Category: College Admission Advice
Class of 2028 Admission Rates
Students navigating the college admissions process continue to experience unique challenges and changes, including the announcement of an entirely digital SAT, continued test-optional policies, increasing application numbers, and each student applying to more colleges on average. All of this has led to an even more competitive year at the most selective colleges in the U.S., while other schools plan to admit more students than ever before in order to manage enrollment numbers.
How to Pace Yourself on the ACT and SAT
Join IvyWise college admissions and test prep experts to learn about important changes in standardized testing, including:
Many selective universities, including Brown, Caltech, Dartmouth, Harvard, and Yale, will be returning to requiring test scores for the 2024-2025 admissions cycle Others, including Cornell, Johns Hopkins, and Stanford, will reinstate the requirement for the 2025-2026 cycle The Digital SAT is now being offered both in the U.S. and abroad The ACT recently announced changes to its test format and length Watch nowThe SAT and ACT are the most often used exams for college admissions in the U.S., and given that they are standardized, they must be taken under strict time constraints. Students can struggle with the limited amount of time per question, leaving points on the table when they’re unable to finish certain sections. Simple pacing strategies, however, can help students improve their test performance and overall scores.
The SAT and ACT, rather than strictly measuring aptitude or knowledge, are essentially set up to also gauge how well students perform under pressure and implement test-taking strategies. Each section on
6 Tips For Recording a College Application Video
Many colleges are known for getting creative with their essay prompts, sometimes asking weird and wacky questions to encourage students to dig for thoughtful, creative responses. Another way some colleges are shaking up the college admissions process is with college application videos.
5 FAQs I Get as a Counselor and Former Admissions Officer
By Carolyn, IvyWise College Admissions Counselor
In a recent interview on the Smartless podcast, renowned scientist and MIT professor Max Tegmark was asked how he explains his job to people he just met. If he doesn’t feel like talking to the person asking, he explained, he simply says he works in physics, which is boring and confusing enough that there are typically no follow-up questions. If he feels like talking, however, he calls himself an astronomer, which usually leads to more interesting and entertaining conversations.
PSAT Math Test Explained: Key Areas and Question Types
The Preliminary SAT (PSAT), also known as the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT), is an important standardized exam for high school students, typically taken in the 10th or 11th grade. The PSAT Math test assesses your proficiency in mathematical reasoning, problem solving, and critical thinking. A strong performance on the math section not only reflects a solid foundation in math skills but can also help you qualify for scholarships and prepare for future college admissions tests such as the SAT.
Dealing with College App Anxiety: Tips to Help Students Cope
For many high school seniors, fall semester can feel particularly stressful. Between maintaining top grades, putting the finishing touches on personal statements, and applying to colleges, students have a lot of important items on their agendas.
How to Set Effective College Prep Goals
by Scott, IvyWise College Admissions Counselor
Setting goals is a great way to motivate yourself to achieve something that’s meaningful to you. And if getting into college is a major goal, then you can break it down into smaller, more manageable steps related to academic performance and expanding your knowledge in areas of interest. These two go together, and both are important for college admissions.
Academic Advising 101: What Is Academic Advising?
Most people understand what teachers, guidance counselors, and professors do. Yet, there is a lot of uncertainty about an adjacent educational career that is just as important: academic advisor. You can find academic advisors at colleges and universities or work with one outside of campus.
How to Write Princeton Supplemental Essays
If Princeton is at the top of your list for best-fit colleges, you know that every component of your application counts. With an acceptance rate of 4.5% for the class of 2027, it’s clear that applicants are going to have to submit their best work to be competitive, and that includes writing compelling supplemental essays.
Harvard University Supplemental Essay 2024-25 Prompt Guide
If Harvard is one of your top-choice schools, you may be wondering how you can make your application stand out to the admissions committee. This is where your college essays come in. If done well, they can set you above other applicants. However, these essay prompts require short, creative answers, which is not an easy task. Keep reading to learn more about Harvard’s supplemental essays for the 2024-25 admissions cycle and how to craft them.
How to Write the Columbia University Supplemental Essays
Columbia University is a popular choice for many students. Its prime location in the heart of New York City and its renowned Core Curriculum are just two of the many reasons this Ivy League institution receives tens of thousands of applications each year.
How to Write an Impressive College Application Essay
Join IvyWise college admissions experts to learn how you can showcase your best self when applying to college. They will cover:
Each step of the Common App, including the activities section and the optional community disruption question. How to stand out to admissions officers when applying with the Common App. Tips for brainstorming essay topics, beginning the first draft, word choice and tone, editing the final personal statement essay. How to use supplemental essays to demonstrate interest in each college on your list. Watch now College application essays are a critical aspect of the admissions process, offering an opportunity to showcase your individuality beyond the standard application forms and test scores. A well-crafted essay can highlight your unique personality, experiences, and aspirations, providing college admissions officers with a more holistic view of who you are.How to Write the 2024-25 Brown Supplemental Essays
Brown is at the top of plenty of students’ best-fit lists, so it’s no surprise that most prospective applicants want to do everything they can to stand out in their applications. While grades and course rigor carry the most weight in admissions decisions, students also need to write compelling essays that demonstrate their interest in attending the college.
2024-25 Common App Supplements
Join IvyWise college admissions experts to learn how you can showcase your best self when applying to college. They will cover:
Each step of the Common App, including the activities section and the optional community disruption question. How to stand out to admissions officers when applying with the Common App. Tips for brainstorming essay topics, beginning the first draft, word choice and tone, editing the final personal statement essay. How to use supplemental essays to demonstrate interest in each college on your list. Watch Now Many schools utilize the Common App as their primary application form, and school-specific supplements allow every institution to customize this universal application in order to build a well-rounded first-year class. From asking about a student’s favorite snack to designing their dream seminars, many colleges are getting creative with their supplement questions so that admissions officers can learn as much about applicants as possible.2024-25 Coalition Application Guide
While the Common Application is the most widely used college application, it’s not the only option for students who are getting ready to apply to their best-fit colleges. The Coalition Application is an alternative that now counts more than 170 institutions as member colleges.
Crafting a Winning Why Dartmouth Essay: Tips and Tricks
One of the most stressful parts of the admissions process for many students is writing the college essay. After all, the essay carries so much weight because it provides more insight into who you are, how you think, and whether you’re a good fit for the school. Because the essay is so stressful, many students put it off until the last minute. However, the trick to writing a winning essay is to prepare in advance.
Knowing what to expect can help you feel more confident about how to respond to the essay prompts. If you’re interested in attending Dartmouth, you will be expected to write the “Why Dartmouth?” essay. Read on for some tips and tricks to write a winning essay that will get the attention of the admissions committee.
Coalition vs. Common App: Which One Should You Choose?
The Coalition Application and the Common Application are two platforms that streamline the college application process. While both serve the common goal of simplifying the application experience, they differ in several ways. Understanding the distinctions between the Coalition and Common App can help you make informed decisions about which platform aligns better with your preferences and the requirements of the colleges on your balanced list.
College Prep Resources for High School Students
If you’re planning to go to college, it’s essential to make all four years of high school count. Colleges look at your entire high school record — courses, grades, activities, and more — when evaluating college applications. They want to see how you have progressed over your time in high school and if you’re truly ready for the rigors of a college education. So, whether it’s your first year in high school, your senior year, or somewhere in between, these resources can help you on your path to higher education.
How to Write the 2024-25 Yale Supplemental Essays
IvyWise On-Demand: A Look Inside Yale with Former Admissions Directors
Join IvyWise college admissions counselors Christine and Scott, both former admissions directors at Yale, for an inside look at Yale. Whether you are beginning the college search process or finalizing your list, this is a great opportunity to learn all about Yale from those who used to recruit and admit students to the university.
Watch now With its lengthy history and unparalleled academic rigor, it’s no surprise that Yale tops many students’ best-fit lists, with an acceptance rate that has dipped below 5% in recent years. Given the competitive nature of Yale’s admissions process, every component of your college application is going to be crucial, including supplemental essays.Test Score Submit Rates for the Class of 2027
The COVID-19 pandemic shifted the way higher education institutions review applications, with many colleges choosing to adopt a test-optional application review process. However, with record-breaking applicant pools and record-low admit rates, families are worried that test-optional may not really mean test-optional at all. Here is what we know, so far.
How to Choose the Right Extracurriculars for College
When preparing students for the college admissions process, we place a lot of emphasis on identifying and developing students’ interests in addition to good grades and test scores. As we’ve said before, students’ interests are important because it helps colleges make admissions decisions and build well-rounded classes.
