SCOIR Blog

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Can Residential Colleges and Living Learning Communities Enhance Your College Experience?

When most people think about living on campus, they think about the traditional college dorm with beds bunked over desks, shared bathrooms, and a Residential Assistant (RA) living down the hall. However, one of the best kept secrets, or at least ...

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Safety/Level/Reach: 5 Factors in Creating the Best College List for You

By: Karen Miller | 03/16/18

Starting the college search process is often an emotional experience for students and parents alike. While some students start making lists in 8th grade, others will ...

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Understanding Financial Aid Award Letters and the True Out-of-Pocket Cost of College

By: Karen Miller | 03/08/18

As the acceptances start rolling in, you should also receive your financial aid award letter from each college. Now is the time to start comparing the true ...

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Is College Regulated? How Accreditation Agencies Ensure a Quality Education

By: Mike Naples | 03/01/18

Earning a college degree can be as much of an investment as purchasing a car or even mortgaging a home, but what if that costly diploma doesn’t hold as much value as ...

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6 Ways to Make the Most out of Your High School Summers

By: Karen Miller | 02/23/18

While writing this blog post, Alice Cooper’s song “School’s Out for Summer” has been playing on repeat in my head. I have visions of high school students running out ...

Going on a College Tour? Helpful Preparation Tips and a College Evaluation Form

By: Karen Miller | 02/09/18

With spring break just around the corner, now is a great time to start planning visits to colleges that you might be interested in attending. If you plan on taking a ...

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A College Search Guide for Students with Learning Disabilities and Attention Disorders

By: Karen Miller | 02/02/18

Most parents worry about sending their son or daughter off to college. However, for those parents whose children have learning disabilities or attention disorders, ...

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SAT and ACT Resource Guide: From Free Prep to Private Tutoring

By: Karen Miller | 01/24/18

“Help! My daughter is a junior, and I have no idea what to do. Should she take the SAT? The ACT? How should she prepare? Do we use a tutor? An online class? Which ...

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Course Selection: Why Your High School Class Decisions are Important

By: Karen Miller | 01/18/18

For many high schools, course selection for the next school year begins as early as January. While electives and core classes may vary from school to school, there ...

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FAFSA & CSS Profile - A Straightforward Guide to Understanding Financial Aid

By: Karen Miller | 01/12/18

Financial aid is available through several different sources. Understanding each one is paramount in minimizing the cost of college. According to the College Board’s ...