Blog and Student Resource Center - The College Monk - Page 5

A 2025 guide to transfer-friendly colleges: how to read transfer admit data, spot “yes” signals, build a balanced list, and boost your odds with credit and timing strategies.

Stuck on a college waitlist? Use this 2025 guide: what to include, subject lines that get opened, a proven one-page example, and a fill-in-the-blank template.

A simple 2025 playbook to choose ED, EA, or Regular: what each round really does for your odds and aid, when to apply, and a step-by-step decision tree to pick the right plan.

A plain-English 2025 guide to test-optional admissions: when sending scores helps, when it hurts, how merit aid and majors factor in, and a step-by-step submit/no-submit playbook.

A plain-English 2025 guide to acceptance rates: what “competitive” really means, how program selectivity skews the numbers, and how to build a smart college list.

A clear 2025 guide to Federal Work-Study: who qualifies, how pay works, the rules that matter, and a step-by-step plan to land a job and stretch your award.

A clear 2025 guide to employers that cover college costs—who qualifies, what they pay, and the fine print—plus a quick checklist to use before you apply.

A 2025 roundup of transfer scholarships—national, association, state, and college-specific—plus a downloadable CSV, a fast application plan, and tips to stack awards.

A practical 2025 finder for hidden state and campus money: what to search in each state, the programs students overlook, and a downloadable CSV to build your list fast.

A clear 2025 guide to FAFSA deadlines, the most common filing mistakes, and quick fixes—so you submit on time and maximize aid.

Four model scholarship essays for 2025—need/impact, leadership, STEM problem-solving, and identity/diversity—plus a 7-sentence blueprint, editing checklist, and common pitfalls.

A simple 2025 guide to need-based aid vs merit scholarships: how colleges decide, what moves your offer, how stacking works, and the exact steps to maximize both.

A rapid-response guide to scholarships still open in 2025—rolling, monthly, and fall deadlines—plus a 60-minute application plan, a month-by-month calendar, and a checklist to submit fast.

A vetted list of 100 scholarships for first-generation college students in 2025—national, corporate, state, and campus awards—plus deadlines, tips, and a downloadable tracker.

FAFSA is vitally important to receiving federal financial aid, so it’s no wonder due dates bring anxiety to some students. Learn about the FAFSA deadline 2022-23 here, so you can prepare accordingly.

Wondering what could be the highest ACT Score that one could get? Learn more about the highest Score on ACT, colleges that accept the top score, how the ACT is scored and more.

Obtaining each college credit is a success, but how long do college credits last ? Do college credits expire ?

Wondering what is a good SAT score? Learn about average SAT scores, good SAT scores, and the best SAT score.

College Scholarship help in cutting down the cost of tuition but winning one is tough. Here, we describe the easy steps to getting a scholarship and it's perks.

Confused about undergraduate vs graduate? This guide may be able to help. Here, we define undergrad and grad, then discuss each of their differences!