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IvyWise Blog

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.

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How to Manage College Admissions Stress

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.

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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.

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5 Common College Application Essay Myths

The Common Application opens 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.

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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.

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30 Things to Expect Your Senior Year of High School

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.

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Tips for Supplemental Essays

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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.

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Finding Your Best Fit School: Spotlight on Tulane

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. 

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Finding Your Best Fit School: Spotlight on Washington University

This week, one of our awesome interns shares what she loves about attending Washington University in St. Louis. Though she (and her parents) were originally considering mostly Ivy League schools, extensive research and campus visits proved that this Missouri university was her best fit school:

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