Posts by Dave Bergman:

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 […]

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 […]

U.S. News Nonsense

Posted on: 18 Sep 2013

Last week, U.S. News & World Report released its highly anticipated, and highly controversial, annual college rankings. Like most people, we love ratings systems and refer to them when purchasing a variety of things, like computers or household appliances. But let’s face it, paying for a higher education is not the equivalent of buying a […]

Early Decision: What Every Student Needs to Know Before Applying

Posted on: 02 Aug 2013

Early Decision (ED) is one of the most debated strategies in college admissions. For some students, it’s a powerful tool for locking in an acceptance at a dream school. For others, it brings calm and certainty to a stressful senior year. But early decision college admissions is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Every student should carefully […]

Picking a Financial Safety School (FSS)

Posted on: 20 Jun 2013

Most college-bound students are aware of the importance of having a “safety school,” an institution where obtaining admission is pretty darn close to a statistical guarantee. However, for anyone without unlimited funds, selecting a “Financial Safety School” may be of equal importance. No one likes to consider doomsday scenarios, but if you thoughtfully selected an […]

The Importance of “Grit”

Posted on: 15 Jun 2013

For those who still think of acceptance into an Ivy League School as a sole guarantor of future success, a classic article worth reading. http://www.nytimes.com/1994/03/06/business/the-humbling-of-the-harvard-man.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm Takeaway: Grit* and tenacity are qualities that recent higher education research has identified as being vital to success in academics and in life. This is even more true in today’s […]