Admissions trends

What are the Differences Between First Year and Transfer Essays?

Learn about how the Transfer Essay differs from the First-Year Personal Essay for college applications. Read our tips for crafting essays that are thoughtful, clearly defined, and that demonstrate specific reasons for wanting to transfer to a certain school. Your Transfer Essay should reveal your interests and goals, and show how you will be a good fit for the college of your choice!

How to Demonstrate Interest to Colleges

What is demonstrated interest and which colleges care about it? Read our blog post to find out more about the role that demonstrated interest plays in college admissions, and our 10-point plan to communicate the strength and depth of your genuine interest to your best-fit colleges.

Crafting Your College List, Part III: Balancing Your List from Reach to Realistic

As part three of our blog series, Crafting Your College List, now it’s time to narrow down the list of schools you will apply to, and ensure that your list is balanced in a way that is right for you. The ultimate goal is not only to be accepted, but to succeed and thrive at the college you choose to attend!

Why do Students Decide to Transfer Colleges?

Transfer rates are on the rise, and we take a closer look at the factors that motivate students to pursue switching colleges. We provide tips for weighing your options before you decide to transfer, and how to take the next steps if you decide that this move is right for you.

America’s Top Undergraduate Music Programs: The Admissions Process

This is the seventh post of an 8-part series on "Behind the Scenes of America's Top Undergraduate Music Programs." We provide you with an inside look at the admissions process for music programs, including the admissions factors and application components. We discuss the differences in the admissions process for a Bachelor of Music, which may involve an audition; and a Bachelor of Science. Read our tips on how to be a successful candidate!

Early College Admissions Notification Dates 2025-26

Congratulations on submitting your early college applications! Now you may be wondering when you will find out your college admissions results! See our list of early admissions notification dates for many selective schools for the 2025-26 application cycle.

Behind the Scenes of America’s Top Art Programs, Part IX: Admissions Process

This is the ninth post of a 10-part series on "Behind the Scenes of America's Top Undergraduate Art Programs." We provide you with an inside look at the admissions process for arts programs, including the admissions factors and application components. Read our tips on how to be a successful candidate!

Behind the Scenes of America’s Top Art Programs, Part VII: Exceptional University Art Programs Outside of the Ivies

This is the seventh post of a 10-part series on "Behind the Scenes of America's Top Undergraduate Art Programs." We dive into exceptional arts programs at universities outside of the Ivies, including Stanford, UCLA, University of Michigan, and Virginia Commonwealth University; and provide a spotlight on the art program at UCLA.

Early Admissions Trends for the Class of 2029

Take a look at this year’s trends from colleges’ early admissions cycles. We’ve analyzed the story behind the stats at selective schools – from the return of standardized test requirements at some schools to how many schools continue to receive a steady rate of high application numbers and maintain low acceptance rates.

Collegiate Gateway’s Guide to Early Admissions Policies

If you are confused about restrictive and non-restrictive early admissions policies for college applications, you are not alone! We can answer your questions about the differences in ED (early decision), REA (restrictive early action), SCEA (single-choice early action), and EA (early action) policies.

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