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IvyWise Blog

Student excited about high school grades

Do High School Grades Matter in College?

Most students applying to college understand the importance of high school grades. After all, your grades are the most critical part of your college application — and the first factor admissions officers review.

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College counselor advises student on academics and college admissions process.

How to Ace the Georgetown Alumni Interview

Georgetown University, nestled in the heart of Washington, D.C., is renowned for its commitment to educating global citizens who are academically proficient and socially conscious. The admissions interview at Georgetown serves as a unique opportunity for applicants to expand on their written applications and showcase their personality, passion, and alignment with the university’s values. Keep reading to learn what the interview entails and how to ace it. 

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Royce Hall at UCLA, a beautiful building for higher education.

UCLA Acceptance Rate and Stats: What It Takes to Get In

With a sprawling campus, top-tier academic offerings, and Division I sports teams, the University of California, Los Angeles is a top choice for many high school students.

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The Washington Square Arch on the NYU campus with part of the New York City skyline in the background

The NYU Interview: What to Expect and How to Prepare

With a location in the heart of New York City and a plethora of renowned programs and internship opportunities, it’s easy to understand why New York University is a top choice on many students’ best-fit lists. As a result, New York University is also a highly competitive college, with acceptance rates falling to approximately 12% in recent years.

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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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Washington Square Arch at NYU

How to Write the NYU Supplemental Essay 2026-27

NYU has long been a top-choice school for many students, and with an admissions rate under 10% in recent years, it is also exceptionally competitive.

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How to Write the 2026-27 Yale Supplemental Essays

Given the competitive nature of Yale’s admissions process, every component of your college application is going to be crucial, including supplemental essays.

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Stanford University Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide 2026-27

If Stanford is one of your top-choice schools, you may be wondering how you can make your application stand out. Your responses to Stanford’s supplemental essay questions are a significant way to set yourself apart from other applicants. However, these essay prompts require you to be both concise and creative, which is not an easy task.

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Harvard University Supplemental Essay 2026-27 Prompt Guide

If Harvard is one of your top-choice schools, you may be wondering how you can make your application stand out to the admissions committee. This is where your college essays come in.

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How to Write Princeton Supplemental Essays

If Princeton is at the top of your list for best-fit colleges, you know that every component of your application counts. With an acceptance rate of 4.62% for the class of 2028, it’s clear that applicants are going to have to submit their best work to be competitive, and that includes writing compelling supplemental essays.

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