IvyWise Blog

Figuring out the college admissions and financial aid processes can be stressful and complicated for both students and parents. It can be especially difficult if you’re afraid your financial situation puts a college education out of reach. After all, some schools take financial aid needs into consideration when evaluating applicants.

However, many colleges offer “need-blind” admissions that give students from all economic backgrounds a chance to further their education. In this article, we’ll explore what need-blind admissions means and how it may impact your chances of admission.

Internships offer valuable experience and can be an excellent way to get your foot in the door in a particular field. But what exactly is an internship, and how does it work? Let’s take a closer look at internships and discuss what they are and how college students can get the most out of them.

In the past several years, testing policies have varied wildly across the U.S. admissions landscape. While it was once a given that applicants would submit their test scores with their college applications, students now may be wondering whether it is still worthwhile to take the ACT or SAT exam. Keep reading to find out why it is in many applicants’ best interest to submit a standardized test score — even if the school does not require it.

Are you looking for the perfect way to boost your college admissions? If you are passionate about technology and find your math and science classes interesting, STEM education is a great way to do just that. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math, and it is becoming increasingly important in today’s world.

By focusing on these four areas of study, students can gain important skills to help them excel in college and beyond. Keep reading to learn more about pursuing a STEM education.

For many young adults, college offers the first taste of independence, an opportunity to make lifelong friendships, and a chance to learn important life skills. However, college life isn’t the same for everyone. Every student will have a unique college experience, but certain elements of campus life are universal.

While the application process may seem intimidating at first, every student’s college admissions journey is an opportunity to discover more about themselves and their academic goals. With the right strategy, all students will be able to identify their own best-fit schools and showcase why they deserve a spot on campus. 

If you’ve been paying attention to education or technology news lately, you’ve likely heard a lot about ChatGPT, the new tool from OpenAI that generates astonishingly human-like text based on prompts and questions submitted by the user. We have been getting a lot of questions about this tool and how it should or should not be used in the college application process. Because this is a new advancement and I am far from a technological expert, I thought it would be best to pose these questions to the tool itself.

While it might be okay to go into your weekend without an itinerary in place, the same can’t be said for college admissions. If you’re looking to minimize your stress levels while boosting your odds of getting accepted into your first-choice school, creating a college planning process is essential.

The college process can feel overwhelming, especially when students get a late start. From compiling a best-fit list to writing essays, there are many steps in the college application process. Consequently, we always encourage students to start early and build executive functioning skills that will serve them throughout college and beyond. While high school is undoubtedly a crucial time, there are several steps students and families can take to start preparing long before ninth grade.

Taking AP or IB courses doesn’t just look good from a college admissions perspective—these classes can also translate into college credit once a student enrolls. While policies vary by college, many universities will grant college credits that go towards specific course requirements, in turn allowing students to free up some room in their schedules. Even if AP and IB courses are only applied towards a student’s overall credit count, completing advanced classes is a great way to get a jump start on college.