College Applications

The Role of Grades in College Admissions

Your grades throughout high school remain the most important factor in college admissions.  While colleges also look carefully at your standardized test scores, essays, recommendations, and other personal factors, they view your academic performance in high school as the strongest predictor of your academic success in college. Covid-19 has changed ...

Covid-19 and the SAT/ACT: What You Need to Know

Many aspects of college admissions have changed in response to Covid-19. Juniors and seniors in high school may need to create college lists and make decisions about where they want to spend the next four years without visiting campus. And – perhaps the most unsettling change felt by applicants and ...

The Impact of COVID-19 on Summer Plans for College and High School Students

Quarantine and social distancing have drastically changed many students’ summer plans. The inability to meet in-person for coursework, internships, travel, camp, or work may leave you asking yourself, “What do I do now?” We hope this blog will give you some worthwhile ideas for how to create meaningful experiences this ...

College Application Platforms

There are several different online platforms through which universities accept applications. While the Common Application is still the strong favorite, the Coalition Application seems to be gaining in popularity, and the Universal College Application has several interesting features. All of these platforms allow students to create a centralized college application ...

Sibling Legacy in College Admissions: Does It Exist?

Is there such a thing as sibling legacy? Broadly, watching your older sibling go through the college process can help you do the same; you’ve observed your sibling’s path through high school and college, tagged along on college visits, and maybe even picked up a few good work habits or ...

Early Admissions Decisions: Your Next Steps

Early admissions decisions are in from most colleges, and if you’ve applied early, chances are you know whether you’ve been admitted, deferred, or denied. But now what? Depending on your admissions outcome, there are a variety of actions you can – and should – take. If you’ve accepted a binding ...

Teacher Recommendations: How and Who to Ask

Strong teacher recommendations personalize and differentiate you, place you within the context of other students, and round out your college application. To that end, it is important to develop your relationships with teachers by participating in class discussions and engaging in special projects and papers during your junior year. And ...

Regular Admissions Trends for the Class of 2020

Once again, it was a wild year in college admissions. Assessing the likelihood of acceptance to highly selective private and public universities was as unpredictable as ever, and while some applicants were lucky enough to receive early admission to their top choice, many students were dealt an uncertain hand of ...

Early Admissions Decisions: Your Next Steps

Early admissions decisions are in from most colleges, and if you’ve applied early, chances are you know whether you’ve been admitted, deferred, or denied. But now what? Depending on your admissions outcome, there are a variety of actions you can – and should – take. If you’ve accepted a binding ...

Regular Admissions Trends for the Class of 2019

As a follow-up to our blog on Early Admissions Trends for the Class of 2019, we bring you highlights from this year’s Regular Admissions outcomes! From increasing selectivity to expanding financial aid programs, here are some of the most noteworthy trends in college admissions. Overall Acceptance Rates Overall, application numbers ...

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