Student Advice Blog

A Collection of Our Most Popular College Planning Advice Articles

Top 10 Tips for an Epic College Campus Visit: Plus 8 Questions to Ask During your Tour

Visiting a college or university campus is one of the best ways to get a feel for a school and one of the most exciting parts of the college search process! This interactive experience helps you decide if a particular college is right for you. We want your college visit to be the best, so ... Top 10 Tips for an Epic College Campus Visit: Plus 8 Questions to Ask During your Tour

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Should You Consider a GAP Year?

You’ve likely heard your friends talking about taking a year off before getting back to the grind in college. But what is it? How do you do it? What’s the likelihood of making moves after? Whatever you choose, you’ll find that taking some time off after high school can be beneficial to your mental health ... Should You Consider a GAP Year?

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Ways to Avoid Summer Brain Drain

Summer is meant to recharge and unwind, obviously. But we have to keep it real, you run the risk of catching what we call the “Summer Brain Drain” by not exercising your mind while you’re out of school. Keep reading to see how many items you’ve accomplished this summer. Dive into a good book You ... Ways to Avoid Summer Brain Drain

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5 Reasons You Should Download the Encourage App

So many things to do and SO little time. Trying to balance planning for the future and living in the present? We found a way to optimize an interactive, low-stress tool to make sure you’re covered for life after high school. We’re more than your average college planning app.   Keep reading to learn more about ... 5 Reasons You Should Download the Encourage App

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10 Colleges on the Beach

Manifesting a #staycation lifestyle for you where the people aren’t salty, but the water is. Keep reading to learn about 10 colleges in coastal towns, where the beach is within a short driving distance so that you can soak in those ocean vibes all year long. University of Miami – Miami, Florida Distance from the ... 10 Colleges on the Beach

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5 Unique Careers You Could Consider

The days of being traditional when thinking about your career are over, friend. Unique jobs are uncommon by definition, but you may find your dream career by thinking outside of the box and diving into some passions that can make money. Heads up: some of these jobs require advanced education, training, or certification in order ... 5 Unique Careers You Could Consider

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Be Ready for College Application Season

Chances are, when you’re starting your college applications, you may feel overwhelmed by the list of tasks required for admission. To relieve this pressure, be sure to take this process one step at a time. Here, we’ll cover some crucial steps to take to avoid burnout and imposter syndrome as you apply. 1. Stay organized ... Be Ready for College Application Season

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College Applications: Tips and Tricks

If there’s one thing you shouldn’t drop the ball on in the application process, it’s your admissions essay. Your essays are a raw reflection of your unique abilities to contribute to the institution and allows a space to tell your story. This is an opportunity to display your passions and your writing skills all in ... College Applications: Tips and Tricks

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Financial 101: Scholarships Explained

Financial aid is money lent or given to you to you help you pay for school. Scholarships are often referred to as “gift aid” because they do not need to be repaid upon graduation.   Scholarships can be awarded by private organizations, governments, and colleges or universities. They are often merit based. This means that they ... Financial 101: Scholarships Explained

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4 Reasons Why Volunteering is Good for You

While hectic schedules, classes, jobs, and extracurriculars might make it hard to find time to volunteer, there are plenty of advantages to offering your time, energy, and talents to service work. Here are a few reasons to do good and feel good: 1. Give Back to the Community & Make an Impact  You don’t have ... 4 Reasons Why Volunteering is Good for You

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Applying to College 101

The college application process can be confusing and overwhelming, especially if you’ve never been through it before. But have no fear. We’ve got your back! Here are some of the most common college application questions. Some Common Questions 1. When should I start applying for college? There’s no exact time to start your applications, but ... Applying to College 101

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Match Your Career Goals to Your College Major

As a college student, it’s okay if you don’t know exactly what you want to do after you graduate. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with all the options before you, we get it. You’ve got so many choices, and no idea where to start. Work Backwards You’re not alone. In fact, we recommend figuring out which ... Match Your Career Goals to Your College Major

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Display Your Awesome with a College Brag Sheet

College applications are a lot like dating. You have to make a good first impression, and you have to do it fast. That’s why you need to create a brag sheet! It’s basically like a resume, but it includes all of your achievements in one spot. What is a College Brag Sheet? A brag sheet ... Display Your Awesome with a College Brag Sheet

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7 Ways Your Counselor Can Help

Your school counselor is one of the most helpful resources you and your family have during your high school years. They provide support and help you plan and succeed in your future, even beyond academics. While it’s normal to feel nervous about meeting your school counselor for the first time, don’t let that stop you. ... 7 Ways Your Counselor Can Help

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Everything You Need to Know Before Your First College Visit

Visiting colleges is a great way to get a feel for what college is like, and help you decide if a particular college is the right fit for you.   We’ve developed this guide to help you make the most of your college visits:   Arrange Your Visit  All colleges and universities have admission offices that can ... Everything You Need to Know Before Your First College Visit

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High School Juniors: Questions You Should Be Asking Your Counselor

If you didn’t already know, your junior year is your time to shine! It can be stressful, overwhelming, and scary all at once. Thankfully, your school counselor is available to help put your mind at ease by guiding you through the process and help you overcome some of these challenges. Not sure where to begin? ... High School Juniors: Questions You Should Be Asking Your Counselor

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High School Sophomores: Questions You Should Be Asking Your Counselor

Congratulations! You survived freshman year! As you move into your sophomore year, you’ve got the basics covered, like where to sit at lunch, how to navigate your halls to the next class, and other helpful things that got you this far. Even if you think you have it all figured out, your school counselor should ... High School Sophomores: Questions You Should Be Asking Your Counselor

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High School Freshman: Questions You Should Be Asking Your Counselor

If there’s one person that you should focus on becoming BFFs with, it’s your high school counselor. Haven’t booked an appointment to visit them just yet? You’re missing out and should probably get on that ASAP. Think of it as your new bestie that can help you with all things related to your classes, school ... High School Freshman: Questions You Should Be Asking Your Counselor

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7 Ways to Crush Your Goals

If you’re working to become #GOALS, you know how challenging it can be to stay the course and continue grinding. It’s easy to go through the everyday motions and feel like you’re not making progress. But you know what’s great about setting goals? You can do anything you set your mind to. We’ve been there ... 7 Ways to Crush Your Goals

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College Rankings: What They Really Mean

From US News to the Princeton Review, there are hundreds of different college rankings based on hundreds of different factors. They all seek to answer the age-old question: is one college better than another? It seems like a clear cut question, but what does it even mean for one school to be better than the next? How do ... College Rankings: What They Really Mean

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