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Expert College Admission Advice – IvyWise Blog

Extracurricular Activities

How Important Are Extracurricular Activities in the College Admissions Process?

What counts as an extracurricular activity, and how important are activities in the college admissions process? In this episode of the Just Admit It! podcast, IvyWise experts Tasha and Anthony discuss how admissions officers evaluate extracurricular profiles and share tips on choosing and developing meaningful activities.

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young female student working on laptop wearing earbuds

Get to Know Our IvyWise Scholars — In Their Own Words

Each year, IvyWise welcomes a select group of high-achieving, low-income students into the IvyWise Scholars program, our pro bono college counseling initiative. The reasons each student has for applying to the program are as varied as their backgrounds.

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What Is the Role of the School Profile in College Admissions?

What Is the Role of the School Profile in the College Admissions Process?

What does strength of school mean, and how do colleges use the school profile to evaluate applicants? In this episode of the Just Admit It! podcast, IvyWise experts Tasha and Juaquin explain how admissions officers read a transcript in the context of a student’s high school and share tips for strengthening your academic profile within it.

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high school student types on laptop at home

What Vanderbilt Admissions Officers Look for in Essays

If Vanderbilt University, also known as Vandy, is one of your top-choice schools, you may be wondering how to craft your admissions essay to help you stand out. Vanderbilt is incredibly selective, so they look for students who demonstrate what they can contribute to the diverse campus community academically and otherwise. Your response to the essay prompt contributes to the holistic review of your application, so it’s important to give it a lot of thought.

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aerial view of Boston University

How to Get into Boston University: All You Need to Know

Boston University, or BU as it’s known, is a top private research university in Boston, Massachusetts. The university has 10 undergraduate schools and colleges to choose from, as well as dual degree and double major options.

Boston University has become increasingly competitive throughout the last few years, receiving record-breaking numbers of applications from across the country and around the world. Read on to learn the best practices applicants should use to increase their chances of admission to Boston University.

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Male student working on college applications

College Application Deadlines 2026-2027

Senior year is an exciting time, but it also comes with a lot of responsibility — especially when it comes to college applications. Missing a deadline can be the difference between getting in and not, so it’s essential to be prepared.

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extracurricular activities

Do My Extracurricular Activities Have to Be Related to My Intended Major?

What if your strongest extracurricular activity has nothing to do with your intended major? In this episode of Just Admit It!, IvyWise counselors Tasha and Juaquin discuss how colleges evaluate activities, what meaningful commitment looks like, and how students can build an authentic application narrative. 

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Student Looking at Majors

What if I Don’t Know What I Want to Major In?

In this episode of Just Admit It!, IvyWise counselor Alecia and host Tasha explain why being undecided is common, how to explore academic interests without getting overwhelmed, and what “major selection” really means on a college application.

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Student and parent moving into college dorm

How Is College Different from High School?

For many high school students, the transition to college feels like a massive leap into the unknown. The high school experience is structured, and you have parents and teachers guiding you. Navigating college life requires an entirely different approach to learning, time management, and personal responsibility.

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young woman reading a book and screaming

10 Colleges with Spooky Course Selections

From religion and folklore to film and even medicine, college departments love to celebrate the supernatural and postulate on the paranormal. Whether you’re an occult-loving student building your college list, or you just want to get an idea of some creepy courses to add to your schedule, check out our list of otherworldly offerings below.

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