Posts by Dave Bergman:
“Fast” Applications: What to do when a college gives you the VIP treatment
Posted on: 06 Aug 2014
When free agent Carmelo Anthony was being heavily recruited by the Los Angeles Lakers, the seven-time NBA all star entered the Staples Center to the ultimate red carpet treatment. A short film about Anthony’s life narrated by Tobey Maguire played on the Jumbotron, featuring computer-generated images of the high-scoring forward donning the Lakers’ purple and […]
Can you measure a college’s return on investment?
Posted on: 23 Jul 2014
We frequently receive questions from students and families in reference to PayScale.com’s new college rankings, which sorts institutions on the basis of a calculated 30-year return on investment (ROI). Are these rankings reliable? Not so much. Here’s an example of why: Harvey Mudd College, PayScale’s top ranked school for ROI, produces a disproportionately high number […]
10 Tips for Landing College Scholarships
Posted on: 14 Jul 2014
Attempts to navigate the world of private college scholarships often result in students and families left adrift in the proverbial mile-wide, inch-deep ocean of cyberspace. Let the following tips serve as your guide, helping you to streamline your search for the “best-fit” scholarships and maximize your chances at emerging with the ultimate prize: substantial funds […]
Brainstorming the Common Application essay
Posted on: 24 Jun 2014
With school’s final bell now behind us, students entering their final year of high school are likely focused on more tantalizing summer plans than beginning work on their Common Application essay. And while earning some cash, sitting by the pool, and hanging out with friends are higher up on the docket at the moment, we encourage soon-to-be […]
FAQ: Taking Advanced Placement (AP) Courses
Posted on: 14 Mar 2014
Most students are familiar with the basics of Advanced Placement courses: they offer a chance to experience a college-level curriculum while still in high school, earn college credits, and impress prospective institutions by undertaking a rigorous course load. From there, questions typically abound. We’ll do our best to answer the most frequently asked questions we […]
Admission Mythbusters: The College Transitions Edition – Part 2
Posted on: 31 Jan 2014
I got a letter from the Dean! I’m in! For a high school student, there is something undeniably exciting about being the recipient of an unsolicited brochure from a prestigious university, or even better yet, a personalized letter from the Dean of Admissions practically begging you to apply. Unfortunately, this material usually has about as […]
Short-term Strategies for Financial Aid Success
Posted on: 31 Dec 2013
With FAFSA season fast approaching, you no longer have the luxury of long-term financial planning for college unless you happen to stumble upon a 1985 Delorean fully-loaded with a flux capacitor (in which case you should pull a Biff, bet on future sports events, and not even worry about financial aid). Space-time continuum transcending scenarios aside, here […]
Out-Of-State Applicant: Advantage or Disadvantage?
Posted on: 30 Oct 2013
It is common knowledge that private colleges and universities are typically eager to recruit out-of-state applicants in order to help enhance the geographic diversity of their freshman classes. However, many elite public schools have traditionally set a higher bar for those applying from afar in order to maintain a student body that was heavily comprised […]
