CommonApplication.org services 391 colleges and universities in 42 states and the District of Columbia. 49 new members were added in 09/10. There are 3 places for essays: the Personal Statement which should be about 500 words, the short activity essay which has to be 150 words or less and an additional information page where a student can discuss in 200 words a glitch in his/her GPA, SAT or any other talent not mentioned in the Personal Statement of about 200 words. When registering, be sure to keep your password as it is very difficult to get another.

Both US News and World Report, and Kiplinger, publish important college lists each year. Two other books to buy to help with college selection are The Best 371 Colleges by Princeton Review and Fiske College Guide to 2010.

Both Shannon Barth and Susan Berescik are high school English teachers, published authors and editors. For the last 20 years, they have helped more than 10,000 students get accepted into their choice colleges and universities.

Collegeapps.com shows collegebound students how to personalize that very sterile college application form and market themselves to gain admission. Most of the students who use our "Show Don't Tell Method" attend their first choice university.

By now, have you planned to take the SAT's and ACT's one more time if necessary? 
...are you in challenging high school or college classes this fall ?
...have you taken an active look at your financial situation? 
...have you narrowed your list of colleges to 8-10?
... have you visited most of your school choices and shortly will visit the rest?
...have you worked on your self assessment for your application essays?
...have you checked out the scholarship page for an example of a personal statement? 
...have you bought the SHOW! DON'T TELL! book for help in interviewing, asking for recommendations, writing your resume and application essays?
...have you read 75 actual sample essays?

...have you clicked on the listing of colleges here online and visited your career center? 
...have you registered for the PSATS? Many scholarships including the Merit Scholarships come from these test results 
...have you purchased your SHOW! DON'T TELL! How to Personalize College Applications Book and CD-ROM?
...and gotten yourself on the fast track to college admissions?