"You'll get hands-on experience in small classes..." "You'll be taught by world-class faculty in small classes..." "You'll love our small classes..." If you couldn't already tell, small classes are a BIG thing for college admissions counselors to promote to prospective students. We've been asked a few times why small classes are so important, often by people who like the idea of meeting a lot of new people. 

You might not have to! At least not for Siena. We get it: adding college visits and application deadlines to the start of a new school year can have anyone feeling crunched for free time. The good news is, with a previously graded paper, you could be closer to completing your application to Siena than you think.

Senior year is about to begin! Excited? Anxious? However you're feeling right now, it won't be long before senioritis starts creeping in. When it does, you'll want to have a firm plan in place to keep yourself focused on the bigger picture...college! The next few months are perhaps the most crucial in the college planning process. Here, we've gathered tips and ideas from education consultants, authors, CEOs and more to help you prepare (even when it's hard to plan past Friday night).

The college search: it's arguably the most anticipated period of your high school years. And here you are: ready to begin researching, eager to find your perfect fit and perhaps feeling a little overwhelmed by it all. We get it, so we're letting you in on the five best steps you can take to begin drafting your college list...starting today.

Did you know 20 percent of high school students show up to their college interviews wearing pajamas? Kidding, kidding. If that were true, that would definitely be a high-up-there pet peeve among Admissions counselors! But thankfully, we've yet to see someone's PJs...

Last month, we helped you prepare for college visits with a list of questions to ask professors if you get the chance to meet faculty. Now, we want to help you beef up your college-decision folders with the items you should be taking home with you post-visit. (If you don't have folders set aside for each of the schools on your list, get to it! It's the best way to keep your notes, applications and other materials organized.)

They don't allow calculators! They make you wear kilts! Their professors are from Mars! Okay, so those are a bit extreme. But when you haven't visited a college campus or spoken directly with an Admissions counselor, it's easy to have a few preconceived notions about different colleges, based on pretty much nothing at all. Have some ideas about Siena that you would want cleared up? Check out these common misconceptions we're asked about, and the reality behind each.

For Siena College, high-achieving students who will have a positive impact on their college and are determined to succeed in life after graduation are who we look for during the admissions process—not someone with a certain SAT or ACT score. We understand that a number can't define you, so, like hundreds of other colleges, we're adopting a test-optional policy starting fall 2016. Know what that means?

Want to find out if Siena College is the right fit for you? Register for one of our Summer Days and experience a campus visit you won't soon forget. (That's a promise!)

Last month, we kicked off our tour guide series with Andy Murphy, who got his first glimpse of Siena as a freshman in high school. Now, we're eager to introduce you to our next guide, or student ambassador, who knew from her first visit that our campus is where she belongs.