College Compass | Your Roadmap To College Admissions

Baylor University

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Compass

NAME: Baylor University SCHOOLS: College of Arts & Sciences, George W. Truett Theological Seminary, Graduate School, Hankamer School of Business, Honors College, Law School, Louise Herrington School of Nursing, School of Education, School of Engineering & Computer Science, School of Music, School of Social Work. MEDIAN SAT SCORE: 1810-2020 MEDIAN ACT SCORE: 28-32 CLASS RANK: 36% in the top 5% of their class CAMPUS: 735 acres NUMBER OF FRIENDS YOU CAN MAKE: 12,438 (2462 graduates) WHERE YOU WILL LIVE: On-campus COST: $31,658

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Important PSAT Facts

Posted on February 17, 2012 by Dave G

With so many exams to study for, there is one that tends to be underestimated. And that is the PSAT. It is actually more important than you might think. So listen up! How the PSAT is Structured The test is divided into three different components: Critical Reading: 2 sections, 48 questions, 25 minutes each Math: 2 sections, 28 questions, 25 minutes each Writing Skills: 1 section, 39 questions, 30 minutes Good News: NO ESSAY! How the PSAT is Scored The test scores range from 20-80 for each of the 3 components. Therefore the total scores range from 60-240. The PSAT … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Advice for Freshmen, Advice for Juniors, Advice for Sophomores | Tagged how the psat is scored, how the psat is structured, National Merit, National Merit Scholarship, national merit scholarship qualifying test, what is the difference between the psat and sat, when to take the psat, why the psat is important | Leave a comment

Brown University

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Compass

NAME: Brown University SCHOOLS: Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, Humanities, Biology & Medicine, Life Sciences, School of Engineering, Alpert Medical School, Continuing education MEDIAN SAT SCORE: ~2220 MEDIAN ACT SCORE: ~30 CLASS RANK: N/A CAMPUS: 143 acres NUMBER OF FRIENDS YOU CAN MAKE: 6,319 (2,333 graduates) WHERE YOU WILL LIVE: On-campus: East Campus (13 residential halls), Keeney Quadrangle (6 residential halls), Main Campus (6 residential halls), Pembroke Campus (15 residential halls), Wriston Quadrangle (9 residential halls) COST: $54,370

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SAT Vocabulary Word of the Week: Arduous

Posted on February 12, 2012 by Dave G

Each week, College Compass offers a vocabulary word that will help prepare you for the SAT and PSAT. We aim to give you not only the best words to study, but also the most accurate information so that you remember these words. Knowing these words will help lead you to the correct answers on the verbal section, thus adding to your score…which is really the whole point of learning all this vocabulary in the first place, right? THIS WEEK’S WORD: ARDUOUS [ahr-dyoo-uhs] adjective Testing severely the powers of endurance; strenuous Example: Climbing Mount Everest is ABSOLUTELY ARDUOUS! WHY YOU NEED … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Advice for Freshmen, Advice for Juniors, Advice for Seniors, Advice for Sophomores | Tagged adding to your overall PSAT score, adding to your overall SAT score, Arduous, PSAT Vocabulary, SAT vocabulary, SAT vocabulary list, SAT Vocabulary word of the week, Testmasters PSAT list, Testmasters SAT list | Leave a comment

Picking the Right University

Posted on February 10, 2012 by Dave G

So its that time of year where you seniors should be getting your acceptance letters. Be proud! A common issue that seniors tend to deal with are what to do when multiple universities accept you. If this is one of your biggest problems, then give youself a pat on the back. The hard part is over. Now it is time to make the right decision in finding the best university for you. Visit Universities Again So maybe you visited a university well over a year ago, during the summer, and you really liked it. Try visiting it again while we … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice for Seniors, Miscellaneous | Tagged Calculate the College Costs, college priorities, make the right decision in finding the best university for you, The right college for you, the university appeals to your academic focus, visit universities again, What to do when multiple universities accept you | Leave a comment

California Institute of Technology

Posted on February 7, 2012 by Compass

NAME: California Institute of Technology SCHOOLS: Biology, Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Engineering & Applied Science, Geological & Planetary Sciences, Humanities & Social Sciences, Physics, Mathematics & Astronomy, Interdisciplinary Programs MEDIAN SAT SCORE: ~2265 MEDIAN ACT SCORE: ~34 CLASS RANK: 98% in top ten CAMPUS: 124 acres NUMBER OF FRIENDS YOU CAN MAKE: 967 (1208 graduates) WHERE YOU WILL LIVE: On-campus: Blacker, Dabney, Fleming, Ricketts, Lloyd, Page, Ruddock, Avery House COST: $54,090

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Effective Time Management Tips

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Dave G

It seems like the workload is getting worse this semester. You feel like you are sinking and can no longer keep up. Maybe you are not effectively managing your time. Try following some of our time management strategies. Make a To-Do List Write up a list every night for things that you need to do the next day. Establish the importance of each task and put whatever is most important at the top of your list and complete these tasks first. Then go onto the next task and so on. Once you complete your list, be sure to reward yourself … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Advice for Freshmen, Advice for Juniors, Advice for Seniors, Advice for Sophomores | Tagged organization, reading, sleep, strategy, stress, Time management | Leave a comment

Columbia University

Posted on January 26, 2012 by Compass

NAME: Columbia University SCHOOLS: Architecture, Planning & Preservation, Arts, Barnard College, Business, Columbia College, Continuing Education, Dental Medicine, Engineering, General Studies, International & Public Affairs, Jewish Theological Seminary, Journalism, Law, Medicine, Nursing, Public Health, Social Work, Teachers College, Union Theological Seminary MEDIAN SAT SCORE: ~2215 (middle 50%) MEDIAN ACT SCORE: ~33 (middle 50%) CLASS RANK: 97% in top ten CAMPUS: 299 acres NUMBER OF FRIENDS YOU CAN MAKE: 7,169 (17,065) WHERE YOU WILL LIVE: On-campus: Carman, Furnald, John Jay, Wallach, Hartley. COST: $57,192

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Dartmouth University

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Compass

NAME: Dartmouth University SCHOOLS: Thayer School of Engineering, economics, government, biology, language, history, psychological, science, music, sociology, religion, theater, MEDIAN SAT SCORE: ~2200 MEDIAN ACT SCORE: ~32 CLASS RANK: 95% in top ten CAMPUS: 31,869 acres NUMBER OF FRIENDS YOU CAN MAKE: 4,196 (1,791 graduates) WHERE YOU WILL LIVE: 42 residential halls: McLaughlin Cluster, The River Cluster, The Russell Sage Cluster, The Choates, East Wheelock, The Fayerweathers, Ripley/Woodward/Smith, Wheeler & Richardson, Massachusetts Row, the Gold Coast and Hitchcock, Topliff/New Hampshire and The Lodge. COST: $55,386

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How to Avoid the Senior Slump

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Dave G

Congratulations seniors! The last semester is finally here. You made it this far, but it is far from over. This is not the time to be lazy. Here are some ways to avoid the infamous senior slump. Don’t Be Cocky Sure, you’ve put in your hours and you’ve done all the hard work, and for that you shall be rewarded. But you are not entitled to a free semester of underachievement. Do not forget that colleges do have the power to reject you if they see that you are slippping significantly during your senior year. To them, this raises a … Continue reading →

Posted in Advice, Advice for Seniors | Tagged college, graduating seniors, graduation, organization, senior slump, senioritis | Leave a comment