GO TO COLLEGE: STEP-BY-STEP

"Nearly two-thirds of respondents said the contents of individual award letters were clear and easy to understand, but more than half said that letters from different colleges were hard to compare. Almost seven-eighths of respondents said award letters should be standardized."

120. Early Decision Up, Yet Still Small Part of Admissions Pie, by Caralee Adams http://t.co/Qr19mFc "Early decision is when a student applies to his first-choice school and, if accepted, the decision is binding. Early action is similar to early decision, but the student doesn't have to commit immediately. She can still apply to other colleges and wait to make a decision until spring. About 18 percent of colleges offer early decision and 24 percent have early action plans, according to the 2010 State of Admissions Report by the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC). These plans are more common at private colleges."

121. 'The Global Auction' by Scott Jaschik - Inside Higher Ed: http://bit.ly/fByZ2t "Start asking hard questions about your reasons for going to college, which college is likely to offer you a high-quality education, and what your chances are of finding a job that meets your expectations after graduation. If you’re aiming high, be prepared for a long and intense competition that doesn’t end when you enter the job market. If you do not see yourself at an elite university, is it better to go for a two-year rather than four-year college education and then opt for further training while employed?"

122. Is Going to an Elite College Worth the Cost? by Jacques Steinberg http://nyti.ms/fczdLB "The sluggish economy and rising costs of college have only intensified questions about whether expensive, prestigious colleges make any difference. Do their graduates make more money? Get into better professional programs? Make better connections? And are they more satisfied with their lives, or at least with their work?"

123. Serious Mental Health Needs Seen Growing at Colleges, by Trip Gabriel http://nyti.ms/fvllYl "Stony Brook is typical of American colleges and universities these days, where national surveys show that nearly half of the students who visit counseling centers are coping with serious mental illness, more than double the rate a decade ago. More students take psychiatric medication, and there are more emergencies requiring immediate action."

124. Applying to College: Advice From a Grizzled Senior, by Dan Treadway http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dan-treadway/advice-on-applying-tocol_b_798350.html 66