Should I Live on Campus or Off?

ShareTweetFlipEmailPin0 SharesOften students do not have a choice of whether to live on or off campus. It’s simply a matter of finances-to be able to afford to attend college, they live at home and attend a local university. But for those who have the choice, research shows that students who live on campus do better … Read more

What does “need blind” admissions mean?

ShareTweetFlipEmailPin0 Shares“Need blind” admissions refers to the process of a college evaluating an admission application without regard to the student’s financial status. In other words, the admissions office makes its decisions without knowing the student’s financial situation. To understand what this means it helps to know under what circumstances admissions might consider a student’s financial … Read more

What are independent college counselors?

ShareTweetFlipEmailPin0 SharesIndependent college counselors also known as independent educational consultants (IEC), are individuals other than high school guidance counselors who provide college counseling to students and families. They are hired to provide these services independent of the high school. A common depiction of independent counselors in the media are high-priced consultants who “package” students for … Read more

Should I avoid Liberal Arts Colleges if I’m interested in science?

ShareTweetFlipEmailPin0 SharesNo. Many people believe that only universities can provide the facilities and classes for undergraduates to complete a strong undergraduate major in the sciences. Like most sweeping assumptions, it isn’t true. Liberal Arts Colleges have long been known to prepare students for graduate studies in the sciences. The National Science Foundation did a study … Read more

Are college campus visits necessary?

ShareTweetFlipEmailPin0 SharesNo. You do not have to visit a college in order to be admitted to a college. I get the impression that emphasis on campus visits is partially a generational thing. I don’t know of anyone my age (that is old enough to have kids in college) who visited the college before they showed … Read more

What are learning communities?

ShareTweetFlipEmailPin0 SharesA learning community is when a group of students take two or more courses together. The courses may be based on a theme or simply core classes required by the college. The goal of a learning community is to provide students with increased opportunities to form relationships with other students and interact with faculty. … Read more

What are college retention rates?

student in front of college asking waht are college retention rates

Post-it Note asking what are college retention rates?The college retention rate is the percentage of full-time students who return after their freshman year. The retention rate is not the same thing as the graduation rate. There may actually be significant differences between the two numbers.

The retention rate will always be higher than the graduation rate which is why prospective college applicants will often hear about it. However, colleges with similar retention rates may have dramatically different graduation rates.

Read more

What are articulation agreements?

ShareTweetFlipEmailPin0 SharesArticulation agreements are agreements between community colleges and four-year institutions on how students’ credits will transfer. This is not the same thing as simply transferring to another school. These agreements state that students who have completed specific requirements will be admitted as a transfer student. The goal is to eliminate any questions as to … Read more