9th Grade

Every year we hear about “record-low college acceptance rates” for a number of already highly-selective colleges and universities. With more students applying to more colleges, it’s no surprise that many schools across the US are seeing their admission rates drop; however, that’s not always the case for every institution. When building your balanced college list, it’s important to understand how your profile stacks up against the most recently admitted class and the overall college acceptance rates for each school to which you plan to apply. There are a number of places to find this information, but it’s not always easy to find, so we’ll break it down for you:

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For current high school seniors, the college application season is in full swing. We caught up with our Class of 2023 IvyWise Scholars to learn more about their college admissions journeys, what it’s like to work with IvyWise during this process, and get some of their college prep tips for other college-bound students.

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If you already know what field you want to study in college, or even have a general idea of your preferred discipline, taking some high school classes that align with your future college curriculum can save a lot of time and energy. But how do you know which high school classes will set you up for success in college?

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All the focus might be on seniors right now, but this is actually the perfect time for high school freshmen to start thinking about their college goals – even if they seem really far off.

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What Should Incoming Freshmen Do to Prepare for High School?

As the school year draws to a close, many middle school students are looking forward to their first year of high school and how to prepare. The start of high school is a major milestone that every incoming freshmen student should celebrate. High school is an opportunity to further develop your study skills, challenge yourself with advanced courses, and explore your interests and passions.

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Learn More About When You Should Start Planning for College

“When should I get started with my college prep?” is one of the first questions on many students’ minds when they look ahead towards their college application process. While some may be tempted to put off their preparation until the second half of junior year, we recommend beginning your admissions journey at the start of high school to avoid any last-minute stress. 

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SAT Subject Tests and the Essay Section of the SAT are Gone for Good

The College Board announced that it is discontinuing SAT Subject Tests permanently, as well as revamping the current SAT exam to eliminate the optional essay section.

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Make the Most of Time Spent Social Distancing with Your Kids

For students who are used to juggling coursework, extracurricular activities, and time spent with friends, the transition to remote learning has proven extremely challenging. While every student will react to all this time at home differently, parents can play a powerful and important role in helping students make the most of this experience.

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Start Your College Admissions Journey Off on the Right Foot 

It’s not just how you finish high school that counts. Admissions officers review all four years of your grades, activities, and more when making decisions on applications, so it’s essential for current freshmen and sophomores to build a strong academic and extracurricular foundation, even while schools themselves are closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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Join Our Facebook Live Webinars April 15 & 17 to Learn More About How To Prep for College Admissions Process This Fall

Tune in to IvyWise Live on our Facebook page next week, where College Admissions Experts Christine, Scott, Nat, Zach, and Rachel will discuss how students can prepare for the college admissions process this fall and answer your most pressing college prep questions.

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Get a Head Start on Planning for the New Year

With the new year right around the corner, now’s the time to start thinking about your test prep goals for 2020. Whether you’re a freshman who is just beginning to think about college, a sophomore gearing up to start test prep, or a junior who is already in the thick of it, there are concrete steps that you can take in 2020 to get closer to achieving your test prep goals.

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The easiest way to minimize the stress associated with the college admissions process is to start early! If you have an understanding of what admissions officers are looking for and what you need to check off of your to-do list and when, you can avoid last-minute time crunches. Do yourself a favor and use the summer before 9th grade to plan for your freshman year of high school and, ultimately, set yourself up for college prep success for the next four years.

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Now that it’s a new year and winter break is over, it’s time to start focusing on what you should be doing to get ahead and make the most of the rest of the school year.

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All the focus might be on seniors right now, but this is actually the perfect time for high school freshmen to start thinking about their college goals – even if they seem really far off.

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As students prepare to head back to school, many are examining their class schedule, gauging how difficult the next academic year will be and how they will achieve their grade goals. But it’s not just grades that colleges consider when evaluating applicants for admission. Colleges are also looking at the classes applicants are taking, how challenging they are, and how those courses align with students’ interests and academic goals.

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It’s a common practice to set goals at the start of a new calendar year, but for students it can also be beneficial to come up with some resolutions for the new school year. By setting clear goals and expectations for the next school year, students can get ahead and prepare for the college admissions process.

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We talk a lot about what colleges and universities are looking for when evaluating applications. Grades, courses, and test scores are very important, but so are the less quantifiable elements, like activities and essays. One thing many students overlook when preparing for the admissions process is community service. Just like with other extracurricular activities, colleges want to see students participating in impactful volunteer opportunities – finding a way to give back and enhance their local community. So how do students find the right community service activities for them?

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The holiday season is here, and students are getting a much-needed break from their normal school schedule. While it’s necessary for students to take some time to recharge, many often become restless after a few days and may need some productive ways to pass the time.  

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The end of the fall semester and the fast-approaching Regular Decision deadlines, coupled with the release of early decisions, makes December an especially busy, and crucial, month. Students need to prepare for finals and standardized tests, while also juggling extracurricular commitments and, for seniors, the added stress of finishing college applications.

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Your next year of high school is around the corner, but don’t fret! IvyWise is here to help you plan for the future, and prepare for what’s to come. Whether you’ll be entering high school for the first time, or already planning for college next year, we have advice to help you start the year strong, and maintain the drive through the fall, winter, and spring.

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Creating a time management game plan can help you juggle tasks efficiently and effectively

It’s a new semester, and whether you’re in high school or college, that means getting back into the swing of balancing schoolwork, clubs, sports, friends, and a good night’s sleep. Energy and sanity can run low when a pile of work is never ending. Managing good grades, performing well at a big game or academic competition, spending quality time with family, and maintaining a social life can be exhausting. That’s why every student should invest in a time management game plan. 

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This week our client relations manager, Alex, tells us what she loved about attending Stanford University in Stanford, CA.

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For high school sophomores and juniors, fall marks the first steps in the college search process. Many schools have a mid-October fall break, and students and families often use this time to go on college visits. At IvyWise, our team of expert counselors always stress the importance of the college visit. Not only does it give you the opportunity to show demonstrated interest, a factor that admissions officers take into consideration when reading applications, but it also gives you the chance to get a feel for campus life first-hand.

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When discussing the different elements of a college application, we often bring up the significance of the “brag sheet.” At IvyWise, we can’t stress enough how important a complete and comprehensive brag sheet is to the admissions process. Your brag sheet lists all of your extracurriculars, employment, summer experiences, honors, awards, interests, hobbies, and, very notably, community service.

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Recommendation Letter Roundup

One of the most critical elements of a stellar college application is a collection of glowing recommendation letters from counselors, teachers and other administrators you have interacted with during your four years of high school. Recommendation letters play a critical role in painting a picture of how you relate to and interact within your academic and extracurricular activities.

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