Getting placed on a school’s wait list rather than receiving an offer of admission can feel like a very remote second place. Wait lists can move, though, so opaque as the list may be-- am I first in line? 2,415th?-- act now to keep your spot if you are still interested in the school.
Today is “Ivy Day,” when a group of what many consider the most elite undergraduate schools in the country release their acceptances. Some of you will be admitted to these fine institutions-- I celebrate with you! You have worked incredibly hard for this honor, and you deserve every bit of excitement you feel.
The traditional on-campus freshman start in September seems to be going the way of the slide rule and cursive writing, at least for some students. More and more colleges are sending students to satellite campuses, summer start, spring start, and international programs, staggering start times across dates and locations to enroll as many students as possible while still having enough room in classes and in student housing.
Updated March 2024: You have done your homework, studied, learned your pacing, and practiced your strategies. True confidence comes from preparation, and you have earned that. Second, take care of your body as well as your mind. In the week before the test…
It’s the best thing EVER when you are admitted to your Early Decision school. You are done with applications (except in some cases) and ready to attend your dream school next year. Similarly, Early Action results present you with admissions decisions before the regular decision pool of applicants so that you can begin to breathe a bit easier and start narrowing your focus. But if you are deferred or denied, you have some decisions to make.
Learn what to focus on your junior year in order of importance.
To be ready to apply to all schools, a student should have requested letters of recommendation, developed a thoughtful college list, and written the personal essay. If your student is still working on the personal essay, here is our best guidance on writing it.
What you do as freshmen & sophomores will influence these 5 parts of the college application… 1) High school courses (choice, level of difficulty, and grades), 2) Test prep (SAT, ACT, and AP/IB), 3) Activities in and out of school, including work and service, 4) Relationships with teachers and mentors, 5) College research
