Compiled by Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.

As college tuition costs rise, as more applicants compete for limited enrollment slots, and as technology continues its push into college admissions, the process for college-bound teens and your families in finding, choosing, and applying to the colleges of your choice become more important and more complex.

With these issues in mind, we set about trying to help you learn even more about the college admissions process; hence this annual study.

The 2006 Questions
After careful review of previous years results and the new developments and trends in college addmissions, we formulated these questions for our 2006 study:

1. How much should costs (tuition, room and board, etc.) be a factor when students are choosing prospective colleges? Read the responses.
2. How important are college visits anymore -- especially since most schools now offer DVDs and virtual tours? Read the responses.
3. What are your best tips for high school students in helping them identify the best college/universities for them? Read the responses.
4. What are some of the most common questions you receive from applicants/parents -- and what are your answers to them? Read the responses.
5. What's the best recent trend you have seen in the college admissions process? What's the worst? Read the responses.

The 2006 Participants
We solicited the opinions of top admissions officers from a wide spectrum of colleges and universities -- both academically diverse (from liberal arts colleges to large state universities) as well as geographically diverse (from every corner of the U.S.). Each institution is highly regarded and ranked among the best in the United States.

Here are the wonderful admissions officials who responded to our study. Please feel free to follow the link to learn more about each person and his/her college/university. (Some of our participants were more forthcoming than others!)

• Susan E. Donovan, Dean of Admissions, Syracuse University
• Alicia Ortega, Senior Assistant Director of Admissions and Coordinator of Multicultural Recruitment, Oregon State University
• Paul Thiboutot, Dean of Admissions, Carleton College
• Gary L. Ross, Dean of Admission, Colgate University

The 2005 Study
You can review the questions, answers, and participants from last year's study by going to Answers to Common College Admissions Questions: 2005

The 2004 Study
You can review the questions, answers, and participants from the 2004 study by going to Answers to Common College Admissions Questions: 2004

The 2003 Study
You can review the questions, answers, and participants from the original 2003 study by going to Answers to Common College Admissions Questions: 2003

All the Questions and Answers to Date
You can review all the questions and answers here: Answers to Common College Admissions Questions

Get More College Planning Resources
Quintessential Careers is your source for college, careers, and job-search information, resources, tools, and links. Go to our Go to College -- College Planning Resources section.

Have questions about the college lingo or other terminology? Check out our High School College-Bound and College Planning Glossary of Terms.