College Admission 101: Expert Advice for the New Challenges in Admissions, Testing, Financial Aid, and More (2022)
- Other Exams & Certifications
- 295 pages
- Shared February 2025
- 33 downloads
College Admission 101: Expert Advice for the New Challenges in Admissions, Testing, Financial Aid, and More (2022) makes exam prep stress-free with structured learning.
Preview 31 of 295 pages
See the first 31 pages exactly as they appear in the document.
Page 1 Page 2 Read page 2 as text
Downloaded from StudyXY.com [= Ww + StudyXY oi as . Za \ Rr ' BE \ Stu dy Anything This ContentHas been Posted On StudyXY.com as supplementary learning material. StudyXY does not endrose any university, college or publisher. Allmaterials posted are under the liability of the contributors. | 8) www.studyxy.com
Page 3 Page 4 Read page 4 as text
Editorial Rob Franek, Editor-in-Chief David Soto, Senior Director, Data Operations Stephen Koch, Senior Manager, Data Operations Deborah Weber, Director of Production Jason Ullmeyer, Production Design Manager Jennifer Chapman, Senior Production Artist Selena Coppock, Director of Editorial Aaron Riccio, Senior Editor Meave Shelton, Senior Editor Chris Chimera, Editor Orion McBean, Editor Patricia Murphy, Editor Laura Rose, Editor Alexa Schmitt Bugler, Editorial Assistant Penguin Random House Publishing Team Tom Russell, VP, Publisher Alison Stoltzfus, Senior Director, Publishing Brett Wright, Senior Editor Emily Hoffman, Assistant Managing Editor Ellen Reed, Production Manager Suzanne Lee, Designer Eugenia Lo, Publishing Assistant The Princeton Review 110 East 42nd St, 7th Floor New York, NY 10017 Email: editorialsupport@review.com © 2022 by TPR Education IP Holdings, LLC. All rights reserved. Published in the United States by Penguin Random House LLC, New York, and in Canada by Random House of Canada, a division of Penguin Random House Ltd., Toronto. All rankings, ratings, and listings are intellectual property of TPR Education Holdings, LLC. No rankings, ratings, listings, or other proprietary information in this book may be repurposed, abridged, excerpted, combined with other data, or altered for reproduction in any way without express permission of TPR. ISBN 9780593450574 Ebook ISBN 9780593450970 The Princeton Review is not affiliated with Princeton University. Editors: Laura Rose and Aaron Riccio Production Editor: Nina Mozes Production Artist: Deborah Weber Cover illustration of sky © Vicgmyr / Alamy Stock Vector; graduation caps and clouds © Juan Flores / Alamy Stock Vector Cover design by Suzanne Lee a_prh_6.0_140165841_c0_r1 StudyXY
Page 5 Read page 5 as text
Acknowledgments This book would not have been possible without the following individuals at The Princeton Review and beyond: Pia Aliperti, Kristen O’Toole, Emma Parker, Suzanne Podhurst, Aaron Riccio, Laura Rose, and Deborah Weber. My continued thanks to our data collection masters David Soto and Stephen Koch for their successful efforts in amassing and accurately representing the statistical data that informs parts of this book. Most of all, thank you to my readers—I hope this book proves useful in your college searches, applications, and overall college admission journeys. Keep asking the tough questions. Good luck! Robert Franek
Page 6 Read page 6 as text
Table of Contents Author's Note About the Author Get More (Free) Content Introduction How has college admission changed since 2020? Is a college degree worth the price? Is online or hybrid college learning worth the price? What is the “best” college? Chapter 1: College Research How has college life changed since 2020? How do | determine the best college or university for me? How important are college rankings? When should | start my college research? How many schools should | apply to? How can | get the most out of a college visit? How can | research colleges if | can't visit campus? Chapter 2: Standardized Tests What changes are coming to the PSAT and SAT? How are SAT or ACT test scores used in the admission process and how important are they? Will colleges see my PSAT scores? How is the PSAT used in determining National Merit Scholarships? What does it mean when a college is “test-optional"? Should 1 still take the ACT or SAT if I'm looking at test-optional schools? What can | do to get into a test-optional school? Which test should | choose: SAT or ACT?
Page 7 Read page 7 as text
Should | take BOTH the SAT and ACT? When should | take the SAT or ACT? If | take either test more than once, which scores will colleges see? How can | improve my standardized test scores? What should | do if my SAT or ACT score wasn't great and | can't get another testing spot? Do | need to take AP exams? What should | expect if | need to take an at-home exam? What's an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma? How do college admissions counselors treat an IB diploma? Chapter 3: High School Transcripts How do | make online learning work for me? What should | be doing in 9th and 10th grades to prepare for the college admission process? What should | be doing in 11th and 12th grades to prepare for the college admission process? How will pass/fail or nontraditional grading affect my admission chances? Is it better to have a B in an honors/AP course or an A in a regular/easier course? My school doesn’t publish class rank. Will that hurt my application? What carries more weight on a college application: GPA or test scores? Which electives should | take? How do college admission officers view applications from public school students vs. those from private school students? How do | address my high school disciplinary record on my application? Chapter 4: Extracurricular Activities How do college admissions officers view extracurricular activities within an application? What should | do if my extracurricular activities were canceled? What can student athletes do if they are temporarily unable to play their sport? Does having a job carry as much weight as school-related extracurricular activities? What sort of jobs/extracurriculars can | do remotely? Chapter 5: Financial Aid & Scholarships What is the FAFSA? What is my Expected Family Contribution? What's the CSS/Financial Aid Profile?
Page 8 Read page 8 as text
What financial information do | need to apply for financial aid using the FAFSA and/or the CSS Profile? How does the financial aid application process differ from the admission process? What is in my financial aid package? What is the difference between need-based and merit-based financial aid? How do | look for scholarships? How do | save/pay for college? If my first-choice school’s online college calculator shows that | can't afford it. should | bother applying? What is a need-blind school? Will | be penalized if I apply for financial aid? Will colleges look favorably on me if I don't apply for financial aid? Can | appeal my financial aid decision? Is it a smart move to attend a two year / associates degree-granting school first to save money? Chapter 6: Application What is the Common Application? Are there other applications like the Common Application? Is one better than another? What do admission officers look for in an application essay? How do | write a game-changing college essay? When should | start the application process? Should | declare a major on my application or apply undecided? How important is optional or supplemental application material? Is a college interview required? What should | expect? Who should | ask to write my letters of recommendation? Chapter 7: Inside the Admissions Office What are my chances of getting into my dream school? How are my application materials reviewed? Who is on the admission committee? What is the single most important thing admission officers look for in an application? Will applying Early Decision or Early Action give me a leg up? What does it mean to be deferred? What can | do to improve my chances of acceptance? What if | don't get accepted to my first-choice school? What are my chances of getting off the waitlist? Do admission officers look at prospective students’ social media accounts?
Page 9 Read page 9 as text
How much weight do schools put on intangibles like “grit™? Chapter 8: Etc. Is the admission process different for international students? How difficult is transferring between colleges? Should | take a gap year before starting college? What if | need additional accommodations (and will requesting them hurt my chances of admission)? How highly should | weigh a school’s stance on social and ethical issues? What impact will cheaters have on my admissions chances? How can a parent participate most effectively in their child's college application process? How do | balance schoolwork, extracurriculars, test prep, college applications, family. social life, and SANITY?! Appendix
Page 10 Read page 10 as text
Hands down, what I love best about my job here at The Princeton Review is spending direct, quality time with college-bound students and their families. It sounds like a canned talking point, right? The head of content for a global educational services company likes working with students and their families? But, I’m not fibbing, not even a syllable. Here’s why—every day you teach me how to be better at my job. I spend most of the academic year speaking to students, parents, counselors, and educators alike. Whether I'm teaching students and parents the basics or the more advanced lessons around the college process, the most motivating part of that exchange is always the privilege of listening to each of you. Here’s the logic: if I can understand your college goals along with the stuff that stresses you, confuses you, and plain-old scares you about the admissions process, then I can create the right kinds of resources to put you on the path to achieving those goals. Meeting and talking with you only reinforces my overall mission to assuage anxiety around the college admission process and create the next class of informed and fearless college seekers. Now, that’s awesome, indeed! The last several years have been more tumultuous and uncertain than ever, but though the effects of the coronavirus pandemic linger on, students and faculty alike are finding ways to press forward. This book presents the clearest answers I can provide to the most frequent, savvy, and urgent questions that I’ve been getting, including through our YouTube channel:
Page 11 Read page 11 as text
concerns about remote learning, test-optional schools, and changes to standardized tests. I haven’t just been reaching millions of people this year alone through TV, radio, and online sources: I’ve been listening, and I want to give you actionable next steps, now more than ever. Wondering how to handle applications if your extracurriculars were canceled? How to get the most out of a college tour whether you're on the physical campus or online? Which standardized tests to take? Have nitty- gritty questions about your high school schedule? How about the financial aid process? I’ve got you covered for each of these key questions, and so many more. My goal, and ours at The Princeton Review, is to help you succeed in each step of your educational journey. Consider College Admission 101 your primer to do just that. The information in this book is up-to-date for students graduating in 2023 (and we’ve already got our eye on upcoming changes to the SAT in 2024), but it’s also a useful guide for any student in high school, parents of high schoolers (and even middle schoolers), parents who attended college themselves, parents who didn’t attend college, families new to the United States, and more. In short, no one should ever feel excluded or unprepared for the college search and application process. From SAT scores to scholarships, this book provides straightforward answers to questions about college topics and is meant for anyone and everyone interested in attending college. Thanks to each of you for putting your faith in me and our full team at The Princeton Review. I very much hope you find this book a great resource in your college admission journey. It’s been a genuine pleasure bringing it to you. Robert Franek
Page 12 Read page 12 as text
About the Author Rob Franek, Editor-in-Chief at The Princeton Review, is a nationally recognized expert on higher education and a college aficionado. He visits more than 50 colleges a year. Over his 28-year career in education, he has served as a college admissions administrator, test prep teacher, author, and lecturer. He is lead author of The Princeton Review’s annual book, The Best 388 Colleges, as well as The Best Value Colleges. He is also author of Colleges That Create Futures: 50 Schools That Launch Careers by Going Beyond the Classroom, and co-author of If the U Fits: Expert Advice on Finding the Right College and Getting Accepted. Rob gives dozens of presentations a year to audiences of teachers, parents, and students on trending education and college topics. Follow his tweets at @RobFranek.
Page 13 Read page 13 as text
1 Go to PrincetonReview.com/guidebooks or scan the QR code and enter the following ISBN for your book: 9780593450970 2 Answer a few simple questions to set up an exclusive Princeton Review account. (If you already have one, you can just log in.)
Page 14 Read page 14 as text
3 Enjoy access to your FREE content! Once you've registered, you can... « Take a full-length practice SAT and/or ACT « Get valuable advice about the college application process, including tips for writing a great essay and where to apply for financial aid « |f you're still choosing between colleges, use our searchable rankings of The Best 388 Colleges to find out more information about your dream school « Access the Index to this book and a variety of printable resources including: a high school testing calendar and college prep checklists
Page 15 Read page 15 as text
* Check to see if there have been any corrections or updates to this edition Need to report a potential content issue? Contact EditorialSupport@review.com and include: « full title of the book * ISBN * page number Need to report a technical issue? Contact TPRStudentTech@review.com and provide: o your full name « email address used to register the book « full book title and ISBN * Operating system (Mac/PC) and browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, etc.)
Page 16 Read page 16 as text
Students, you face a college admissions landscape unlike any before. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has radically upended the admissions process. You'll face new challenges in everything from standardized testing and grades to extracurriculars and college visits. The aim of this book is to help you navigate the college admission process and answer the essential application questions that high school students and parents ask me about on the official The Princeton Review YouTube channel, at college-bound events and webinars, and that our own college admission experts hear from clients. Before I get into the nitty-gritty details of the college admission process, however, I want to address the big picture.
Page 17 Read page 17 as text
How has college admission changed since 2020? I'd love to tell you differently, but planning, applying, and paying for college has always been an arduous and anxiety-inducing process. That hasn’t really changed. Electronic options, some of which were accelerated due to the need for quarantine, have certainly made parts of the application process more convenient. When campuses closed to protect current and prospective students by social distancing, colleges presented better virtual tour options. More notably, the actual admission landscape has shifted and continues to do so. Applications are evaluated in an increasingly holistic fashion, and where students apply is also changing. For instance, for medical and financial reasons, an increasing number of students have looked to stay close to home, which can have an impact on the number of applications received by city and state colleges. The extracurriculars and job opportunities available to students have also shifted, and the seismic societal shifts of the last few years may have impacted GPAs, especially if pass/fail grading was implemented. But just as you have adapted so have colleges. As early as the summer of 2020, admission leaders—including signatories from all the Ivy League schools—had already issued the “Care Counts in Crisis”! response to COVID that clarified what they expected of students: “As admission and enrollment leaders, we recognize that we and the institutions we represent send signals that can shape students’ priorities and
Page 18 Read page 18 as text
experiences throughout high school. This collective statement seeks to clarify what we value in applicants during this time of COVID-19. We are keenly aware that students across the country and the world are experiencing many uncertainties and challenges. We primarily wish to underscore our commitment to equity and to encourage in student’s self-care, balance, meaningful learning, and care for others.” Folks, the very first item in the document is assurance that your application will be assessed within the context of the obstacles and challenges you have faced during the pandemic. That’s good news and so is the next part: the emphasis on self-care and balance for students. These admissions leaders want you to know that you will not be disadvantaged because your school moved to pass/fail in place of letter grades or canceled your extracurriculars, or because you confronted new responsibilities at home, or had limited access to standardized tests and campus visits. You will be viewed in the context of the curriculum, academic resources, and supports available to you. Not convinced? Both the Common Application and the Coalition for College application provide opportunities for students to describe exactly how they have been impacted by the pandemic. You are also encouraged to communicate to colleges any factors that may have affected your academic performance, like caring for a sick relative, working to supplement your family income, or having no quiet place to study. How will that play out for your college admissions? Let’s take a quick look at the factors that affect your future college admissions chances, with an emphasis on what’s changed and what remains the same. Believe me, we’ll go into much more detail for each topic—often an entire chapter’s worth— throughout the rest of this book. High School GPA
Page 19 Read page 19 as text
For better and worse, your high school GPA remains the most important factor in college admission decisions. That said, it’s treated increasingly less as just a number. Your advisors work tirelessly to provide meaningful data about your high school that helps to contextualize what that GPA represents. It accounts for tectonic shifts at the classroom level—shifts to hybrid learning, for example, or pass/fail grading—as well as absences from students and teachers alike. You should treat your GPA the same way—as something that helps to explain your journey, but doesn’t define it. If your grades aren’t where you want them to be, it is to your advantage to tell that story. Standardized Tests There are fewer tests available now than ever before, since SAT Subject Tests have been phased out. The way in which they are administered also continues to shift, whether by necessity, as when some tests like the AP were temporarily given remotely and online, or by intent, as with the current plans to make the SAT a computer-adaptive test by 2024. Their impact still cannot be undersold, especially when it comes to how valuable they can be in meriting financial aid or helping to distinguish you from other applicants. But if you were unable to take these tests, or didn’t get the results you were aiming for, all is not lost. Some colleges have, temporarily or permanently, adopted measures that relax their application requirements, focusing instead on a student’s high school experience. (See why I said the GPA was the most important factor?) Ultimately, if you can take the SAT, ACT, or both, you should; they give you one more opportunity to shine. Extracurricular Activities Colleges have recalibrated how they assess the activities that students bring to the table because for many, their circumstances did change. (For instance, even if you still met with your Model United Nations team, you
Page 20 Read page 20 as text
might not have traveled to wider competitions with them; if you’re an actor or athlete, you might have had fewer chances to take to the stage or field.) Take heart: schools won’t penalize you for not availing yourself of an opportunity that didn’t exist. That said, you always want to be able to show that you’re doing something, so think creatively about how to keep yourself busy. Honors and Awards Colleges usually consider awards and honors in making admission decisions. I know many of you are deserving of awards and honors but are missing out because programs are (or were) temporarily put on hold. Again, don’t worry. Colleges truly understand. College Essays Friends, this is one area of your application over which you have full control. Your college essays are more important than ever! Take extra care to make an outline, write, edit, and then edit some more. Think about what makes you, you. You may opt to write about how the pandemic affected you, but keep in mind that a lot of other students are likely to choose that topic, as well. Make sure that whatever you write about reveals something about who you are and what you value. College Interviews Many colleges encourage you to interview with an admissions representative or alumnus as part of the college application process. It’s another chance to show off the unique personality traits that you’ll bring to college and build a personal relationship with admissions gatekeepers. Many college interviews were already taking place over Skype or Zoom, which means that you're likely readier than ever to ace your video interview. Recommendation Letters + Studyxy
Page 21 Read page 21 as text
Recommendation letters haven’t changed a lot. Your teachers want to see you succeed, and they can still help you stand apart by singing your praises and helping to develop the picture of who you are as a person. You'll learn more about how to maintain relationships with your teachers by making remote learning work for you in Chapter 3. Demonstrated Interest Finally, colleges take into account your demonstrated interest—all the things you’ve done to show that you're a good fit for their school and that you’d be likely to attend if you are accepted. You may not be able to visit in person, but you can take an online tour. You can comb through the school website. You can talk to or email current students. Convey your sincere interest in your application and any communication you have with members of the admission team. Schools are dealing with a lot of upheaval, too, so you’re likely to have an advantage in the process if they know that you're as keen on them as they are on you. The bottom line is that lots of colleges—especially those that tend to draw students from across the country and the world—are dealing with tremendous uncertainty, just like you. They are making Herculean efforts to be fair and are not penalizing students for circumstances beyond their control. Stay focused, my friends! Keep up with your studies, stay sharp with your skills, and remain optimistic for the future. Next, I want to address two questions that tend to appear on op-ed pages each fall.
Page 22 Read page 22 as text
Is a college degree worth the price? The cost of a four-year degree has been increasing faster than inflation for over 30 years. Ninety-eight percent of participants in our “College Hopes and Worries” survey reported that financial aid will be necessary to pay for college in 2021. At many institutions, financial aid includes loans—so graduates often enter an uncertain job market already loaded with debt. With that in mind, is college really the path to professional success and financial stability? Is a college degree worth the cost of tuition? My answer is an emphatic “yes!” Of course, I’m biased—I’ve worked in and around college admissions for over 25 years. I have seen firsthand how young people use the tools and experiences they acquire in colleges and universities to achieve their personal and professional goals. Fortunately, there is plenty of data to confirm my anecdotal observations. In 2020, adults with a bachelor’s degree saw significantly higher median earnings and a lower unemployment rate than those with only a high school diploma. Education Unemployment rate Median weekly attained earnings Professional 1.6% 3.1% $1,893 degree s1.505 Bachelor's 2.2% 5.5% $1,305
Page 23 Read page 23 as text
degree High school 3.7% 9.0% $781 diploma only Note: Data is for persons age 25 and over. Earnings are for full-time wage and salary workers. Unemployment rates were higher in 2020 than in 2019 at all education levels due to the pandemic. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics In fact, the Center on Education and the Workforce at Georgetown University calculates that a bachelor’s degree itself is worth $2.8 million on average over a lifetime, and bachelor’s degree holders earn 75 percent more than those with a high school diploma alone.2 According to the College Board’s 2019 report “Education Pays,” individuals with a college education are more likely to: e Participate in retirement plans offered by their employers ¢ Receive health insurance through their employers * Vote in elections These are merely the quantifiable gains—you’ll have many, many valuable experiences on campus or as a direct result of your college experience. (I wrote about such experiences in another book, Colleges That Create Futures: 50 Schools That Launch Careers by Going Beyond the Classroom.) + StudyXy
Page 24 Read page 24 as text
Is online or hybrid college learning worth the price? In a nutshell, YES. I’m here to tell you that not only are online and hybrid learning in college worth the price but there are also extra benefits to them. You'll have more direct interactions with faculty, who are incorporating interactive features that make classes feel less like a lecture and more like a conversation. Odds are your class materials will be presented in bite-sized pieces that work better with the average student’s attention span and are coupled with opportunities to ask and answer questions and respond with video or audio assignments. Online programs also tend to be more flexible with synchronous (live) and asynchronous (pre-recorded) formats that allow you to study on your own schedule. Video conferencing tools can even help you stay better connected with your fellow classmates. And hybrid learning (a combination of face-to-face and online instruction) can give you the best of both worlds. Hybrid learning gives you all the benefits mentioned above, along with the opportunity to experience campus life and attend some in-person classes. According to Timothy White, the chancellor of California State University, the nation’s largest public university system, there are career benefits to online work, too: “That’s actually sort of field training for the future workforce, because when [students] graduate, chances are going to be increasing every day that they will be working in a virtual space in the future.”2
Page 25 Read page 25 as text
Since 2020, most colleges and universities have become very responsive to our ever-changing environment and students’ educational needs. They have adapted to implement online and hybrid learning, including utilizing new technology and teaching methods. This changing of the traditional learning model has had some unexpected and positive benefits for you, the student. You now have more flexibility with your time and commitments and more choice in the way that you learn, and since everyone learns differently, this is a great thing! Julia Thom-Levy, vice provost for academic innovation at Cornell University, stated, “We are coming out of the pandemic with an even stronger commitment to the value of in-person instruction as an essential component to our residential academic programs but that we also have a bigger toolbox of successful teaching methods available to us now. Teachers want to use the best of both going forward and will likely blend in- person instruction with digital tools that can engage students in and out of the classroom. ”# There are still many unknowns as to what college life will be like in the future, but here’s what I do know: If there’s a school you want to attend and you have the opportunity to go, then go! Go even if “going” means putting on headphones and talking to your computer camera (for now). Go even if it means deferring your acceptance and taking classes at a local community college or doing remote work and then going in-person in a year. (I give plenty of advice on taking a gap year in Chapter 8). But make plans to pursue your dreams—in whatever way feels right for you and your family. If you, like me, accept the premise that a college degree is most definitely worth the cost of tuition, then that brings us to the other big question that so many students, parents, and media commentators grapple with.
Page 26 Read page 26 as text
What is the “best” college? There isn’t one. It might seem silly to include a question in this book that has no answer, but this is an important point that will help put your whole college admission journey into perspective. I understand why folks ask. Given the awesome lifetime benefits we know a student can obtain with a college degree, it’s common to make a correlative leap: the more prestigious the alma mater, the greater the rewards for the graduate. But it’s important to remember that prestige and reputation—which are often major factors in college ranking methodologies—tend to be measured with one data point: a college or university’s selectivity. According to our 2021 College Hopes and Worries survey, Harvard College was the school students most named as their “dream” college and Stanford University was the school parent respondents most named as their “dream” college for their child. Both Harvard and Stanford enjoy an excellent reputation, provide world- class resources, and feature an impressive roster of alumni. We don’t need to rely on our survey results to know they are highly desirable schools—in 2021, over 57,000 students applied for admission to Harvard, and more than 55,000 applied to Stanford. Harvard accepted just 3% of the applicant pool and Stanford accepted only 4%. Are the roughly 55,000 students who applied to Harvard and the approximately 53,000 students who applied to Stanford and did not get in doomed to failure?
Page 27 Read page 27 as text
Of course not! And therein lies the fatal flaw in the myth of “the best college.” There may not be a single best overall college, but there are absolutely schools that are the best for each and every one of those applicants, and there’s a best school for you out there too. Don’t let this assumption create an enormous amount of anxiety for you and your parents by creating the impression that the choices made in high school determine, or limit, all future opportunities. You do not have to attend a highly selective school in order to pursue a meaningful and lucrative career. Salaries and Job Satisfaction *Data from PayScale.com College Salary Report 2021. High Job Meaning refers to the percentage of respondents who answered “very much so” or “yes” to the question, “Does your work make the world a better place?” + StudyXxy
Page 28 Read page 28 as text
**Data reported to The Princeton Review by the school from fall 2020 through spring 2021 While the schools in this table vary in their selectivity, there is less variation amongst the number of graduates they produce that go on to find enjoyable, well-paid opportunities in the workforce. Moreover, you are not a statistic, so don't let numbers or acceptance rates be the only factor when choosing the school that is right for you. The road to college is long, and students and their supporters want to be sure their hard work will pay off with a degree and experience that pave the way to a successful career. But after twenty-eight years in this business, I can assure you that college and career prep are not one-size-fits-all—there are over 3,000 four-year colleges in the United States. Thoughtful research and reflection will help you find the schools that fit you best. The Princeton Review produces a number of books that can help you narrow down the choices, including The Best Value Colleges and The Best 388 Colleges. Applying to schools that line up with your goals and interests also helps your chances of gaining acceptance. You will likely be asked why you want to attend a particular school in a supplemental essay or interview, and “Because you're the best!” won’t cut it. If you identify the specific opportunities on campus that are exciting to you, that enthusiasm will come through on your application. Admissions officers are looking for students who will be active participants in their college community. Now that we’ve dispensed with the “best college” myth, I have plenty to share with you about how to set yourself up for success in high school, maximize your SAT and ACT scores, find the colleges and universities that will fit you best, and craft competitive applications.
Page 29 Read page 29 as text
Survey Says What's the biggest benefit of college? 43% say the potentially better job and higher income 32% say the exposure to new ideas 25% say the education *Results of The Princeton Review's College Hopes & Worries Survey of college applicants and parents of college applicants. PrincetonReview.com/college-rankings/college-hopes- worries Skip NOTES 1 https://mcc.gse.harvard.edu/resources-for-colleges/endorse-care-counts-in-crisis-college-admissions- deans-respond-to-covid-19 2 https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/collegepayoff2021/#resources 3 https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/education/2020/06/22/coronavirus-reopening-college-fall- 2020/3210719001/ 4 https://www.usnews.com/education/articles/hybrid-classes-in-college-what-to-know + StudyXy
Page 30 Read page 30 as text
How has college life changed since 2020? How do | determine the best college or university for me? How important are college rankings? When should | start my college research? How many schools should | apply to? How can | get the most out of a college visit? How can | research colleges if | can’t visit campus?
Page 31 Read page 31 as text
CHAPTER 1 College Research On The Princeton Review's annual College Hopes & Worries survey, we ask nearly 14,000 high school students and their parents to answer a simple question: What would be your dream college if academic admission and cost weren't factors? Let's take a gander at the most recent results, shall we? TOP 10 DREAM SCHOOLS Student Picks Parent Picks 1. Harvard College 1. Stanford University 2. Stanford University 2. Harvard College 3. New York University 3. Princeton University 4. Columbia University 4. Massachusetts Institute 5. University of California of Technology —Los Angeles 5. Yale University 6. Princeton University 6. University of 7. Massachusetts Institute Pennsylvania of Technology 7. University of California 8. University of Texas— —Los Angeles Austin 8. New York University 9. University of 9. Columbia University Pennsylvania
264 more pages in the full document
Unlock it once and it stays in your library, ready to chat with or turn into flashcards.
Unlock the full documentMore Other Exams & Certifications study materials
See all
Certification GuidesACFT For Dummies (2020)
Other Exams & Certifications
467 pages156downloadsFeb 2025
Past ExamsTexas Real Estate Law - SAE Champions School Of Real Estate Practice Exam with Answers (81 Solved Questions)
Other Exams & Certifications
9 pages153downloadsFeb 2025
Past Exams2024 Smart Serve Ontario Practice Exam with Answers (53 Solved Questions)
Other Exams & Certifications
6 pages153downloadsFeb 2025
Past ExamsWRT Certification Practice Exam with Answers (106 Solved Questions)
Other Exams & Certifications
16 pages151downloadsFeb 2025
Past Exams2024 Vivint SHP Practice Exam with Answers (35 Solved Questions)
Other Exams & Certifications
4 pages144downloadsFeb 2025
Past Exams2024-2025 Wall Street Prep Premium Exam with Answers (50 Solved Questions)
Other Exams & Certifications
13 pages138downloadsFeb 2025
Past Exams2024-2025 Lifeguard Final Exam with Answers (69 Solved Questions)
Other Exams & Certifications
11 pages137downloadsFeb 2025
Past Exams2023-2024 ISSA Certification Final Exam with Answers (200 Solved Questions)
Other Exams & Certifications
49 pages136downloadsFeb 2025
Study this document with CramX
Once it is in your library, every tool can work from it.

