After 13 years as a student, you’re finally approaching that glorious milestone – high school graduation! You’re thrilled, right? Except that you’re probably stressed out of your mind and terrified of the transition to adult life and college. Welcome to the roller coaster of senior year. Just remember two important points: You’re not the only one and you’re going to be okay. Take a deep breath and follow our 7 tips for dealing with the anxiety of graduating high school.

The Tampa Bay area offers everything you could want in a college town: sunshine, culture, sports, entertainment, city vibes, beach life, and endless outdoor fun. What you might not expect is that you can enjoy most of it for a reduced price just for being in college – discount heaven for Bulls on a budget. If you’re ready to eat, play, explore, and experience everything that makes the Gulf Coast of Florida irresistible, get ready to discover what the Tampa Bay area has to offer for college students.

Over the years, you’ve tried to strike a balance between guiding your child down the right path and allowing them to make their own choices. Now it’s time to select a college. What should your role in this process look like? Surprisingly, it’s not much different than what you’ve been doing all along. Here are six ways you can help your child make a college decision that’s well-informed, yet free from parental pressure.

If you’re an academically talented high school student, chances are you’ve been approached by college admissions recruiters offering all manner of special benefits and programs. One of the distinctive opportunities increasingly proffered is admission to a university honors college. So, are honors colleges worth it, or are other opportunities a better fit for you? We’ll explore the advantages and disadvantages of these elite programs so you can make an informed decision.

Not every student follows a direct route to advanced knowledge. In fact, there are a range of flexible paths. Perhaps you are in search of university courses to satisfy a personal interest, want to register for classes as a visiting student, or have a desire to enhance your education with additional courses after graduation. For any of these reasons and more, you may have questions about the difference between a non-degree and degree-seeking program. Read on for the answers.

Leaving home for college is such a big deal. It calls for a useful but unique gift, a send-off that shows your student that you really get who they are. If you’re just not sure how to say congratulations, check out our gifts for college-bound students, a curated list of uncommonly thoughtful presents for every style of student.

Going to college is an exciting experience many students anticipate throughout their high school years. With this excitement comes the daunting realization of all the planning, applications, and processes a student needs to go through before finally walking onto campus. Thankfully, there are a number of different apps and websites designed to help students embark on the college journey. Here are 10 college prep apps for college-bound students.

Forbes says 2020 set a record for student debt, with 45 million Americans collectively owing $1.6 trillion. That’s second only to home mortgage balances. If you want to be able to afford a home once you leave college, minimizing the balance due on your postsecondary education matters. One way to minimize college debt is to maximize your college cash flow and, when possible, pay college costs as they accrue. And there are 3 ways to improve your college cash flow: proactively, in real time, and reactively.

As a parent during COVID-19, you never stop worrying. Are your teens washing their hands enough? Can you trust your college student not to attend that party? Practicing social distancing can be the difference between life and death. But it doesn’t come easily to young adults, who crave the very activities — from spring break to sporting events — that spread infection. That’s why it’s important to communicate health risks and social responsibility during a pandemic. We’ve got your back with A Parent's Guide: How to Talk to Students About Social Distancing and COVID-19.

You want to make a positive difference in your world. Who knew it would be as easy as putting a piece of fabric over your face? Wearing a mask might seem like no big deal, but it’s actually one of the simplest and most effective ways you can save lives. You’ve got questions about this hottest new piece of fashion. We’ve got answers. Let’s dive into why and how to wear face masks during COVID-19: a guide for college students.

Feeling stressed? You’re not alone. Students across the U.S. are wrestling with college decisions, taking classes, or preparing for entrance exams — all while living through the anxiety of a pandemic. We’re here to help. This week, try one of these 7 easy ways to reduce stress for college students.

The fall 2020 semester in higher education brings with it a new educational format: hybrid classes. If you’ve found yourself wondering “What are hybrid classes?” and how do you succeed in them, read on. I’ll explain the nuts and bolts of what it’s like to participate in a partially online, partially in-person class. I’ll also provide you with some tips and best practices to help you succeed in a hybrid class.

If you’re going to attend college in fall 2020, you may spend at least part of your semester learning online. Many schools are embracing virtual instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic. (At USF, we plan to offer a mix of online classes, on-campus classes, and flexible hybrid classes.) We know you have a lot of questions, especially if you’ve never taken an online class before. Let’s take a look at the benefits of online learning from your future instructors.

2020: What a weird summer. Our typical August activities — pool parties, afternoon movies in air-conditioned theaters, cross-country trips — aren’t possible in a pandemic. Instead, we’re spending a lot more time at home. Does that mean our last few weeks of summer are ruined? Not at all. It just means our entertainment has to get more creative. Check out our list of eight ways to have summer break fun while social distancing. 

You versus Life.

Successfully advancing from high school to college isn’t easy. It gets particularly difficult when a highly infectious disease becomes one of the risks of communal life on campus. That’s the new reality, but incoming freshmen will find they only need to adapt and overcome to successfully transition from high school to college during COVID-19.

Whether you were involuntarily thrust into online courses by the recent pandemic or thoughtfully chose an online degree program, learning to manage time effectively can make or break your experience in the virtual classroom. The good news? If you were an outstanding student in traditional classes, the transition to online learning doesn’t have to be difficult. Our time management tips for online students can help you thrive in this brave new world and manage time effectively in online courses.

Hello, Quarantined Class of 2020: You’re living through a bizarre time. Like many of the nearly 4 million high school seniors in America, you’ve said goodbye to commencement ceremonies, proms, senior parties, sporting events, and end-of-year trips. Is it a huge bummer? Yes. But with a little creativity, you can still make the end of your senior year unforgettable. We’ll show you how to connect with friends, acknowledge your accomplishment, and throw an awesome graduation party — all while safely social distancing. Here’s how to celebrate your virtual high school graduation during the coronavirus crisis.

Can you actually enjoy your next study session? Yes. Although homework is never going to be your favorite activity (unless you’re Hermione Granger), you can transform your experience with a few simple tips. Here are nine fun ways to make studying fun. 

Teachers long have known that the critical step in delivering knowledge is to engage the student. Teacher-student interaction is the essence of that. Students teaming up to problem-solve is the holy grail of the student-teacher interaction, with smart instructors leading the way and then stepping back to witness learning in action. It’s why classmates matter, and it’s why students determined to maximize their e-school experience should know these 5 ways to connect with peers in an online class.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic spread to every corner of the earth, you may have given little thought to online learning. Or maybe you heard the whispers that online classes were easy, or that your brother could take your calculus final for you and no one would ever know. Now that students at nearly every university in the United States have transitioned to remote learning, it’s time to separate fact from fiction. Follow along as we debunk the top 6 myths about online learning.

Online courses can be a great way to juggle work, social activities and academic priorities. That is why nearly 67 percent of USF’s undergraduate students take at least one online course each academic year. But there is a difference between choosing to take a single online course for convenience, and suddenly finding yourself taking all your courses virtually. There’s no shortage of advice on how to adapt to online learning. With a few caveats, those same tips apply when a pandemic jams virtually every college student into the fast lane of digital learning. Here are 10 tips to help students succeed in online classes.

College offers you the freedom and independence to choose the field of study that interests you the most. Some students decide to major in two different fields or double major. Check out some of the most common pros and cons of having a double major in college.

If your top-choice college is a large public school, it could be part of a university system, meaning it has a flagship or main campus as well as several regional, branch, or satellite campuses. Before you start clicking the send button on your applications, you might want to ask yourself if you’re clear on this important question: What’s the difference between the main campus and a satellite campus? Our handy guide to the advantages and challenges of both campus types can help you decide on the right choice for you.

Tuition, textbooks, groceries, laundry, transportation – the list of college expenses can sometimes seem longer than the Great Wall of China. It’s easy for students managing money on their own for the first time to become overwhelmed by the responsibility of it all, or worse yet, to overspend. Creating a solid college student budget can help keep the stress, and your finances, in check.

A psychotherapist was kind enough to give Business Insider three common reasons your New Year’s resolutions often fail: You aren’t being specific enough. You aren’t framing them positively. They aren’t about you. Got that? Now check out our New Year’s resolution ideas for college students, and pick a few to adapt to your needs. When you make them yours, remember to be specific, focus on the positive aspects of your goals, and be sure they are things you really want.

If you’re a high school senior, winter break offers a wonderfully structure-free, stress-free window of time. But how does a college-bound high school student turn two solid weeks into anything but an extended nap punctuated by cookies and some couch time with the grandparents? We have useful suggestions for making the most of your time off, no matter where you are in the college application process: If you’re a senior already accepted by your college of choice, or you’re a senior nervously awaiting an answer from a college (any college!), or you’re a senior procrastinating until the last minute to get that application submitted, we know how to make winter break productive, with plenty of time left over for marathon meet-ups with the holiday cookie jar.

Your college journey is going to be a blast. As an out-of-state student, you’ll experience new adventures far from your hometown — an idea that probably excites and overwhelms you. How do you get ready for life in another state? Start with our five tips on how to prepare for an out-of-state college.

If you’re considering the benefits of accelerated college programs, it’s a good bet you’re familiar with success, know what you want from academia, have been working to get it, and want to get it done as soon as possible, to the best possible effect.

It can feel monumental, or even tragic, to consider switching your intended or actual major, especially if you are deeply vested in the idea of yourself with a particular degree. But take comfort in this: Changing majors is really common. According to the U.S. Department of Education, one-third of college students change their minds at least once, and a solid 10 percent switch their major two times or more. If you do it thoughtfully, selecting a more suitable field of study can be the best thing you ever did, no matter if you are an entering freshman, a transfer student, or an almost upperclassman who needs to seal the deal on all the credits you’ve been accruing. A new major can lead you to a more meaningful career and work aligned with your truest self. So, if you’ve decided to change your college major, consider this the perfect time to get focused, select a fantastic new major, and keep yourself on track to graduate on time.

“Elections belong to the people,” Abraham Lincoln said. Sure, you say, but you’re not going to bother with elections because you don’t know how to vote while you’re in college. If that’s the case, consider the rest of Lincoln’s quote: “If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters.”

When you’re a college student, some experiences will be a given. Eating in the dining hall and screaming from the stands at a big game are standard rites of passage. Ditto for the dorm party and the all-night study session. But did you know you could be missing out on fantastic events, opportunities, and services because you just didn’t know they were available? We can’t let that happen. So, we invite you to explore campus resources students like you should start using right away to make the most of your once-in-a-lifetime college experience.

From global positioning systems and magnetic resonance imaging to the nicotine patch and antibiotics, research universities are responsible for some of mankind’s greatest discoveries. But beyond its power as an engine of innovation, what is a research university, and can it provide an ideal environment for an undergraduate student like you?

Each and every study abroad experience is different. Want to scuba dive? Visit Australia. Want to learn the Chinese language? Take a trip to China. Whether you’re traveling to the other side of the world or just across the pond, there’s a world of differences to explore. Consider what I learned before, during, and after my study abroad experience.

You’re thinking about going to therapy, but you’re not sure how to find a good therapist. Do you rub a magic bottle until someone grants you three mental-health wishes? Do you stay at home until a gray-bearded mentor knocks on your door and invites you on a quest to enlightenment? Do you (and this seems most mysterious of all) wade through your insurance website until you find a doctor covered by your plan? It’s enough to make you pull the covers over your head. Don’t worry: We’re here to demystify the process. In recognition of World Mental Health Day, we're sharing tips on how to find a mental health counselor and what to expect from therapy.

The brain deserves our attention. It may only weigh about three pounds, but it’s been called the most complex object in the universe. The fact that you are able to read these words at all is thanks to your brain, with its network of 86 billion neurons. It’s so intricate, we still don’t fully understand how it all works. And yet, sometimes we feel ashamed when this organ’s complicated functioning misfires. We mistakenly think that nobody else gets depressed, anxious, or sad, and we ignore our symptoms instead of telling anyone how we feel.

Starting college is a series of firsts for students and their parents. Research, campus visits, and the all-important orientation offer data points and examples of what being a freshman means. But there’s no dry run, no drill, no simulation that can fully put a student in a freshman’s shoes and parents in that all but helpless mode of waiting and wondering from afar. There is, though, a simple, free, and effective way for parents and students to prepare, and that’s talking about the college transition.

It’s a safe bet that someone somewhere is writing a doctoral thesis or medical journal article on why there are so many labels these days for overprotective parents: helicopter parents, bulldozer parents, snowplow parents, to name a few. Here’s one likely takeaway from that article: Tips for parents on teaching college-bound students how to be independent should be informed by a vaccine analogy. A shot of responsibility now can give your student enough confidence to survive the independence of freshman year.

The countdown to your first semester at college is on, and chances are you’re having some feelings. Are you excited, nervous, terrified? All three? Don’t fret. Take a deep breath and follow our tips on how to prepare for college and your first time away from home.   

Can reading Harry Potter prepare you for freshman year? Yes, Potterheads, you’ll be happy to know that you can count Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone as part of your college prep. Studies have shown that reading fiction changes your brain in a positive way. Novels sweep you into new experiences, broaden your worldview, and increase your ability to empathize, making you a stronger college applicant.

High school students often wonder if extracurriculars matter in the college admissions process. The short answer is yes. But, before plunging into a longer answer about why they matter and what kinds of extracurricular activities you should pursue, consider that, for admissions officers, extracurriculars break into the Top 4 of must-haves for an applicant, but they do not outweigh what you do in the classroom or how you perform on entrance exams.

No matter your high school experience, you are sure to find a wide range of differences between high school and college. Here are some thoughts on my transition from Catholic high school student to college freshman, some tips to make your transition easier, and a list of the top 5 things that surprised me about college.

Social networking platforms like Instagram and Snapchat are a huge part of our lives. When used in a healthy way, social media links us to a global community, invites us to explore different worldviews, and encourages us to express ourselves — all with the tap of a finger. But it also comes with surprising risks.

What you do the summer before you start college can help you decide what you want to do with your life and what to focus on in college. If you’ve already chosen a major, you may already have a career path; if not, examining options can at the very least help you rule some out. The choices are yours, and smart decisions can come from knowing how to use your summer to explore careers.

Congratulations. You’re in the spring of your senior year, which means you’re almost done with high school. Be proud of this accomplishment, celebrate it — and prepare for a busy semester. Before you don that cap and gown, you’ve still got plenty of academic and emotional challenges left to tackle. We’re here to help. Here are six tips to help you finish senior year strong (including how to fight off senioritis).

It feels good to be in control. That’s what many students look forward to in college: being in control of their time, their social calendar, their academic responsibilities, and their emotional balance. They want to celebrate their independence and entrance into adulthood. Things happen, however, that can derail that feeling of control, and success in college can hinge on expectations versus reality and how you bridge the gap.

There are many good reasons for making diversity a deciding factor in your college search. We can (and will) make an argument for why college campus diversity is important by citing personal advantages you can count on when you choose a diverse campus, even if you are not a minority. The best pro-diversity argument, though, is the impressive breadth of benefits that quickly becomes apparent when examining college campus diversity and why it matters.

Acclimating to university life can be a dynamic change in the lives of many incoming first year students. While your first year of college will be great, sometimes you will be stressed. The sudden shift in environment and new course materials may intimidate you, you might miss your family. What I learned my first year of college though, is that this is all normal. The important thing about your first year of college, is learning the good habits that put you into good shape for your college career, and future career.

When you think about college classes, you may picture a large lecture hall crammed with students diligently taking notes, a professor at the front of the room, and a deck of PowerPoint slides showing in the background. If, however, you enroll in an online course, your classroom could be a cozy spot in your bedroom, a corner in a coffee shop, or a shady spot on a lawn. It’s not old-school education, and that’s why questions arise about online classes at college and what you need to know if you’re considering the digital route.

Stepping into your first year of college after high school can be intimidating. You may be enjoying the sense of freedom that comes with college, while also struggling to juggle your new responsibilities. Clear up any freshman confusion by learning about the biggest differences between high school and college life.

So much to do, so little time! Time management can be hard for new college students. Students have new responsibilities, but also spend less time in class and have less structure to their days. To stay on top of school work, experts recommend the following time management tips:

The spring semester of your junior year of high school can feel anticlimactic: You’re stuck somewhere in the middle of high school, the novelty has faded, and the urgency of your senior year hasn’t hit yet. A long summer still separates you from any important decisions, right?

Starting college is overwhelming. You are thrust into a new life in an unfamiliar place, and it can be hard to stay current with all the available events and activities while keeping up with classes. College, however, is more than just attending classes and getting good grades. It’s a combination of discovery, involvement, and enjoyment, and activities in and out of the classroom are part of shaping the complete experience. Here’s our list of the top 5 college experiences you won’t forget, activities every student should explore during their college years.

Winter break is perfectly timed for college-bound high school seniors who need a respite from classes, some time with family and friends, and relief from the college hunt jitters. ’Tis that season, so here’s a gift that can ease those jitters and help seniors maximize holiday cheer: winter break tips for high school seniors preparing for college.

I am in my second year at USF, and one of the deciding factors for attending this school was being an honors student in the Honors College. I’ve always loved learning, and discussion has become increasingly important to the way I learn. Coming to college, I wanted to make sure that some of my classes would be small enough for me to have conversations in class about the subject matter with the professor and my peers and not just sit quietly through a lot of big lecture hall classes.

Determining the optimum college class size is akin to finding the best setting on a residence hall thermostat. Satisfaction and results vary, and they depend on the class (residence hall) and the participants (roommates). That’s because one person’s comfort zone can be where another finds misery. There are, however, a number of good answers and supporting arguments for those who ask: What are the benefits of smaller class size in college?

College Board’s SAT has been a source of test day jitters for aspiring college students since 1926. The test and testing methods have evolved, but the jitters and the best ways to cope with them haven’t: Study until your confidence level tames those nerves, and know what to expect on SAT test day.

Applying to college is no easy task. There are tons of questions to answer about unfamiliar issues, and you quickly realize that you need more help than you thought. We talked to high school students about some of their biggest issues with the application process, and then we got some college seniors to answer several questions that arose about what college students wish they knew when applying to college.

You took Advanced Placement classes in high school, have been in honors classes since middle school, and as a high school student have taken classes at a nearby community college. Congratulations, your rigorous education has positioned you to appreciate what it means to be an honors college student.

Applying to a single college, or just a few, means running a risk of being rejected by your target school and having to start the process from scratch with less time. That’s the short explanation for why you should apply to multiple colleges. The long explanation has several parts.

Studying abroad is a unique, high-impact experience that will aid you personally, professionally, and academically. Aside from being a life-changing experience, you’ll gain skills beyond what you can learn in your campus classroom.

Few people face the beginning of college life without some degree of anxiety. That’s a given. After all, the experience is akin to staring at the deep end of the pool from the highest diving board you’ve ever seen. You know you can swim, but you’re afraid you’ll land the worst possible way. Take a deep breath and make the jump, because you can successfully transition to college life with these tips.

Starting college comes with some radical changes. You’re in a new environment surrounded by new people. Sure, you’ll get a rush of exhilaration at all the new faces and places, but the upheaval will likely take its toll on you. The good news is that there are simple and effective tips for dealing with homesickness.

Studying is learning, and learning leads to success, which is why it’s so appropriate that USF calls its college study hub the Academic Success Center. It’s not just named well, it works – if you use it. Why people don’t use study centers or wait too long to use them is a study in human nature. This article is about academic excellence, so we’ll simply look at how Academic Success Centers help you make the grade in college.

College is a matter of dreams and the academic and career aspirations born of those dreams. Sleep problems can turn those dreams into nightmares, causing physical and emotional problems that spiral out of control and land GPAs and hopes of graduating in the trash bin. That’s why the importance of sleep for college students can’t be overstated.

College students need more time. In fact, college becomes a study in how to save time while getting things done. The answer, too often, is eating on the run. If you’re trying to get by on vending machine snacks and Red Bull gulped on the way to class, your health and grades are doomed. If you want to burn beneficial calories without burning too much time, try these easy microwave meals for college students.

Beginning college usually means heading off to unfamiliar territory to live among strangers while facing significant academic and social challenges – typically while still a teenager. So it would be unusual if people facing day one at college didn’t have issues with stress. The good news is that millions of people have done it, and their legacy is a mountain of information on coping with the stress of going away to college.

Nearly one-third of rising college freshmen are first-generation college students. The status should be a point of pride, but many students who hope to be the first in their immediate family to attend college don’t take credit for being trailblazers. They either don’t realize it’s a plus in the eyes of admissions officers or think it’s a mark of shame. To set the record straight, here’s our first-generation college student guide.

Your higher education curriculum doesn’t end when you leave the class and shut the textbook. In fact, some of your most important life lessons come after the college lecture ends. Nobody will be looking over your shoulder to make sure you finish your homework, eat right, and get enough sleep. You’re on your own, and all your victories and defeats fall squarely on your shoulders. That can seem scary at first, but there are numerous valuable life skills learned in college that will prepare you for your transition to a career.

In a perfect world, everyone would start college knowing what they would love to do for a living. Students would already have a plan to apply their interests to career challenges and curriculum choices. They’d intuitively know how to use college as a stepping stone to a career that makes them a productive individual, as well as financially and emotionally fulfilled.

In today’s digital world, proper etiquette is much more than knowing which utensil to use or how to write a thank you note. How you conduct yourself online can be the difference between a fun, successful exchange and one that jeopardizes friendships or academic and professional opportunities. Here are some Snapchat and Instagram etiquette tips to keep your social media channels looking sharp.

If you are a college-bound high school graduate, change is coming this fall that will have storylines involving friends, family, and new academic and geographic horizons. Adapting to this radical life transformation will haunt you less if you learn how to prepare for college during summer. This includes vital social, academic, relocation, and health tips that can make or break your freshman year experience.

If you are still in high school, learning good study habits will pay huge dividends now, in college, and beyond. If you have finished high school and have the grades you need to get into college but never got the hang of studying, congratulations: You definitely are smart enough to graduate with honors, and it’s not too late to learn college study habits.

Defining why a college education is important involves more than just identifying the superficial benefits of more career opportunities. At a deeper level, college is where you will map a path through life that can take you to places you never expected to go.

Whether you’ve planned out your entire college career or you’re still struggling to even see yourself in a lecture hall, the benefits of pre-college for high school students should not be overlooked. These summer programs offer you the chance to explore and experience college life in person.

Dealing responsibly with the basics of staying healthy needs to be at the top of your daily checklist once you hit campus, because you can’t do your best if you aren’t at your best. So be ready with these top five tips for how to stay healthy in college.

Community college can be your first, best, and final step in a post-secondary education, or it can be a lifesaving way to rescue a derailed plan to attend a dream college. Junior college serving as an academic lifesaver is a fairly common story, but there are also many no-drama reasons why starting at a community college might be right for you.

If you’ve been named a National Merit Semifinalist, you passed the first hurdle to becoming a finalist. Only about 16,000 students earn the PSAT score required to enter the National Merit Finalist race, so you’re in great company.

People who work their way through the mountain of tips on how high schoolers can use summers to prepare for college will see a pattern emerge. There are a lot of summer tips for high school students preparing for college. Typically, the experts focus on five areas: jobs and internships, volunteer work, well-chosen summer courses and programs, college admissions prep work, and extracurricular activities that identify, hone, and display personal skills and talents.

After you take the PSAT, the temptation to try pushing the memory of that test out of your mind may be strong. That’s understandable. With the strict rules and format, it was probably one of the most frightening, uncomfortable tests you’ve ever taken.

Starting college can be a tricky time for both students and their family. Use our top five college facts for families of college-bound high school seniors to help ease the transition and the anxiety.

As you research different colleges, you’ll probably start learning about different college majors as well.  With so many majors available, you might feel overwhelmed. Whatever path you take, earning a college degree has three distinct benefits. A college degree provides you with technical knowledge, a rewarding social experience, and gives you durable life skills. Think about all of your options, and realize that there are many benefits of choosing to major in the liberal arts.

You’ve probably heard your friends say it. You may have even asked this question yourself: “How do I find the perfect college for me?” There are 4,000+ colleges and universities in the U.S. You’re going to “fit” at hundreds. It may be time to consider that it’s less about finding the perfect school and more about finding one where you will belong. Use the five tips below to help you choose a college that is right for you.

College prep in high school doesn’t begin and end during your last two years. It takes a serious commitment of time, focused effort, and personal honesty. Follow our tips for success as you prepare for college.

If you’re wondering if you even need a LinkedIn profile right now - you do! You may be thinking, “I’m too young,” “Those are for college grads,” or “I don’t have a ‘real’ job yet.” Just because you haven’t graduated high school yet doesn’t mean it’s too soon to start building your online brand.

One word in that headline is weighing heavily on college-bound high school seniors. Let’s capitalize and bold it: How to Get Ready for College NOW.

Feeling stressed out by the college planning process? You’re not alone! Deciding which colleges to apply to, application deadlines, financial aid paperwork, waiting for decisions and choosing a college to attend are enough to make anyone a little tense. The good news is you have a valuable (free) resource available to help: your high school/college counselor.

If you’re a high school senior, you may be at the stage of the college application process where staying very organized and planning way ahead can have an upside. Think lists and calendars. You need to be aware of what must be done and by when. With the holiday break just around the corner, you can get even more ahead of the game with these 5 tips for using holiday downtime to make the college process easier.

Are your grades somewhat less than stellar? Think you have no shot at getting into college? Never fear! Grades are just one factor that colleges consider when evaluating your admission application. Take a deep breath, and read about how to get into college if you don’t have all A’s:

If you receive an admissions letter and see that you’ve been accepted to a college during the summer semester, don’t worry. For a variety of reasons, colleges may change your starting semester from fall to summer. Feeling confused and frustrated is normal, but it’s important to realize that there are many benefits of starting college in the summer.

Is it really true? Are your social media channels subject to review by the colleges you are applying to? Most people have some form of social media, such as Snapchat, Instagram and others. Social media is a powerful platform with a variety of uses such as keeping in touch with old friends, providing a form of entertainment, giving you a place to express your thoughts and opinions, and so much more. You can present your unique personality and interests to a variety of people and places on social media. That could include colleges, coaches, and other decision makers for future jobs and internships. So, “do colleges look at your social media?”

Completing college applications can be a frustrating and confusing process, so we want to help make the USF application process as easy as possible. Whether you’ve started your application or not, you can follow these easy steps for how to apply to USF to streamline the process.

When evaluating the cost of college, it’s common to gauge affordability with a quick glance at the tuition. While this is one of the most important ways to compare school cost, it also fails to take into account commonly overlooked factors that can add up.

During your junior and senior years of high school, you will take college admissions tests, such as the SAT and the ACT. Colleges use these test scores to help them make admissions decisions, so you will include them in your applications. As with any test, you want to prepare for it and do your best. Here are some tips for how to prep for the SAT and ACT.

College fairs give you a great opportunity to learn about a wide variety of schools directly from school representatives, but you don’t want to stumble in unprepared. Use our top 5 college fair tips below to make the most of your day at these events.

If you are embarking on the college admissions process, you may feel a mix of emotions. It’s normal to feel confused, overwhelmed and excited all at the same time. Sometimes, these feelings along with the college application process can cause students to procrastinate on finishing their applications and submitting them. To help you along the path, check out these simple tips on how to stay motivated during the college admissions process.