Getting into any college these days is much harder than it used to be. But getting into Stanford is like, really hard. Getting in requires, not only excellent grades and a strong resume but foresight and thought regarding your application. If you are really dead-set upon getting into Stanford, you’re going to need to push the envelope.
Freshman Year of High School Tips
We’ve written before about the that you can do as a 9th grader to prepare for college: , , and maybe take an . While these are all true, we wanted to expand a bit upon what 9th grade really means within the context of your college application and perhaps reframe your thinking on your freshman year.
What Is the Most Important Year of High School?
We get this question a lot. The college process is long and winding. As such, people always want to know which year matters the most. This likely comes from a desire to wrap one’s head around putting all of their effort into a short spurt. Thinking of the process in this way, instead of as a holistic four-year process, might feel more manageable to some. However, college applications aren’t a test a student can cram for. The reality is, all four years matter for kids who want to get into, say, Stanford.
6 Ways Coronavirus Changed College Admissions
The Covid-19 global pandemic has affected most aspects of our day to day lives. We know by now that these changes will be felt for years to come, and the college admissions process is certainly not immune to the impact of the Coronavirus. In hopes of updating our blog readers as to how the college admissions process might change, here are six things to keep in mind as you consider the application process:
Regular Decision Strategies for College Essays
It’s almost December, which means that you have about a month to finish both your common app essay and your supplements. We’re often asked about strategies for early decision and regular decision, and the truth is that our approach doesn’t change depending upon when you apply. We work with our clients to brainstorm, write, and edit essays (common app and supplements) that stand out, no matter what time of year. The rest of this blog post will provide three tips for getting through the rest of the year:
Deferred Early Action – Help
It’s just about that time of year when our phones ring off the hook and people start calling us in search of help after being deferred from a dream school. We are here to remind you that yes, even if you got deferred, it’s going to be okay. A lot of students get deferred. It might even be fair to say that most students get deferred. And despite this unfortunate reality, and the feelings that accompany it, you have no choice but to get your life together. It’s time to make a plan, stick to it, and power through the rest of the year. Here’s how:
Is it Better to be Deferred or Waitlisted?
We all know that colleges want a lot of students to apply. They also love low acceptance rates that boost their rankings. What some people don’t understand is that when colleges accept students, they’re doing a bit of gambling. This is why we stress the importance of writing specific, well-researched and thorough supplements. Before you can be admitted, colleges want to know that you’re going to attend the school, go back year after year, and graduate within four years. This pertains to this blog post because whether you’re deferred or waitlisted, you’re put in a sort of holding tank. They’re essentially waiting to see if A) your application will hold up against the rest of the applicants during regular decision, or B) who else says “yes” before they reach out to you.
Tips for Early Decision 2 to NYU
Should I Apply Early Decision to a Reach School?
How to Choose a College Major for College Applications
Our regular blog readers probably know by now that it’s important to tell colleges what you plan to major in should you be admitted. Many schools that use the common app have drop-down menus that allow you to select a program and those that don’t often ask via their supplements. We have written about this before, but here’s a refresher: it’s crucial that you tell X school what you plan to major in for a few reasons.
Tips for Applying to Brown During Coronavirus/COVID-19
ICYMI, Brown is test-optional for the upcoming school year. We broke down their announcement here. Their statement is unnecessarily wordy and yet despite its length, it does not provide any groundbreaking information. Essentially, send in your scores if you’ve done well because Brown says, verbatim, “we will continue to review test scores that are submitted.”
Tips for Applying to Yale During Coronavirus/Covid-19
If you’re familiar with our blog, you probably already know that the entire Ivy League is test-optional for the class of 2025. This might ~seem~ like good news to those aspiring Yale students who are yet to sit for a test. But it actually means that even more people will be applying to Yale this year, which will lower their acceptance rate. Spoiler alert: it’s still really hard to get into Yale. Your application will still be considered without test scores, but this means that all other components will matter more. Below you’ll find a few tips for applying to Yale:
Tips for Applying to Harvard During Coronavirus/Covid-19
In keeping with the rest of the Ivy League, the small liberal arts school just outside of Boston more commonly known as Harvard is now test-optional for the upcoming round of applicants. Before you jump for joy, please understand that it will still be extremely difficult to get into Harvard this year. Even harder than last year. This is because more people will be applying in light of this recent shift. At 91Ě˝»¨, we have made our stance on applying to Ivy League schools “just because” quite clear. If you’re planning on applying to Harvard, you need to have already been working towards this goal long before the school went test-optional. It is worth noting that Harvard will still consider your scores if you send them in, which means that you should definitely send your scores in if you did well. Keep reading for our tips on applying to Harvard this year:
Tips for Applying to Princeton During Coronavirus/COVID-19
A wise man once said, “better late than never, but never late is better.” Well, Princeton must have heard these profound Drake lyrics because the school just decided to hop on board the test-optional train. A bit late, but they did it. Please direct yourself to this blog post that breaks down their announcement, which includes a decision to remove their single-choice early action offering.
Tips for Applying to Penn During the Coronavirus/COVID-19
Alert: UPenn is test-optional this year because of Covid-19. If you’ve had your sights set on Penn but you’re not sure how to proceed, keep reading for a few tips on starting your application. **Please do read the blog linked above that breaks down what their announcement means, and be sure to send in your scores if you’ve already taken the test and done well**
Tips for Applying to Columbia During the Coronavirus/COVID-19
Last year, only 6% of students who applied to Columbia were accepted. It should be expected that even more people will be vying for a spot at Columbia this year, because last week, Columbia opted to go test-optional for this year’s round of applications. Columbia’s statement starts off by saying that if you have scores, send them in. The scores are still of value to Columbia, so if you’ve taken a standardized test and done well, you should absolutely submit them. But let’s look at their second part of their statement:
Tips for Applying to Dartmouth during Coronavirus/Covid-19
Last week, we posted this blog post about Dartmouth’s test-optional policy for the class of 2025. If you’re a regular reader of your blog, you should know by now that this doesn’t mean that getting into Dartmouth will be easier this year. In fact, we expect their 8.7% acceptance rate to decrease this application cycle because more students will be applying. Keep reading for three tips on how to proceed:
Tips for Applying to UChicago During Coronavirus/COVID-19
Tips for Applying to USC During the Coronavirus
A few weeks ago, USC announced a for the 2021-2022 academic year. Obviously, this means that if you’re applying to USC later this year, standardized test scores are not required.** However, there seems to be some confusion. Many people are under the impression that this policy will make it easier to get into USC, when it reality it will be just as hard, if not harder, to get in. Lowering the barrier of entry means that more people will be applying, which makes it that much harder to differentiate yourself from other applicants.
Junior Year of High School: What to Expect
Junior year can be a whirlwind. After all, it’s the pinnacle of your college preparation journey and while every year of high school is important, 11th grade can, in some instances, be make-or-break. It’s crucial to get your ducks in a row and keep pushing through until the end. If you get organized from the beginning and stay consistent throughout, you should be able to maintain a reasonable pace. Either way, the light is there at the end of the tunnel, so buckle up and drive on forward.