressive to begin with? Would it still get an applicant into Ivy League schools today or has it become overused and outdated? How can you take what it did well and apply it to your own college essay? Learn all the answers in this expert guide.   What Is the Costco ...

Pressure to be successful is constant—academically, professionally, and personally. This persistent weight can emerge in many forms, whether self-inflicted, through a parent, workplace, or even schools. Some of us are questioning, where is the pressure relief valve? It’s a high-stakes world, yet there are tools to help our students navigate it effectively. College and career readiness tunes students’ direction toward what they genuinely want out of their future while rising to the unique challenges of being a young adult. Effective test prep is not merely about achieving a score; it’s crucial to developing the skills and confidence necessary for long-term college and career success. This blog will discuss how test prep can boost students’ college and career readiness and how it is, i...

  There’s been a lot written lately about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in education, especially when it comes to students completing their assignments. But AI is becoming a hot topic in college admissions, both in terms of students using AI to create their applications and colleges using AI to help choose students for admission.  Today, we’re going to bring you up to speed on how both students and universities are using AI in the admissions process and what that means for you.  Let’s dive in.  (more…)

You’re not cookie-cutter—although, sometimes, in middle and high school, it can feel that way. If you feel like you’re on a conveyor belt toward adulthood without much knowledge about the next step in the production process, know that you’re not alone!  Many teenagers wonder about the next steps after high school, and these thoughts often intensify as they progress from freshman to sophomore year, sophomore to junior year, and junior to senior year. Over the course of your education, you may have experienced glimmers of hope for the future and what it might hold regarding college and career一or perhaps you have NO CLUE what you want to do. Whichever camp you are in, let’s break free from the mold, analyze the steps of production toward adulthood, and supercharge your path to buildi...

DSST testing population refers to the population that takes the DANTES Subject Standardized Test or DSST. DSST exams help individuals earn college credits by testing them on information they are familiar with. Accepted or administered at more than 1,900 colleges and universities nationwide and approved by the American Council on Education (ACE), the DSST program enables individuals to use the knowledge they have acquired outside the classroom to accomplish their educational and professional goals. Credit-by-exam options assist in degree acceleration. Students can get a semester’s worth of credits by taking an exam, potentially allowing them to go on to other subjects for their degree sooner if they score adequately. So, who takes these exams? Origin of DSST Testing Population DSST...

The CLT is a standardized test gaining popularity in education across the United States and abroad, meaning that more and more students wonder, “What Does CLT Stand For​?” Florida is the first state to pass legislation in 2023 for Florida students to use CLT scores “to apply to Florida state universities, earn Bright Futures scholarships, satisfy graduation requirements, and earn dual credit. Florida State also funds all school districts to administer the CLT to 11th graders,” according to the CLT Official Website. Since this test is closely linked to SAT and ACT, we must dive into CLT meaning and how to best prepare for this newer test with a CLT prep course. What Does CLT Stand For​?  The CLT stands for Classic Learning Test, an alternative to standardized tests like the SAT and...

Standardized test scores, like the SAT and ACT, determine academic readiness and skills for entering university. Scores grant entry to schools with specific requirements, award scholarships, and determine areas of strengths and weaknesses within a student’s academic career. While it may be beneficial to take both tests, this blog will answer the question, “Do you need both ACT and SAT for college​?” Regardless of whether you take all or one of these tests, right now, Peterson’s will be offering an ACT and SAT special, six months of test prep for $135—99 dollars off, so that you can walk into either test confidently. What Are the ACT and SAT? While both are standardized tests, there are a few key differences between them. The ACT includes a science section and an optional writing s...

ACT and SAT scores decline across the U.S. year after year according to recent data. Standardized tests, like the SAT and ACT, are used to determine academic readiness and skills for entering university. Scores grant entry to schools with specific requirements, award scholarships, and determine areas of strengths and weaknesses within a student’s academic career. In this blog, we will cover the current data on scores year after year, factors associated with the changes, and how to best approach these standardized tests in light of recent data. This month, Peterson’s will be offering an ACT and SAT special, six months of test prep for $135—99 dollars off, so that students can walk into their test confidently. Current Data on ACT & SAT Scores Decline ACT—In 2024, average ACT co...

You may have seen a lot of news in the past few years about closed colleges. It's true; many colleges have shut down in the past decade, and some sources estimate that roughly one college closes down each week. Which colleges have closed, and why? And should you be concerned about the school you're interested in or attending closing? Read this guide to learn which colleges have closed down since 2015, what happens when a college closes, and why there have been more closed colleges in recent years.   What Does It Mean for a College to Close?  When a college closes, it ceases to exist: it doesn't enroll students, classes shut down, it doesn't award degrees, etc. There are two main scenarios that occur when a college closes: it either completely shuts down and fully ceases to exist with the...

By Kelly Rosinger and Dominique J. Baker  Colleges and universities nationwide turned to test-optional admission policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, our research team at the College Admissions Futures Co-Laborative set out to examine test-optional implementation during the pandemic, how colleges varied in test-optional policy implementation, and the implications of test-optional admission for college selectivity and enrollment at selective colleges and universities. We defined selective colleges and universities as those that admitted fewer than half of applicants over three consecutive years, on average. For these 186 public and private, not-for-profit four-year institutions, we spent two and a half years collecting...