Q. "Is it true that we should start the college search process as early as freshman year?"
A. No. Freshman year is the time for students to concentrate on building foundations in both academics and extracurricular interests. A strong base in both of these areas will allow for a smoother transition into high school, and will naturally begin to create the profile that eventually will support the college application.

Q. "There are so many web sites and guide books with so many colleges...where do I start?"
A. The college search process can be a very overwhelming experience. However, there are many web sites that make for a much more manageable approach. Within this web site are links to several useful web tools that support many aspects of the college search process. Should you have any questions, please feel free to call our office.

Q. "What is the difference between Early Decision and Early Action?"
A. Early Decision is a program designed for the student who has identified that ONE school he/she feels is a perfect fit.  ED is a binding agreement whereby, if accepted, students are required to withdraw any applications they have made to other colleges/universities and they are expected to make a significant tuition deposit with the school to which they are accepted early.

Early Action is a program that allows students to apply early on in the process but without the binding agreement that the ED program mandates. Students accepted Early Action (EA) are allowed to continue pursuing their applications to other colleges/universities and will have until the regular deposit date, May 1, to decide which school to attend.

Q. "Should I apply to a certain number of schools?"
A. This is a difficult question as each student is unique. Ultimately a list between 6 and 8 schools should offer students the variety and depth necessary to find a college match. More important is creating that list effectively. The key is to make sure the student will be happy at each and every school on the list regardless of competitiveness.  In this way a student is guaranteed to be satisfied with acceptances from any school on his/her list.

Q. "How important are the SAT and ACT in the admissions process?"
A. For those colleges and universities who require some form of standardized testing, the SAT or ACT score will be among the criteria the admissions office will use in determining a student's potential for academic success at that particular school. In most cases the test score will not drive the selection process, but rather will be used as one credential evaluated by the admissions committee.

There are some colleges and universities that do not require any form of standardized exam to be submitted. Students should be aware of each college's testing requirements as they move through the process.

Q. "What do I need to know about financial aid?"
A. The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is generally required by every college and university in order to apply for financial aid. This form is generated by the U.S. Department of Education and is available online each January. Please also visit the Helpful Links section of this page to connect to the FAFSA website and view other useful links.