IvyWise Blog

Students navigating the college admissions process continue to experience unique challenges and changes, including the announcement of an entirely digital SAT, continued test-optional policies, increasing application numbers, and each student applying to more colleges on average. All of this has led to an even more competitive year at the most selective colleges in the U.S., while other schools plan to admit more students than ever before in order to manage enrollment numbers.

For nearly 25 years, I’ve made a career out of helping students navigate their road to college. From test prep to pre-college summer programs to admissions counseling, I have seen firsthand how the right support can transform uncertainty into confidence and turn dreams into acceptances.

While the college search process is an exciting time for your child, the financial aspect may leave you feeling stressed and anxious. It’s crucial to discuss college costs and budgeting openly and honestly with your college-bound child early in the process. This ensures everyone in the family is on the same page financially and helps your student feel confident and supported in their educational choices.

If you aspire to a top-flight college or university and are seeking financial aid and scholarships, you have probably come across an organization called QuestBridge. Like many others, you may wonder what it is, who it’s for, and how it works.

From Notre Dame’s leprechaun to Oregon’s duck, college mascots are more than just a figure on the sidelines — they are a treasured part of college life at many institutions. They embody the spirit, history, and identity of a college or university, rallying students, alumni, and fans alike under a shared banner. They evoke a sense of belonging and pride within the campus community and beyond.

As part of the medical school admissions process, students need to take the MCAT, which is nearly an eight-hour exam (including breaks) with four sections. The MCAT is an intensive exam, and students need to understand the content and formatting to prepare.

If you’re a high school junior applying to college this fall, chances are you’ve been on a college visit or two and have spent a considerable amount of time researching 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.

You have a lot of decisions to make when it comes to choosing which colleges to apply to, and one factor that might influence your balanced college list is choosing a major. Some students already know what they want to major in, and this may influence which colleges they apply to. For other students, the choice of undergraduate major may be a bit less certain.

Harvard is one of the most popular first-choice colleges for students, and it’s also one of the most competitive. Admission rates are consistently under 5% — for the class of 2028, the admission rate was 3.65%.

Given this competitive admissions rate, some very talented students are going to find themselves on Harvard’s waitlist. While most applicants have a general idea of what a waitlisted outcome means, few understand how waitlists really work and what they can do to boost their odds of admission.

As part of our IvyWise Gives Back initiative, we offer the IvyWise Scholars pro bono counseling program. Each year, we accept a select number of eligible students into the program. Through a combination of college counseling and tutoring, IvyWise Scholars are empowered to achieve their personal and academic goals.