SEPTEMBER 13, 2016
We released the 2017 edition of the U.S. News Best Colleges rankings today. Princeton University and Williams College once again topped the National Universities and Liberal Arts Colleges rankings, respectively. However, there were changes elsewhere in the top 10 for these categories – get a rundown of what’s new here.
If students want to get into these top schools, they’ll need to put together a superb college application. Families can consult these two examples of college application essays that helped students get into the No. 10-ranked Johns Hopkins University when writing personal statements.
Have a great day,
The U.S. News Education newsletter team: Alexandra @alipannoni, Allison @aegualtieri and Briana @B_Boyington.
Craft a Stellar Essay for College
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10 Tips for Writing the College Application Essay
Students should show their personality in their application essays but be cautious about their use of humor. Get all 10 tips here.
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Turn a Bad Experience Into a Winning College App Essay
Everyone deals with hardships, and discussing these experiences in college admissions essays could benefit applicants. Students should follow these tips to learn how to use negative experiences to highlight personal growth in admissions essays. |
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Video: Learn How to Write a Great College Admissions Essay
Applicants should use essays to reveal something about themselves that can’t be found elsewhere in their application. Get more advice from experts, including admissions officers from Oberlin College and the University of Arizona, in this video. |
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3 Tips for Getting Great College Recommendation Letters
Students should think carefully about who to ask for recommendation letters. For example, a teacher who led a class that a student struggled but progressed in may be just as suitable as a teacher from a class that a student excelled in. Consider this other advice. |
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Rankings Spotlight
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Along with the rankings of the top National Universities and Liberal Arts Colleges, the Best Colleges rankings include nearly 50 specialty rankings and lists – including the Top Public National Universities.
See the full list of Top Public National Universities here and all the U.S. News rankings here.
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College Prep for Younger Students
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3 Reasons PSAT Scores Matter
Many high school sophomores and juniors will take the precursor to the SAT in October.
Students should take the test seriously because it could lead to a prestigious National Merit Scholarship and these other reasons. |
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4 Ways Students Can Prep for a Valuable PreACT Experience
The new preliminary test to the ACT is being administered for the first time this year. Students should get to know the exam's format and follow this other advice.
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College Compass: Find the Right Fit
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Help students figure out what schools to apply to using U.S. News & World Report's College Compass, which includes financial aid and test score data on more than 1,800 schools and our My Fit engine, which ranks schools based on the factors you care about.
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Words to Live By
"Sometimes you read something that is really polished but it does not sound like any teenager I have ever met. We are not expecting someone to sound like a college graduate; we are expecting someone to write like a thoughtful high school student who is excited about learning and exploring ideas."
– Karen Long, now former senior associate dean of admission for New York’s Colgate University
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