2010.04.09 12:32:45

UniversityReady

One of the important steps to successful time management when it comes to college preparation is integrating test prep into your daily school routine. I know it’s not the most exciting idea you have heard all year, but preparing for the standardized exams, including the ACT, SAT, PSAT, AP and CLEP, is most easily done in short segments fully integrated in your daily routine. This helps to prevent you from being overwhelmed once it comes time to take an exam. To accomplish this goal, plan out what you will do each day between now and your upcoming test dates on a calendar. Take whatever test prep books you have, and divide them up equally over the number of days between now and the test date. Schedule time for you to take practice exams at regular intervals over that same time period. Find an online study program (visit University Ready for recommendations) and spend 10-15 minutes each day taking practice problems and quizzes. Read classical literature, a great way to naturally develop the grammatical skills and vocabulary needed on the exams. With some intentional planning, you can make the daunting task of test prep a manageable goal. For more details on test preparation, visit our standardized exam section under "Articles."

SAT | ACT | Standardized Exams

2009.10.12 20:29:32

UniversityReady

One of the foremost questions families ask is where to locate financing for college.  Scholarships is one of the first sources that comes to mind for most individuals, but another great resource to consider are grants, both federal and state.  Grants are similar to scholarships in that they don't have to be repaid, but usually are dependent upon a demonstration of financial need.  Watch our online video to learn more about federal grants and how to qualify.  Many states also have their own individual grant programs.  Tracking down these grants can be a tricky process, however we have made it easy through our list of state organizations, giving you access to the contact info for your state so that you can check into the available sources of state funding!  Start your grant search today!

Financing

2009.09.11 20:21:51

UniversityReady

When it comes time to select which schools to apply to, the list of possibilities can seem incredibly intimidating.  According to the National Center for Education Statistics there are over 4,352 colleges (public and private) in the United States that you have to choose from (2007-08 data, available here).  In light of this, it is important that you develop some criteria that allow for you to narrow down the list.  Some criteria you may want to consider includes the major(s) you are interested in, where you would like to go to school, your family's financial situation, preference between public and private universities, etc.  Developing a list of criteria can go a long way to helping you select an ideal list of schools to apply to.  For more information on how to develop this criteria, as well as a recommendation on a great website tool to help you with this, visit our video article on the subject.

Applications | Choosing a Major

2009.06.11 15:45:10

UniversityReady

NBC News ran a brief story yesterday about a young man, Chase Abrams, who graduated with a bachelors degree from Cal State LA one month after his high-school graduation (you can read the full article here).  He accomplished this by attending college while in high-school, also known as dual enrolling.  There are several advantages to taking this approach.  Dual enrollment allows you to earn college credit and high-school credit simultaneously, maximizing your time efficiency, allowing the potential to graduate from college early, and providing a way for you to smoothly transition from high-school to college. To learn more about dual enrollment, click here.  You can also learn more about alternative ways of earning college credit prior to graduation, including taking the AP or CLEP tests.

Dual Enrollment | CLEP | AP