College Prep

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.

The Common Application for the 2024-25 college application season opens on August 1, 2024! The Common App essay prompts will remain the same for the upcoming admissions cycle. The Common Application is the most widely used application for college admissions in the U.

By Tasha, IvyWise College Admissions Counselor Have you dreamt of an intimate and intellectually rigorous college experience, one where you engage in deep classroom discussions around a single table with your professor and classmates? Seminar style classrooms, like the one described above, is the bread and butter of liberal arts colleges. The liberal arts model is all about small class size, critical thinking, inspiring classroom discussion, interdisciplinary learning and intellectual curiosity.

Most U.S. colleges and universities use a holistic review method when reviewing applicants for admission, considering various aspects of a student’s academic and personal record.

“I got a B in AP Calculus,” a student recently said to me. “I guess I won’t have a shot at my dream schools, since I know colleges automatically reject students who don’t have straight A’s.” This is a conversation I often have with students this time of year.

As students begin a new school semester, they will soon be meeting with their college counselors to begin planning for the summer and the next school year. One important part of the counseling process is ensuring that students are taking the proper courses that match their academic ability, interests, and ultimately their college admissions goals. For many students and parents, course selection can be an afterthought.

College rankings are often the first exposure that many students have to the concept of a “college list.” It’s easy to become familiar with a few “name brand” schools after seeing them at the top of a list, but what does that number actually mean? And should college rankings play a part in your college list research?

We all know that grades and test scores are key factors in college admissions, but activities outside of the classroom are also very important. Schools are looking to build a class of specialists, so it's important to hone in on a few interests you're really passionate about and develop them. One activity that allows you to learn, document your experience and demonstrate knowledge of a particular field or interest is blogging.

How can high school students use executive functioning skills and practice stress management during the college application process? In Semester 5 Episode 6 of our podcast, IvyWise College Admissions Counselor Robin (formerly at Georgetown University and Vanderbilt University), Executive Functioning Team Leader Lorenza, and Executive Functioning Coach Nicki share their top tips on how school high school students can further develop their executive functioning skills and practice stress management and self-care during the college application process. Tune in here!

By Rod, IvyWise College Admissions Counselor Direct dental programs allow high school students to apply to and, if successful, be admitted into an undergraduate institution and a partner dental school simultaneously. These programs are referred to by several different names such as accelerated dental or BS (BA)/DDS (DMD) programs. Regardless of the nomenclature, the program typically allows students to complete an undergrad and dentistry degree at the same institution, although in some cases these two degrees must be completed at two separate but partner institutions.

The Price Is Right is iconic, having graced TV screens since 1972. Plinko, the Showcase Showdown, and of course the excitement as they call your name to come on down to contestant’s row is familiar to a lot of people, so I was thrilled when I appeared as a contestant in 2017. Becoming one of the nine players that are plucked out from an audience of 300 (that's a 3% “acceptance rate") is not as simple as just showing up and hoping for some good luck.

In this webinar, IvyWise’s WiseStart™ Counselor Christine and Executive Functioning Coach Lorenza will explain how building a strong foundation of executive functioning skills at a young age sets a student up for future success in the college application process and beyond. Watch now From helping you manage time and attention to solving problems and maintaining emotional control, executive functioning skills are invaluable for navigating the complexities of daily life and achieving your goals. These cognitive processes can have a significant impact on your quality of life.

It's important to dream big when planning for your future, but college bound students also need to dream smart when it comes to their college lists. A list too heavy on “reach” schools leads to an unbalanced college list and a greater chance of students being left with few offers of admission come decision day. Ideally, students will apply to a list of “target,” “likely,” and “reach” colleges.

Compiled by Katherine Cohen, Ph.D., CEO & Founder and the team of counselors at IvyWise You made it through the first half of junior year, which means you're on your way to being a senior and ruling the school!

There are many nuances to the college admissions process, and one of the aspects that can be hard for students to navigate is whether or not applying to their parents’ alma mater will impact their chances of admission. Legacy status in college admissions can be a confusing avenue to travel, but there can be some benefits — and drawbacks — to applying to college as a legacy. While data on legacy admissions can be vague and sparse, some colleges do provide data on exactly how many legacy students apply each year and how many were offered admission and/or matriculated.

When applying to college, the goal of most students is to “stand out.” They want to know what they can do to differentiate themselves from the thousands of other applicants they are competing against to win a spot at their top-choice college. Some students think a stellar essay will separate them from the pack.

Despite the current economy, a business education is still a hot commodity—and if you’ve found yourself glued to MarketWatch.com, thinking about how to launch your great business idea, or wowed by the impact of Twitter and Facebook on customer service, you might want to consider a school with an undergraduate business program. There are many undergraduate business programs in the country, offering a wide range of opportunities for students interested in fields such as finance, accounting, international business, real estate, marketing, information technology and entrepreneurship.

For most ninth graders, the thought of college is so far off they don’t want to engage with the process until it becomes more time-sensitive in 11th grade. Many think “well, I have a lot of time to think about this,” and while this is true they also need to be actively engaging in simple college prep tasks to get and stay on track with their college admissions goals. This might sound overwhelming to some underclassmen — thinking about college prep while also juggling current schoolwork and activities — but when approached in the right manner it can be really fun and exciting for everyone!

Early decision and early action deadlines are quickly approaching, and as we enter the homestretch of the college application process, anxiety will continue to build. Stressed out students can lead to stressed out parents – and that can make for a tense household. It’s only natural for students to experience some stress and anxiety when applying to college.

As fans of TLC’s series know far too well, every child is unique – even if you have twins and sextuplets! As the fall provides you with an opportunity to reflect on how much your children have grown and developed into young adults, you may be dealing with the dynamic of sibling rivalry. I hope the following provides a quick guide to help you manage your role as parent when your children apply to college.