#PHSfit College of the Day: Georgetown University

Georgetown, with its renaissance architecture and shady trees, has a very old feel to it, and rightly so. It has been one of the nation's premiere institutions of higher learning for nearly as long as America established its independence. Students with SAT scores above 700 and rank in the top five usually hope they are admitted to Georgetown.

#PHSfit College of the Day: University of Virginia

The University of Virginia is a very competitive college with a rich history of educating the country's leaders, including Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, both of JFK's Senator brothers, Edgar Allen Poe, Katie Couric and Tina Fey, and many others. It is no surprise, then, that you would need to be near the top of your class, in both grades and test scores, to be a potential Virginia Cavalier. UVA is truly a school of distinction.

#PHSfit College of the Day: Shippensburg University

Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania is a quiet university located just over two hours west of here, 45 minutes due north of Hagerstown. Ship has a phenomenal education and business program, and also thrives in the performing arts. Students with GPAs close to 3.0 and SAT scores close to 500 on each test are encouraged to apply here. It makes a good back-up to Towson or a good alternative to Salisbury or Frostburg State.

#PHSfit College of the Day: Marist College

Marist College, recognized for excellence by U.S. News & World Report, TIME Magazine and the Princeton Review, and by Barron's Best Buys in College Education, is noted for its leadership in the use of technology to enhance the teaching and learning process. Founded in 1929, Marist's 150-acre campus overlooks the Hudson River in the heart of the historic Hudson Valley, midway between New York City and Albany, the state capital. What started as a school for the training of future Marist Brothers has developed into one of the leading colleges of the arts and sciences in the Northeast. Marist is ecumenical in character and reflects the ideals of the founder of the Marist Brothers, St. Marcellin Champagnat: commitment to excellence in education, a pursuit of higher human values, and dedication to the principle of service. Marist is dedicated to the development of the whole person in a way that will prepare our graduates for an enlightened, sensitive, and productive life in the global community of the 21st century. (Maleyja, Class of 2013)

#PHSfit College of the Day: Richard Stockton College

At the Richard Stockton College near Atlantic City, New Jersey, students have the opportunity to study by the beach at one of the top universities in the northern region. It's 7000 students make it about the same size as Howard or American University, and is about as competitive as Towson University, with most students earning about 550 on each SAT test and graduating in the top 20% of their high school class.

#PHSfit College of the Day: University of Richmond

The University of Richmond is a very selective liberal arts university, located about three hours south of here. It is about the same size as Bowie State or Penn State's Altoona campus,  and has an active division one athletic program. Such a selective liberal arts program would be a reasonable option for a student who is considering Loyola, Gettysburg, Lehigh, or Bucknell.

#PHSfit College of the Day: Saint Joseph's University

Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia operates from the Jesuit principle that one should strive to "live greater." The campus is located in a historic section of the city, and about the same size as York College. It would be a similar experience to going to Loyola College in Philadelphia, but with basketball being the big athletic program, rather than lacrosse. Most admitted students score in the 550 range on the SAT.

#PHSfit College of the Day: Bard College

Bard College is a small, private liberal arts college with very competitive admissions. Most students earned about 30 on the ACT, and 95% of the students graduated in the top quarter of their high school class. Bard College is located five and a half hours north of here, about an hour north on the Hudson River from New York City. 

#PHSfit College of the Day: North Carolina Central University

For over a hundred years, the North Carolina Central University has established a strong reputation and tradition as being a strong and well-rounded HBCU. Admitted students are required to have at least a 2.5 GPA and an 850 SAT or 17 ACT, as well as four credits of math in high school. 

#PHSfit College of the Day: Virginia Commonwealth University

As large as West Virginia University or the University of Maryland, Virginia Commonwealth University is Virginia's largest state university. It is located about four hours south of here in Richmond, and has a full and thriving campus life. Because it is such a large university, taking AP classes in high school will benefit a future VCU Ram because AP prepares students for the high level of instruction - without the intimate teaching that smaller colleges provide.

#PHSfit College of the Day: Liberty University

Near Roanoke College, about four and a half hours south in Virginia, is a storied - though fairly new - college called Liberty University. Liberty University stays very close to its Christian fundamentals, and you can count on your experience to be closely tied to Christian beliefs. The typical freshman earned a 20 on the ACT and had a high school GPA of about 3.3, and academic scholarships start a 2.7 GPA.

#PHSfit College of the Day: Muhlenberg College

A private college affiliated with the Lutheran Church, Muhlenberg College is located near Allentown, Pennsylvania, about three hours north of Baltimore. Even though it has Lutheran roots, it should be noted that Muhlenberg is home to the Institute for Jewish-Christian understanding, demonstrating the college's commitment ot interfaith relations. Because its student body is only 2500 students, the admissions staff has the time to evaluate all applications holistically, even making the SAT and ACT optional. Muhlenberg is a good fit for students who wish to be treated like a person, rather than like a number.

#PHSfit College of the Day: Hunter College

In the upper west side of Manhattan, Hunter College is the largest college in the City University of New York system, and is one of the oldest public colleges in the country. The Princeton Review ranks it as one of the top ten best values in public colleges. The average high school GPA is in the high B range, and the average SAT score is around 600 on each test.

#PHSfit College of the Day: University Maryland Eastern Shore

The University of Maryland's Eastern Shore campus offers you an affordable in-state college tuition, attainable admissions criteria, and the opportunity to study far enough from home that you'll feel like you actually went away to college. A historically black college, UMES has more history than most Maryland colleges. What's more, UMES's admissions standards are also more flexible than most Maryland colleges.

#PHSfit College of the Day: University of the Sciences in Philadelphia

If you want to advance your education and take control of your career—even in times of economic and employment uncertainty—graduate with a degree from USciences. Located in Philadelphia, esteemed faculty, broad-based curriculum and established alumni network offer future leaders an edge in the thriving sectors where healthcare and science converge. (Quanisha, Class of 2013)