Do colleges track demonstrated interest, and how can students show informed interest in the schools on their list? In this episode of the IvyWise Just Admit It! podcast, IvyWise counselors Tasha and Dashawn explain what demonstrated interest is, why some colleges track it, and how students can use it strategically.
What counts as an extracurricular activity, and how important are activities in the college admissions process? In this episode of the Just Admit It! podcast, IvyWise experts Tasha and Anthony discuss how admissions officers evaluate extracurricular profiles and share tips on choosing and developing meaningful activities.
Whether you’re a freshman who is just beginning to think about college, a sophomore gearing up to start your standardized test prep, or a junior who is already in the thick of it, now is the time to start thinking about your goals for 2026 and 2027.
Each year, IvyWise welcomes a select group of high-achieving, low-income students into the IvyWise Scholars program, our pro bono college counseling initiative. The reasons each student has for applying to the program are as varied as their backgrounds.
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.
Why do colleges use standardized tests, and how are testing policies changing? In this episode of the Just Admit It! podcast, IvyWise experts Tasha, Claire, and Carl discuss how colleges use test scores and provide tips on preparing for the SAT or ACT.
Approximately 2,000 colleges and universities in the U.S. currently have test-optional or test-free policies for first-year applicants. Other schools have since reinstated their standardized testing requirements.
Curious about the testing policies of the schools on your best-fit list? Check out our recently updated list.
Class rank has long been a key metric in college admissions, offering a snapshot of a student’s academic standing among peers at the same school. This metric can indicate consistency and achievement over time, especially when comparing students from different schools with varying high school grading systems.
When college-bound students start preparing for the SAT or ACT, it’s common for them to wonder which test is better and if the ACT and SAT are considered equally in the application review process. There’s been a long-held myth that one test is favored over the other, but U.S. colleges and universities review the SAT and ACT equally.
The SAT may have changed a lot in recent years, including going digital-only for international students in 2023 and for the U.S. in 2024. But one thing hasn’t changed — a good SAT score will help you gain acceptance into the schools on your college list, even if they’re test-optional. Of course, standardized test scores are just one component of a strong college application, but they help provide a more comprehensive picture of your college readiness. If you’re preparing to take the SAT, keep reading to learn more about how the score is broken down, what’s considered a good score, and what the score range is for the middle 50% of enrolled students at some of the top universities in the U.S.
