The United States has some of the world's best engineering schools. Chances are we're all aware of the reputation of places like MIT, Caltech, and Stanford. Other excellent schools don't have quite as much name recognition. The lists below provide information on the engineering schools that frequently find themselves on the top of the national rankings:

• Top Engineering Schools: These are prestigious Ph.D. granting institutions such as MIT and Georgia Tech.
• More Top Engineering Schools: Harvard and Princeton for engineering? Absolutely.
• Top Undergraduate Engineering Colleges: Want a more intimate college experience where the focus is almost entirely on undergraduates? Check out these schools.
• What do you need to get in? SAT Scores for top engineering schools

If you're planning to attend a selective college, you shouldn't think of summer as a time to kick back and do nothing. Successful college applicants tend to do something productive during the summer. Come up with a plan that will challenge you, develop your skills, and contribute to your educational and career goals. Some great options include

• Work -- try to find a job that is intellectually challenging or develops your leadership skills
• Travel -- learn about different cultures and improve your language skills
• Classes -- get ahead in math or a language, or earn credit from a community college
• College Visits -- narrow down your options

For more information and more summer options, read this article on the best summer plans for high school students.

The Common Application gained 37 new members for the upcoming application cycle. That brings the total number of colleges and universities that accept the Common Application close to 500. A growing number are public institutions. Most of the country's top universities and top liberal arts colleges accept the Common Application.

The Common Application evolves from year to year in an effort to best meet the admissions needs of member institutions. For the 2012 - 2013 application cycle, however, the changes are minor. Like last year, the essay needs to be in the 250 to 500 word length. It's a decision that has many critics -- 500 words isn't much space in which to present a fleshed-out idea -- but the hope is that admissions officers won't have to slog through so many long, rambling, poorly edited essays (learn more in this article on essay length).

The Common Application will go live on August 1st, but some applicants may want to start thinking about the essay before then. The actual essay options have not changed since last year. In 250 to 500 words, students should respond to one of these prompts:

1. Evaluate a significant experience, achievement, risk you have taken, or ethical dilemma you have faced and its impact on you.
2. Discuss some issue of personal, local, national, or international concern and its importance to you.
3. Indicate a person who has had a significant influence on you, and describe that influence.
4. Describe a character in fiction, a historical figure, or a creative work (as in art, music, science, etc.) that has had an influence on you, and explain that influence.
5. A range of academic interests, personal perspectives, and life experiences adds much to the educational mix. Given your personal background, describe an experience that illustrates what you would bring to the diversity in a college community or an encounter that demonstrated the importance of diversity to you.
6. Topic of your choice.

You can get a preview of the new application on the Common Application website. Changes are highlighted in yellow.

Related Reading:

• 5 Tips for an essay on a significant experience
• 5 tips for an essay on an important issue
• 6 tips for an essay on an influential person
• 7 tips for an essay on a fictional character or creative work
• 5 tips for an essay on diversity
• 4 tips for an essay on a topic of your choice

The consequences of a really bad semester in college can be severe: dismissal. Most colleges, however, provide a student with the opportunity to appeal an academic dismissal. An effective appeal can result in a student being readmitted to the college, while a bad appeal will accomplish nothing more than wasting everybody's time. An effective appeal has several qualities:

• The appeal must be painfully honest, even if the circumstances for your poor academic performance are embarrassing.
• You should appeal in person if you have the option.
• You shouldn't try to blame others for your academic performance.
• Your appeal should include a plan for future academic success.

To learn more, read these six tips for appealing an academic dismissal.