At a college fair, it’s easy to stockpile glossy brochures, drool over photos of students in warmer climates, pick up extra pens (emblazoned with the name of an institution of higher learning, of course) and generally zone out, overwhelmed by the choices. What’s harder is to make a good impression. That’s important because oftentimes, the college representatives you’ll meet at the college fairs are the same admission officers that will make the final determination on whether your application for admission will be accepted or rejected. Therefore, you want to do your best to stand out. Here’s …

When parents hear that their children want to study art in college, the term “starving artist” may come to mind. Parents don’t want to fork over tens of thousands of dollars for their child’s tuition if they fear that they’ll end up working at Bennigan’s. However, with proper career and academic counseling, an art student may be able to attain an economically rewarding profession within the art field. Here are a few tips for students who are considering a career in the arts. Don’t study graphic design or photography The vast majority of colleges still use the old terminology of Graphic Design…

Since 9/11, the demand for trained individuals to work within our law enforcement, intelligence and security agencies has increased exponentially. To meet that demand, colleges and universities across the U.S. have added criminal justice-related majors to their curricula. Already attending a college that doesn’t offer a criminal justice major? Not to worry. You can still find a rewarding career in the criminal justice field if you majored in any of the following fields. Accounting/Business: Terrorists and other criminal organizations cannot successfully operate long term without money and …

I'm going to keep this article short because if you haven't already applied for federal and/or state financial aid for the 2011-2012 academic year, you're already falling behind on the process and risk missing out on funds that you may otherwise be eligible for. What is Financial Aid? There are three general forms of financial aid: grants, loans and jobs under the work/study program. Grants are great because they are financial awards that don't have to be repaid. There are six federal education grants and students may be eligible to receive multiple ones. The type of grant and the amount of …

About to finish high school but don't want to attend college next fall? If so, you're part of a growing trend of high school graduates who buck enrolling in college immediately out of high school. Due to the economy and the rising costs of college tuition or simply due to a new sense of independence, many high school graduates are now opting to put off attending traditional college indefinitely in order to pursue their career goals elsewhere. If you need a break from the traditional classroom, here are some options. Enlist The five branches of the U.S. armed services, the Navy, Air Force, …

When you're not busy spending quality time with your TV and getting up to date on Facebook, winter break can actually be a good time to prepare for college.  Here are a few ideas to make the most of your time off. Take a trip After this weekend's winter storm, we all want to be in Miami, but truth is, most hotels are already booked. (Trust me, I checked). Instead, consider visiting one or two of the colleges on your short list. Call an admissions representative to see if they offer tours during the holiday break. Most likely, the college will look like a ghost town, since most students will …

For the most part, the college admissions process is very impersonal. Applicants are defined by the numbers and letters of the ACTs, APs, SATs and their transcripts. Additionally, more and more colleges are shying away from the practice of conducting admissions interviews. In most cases, an admission officer will decide yes or no without ever meeting the student, having spoken to them only via phone or email. That's why it's so important to spend the time it takes to make an admissions essay stand out. Oftentimes, it's only opportunity a student has to stand out from the crowd of other …

According to the College Board, students are paying 7.9 percent more in college tuition and fees on average this year than they did in 2009. In an already tough economy, the rising costs of getting a college education can hurt even more. But there are ways to save—and we have a few suggestions. Get tested.  Are you really good at math, science or any other subject? If so, many colleges will offer you college credits if you take and score high enough on some tests.   The College Level Examination Program or CLEP, offers 33 tests in a variety of subjects ranging from math to foreign languages. …

Picture yourself in college. Is it a big school or small school? Close to home or far away? City or country? What you'll do while in school should affect your decision, too. Namely, it's never too early to start thinking: What's my major? Or: What do I want to be when I grow up? The average undergraduate will spend a quarter of their time in college taking classes in their major field of study. Therefore, one of the most important (and stressful) decisions a college-bound student will make is which major to pursue. This decision will affect which college they apply for, what type of …

Take ACT scores and FAFSA figures, then add the choice between nearly 7,000 colleges and universities in the United States (according to the U.S. Department of Education), and the numbers can overwhelm. As countless seniors around the country narrow their college search, many will be encouraged by well-meaning relatives, fellow students and guidance counselors to conduct research on the colleges they wish to attend. But given the amount of information available—and the number of institutions—students can drown in data, with hundreds of pages of information for every college in existence.   …