College Selectivity in the USA
This article classifies colleges into six tiers of selectivity, ranging from extremely selective to nearly open…
Harvard’s Admit Rate Is 3.4%. For You, It’s Likely Lower.
Update on 2023-06-29: The Supreme Court decision has changed the admissions outlook for “unhooked” students. I…
College “Fit” Is Important
You hear about them almost every year, a student who gets into all 8 Ivy League…
Creating Your Perfect College List
You are different from all those around you. Therefore the perfect college list for you is…
Maximizing Impact With Extracurricular Activities
As part of the holistic admissions process, highly selective colleges care about more than grades and…
How to Develop a “Spike”
As I described a myth-buster post, the most selective colleges don’t favor well-rounded students, who are…
How to Earn Great Teacher Recommendations
Great teacher recommendations are not given. They are earned. Most students don’t even think about recommendations…
A Brief Primer on Essays
There are many good books on how to write effective college essays, and there is no…
Prep for a Successful Life, Not College Admissions
You endgame is not college admissions In creating this website, I worry that many students or…
Yes. You Should Take Standardized Tests
The short version: You should take the SAT or ACT. That’s true even if you consider…
Understanding the Holistic Admissions Process
Colleges that practice holistic admissions care about more than academics when making an admission decision. The…
Grades and Rigor Really Matter
Even with holistic admissions, your grades and course rigor matter more than anything else. Strong grades…