Various Articles

ACT or SAT: What's the difference? Find out how these two college admissions tests differ and whether your student should take one or the other, or both. ________________________________________ By GreatSchools Staff Both the ACT and the SAT are national standardized tests that students take as part of the college admissions process. Are there advantages to [...]

All about Advanced Placement (AP) courses and exams The AP program gives students the opportunity to take college-level courses while they are still in high school. ________________________________________ By GreatSchools Staff Does your high school student want to get ahead and do college-level work in high school? The Advanced Placement program provides that opportunity. The AP [...]

Understanding college admissions tests College admissions tests, a rite of passage for high school students, are changing. Here's what you and your child need to know. ________________________________________ By GreatSchools Staff With the addition of a writing section to the SAT and the ACT, and more colleges announcing they no longer require standardized tests for admission, [...]

Applications: A parent's role Your challenge as a parent is to support your student as she applies to college but let her do the work. ________________________________________ Do I give up now in despair or just do it myself? This is the question many parents ask during the college application process. The challenge is to be [...]

Ten ways to jump-start college planning Help your child take the right steps in middle school to prepare for college. ________________________________________ Decisions your child makes as early as eighth grade can have a huge effect on his college career. They might affect how soon your child will go to college, what type of college he [...]

Letting go: Tips for parents of new college students After 18 years of parenting, it can be hard to let go. Here is a sneak peek at the challenges of the transition ahead and advice to prepare right now. ________________________________________ By Karen Levin Coburn, Madge Lawrence Treeger The emotional roller coaster Recognize this is a [...]

The College Search: How You Can Help Your Child Applying to college can be stressful. This is likely the first decision your child will make that has such important consequences. Learn how you can help. ________________________________________ Pat is a middle school teacher in Rockford, Illinois. When her son got ready to apply to college, he […]