Applying to College
These letters are intended to shed light on a student's work ethic, mindset, and attitude/demeanor in the classroom.
What are letters of recommendation?
Money awarded that generally does not need to be repaid.
What is a grant?
A college representative visits your high school. Beyond simply attending, what action afterward could meaningfully strengthen your interaction?
What is sending a thoughtful follow-up email or asking informed questions afterward?
This date is the national deadline for college enrollment.
What is May 1?
This Ivy League university is the oldest institution of higher education in the United States, founded in 1636.
What is Harvard University?
This section of the Common App enables students to explain circumstances such as illness, family hardships, or scheduling limitations that may have affected their application.
What is the Additional Information section?
Money borrowed for college that must generally be repaid with interest.
What is a loan?
This admissions professional is typically assigned to read applications from students in a particular geographic area (and they might live in the area!).
Who is a regional admissions representative?
If deferred or waitlisted, an applicant may be asked to complete one of these.
What is a letter of continued interest?
This college was the first women's college in the United States.
What is Wesleyan College?
Colleges generally prefer activities listed in order of this characteristic rather than alphabetical or chronological order.
What is significance to the student?
Unlike the FAFSA, this application is used by many private colleges to award institutional financial aid and often asks for more detailed financial information.
What is the CSS Profile?
The practice of evaluating an applicant as a whole person, rather than relying exclusively on quantitative metrics.
What is holistic review?
This pre-orientation program is designed to help first-generation students adjust to college before the school year begins.
What is a summer bridge program?
This animal is Howard University's mascot.
What is a bison?
A college might indicate that this kind of question is optional (but you should answer it anyway!).
What are supplements?
This type of scholarship is awarded based on achievement, not financial need.
What is a merit scholarship?
This public university system does not use the Common App or consider test scores, 9th grade grades, or teacher recommendations.
What is the University of California system?
This is an on-campus event in which accepted students explore university life before making their final commitments.
What is an admitted student weekend?
This 2023 landmark Supreme Court case abolished race-conscious Affirmative Action in college admissions.
What is Students for Fair Admissions vs. Harvard University?
Unlike Early Decision, this early application plan limits where students may apply early but does not require them to enroll.
What is Single Choice Early Action?
A student's demonstrated financial need is indicated by this number.
What is the Student Aid Index (SAI)?
This percentage represents the proportion of admitted students who actually enroll.
What is yield?
The financial aid award letter is non-negotiable.
What is false?
This college was the first to go test-optional (in 1969!).
What is Bowdoin College?