Travel back in time with me, if you will, to 1999. College admissions had recently transitioned from a buyer’s market to a seller’s, and application totals at many colleges began the steady climb to what continue to be unprecedented numbers. Twenty years ago marked my foray from college admission into college counseling as well. I have been on the front lines with students and parents through three different iterations of the format of the SAT, the evolution of web-based college searching, and the transition from paper to online applications, including the expanding reach of multiple online application platforms. 1999 was not just the beginning of my career in college counseling, but of an ongoing commitment to help students keep their wits about them in what, for many, is an overwhelming process. This includes helping them to be strategic about their college lists.

The Coalition Application has not been without its critics, but one quality the team behind the application has proven over the past three years is its ability to adapt quickly.

While both the well-established Common Application and its 2-year old rival the Coalition enable students to apply to college, there are countless variations between the two platforms. And for students (as well as parents and school counselors) who are familiar with the characteristics and structure of the Common App, be prepared that many of the features you know and love (and probably take for granted) on the Common App are regrettably absent from the Coalition. But fear not! Our 10 top tips below highlight our favorite suggestions for students applying to college with the Coalition Application.

‘Tis the college application season, and on the latest episode of Getting In: A College Coach Conversation, host Beth Heaton treats her listeners to a top five list of college application mistakes and the answers to a myriad of college admission and finance questions posed by our podcast listeners. 

Everyone knows that (most) colleges will review your grades and test scores when determining whether or not to admit you, but what if you’ve already done most everything you can do by those measures? You’ve already got good grades and test scores. What else can you do to help your college application stand out from the thousands of other applications submitted by other students with equally good grades and test scores?

Last month we reviewed how to complete the first three pages of your Common Application. Today we’re taking a deep dive into the four remaining sections of the Common App: the testing, activities, writing, and (relatively new) courses & grades pages. Unlike the first part of the Common App, these pages require a significant amount of writing and allow you to share more of your personal story with admissions officers. Keep reading to discover how to make a positive impression on your Common App!

How to Complete the Profile, Family, and Education Pages of your 2018-19 Common Application

If you recently created your Common App account and aren’t quite sure where to begin, you’ve come to the right place! Here we’ve outlined the most important components of your Common Application, beginning with the Profile, Family, and Education pages. There’s nothing we love more than dissecting everyone’s favorite college application. Are you ready to discover some valuable Common App tips? Let’s go!

How to Create Your 2018-19 Common Application Account

From essays and interviews to campus tours and costly fees, there are dozens of steps to applying to college. But creating your Common App is one of the easiest and, if approached in the right mindset, also one of the most empowering. Once you’ve set up your Common App account, you are no longer just a prospective student, but are well on your way to becoming a genuine college applicant!

The Common Application opened up for the new school year on August 1, so, rising high school seniors, you can apply for college.

Right.

Now.

Guest post by Marie Schwartz, CEO and Founder of TeenLife Media.

If you’re a high school student ready to get a part-time job, internship or volunteer position, there’s an important tool you’ll need to describe how awesome you are, convey your individuality, and tell employers how to get in touch with you.

That tool is a job resume. And even if you’re still in high school; even if you’ve never held a paying job; even if you’re convinced you don’t have any relevant experience, you can write a truthful and good-looking resume that will help convince someone that you will make a good employee.