http://greatcollegeadvice.com Expert Advice on College Admission Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:09:20 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/dont-plagiarize-your-college-essays-turnitin-for-admissions-is-watching/comment-page-1/#comment-9777 Emma | iHELP College Loans Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:09:20 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=9988#comment-9777 Great advice - plagiarism is just not worth it. Great advice – plagiarism is just not worth it.

]]> http://greatcollegeadvice.com/weighted-or-unweighted-gpa/comment-page-5/#comment-9752 Mark Montgomery Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:42:52 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=123#comment-9752 DeAnna, Colleges look at the grading scale a school uses, and they look at the "Profile" of the school, too. So she will be judged in the context in which she is educated. As for scholarships, she will not "lose out" just because the grading system is different--at least not at the colleges themselves. They know how to interpret a 7-point scale. Best regards! DeAnna,
Colleges look at the grading scale a school uses, and they look at the “Profile” of the school, too. So she will be judged in the context in which she is educated. As for scholarships, she will not “lose out” just because the grading system is different–at least not at the colleges themselves. They know how to interpret a 7-point scale.
Best regards!

]]> http://greatcollegeadvice.com/calculating-your-real-grade-point-average-gpa/comment-page-4/#comment-9751 Mark Montgomery Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:41:11 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=338#comment-9751 Sam, your GPA stays with you in calculating your cumulative GPA. But the future hinges on current actions more than past ones. What are you doing now to improve your grades? Will your second semester be better than your first? If so, things will continue to look up. Put one foot in front of the other, learn from your mistakes, improve your study habits, choose appropriate courses, do your best. You can't expunge the past. But you can redeem it. Best of luck! Sam, your GPA stays with you in calculating your cumulative GPA. But the future hinges on current actions more than past ones. What are you doing now to improve your grades? Will your second semester be better than your first? If so, things will continue to look up. Put one foot in front of the other, learn from your mistakes, improve your study habits, choose appropriate courses, do your best. You can’t expunge the past. But you can redeem it.
Best of luck!

]]> http://greatcollegeadvice.com/college-athletic-recruiting-questions-to-ask-coaches/comment-page-1/#comment-9750 Mark Montgomery Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:36:17 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=3873#comment-9750 Hi Brian. The coach controls only a small amount of money. And he won't put anything in writing: if a better player comes along, it's that player who will get the money. If it ain't in writing, it ain't enforceable. And don't ask admissions: their pot of money isn't given to the coaches to control (no matter that the coach may say he'll "put in a good word."). Don't believe what you want to hear. Heck, the coach might not even be at that school in a year's time. Empty promises.... Best of luck! Hi Brian.
The coach controls only a small amount of money. And he won’t put anything in writing: if a better player comes along, it’s that player who will get the money. If it ain’t in writing, it ain’t enforceable. And don’t ask admissions: their pot of money isn’t given to the coaches to control (no matter that the coach may say he’ll “put in a good word.”). Don’t believe what you want to hear. Heck, the coach might not even be at that school in a year’s time. Empty promises….
Best of luck!

]]> http://greatcollegeadvice.com/calculating-your-real-grade-point-average-gpa/comment-page-4/#comment-9749 Mark Montgomery Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:31:58 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=338#comment-9749 Lara, It's your high school that calculates your GPA on your transcript (and that decides whether to expunge the old grade and replace it with the new one). Talk to your school counselors. If the grade appear on your transcript, then colleges will see it and take it into account. Hope that helps. Lara,
It’s your high school that calculates your GPA on your transcript (and that decides whether to expunge the old grade and replace it with the new one). Talk to your school counselors. If the grade appear on your transcript, then colleges will see it and take it into account.
Hope that helps.

]]> http://greatcollegeadvice.com/early-decision-or-regular-decision-which-is-better/comment-page-1/#comment-9748 Mark Montgomery Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:30:26 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=3074#comment-9748 Hi, Raj. You won't like this answer, but "it depends." On the college. On the student. If the student does not need financial aid, is a legacy, and is highly competitive for admission, ED will help. IF the student needs heavy amounts of aid, does not have a "hook" at the college, or is not really all that competitive, then ED is no advantage. All things being equal (and they never are), ED gives a slight advantage. But the general rule never applies in a specific case. Best of luck! Hi, Raj.
You won’t like this answer, but “it depends.” On the college. On the student.
If the student does not need financial aid, is a legacy, and is highly competitive for admission, ED will help. IF the student needs heavy amounts of aid, does not have a “hook” at the college, or is not really all that competitive, then ED is no advantage. All things being equal (and they never are), ED gives a slight advantage. But the general rule never applies in a specific case.
Best of luck!

]]> http://greatcollegeadvice.com/weighted-or-unweighted-gpa/comment-page-5/#comment-9747 Mark Montgomery Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:25:34 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=123#comment-9747 Hi, Luis. Congratulations on your improvements. The answer hinges on what you define as "good." Harvard? Probably not: you haven't taken the hardest classes. Your state university? Depends on which one in which state. One thing is certain: your performance has improved. Keep it up. And as you choose classes for next year, step it up, too. Take harder classes in the things you are good in and that you enjoy. College is all about academic preparation. What you do today is not only going to help you get INTO college, it's going to help you GRADUATE from college. Take the long view, Luis. Best regards! Hi, Luis. Congratulations on your improvements. The answer hinges on what you define as “good.” Harvard? Probably not: you haven’t taken the hardest classes. Your state university? Depends on which one in which state. One thing is certain: your performance has improved. Keep it up. And as you choose classes for next year, step it up, too. Take harder classes in the things you are good in and that you enjoy. College is all about academic preparation. What you do today is not only going to help you get INTO college, it’s going to help you GRADUATE from college. Take the long view, Luis.
Best regards!

]]> http://greatcollegeadvice.com/calculating-your-real-grade-point-average-gpa/comment-page-4/#comment-9746 Mark Montgomery Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:22:54 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=338#comment-9746 Hi Sheri. Tough choice. My gut tells me to tell you it won't matter. She already has plenty of languages. Taking another would be nice. But ultimately her admission to the most elite colleges will depend more on what she does outside of school than inside it at this point. If she's number one and headed to engineering, I see no big benefit to taking Russian. That said, if she wants to take it because she's interested in it, that's cool, too. But it's also not "slacking" to have a study hall if that allows her to do those other things that help her stand out. I realize I haven't answered the question categorically, but this is a tough one without understanding the entire context--and without talking to your daughter. Best of luck! Hi Sheri. Tough choice. My gut tells me to tell you it won’t matter. She already has plenty of languages. Taking another would be nice. But ultimately her admission to the most elite colleges will depend more on what she does outside of school than inside it at this point. If she’s number one and headed to engineering, I see no big benefit to taking Russian. That said, if she wants to take it because she’s interested in it, that’s cool, too. But it’s also not “slacking” to have a study hall if that allows her to do those other things that help her stand out.
I realize I haven’t answered the question categorically, but this is a tough one without understanding the entire context–and without talking to your daughter.
Best of luck!

]]> http://greatcollegeadvice.com/calculating-your-real-grade-point-average-gpa/comment-page-4/#comment-9745 Mark Montgomery Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:18:49 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=338#comment-9745 Susan, The calculation of your GPA is handled by your high school. Each school is different. However, colleges will be looking at the raw grades, too. Hope that helps! Susan,
The calculation of your GPA is handled by your high school. Each school is different. However, colleges will be looking at the raw grades, too.
Hope that helps!

]]> http://greatcollegeadvice.com/calculating-your-real-grade-point-average-gpa/comment-page-4/#comment-9744 Mark Montgomery Thu, 02 Feb 2012 22:16:59 +0000 http://greatcollegeadvice.com/?p=338#comment-9744 Core is more important than non-core. But every class affects your cumulative GPA. So the answer is, "both" will affect the way colleges look at you. Also a tip (as you prepare for the SAT): "affect" ≠ "effect." You might want to look those up again! Best regards! Core is more important than non-core. But every class affects your cumulative GPA. So the answer is, “both” will affect the way colleges look at you. Also a tip (as you prepare for the SAT): “affect” ≠ “effect.” You might want to look those up again!
Best regards!

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