Admissions Blog

Ten Unique and Memorable College Acceptance Gifts for All Personality Types

Posted on January 23, 2022 by Sponsored Post

The hard part – the sweating over grades, exams, and essays and the agonizing wait for decisions – is over. The big moment has arrived – and it is a triumph! It is time to celebrate. Champagne corks are popped; yet, now the question is, what gift should be purchased for the college-bound student? Sadly, gift giving has increasingly become a lost art, so we’ve selected ten neat gifts organized by student personality that will make recently-accepted college students’ hearts swell with pride.

1. Preppy

If the lucky student was admitted to an old-line traditional school with lots of ivy decorating the buildings and he or she has a good sense of humor, then the student will need to brush up on the essentials of proper etiquette outlined in the classic Preppy Handbook:

2. Old Fashioned

Anyone can buy a t-shirt or hoodie in the college bookstore, but a me-too gift is boring. Want to be distinctive? How about throw-back designs on T-shirts featuring vintage school images like the one below, which is a 1960 version of Georgetown. Available for many schools.

3. Hipster

If the student is hip, how about a cool banner to hang in his or her dorm room?

4. Discerning

Maybe something a little more elegant. How about a Halcyon Days box?

5. Gamer

Maybe the incoming student is a STEM major and a gamer. In that case, a version of Monopoly customized to their school is on point so he or she can learn the names of buildings and streets on campus.

6. Artistic

These whimsically illustrated items would be the perfect gift for the artiste. Offered by the California-based catstudio, they make bags, glasses, pillows, towels, art prints and more for hundreds of schools.

7. Fashionista

If the rising freshman has a great sense of fashion and style and you have a big budget, then an elegant watch with the school’s logo on it might fit the bill for her.

8. Sporty

If the student is going to a big football school, then they will need lots of apparel to wear to the games. How about a customized jersey with the student’s name on it? Available for scores of schools.

9. The Type A

Is the grad a natural worrier or type A personality who likes to have anything thought through beforehand? Then, The Naked Roommate: And 107 Other Issues You Might Run Into in College by Harlan Cohen is the perfect gift, and a New York Times bestseller.

10. All Types

A customized gift box from Etsy tailored to your recipient puts the perfect finishing touch on your gift(s).

The above post was sponsored by Collectable Ivy, specialists in collegiate memorabilia. For a fuller selection of unique, vintage, and special gift items, check out the thousands of items at CollectableIvy.com.

Tulane Early Action Admit Rate Plummets to 10%

Posted on December 13, 2021 by Admissions.Blog

Jeff Schiffman, Tulane’s former director of undergraduate admission, may be gone, but elements of his transparent approach live on as Tulane has recently shared some interesting data points relating to its Early Decision and Early Action admits for its undergraduate Class of 2026.

Decisions for Tulane Early Decision applicants were released on November 22 and decisions for Early Action applicants will be released on Monday, December 20 at 5:00 p.m. EST. According to Owen Knight, Tulane’s Director of Admission Engagement, the university expects between fifty-five and fifty-eight percent of next year’s freshman class to be comprised of Early Decision students. Due to the fact that Tulane over-enrolled last year and saw a twenty-five percent increase in the percentage of students accepting the offer of admission over the previous year, Tulane will be admitting a jaw-dropping 1,650 fewer Early Action (EA) applicants this year. This will speed up a trend of EA at Tulane becoming hyper-selective, especially relative to how the admissions plan used to be at Tulane prior to Tulane bringing back ED a few years ago.

As a result, Tulane anticipates marginally more offers of admission for deferred students and Regular Decision applicants than in the past. The overall admission rate for Early Action applicants is just ten percent, which is half the EA admission rate in 2017.

Overall, Tulane is planning for its Class of 2026 freshman class to be roughly 1,750 students.

Forty-six percent of Tulane’s Early Action admitted students for the Class of 2026 identify as BIPOC, which is a 70% increase, over twenty-seven percent of students who identified as such in 2017.

Knight also notes that Early Decision II is currently available through January 12 for students who are starting a new application for admission or for students who have already applied Early Action. Students who have already applied may switch to EDII via their Green Wave portals.

Great College Application Essays Have Something in Common

Posted on July 26, 2021 by Craig

What do nearly all successful college application essays have in common? Hint: it’s not their topic, structure, tone, or grammatical tense. It’s something about the essay’s first draft. Watch the video below to learn more.

If you want to get into even the most selective colleges and universities, make sure to prioritize the drafting process for your college application essays. If you want more help through the drafting process, learn more about working with me here.

Best College Acceptance Gifts for the Class of 2021

Posted on November 18, 2020 by Craig

After applying ED to Tulane, my first two students in the Class of 2021 received their offers of Fall 2021 admission this week. Thus, around these parts at least, College Acceptance Season has officially begun!

With the bulk of Early Decision and Early Action notifications set to be released in December, now is the time to determine what you will buy your special someone (maybe even yourself) who hopefully will be getting into college real soon (if he or she hasn’t gotten in already). While most Early Decision and Early Action acceptance notifications coincide with the height of Christmas-Hanukah shopping season, this year, to mark getting into college, you really don’t want to give simply a fruitcake or a Rudolph sweater. You want to make your gift college acceptance-centric.

So, go on and surprise your special someone or treat yourself with gifts that mark the occasion of getting into college and celebrate college life in general by browsing through the 2020-2021 College Acceptance Gift Collection presented by Admissions.Blog.

A bit of a back-story: for nearly a decade I sent acceptance gifts to my students accepted Early Decision and Early Action at their first-choice colleges, and these gifts’ massive popularity got many people both near and far asking, “Where did you think of that?” or, “That’s the perfect gift for my future Terrapin (or Gator, or Bruin, etc.), how can I get my hands on more just like it?” So, several years back, I decided to open up Admissions.Blog’s online gift shop designed specifically for your future or current college student.

Gifts detailed in the gift collection 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 fun and practical.

So, what are you waiting for? Start Shopping below!

Congratulations on getting into college Rolling, Priority, ED, or EA!

Represent with or Protect your Tech (and this year, life!) with College Pride!
Skinit makes some of my favorite phone cases and laptop, AirPod, PlayStation, and Xbox skins around. What’s great is that on some of these items you can not just find styles that match your personality; you can also find designs that flaunt your college colors. Below are some examples of some of my favorite skins or cases.

This year, with a plague all around us, we’ve added a way to show college pride while covering your face. FOCO and Original Retro Brand make some face masks that future college students will love even as they gasp for air.

In the same vain, it’s also important not to misplace your technology and charge your gadgets regularly. I love this all-in-one bamboo charging station by NEXGADGET because it’s compact, which is perfect for a dorm room and it’s also quite stylish.

Protect Yourself!
Sad to say, college dorm showers are gross! Showaflaps make my favorite antibicrobial flip flops for your (hopefully) daily showers while on campus.

At many college campuses it also gets quite cold in the winter; therefore, how about some house boots to keep your feet nice and warm during your first winter on campus? Hanes makes my favorites in this category, and their unisex bad boys double as awesome dorm room slippers. Added bonus: no-slip!

Keep the Peace in Your Dorm Room
They say that good fences make good neighbors. In the context of a dorm room, good room dividers make good roommates. Sometimes we all need a bit of our own space, and MyGift makes my favorite dorm room divider because it can also double as a chalk board.

Look Good On Campus
While it makes the most sense to dress for success during the school day and while in class, once nighttime rolls around, strip down to a graphic tee that showcases your sense of humor. My favorite pop-culture inspired, random, college-themed, and all around fun t-shirt designs that are sure to grab the attention of fellow travelers in your dorm, at the library, or in the dining hall are below.

Look Good In Bed
Get your head out of the gutter! When it’s time to go to sleep or simply nap, there is no need to do so in a drab quilt. You should be able to snuggle up in your college colors, and Dormitory101 makes the very best double-layered, double-sided blankets made from the softest material you’ve ever felt – and they’re easy to take care of. No pilling. No extra care instructions. Just the comfiest, coziest fleece that will last years after graduation.

Congratulations on getting into college/university!

Parents, congrats – your child is going to college!

Students, great job! Now, let’s party!

How to Prepare for IELTS Online at Home

Posted on September 5, 2020 by Chetan Jain

As IELTS experts, we spend a lot of time answering questions about IELTS Exam preparation and the best ways to go about preparing for this all-important exam during a global pandemic.

Online education is becoming the new normal during a time when nobody wants to leave their home unless absolutely necessary. Many still think there is a one-size-fits-all magic formula for preparing for the IELTS (International English Language Testing System), and I think it’s time that we dispel this myth once and for all, and in so doing, here are a few hard truths about IELTS Online Test Preparation.

Hard Truth #1: IELTS Test Preparation is Different for Different people

While some people are ready for taking their IELTS tomorrow; some may be best positioned to do well on the IELTS only after six months of hard work ahead of them. It depends on the individual. Students often feel that this isn’t the right test for them. Unfortunately, just because something worked for someone you know, doesn’t mean the same will work for you. It is important to understand your areas of improvement and take coaching from an Online IELTS institute that is able to provide personal attention to you. There are various diagnostic tests available on the internet. You can attempt those diagnostic tests and find out your weak areas. Any exam preparation is different for different people. It all depends on what strategies the individual best responds to.

Hard Truth #2: Direction plays a key role

We know there is a lot of free information available on the internet, and we know you want to “teach yourself” using this free information. But trust me; we talk to dozens of people on a daily basis that thought the same thing. Why should you take IELTS Training when there is so much free material available on the internet? Well it’s free but not structured, a Top IELTS Online coaching institute will be able to provide you with a proper training plan, tips and tricks, and feedback on areas in which you need the most improvement. Guys, you have to think a lot before choosing whether to join a prep program or engage self preparation, I get it. IELTS is an expensive exam; I think it’s better to take prep seriously and engage in structured expert prep if you can afford it.

IELTS Online Test Preparation Recommendations

1: Figure Out your Level

The first thing that you should do when you decide you’re going to prepare for IELTS at home is to find out exactly what your current level is. Then you can make an appropriate timeline and some realistic goals. NEVER book your IELTS test date before knowing and assessing your level. You will certainly regret it. Most online IELTS classes will be able to provide you with a free mock IELTS test that you can take to assess your own level.

2: Build on your Weaknesses

Once you know what your level is, stop practicing the questions immediately. The practice questions were good enough to give you the format of the test. Now is the time to focus completely on building up the weak skills that you have identified. Look for Online IELTS coaching that provides you with skills-building lessons on grammar, vocabulary, and other important skills required to crack the IELTS Exam.

3: Start Practicing Again

Once you have worked on your weaknesses, it’s time to start practicing IELTS questions again. This time, you can focus more on understanding the format of the test, such as how the questions and information will be presented to you. Many institutes have designed full length mock tests for IELTS very similar to the final IELTS exam. Some even have module based tests. It may be the case that you are good in listening and weak in writing, and if so, then you can practice more questions within the writing module.

4: Get Feedback from an Expert

Once you feel that you are ready for the IELTS, it’s incredibly helpful to get feedback about your progress from someone who knows what they’re talking about. This can be a tutor in your daily life or a trained IELTS prep partner. If you decide to do this before taking your test, chances are you will have a lot more knowledge and confidence, which will make it much more likely for you to succeed on your first try! Guidance from an expert plays an important role in cracking IELTS exam in the first attempt.

What’s the Final Message for IELTS Preparation Online?

Remember, you are a unique individual. Your Online IELTS test preparation is not going to look the same as your friend’s preparation. If you want to succeed on your first try, you need to be honest with yourself about your weaknesses and you need to be realistic about your timeline. And if you need help, get it from an expert.

Why Your Common Application Essay is So Bad

Posted on August 13, 2020 by Craig

If your attempt at writing a strong Common Application essay is failing, chances are that you are making this one major mistake in the drafting process. Fix it and you will give yourself a fighting chance to write an essay that is actually decent.

Write an essay worthy of getting you into your dream college! Expert college application essay review and editing are just a click away! Meanwhile, learn about another reason your college application essay is so bad.

“Your anguish is justified.” The ACT apology for canceling your registration.

Posted on August 1, 2020 by Craig

Many colleges have gone test-optional for the 2020-2021 admissions cycle, and so far, ACT, Inc., the publisher of the ACT, has done all it can make colleges appear prescient by doing so. When you can make the individuals running Mizzou (went test optional this week) appear forward-thinking you know you are really scraping the bottom of the barrel when it comes to organizational effectiveness.

Throughout the spring and early summer ACT administrations were cancelled with little to no notice. Students often registered for testing sites miles away from home in the hopes that they had found a rural school willing to allow them into the building to take the ACT only to find that they were student #251 out of 500 students in line, and the school, because of social distancing, was only accepting the first 250 students to show up.

All this happened with no warning or guidance from ACT, Inc.

In other cases, students showed up to a school on a Saturday morning only to find the whole place locked up and the ACT unable or unwilling to give any pre-test or post-test guidance as to why the test was never administered. Was it the ACT’s fault or was it that proctors just didn’t show up or was it because the school was closed by some higher power? Does it matter?

Obviously, the plague spreading around the Earth came at a time when many long-standing institutions were least capable of dealing with it. Most venerable institutions in the U.S. are notable for their lethargy, inflexibility, listlessness, and lack of leadership, and their reaction to doing business through a plague is to remain in denial as long as possible.

Yet, now that summer is waning, the hits keep on coming for the ACT.

The latest ACT snafu comes in the form of a random email some students who thought they successfully registered for the September ACT received this week that read as follows:

Hi [Student Name],

We’re sorry. We know on Monday you visited MyACT to register for the ACT test and did not have the experience you were hoping for or the one we wanted to provide you. Your anguish is justified.

We are refunding your full transaction amount that occurred on July 27 through MyACT.

Your order did not complete as expected and you do not currently have an ACT test registration.

MyACT will be up and running on Monday, August 3 at 10:00am CT, and you will be able to register successfully. Customer Support teams are not able to complete or change registrations until our system is back up on Monday.

Thanks for your patience.

What’s going on in Iowa? ACT, Inc. claims a new registration system is in the offing in 48 hours. Maybe come August 3 the powers that be at the ACT will wake up fully aware that their entire business model is hanging on by a thread and they will chart a positive course for the standardized test. But, would you be money on that? Chances are ACT, Inc. will keep stumbling from embarrassment to embarrassment into the fall and winter until someone who is actually a leader takes charge and proactively guides the organization forward in a world unlikely to return to fetid “normal” any time soon.

In the meantime, if you can earn a strong ACT or SAT score and the college(s) you are applying to is test optional, it’s still my recommendation to grin and bear this shady process. Test optional is not test blind; therefore, the clamor to take the SAT and ACT will remain no matter how bad both of these test makers behave.

The (former) SAT word for all of this: debacle. The (current) SAT words for all of this: hot mess.

MIT to no longer consider SAT Subject Test scores

Posted on March 20, 2020 by Craig

MIT has made the decision to no longer consider the SAT Subject Tests as part of the admissions process. You can find MIT’s full revised testing requirements here.

MIT states: “…in fairness to all applicants, we won’t consider them (Subject Tests) for anyone. We think it would be unfair to consider scores only from those who have scored well and therefore choose to send them to us. They are neither recommended nor optional; they are simply not a part of our process anymore.”

While the announcement comes as the Coronavirus spreads from China to all corners of the world, MIT claims the decision was not taken in response to the pandemic. Earlier this week, Case Western University used the pandemic as its excuse for going fully SAT-ACT optional for the high school class of 2021.

For a full list of colleges that currently require, recommend, or favorably consider SAT Subject Test scores, visit ConvertYourScore.org.

Case Western Goes Test Optional in Response to COVID-19

Posted on March 18, 2020 by Craig

Never let a crisis go to waste is a maxim someone at Case Western University must deeply believe in, as the university’s admissions office announced today that it is now test-optional for students entering in the fall of 2021.

Case Western framed this admissions switcheroo in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has forced the ACT and SAT to cancel spring test dates.

“We understand students’ concerns about completing Case Western Reserve’s standardized testing requirements for admission. In response, the university has approved a test-optional policy for students applying for the fall 2021 semester. In light of the unprecedented circumstances the COVID-19 pandemic has created, Case Western Reserve believes students’ best interests are served by an approach that assures them of our flexibility as they progress through the college search process.”

The university went on to add, “We will determine policies for future classes in winter 2020/21.”

Expect more colleges to do this. While clear-eyed people will find unsavory the trend of colleges wrapping self-interest-guided decisions in imitative altruism during a real crisis when so many real people are suffering and losing their jobs/incomes – and potentially their lives, college admissions deans and their overlords are focused on generating as many applications as possible no matter the calamity that surrounds them.

Whatever happened to unvarnished honesty, especially in a time of crisis? Case – and many other colleges – want as many applicants as they can muster from the high school class of 2021 in what is likely to be an admissions cycle characterized by “softer” demand than college administrators want to contemplate.

I’ll believe “students’ best interests are served” when these same institutions reduce the price of tuition and/or offer permanent full-time online degrees. We don’t even know if recently deposited students from the high school class of 2020 will be able to start their college experiences on campus in August. In the meantime, congrats to Case on the PR and aggressively-timed (why not announce this over the summer?) attempt to stabilize your finances for FY2021-2022.

Aerial view of Cleveland, Ohio, home to Case Western Reserve University