9th Grade College Strategy for Computer Science

There aren’t many subjects as popular among high schoolers as computer science. We're not sure if it's the allure of potentially coding the next big app, the fascination with how technology shapes our world, or just the fact that computer science and coding touches every part of our modern society. And if you’re here, you’re probably a freshman and want to know what you can do to help prep for college, especially since you think you like the crazy competitive major of computer science.

Summer Strategy Ideas for Middlebury College

Middlebury College is focused on changing the world for the better. Students and faculty on campus are working towards climate solutions, they strive to connect between cultures and languages, they communicate with others through art, design, and writing, and they pursue avenues for conflict resolution globally. From a sprawling campus in Vermont, Middlebury empowers a little under 3,000 students with the knowledge and skills they need to lead the charge in improving our planet and the lives of the people (you included) on it.

Rejected by the University of Michigan Early Action 2024-2025

Receiving a rejection from the University of Michigan Early Action is a major bummer. It’s frustrating, but it is going to be okay. We know that you’re a smart and qualified student, you applied to Mich ED after all, so application experience is very salvageable. In fact, it can go way up from here if you play your cards right. Getting into Michigan Early Action is super hard. University of Michigan admissions is committed to not giving EA applicants preference (as compared to most schools, who prioritized ED or EA). The Michigan acceptance rate — about 18% — is also misleading if you are an out-of-state applicant. More than a quarter of students at Mich are from Michigan. In-state applicants are given preference in admissions, and benefit from a much higher acceptance rate. As a result, out-of-state applicants have a much lower acceptance rate.  

Summer Strategy Ideas for Hamilton College

Hamilton College prepares students for “a life of meaning, purpose, and active citizenship.” Located in the village of Clinton, New York, a town closer to Canada than it is to NYC, but 45 min from the city of Syracuse, Hamilton is a small liberal arts experience in a unique environment crafted to nurture exploration and launch future leaders. Just over 2,000 students call Hamilton home, and they come from 48 states and 56 countries for the opportunity to learn in the Hamilton way.

Rejected Early Decision from Duke University 2024-2025

So, you’ve been rejected ED from Duke. First of all, we’re sorry, and we’re sure you’re having a lot of feelings about this right now. And, since you’re here, you probably want to know what you can do in this moment to take control of this situation. We want to say that Duke is a crazy hard school to get into – they haven’t released precise data since 2021, but we know their acceptance rate hovers around 5%, and their ED acceptance rate is about 15%. That doesn’t mean it’s 3x more likely to get into Duke ED. It means you have about the same chance you would if you applied to Georgetown, Berkeley, or UVA – aka, hard. That also means this is not a reflection of you or your talents or smarts or overall coolness, but rather that these schools have very limited spots and have to leave lots and lots of deserving students out of the mix.

The Best Majors at Stanford University

Stanford University was founded with a societal purpose. From the beginning, the school was designed for the common good. Today, it is regarded as one of the best universities in the world. Rooted in the San Francisco Bay Area, Stanford is surrounded by innovation, thought leadership, and technological advancement. Not only is it in the mix of all that — it is a foundational part of it.

Rejected Early Decision from Columbia University 2024-2025

If you’re here, we know you probably just got rejected from Columbia, and you don’t know what to do next – we’re sorry that happened, and we know it feels awful. First of all, this admissions decision is not a reflection of who you are as a person or of your hard work and talent. It’s important to remember that, especially in the Ivy League, there are countless students who are more than qualified to get in, and there’s simply not enough space for all of you. You will go to an amazing school, even if it doesn't feel like it right now.

11th Grade College Strategy for History Majors

Love knowing the who, what, when, where, why, and how? Then we bet you probably really enjoy history and think you might want to study it in college. History is a great degree that can lead to a bunch of different careers, from teaching to curation to even law or politics. Whether you want to help preserve the past or use it to improve the future, if you think you might want to study history in college, you’re in the right place.

Best and Unique English Major Extracurricular Activities

English is a highly competitive major in college, attracting aspiring journalists, readers, novelists, teachers, and more. As such, English programs at top-tier universities receive a flood of applications each year. Popular majors equal competitive majors, so you need to make your application shine to stand out from the crowd.

The Best Majors at Dartmouth

Dartmouth is an Ivy League university nestled in idyllic Hanover, New Hampshire. It’s a great school for the outdoorsy type who wants a superior academic experience with a little bit of classic collegiate shenanigans. Dartmouth is known, along with offering an exceptional education, for providing students with a lively social experience that includes a strong Greek life.

Rejected Early Action or Early Decision from U Chicago 2024-2025

No one wants to be rejected, but if you are reading this blog, it happened. First off, sorry! Whether you applied ED or EA, the University of Chicago was important enough for you to apply early. Especially if you applied ED, this might feel like a major setback, but application season is far from over, and it's time to pivot! We want to help by telling you how.

Rejected Early Action from Princeton 2024-2025

Being rejected by a dream school is a serious punch to the gut. We know you’re smart, capable, and would thrive at Princeton. You got your application together to apply Early to and Ivy, after all. You were ahead of the pack, certain of your strongest path, and ready to move on to college and beyond. Princeton has kept their acceptance rate private in recent years, but it’s estimated to be between 4% and 6%. The Early acceptance rate is significantly higher, but not so high that Princeton can be treated as a target by, really, anyone. It’s a reach no matter how impressive you are. Unless you’re a recruited athlete (and really even then), there is no certainty with Princeton — as you’ve now experienced.  

Deferred Early Decision by Wesleyan University 2024-2025

Getting deferred is a bummer. Applying to Wesleyan early took time and effort, and this can feel like a major setback. However, try to see the silver lining here: you weren’t rejected. Make no mistake, Wesleyan’s admissions office is still seriously considering your application. And you still have time to get in. It might just take a little work.

Rejected Early Decision from Barnard College 2024-2025

Rejection is never easy, and getting turned down by your ED school can really sting. While it may not help much at the moment, keep in mind that Barnard has an 8% acceptance rate. Single digits!! That’s crazy competitive, so you shouldn’t take this rejection personally. Not getting into Barnard ED doesn’t mean you won’t get into other great schools. In fact, we can confidently say that you will end up at a college, even if you don’t know where just yet.

Summer Strategy for USC

USC. Amazing school. Excellent academics. Fun, big-school spots vibe. Sunshine for days! What’s not to love? For the 20,700 some undergraduates who go there, there’s lots! But you’re going to have to work hard if you want to join the ranks of Trojans who work hard so they can lounge on the beach on the weekends. USC has just a 12% acceptance rate. The SAT acceptance range is 1450-1550 and the ACT range is 32-35, per U.S. News & World Report.

Rejected Early Decision from Bowdoin 2024-2025

If you’re here, we’re guessing you got rejected from Bowdoin. First of all, we want to say we’re sorry, we know rejection sucks, and it’s probably suckier when it’s from a school you were so excited about. We hope you don’t get too down on yourself because this rejection is not a reflection of who you are as a person, and you will go to a great school and go on to do great things!

Deferred by Vassar Early Decision 2024-2025

If you applied to Vassar Early Decision, you were probably expecting to get in. That is sort of the point of applying ED to a competitive, but not supremely so, school. The acceptance rate is high enough that strong students approach it with confidence, and since it’s Early Decision the admissions office at the college knows that you are a serious applicant. Every year, though, most students who apply ED don’t get in. That is sort of obvious, we know, but it may not feel that way when you are deciding to ED, or even more so when you are on the receiving end of a deferral.

10th Grade College Strategy for Business

Maybe you want to run a hedge fund or the next unicorn startup. Maybe you want to start companies, or maybe, you want to rise in the ranks. MAYBE you want to be a finance whiz or a marketing maven. Or maybe, you don’t even know exactly what you want to do, but you know you’re interested in studying business in college. If you’re stuck on where to start, don’t worry, we’re here.