College Scholarships | College Planning Source

College Application Timeline Help: Creating a Month-by-Month Plan to Meet Every Deadline

A month-by-month plan only works if you start with the deadlines that never move. Before you map anything else, identify your anchor dates and write them in one place (a calendar, spreadsheet, or planning app). Your anchor dates should include: Early Action and Early Decision deadlines (often in November) Regular Decision deadlines (commonly January, but […]

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High school student celebrating after receiving a college acceptance letter, surrounded by college-themed decorations.

Private College Counselor: 5 Ways Personal Guidance Can Boost Your Admissions Success

Blog, College Scholarships / By College Planning Source

Why Private College Counseling Makes a Difference In the competitive world of college admissions—especially in San Diego and Southern California—families are increasingly seeking the expertise of a private college counselor. Unlike school-based counselors, private counselors provide individualized, in-depth support tailored to a student’s academic background, career goals, and personal story. Their role is not just

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Important Facts About College Recommendation Letters

Leave a Comment / College Applications, College Scholarships, Tips for High School Students / By College Planning Source

College recommendation letters play a pivotal role in the admissions process, offering insight into a student’s character, achievements, and potential. They provide a narrative that complements application materials such as transcripts and test scores, helping admissions teams understand what distinguishes a candidate. To craft impactful recommendation letters, students should be mindful of these essential facts:

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AP Exams: How to Get the Best Scores!

Leave a Comment / Blog, College Applications, college life, College Scholarships / By College Planning Source

Advanced Placement (AP) courses can provide high school students with a chance to experience college-level coursework while demonstrating academic rigor to colleges. Excelling on AP exams not only enhances college applications but may also grant college credit, saving you time and money. Preparing strategically is key to achieving top scores. Here are a few tips

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Preparing a Balanced College List

Leave a Comment / College Planning, College Scholarships, Tips for High School Students, Tips for Parents / By College Planning Source

Choosing the right colleges to apply to is an essential step in the college admissions process. A well-balanced college list can help ensure that you have a range of options when it’s time to make your final decision. By including a mix of Safety, Target, and Reach Schools, you can increase your chances of acceptance

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Should You to Apply to “Scores Required” Universities?

Leave a Comment / College Planning, College Scholarships, Tips for New Students / By College Planning Source

Choosing the right university can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to deciding whether to apply to schools that require standardized test scores. These scores, such as the SAT or ACT, play a significant role in the admissions process for many institutions. To help you make an informed decision, consider the following factors:

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Calculating the Cost of a University Education

Leave a Comment / College Planning, College Scholarships, Financial Planning, Tips for High School Students / By College Planning Source

Pursuing a university education requires careful financial planning. Calculating the total cost can help students and their families better prepare for the expenses ahead. Here are the key components you need to consider: Tuition: This is the primary expense of a college education. Prices will vary significantly based on the institution and the chosen program

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Non-Tuition College Expenses – What to Expect

Leave a Comment / Blog, College Admissions, College Funding, College Loans, College Planning, College Scholarships, Financial Planning / By College Planning Source

Paying for college is difficult enough without getting hit by surprise expenses. So, let’s take a few minutes to discuss some of the expenses associated with a university education that are not covered by tuition. School Supplies – When you were in school as a child, your parents probably paid for things like pens and

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Now Is the Time to Check College Testing Policies

Leave a Comment / Blog, College Admissions, College Applications, College Planning, College Scholarships, General, Tips for High School Students / By College Planning Source

Do you need to take some standardized tests for your upcoming college applications? The testing season is upon us, so you are going to want to find out ASAP whether the schools you intend to apply to are Test Blind, Test Optional, or Test schools. What does each option mean? Test – Test schools require

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What Every Student Should Know About College Costs

Leave a Comment / Blog, College Funding, College Planning, College Scholarships, Tips for New Students / By College Planning Source

When you mention the cost of college, the mind of the average person goes right to the tuition cost. Of course, that is usually the primary cost of attending a university. However, paying for the courses themselves is only a part of the picture. Here, we will discuss some of the other main costs you

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