By Victoria Tillson Evans, Ph.D. When picking out schools to apply to, there are so many criteria to consider: size, location, programs, and research opportunities, only name a few. There are also common reasons, which seem valid, but will almost inevitably lead you to make a bad mistake. Whether you are only just starting to..
By Victoria Tillson Evans, Ph.D. Many students and parents wonder why they need to visit campuses. After all, they have to sacrifice weekends and vacation time to do them, a lot of information about schools is available online, and many admissions representatives use the opportunity to “sell” their college, rather than provide a balanced presentation..
By Victoria Tillson Evans, Ph.D. Most families preparing to send their children off to school plan under the assumption that college lasts only four years. After all, we only have the class designations freshman, sophomore, junior and senior. Financial aid is awarded on a four-year basis. And we use the term “four-year institution” to describe..
By Victoria Tillson Evans, Ph.D. While most American students set their sights on homegrown institutions, an increasing number are discovering the benefits of earning a college degree abroad. Canada, our gentle multicultural neighbor to the north, offers some amazing benefits to students who are looking for a great education in a country that embraces winter...
By Victoria Tillson Evans, Ph.D. As early as mid-December, seniors start discovering where they will spend the next four years of their life. For those who applied Early Decision (the binding form of advanced application) and got into their first-choice school, the anxiety of the college application process comes to a screeching halt. No longer..
By Victoria Tillson Evans, Ph.D. This day in age, with the ubiquity of college guides, social media, and websites, it may seem like you don’t have to make a campus visit. After all, you can find a wealth of information in traditional media and online, from narrative descriptions of campus life, to photos, videos, and..
By Victoria Tillson Evans, Ph.D. Everyone wants the best for themselves and their family. That’s why we read reviews, seek expert advice, and measure our accomplishments against those of others. That’s also why so many college-bound students cling to U.S. News and World Report’s “Best College” rankings. After all, they tell us who provides a..
By Victoria Tillson Evans, Ph.D. Common sense would seem to dictate that community colleges are the most economical choice for families looking to save money on Bachelor’s Degrees. After all, the average 2012-2013 tuition fees of $3,131 are generally lower than what students can borrow in federal Subsidized Direct Loans, which allot $3,500 for a..
By Victoria Tillson Evans, Ph.D. Many families worry about the negative impact that savings have on receiving financial aid. After all, both the federal government and individual institutions assess your and your child’s savings at high rates through their respective applications, the FAFSA and the C.S.S. Profile. As a result, many people deplete, or hide,..
By Victoria Tillson Evans, Ph.D. By the summer between junior and senior years, most high school students have generated the list of colleges that they would like to apply to. Some have even finished their campus visits and are just waiting for the applications to come online. Others may just be getting started and wonder..