If you’re lucky enough to get multiple offers, understanding the real cost of each school is critical — and not as simple as just looking at the scholarship number. Here's what to know 👇 🧾 Step 1: Understand the Financial Aid Offer Each school will send you a financial aid letter (also called an award letter). But the format varies a lot, so always check for: - Total Cost of Attendance (COA): Tuition, housing, meals, fees, books, travel, and personal expenses. - Grants & Scholarships: Money you don’t have to repay (usually need-based or merit-based). - Work-Study: Part-time campus jobs (optional, not guaranteed). - Loans: Money you must repay — not the same as aid! ✅ Focus on grants and scholarships only when comparing offers. Loans and work-study can vary and shouldn’t make a school seem "cheaper." 💸 Step 2: Calculate the Net Price The Net Price = COA – Grants and Scholarships = Your true out-of-pocket cost This is the number you should be comparing across schools — not just tuition, and not just the "amount of aid" they say they’re giving you. Example: - School A: $80,000 COA – $60,000 grants = $20,000 net price - School B: $65,000 COA – $35,000 grants = $30,000 net price Even though School A looks more expensive, it’s actually cheaper for you. ✉️ Step 3: Can You Appeal? If your family's financial situation has changed (job loss, medical expenses, currency shifts) or if you received better aid from another similar school, you can appeal. How to appeal: - Be polite and professional (think of it like writing to a boss). - Include specific numbers (e.g., “Since filing FAFSA, my father lost his job and our income has decreased by 30%.”) - If you have a better offer from a peer school, mention it: ✅ Appeals don’t guarantee a better offer — but they often succeed if you have a strong reason. Final Tips - Don't be afraid to ask: Colleges expect appeals, especially after April 1. - Deadlines matter: May 1 is the usual commitment deadline — start your appeal early! - Be realistic: Schools differ. A small liberal arts college may have more room to negotiate than a large Ivy.

Want to become a doctor or work in healthcare? Before you commit to a path, it’s crucial to understand how medical education works in the U.S. and Europe — because they’re very different. Here’s a breakdown for both international and U.S.-based students. 👇 🇺🇸 U.S. Medical Path (for future doctors) 🧠 First: You need a 4-year bachelor’s degree. You can’t apply to med school right after high school. Most students follow a “pre-med” track — meaning they major in any subject but take required science courses like biology, chemistry, and physics to prepare for med school. 📚 Then: Apply to med school (another 4 years) → then residency (2–7 years) → then licensing. ⛔ International students face major hurdles: - Many U.S. med schools do not accept international applicants. - The few that do are extremely competitive and offer limited or no financial aid. - After med school, you must match into a U.S. residency program to practice — but residency spots often require U.S. citizenship or permanent residency, making visas a huge barrier. - 👉 This is one reason many med schools don’t accept international students in the first place — because visa issues make it hard for graduates to move forward in the U.S. system. ✅ Still: Doing a U.S. undergrad with a strong pre-med track can increase your chances — and opens doors to public health, biotech, global health, or health policy careers too. 🇪🇺 Europe Medical Path (for future doctors) 🧠 No undergrad required! Students apply to med school right after high school — usually a 6-year program combining undergrad + medical training. 🌍 Programs in English are available in countries like: - Poland - Hungary - Italy - Ireland - Czech Republic 🎓 These programs are often more accessible to international students, but: - Admission requirements vary (exams, interviews, GPA) - If you want to practice in another country (like the U.S. or your home country), you may need to pass extra exams or re-license — because medical licensing is always country-specific. - Public EU universities often prioritize EU citizens for lower tuition and easier admissions, but many still offer excellent English-language programs for non-EU students.

Most of you guys probably heard mixed opinions about studying with music. Some people love it - others say it’s distracting and that you shouldn’t rely on music for focus. Even numerous studies show different results. One study shows that music decreases concentration by a certain percentage, while another shows that it helps with deep focus. A lot of you guys are probably wondering whether to listen to music or not. Here’s my opinion - it depends on how your brain is wired. Usually, we are told to study in a distraction-free environment, but some of us look for distractions when there’s none. In that case, listening to certain types of music helps, but other types may be distracting. If music doesn’t help you, you shouldn’t listen to it while studying. If music helps you, here’s how to choose the best study music. 1. No lyrics - if you pay attention to the lyrics, you won’t remember what you studied 2. No loud music - choose one that helps you stay calm 3. No dopamine-boosting music - not giving yourself instant gratification is the best way to increase concentration 4. And last but not least, if a certain piece distracts you, don’t listen to it while studying. With that being said, here is my favorite piece to listen to while studying:

So, you’ve built a balanced school list and researched your best-fit colleges—but what about choosing your major and minor? 💡 Should I list a major on my application? YES! Even though most U.S. colleges allow you to apply as "undecided," I strongly recommend indicating a major. Why? ✔️ Helps admissions evaluate you – Declaring a major ensures you're assessed with students who share your academic interests. ✔️ Strengthens your narrative – Align your major with past experiences and future goals to create a clear, compelling story. ✔️ Shows direction – Even if you switch later, choosing a major now shows you’ve thought critically about your interests. 💡 What about minors? They’re usually not declared in applications, but including them in essays reinforces your academic interests and strengthens your overall story. ‼️ Understanding Majors & Minors in the U.S. 💡 Do I need to have my future “figured out” before applying? Not at all! Unlike in the rest of the world, the U.S. system is designed for flexibility: 📌 Most students don’t officially declare a major until their 2nd year. 📌 Only about ⅓ of your coursework is major-related—the rest includes general education and electives. 📌 Exploration across subject fields is not only encouraged but often required before committing to a field of study. 🔎 Exceptions: Some specialized programs require direct admission, meaning switching in or out later can be difficult. Examples ✔ Wharton (UPenn) ✔ MIT & Stanford Engineering ✔ Nursing & Fine Arts Programs 🤗 Fun fact: I applied as a Math & Psychology major because it fit my story (and what I thought I wanted!). I ended up majoring in Philosophy with a French minor, and after graduation went on to work in finance 🤗 🎯 Step 1: Choosing a Major & Minor That Strengthens Your Application 1️⃣ Align with Your Application Persona – Your major should reflect the story your application tells (past → present → future). 💡 Example: A student with a strong science profile applying as an English major will seem inconsistent and confuse admissions officers.