Navigating college financial aid can be overwhelming, but understanding grants, scholarships, and student loans is key to reducing college costs and avoiding unnecessary debt. This guide breaks down the financial aid process, explains how to maximize FAFSA eligibility, and helps families compare aid offers with confidence.

During her most recent campus visit, College Solutions CEO Margaret Baudinet explored the College of Charleston and immediately understood why it continues to captivate students from across the country. In this campus spotlight, she shares what makes this historic, coastal campus such a standout, from its academic strengths to its effortless blend of charm, culture, and city life.

This guide walks students through how to write a thoughtful, effective thank-you message after a college interview, including timing, structure, and key phrases that reinforce interest and professionalism. Learn how a well-crafted thank-you note can strengthen your candidacy, leave a lasting positive impression, and demonstrate the communication skills that admissions officers value.

Majoring in business opens doors to careers in finance, marketing, consulting, entrepreneurship, and more, making it one of the most versatile and high-opportunity college pathways for students interested in leadership, analytics, and organizational strategy. In this guide, we explain business concentrations, competitive business school admissions, career outcomes, and how College Solutions helps students find and get into the best-fit business programs.

Feeling stressed about college applications? You’re not alone. In this post, we share quick, effective tips to help you stay focused, organized, and positive. Learn how to set clear goals, manage your time, and keep your energy high while avoiding burnout. Stay motivated and confident as you work toward college success.

Join College Solutions Counselor Sara Reddy as she explores the University of South Carolina, where Southern charm meets modern innovation. From its nationally ranked business and honors programs to its vibrant campus atmosphere and strong sense of community, USC offers a dynamic college experience that continues to attract students from across the country. Will it make your college list?>

Understand rolling admissions and how this flexible college application process allows students to submit applications and receive admissions decisions within weeks on a first-come, first-served basis until classes fill up. Learn the benefits of early submission for rolling admissions, plus strategic tips for balancing rolling admissions with Early Decision and Regular Decision applications.

Discover how parents can effectively support teens in choosing the right college fit by balancing guidance with independence, emphasizing campus culture and academic programs over rankings, having honest financial conversations, and encouraging authenticity throughout the college application process. This essential guide helps parents navigate their role in the college search process through open communication, campus visits, practical support with deadlines and logistics, and ultimately respecting their teen's final college decision while being a supportive cheerleader rather than decision-maker.

College Solutions Senior Counselors Terry Hurley-Maciulewicz and Patrick Zylka demonstrate the importance of keeping an open mind during the college search process by visiting rival Ohio State University in their Michigan Wolverine gear, proving that finding the right college fit transcends personal biases, rankings, and reputation. Learn why prospective students should approach college visits and the college list building process with exploration and flexibility, considering essential factors like campus culture, location, academic programs, extracurricular opportunities, and financial aid rather than predetermined assumptions.

Explore everything you need to know about majoring in engineering, including competitive admissions requirements, essential STEM coursework like AP Physics and AP Calculus, diverse career opportunities in aerospace, biomedical, civil, mechanical, and computer engineering fields, and top engineering schools like MIT, Georgia Tech, UC Berkeley, and Purdue. Learn how College Solutions helps students strengthen engineering college applications by showcasing problem-solving skills, STEM preparation, and finding the best-fit engineering programs.

College Solutions VP of Counseling and Senior Counselor Terry Hurley-Maciulewicz has visited a lot of campuses in her career (more than 200, to be exact! ). So she knows a special campus when she sees one. Today, she’s sharing her takeaways from a recent visit to the University of Richmond (UR).

Avoid common college search mistakes parents make, including focusing too much on prestige and rankings, overlooking campus fit, taking over the application process, ignoring financial realities, and putting excessive pressure on students during this stressful transition. Learn how to support your teen effectively by encouraging campus visits, balancing reach and safety schools, starting early, celebrating milestones, and fostering independence while helping them find the right college fit for their unique goals and personality.

Understand the evolving role of SAT and ACT scores in college admissions with this guide covering test-optional policies, test-blind schools, scholarship requirements, and how to strategically decide whether to submit standardized test scores based on your academic profile. Learn when SAT/ACT scores still matter for competitive colleges and merit-based scholarships, plus essential test preparation strategies and how to strengthen other application components like essays, extracurriculars, and letters of recommendation.