Here is a dirty little secret: some of the Common App essay prompts will bring you down like quicksand while others give you the exact structure and framing that you need to show and tell a story that colleges will love. In the … [Read More...]
How to get into the Ivy League – Ethically
So much of what you read, watch, or hear in the media is there to make you feel like it's impossible to get into Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Harvard, Penn, Princeton, and Yale without cheating your way in or using some … [Read More...]
What 2023 Might Bring, But Probably Won’t
January is the time of year when all kinds of people make predictions about the year to come, and the world of college admissions is no exception. As a variation to that theme, here’s my list of responses to current issues in admissions that I know … [Read More...]
How to prepare for the IELTS exam in a short time
IELTS is an international standardized test of English language proficiency for non-native speakers. IELTS can be used for a variety of purposes, such as study or work where English is a communication language. IELTS consists of four parts: … [Read More...]
Five Reasons to Choose to Study for a Higher National Diploma
Beyond the age of 18, continuing in education becomes entirely voluntary. There are good reasons for and against. For many people, all they want to do when they leave school or college is get a job and gain the independence of earning for themselves. … [Read More...]
The Birthrate Crisis, and How Colleges Should Respond
The biggest stumbling block in education research is its lack of replicability. In science, the same amount of vinegar plus the same amount of baking soda gives you the same result—and the same-sized result—no matter who does the experiment. But … [Read More...]
Tulane Early Decision Applicants Notified of Decisions on December 1
Exciting news just in from Tulane. The Tulane admissions team is a bit ahead of schedule with reviewing applications and as a result Tulane Early Decision 1 notifications will go out tomorrow, December 1, at 4:00 p.m. Central (New Orleans) Time. … [Read More...]
Notre Dame Now Accepting Summer 2023 Pre-College Program Applications
Applications for Summer 2023 programming on University of Notre Dame's campus, online, and abroad are now live - even though it's only October 2022! High school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors are eligible to apply for these programs, which … [Read More...]
12 Reasons Scattergrams Lull Students Into a False Sense of Security
Scattergrams, the ubiquitous x/y axis graphs that have caught on like wildfire over the last twenty-five years because of their inclusion in Naviance, MaiaLearning, Cialfo, and other online college counseling tools used by thousands of American high … [Read More...]
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign’s Impressive Acceptance Rate Transparency
Let's face it, these days so much of the world of undergraduate admissions is smoke a mirrors. Which makes it particularly noteworthy when a big institution like University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign goes out of its way to be transparent about the … [Read More...]
University of Southern California Adds Early Action Admissions Deadline
The University of Southern California, a selective private university in Los Angeles, has announced that it is introducing a November 1 Early Action admissions deadline for the 2022-2023 admission cycle. This is a big change for a university that … [Read More...]
UC Berkeley Announces Fall 2022 Admissions Updates
As we head into a new admissions cycle, University of California, Berkeley is announcing some changes in how it will consider applicants. UC Berkeley is joining the rest of the UC campuses in allowing students to select an alternative major on the … [Read More...]
Discover Colleges on a Map with College Overlook — and Analyze Your List Geographically
I'm Bob Poulsen, an Oregon parent of a high school senior. While researching colleges, I couldn't find an efficient web tool to display US colleges on a map. So, being a web designer, I built one! Let me show you some of the features of College … [Read More...]
The Ultimate Virtual College Admissions Library – 2022 Edition
The world of college admissions is constantly changing; therefore, it's important to keep the best college admissions recourses close at hand if you are to navigate the admissions process with aplomb. Luckily, we've done the heavy lifting for you. … [Read More...]
Want to Fix Financial Aid?
A previous post this year offered a couple of suggestions on how we can fix financial aid. If you missed that post, a quick summary: College costs too much; Most people don’t know how to pay for it; Financial aid forms are too lengthy; … [Read More...]
Should you respond to the Common App COVID-19 essay prompt?
Only sixteen percent of students responded to the optional Common App COVID-19 essay during the 2021-2022 admissions cycle. The prompt is question is as follows: Community disruptions such as COVID-19 and natural disasters can have deep and … [Read More...]
The Perfect Gifts to Celebrate Getting Into College
Now that you've gotten into college, it's time to celebrate! Welcome to the Class of 2021 College Acceptance Gift Collection presented by admissions.blog. These gifts run the gamut from college apparel to dorm safety products. No matter your budget or needs, we've got the perfect college-themed gifts that are a fun or practical way of celebrating getting into college. So, what are you waiting for? Start Shopping … [Read More...]