Test Optional. A phrase that, ever since its rise to the forefront during the COVID-19 pandemic, has left many students feeling nervous and confused. In 2025, Test Optional isn’t a new term. High school counselors and admissions officers alike are regularly having conversations with students around the world, educating them on what exactly Test Optional…
Are Good Test Scores Enough to Get You Into a Top College? Every college and university seeks to cultivate a class. Academically, it is common to hear that at top schools, more than 75% of admitted students have straight A’s. Or that more than 30% of admitted students have a 1570 or higher on the…
Do you have a test coming up? A paper due? A big presentation, perhaps? No matter what you have on your plate, developing good study habits can be the foundation you need to succeed. The five helpful tips in this article focus on a variety of areas related to your learning. Utilize one, two, or…
What is Early Decision?Early Decision (ED) is a binding college admissions process that provides an early acceptance decision, usually by mid-December. If accepted, you are required to enroll and withdraw all other college applications. Is Early Decision Binding? Yes. ED is a binding commitment. If you’re accepted, you must: This makes it essential to consider…
As you begin your senior year of high school, the excitement and anticipation of college life are just around the corner. Whether you’re exploring campuses, researching programs, or diving into application guides, one crucial tool will be your key to unlocking opportunities at over 1,000 colleges worldwide: the Common Application. With deadlines looming in the…
In the world of college admissions, there are nearly infinite methods and rubrics that universities use to evaluate applications. While the review process is holistic, considering academics, extracurricular activities, and more, many schools feel the need for a universal measure or evaluation tool. Is an ‘A’ at your high school equivalent to an ‘A’ at…
Resources for essay writing can help you put together a structurally sound essay with polished grammar and vocabulary. Unfortunately, they aren’t always the most helpful in deciding what to write about and how to write about it. Is it better to be serious, light, funny, or controversial? Any of those may be appropriate, or not,…
When applying to colleges, students often focus on writing great essays, getting strong recommendation letters, and achieving high test scores. However, one less obvious factor in the admissions process is demonstrated interest. Many colleges, particularly private and smaller institutions, take demonstrated interest into account when making admissions decisions. But you may be asking, “What exactly…
The Common Application is an online college application platform used for first year and transfer applications. In the 2023-2024 application cycle over 1.4 million distinct first year applicants submitted over 9.5 million applications to over 1,000 member institutions. This is the most commonly used application platform. Majority of the member institutions are from the United…
Visiting college campuses can be one of the most exciting and informative parts of the application process. However, with so many students competing for limited tour spots and information sessions, planning ahead is crucial. Many students can only visit a campus once before applying, so making the most of each college campus visit is key.…