SAT Calculator Hacks From An Expert Tutor
Tips and Free Tools For Students Using Calculators On the SAT
By Priyam, IvyWise Master Tutor
It’s SAT and ACT season for college bound students, and many will go into these tests with a calculator in-hand. Make sure you know how – and when – to use it.
Innovative Free Apps To Help You Step Up Your SAT and ACT Vocabulary
Utilize Free Resoures To Supplement Your Test Prep
By Megan, IvyWise Tutoring Manager
Expanding your vocabulary is important in high school, especially when preparing for the SAT or ACT, as they both have sections that will test your reading skills and your knowledge of certain words and their definitions. There are a number of free apps that students can use to enhance their vocabulary and make the most of their test prep.
How Many Times Should I Take the SAT or ACT?
Students Should Avoid Taking College Entrance Exams Too Many Times
Junior year is a big testing year for college bound students, and as they prepare for the SAT or ACT many students might not be taking the test for the first time. It’s not uncommon for students to take the SAT or ACT multiple times, but how many times is too many?
Test Prep 101: Guide to the ACT English Section
Here’s What Students Need to Know About the ACT English Section
By IvyWise Master Tutor
Are you preparing for the ACT this summer? Understanding the exam’s content, format, and strategies to maximize your performance on test day is important in order to make the most of your test prep and, in the end, reach your goal score.
Test Prep 101: Guide to the SAT Essay
Here’s What Students Need to Know About the SAT Essay Section
By IvyWise Master Tutor
Understanding test content, formatting, and changes are important when preparing for the SAT – especially the essay portion. There have been a number of changes to the SAT since the launch of the new exam in 2016, and our guide to the SAT Essay will help students better understand how to master this section should they choose to take it.
Watch These 6 College Acceptance Reaction Videos
Watch Some of the Newest Members of the Class of 2021 Learn of Their Acceptances
Admission decisions for the class of 2021 are in, and college bound students across the country are deciding where to spend the next four years. Students have had to wait a long time for their final admission decisions, and for those with good news, the moment was too good not to be captured on camera.
IvyWise Pro Bono Student Feature: Kaitlyn
IvyWise Student Kaitlyn Shares Her Experience, Motivation, and Advice
As high school seniors across the US, and the world, await college admission decisions for the class of 2021, it’s important to remember the focus of this process at the end of the day: the student. At IvyWise we have the honor of working with some amazing students, and we’d like to take the time to feature some of them.
Class of 2020 Admission Rates
Colleges Continue to Report Record-Low Admission Rates, Stanford Admits 4.69% of Applicants for the Class of 2020
It was another competitive admission season for the class of 2020, with admission rates for the incoming freshman class remaining low and even dropping from the 2014-15 cycle.
Colleges That Combine Liberal Arts and STEM Education
Who Says Liberal Arts and STEM Can’t Coexist?
As more families consider the ROI of a college education, the value of a liberal arts education in today’s world has been a hot topic. With many STEM degrees and programs topping lists of “highest paying majors” and “best college ROI,” many have waged a war on the liberal arts, pegging them as useless degrees that don’t warrant the cost. However, while a STEM degree can open doors to lucrative careers, many employers are finding that, without a liberal arts background, many STEM graduates lack the necessary communication, management, and collaboration skills that are necessary in the workforce.
How to Manage College Admissions Stress
Applying to College Can Be Stressful But It Doesn’t Have to Be
It’s only natural for teens to feel pressure when navigating the college admissions process – it is, after all, one of the biggest decisions many teens will have made up until this point. In the January newsletter we covered how to manage test anxiety, which is common among many teens taking the ACT or SAT in hopes of getting into their dream school. While testing anxiety can be crippling, the college preparation process extends beyond one Saturday morning test. Many students can feel overwhelmed going into the process, and the stress can cause problems with grades, family, friends, health, and more.
6 Tips For Recording a College Application Video Essay
Here’s How to Record an Outstanding College Application Essay 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 essay videos.
8 College Admission Dos and Don’ts for Parents
As a parent it’s hard not to want to play a major part of your student’s college search and application process. While it’s important to be involved in the process, there are some boundaries that parents of college bound students need to observe.
5 Common College Application Essay Myths
Make Sure You Know The Truth About College Application Essays Before Starting On Your Common Application
The Common Application opens this weekend on August 1, and for many rising seniors this is the perfect opportunity to get a head start on their college applications before the start of the school year. However, before students dive into their college application essays, they need to know what’s true, and what’s false, about these common application essay myths.
College Trivia and Fun Facts
Test Your College Knowledge with These Fun College Trivia Questions
If you’re a high school junior applying to college next year, chances are you’ve been on a college visit or two and have spent a considerable amount of time researching different 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. During your research and visits it’s likely you’ve learned a lot and picked up some interesting college facts along the way! Now it’s time to put your knowledge to the test with these fun questions.
Tips for College Visit Information Sessions
IvyWise Expert Counselor Nat Shares Tips and Advice for What to Do Before, During, and After Information Sessions
When preparing for college visits, it’s important for families to plan ahead and register for official information sessions and campus tours. In some cases, families can overlook the information session by assuming it’s a general presentation with little impact as to whether a student will choose to apply there or not. This is a huge misconception, as the information session is a critical part of the college visit and gives families the best opportunity to get face time with the admissions office and have their questions answered by an actual admissions officer.
January Feature: What’s the 1 In a 4-1-4 Academic Calendar?
These Month-Long January Term Classes Offer Unique Learning Opportunities for Students
At IvyWise we like to highlight colleges, programs, and facets of college life that many students may not be aware of. Each month, we will highlight a unique aspect of a school, program, or event in an effort to help students learn more about the variety of institutions in the US – and the many different ways they can get a best-fit education.
30 Things to Expect Your Senior Year of High School
There’s More to Expect Than Just a Case of Senioritis
There are hundreds of books, movies, and TV shows that portray senior year as a time of independence and growth. It’s true that once you hit senior year, you’re no longer a small fish in a big pond. As a senior, you’re a campus leader—it’s your responsibility to show underclassmen the ropes. Three years of high school have made you an expert on all things secondary education, but you may not know what to expect on that first day of senior year. Luckily, we’ve compiled a list for you.
Tips for Supplemental Essays
How to Write Stand-Out Supplements
Supplemental essays on the Common Application are a big part of your applicant profile. They help the admissions office learn more about you, demonstrate your interest, and they give you the opportunity to really stand out in the admissions process.
Finding Your Best Fit School: Spotlight on Boston College
These are a Few of Our Favorite Things…
This week our client relations associate Catherine tells us what she loved about attending Boston College in Chestnut Hill, MA.
Dartmouth Announces AP and IB Credit Changes
School reevaluates awarding college credit for high school courses
Students take Advanced Placement (AP) courses throughout high school, in a variety of subjects, for many different reasons. AP courses can positively weight a student’s GPA, are challenging and are viewed favorably by college admissions counselors on transcripts, and they offer a student with a particular academic curiosity more knowledge and work in that interest. Additionally, most colleges award students who have earned a particular score on the AP exam, usually a 4 or 5, college credit or exemption from core requirements. Gaining credit before enrolling in college courses can lighten students’ workloads, give them the option of graduating early, and may save them money on tuition.
Finding Your Best Fit School: Spotlight on Tulane
These Are a Few of Our Favorite Things…
This week, our IvyWise intern, Becca, shares what she loved about attending Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana.
I have always believed that attending college in New Orleans is like studying abroad for four years. The food, music, and Mardi Gras make living in the “Big Easy” an experience unlike any other. “Lessez les bon temps roulez” (let the good times roll) is a city mantra ever apparent throughout NOLA, including on the campus of Tulane University.
