Blog Posts


How the Explosion of Private Consultants Has Changed the College Admissions Landscape
by Shalane | May 9, 2025 | Blog, Blog Posts
The admissions landscape has changed dramatically since parents applied to college years ago. Amidst declining admissions rates, swelling applicant pools, and an ever-changing target of what admissions officers are looking for, many families are discovering that the process is nearly

Here’s Why Your Valedictorian Got Rejected from the New Ivies
by Shalane | April 16, 2025 | Blog, Blog Posts
Every admissions season, underclassmen look to top-ranked seniors’ college results as a gauge for competitiveness in the college admissions landscape. Learning that students with a 4.0 GPA, perfect test scores, and an array of impressive extracurriculars were rejected from the

3 Red Flags to Avoid in Your Letter of Continued Interest
by Shalane | April 8, 2025 | Blog, Blog Posts
After Ivy Day’s college admissions results were released last week, many students found themselves navigating the uncertainty and stress of the waitlist. While a waitlist notification represents a frustrating delay, it does not necessarily mean that a student must forgo

How Freshmen Can Start Strategizing for Their Ivy League Acceptance Now
by Shalane | April 7, 2025 | Blog, Blog Posts
For many high school freshmen and their parents, Ivy Day results are a rude wake up call—witnessing their school’s valedictorian and other stellar students get rejected from Ivy League and top 25 schools is anxiety-inducing. In today’s admissions climate, students

The Results Are In—Here Are Ivy League and Top College Admissions Rates for the Class of 2029
by Shalane | April 3, 2025 | Blog, Blog Posts
Today marks the 2025 “Ivy Day,” when students across the globe receive their admissions results from Ivy League and select top schools. Beyond the numbers and data, this admissions cycle revealed important shifts in institutional priorities, as colleges reaffirm the

Your Odds of Getting Off the Waitlist at an Ivy League School
by Shalane | April 3, 2025 | Blog, Blog Posts
Receiving a waitlist notification from your dream school can feel defeating—for students who have waited months for an admissions decision, the prospect of remaining in admissions limbo is a frustrating one. However, it is important to remember that a waitlist

5 Key Takeaways from The Princeton Review’s 2025 College Hopes & Worries Survey Findings
by Shalane | April 1, 2025 | Blog, Blog Posts
This week, The Princeton Review released its findings from the 2025 edition of the College Hopes & Worries Survey. Each year, this survey provides insights into the concerns, aspirations, and decision-making processes that affect college applicants and their families. Here

Legacy Admissions Comes Under Fire Again—What You Need to Know
by Shalane | April 1, 2025 | Blog, Blog Posts
Legacy admission is continuing to face scrutiny. Last month, the advocacy group Education Reform Now (ERN) published the fifth installment of its series “The Future of Fair Admissions,” focused on the evolving landscape of legacy admissions in higher education. Despite

Last Minute Summer Programs to Apply to
by Shalane | February 14, 2025 | Blog, Blog Posts, Internships, Writing
The way you spend your summer can speak volumes on your college applications. Top colleges regard summer activities as a means of better understanding applicants’ passions and interests, and determining the kind of community members they will be outside of

How to Make the Most of Your Ivy League College Visits
by Shalane | February 13, 2025 | Blog, Blog Posts, Internships, Writing
Visiting college campuses is a critical step in the process of honing a balanced college list and setting goals for the college admissions process. Seeing a school firsthand allows students to assess its academic offerings, campus culture, and their overall