Articles
SMART COLLEGE VISIT ARTICLES
Our most recent Smart College Visit articles can be found here. For more, visit our special sections at scvjourney.com.
Ending the Community College Stigma
It's time to stop making community college a second choice or a fallback option. It's time to look at community college as…
Admissions Counselors and Social Media: Are They Checking You Out?
There's nothing like a well-curated 'Gram, right? Gen Z is top dog in content creation. What those content monsters may not be…
College Recruiting: Big Changes Made By the DOJ and What That Means For You
In mid-December, the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) was sued by the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the alleged violation…
3 Things to Do While Waiting for College Decisions
Are you playing the Waiting Game waiting for college decisions to be made? While many colleges do rolling admissions now (meaning they…
Public vs Private: Why Do Private Schools Offer Huge Scholarships?
You've applied to a variety of schools, and you're getting their decisions. You're realizing that the private universities are offering you huge…
What is the Elusive Admissions Committee?
If you ever saw the movie "Admission" with Tina Fey, you might have an image in your mind of what an admissions…
Brazilian Universities vs American: What Are the Differences?
Have you ever wondered what going to college is like in other countries? Universities are pretty much the same, right? A place…
How Well Do You Know Your Teen? 21 Questions to Ask the College-Bound Student
We’ve all seen those surveys on social media. You know, the ones where you answer how you THINK the other person would…
Five Scholarship Application Tips to Get and Keep Yourself on Track
"Have you applied for any scholarships this week?" - Me, to my student "Sad emoji face." - My student This conversation happens…
‘Star Wars’ Notebooks Perfect for College Notes, Journals, or Rebellion Planning
Credit: Disney "Do or do not. There is no try"...ing to deny you love "Star Wars." But what's a college student to…
What Happens If Your Roommate Drops Out
It's the start of the semester, and across the country, college students are locating all of their belongings (all over the place),…
10 ‘Harry Potter’ College Necessities
Credit: Warner Bros Hello, Harry Potter fans and Potterhead friends! Do you need a couple of magical items to show your allegiance…
Perspectives on Dorm Life from an International Student
The trees, the people, the colors on the walls, everything can impact our perception of a place (especially when choosing a university).…
Top Universities for Online Courses 2019
There are lots of "best of" lists at the end of every year, and we have a new favorite for 2019! In…
Let’s Talk FAFSA Video: EFC, Separate Accounts, Dates, and More
https://youtu.be/6OoMjMl5VhQ Trillions of photos and videos are taken every day. Did you know that? Literally trillions. Billions of videos are watched on…
12 Great Holiday Gifts for Students Who Have Everything
The holidays are upon us! We all want to find the perfect gift for our loved ones, whether it's a friend or…
Getting Into College: Moving School Districts?
When you work the phones in college admissions, you get some pretty crazy calls. A favorite was from a father asking if…
Visiting College Libraries: Why All of the Books Are Gone
If you haven't read Electric Lit's article, Librarians Are Secretly the Funnest People Alive, you should! It made me laugh and also…
Virtual Assistants Make Great Holiday Gifts for Students, Parents
This article originally appeared in our newsletter, CampusChat, on December 3, 2019. If you are not already a subscriber, become one here.…
What to Say During the Holidays If You’ve Hated Freshman Year at College
For many college freshmen, the breaks around the holidays mark the first time you’ll be back home. Many of you will excitedly…
What Not to Ask at Holiday Dinners: Quick Refresher for Relatives of High School Seniors
We're kicking off the holiday season, and all those holiday dinners. You’ll likely be seeing some form of teenage relative to whom…
SAT Blues? Not a ‘Good Test-Taker’? Meet Khan Academy
Did you recently get your SAT score? For some of you, it may have been the first time you ever took the…
You Didn’t Get in Early Decision. Now What?
I understand the advantage (at some schools) of applying Early Decision. But I’ve never been an advocate of encouraging kids to get…
Admissions and Education Companies: What are Naviance, Scoir, BigFuture, Khan Academy?
"Back in my day," I tell my kids, "we got a college application at a fair, maybe two in case we made…
Building Credit With FICO: Sallie Mae Facebook Live
Part of becoming an adult is learning how to wisely manage your money. From that skill, you'll responsibly build credit, and in…
‘Your AP Test Was Lost’: One Student’s Nightmare Situation and Resolution
Lots of articles and posts come with trigger warnings. If you've ever had nightmares of something going horrendously wrong with your transcript…
FAFSA Tips and Answers: Sallie Mae Facebook Live
It's almost FAFSA time! The FAFSA for 2020-2021 (yes, that's the correct year) will open on October 1. To kick off the…
FAFSA and Divorced Parents: Who Fills It Out?
It's almost October 1, and that means one thing for college and college-bound students: FAFSA season. FAFSA rules require students under the…
College Safety and Hard Questions: ‘Will I Be Safe On Your Campus?’
Credit: Getty Images We're thankful for our contributor Kelly Rawlings' personal and touching perspective on college and university safety. We hope it…
Why It’s Sometimes Easier to ‘Get In’ to an Out-Of-State College
When I worked as a college recruiter, I can’t tell you the number of times I talked to students who assumed that…
