College Prep

Sometimes, the college process feels like climbing a mountain – a little intimidating, with some obstacles you need to navigate along the way. But if you pick your milestones, break it down into smaller pieces, and remember to have some fun along the way, you will make it to the top. For juniors in the middle of college prep, the second part of the year can feel like you’re staring up a mountain – so what do you do next?

For juniors preparing for the college admissions process, there’s a lot to consider when evaluating the strength of your applicant profile. There has been a lot of buzz recently about what colleges can do to alleviate college prep stress, and what colleges are really looking for in applicants today, so it’s easy for college-bound families to get confused by conflicting reports and certain admissions misinformation. Our team of expert counselors is here to set the record straight about what colleges actually want to see in applications and how students can prepare.

As admissions experts, we are often asked, "How many hours of community service is enough?" It's crucial to understand that community service is not about the quantity of hours spent, but rather the quality of those hours you've devoted. Some high schools require students to participate in a certain amount of service.

When I meet with a new student and their parents for the first time, I will often point out the things about their college admissions profile that are “set in stone.” The closer the student is to senior year, the longer this list is because we are too close to application season to make any big changes to GPA, testing, and activities. When I meet with younger students, though, there are a lot of things about their profile that are set in stone and there’s a lot they can do to make the most of their high school experience so that come senior year they’re satisfied with the elements they’ve solidified.

How does one prepare for a future that seems so uncertain? How do you pace yourself for a race whose length you don’t actually know? Or, more practically, how do you write admissions essays that will convince your dream school that all you want is to be a student there when you haven’t been able to visit?

By Indhika, IvyWise Graduate Admissions Counselor Having committed mentors in college goes beyond gaining advice on courses and securing strong letters of recommendation. Cultivating mentors who support your goals, identify opportunities, and advocate for your success will help you make the most of your college experience and solidify the foundation for your future pursuits. Moreover, a strong mentor will support and inspire you, facilitating reflection and personal growth and helping you navigate challenges.

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.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted learners at all stages of their academic journey, and while the 2020-2021 school year has certainly left many college-bound students feeling that they have lost valuable time in pursuit of college preparation, there's still a lot that they can do virtually to make progress on their college prep goals. In fact, thanks to digital technology, many major college readiness milestones can now be achieved from the comfort of your living room. Students are participating in tutoring sessions over Zoom, attending virtual college tours, and getting involved in volunteer activities through online platforms.

If you are like most busy high school students, the demands made on you inside and outside of the classroom combined with the pressures of getting into college can leave you feeling spread too thin. It's a bit of a balancing act, trying to make time for homework and studying for exams; playing a sport, participating in an organization, or volunteering after school; all while maintaining an active social and family life, and squeezing in some occasional alone time to read a book or listen to music. Add to that taking standardized tests, visiting college campuses, and applying to 10 to 12 colleges, and you'll see why it's easy to become overwhelmed during these important four years.

Preparing for college is a lot like growing a beautiful garden. It takes time, patience, and the right combination of nurturing and independence to help the seeds of college ideas grow into bountiful plans. Ninth grade is the ideal time to start cultivating those sprouts of college dreams, as it gives students time to mature and explore subjects and activities that interest them and will eventually grow into education and career goals.

A great opportunity for many students to consider as part of their high school journey is taking advantage of study abroad and having some type of international immersion experience. These international experiences can promote personal growth, intercultural development and competency, and academic and career exploration. Study abroad is most well known as an opportunity for college students, typically in their junior years to spend a semester or full-year living in another country and studying at a local university there.

“We’re all in this together.” We’ve all heard this more than a few times by now, right? It’s a bit cheesy and a bit cliché, but at least when it comes to universities, high schools, teachers, counselors, parents, and students, I wholeheartedly subscribe to it.

The holidays are about giving and sharing. In light of recent belt tightening, forget about hitting the mall to buy a sweater or a gift card. The best gift you could give yourself and others is time.

As we finished crafting her final college list and were poised to begin working on her applications, a student sat across the table from me and asked, “how will I stand out?” What might have been a simple question was made more complex by the schools on her list. While many students will apply to a wide range of schools, it’s important to remember that when applying to both smaller and larger schools all the same information is considered, just in different ways.

This year our team of expert counselors worked with one of the largest senior classes in IvyWise history. It was a successful college application season, with 92% of IvyWise students gaining acceptance to one or more of their top three choice colleges. The schools to which IvyWise students gained admission included all eight Ivy League universities, Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University, Duke University, and MIT, to name a few.

Positively impacting communities, both local and global, is important to IvyWise. Through IvyWise Gives Back, we aim to improve educational opportunities for children across the world. Our counselors are also heavily involved in various non-profit, service, and community organizations and projects, and we want to highlight the great work our counselors do outside of admissions consulting!

Can one person change the world? Picture this: Fish are flopping all over the beach, gasping for air. There are thousands of them and more keep washing ashore.

IvyWise’s class of 2019 was one of our most successful yet, with our students gaining admission to some of the most selective colleges and universities in the US, including all eight Ivy Leagues, Stanford, and MIT – to name only a few. Here’s where our students were accepted for the college class of 2023. Even though many colleges and universities reported record-low admission rates for the class of 2022, our students’ performance has been consistently well above average, with IvyWise students more than three times as likely to get into highly-selective institutions.

IvyWise’s class of 2018 was one of our most successful yet, with our students gaining admission to some of the most selective colleges and universities in the US, including all eight Ivy Leagues and Stanford. Here’s where our students were accepted for the college class of 2022. Even though many colleges and universities reported record-low admission rates for the class of 2022, our students’ performance has been consistently well above average, with IvyWise students more than three times as likely to get into highly-selective institutions.

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!