CollegeBasics.com Blog

Get ready!  Common App 4.0 is on its way. Students applying to college will be able to use a new, streamlined  Common Application format by the summer of 2013.  Changes will include No more truncation of inserted text Opportunity to ask

Guidance counselors have all kinds of advice, but here are some areas you should be picking their brains for. Ask your guidance counselor what colleges she recommends  for you.  She knows local colleges and universities, she knows you, and she

Last year high school guidance counselors from across the country were asked what schools they like to recommend to their students for the best undergraduate education.  These are some of their rankings.  (5 is the best ranking.) There were no

Most financial aid for attending a U. S. college is restricted to American citizens and green-card holders, and most financial aid packages are based on federal taxes paid in the U. S.  However, there is financial aid available to international stud

In the spring of 2012 MIT will be launching MITx,  a new online learning initiative. MITx will be offered on an interactive platform that will allow for student-to-student communication and for online labs.  Now anyone can now take course work from

Colleges are beginning to offer both courses and degree programs in the fastest-growing career opportunities for the future. Maybe you should e thinking about these kinds of college degrees. Infomatics – IT meets medicine where there is a grow

A recent Congressional agreement will maintain the Pell Grant maximum at $5,500.  This is good news, but there are some down side for the Pell. Now the Pell Grant will only be available for six years, not nine a high school or GED will be r

Harvard and Princeton have just reintroduced their Early Action (EA) programs for the class of 2016.  As a result their EA applications have soared.  Harvard's EA applications, for example, are up 5.9% from 2006 when they last had EA. Other scho

Colleges or universities you are applying to can offer financial aid.  Along with their aid packages  you can get financial aid through government subsidized loans.  For either you have to apply with the FAFSA form.  This form shows your financia

If you graduated Spring, 2011, your 6-month grace period for repaying your student loans is ending.  You will have to start making repayment in 30 to 60 days.  You should have heard from your leading institution, and if not, make sure your contact