In - Your Guide to College Admissions from The Princeton Review

How to Stay Focused During the Holiday Season

Believe it or not, school is still in session between now and winter break.

The anticipation of the holidays can distract even the most serious student from his or her work. (It’s tough to think about tests and papers when gifts and days off are just around the corner.)

So, what can you do to stay focused over the next month?

U.S. News recently offered three helpful tips. (While these tips are addressed to parents of students, you shouldn’t have trouble implementing them on your own.) Click here to check them out.

For those not in the holiday spirit, StateUniversity.com recently offered its own tips for a well-balanced and productive month.

How to Handle College Questions this Thanksgiving

For many high school seniors, Thanksgiving dinner includes a multitude of unwanted questions about the college application process.

Where have you applied? What’s your first choice? Do you think you’ll get in?

When it comes to such questions, the most frequent culprits are relatives who haven’t seen you in a while: they’re too out of the loop to see that the application process is a source of major stress for you.

What can you do if you receive unwanted college questions? First, take a deep breath. Then, deflect the question in one of the ways recommended by Sara Zessar at Montgomery Educational Consulting. She also offers tips for minimizing the number of questions you receive. Click here to check them out.

For College Students, Money Problems Become Academic Ones

A college student’s main concern should be getting good grades, right?

According to the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), many undergrads have more pressing concerns.

In a survey of 285,000 students at 577 colleges, NSSE found that most students regularly worry whether they’ll have enough money to cover basic living expenses. Additionally, about one-third neglect to buy required academic materials due to the associated costs.

Click here to read more about the NSSE survey on the New York Times.

At Some Colleges, Early Applicants Affected by Sandy Receive Relaxed Test Requirements

The Choice is reporting that several colleges have adjusted their standardized test requirements for early applicants affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Many schools had already extended their early application deadlines for students affected by the storm. However, the postponement of many of last weekend’s SAT and SAT Subject Test administrations has prompted several schools to soften their requirements for these exams, particularly the Subject Tests.

The Choice has details on test requirement changes at Boston College, Columbia, Harvard, and Penn. Click here to check them out.

If an involuntary test rescheduling has made it impossible for you to send a required test score by an admissions deadline, don’t fret in silence! Contact the school’s office of admissions and inform them of your situation. They will understand that this is beyond your control.

College Applicants: Time Get Organized for January Apps

If you’re a college-bound senior, you might be facing a number of January application deadlines.

Starting to panic? Relax! You’re still in good shape if you get started on these applications right now.

To this end, MyCollegeCalendar.org has created—you guessed it—an online calendar for applicants to help them manage their time and stay on top of the various parts of the application process. It’s full of helpful reminders and tips. Click here to check it out.

Worried About College? You’re Not Alone

For most students, college isn’t just an exciting proposition—it’s a scary one as well.

StateUniversity.com recently provided sage advice for 10 of the most common student concerns about college. Click here to check it out.

How to Avoid Family Drama During the College Search

Students often see the college search differently than their parents do.

Good communication by all sides is essential during this time; it keeps everyone on the same page and prevents disagreements from escalating. Click here to read more on U.S. News.

Are Your Parents Too Involved in College Matters?

It’s common today for parents to closely manage their kids’ college searches and applications.

While such parents often have good intentions, their close involvement can create extra stress and anxiety for their kids.

The Choice recently offered five pieces of advice to share with your parents if they’re too involved. Click here to check them out.

The Application Essay: How to Beat Writer’s Block

The Choice recently posted a helpful tip for applicants who are having trouble writing the essay: pretend it’s a letter to a future college roommate.

Click here to learn more.

Get Control of Early Application Anxiety

With early application deadlines right around the corner, many college-bound seniors are stressed out.

How can you prevent these approaching deadlines from overwhelming you?

Montgomery Educational Consulting recently posted four things you can to do to reclaim a feeling of control in the application process. Click here to check them out.