IvyWise KnowledgeBase

The word “networking” might conjure up images of professional adults shaking hands and exchanging business cards at industry conferences. Sounds like a rather transactional interaction, doesn’t it? Networking, however, isn’t just about career advancement — it’s about forming connections that support your goals and personal growth. Developing this skill early on can help you build meaningful relationships that can lead to incredible opportunities.

Ok, maybe not everyone loves the thrill of crafting the perfect Tuesday/Thursday class lineup with no Friday classes and nothing before 10am, but planning for your four years is essential. After all, what you do in college will impact what you do after college.

For many students applying to college, writing about extracurricular activities can feel like an afterthought — secondary to essays, test scores, and recommendations. But your activity list is one of the most important parts of your application.

Choosing a college major can feel like a life-altering decision, especially when your interests span multiple fields. What if you’re fascinated by arts and computer science or engineering and business management? For students whose interests defy traditional academic boundaries, dual degree programs offer an exciting and enriching path. If you’re a truly interdisciplinary thinker, these programs allow you to dive deep into two distinct areas without choosing just one.

Families who scan only the marquee names when looking for colleges and universities risk missing campuses that deliver academic depth and lively communities in more intimate settings. Just because an institution isn’t listed in the best college rankings, that doesn’t mean it should be overlooked — it is often these underrated schools that offer the most opportunities for students to thrive and be successful.

Though the visual arts require talent and skill, they also require knowledge and critical thinking. Students who want to study art in college should consider beefing up their knowledge outside of the classroom. One way to become a “pointy” student in the visual arts is through extracurricular reading.

I recently asked ChatGPT to generate a 650-word college essay based on a hypothetical high school flag football captain with a budding interest in kinesiology. The result? It was predictably contrived and full of cliches.

For students who have spent countless hours coding apps, building robots, designing aeronautical models, or crafting engineering projects, the traditional college application doesn’t always do justice to their work. While essays and activities lists can provide context, there’s often no space to fully showcase hands-on projects. That’s where a STEM portfolio, also known as a maker portfolio, comes in.

Curiosity is an important quality in applicants to highly selective colleges. One way students can demonstrate curiosity is by connecting the dots across various topics of conversation. Applicants can demonstrate this ability to move fluidly between ideas, subjects, and disciplines through their college essays, teacher recommendations, and admissions interviews. Students who demonstrate a genuine thirst for understanding make the most memorable impression.

When students begin their college search, they often look at big-name institutions like Ivy League schools or flagship state universities. However, some of the most rewarding college experiences come from schools that fly under the radar. These hidden gems offer hands-on learning, career-driven programs, and unique traditions that make them just as competitive — if not more — than their well-known counterparts.