Remember that your résumé will serve as a list of facts that have contributed to your unique position as a person, so tailor your résumé to represent your distinctive self –and then share your information generously with others.

College applications take a lot of work. You’ve got to fill out the form in addition to writing essays and getting letters of recommendation. You’ve got to manage deadlines and document your activities. Almost everyone is aware of those requirements, but what’s often overlooked—due to either carelessness, hastiness, or laziness—are the little details.

These two private research universities have similar vibes in a number of respects. More importantly, however, each offers excellent academics, abundant opportunities and a rich experience to the students who, for four years, make these schools their home.

One great way to learn something new is to watch someone else do it first.

PrepMatters has just released the 2018-2019 edition of its Top Colleges Requirements Chart. Having prepared and presented it for a decade or so, it would be easy to look at it and think it’s the “same old, same old” -- but not so. Although the columns have remained largely the same, it nonetheless bears witness to a number of changes in the college admissions scene. Over the years, the most notable change we’ve seen is in the number of colleges and universities that no longer require standardized testing of any kind as a requirement for admission.

Two of our country’s most respected institutions of higher learning are familiarly known to us as CalTech (California Institute of Technology) and MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Both, as their names suggest, have a major focus on all things relating to science and technology – although that isn’t to say that students can’t pursue excellent courses of study in other fields.

Air, space and sun. Do those sound like the interests of a dreamer, a lightweight? Well, not if your interests run to astrophysics and solar technology. You may know someone like that if you’ve worked with Adam Trebach at PrepMatters. Adam is one of PM’s tutors and hopes to add more clients to his schedule this year (via Skype), even though he will be entering the second year of his MIT Ph.D. program in computational physics – but we get ahead of ourselves.

Students at both universities can round out their college experience with a host of activities in the form of on-campus clubs and organizations.

The National College Decision Deadline, quite a few colleges are accepting applications from seniors for the fall of 2018. (You can check out the current list here). So for students who are perhaps late to the game or who just want to further expand their options, it’s good to know that there are excellent options still available.

For two universities that are so well known and in the public eye, it is perhaps curious that each has a bit of a head-scratcher for a nickname. After all, what in the world is a “tar heel”? And what’s a “wahoo,” for that matter?