College Application Guides & Tips | High School to College Advice

For Parents For Schools For Students

Important Questions for Parents to Ask on College Tours

College contact mentor, Anna Holk, provides suggestions for questions to ask while on a college tour, as well as insight into making the most of college visits and how parents can support their students throughout the tour process.

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Is Writing an Immigrant Parents College Essay a Good Topic Idea?

College Contact Mentor, Dhriti Suresh, provides guidance for crafting your admissions essays. She shares criteria for navigating the immigrant narrative: a frequently sought-after essay topic.

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College Admissions

Honors College Requirements: How they Differ

Applying to honors colleges can be a huge stressor on top of your other college applications. This guide will help you understand the requirements of different honors colleges so you can navigate this process without the headache.

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How to Write a Personal Statement for Scholarships

Scholarships are a great way to get some money for school. This blog takes you through writing the personal statement on your scholarship applications, from research to submission, from someone who has won five figures in college scholarships.

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College Admissions

When do College Applications Open for the Class of 2025?

One of College Contact's mentors shares insight into the 2025 cycle of college applications. She provides tips on how to get started before the application opens, how to navigate the process, and breaks down sections of a college application.

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College Admissions

Best Questions to Ask a College Admissions Counselor

College Contact Mentor, Holly McDonald, walks students through various topics and questions to address when talking to a college admissions counselor. If you have a meeting booked, the counselor will provide you with resources! Take advantage of the knowledge and guidance they can provide about your university of interest.

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How to End a College Essay: Conclusion Guidance

College Contact Mentor Evan Farnping provides quick guidance on concluding a college essay. We will explore effective strategies for ending your essay, along with specific and general advice on what to avoid, what to aim for, and more.

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Kathryn Codiamat

Colleges with No Application Fee in Texas

For students who are looking to save money on application fees, this article offers a list of universities in Texas with no application fee.

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How to Pay for College Without Parents' Help

Have no one helping you afford college? This blog walks you through how to pay your way through college with advice from someone who did the same thing. You’ll learn about summer work, working during school, scholarships, loans, and budgeting.

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College Admissions

How to Write an Email to a College Admissions Office

Reaching out to college admissions offices via email can help demonstrate your interest, get your questions answered, and make a memorable impression. This guide will provide tips and example emails to help you craft effective communications.

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Colleges that Don't Require Essays for Admission

Depending on your needs, pathways, and finances, applying to colleges with zero essay requirements may save you considerable time, effort, and money.

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Common App Honors Section: What You Need to Know

College Contact Mentor, Morgan Peace, provides guidance on how to fill out the Common App honors section. She shares information on the honors section and how to complete it to showcase your accomplishments.

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Application Tips

Can You Submit College Applications Before Teacher Recommendations?

Get a head start on your college applications! In this blog, College Contact mentor Priya Patel will walk you through the letter of recommendation process, how and when to ask, and how submitting applications early can help streamline your journey.

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When to Start Applying for College Scholarships

It’s never too early to apply for scholarships! College Contact mentor Holly McDonald walks you through your scholarship search, from the different kinds of scholarships offered, how they are used, and how to search effectively for scholarships relevant to you.

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College Admissions

Insider Tips For Getting Into An Ivy League: Advice From A Current Ivy League Student

College Contact Mentor & student at Brown University, Evan Farnping, gives his tips for getting into Ivy League Universities.

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College Admissions

Common App Confusion? The 7 Sections Explained.

Need help with your Common Application? This post explains the 7 sections of the Common App and provides guidance about how to complete each one.

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What is a Public Ivy?

College Contact Mentor, Alinor Smith, explains what a Public Ivy is and shares her experience attending one, the University of Virginia.

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College Admissions

What are the UC Essay Prompts?

College Contact Mentor, Miriya Huie, explains the University of California essay prompts and her advice on completing your PIQs.

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College Admissions

My Experience with College Interviews

College Contact Mentor, Diya Gupta, shares her experience navigating College Interviews

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A Concrete Guide To Obtaining Strong Letters of Recommendation

College Contact Mentor, Evan Farnping, shares his guide to getting letters of recommendation that will improve your college applications.

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Alexander Laredo

College Admissions

Why I applied EA to the University of Virginia

College Contact Mentor, Alex Laredo, shares his experience applying Early Action to the University of Virginia and reflects on the considerations one should take when deciding to apply Early Action or Early Decision.

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Should you take AP Classes?

College Contact staff member, Alexis Payne, provides advice for deciding if you should take AP classes or not. She shares information about what APs are, how they work, and the pros and cons of enrolling in them during your high school career.

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Maximizing Your College Visit at UCSD

College Contact Mentor, Miriya Huie, gives you the inside scoop on how to maximize your visit to the University of California San Diego!

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Why Starting College Planning as a Freshman in High School is Crucial for Success

College Contact Mentor, Camryn Brown, shares her college prep tips for high schoolers in their freshman, sophomore, junior, AND senior years.

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Making the Most of Your College Visit at UVA

College Contact Mentor, Diya Gupta, shares her tips for making the most of your college tour at UVA. As a UVA Guide herself, she has the inside scoop on how to maxmize your visit to grounds!

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College Admissions

Is Test Optional Really Test Optional? Submit or Not to Submit: The Ultimate Debate

College Contact Mentor, Dhriti Suresh, provides guidance for submitting ACT & SAT scores to colleges. She shares criteria to help you decide if you should submit your standardized test score when applying to college.

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Balancing Academics and Extracurriculars

College Contact Mentor, Isabela Motta, shares her advice for balancing academics & extracurriculars as a college student.

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A Guide to Navigating Internships in College from a UCLA Student

College Contact Mentor, Jackson Hartz, shares his tips for UCLA students looking to secure jobs & internships. He shares the resources UCLA students have as well as tips for preparing for your career from freshman through senior year of college.

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How Brown University Helps Students Obtain Internships

College Contact Mentor, Evan Farnping, gives a detailed overview of the resources Brown Students can use to obtain job & internship opportunities. He covers resources unique to Brown as well as resources that any college student can use to find employment.

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College Admissions

You will get into college AND get a degree...even after a C!

College Contact Mentor, Alinor Smith, explains that you can get into college even if you got a C in high school. She busts the myth that grades are everything when applying to college and shares her opinions about the value students can gain from struggling in a high school course. She also explains how to use the Additional Information section in the Common App to explain extenuating circumstances that led to poor grades in high school.

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College Admissions

The College Planning Journey

College Contact Mentor, Jillian Tabone, shares her tips for preparing for college as a freshman, sophomore, junior, & senior in high school. Use these tips to stay on track for college success during your high school career!

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College Admissions

Deferred or Waitlisted? Here's What You Can Do!

College Contact Mentor, Cutter Jones, gives advice about what to do if you are waitlisted or deferred by a college. He explains what a letter of continued interest is and how it can help you get off the waitlist!

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College Admissions

What is a College List and How Do I Build One?

College Contact Mentor, Camryn Brown, provides guidance for building an awesome college list full of best-fit schools for you or your student.

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College Admissions

How to Prepare for College Interviews

College Contact Mentor, Miriya Huie, gives tips & tricks to help you ace your college interviews!

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Representation and Inclusivity at Stanford

College Contact Mentor, Chhavi Nahata, reflects on the inclusivity and representation at her college, Stanford University.

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Representation and Inclusivity at Duke University

College Contact Mentor, Anya Gupta, reflects on the inclusivity and representation at her college, Duke University.

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Tips and Insights for International Students Seeking to Study in the United States

College Contact Mentor, Chhavi Nahata, shares her survival guide for attending college as a international student. Chhavi reflects on her experience as an international student from India studying at Stanford University and offers tips about how to succeed as an international student studying in the US.

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College Admissions

Navigating the Post-Application Rollercoaster: Your Guide to Scholarships and Interviews

College Contact Mentor, Jackson Hartz, explains what to do after hitting submit on your college applications. He covers general tips about next steps as well as the scholarship search & application process.

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Finding Internships & Jobs as an NC State Student

College Contact Mentor, Rohan Dodda, shares tips & tricks for finding job opportunities as a student at NC State.

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Maximizing your College Visit at the University of Arizona

College Contact mentor Jillian Tabone gives the inside scoop on how to maximize your college visit at the University of Arizona. As a current student, she has all the tips & tricks to make your college visit worth it!

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How to Start Building Your College List

This post provides a guide for building a well-balanced college list full of best fit schools for you!

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Maximizing Your College Visit at UNC Chapel Hill

College Contact Mentor, Dhriti Suresh, gives her tips and tricks for making the most out of your college tour at University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. She provides the inside scoop on the best way to tour campus!

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College Admissions

Don’t Do It Like I Did: Why I Applied Early Decision to NYU Tisch Film & TV

College Contact mentor, Ashley Kim, explains what early decision is, how it works, and how you can decide if early decision is right for you. She also reflects on her experience applying early decision to New York University to study Film & TV.

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Maximizing your College Visit at The University of Texas at Austin

Hear from UT Austin student, Leilani Garza, about how to make the most of your campus visit and get a feel for college life.

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How to Craft the Perfect Resume

This post provides a step by step guide for crafting an amazing resume for colleges, job applications, and other uses.

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Princeton vs Harvard vs Brown vs Cornell....The Great Ivy League Debate

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College Admissions

Why I Applied ED to Duke University

Any Gupta describes her experience applying early decision to Duke and reflects on the pros and cons of submitting an early decision application.

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Honors College Requirements: How they Differ

Applying to honors colleges can be a huge stressor on top of your other college applications. This guide will help you understand the requirements of different honors colleges so you can navigate this process without the headache.

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When do College Applications Open for the Class of 2025?

One of College Contact's mentors shares insight into the 2025 cycle of college applications. She provides tips on how to get started before the application opens, how to navigate the process, and breaks down sections of a college application.

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Best Questions to Ask a College Admissions Counselor

College Contact Mentor, Holly McDonald, walks students through various topics and questions to address when talking to a college admissions counselor. If you have a meeting booked, the counselor will provide you with resources! Take advantage of the knowledge and guidance they can provide about your university of interest.

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How to Write an Email to a College Admissions Office

Reaching out to college admissions offices via email can help demonstrate your interest, get your questions answered, and make a memorable impression. This guide will provide tips and example emails to help you craft effective communications.

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Insider Tips For Getting Into An Ivy League: Advice From A Current Ivy League Student

College Contact Mentor & student at Brown University, Evan Farnping, gives his tips for getting into Ivy League Universities.

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Common App Confusion? The 7 Sections Explained.

Need help with your Common Application? This post explains the 7 sections of the Common App and provides guidance about how to complete each one.

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What are the UC Essay Prompts?

College Contact Mentor, Miriya Huie, explains the University of California essay prompts and her advice on completing your PIQs.

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My Experience with College Interviews

College Contact Mentor, Diya Gupta, shares her experience navigating College Interviews

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Alexander Laredo

Why I applied EA to the University of Virginia

College Contact Mentor, Alex Laredo, shares his experience applying Early Action to the University of Virginia and reflects on the considerations one should take when deciding to apply Early Action or Early Decision.

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Is Test Optional Really Test Optional? Submit or Not to Submit: The Ultimate Debate

College Contact Mentor, Dhriti Suresh, provides guidance for submitting ACT & SAT scores to colleges. She shares criteria to help you decide if you should submit your standardized test score when applying to college.

This is some text inside of a div block.

You will get into college AND get a degree...even after a C!

College Contact Mentor, Alinor Smith, explains that you can get into college even if you got a C in high school. She busts the myth that grades are everything when applying to college and shares her opinions about the value students can gain from struggling in a high school course. She also explains how to use the Additional Information section in the Common App to explain extenuating circumstances that led to poor grades in high school.

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The College Planning Journey

College Contact Mentor, Jillian Tabone, shares her tips for preparing for college as a freshman, sophomore, junior, & senior in high school. Use these tips to stay on track for college success during your high school career!

This is some text inside of a div block.

Deferred or Waitlisted? Here's What You Can Do!

College Contact Mentor, Cutter Jones, gives advice about what to do if you are waitlisted or deferred by a college. He explains what a letter of continued interest is and how it can help you get off the waitlist!

This is some text inside of a div block.

What is a College List and How Do I Build One?

College Contact Mentor, Camryn Brown, provides guidance for building an awesome college list full of best-fit schools for you or your student.

This is some text inside of a div block.

How to Prepare for College Interviews

College Contact Mentor, Miriya Huie, gives tips & tricks to help you ace your college interviews!

This is some text inside of a div block.

Navigating the Post-Application Rollercoaster: Your Guide to Scholarships and Interviews

College Contact Mentor, Jackson Hartz, explains what to do after hitting submit on your college applications. He covers general tips about next steps as well as the scholarship search & application process.

This is some text inside of a div block.

Don’t Do It Like I Did: Why I Applied Early Decision to NYU Tisch Film & TV

College Contact mentor, Ashley Kim, explains what early decision is, how it works, and how you can decide if early decision is right for you. She also reflects on her experience applying early decision to New York University to study Film & TV.

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Why I Applied ED to Duke University

Any Gupta describes her experience applying early decision to Duke and reflects on the pros and cons of submitting an early decision application.

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What is a Public Ivy?

College Contact Mentor, Alinor Smith, explains what a Public Ivy is and shares her experience attending one, the University of Virginia.

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Balancing Academics and Extracurriculars

College Contact Mentor, Isabela Motta, shares her advice for balancing academics & extracurriculars as a college student.

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How Brown University Helps Students Obtain Internships

College Contact Mentor, Evan Farnping, gives a detailed overview of the resources Brown Students can use to obtain job & internship opportunities. He covers resources unique to Brown as well as resources that any college student can use to find employment.

This is some text inside of a div block.

Representation and Inclusivity at Stanford

College Contact Mentor, Chhavi Nahata, reflects on the inclusivity and representation at her college, Stanford University.

This is some text inside of a div block.

Representation and Inclusivity at Duke University

College Contact Mentor, Anya Gupta, reflects on the inclusivity and representation at her college, Duke University.

This is some text inside of a div block.

Tips and Insights for International Students Seeking to Study in the United States

College Contact Mentor, Chhavi Nahata, shares her survival guide for attending college as a international student. Chhavi reflects on her experience as an international student from India studying at Stanford University and offers tips about how to succeed as an international student studying in the US.

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Princeton vs Harvard vs Brown vs Cornell....The Great Ivy League Debate

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