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For many students, talking about college with family can be one of the most challenging parts of the college search. You might feel pressure to have answers you don’t have yet—or worry that your goals won’t line up with what your family expects.

Fly-in programs offer a unique opportunity for prospective students to experience campus life firsthand. These programs, typically sponsored by the institution, are designed to provide an immersive experience that goes beyond the traditional campus tour.

Starting to plan for college shouldn’t just be focused on your senior year. In fact, you’ll be better set up for success and less stressed the earlier you begin. Here’s a checklist of all of the things you can do each year in high school to prepare for a successful college search and application process.

College fairs are a great way to learn about multiple colleges all in one place. They give you the chance to have short, meaningful conversations with admissions representatives and gather information to help you decide which schools may be a good fit. But with so many schools, it can be difficult to know what to ask. 

If you’ve started researching colleges, you’ve probably come across lists of college rankings. Rankings can feel like an easy way to compare schools—especially when choosing a college feels high-stakes. But, rankings only show one small piece of the picture. 

Understanding what rankings measure, and what they leave out, can help you make smarter, more informed college choices. 

When considering your participation in athletics during college, there are a few key aspects of the process that you’ll need to navigate. It’s likely that you have questions about the recruitment process, scholarships, and college conferences, among other things. Here is some information you should know:

Paying for college can feel confusing—especially when financial aid terms start showing up without much explanation. Work-study is one of those terms that students and families often have questions about. 

If you’re not sure what work-study is, how it works, or whether it’s something you should consider, we’ll break it down for you. 

As you research and apply to colleges, you may hear the term demonstrated interest without much explanation. Understanding what it means—and what it doesn’t—can help you focus your time and energy in ways that are actually useful. 

If you’re  considering taking a break after graduating high school and before starting college, you’ve probably heard about gap years. A gap year is a break — usually a year — between high school and college to explore interests, gain experience, or prepare for the next step in life. But how do you know if a gap year is right for you? Let’s break it down.

For many high school students, the journey to college comes with unexpected challenges. Beyond academics, there’s a “hidden curriculum” — unspoken rules and norms that aren’t taught in classrooms or found in syllabuses. 

Once you embark on your college journey, there is likely going to be some terminology that you don’t understand.

For transfer students, transitioning between institutions can be overwhelming. However, understanding and utilizing articulation agreements can make the process a bit easier. Articulation agreements are formal agreements between educational institutions that outline specific pathways to transferring credits from one institution to another.

As a transfer student, one of the most exciting and, maybe, unnerving parts of the process is stepping foot on your new campus. Unlike first-year students who start their college journey together, transfer students often arrive on campus after having already experienced another institution. However, with the right approach and mindset, integrating into a new campus community can be a smooth and rewarding experience. Here are some valuable tips to help transfer students navigate this transition. 

The process of applying for financial aid as a transfer student is different than when you first applied as a first-year student. Aid options will vary depending on the policies and resources of each receiving institution.