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IvyWise Blog

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Stanford University Supplemental Essay Prompt Guide 2026-27

If Stanford is one of your top-choice schools, you may be wondering how you can make your application stand out. Your responses to Stanford’s supplemental essay questions are a significant way to set yourself apart from other applicants. However, these essay prompts require you to be both concise and creative, which is not an easy task.

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Buildings of University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, United States.

How to Get into UVA: All You Need to Know

The University of Virginia is one of the most competitive and exclusive public universities in the country. It was famously founded by one of the Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson, in 1819 in the beautiful city of Charlottesville, Virginia. UVA boasts a beautiful and sprawling campus that those in the know lovingly call “Grounds.” A campus quad is located within Grounds, known as “the Lawn,” where students attend classes, participate in student activities, and keep UVA traditions alive.

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What Is the Role of the School Profile in College Admissions?

What Is the Role of the School Profile in the College Admissions Process?

What does strength of school mean, and how do colleges use the school profile to evaluate applicants? In this episode of the Just Admit It! podcast, IvyWise experts Tasha and Juaquin explain how admissions officers read a transcript in the context of a student’s high school and share tips for strengthening your academic profile within it.

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Bovard Auditorium, USC campus

How to Get into USC: All You Need to Know

The University of Southern California — or USC, as it’s best known — is a top research university and one of the most selective schools in the country. Located in sunny Los Angeles, California, it’s been a pioneer in academic and research initiatives since its beginnings in 1880.

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Young students of robotics preparing robot for testing in workshop

25 Best Mechanical Engineering Schools in the U.S. in 2026

Mechanical engineering involves the study of machines, materials, and mechanisms — that is, how things work. If you have a genuine interest in understanding how mechanical systems function and enjoy working with tools and machinery, this field may be a good fit. To be successful, you should enjoy tackling challenges, thinking critically, and finding creative ways to solve problems.

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Columbia University campus

Columbia University Acceptance Rate for Class of 2030

As a member of the Ivy League, Columbia University is known as one of the best colleges in the U.S. and one of the most highly selective institutions in the country — and that selectivity shows no sign of easing.

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aerial view of Princeton University campus

How to Get into Princeton: All You Need to Know

Princeton tops is a dream school for many students. Like most other Ivy League colleges, the university is known for its rigor and increasingly competitive applicant pool.

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Buildings at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.

How to Get into Penn: All You Need to Know

The University of Pennsylvania is an Ivy League university located in Philadelphia. “Penn,” as it’s colloquially known, was the first university in the U.S. to offer both undergraduate and graduate studies. Originally founded in 1740 as a charity school and church, Benjamin Franklin proposed in 1749 to turn it into an institution of higher education after publishing his famous essay, Proposal Relating to the Education of Youth. The university has come a long way since then, becoming one of the most prestigious universities in the country.  

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Washington Square Arch at NYU

How to Write the NYU Supplemental Essay 2026-27

NYU has long been a top-choice school for many students, and with an admissions rate under 10% in recent years, it is also exceptionally competitive.

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aerial view of Georgia Tech campus

How to Get into Georgia Tech: All You Need to Know

Known for its rigorous academic programs, particularly in engineering and technology, the Georgia Institute of Technology — better known as Georgia Tech — attracts applicants from around the globe. Located in the bustling city of Atlanta, Georgia Tech is one of the top public research universities in the U.S. Admission is highly competitive, so prospective students need to start early to build a strong applicant profile.  

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