5 Reasons to Love University of Hartford

1. LIBERAL ARTS + CAREER PREP

UHart’s seven colleges spanning career prep in rising professions and traditional liberal arts offer students abundant interdisciplinary opportunities.

2. SUBURBAN FEEL, CITY RESOURCES

UHart’s suburban campus has plenty of green space while also being a 10 minute drive from downtown Hartford’s internships and West Hartford’s restaurants and shopping.

3. HILLYER COLLEGE

Hillyer’s two-year curriculum gives students a structured, supportive academic environment to ease the transition to college-level work. Hillyer students finish the program on track to graduate in four years from another UHart school or college.

4. THE HARTT SCHOOL

“Turning passion into profession” for dancers, musicians, actors and other theater artists. Hartt is a conservatory that offers students the ability to minor in fields like communications and business through UHart’s other schools.

5. STUDENT LIFE

A strong athletic culture, high-quality performances and art shows on campus, 100+ clubs, and a therapy dog who makes house calls.

5 Reasons to Love Clark University

1. FIRST YEAR INTENSIVES

First years choose one of 30+ small-enrollment courses, and their professor becomes their pre-major advisor. FYI courses are offered in a variety of areas, but they all teach critical thinking, writing, and debating skills that help with the transition to college-level work.

2. 4+1 ACCELERATED MASTERS DEGREE

Clarkies have the chance to receive a master’s degree in a fifth year of study and can receive a full-tuition scholarship for that year.

3. EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING

Problems of Practice courses give students exposure to real world issues. Students collaborate with experts at local and global organizations, building their skills and professional networks.

4. INCLUSIVE STUDENT SUCCESS

Academic support and coaching is available through Strategic Learning Services and other resources.

5. GAME ON

Top ranked Interactive Media/Game Design & Development major in the Becker School of Design and Technology and 20+ e-sports teams.

When Do I Apply for Medical School?

To apply for medical school, you should start the application process about 1 to 2 years before your intended start date. The application cycle begins in the spring of the year prior to when you plan to start medical school. For example, if you intend to start medical school in the fall of 2026, you should begin applying in the spring of 2025. Submitting your application early, ideally by early June, is crucial due to rolling admissions, which favor earlier applicants.

5 Reasons to Love University of King's College - Halifax

1. HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE

Established in 1789, the University of King's College is Canada's oldest chartered university, offering a rich legacy of academic excellence and tradition.

2. FOUNDATION YEAR PROGRAM

Its unique Foundation Year Program emphasizes interdisciplinary study through classic texts, fostering critical thinking and a deep understanding of humanities.

3. JOURNALISM EXCELLENCE

King's is renowned for its journalism program, attracting students globally and providing hands-on training in a vibrant media environment.

Says one student, ““A co-worker of one of my parents directed my attention to King’s, saying all their favourite journalists were King’s alumni.”

4. DIVERSE PROGRAMS

With a small student body of around 1,000, King's fosters a supportive and engaging academic atmosphere, allowing for personalized learning experiences.

But students also have all of the resources of a larger university at their fingertips. Students at King's College and Dalhousie University take advantage of classes at both institutions through a seamless cross-registration system. This allows King's students to enroll in courses at Dalhousie, especially in upper-level subjects and the sciences.

5. PRIME LOCATION

Situated in Halifax, Nova Scotia, students enjoy a lively city filled with cultural events, historical sites, and stunning coastal views, enhancing their university experience.

5 Reasons to Love Dalhousie University

1. RICH HISTORY

Founded in 1818, Dalhousie University is one of Canada’s oldest universities, boasting over 200 years of educational excellence and innovation.

2. RESEARCH

As a leading research-intensive institution and member of the U15, Dalhousie secures over $210 million annually in research funding, contributing significantly to various fields.

3. VIBRANT LOCATION

Situated in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the university is surrounded by stunning coastal landscapes and a lively cultural scene, enhancing the student experience.

4. DIVERSE PROGRAMS

Offering more than 200 degree programs across 13 faculties, Dalhousie attracts a vibrant mix of students from over 130 countries, fostering a rich academic environment.

Standout programs include Marine Biology, International Food Studies and Costume Design.

5. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Dalhousie emphasizes social responsibility and inclusivity, actively engaging with local communities and promoting sustainability initiatives

How Do I Know If My College Application is Ready To Submit?

Before you press send, become the viewer!

Your application is just about ready to go. But you want to make sure that it’s going to have the right impact! That it’s going to be noticed! What do you do?

I often have my students channel their inner-artist when reviewing each application for admission — even the non-artsy types! What I mean by that is to think about each aspect of your application like a piece of art in a portfolio. Artists talk about cohesion in their work, so should you.

Most college admission officers spend about 10-minutes reviewing an application. That’s it! They rarely look at a piece of the application more than once; one read of the essay, one glance at a resume. One of the biggest mistakes that an applicant can make is to confuse your reader. It’s like putting a DaVinci next to a Warhol!

So, as you review your application (or have someone else take a look), ask yourself the following:

• Do all of my essays sound like they are written by the same person?

  • Often, in an attempt to be varied and engaging, students try to be something that they are not, and that shows in their writing style and their tone.

• Am I being consistent with my activities?

  • Did you list theatre as your top extracurricular activity but write an essay about football?

• Does the intended major that I listed make sense for your activities, transcript, etc.?

  • This can lead to a lot of confusion for an AO!

• Am I being repetitive?

  • You wouldn’t want to look at the same still life over and over again!!

• Does my application make sense for that college?

  • They’re not all the same!

• Is the real me expressed on the page?

The last is the most important one! Your point of view and how you see the world should jump off the page, whether you are a sculptor or a scientist!

Good luck!

5 Reasons to Love The University of Maine

1. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!

Students sometmes dismiss Umaine as being “too far” or “in the middle of nowhere.” Neither are true. Orono is a cute little college town and Bangor, which is only 15-minutes away offers much more. And for the outdoorsy type, there is hiking, skiing, paddling, and much more all year round.

2. BLACK BEAR SPIRIT

At Maine, it’s all about hockey! And the Black Bears are regulars in the Frozen Four.

Buffalo Chicken Wednesdays also bring out the crowds!

3. SUSTAINABILITY

There a loads of majors for the student looking to study the environment: Earth and Climate Sciences, Ecology and Environmental Sciences, Forestry, Marine Science, Parks, Recreation and Tourism, and Wildlife Ecology. Many concentrations are available in these majors as well.

Fun fact: UMaine is home to the first 3-D printed home in the USA.

4. ENGINEERING

The new engineering building has teaching labs for mechanical engineering, biomedical engineering and mechanical engineering technology.

There is also a 10,000-square-foot multidisciplinary student project design suite with 48 workbenches supported by shops for biomedical, electronics, 3D printing, vehicles, metals, wood and composites.

5. THE PRICE

There are many options for out-of-students to receive comporable tuition to their in state institution! In addition, Maine offers generous merit scholarships and has a very well regarded Honors program.

Can I Use One Essay for All of My Applications?

Myth: I only have to write one essay! All my colleges are on the Common App!

Reality: Many colleges who accept the Common Application require supplemental essays, often including one that prompts, “Why us?” In essence, colleges are asking you to write about what makes you a great fit for their institution and what makes them a great fit for you.  Or they ask you to write additional required essays that still need to be well-crafted and thoughtful.  As we always say, don’t wait until the last minute to investigate what each school requires and plan your time accordingly!

Advice for Creating a STEM Maker Portfolio for College Admission

Crafting an Effective Maker Portfolio for College Applications

A maker portfolio can be a powerful tool to showcase your creativity, technical skills, and problem-solving abilities to college admissions officers. Here's some key advice to help you create a compelling maker portfolio:

Focus on quality over quantity.

Highlight 1-3 substantial projects that best demonstrate your skills and passion rather than cramming in numerous smaller works. Choose projects that are meaningful to you and potentially have a positive impact on society.

Clearly explain your creative process.

Admissions officers want to understand your thought process, challenges faced, and solutions devised. Use a combination of images, videos (under 120 seconds total), and concise text to walk them through your project development.

Make it accessible.

Remember that both engineering experts and non-technical admissions staff will review your portfolio. Explain your work in a way that's understandable to someone without a strong science background.

Highlight soft skills.

Top STEM schools value qualities like creativity, tenacity, and collaborative spirit. Showcase how your projects demonstrate these attributes.

Be authentic.

Don't feel pressured to create new projects solely for your portfolio. Genuine passion for your existing work is more compelling than a hastily assembled project.

Craft thoughtful responses.

Take time to articulate why your projects are meaningful to you and how they align with your goals. However, don't obsess over perfection – admissions officers understand you're still developing as an engineer.

Consider the format carefully.

Some schools may prefer a single PDF with images and explanations, while others might allow separate image uploads with descriptions. Follow the specific guidelines provided by each institution.

Remember, while a maker portfolio can strengthen your application, it's typically optional. Don't let it overshadow other important aspects of your application. Instead, use it as an opportunity to bring your technical creativity to life and give admissions officers deeper insight into your potential as a STEM student.

Should I Submit an AP score of 3?

We get this question from students all the time! They know that a 3 is a solid score and shows mastery of the material in their AP class, but is it worth sending to colleges? And if they don’t send it, will the college assume that they got a 1 or a 2? Like many things in the college application process, it depends!

According to the College Board’s charts, AP score distributions vary widely. For example, fewer than 10% of students taking the AP Literature and Composition or AP Physics 1 scored a 5, while 45% of students earned the same 5 on the AP Calculus BC exam. The numbers are even higher for some of the World Languages and Cultures exams.

The first thing that you should do is check the AP Score credit policy for the colleges that you are applying to. If they will give you credit for the 3, then by all means, report it! On the other hand, if they only give credit for a 5 on that exam (not even for a 4), you may want to hold off.

The other thing to take into consideration is the selectivity of the college itself. As a general rule, the more selective the institution, the more applicants they will have with stellar AP scores. Think about how you will compare and make a call with that in mind!

The bottom line is to remember that a 3 is a very good score! Congratulate yourself for taking on the challenge and doing well!