College Application Tips

Events Class of 2025: It's Not Too Late! College Admissions Q&A DATE AND TIME Monday, December 16 3pm ET Free Register ABOUT THIS EVENT As Regular Decision and Early Decision II deadlines approach, many 12th graders are stressed about finalizing their college applications. Join IvyWise college admissions counselors for an interactive webinar to ask your questions about: Standing out in the Common App and college essays Navigating a deferral decision from the Early Decision or Early Action rounds Deciding whether to apply Early Decision II to a top-choice school Finalizing your college lists We will provide all registrants with a link to the recording of the webinar after the event.

Events How to Build a Competitive College Admissions Profile DATE AND TIME On Demand Free Watch Now ABOUT THIS EVENT Building an authentic and compelling profile throughout high school is key to college admissions success. Activities, interests, and academic pursuits all come together to tell the story of who a student is in their college application, bringing them to life to the admissions committee. But each student’s interests and goals are as unique as they are, so how can they build a strong profile if they’re unsure about where to start?

Events Decisions, Decisions: Early vs. Regular College Application Rounds DATE AND TIME On Demand Free Watch Now ABOUT THIS EVENT Attendees learn the differences between the various application rounds (Early Action, Early Decision, and Regular Decision), how to identify the best round to apply in for each college on their lists, and what steps to take if deferred during an early application round. At the end of the presentation, IvyWise experts answered attendees' questions about college admissions.

Events Catch Their Eye: How to Write Compelling College Application Essays DATE AND TIME On Demand Free Watch Now ABOUT THIS EVENT Join IvyWise college admissions experts to learn how you can showcase your best self when applying to college. They cover: Each step of the Common App, including the activities section and the optional community disruption question How to stand out to admissions officers when applying with the Common App Tips for brainstorming essay topics, beginning the first draft, word choice and tone, editing the final personal statement essay How to use supplemental essays to demonstrate interest in each college on your list Following their presentation, Katie and Alecia answered questions from the audience about the Common App and college essays. Alecia » Formerly of Duke University Katie » Formerly of MIT

Events Student Success Stories: A Peek Inside the Admissions Office DATE AND TIME On Demand Free Watch Now ABOUT THIS EVENT What goes on in the admissions office when evaluating applications and deciding who to admit? Join IvyWise college admissions counselors - each with experience in admissions committees making tough decisions in the room where it all happens. They: Demystify how U.

Events Class of 2025 College Application Primer With Former Admissions Directors DATE AND TIME On Demand Free Watch Now ABOUT THIS EVENT After three years of hard work, it is almost time for the Class of 2025 to apply to college!  But what comes next? Join IvyWise college admissions counselors for a deep dive into the college application process and how you can set yourself up for success as you look ahead to the 2024-2025 college admissions cycle.

Events Class of 2027 College Application Primer With Former Admissions Directors DATE AND TIME On Demand Free Watch Now ABOUT THIS EVENT As the Class of 2027 finishes up their first year of high school, now is a great time to regroup on the past few months and plan ahead for the rest of high school. Join IvyWise college admissions counselors for a deep dive into the college application process and how you can set yourself up for success over the next few years of high school. Attendees learn about selecting the right courses, developing their personal profile, and identifying the best-fit extracurricular activities and summer plans.

Events Class of 2026 College Application Primer With Former Admissions Directors DATE AND TIME On Demand Free Watch Now ABOUT THIS EVENT The Class of 2026 is almost halfway done with high school, but there is still plenty of time to take advantage of the flexibility and opportunity that next few years can offer. Join IvyWise college admissions counselors for a deep dive into the college application process and how you can set yourself up for success over the next few years of high school. Attendees learn about selecting the right courses, developing their personal profile, identifying the best-fit extracurricular activities and summer plans, and beginning the college search process.

Embarking on the U.S. college application journey as an expat can feel as puzzling as your first day at your new international school — despite your well-developed cultural adaptability, cross-cultural communication skills, and unique global perspective.

Imagine that you’re applying to 10+ schools this fall. You’re spending what seems like an eternity trying to find that one email X college sent you, scrolling endlessly through your inbox. Maybe you can’t remember where you saved your latest essay draft for Y college on your laptop.

By an IvyWise College Admissions Counselor Are you a homeschooler? A distance learner? A non-traditional student?

Do I have to participate in STEM Olympiads? Should I have a research internship? I need a wow factor independent project, right?

By Mike, IvyWise College Admissions Counselor As the sun sets on the summer and we enter another academic year, seniors are less than a year away from the induction into adulthood and independence that awaits after high school graduation. Before that new journey begins, seniors must contend with graduation requirements and post-high school plans. During my tenure as the Director of College Counseling at a private high school in New York City, I oftentimes saw seniors weighed down by the stress and uncertainty of the college application process.

By Carl F., IvyWise Master Tutor We’ve all been there: staring at an “impossible” problem on the ACT or SAT, unsure how we will ever solve this test troll’s riddle and make it safely to the other side of the bridge. Worse, you’re absolutely positive that getting this question right is the difference between your goal score and the one that’ll have you miss the cut for your ideal college.

“Today was a good day at school. Ingrid and I played at recess.” And so began my very first journal entry.

Students who are interested in applying Early Decision likely have many questions about the process. From what the timeline looks like to how this process will impact their admissions odds, there are a multitude of queries that go through every applicant’s mind. Admissions rates are frequently top of mind, as students are eager to gauge their chances of acceptance.

Boarding school can be an excellent opportunity for students to get a taste of campus life, learn from a diverse group of classmates, and explore new passions. Much like the college search process, there are a variety of institutions that students must consider before compiling their list of best-fit options for boarding school. Students who are interested in this opportunity should start by researching various boarding schools and pinpointing the choices that best align with their needs and goals.

The process of preparing for, taking, and responding to standardized test scores is a stressful and overwhelming one for students and families, and with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, this process has only become more stressful in recent years. One of the ways that colleges have responded to the pandemic's obstacles is to implement test-optional admissions policies to avoid disadvantaging students who have been unable to sit for an ACT or SAT. This was a sudden and drastic shift that left many students and families with questions about how it will impact their own applications.

“To get into a good college, do I need to play an instrument, join a team sport, participate in community service, run for student government, win robotics and writing competitions, sing in the school musical, write for the newspaper, and design the yearbook cover?” One of the most common questions I receive as a college counselor is some version of the above. As the college admissions process becomes increasingly competitive and opaque, students feel pressured to do it all.

As a former high school English teacher, I always tout the importance of reading as a means to improve one's writing, especially when it comes to the college essay. Author Annie Proulx perhaps sums it up best: "Writing comes from reading, and reading is the finest teacher of how to write."  Reading exposes you to different writing styles, diction, and sentence syntax which can influence, improve, and even inspire your own writing style.

IvyWise counselors Rachel and Zach share their top tips on how to brainstorm and write college application essays, and what admissions officers are looking for when they read them on the college admissions podcast, giving listeners expert insight from former admissions officers. Listen Now!Writing college application essays is often the most stressful part of the admissions process for students, and as a result many tend to put them off until the last minute.