Clear answers for every step of college admissions.
Clear, honest answers to the questions families ask, from 9th grade planning to financial aid. Free to read.
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The college admissions questions families ask most
36 short answers, each linked to the full guide.
5 guides
Planning by grade
What to do in each year of high school, from 9th grade to applications.
- College Planning Timeline: What to Do Each YearEach year of high school has a different job in college planning. See what to do in 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grade, and what cannot be made up later.
- 9th Grade College Planning ChecklistIn 9th grade, college planning means the right course track, steady habits and finding out what the student likes. See what to do each season and what to skip.
- 10th Grade College Planning ChecklistIn 10th grade, college planning means rising grades, depth in two or three activities, a first practice SAT or ACT and a summer plan, season by season.
- 11th Grade College Planning ChecklistJunior year matters most for college. See the four tracks to follow through the year: courses, the SAT or ACT, the college list, and recommendations and essays.
- 12th Grade College Planning ChecklistSenior year is about turning three years of work into applications. See the five jobs of senior year and when each one is due.
4 guides
Standing out
How to find the one idea that ties an application together.
- What Is a College Application Theme?A college application theme is the one idea that ties your grades, activities and essays together. See why colleges respond to it, with an example.
- How to Find Your College Application ThemeSix steps to find your college application theme by looking at what you already do, with a worked example and a way to test whether the theme is true.
- Spike, Hook or Theme: What's the Difference?A spike is standout achievement, a hook is a circumstance colleges value, and a theme ties the application together. See which one every student can have.
- College Application Theme ExamplesSix college application theme examples built from ordinary activities like jobs, family duties and school clubs, with what each one suggests doing next.
2 guides
Grades and classes
How colleges read a transcript, and how to choose the right level of classes.
- How Important Is GPA for College Admissions?Grades are the biggest factor in admission, but colleges read the whole transcript. See how they weigh courses, trend, context and weighted GPA.
- AP, Honors or Regular: Which Classes to Take?There is no magic number of AP classes. Five questions to choose the right level for each subject, signs of overload, and what to try before dropping a class.
4 guides
Testing
Choosing a test, reading a score, and preparing well.
- SAT vs. ACT: Which Test Should You Take?Colleges accept the SAT and ACT equally. See how the tests differ, how to choose with one practice test of each, and when to take the first official test.
- Is the SAT Required? Test-Optional Rules ExplainedSome colleges require the SAT or ACT, many are test-optional and some ignore scores. See the three policies, why tests are back, and when to send a score.
- What Is a Good SAT Score?A good SAT score depends on the colleges on your list. See the national percentiles, how to read a college's middle 50% range, and when to retake or stop.
- How to Study for the SATTake a diagnostic, study where the points are, review every miss and take a full practice test every few weeks. A step-by-step SAT plan with free tools.
4 guides
Activities
What colleges look for in activities, and how to present them.
- What Extracurriculars Do Colleges Look For?Colleges look for commitment, responsibility and results in a few activities. Jobs and family duties count. See four ways to make any activity stronger.
- How Many Extracurriculars Do You Need for College?No college sets a minimum number of extracurriculars. The Common App allows ten, but you do not need ten. See how to decide what to keep and what to drop.
- How to Start a Passion Project in High SchoolA passion project needs no nonprofit or logo. Start from what you already do, build a small version in a month, and grow it. Five steps and an example.
- How to Fill Out the Common App Activities SectionThe Common App gives you ten activities and 150 characters each. See how to order them and write each description, with three before-and-after examples.
5 guides
College essays
Choosing a topic, starting, structuring and avoiding the common mistakes.
- How to Choose a College Essay TopicA strong college essay topic starts from a value you have lived and a change in how you think. See three steps to find yours, with an example.
- College Essay Mistakes to AvoidSeven college essay mistakes, from picking a topic to impress to asking too many people to edit, with what each looks like and how to fix it.
- How to Start a College EssayStuck on the first line of your college essay? Write the story first and the opening last. Four ways to start a first draft, and how to write the opening.
- How to Write a College Essay: Structure That WorksA strong college essay answers four questions for the reader. See what they are, how much space each deserves, and three ways to arrange the same story.
- How to Write the "Why This College" EssayA strong "why this college" essay ties specific professors, courses and programs to what you have done. Four steps, a research table and an example.
1 guide
Recommendations
Who to ask for letters, when, and what to give them.
2 guides
The college list
Building a balanced list and choosing when to apply.
- How to Build a College ListBuild your college list with three questions for every college: does it fit, can I get in, can we afford it. Plus how many reach, match and likely schools.
- Early Decision vs. Early Action: How They DifferEarly action is not binding. Early decision is. See how the early options compare, what early decision means for aid, and three questions to ask first.
2 guides
Cost and financial aid
How aid works, and what college really costs.
- How Does Financial Aid Work for College?Financial aid comes as grants, scholarships, work-study and loans, and starts with the FAFSA. See the types, the two forms and the senior-year timeline.
- Sticker Price vs. Net Price: What College CostsThe published price of a college is often not what a family pays. See what net price means, the national averages, and how to estimate your own before applying.
2 guides
Counseling options and cost
What school counselors, private counselors and AI can each do, and what they cost.
- How Much Does a College Counselor Cost?Private counselors charge $230 an hour on average, and a two-year college package averages $6,304. See how the market works and what the money buys.
- School Counselor vs. Private Counselor vs. AISchool counselors, private counselors and AI tools each handle different parts of college planning. See what each can do, and why AI built for it helps.
2 guides
AI in admissions
Using AI on applications safely and honestly.
- Is It Safe to Use AI for College Applications?AI is safe for college applications when the tool is built for the job. See the three risks of general chatbots and seven safeguards to look for in any AI tool.
- Is Using AI on College Applications Cheating?Using AI for guidance, planning and proofreading is not cheating. Having it write your application is. See where Caltech, Brown and Georgia Tech draw the line.
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