IvyWise Blog

Cornell University is an Ivy League school in Ithaca, New York. Renowned for its cutting-edge research, Cornell is ranked 17th among U.S. universities by U.S. News and World Report. Founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, the university opened in 1868. Students who attend Cornell are known as Cornellians, and the university’s athletic teams are nicknamed “Big Red” after the football fight song, The Big, Red Team, was composed in 1905 by Cornell graduate Romeyn Berry. Today, Cornell is home to nearly 26,000 undergraduate and graduate students.

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), is one of the most selective universities in the prestigious public University of California system. Located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, UCLA offers the best of both worlds: an urban campus with access to all the nature the great state of California has to offer. 

The college application process is an opportunity for self-discovery and personal growth, but it can also be stressful and filled with uncertainty. For many students, working with a college admissions counselor can be a meaningful way to expand their horizons and receive nuanced guidance throughout the process.

If you’re planning to apply to Rice University, you can request to be interviewed as part of the admissions process. While Rice University interviews are optional and not guaranteed, they provide a unique opportunity for you to learn more about the campus experience, showcase your knowledge of Rice, and highlight your life experiences and accomplishments. If you don’t have an interview, it won’t hurt your chances of gaining admission. However, participating in an interview can give you a competitive edge, since your interviewer submits a report to the admissions committee.  

The University of California at Berkeley, or Cal, as it’s lovingly called, is a legendary institution of higher learning located in charming Berkeley, California, on the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay. Read on to find out more about UC Berkeley, how to get in, and how to improve your applicant profile to increase your chances of admission.

Most universities offer hundreds of options for students looking to beef up their schedules; from student organizations to quirky clubs, there is usually something for everyone. If you have no idea where to start, ask yourself what your friends are doing, how you would like to spend your free time on (or off) campus, or, if you don’t see anything you like, maybe think about starting your own club or extracurricular activity!

Students who plan to go to medical school generally spend their undergraduate years pursuing a pre-med course of study to prepare them for a career in medicine or other health fields. But what exactly is pre-med, and what courses are you expected to take? If you’re thinking of attending medical school, keep reading to learn more about pre-med requirements and which schools in the U.S. offer the best programs. 

If you’re going through the medical school admissions process, you are hoping to be invited to one or more medical school interviews — the final step before admissions decisions. Being invited to interviews is exciting, but it can also be nerve-wracking. Attending interviews takes a lot of time and preparation, and the format and structure may vary for each one. Keep reading to learn more about the different types of medical school admissions interviews, how to prepare for them, and what to do after the interview.

Tulane University offers classic southern charm and intellectual rigor with the unique cultural landscape that only New Orleans can offer. A strong school spirit and a singular sense of place pervade the campus at this mid-sized, private research university in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The Common Application officially opened for the 2023-24 college application season on August 1, allowing students across the globe to begin their college admissions journey. But what is the Common Application, exactly? Who can use it and when? You can build your college prep strategy more easily by understanding the Common App. Here’s what you need to know.