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Expert College Admission Advice – IvyWise Blog

College counselor smiles during a meeting with a prospective student.

What to Expect During Your Dartmouth College Interview

Dartmouth, like many colleges and universities, invites applicants to interview. However, these interviews are not conducted by the admissions committee but alumni volunteers. The college does not offer campus interviews. 

If you’re invited to an interview, it’s perfectly normal to be nervous. Being prepared can help boost your confidence, so keep reading to learn what to expect and for tips on acing the interview. 

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High School Students Preparing for Class

5 Ways High School Prepares You for College Life

If college is the gateway to the real world, then high school is the long highway that precedes it. After four years of high school, you might feel as though you are totally unprepared for the challenges of higher education. Although pumped-up academic standards are a big part of the college transition, being a college student also calls for independence, maturity, and responsibility.

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Group of college students studying in the school library

When Should You Write a Letter of Continued Interest?

A letter of continued interest (often referred to as a LOCI) is a written statement that a student sends to the admissions office of a school they are still interested in attending, despite being deferred or waitlisted. Generally, these letters reiterate the student’s interest in and fit for the college in question and update the admissions office on any achievements that the student has earned since submitting their initial application.

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Student checks college application status on phone with laptop nearby.

How to Use Social Media in College Admissions

In today’s digital age, social media plays a significant role in various aspects of our lives, including the college admissions process. While it can have both positive and negative impacts, understanding how to navigate and leverage social media effectively can help you elevate your profile and stand out in your college applications.

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Admissions consultant guiding applicant via screen-share, pointing to key steps in the process.

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.

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Student writing college application essay with laptop nearby.

High School Classes: What to Choose to Prepare for College

While college may feel like a distant challenge on the horizon, it’s important for high school students to choose their classes carefully to begin preparing for their next academic milestone. Admissions officers will review the courses students take from their first year of high school onwards, which is why it’s crucial to be selective about the classes you’re taking to ensure they align with your long-term goals.

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Student thoughtfully writing college application essay with coffee nearby.

Ways to Explore Journalistic Writing

If you’re interested in pursuing journalistic writing, you don’t need to wait until college to get started. In fact, exploring different types of writing can help give high school students a head start for the college admissions process because you’ll develop a better idea of what kind of content you most enjoy writing and how that factors into your college admissions goals. 

From podcast interviews to publishing a weekly advice column, there are many ways students can explore different types of journalism and writing. Keep reading for a few project ideas that can help aspiring journalists learn more about the field and begin to identify the opportunities that interest them most. 

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Students collaborate on a laptop, working together on a school project.

How to Find Accurate College Acceptance Rates

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 U.S. 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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Silhouette of a person behind frosted glass, representing college application anxiety.

School Spirits: Spine-Chilling Stories of Haunted College Campuses

October brings the smells of pumpkin spice and apple cider, colorful fall foliage, and spooky season. For Halloween, there is nothing better than a good ghost story — or several! While unexplained things may go bump in the night at many college campuses across the U.S., these schools have well-known haunted histories.  

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Modern architecture on a college campus, symbolizing higher education goals.

Northwestern University Majors: A Comprehensive Guide to Choosing Your Path

Do you have diverse areas of interest when it comes to academics? If so, Northwestern University may be a good fit for you due to its interdisciplinary curriculum and research opportunities. In fact, 73% of undergraduates combine at least two areas of study, making this a great school for students with varied interests. Keep reading to learn more about the majors you can pursue at Northwestern. 

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