College admissions is a highly nuanced process, and data from each application cycle gives us crucial insights into the macro-level shifts that shape how colleges select students, such as applicant behaviors, institutional policies, demographics, and college application volume.
Bowdoin College is a small liberal arts college in Brunswick, Maine, just northeast of Portland. It does not offer professional track majors but has robust liberal arts offerings including a renowned environmental studies program. It is consistently ranked as one of the top 10 liberal arts colleges in the country by U.S. News and World Report.
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.
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.
As a member of the Ivy League that’s known for its top-notch music and arts programs, it’s easy to understand why many rank Yale at the top of their college list. The university, one of the oldest in the country, offers many strong areas of study and is within traveling distance of New York City.
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.
The New Ivies are a category of rising prestigious colleges that share the academic rigor, selectivity, and career outcomes of traditional Ivy League schools but are distinct in their inclusion of public and private universities, higher acceptance rates, and lower tuition in some cases.
Often regarded as a “Southern Ivy,” which makes admission highly competitive, Duke attracts talented students from across the U.S. and around the globe. If you aspire to become a Blue Devil, it’s essential to understand what Duke looks for in applicants so you can position yourself for success.
The University of Chicago, commonly known as UChicago, is a private research university located within a 217-acre botanical garden in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood. UChicago was established in 1890 on the founding principles of academic freedom and free expression — principles that are still upheld to this day through interdisciplinary collaboration, world-class academics and research, and a distinctive campus culture.
UCLA is part of the University of California system, which is comprised of 10 campuses throughout the state. Students applying to UCLA must use the UC application — the University of California system does not use the Common App or Coalition Application. The application process includes several personal statement prompts, or what UC refers to as personal insight questions. Keep reading to learn more about these prompts and tips for responding to them.
