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If someone were to ask you what the top 5 colleges are in the United States—what schools would show up on your list?

For a few decades now, U.S. News has been calculating and publishing national college rankings. Schools are ranked in different categories including national universities, national liberal arts colleges, regional universities, specialty schools, and more.

Sometimes students have a dream school that is at the top of their list. Other times, students see their college list as a blank canvas, waiting for the right parts to form a masterpiece. At College Ready, we believe that students should have a balanced college list of schools that includes a good mix of reach, target, and safety schools.

Senior year entails a lot of things: college applications, SATs and ACTs, dances, sports, and finishing up your final classes as a high schooler. When it comes to preparing for college, College Ready has some advice for seniors too. Read on to learn about 7 key things to do during the start of your senior year.

Our Certified College Consultants take a personal approach to getting to know their students and working with them through each step of the application process—even the essay. For extra essay help, we offer editing services as well as options to meet with a consultant for brainstorming and drafting essays…

College Ready works with many families each application season, and a common question is: “Can our family afford college?” At College Ready, we like to say yes to families. Your student can afford to go to college, but that is only true if the cost of college is properly planned. It’s also important to know that there is a difference between the sticker price and the net price of college tuition. Read on to learn more about how to get the best price at your desired college.

Just 20 years ago, the college application process had rigid requirements for SATs, ACTs, SAT2s, and subject tests. The practice of sending in test scores has given way to many schools opting to go test optional and test blind. One thing is for certain in the realm of college admissions: It is always changing.

There are so many things to consider when you’re getting serious about attending a particular college. (And sometimes, food can be a deal maker or breaker!) It’s a great idea to get on campus when students are there, when the campus is bustling and classes are in full swing. Even summertime can be a great time to get your feet walking around the grounds of a school, getting a feel for the surroundings and environment. If you’re planning a few college visits in the future, read on for 7 questions to ask on a college visit.

If you have kids who are college bound, it’s good to be aware of all the ways to pay for college. With the right kind of planning, students (and their families) have the ability to earn a college degree without going into debt.

Do high school students need to know exactly what career they will have as adults? No, they don’t. But one thing that high school students can do during the summer to prepare for their future is structure their time off with some intentional activity. Crafting a thoughtful summer schedule can help students to more deeply explore their areas of interest.