High school is filled with rites of passage as individuals transition from childhood to adulthood: getting a driver’s license, discovering personal interests and strengths, forming lifelong friendships, taking the SAT or ACT, and yes, interviewing. At this stage of life, students are beginning to explore employment opportunities and apply to colleges, often for the first time. This naturally raises the question: what do future employers or college admissions counselors actually want to know...

Winter is a great time to complete some key action steps in the college process. You can find suggestions and tips listed here for grades 9-12.

With more and more students applying to colleges under Early Action or Early Decision plans, it is not uncommon for colleges to defer a student’s admission decision to the Regular round. Remember, a deferral is not a denial , and there are opportunities to update and strengthen your application. The college is not saying no; rather they are saying not yet. This is a time to take action. You want the college to know you remain interested. Here are suggestions for handling a deferral.