This entry is the third of 5 video posts dedicated to explaining the 5 different categories of the SAT essay grading rubric – or scoring guide. In this entry you’ll find out how essay graders view your choice of vocabulary words.

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This entry is the second of 5 video posts dedicated to explaining the 5 different categories of the SAT essay grading rubric – or scoring guide. Find out the second secret factor the essay grading groups use.

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Part of the admissions process requires that admissions officers select a demographically balanced student body. Ideally they have an already balanced applicant pool to select from. However this is not the case. (more…)

Taking high school AP courses can help you stand out in the eyes of College Admissions departments and can help you prepare for the type of course work you will encounter in college. So should you jump in and apply for AP classes? Well, yes — but only if (more…)

We conclude our question and answer session with expert Don Betterton with a question submitted by Maha:

Do you have any financial aid tips (including Princeton) that you could give to homeschooled students? How does financial aid actually work? Is it like a loan – if one applies for financial aid and the college gives the student money to pay for the courses, classes, etc., would the student have to pay the college back later on?

This concludes my discussion with Don to the great questions posted to ePrep. We’ll be grabbing Seamus Malin for our next round of questions. If you’d like to have your question heard regarding college admissions and financial aid, be sure to post it here!

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We continue our question and answer session with expert Don Betterton with a question submitted by Masha:

Is financial aid available for international students?

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We continue our question and answer session with expert Don Betterton with a question submitted by Luke:

Let’s say you indicate, on your application, that you will be applying for financial aid. Will this affect your chances of being admitted? I was just wondering.

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We continue our question and answer session with expert Don Betterton with a question submitted by Gary:

Does grade 9 in high school matter at all? I heard from a couple friends in Princeton that American universities don’t take grade 9 into consideration when you are applying to them. Is this true?

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We continue our question and answer session with expert Don Betterton with question submitted by Dan:

I have just completed my sophomore year in high school and this year I have gotten much better grades than my freshman year. I went from a C+ average in 9th grade to a B+ or A- in 10th grade in numerous honors classes. I was wondering if I still have a shot at attending top schools if I (more…)

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We continue our question and answer session with expert Don Betterton with a second question submitted by Lisa

Question (2) My son got a C first semester in AP calculus (taken in 10th grade). This was his first year of high school (we start in 10th) and it was a bit of an adjustmen taking a challenging math course for the first time. Second semseter he got a B+ (missed and A by 2/10ths of a percent – 89.3%). His other grades are pretty good (mostly As with a couple B+s and one B). Will the C hurt his chances at a top school? Or will they (more…)

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