College Prep

Let's pretend you're a couch potato who wants to train for a marathon. You're going to want to set goals to help increase your chances of success, right? For instance, you may decide to increase your mileage or speed slowly each week.

By an IvyWise Principal College Admissions Counselor In 2013, a Pennsylvania high school student named Suzy Lee Weiss wrote an op-ed piece in the Wall Street Journal about not being admitted to the Ivy League colleges of her dreams. The article drew national controversy over the unrealistic expectations of college admissions offices and the role of diversity in building an incoming class at the most prestigious universities. "I offer about as much diversity as a saltine cracker," she wrote, satirically.

There are so few places in the college application process for a student’s voice to be truly heard. Sure there’s the essay and email communication with an admissions representative, but what makes a college admissions interview such a valuable opportunity is the chance to talk about yourself in a less structured and less formal way. It’s an opportunity to share your story the way you want it to be heard.

Compiled by Will Fitzhugh from The Concord Review The formal research paper in high schools has been steadily disappearing over the past two decades, and it shows no signs of revival. The accessibility of the Internet, larger high school class sizes, over-worked teachers, and a growing emphasis on alternative forms of research presentation has dwindled the traditional 15-20 page research paper to just a few pages and Power Point presentations. As the founder and editor of The Concord Review, I have spent the last 26 years championing the significance of the research paper.

Compiled by the team of counselors at IvyWise These days, with advancements in technology, there’s an app for just about anything and a need for people to build them. STEM-related fields are seeing a high demand for workers, with jobs expected to grow 17% over the next decade, and as a result, many students are realizing the value of a STEM education – often in terms of ROI and job demand. Computer science and app development are booming fields, and many colleges are catering to those needs with exceptional programs for budding techies.

Making the jump from high school to college can be exciting, but also overwhelming for some students. With college life comes more independence, but also significantly more responsibilities than students may be used to at home. It’s easy to have a smooth college transition, however, if students keep these simple tips in mind.

High school students should think about preparing for the SAT or ACT starting their sophomore year. Even as more U.S.

Attending university in the U.S. is an appealing prospect for an increasing number of international students.

If you're an international student applying to U.S. universities, it’s important to visit, if possible, and ensure that you’re making the most of your time on campus.

By Rachel, IvyWise College Admissions Counselor and Former Assistant Dean of Admissions, Swarthmore College We often associate the spring of junior year as the time to begin college prep work, however, there are plenty of things students can do earlier in high school to help position themselves to be more successful in the college admissions process. It’s never too early to lay a strong foundation for your college application season senior year. In fact, colleges look at all four years of high school grades, courses, activities, and more when evaluating applicants – so the sooner you start your college prep the better.

By Kelly, IvyWise College Admissions Counselor As a University of California alum and California native, I cannot imagine another institutional system that truly offers something for everyone. From STEM to humanities, research to innovative arts, extremely focused students to those still figuring out their next steps, highly selective campuses to those with a great foundation for exploring yourself, the UC system packs it all in one and offers limitless options to explore, develop, and shine!  On top of that, the diverse community encourages students to get out of their comfort zones, study alongside peers from all walks of life, and be part of something bigger.

By Kelly, IvyWise College Admissions Counselor and Former Admissions Officer at Stanford University  Are you an aspiring artist considering applying to art or design programs? Chances are, you’ve seen an application requirement for a portfolio to highlight your creative background. The portfolio can often be as important as (and in some cases even outshine) the overall college application.

By Kelly, IvyWise College Admissions Counselor and Former Admissions Officer at Stanford University  When applying to arts programs or majors, many colleges will require an art portfolio as part of the admissions process. This is a critical piece of your college application that often requires many hours of planning and creating to ensure that you’re accurately highlighting your creative background, skills, and interests. It’s never too early to start thinking about your portfolio.

In recent years, even as undergraduate enrollment numbers have plateaued, students enrolling in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) majors have continued to grow rapidly. Admission rates into selective institutions are plummeting and the competition for STEM students at our nation’s top institutions is becoming increasingly competitive, so what exactly can make a great student stand out among the thousands of other good applicants to STEM programs? As a former admission officer at MIT I have reviewed thousands of applications, and I want to give you some insider insight into what colleges are looking for in STEM applicants.

Summer is right around the corner, and with so many plans up in the air due to the coronavirus pandemic, many students are left wondering how they can have a productive summer. Does it really matter how you spend your summers? In short: absolutely.

Building a relationship with your college advisor is important to ensure success in the college admissions process. Students need to take charge of their admissions journey, and often that means establishing and fostering a professional relationship with their college counselor. This is often students’ first experience setting up meetings, preparing requested materials, communicating in a professional manner, and more – all things essential not only to working effectively with a college counselor for high school students but also in preparing for the road ahead!

By Carl R., IvyWise Master Tutor  Now that the new SAT will be making its U.S.