A Guest Post by Lisa Bevill, Fortuna Admissions

Are there embarrassing pictures of you on Instagram? Or are you tagged in a Facebook photo from a best friend’s party that you wouldn’t show your mom? Maybe you took to Twitter once, in a fit of frustration, with a thinly veiled insult directed at a teacher. Or you’ve put off creating your LinkedIn profile. Continue reading

The U.S. college admissions process can be perplexing to international and domestic students alike.  Why are some seemingly qualified applicants denied admission, while others with outwardly similar qualifications are accepted?  The answer lies in the fact that U.S. college admissions officers are not tasked with simply admitting individual students, but with shaping a diverse class that meets a variety of institutional needs. Continue reading

There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. And while the media tends to focus on just a handful of schools, we at College Coach encourage students to think outside the box during their college selection process and explore a wide range of colleges. And for some students, this includes schools beyond the U.S., too! As such, we are highlighting an international college this week in our School Spotlight series.

School Spotlight: University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh, Scotland Continue reading

It’s that time of year again, when high school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors select their courses for the next academic year. Many students and parents agonize over these choices.  In general, the more selective the college a student aims for, the more rigorous the courseload ought to be; however, a full complement of honors and/or AP courses simply isn’t realistic or sustainable for every student. Continue reading

On the latest episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation, host Elizabeth Heaton welcomes guests to talk about standardized testing conversion charts, using tax refunds for student loan repayments, and strategies for visiting colleges. Listen to the complete show on the VoiceAmerica network or by searching for Getting In: A College Coach Conversation wherever you get your podcasts. Continue reading

High school seniors are starting to receive their financial aid notifications from colleges, and most of these notifications will include one or more versions of a Federal Direct Loan—be it a Direct Subsidized Loan, Direct Unsubsidized Loan, and/or a Direct PLUS Loan. If you have been awarded a Direct Loan, you may be wondering what is it, exactly, and what are the differences between the various Direct Loan programs? Former Boston University and Tufts University financial aid officer Shannon Vasconcelos answers, “What is a Federal Direct Loan?,” in this installment of the College Coach video series, Ask the College Finance Expert. Continue reading

There are over 4,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. And while the media tends to focus on just a handful of schools, we at College Coach encourage students to think outside the box during their college selection process and explore a wide range of colleges. As such, we are highlighting a new college each week in our School Spotlight series. Check out the college below, along with the other posts in our series, and you may just stumble upon your dream school!

School Spotlight: University of Mississippi
University, MS Continue reading

There is a scholarship (or many scholarships) out there for everyone. Every student has some skill, interest, experience, or characteristic that may make them an attractive candidate for one scholarship or another. And while we often refer to scholarships as “free money,” scholarships don’t actually come for free. It takes work to thoughtfully consider your strengths and research the scholarships that might be most appropriate for you. While the effort that goes into finding and winning scholarships may be akin to a part-time job, we at College Coach want to make your job a little easier. This on-going scholarship series highlights a new scholarship each week. Check out the below, along with the other posts in the series, and you may discover a funding resource that will make covering that college bill a little (or a lot!) easier.

Have you been to your bank lately? Your local credit union or bank may have scholarship opportunities for graduating high school seniors. For students living in a town or city served by Middlesex Savings Bank, this essay contest will allow you to keep your money in the bank just a little bit longer.

Scholarship: A. James Lavoie Scholarship Essay Contest Continue reading

International students, just like their domestic counterparts, should strive for a college list that encompasses a range of admission selectivity. While it’s fine to aim high and dream big, it’s smart to have a safety net and multiple options. To better understand how to build a balanced list and why rankings aren’t everything when it comes to the college search, see Emily Toffelmire’s recent article on www.wes.org, home of World Education Services, a non-profit organization advocating for international education since 1974. Continue reading

As a recent Mercedes TV pitch entices, “the best or nothing.”

Like the price tag on a luxury car or a Tiffany diamond, the sticker price of a college is somehow linked to the perceived value of that education. And who doesn’t want the best for their children? But the best… or nothing? That perception is limiting, and some colleges are making moves to flip the script on this notion. Continue reading