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IvyWise Blog

Statue of college mascot Mike the Tiger on LSU campus.

From Traditional to Quirky: Exploring College Mascots

From Notre Dame’s leprechaun to Oregon’s duck, college mascots are more than just a figure on the sidelines — they are a treasured part of college life at many institutions. They embody the spirit, history, and identity of a college or university, rallying students, alumni, and fans alike under a shared banner. They evoke a sense of belonging and pride within the campus community and beyond.

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Beginner’s Guide: Starting Your MCAT Study Plan

As part of the medical school admissions process, students need to take the MCAT, which is nearly an eight-hour exam (including breaks) with four sections. The MCAT is an intensive exam, and students need to understand the content and formatting to prepare.

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College Trivia and Fun Facts

If you’re a high school junior applying to college this fall, chances are you’ve been on a college visit or two and have spent a considerable amount of time researching colleges and universities. Many students who have only a limited view of what colleges are like are sometimes shocked to find out how vastly different most institutions are from one another in terms of size, campus life, academics, athletics, and more.

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What Major Should I Choose?

You have a lot of decisions to make when it comes to choosing which colleges to apply to, and one factor that might influence your balanced college list is choosing a major. Some students already know what they want to major in, and this may influence which colleges they apply to. For other students, the choice of undergraduate major may be a bit less certain.

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USC vs. UCLA: Which College Is the Right One for You?

Students interested in attending college in Los Angeles often prioritize two schools: the University of Southern California (USC) and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). While they are both located in the same geographic area, they differ in a few significant ways that may impact which school you choose. If you’re considering both schools, it’s helpful to take a deeper dive into their similarities and differences.

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ACT Superscoring: Colleges that Superscore the ACT

Superscoring is used by many colleges to evaluate your best possible performance on the SAT or ACT. What is superscoring? It’s when admissions committees consider only the highest section scores across all SAT or ACT test dates that are submitted when evaluating applications.

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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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Single-Gender Colleges: Pros and Cons of Attending Them

Single-gender colleges — institutions that exclusively admit either male or female students — are often praised for their ability to empower and inspire confidence in their students. However, students may also miss out on some benefits and experiences offered by coeducational institutions. Learn more about the pros and cons to determine if a single-gender education is right for you.

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3 Skills to Master for Standardized Test Success

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, standardized tests are an important part of college admissions, especially with more schools going back to requiring test scores. While test prep can certainly help you improve your score by a lot, mastering a few key skills can make all the difference when it comes to achieving your goal score on the SAT or ACT.

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Exploring Academic Enrichment Beyond the Classroom

If you’re a college-bound high school student, you are likely already aware that it’s important to build a strong profile for college admissions. Colleges want you to demonstrate on your application how you developed and deepened your academic interests throughout high school. A good way to do this is through academic enrichment.

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