Recent Blog Posts
When Should You Change Your College Major?
Choosing a college major can feel like a huge decision. After all, your major affects which classes you take and has a major influence on your career after graduation.
Yet many people are very young when they go to college, and are understandably nervous about choosing a study or career path that they may not be 100 percent certain about. Fortunately, choosing a major does not mean you are stuck with it forever.
If you are starting college in 2026, it is okay if you are not completely sure about your major yet. It is also okay to change your mind.. My College Companion is here to help make sense of when to change your major and what you should think about before you do.
Is It Normal to Change Your College Major?
High school students often choose a major before they take a single college-level class in that subject. You might think you want to study biology, psychology, business, or engineering based on your high school classes or what you imagine a career will be like.
How Hard Are College Classes?
Making the leap from high school to college comes with a lot of new and exciting challenges, and that includes the types of classes you might end up taking. While college classes are usually harder than high school classes, they are not impossible. You'll have more work and responsibility, but the good news is that most students adjust after their first semester. With good study habits and the right support, you can succeed in college.
Starting college is a big step, and it's normal to wonder what to expect. At My College Companion, we want to help you feel prepared before your first day of class. Whether you're choosing a school, looking for scholarships, or getting ready for college life, we're here to help.
Do College Classes Feel Different From High School?
Many students think college classes are harder because the work itself is more difficult. While some classes are more challenging, the biggest difference is the amount of responsibility you have.
Going to College After Being Convicted of a Crime
A criminal conviction can affect your educational path, but it does not mean college is no longer possible. Many people attend college after a conviction. They complete degrees and build successful careers.
If you have a criminal record, you may have extra questions to answer and a few more barriers to manage before you get your higher education. But remember that a conviction is only one part of your past. It does not have to control your future.
At My College Companion, we want every student to succeed, no matter what their background looks like. We help students of all kinds find scholarships, including scholarships for students or family members with criminal records. Find out how we can help you by contacting us today.
Do I Need to Major in Something Specific to Win a Scholarship?
Finding and filling out scholarship applications can feel like wandering through a maze, especially when you are still deciding what you want to study. Many students hold off on applying for scholarships because they assume every award is tied to a specific major, and they do not want to commit to something before they know they are ready to spend four years learning about it.
The good news is that you do not need to declare a specific major to win most scholarships. Plenty of awards are based on things like:
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Your community involvement
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Your background
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Your writing skills
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Your overall academic record
Knowing this, you can find a lot more opportunities than you might expect as you plan your applications for the 2026 to 2027 school year. My College Companion has information about scholarships for all kinds of students and majors because we want you to have the best educational experience possible.
Common College Essay Questions and How to Answer Them
The college essay is one of the few parts of your application where you get to speak directly to the admissions office. Your GPA and test scores tell them what kind of student you are. The essay tells them who you are.
Most colleges use one of a handful of standard essay prompts. Once you know what they are really asking, you can put your energy into writing a great answer instead.
At My College Companion, we want to see you get into the college of your dreams. Check out My College Companion’s blog for more useful advice about applying to colleges and universities. Then, be sure to visit our scholarship page for useful information about finding and applying for scholarships.
The Common App Personal Statement
The Common App is used by more than 1,000 colleges and universities. It includes seven essay prompts you can choose from, and your response should be between 250 and 650 words. Different universities and applications have different length requirements, so be sure you check that carefully.
How Many Colleges Should You Apply To?
It’s tough to know how many colleges and universities you should apply to. You don’t want to do too few, but there’s a limit to how many are genuinely useful. Why? Well, for one, it usually costs money to submit each application, and a good application takes a lot of time. If you’re planning to pay for school using scholarships, each school has their own scholarships, and those take time to apply for as well.
There is no universal right answer for how many schools to apply to, but most college counselors suggest applying to somewhere between 8 and 12 schools. That range gives you enough options to be accepted somewhere you are genuinely excited about, without burying yourself in application fees, essays, and deadlines you can’t manage.
Before you start applying to schools, My College Companion can help you develop a strategy for choosing which schools you’ll apply to and why. And when you’re ready, we can help you find scholarships, too.
College Application Roadmap: What You Need to Do and When You Need to Do It
Applying to college can feel overwhelming. There are applications, essays, recommendation letters, financial aid forms, scholarships, campus visits, and deadlines. With so much to do and keep track of, where do you start? What can you do when it feels like they all need to be handled at the same time?
At My College Companion, we have good news: Applying for college becomes much easier when you break it into steps and start early. Students who get organized and plan ahead are much less likely to miss opportunities or scramble at the last minute. If you are planning to apply to college soon, here is a basic roadmap for what you should be doing and when you should do it.
Junior Year of High School: Start Checking Out Colleges
A lot of students wait until senior year to think seriously about college. But your junior year is actually the best time to start researching schools and figuring out what you actually want from college.
Should You Make Your Social Media Private When You Apply for Colleges?
When you apply to college, your application tells one version of who you are. You’ll work hard so that your GPA, test scores, extracurriculars, and essays are all carefully put together to make a strong impression. There’s another version of you that admissions officers can see with a quick search – the one that shows up on your social media profiles and other parts of the internet.
How much do you want an admissions officer to see? Should you make your social media profiles private in your 2026 college applications, or leave them open so anyone can see who you really are? Everybody will have a different answer to this question, but you should at least ask yourself – especially if you’re applying for a competitive academic program or scholarships. My College Companion is here to help you think this through.
Do Colleges Actually Look at Your Social Media?
A survey by Kaplan Test Prep found that nearly 70 percent of college admissions officers believe it’s fair game to look at applicants' social media profiles as part of the review process. For competitive programs and schools where the difference between being accepted and getting waitlisted can come down to very small details, a quick search of your name costs an admissions officer nothing and only takes a couple of minutes.
What Sports Are Easiest to Get College Scholarships For?
Paying for college is one of the biggest challenges students and families face. Athletic scholarships can be a meaningful way to offset the cost. But not all sports offer the same scholarship opportunities; some are way more competitive than others. If you’re a talented athlete who hopes to go to college on a sports scholarship, learning how the system works can help you make smarter decisions about where to focus your time and energy.
At My College Companion, we want every student to have an affordable, fun, educational experience at college or university. Whatever the future holds in store, we believe you can achieve your dreams – and however we can, we’re here to help.
How Do College Athletic Scholarships Actually Work?
Before diving into specific sports, it helps to understand the basics of how athletic scholarships are structured. The National Collegiate Athletic Association, known as the NCAA, governs most college sports programs and sets rules on how scholarships can be awarded. Schools are divided into Division I, Division II, and Division III, and the rules are different at each level.
5 Ways to Find Student Discounts in College
College in 2026 is expensive and it feels like costs are always rising. Between tuition, housing, textbooks, and everyday expenses, figuring out how to pay for everything can be a major source of stress.
What many students don’t realize is that being enrolled in college comes with a hidden perk that can save you real money throughout the year: student discounts. In 2026, businesses of all kinds, from software companies to restaurants to streaming services, offer reduced prices specifically for all types of college students. You just have to know where to look and My College Companion is here to help.
Where Do You Find College Student Discounts?
The most common reason students miss out on discounts is that they just don’t ask. Many businesses offer student pricing without advertising it. Here are five practical ways to track down savings while you are in school.
Frequently
Asked
Questions
How do I find scholarships that match my major and background?
There are many scholarships available for students from different backgrounds or who are pursuing specific degrees. By searching online, you can find scholarships for specific majors, as well as scholarships for specific types of students, such as single parents or members of the military. My College Companion can help you find a scholarship that will meet your needs.
Can I still apply for financial aid if I missed the FAFSA deadline?
You will typically want to fill out your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) while you are planning to attend college. Submitting this form before you enroll in college can help ensure that you have financial aid lined up. However, even if you have missed the FAFSA deadline, you may have other options, since states and colleges have their own timelines. You may also apply for private scholarships or find other options for financial aid.
How Can I Improve My Time Management Skills in College?
It can be easy to feel overwhelmed as you begin attending college. Attending classes and completing homework and projects may be your main focus, but you will probably also want to maintain a social life and participate in activities, and you may also need to work. Finding the right balance can be tricky, but with the proper preparation, you can set yourself up for success.
To make sure you are managing your time effectively, you may want to set up a calendar to help you keep track of when you need to attend classes or labs while also blocking out time for homework, meetings with professors or advisors, study groups, social events, activities at school, or other events. You can set reminders for yourself, making sure you will not miss any deadlines and will be prepared for exams. Finding ways to prioritize what is important while still making time for yourself when necessary can help you get the most out of your college experience.
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