Category: College Admissions Trends
What to Know About the New Digital SAT
On January 25, the College Board announced that starting in 2023 and 2024, the SAT (including the PSAT) would become an entirely computer-based exam. High school students and families might be wondering how this will impact their test prep and college prep strategies. Read on to learn more!
Yield Rates for the Class of 2025
Learn What Yield Rates Look Like for the Class of 2025After many colleges reported all-time low acceptance rates, some students might be curious about their yield rates, or just how many of these admitted applicants have chosen to enroll. Yield is a priority for every college because it impacts their place on rankings lists and it can also influence their bond ratings.
College Prep 101: College Admissions Glossary of Terms
Learn the College Admissions Lingo Before Starting Your College PrepApplying to college and choosing where to enroll is both a major milestone and an important decision. It’s bound to be a little stressful, but it can feel completely overwhelming if you’re not up to date on all of the latest terminology.
College Bond Ratings: How It Impacts Admissions
Learn How Bond Ratings Can Impact AdmissionsBy Nat, IvyWise College Admissions Counselor
Most students understand that academic performance is a major deciding factor in college admissions, but what about the things out of students’ control like bond ratings?
Just Admit It: How did the 2020-21 college admissions cycle go?
Our Top Takeaways from the 2020-21 College Admissions CycleIt’s safe to say that the 2020-21 college admissions cycle was unlike any other. Between canceled SAT and ACT exams and campus tours going virtual, the COVID-19 pandemic created several significant changes for applicants over the past year.
Colleges Extending Regular Decision Deadlines
Which Colleges Are Extending Their Regular Round Application Deadlines?Earlier this year, we announced that several colleges were opting to extend their early application deadlines. Now, several months later, it looks like many schools are following a similar path for their regular round process.
First-Year Enrollment is Down – Is this Good News?
What Do Enrollment Declines Mean for the Class of 2025?
From canceled SAT exams to extended application deadlines, the Class of 2025 has faced plenty of changes throughout their admissions cycle. In the midst of this disruptive era, there’s also another factor that could impact admissions this cycle: first-year enrollment is down.
College Admissions Changes During a Global Shift
Learn What College Admissions Changes to Expect Now and in the Future The college admissions process has always been multifaceted and complex, but the changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic have added a new layer of uncertainty. From limited testing options to a lack of campus tours, college applicants are experiencing a new playing field with several noteworthy differences.
How is COVID-19 Affecting Higher Education?
Answers to Your Most Pressing Higher Education Questions in Light of COVID-19
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted academic institutions in ways that go far beyond cancelled graduation ceremonies and virtual classes. Colleges around the country are experiencing a new set of changes as students and families continue to adapt to the unfolding circumstances.
COVID-19 and Admissions Exams: Test Prep Tips in Uncertain Times
Here’s What to Expect and How to Plan for the SAT and ACT This Summer and Fall
By Joey, IvyWise Master Tutor
With new developments and updates about COVID-19 unfolding everyday, high school juniors around the country have one question on their minds: “How will this affect my college applications this fall?” While an important query, this sustained uncertainty can raise stress levels in ways that are both unhealthy and unproductive for testing and academic goals.
IvyWise Live Q&A: Coronavirus and College Admissions
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.
How to Stay Calm While Waiting for Admissions Decisions
Keep a Level Head While Awaiting College Decisions
With most colleges just days away from announcing their admissions decisions for regular round applicants, countless students are waiting in anticipation to receive their results. Although applicants have already done the “hard” part by compiling their submissions, sometimes waiting can feel like the most challenging component of the process.
Finding Time For Fun When Applying to College
Learn How to Balance it All During Application Season
Between figuring out when to prepare for the SAT, college tours, and keeping up with school work, it’s all too easy for students to neglect their friendships and recreational activities during the college admissions process. While making time for schoolwork and admissions-related tasks is essential, it’s equally important to pencil in time to socialize and enjoy high school.
What Does ‘Rolling Admissions’ Mean?
Understand How the Rolling Admissions Process Works
Just like there is no one-size-fits-all top-choice college for every student, the application process itself is far from universal. Some students may choose to apply early, while others could benefit from a gap year, regular round applications, or selecting institutions with rolling admissions processes.
Online College Admissions Resources for Seniors
Applying to College This Fall? Check Out These Helpful Resources
The college admissions season is officially underway, and there’s a lot that high school seniors need to do between now and application deadlines on Jan. 1. The college application process can be confusing, but there are a number of online resources that can help students and parents navigate the process this fall.
3 Pieces of College Admissions Advice for the Class of 2018
“Don’t Be Afraid to Be Yourself. Colleges Want a Person Not a Paper.”
The college admissions process is officially underway for the high school class of 2018, with the Common Application now open and the new school year just around the corner. Applying to college can be a stressful and intimidating process, but there are simple steps that rising high school seniors can take to make the most of their admissions journey.
31 College Prep Resources for High School Juniors
Resources to Help High School Juniors Stay On Track With Their College Planning
The college application process is right around the corner for high school juniors, and we have a number of resources to help college bound juniors get and stay on track before they apply to college in the fall.
US vs. UK Admissions: What Parents and Students Need to Know
Here’s How the UK College Admissions Process Differs From Admissions in the US
For many students, both domestic and international, applying to college is an opportunity to leave their comfort zone and gain new experiences. While more and more international students are studying in the US every year, a number of students are also looking to the UK for university options.
How to Ace Your College Admissions Interview
Admissions Interviews Can Help You Stand Out and Demonstrate InterestNow that we are at the height of application season, it’s a good idea to start preparing for the possibility of a college admissions interview. This is a chance for the college to put a face to the name on your application, and it is your opportunity to stand out and provide some additional context for your application.
The Ultimate College Admissions Guide
Everything College Bound High School Seniors Need to Apply to College this Fall
It’s back to school time and for high school seniors it’s time to start applying to college! Are you ready?
5 Tips for Choosing High School Classes
Students Should Strike a Balance Between Challenging and Manageable
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.
College Prep 101: How to Stay Organized When Applying to College
Use Spreadsheets and Checklists to Stay Organized When Applying to CollegeWhen I started formulating my balanced college list, I really was unsure what type of university or college I was looking for. I didn’t have a particular major in mind, all I knew was that I wanted to make sure I chose a school that would foster my own academic and professional growth while being a place I would be comfortable and proud to call home.
Understanding Harvard’s “Turning the Tide” Report
New Harvard Report Offers Suggestions On How Schools Can Improve the College Admissions ProcessThe higher education industry was abuzz yesterday with the announcement of a new report released by Harvard’s Graduate School of Education, called “Turning the Tide,” that highlights how colleges can change the admissions process by focusing more on community service and reducing the stress that comes with students padding their resumes with multiple extracurricular activities, AP courses, and excessive test prep. This report was endorsed by dozens of higher education institutions, including admissions officials from MIT and Yale, among others.
How to Manage College Admissions Stress
Applying to College Can Be Stressful But It Doesn’t Have to BeIt’s only natural for teens to feel pressure when navigating the college admissions process – it is, after all, one of the biggest decisions many teens will have made up until this point. In the January newsletter we covered how to manage test anxiety, which is common among many teens taking the ACT or SAT in hopes of getting into their dream school. While testing anxiety can be crippling, the college preparation process extends beyond one Saturday morning test. Many students can feel overwhelmed going into the process, and the stress can cause problems with grades, family, friends, health, and more.
College Admission Secrets: The Truth About College Admissions
Here’s What Parents and Students Need to Know about Gimmicks, Diversity, and Admission DecisionsMany families have a lot of misconceptions about how the college admissions process works and what goes on behind the closed doors of admissions offices. At IvyWise we’re here to help clear up the confusion with our three-part College Admissions Secrets series. In this last installment we address what families need to know about applications and how admission decisions are made.
College Admission Secrets: How Colleges Read Applications
Learn the Secrets About The College Admission ProcessWith high school seniors in the thick of the college application process, speculation abounds about how college admissions committees make decisions, what it takes to get in, and whether or not student A is more qualified than student B. “Chancing” is a big part of this frenzy, with students turning to message boards to post their stats in an effort to gain insight as to whether or not they have a shot at their top-choice college. But really goes on behind closed doors?
Why Your Interests Matter in the College Admissions Process
Why Your Interests Matter in the College Admissions Process 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. However, developing students’ interests isn’t just about getting into college – they’re a key factor in helping students succeed during their four-years and after graduation.
What Matters When Applying to College?
Here’s What Top Colleges Are Looking For When Evaluating ApplicationsThere are a lot of misconceptions about what colleges are ‘looking for’ when evaluating college applications. Is it a well-rounded student? A well-rounded class? Students with only high SAT scores? Or students just in the top 10% of their class? Every college’s priorities are different, but here’s some insight into the factors that are important to most colleges based on a survey of college admissions officers themselves.
What to Know about the New Coalition College App
Students Can Apply With the Coalition’s College Application In 2016It was announced yesterday that over 80 colleges, including all Ivy Leagues and Stanford, had formed a coalition in an effort to increase college access and revamp the way that students apply to college. Known as the Coalition for Access, Affordability and Success, this initiative plans to launch a new college application next year that would serve as an alternative to The Common Application.
FAQ: What You Need to Know About Transfer Admissions
Planning to Transfer to Another College? Here are Some Transfer Application TipsThe college application season may be underway for current high school seniors, but there’s another group of admissions hopefuls that also need some guidance this season: undergraduate transfer students.
Every College Planning Checklist You’ll Ever Need
Here’s A Roundup of College Checklists For Every Stage of the College Prep ProcessIt may be summer vacation, but college prep rarely takes a break. Whether you’re getting ready for your first year of high school or preparing for your last, there’s no better time than the present to start thinking about your college admissions goals and how to achieve them.
2015-16 Common Application Changes
Here’s What Families Need to Know About the Changes Coming to the Common Application This YearThe Common Application has announced changes for the 2015-16 application, which opens August 1. For rising seniors, the summer is a prime time to get a head start on college applications, with many completing essays well before the August 1 open date. Because of this, it’s important for students and parents to know what to expect on this year’s Common App.
2015 College Admissions Trends Families Need to Know
Common App Questions, International Admissions, and More: Here Are the College Admissions Trends Families Need to Prepare for This SummerThe admissions process for the Class of 2019 is just wrapping up, but we’re already seeing new trends developing for the Class of 2020. From online education to alternative admission options, and even problematic Common Application questions that colleges can use to make admissions decisions, there’s a lot brewing for the next crop of college applicants.
Class of 2019 Early Admission Rates
Colleges See Increase in Early Applications, Slight Decrease in Early Admission RatesThe first members of the Class of 2019 are in, and many are anxious to see how this year’s early applicants compared to the Class of 2019. Here’s our breakdown of the early admission numbers for the Class of 2019. We will be updating as more statistics become available!
College Admissions FAQ
Answers to Some of the Most Common College Admissions QuestionsRecently, IvyWise CEO and founder Dr. Kat Cohen stopped by the TODAY Show to talk about what college students should include in their college applications. A lot of great questions came up, and we want to make sure families are armed with the knowledge they need to succeed. Many of these questions and concerns stem a lack of clarity or understanding of the college admissions process. At IvyWise, we strive to help families demystify the college application process and guide students on how to put their best foot forward when it comes time to apply through our college admission counseling services.
Building a Well-Rounded Class: Why Colleges Want Specialists
Debunking the Myth of the Well-Rounded StudentThe truth is, there is no foolproof way to guarantee admission to your top-choice college. Admissions officers look at a variety of factors when evaluating college applications, and no singular quality is going to make you a shoo-in.
Class of 2019 Early Application Deadlines and Resources
Many Early Decision and Early Action Deadlines Are Just One Month AwayUpdate: If you’re looking for the 2014-15 early decision notification dates for the Class of 2019, you can find them here.
How to Manage the College Admissions Process
Start Early and Stay Organized to Make the Most of Your College PrepWhether you’re a senior in the middle of a sea of college essays, or a freshman just starting your high school journey, there’s always some level of preparation you need to be focused on for the college admissions process. There are many different stages to preparing for college, and each can seem a little overwhelming to parents and students if they’re unsure of how to manage the process.
Best College Admissions Blogs
Follow These Blogs to Get the Most Relevant College Admissions Info and Application TipsThe Internet is a significant tool in the college search process. Students can learn about prospective colleges, what it takes to get in, what they need to do to apply, how to stand out in the application pool, and more. With so much information available with just the click of a button (or a simple Google search), it can sometimes be hard to sift through what’s valuable and what’s not.
How Race Factors Into College Admissions
Many families may have some idea of how admissions offices evaluate applicants, but in the US, universities use the “holistic review” process, meaning admissions officers place emphasis on the applicant as a whole person, not just his or her academic achievements.
In holistic review, admissions officers look at “hard factors” (quantitative data) and “soft factors” (qualitative data) in order to gain a full picture of applicants. Things like:
