The Admissions Waiting Will Be Over Soon: University of California Response Dates

From January and Mid-March can be re-named, “The Waiting Season” for Seniors and their parents.  While Early Admissions applicants may know admissions decisions by now (end of February), which can lead to rampant speculation amongst regular decision applicants, the admissions decision waiting will soon be over for University of California (UC) applicants.  Then, comes a…

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What the what?!? Pick A College Based on Surfing?

There’s a myriad of ways to select colleges for application.  Major choice and future careers usually pop into both students’ and their parents’ minds as the first criteria for choosing a college.  However, many get stumped, because at seventeen a student may not have identified a specific academic concentration, nor an intended career.  And, parents…

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“How Do I Select Colleges for Application If I Don’t Know My Major?”

One of the first questions that arise when high school juniors start thinking about selecting colleges for application is, “What’s my academic major?”  However, choosing a major can seem risky, like locking oneself into an academic concentration with no chance to change, as well as declaring career for the rest of one’s life–all at age…

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Viewing the University of California Fall 2013 Application Numbers

Ok. Ok. Ok.  Each year, when colleges start releasing the numbers of applications received, I hear from parents and Seniors worried about their chances for admissions. The numbers of applications can spark speculation and fears about one’s chances of being accepted. Looking closer at the University of California’s (UC) application numbers can help gain some perspective and may…

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Sleep, More Sleep and Summer Camp: A Teen’s Summer Vacation Agenda

The months long stretch of unscheduled summer vacation can be enticing to both teens and their parents.  For teens, the idea of sleeping in until afternoon and no pressure about daily homework assignments is enthralling.  For parents, summer can be an unrestricted time to explore other academic interests and hobbies.  (And, in fairness, for teens…

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The California State University System Changes Graduation Requirements

The California State University (CSU) trustees recently voted at their last meeting to cap the number of units needed for graduation to 120 for campuses with semesters and 180 for colleges using academic quarters.  For students, this may mean reduced number of years to complete general education and major requirements for graduation.  Be sure to…

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Affording College Expenses = Planning, Planning and More Planning

Many families believe their income is too high to qualify for any financial aid, so begin making alternative plans to pay for college, and don’t complete the required forms to apply for financial aid–including the FAFSA.  Regardless of the family’s perception or stories they’ve heard about other people’s experiences, always fill out the FAFSA.  Let…

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