Author Archives: Navigatio

We recommend that EVERY senior file a FAFSA. Gather your documents now so you are ready when FAFSA opens October 1st. You will need your 2018 tax return, and any bank accounts and investments you have, minus your retirement accounts … Continued

Make sure you feel comfortable at the “gut level.” Don’t base your judgment on what your friends say; take an official tour, eat in the dining halls, look around and chat with students. Do you see “your people” on that … Continued

It’s much easier to get kids motivated about schoolwork if they know what they are working towards. Enlighten kids about the college possibilities early and visit some campuses too. Even younger students benefit from a college visit! Talk about exciting … Continued

Get out and tour some campuses, to better understand the myriad atmospheres & personalities of each college and “type” of college. Stepping foot onto campus gives you better clarity—is this a place I could live for four years? Would my … Continued

Figuring out who you are and what you want to pursue helps lay the groundwork for college and beyond. Consider where your interests lie and what you’d like to pursue in college. Try to focus your classes in that direction. … Continued

As UC Merced approaches their 15th Anniversary, they are on the move with growing and building. They will be doubling the size of their campus by 2020, and expanding their student population to about 10,000—– still a nice mid-sized university. … Continued

Students who attend Tulane University in New Orleans say they are lucky enough to “get the best of both worlds.” They have the privilege of spending four years in a vibrant artistic & history-infused city while simultaneously being tucked away … Continued

Grades matter most! Classes you have taken and grades you have earned in those classes comprise the single most important component of college applications. Admissions counselors will IMMEDIATELY direct their attention to your academic record. While a high GPA is … Continued

We’ve seen students lighten their academic load senior year because they erroneously think it doesn’t matter to colleges—definitely not advisable. Colleges want to see the “most recent you,” academically speaking, so it is important that you continue to demonstrate your … Continued

College essays should be started in the BEGINNING of summer, and honed all summer long so they are well developed by the time fall rolls around. (The Common Application and UC Application both open August 1st—you can Google “UC essay … Continued