Posts by Dr. Steven Mercer
College Application Essay: The Biggest Mistake You Can Make and How to Avoid It
Building a College List: 4 Common Mistakes
Choosing a college is a highly individualized process. It is also a decision that deserves time, investigation, and thoughtful consideration.
Deciding which colleges to actually apply to is one of the most important parts of this process. Many students make mistakes when they compile their list of colleges because they… Read more Read More
Extracurricular Activities: The Different Roles They Play for First-Year vs. Transfer College Applicants
Most high schools provide a plethora of extracurricular activities for their students.
Exposure to a wide range of such special interests—sports, drama, dance, painting, singing, scouts, volunteer work, debating, etc.—brings many benefits. It can help you develop new skills, discover talents, and even assess possible careers for your future.
As… Read more Read More
Horizontal Transfer – Should You Switch to Another Four-Year School?
College is often the first time that students are living away from home, and it can be surprisingly hard for many.
Consequently, some decide very early in their college career to transfer to another four-year school. This type of transfer is usually referred to as a “horizontal” transfer because the… Read more Read More
Community College Before a Four-Year College – Pros and Cons
Many college students start out their careers attending a community college with the intent of transferring to a four-year school later. College counselors often refer to this type of transfer as a “vertical” transfer because the student is moving up, from a two-year college to a four-year university.
Have you… Read more Read More
College Admission Denials: Myths & Truths
The end of the year is usually when colleges begin sending out admission decisions for early action and early decision applications.
It is easy to imagine why this may be a time of uncertainty for applicants. A time of increasing stress, with dozens of questions and “what ifs” floating about… Read more Read More
How Colleges Use Waitlists
Personal Statement for Mere Mortals
Many colleges and universities require an essay as part of the admissions process.
While high school students are no strangers to writing essays, the vast majority have not been taught to write the type of unique essay colleges want to see—a personal statement.
Thus, you may find yourself faced with… Read more Read More
Standardized Tests: Do’s and Don’ts
When the time comes for high school students to apply to college, they usually have two standardized test choices: the SAT or the ACT.
Plotting a sensible course through the admission process is not necessarily an easy task, though. Many students have questions regarding these standardized tests used for college… Read more Read More