The Insider: College Admissions Advice from the Experts

Part Three of a Three Part Series

Over the last few weeks I’ve shared a few tips on mastering the UC Application (be sure to read Part 1 and Part 2). To close out this series, today I’m sharing two of the most common essay mistakes I see UC applicants make.

Part Two of a Three Part Series

Last week I shared six of the most common questions I receive about developing credentials for the University of California application process. Today, I continue this series with six more FAQs.

Part One of a Three Part Series

I never hear from juniors in May – they’re way too busy with finals and tests. But after they settle into summer, many of these rising seniors start thinking about their college applications. And since most of my students here in California will be applying to at least a handful of UC campuses, I get a lot of the same questions from all of them. Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the University of California application process, from seniors and underclassmen alike.

Earlier this month the Common Application introduced the first in a series of webinars focused on best practices and tips for completing the Common Application. Like all presentations in the series, the first webinar, titled “What to Expect in the 2015-2016 Common Application,” was geared specifically for guidance counselors.  But why should guidance counselors have all the fun? We'd like prospective applicants and their parents to get in on the Common App action, too! Unless you’re desperate to sit through a recorded webinar on the ins and outs of the revised 2015 Common App, allow the experts at College Coach to happily summarize the details for you.

Staying Ahead of Your Applications | Part 1

As we ring in the New Year and juniors begin the spring semester, the college application process kicks into high gear. With so much work in such a short period of time, many students struggle with what to do and how to do it.

At the start of this year’s application season, we released a series of articles on what to expect with the 2014-2015 Common Application. In response, we received many great Common App questions from our readers and thought it might be helpful to share the most frequently asked questions to help you put the finishing touches on your applications.

Have you ever wondered why students shouldn’t apply to too many colleges? Or how many is too many? College Coach admissions expert Elizabeth Heaton recently spoke with Peter Howe of NECN’s Money Saving Mondays to answer these questions.

How to Use Additional Information on the Common App

It’s the time of year that most seniors are starting to complete their Common Application, and if you’ve signed up for an account, you’re probably already aware that you must submit an essay of 250 to 650 words in response to one of five prompts. In addition to the personal statement, many colleges also require you to write responses to supplemental essays or questions. While these writing assignments are relatively clear and straightforward, there is also an Additional Information section offered on the bottom of the writing page that creates confusion and uncertainty among many college applicants. What exactly do you use this space for?

Update: Read the latest tips for the 2015-16 Common App.