College planning, without the panic.
Answers organized by what families actually ask. Start with your student's grade, or search for what you need. Answers organized by grade, or search for what you need.
Spotlight
College Applications
Yes, Your Hobby Can Be a Common App Activity
The 2026-27 Common App renamed its Activities section to Activities and Experiences. But Common App has told applicants that hobbies count for years, and many families still leave them off. The problem was never permission. It is that nobody asks the right question.
Shelley Psyk, MA, CCC-SLP · August 7, 2026
Just Published
Where Did the Position/Leadership Field Go on the 2026–27 Common App?
College Applications
NC College Connect: What North Carolina Families Need to Know
College Applications
College Interviews: What They Are, How to Prepare, and What to Ask
College Applications
The College Planning Glossary: Essential Terms in Plain Language
College Planning Basics
How to Transfer From Community College to a Four-Year College
College Planning Basics
Financial Aid & Scholarships
How Merit Scholarships Work and Where to Find Them
Merit aid is the discount system almost nobody explains. Some colleges hand it out automat...
Shelley Psyk, MA, CCC-SLP · July 17, 2026
Financial Aid & Scholarships
How to Fill Out the FAFSA: A Step-by-Step Walkthrough for Families
The 2027-28 FAFSA is scheduled to open October 1, 2026, and the families who struggle most...
Shelley Psyk, MA, CCC-SLP · July 17, 2026
Financial Aid & Scholarships
How to Use a College Net Price Calculator
A net price calculator is the closest thing families get to a cost estimate before applyin...
Shelley Psyk, MA, CCC-SLP · July 17, 2026
College Applications
How to Write the "Why Us" Essay That Doesn't Sound Like Everyone Else's
The "Why Us" supplemental is one of the most common essays your student will write this fa...
Shelley Psyk, MA, CCC-SLP · July 17, 2026
College Planning Basics
SAT and ACT Test Dates and Registration Deadlines for 2026-27
Every SAT and ACT date for the 2026-27 school year, with registration deadlines, in two ta...
Shelley Psyk, MA, CCC-SLP · July 17, 2026
College Planning Basics
Free College Planning Resources for Families Facing Financial or Geographic Barriers
Limited money, unreliable internet, geographic distance, and limited access to college cou...
Shelley Psyk, MA, CCC-SLP · July 12, 2026
College Planning Basics
Full College Counseling Package or Pay Per Session?
Private college counseling can mean spending several thousand dollars on a comprehensive p...
Shelley Psyk, MA, CCC-SLP · July 11, 2026
College Planning Basics
Free College Planning Tools Every Family Should Know
You do not need to spend thousands of dollars to stay organized during college planning. H...
Shelley Psyk, MA, CCC-SLP · July 11, 2026
Parents' Corner
Community College Is a Great Choice. It Still Needs a Plan.
Community colleges are amazing. I started at one. But whether your student is pursuing a t...
Shelley Psyk, MA, CCC-SLP · June 27, 2026
Parents' Corner
Is College Still Worth It? What the Numbers Say
More families are asking whether college is worth the cost. The data tells a more complica...
Shelley Psyk, MA, CCC-SLP · June 27, 2026
Parents' Corner
My Son Wants to Study CS in the Age of AI
My son wants to study computer science. I build software with AI every day. I should feel ...
Shelley Psyk, MA, CCC-SLP · June 27, 2026
Parents' Corner
Trades, Bootcamps, or College? How to Think About All Three
The post-high-school landscape has changed. College is not the only path anymore. Trades, ...
Shelley Psyk, MA, CCC-SLP · June 27, 2026
Parents' Corner
When Strong Students Sell Themselves Short (Undermatching)
Every year, academically strong students either skip college entirely or enroll below thei...
Shelley Psyk, MA, CCC-SLP · June 27, 2026
CollegeHound Guides
Why CollegeHound Charges Families Instead of Selling Data
CollegeHound could be free. We know exactly how we would do it. We chose not to. Here is w...
Shelley Psyk, MA, CCC-SLP · June 27, 2026
Financial Aid & Scholarships
How Much Does It Cost to Apply to College in 2027?
College application fees range from $0 to $100 per school. If your student applies to 8-12...
Shelley Psyk, MA, CCC-SLP · June 25, 2026
Parents' Corner
What Is CollegeHound? A Parent's Guide
If someone told you about CollegeHound and you are wondering what it actually is, here is ...
Shelley Psyk, MA, CCC-SLP · June 25, 2026
College Applications
When to Submit College Applications: A Family's Timeline
The Common App opens August 1, but that does not mean you should submit August 1. Here is ...
Shelley Psyk, MA, CCC-SLP · June 22, 2026
CollegeHound Guides
How to Build a Brag Sheet With Your Binder and Scout
Your Binder already has the raw material for a strong brag sheet. Here is how to use Scout...
Shelley Psyk, MA, CCC-SLP · June 7, 2026
Plan by grade
What should we be doing right now?
Start with your student's grade.
Templates & Checklists
Actionable templates, email scripts, and step-by-step checklists your family can use right now. See all templates
What to Write Down After a College Visit
After three campus tours, every school starts to blur together. This printable template gives your family a co...
Open template → May 29, 2026
Common App Activity Descriptions: 150-Character Examples
The Common App gives students just 150 characters to describe each activity. That is roughly one sentence. Her...
Open template → May 27, 2026
Ask for Recommendation Letters Before School Ends
If your student is a rising senior, recommendation letter requests should happen before school ends, not in Au...
Open template → May 27, 2026
Summer Before Senior Year: Month-by-Month College Calendar
The summer before senior year is the most underused window in the entire college application process. Families...
Open template → May 27, 2026
2026-2027 Common App Essay Prompts: All 7 Prompts Explained
The Common App personal essay is the single biggest writing assignment of your student's life so far. Here are...
Open template → May 26, 2026
Financial Aid Appeal Letter Template: Ask for More Aid
If your family's financial aid offer does not reflect your actual financial situation, or if a comparable scho...
Open template → May 21, 2026
College Prep Checklist for the Summer Before Freshman Year
The summer before 9th grade is not about getting a head start on college applications. It is about setting up ...
Open template → May 12, 2026
Reach, Target, and Safety: How to Categorize Schools
Most families guess at whether a school is a reach, target, or safety. There's a better way. This guide walks ...
Open template → April 28, 2026
Free Brag Sheet Template for High School Students
A brag sheet does not need to sound polished or impressive in a forced way. It just needs to give teachers and...
Open template → April 21, 2026
How to Build a Senior Fall Application Timeline
A good senior fall application timeline does not just list final deadlines. It helps students and parents see ...
Open template → April 18, 2026
Junior Year College Planning Checklist: Spring and Summer
Spring junior year and the summer before senior year can feel especially busy. A checklist can help. The goal ...
Open template → March 4, 2026Want CollegeHound to organize this for your actual student?
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