You've been accepted! Now what?

As April quickly approaches, high school seniors will have a list of which colleges they've been admitted and now must decide where to commit. This article for students and parents provides advice on 10 Things to Do once you've been admitted.

Making standardized tests optional?

A new research study has concluded that if the SAT or ACT tests were optional, there would be an increase in racial and socioeconomic diversity at competitive colleges. The findings appear to confirm what SAT critics have said for years: that reliance on the SAT in college admissions favors applicants who are white and/or wealthier than other applicants.


To date, there is only one college, Sarah Lawrence College, who has dropped the standardized test requirement all together. Their admissions website states, " Sarah Lawrence College feels that standardized testing is not effective in evaluating a student's ability to succeed in a writing-based curriculum such as ours."


Click on the link to read the article from Inside Higher Ed.

Want to learn more about test optional colleges? Visit is fairtest.org. They provide a list with over 800 test optional colleges.

Understanding Finanical Aid

What does all this mean?

FinAid.org has compiled a glossary of terms to help you understand their terms and acronyms.

Not sure how to plan for college financially?

The Department of Education and Federal Student Aid created the FAFSA4caster which provides tools for families get an estimate of your eligibility for federal student aid. This is a handy tool for sophomores and juniors, in particular.

What does financial aid look like for today's entering freshman?

Forbes.com posted an article recently that explains how colleges are making changes to accomodate students and families.

Unpredictable Year for College Admissions

In years past, statistical models aided college admissions departments in determining the number of students that would accept their offers. But this year, with the economy in disarray, colleges can't rely on their usual models for admitting students. They are trying to figure out how many students to accept, and how many students will accept them.

More students are opting to stay in-state and attend public colleges because typically they are more affordable. In response, public universities are seeing more applicants than usual and with state budget cuts, are capping enrollment (in California in particular). Private colleges are reporting less applicants but are offering more generous financial aid to help ease the stress of parents who are reluctant to commit four years of expensive private school tuition.

Click here to read the full article from the New York Times.

Education in America

On February 24, 2009, during President Obama's Address to Joint Sessions of Congress, he discussed the importance of post-secondary education in America.

"It is our responsibility as lawmakers and educators to make this system work. But it is the responsibility of every citizen to participate in it. And so tonight, I ask every American to commit to at least one year or more of higher education or career training. This can be community college or a four-year school; vocational training or an apprenticeship. But whatever the training may be, every American will need to get more than a high school diploma. And dropping out of high school is no longer an option. It’s not just quitting on yourself, it’s quitting on your country – and this country needs and values the talents of every American. That is why we will provide the support necessary for you to complete college and meet a new goal: by 2020, America will once again have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world."

It's been confirmed repeatedly that college graduates can expect significantly higher wages over their lifetime than those with a high school diploma. But what is all too often left unaddressed is the non-monetary value of an education. Inside Higher Ed published an article in 2007 on the Non-Monetary Value of a College Degree that enlightens readers on just how significant a college degree can be. People who advance their lives through education tend to have a more positive outlook on themselves and their role in society. They become more civic minded, volunteer in their community, and in general lead healthier lives.

It is our mission at University Admissions Counseling to help people develop personalized and manageable paths to academic and vocational success. Whether you are earning a certificate program, taking a course for personal enrichment or professional development, obtaining a 4-year degree, or building your career, University Admissions Counseling can help.

Invest in yourself and you invest in a better tomorrow.