What the New Dean at Pomona Looks for in an Essay

Making a college list, filing applications, and marshaling the resources to afford an education can be rather intimidating. But it need not be.

Join Jacques Steinberg, a New York Times senior editor and author of “The Gatekeepers: Inside the Admissions Process of a Premier College,’’ and Tanya Abrams, a higher education reporter for The Times and former high school teacher, as they examine all facets of the college admissions process.

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Fafsa Q. and A.

Mark Kantrowitz, an expert on paying for college and the founder of FinAid.org, is answering select reader questions about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

• Introductory Post
• Answers: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6
• Paying for College »

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The Envelope, Please

Eight high school seniors from around the world blog their college searches.

• Meet the Students: Candice Childress | Sush Krishnamoorthy | Will Walker | Thanh-Tran Nguyen | Leobardo Espinoza Jr. | Maimuna Abdi Yussuf | Bryan Stromer | Chandler Buckingham
• All Posts in the Series »

“ If they were to not give credit for AP classes, I wouldn't even bother taking them . They take up too much time and honestly most of us take them to get credit and to look good.”

“ Students working this hard for two semesters should not have to slug through a quarter or semester of a survey class in college. That should be saved for the vast ocean of underachievers who hold themselves in high regard.”

“ If the issue is truly about the quality of the high school instruction received, why not allow incoming freshmen to take an exam (as the psych students did in the example) to determine whether their AP course translates into college credit?”

“ Having had 4 children go through the public school system and all of them taking every AP class that was offered as an alternative, I have become very skeptical and resentful of the whole process. In my experience teachers teach to the test, and boast of their student's success.”

“ I congratulate Dartmouth on their brave decision and hope that my institution will do the same.”

January 24

Lessons From a College Student: Finding Your Fit on Campus

The author, a sophomore at Barnard College, offers tips to help new college students become "involved and grounded on campus."

January 23

Juggling ‘Too Many’ Scholarship Applications, and Learning to Let Go

Leobardo Espinoza Jr., a high school senior in Kansas, says that "having a lot of scholarships to consider can be a double-edged sword."

January 22

Should Colleges Stop Giving Credit for High A.P. Scores?

Dartmouth College has recently announced that it will no longer give college credit to students who score well on Advanced Placement tests.

January 22

Part 6: Answers to Your Questions About the Fafsa

Mark Kantrowitz, an expert on financial aid, answers select reader questions about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Part 6.

January 18

Among University of California Applicants, Latinos Take the Lead

The U.C. system also received 174,767 applications this year, a record high.

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