With college applications looming on the horizon, many rising high school seniors are feeling the pressure to figure out in the next few months, not only where they want to study, but what they want to study.  This choice, many believe, will determine the path of the rest of their lives.  That’s a weighty burden for a 17-year-old student to bear, and some may wonder if all this stress is really necessary.  Find out from former Barnard and Whittier College admissions officer, Mary Sue Youn, in this installment of the College Coach video series, Ask the College Admissions Expert. Mary Sue answers the burning question on the minds of rising seniors and their parents, “Is It Okay To Apply To College With An Undecided Major?”

As the school year winds down, you may want to consider taking an SAT Subject Test while the information is still fresh in your mind. Not even sure what a Subject Test is or why you might want to take one? Check out the latest installment of the College Coach video series, Ask the College Admissions Expert, in which former University of Pennsylvania admissions officer Elizabeth Heaton answers the question, “What are SAT Subject Tests?”

Volunteering is extremely common in the United States. In fact, many American high schools, both public and private, require students to perform a certain number of community service hours before graduation. This custom gets young people out in their communities, contributing time and talent to help others. Your level of service in high school sends a message to colleges that you will also be a generous, thoughtful, and giving member of their campus family.

If you will be applying to college next year, you will very shortly be in the market for teacher recommendations, and you may be wondering what teachers you should ask for these recommendations. Should you always ask the teacher who gave you the best grade?

When applying Early Action or Early Decision you might have been expecting one of two decisions—admit or deny. However, there is a third type of decision you might receive—a deferral.

Deferrals can be as upsetting, and sometimes even more so, than being denied. You’ll have to continue to wait for that ultimate decision in the spring; it can feel like being stuck in limbo. If you just received this decision, take a deep breath. Give yourself a moment, or a day, to let your emotions settle. Then, come back here to learn more about what a deferral really means, and how to move forward.

An Interview with College Coach Experts Elyse Krantz and Abigail Anderson

What is the Difference Between the Common Application and the Coalition Application?

Both are online application platforms. Both enable students to apply to college. But there are major differences between the Common Application and Coalition Application that all high school seniors should know. To help students decide which application might be the better fit for them, we’ve turned to Elyse Krantz and Abigail Anderson, two of our College Coach application experts, to share their insights.

Here’s a quick quiz for you. Let’s say that you’re applying to five colleges using the Common Application. Each college requires one main personal statement along with two additional supplemental essays. And let’s say you’re also applying to one college on the Coalition Application, one college on the University of California application, one college on the ApplyTexas application, and one college that uses its own school-specific application. How many essays will you need to write in all?

When students sit down to begin working on their college applications, most are intensely focused on just a single aspect of the process: the college essay. After all, top grades and test scores alone are never enough to gain admission into the nation’s more selective colleges and universities. It’s the essay that helps students distinguish themselves, right? While it’s true that stellar essays are critically important to colleges that evaluate their applicants holistically, there are three additional components of the Common Application that provide exceptional opportunities for students to stand out. Will it require more effort from students to enhance these sections of their applications? You betcha. But when thousands upon thousands of students are vying for a limited number of seats, it’s worth it.

What the 2017-2018 Common App Changes Mean for You

Welcome back to Part 2 of our blog that highlights ten of the biggest changes to this year’s Common Application. In Part 1, we revealed tips on who exactly needs to complete the new Courses and Grades section of the application, and the dangers of using Google Drive when transferring your essays from Google Docs into the Common App. But now, let’s turn our attention to six additional Common App changes.

What the 2017-2018 Common App Changes Mean for You

The Common Application, which is accepted by nearly 730 colleges and universities across the country and around the world, underwent a bit of a makeover this summer. Students who created a Common App account prior to August 1 will notice several enhancements to the application as they navigate their way across the online platform over the next few months. Some of the changes are minor, perhaps better viewed as timesavers or user-experience upgrades than major developments. But some of the modifications are significant and provide students ever greater opportunities for self-expression and reflection. Below are our picks for the 10 biggest changes to the 2017-18 Common Application.