College App 101

Recently, Julie Ray published an article for Gallup: "Gen Z, Parents Lack Knowledge of Post-High School Options: Less awareness contributes to students feeling unprepared." The article possesses important reminders for parents of college bound students. Using Ray's research as the basis for a larger discussion, Dr. Riley (from collegeapp101.com) explains the timeframe for preparing for highly selective admissions. This Gallup article is found here: https://news.gallup.com/poll/691418/gen-parents-lack-knowledge-post-high-school-options.aspx. 

College admissions offices are preparing to receive applications from members of the class of 2026 in a few weeks. Writing essays, completing applications, and submitting them are daunting tasks for a college bound high school senior. What is the role of parents, as they guide their student in writing and submitting college applications? With his typical stories and illustrations, Dr. Riley (from collegeapp101.com) addresses this topic.

What should a college bound senior in high school be thinking about at this time of the year? High school graduation and beginning college are on the near horizon. Should a senior stop applying for scholarships now that senior year is winding down? What about her official transcript - what is its relevance to the next stage? In this episode, Dr. Riley (from collegeapp101.com) uses his typical stories and illustrations to answer these and several other questions, while saluting the high school class of 2025. 

It takes a lot more than cash on hand to own and run a business. Grit, determination, people skills, endurance, an aptitude for multitasking, and other attributes are required to launch and maintain a business through the daily grind, customer rejection, and periods of lean income. In today's episode, Dr. Riley (from collegeapp101.com) interviews a business owner, who possesses these characteristics. 

In addition to an applicant's academic profile, college admissions recruiters are eager to know an applicant's character and personal attributes. The admissions essay is a place for an applicant to address these characteristics in a creative way. In this episode, Dr. Riley (from collegeapp101.com) uses stories and anecdotes to discuss the importance of several admirable attributes: people skills, hospitality, the ability to listen well, personal faithfulness to relationships, and more.

Personal stories of professionals in various career fields are powerful. Parents and college bound high school students do well to listen to them, in order to learn from the experiences of others. In today's episode, Dr. Riley (from collegeapp101.com) interviews two articulate graduates of The University of Texas at Austin, a Public Ivy and very selective university. These alumni speak mainly (though not exclusively) to the fields of medicine and business, addressing topics like the various paths into a business career and best practices for high school and college students, who wish to win admission to medical school in the future.

College bound seniors often find the admissions essay writing process to be difficult, frustrating, and far from satisfying. Yet the admissions essay is one of the most important features of a college application. The present episode is a continuation and conclusion to the topic of finding your voice in admissions essays. In this episode, with his typical stories and anecdotes, Dr. Riley sets forth several practical tips to help essay writers with this aspect of their prose. 

The college admissions essay is an extremely important component of an application. The essay is the applicant's opportunity to showcase who he or she is in a creative and more extensive way. Because writing the essay is so difficult for many students, College App 101 regularly features tips on writing a compelling essay. In this episode, with his typical stories and anecdotes, Dr. Riley discusses the importance of voice, the student's presence in the words she or he writes. 

An academically elite curriculum, College Board's Advanced Placement (AP) Program has dozens of college level courses that come with the opportunity for college bound students to earn college credit in high school. In the present episode, Dr. Riley (from collegeapp101.com) interviews an AP Scholar with Distinction. Topics in this episode include tips on preparing for May's AP exams, the self-awareness to know the AP courses to take and to avoid, strategies to prepare outside the classroom, and some college app tips from a senior in the thick of college applications.

Each year, money problems haunt countless college students. Financial awareness regarding personal savings, generosity, and college financial aid help keep them on track. In this episode, Dr. Riley (from collegeapp101.com) offers tips for personal savings, generosity, and college financial aid, specifically the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Indeed, if college students (including college bound seniors) want a financial aid package from their prospective college, they must complete the FAFSA at studentaid.gov prior to their college's financial aid deadline.