Tips include having a thorough college list, checking the portal, communicating as a family, checking in weekly, staying calm, expecting the unexpected, preparing for rejections, and trusting in a happy ending. …

Learn why the Common App asks this questions, if this information affects admissions decisions, how you should answer depending on your circumstances, and what to do if you are unsure of your answer. …

Some colleges are need-blind, while others only consider financial need when filling the last spots or pulling from the waitlist. But colleges want to admit their best applicants, and if you need financial aid in order to afford a school, you should apply. …

College types include public, private, community, technical, liberal arts, service academies, historically Black colleges and universities, tribal colleges, for-profit colleges, art colleges, single-sex colleges, and religious-affiliated colleges. …

Learn the process for college tours, including how to check in, what will be covered, how many families will be with you, how long the tour will last, what you'll see, who you'll meet, and what you may receive at the end. …

Learn what you need to know about international colleges including academic programs, the admissions focus, languages, applications, visas, costs, and financial aid. …

Learn who is considered a transfer student, good reasons for a student to transfer, what's involved in the transfer admissions process, if most credits will transfer, if transfer students are eligible for financial aid, and more. …

Learn how to accept your financial aid offer, when you need to accept an offer by, when schools set their cost of attendance for the year, if outside scholarships impact merit scholarship awards, and more. …

Learn who your letter of recommendation should come from, how many letters are needed, and what qualities are most valued in the letter. …

Learn how long the essay typically is, if you can use the same essay for different schools, how to make your essay stand out, and if you'll need to answer other questions in addition to the essay. …