Students interested in taking the December 12th ACT need to register by November 6th to avoid a $21 late fee. Late registration continues until November 20th. Learn more on the ACT website.

SAT test-takers should note that the late registration deadline for the December 5th exam has been extended to 11:59 p.m. on Friday, November 13th.

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If you're applying to one of the nearly 400 selective colleges that accepts the Common Application, then you'll need to elaborate on one of your activities in 150 words or fewer. The short answer can be a frustrating part of a college application. How can you say something meaningful in a single little paragraph?

Central to this challenge is picking the right activity to discuss and avoiding these 5 short answer mistakes. To learn more about what makes a short answer work well, check out these sample responses and critiques:

• Short Answer on Running
• Short Answer on Working at Burger King
• Short Answer on Soccer
• Short Answer on Entrepreneurship

I've met parents who are so concerned about getting their kids into a good college that they start putting pressure on their kids far too early. Remember, a student's grades and extracurricular record do not matter before 9th grade. No one -- student or parent -- should be losing sleep over college during those middle school years.

That said, a strategic yet common sense approach to middle school can help a student achieve more once high school rolls around. Here are seven middle school tips to help a student get a strong start to high school.

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CUNY, the City University of New York, has nearly 250,000 students enrolled in its 23 institutions located through the New York City region. It is one of the most diverse and affordable colleges in the country. High achieving students at seven of CUNY's senior colleges should check out the Macaulay Honors College, a program with outstanding perks. All Macaulay students receive

• a full undergraduate tuition scholarship.
• a new laptop.
• up to $7,500 for global study, internships and service projects.
• a Cultural Passport allowing free or discounted admission to many NYC events.
• professional mentoring and career preparation.
• a housing package for students at City College, Hunter College, and Lehman College.
• a sequence of four honors seminars focused on New York City.

Admission to the Macaulay Honors College is highly selective. The program has 1,300 students total from the seven member campuses. Accepted students generally have an 'A' average in high school and a combined SAT critical reading and math score of 1400 (give or take).

To learn more about the seven senior colleges that have a branch of the Macaulay Honors College, check out each school's profile: Baruch College, Brooklyn College, City College, Hunter College, Lehman College, Queens College, and the College of Staten Island.

If you'd like to learn more about the Macaulay Honors College and what it takes to apply, visit the official Macaulay website. If you are familiar with the Macaulay Honors College, please share your experiences below.

Every week I spotlight a great college that might be off the radar of college applicants. If there's a college you'd like to see featured here, please post your ideas in the College Admissions Forum.