Winter Break is here and the final round of college application deadlines are less than a month away! When the pressure is on and Regular Decision deadlines seem imminent, it might feel like you need to complete your application materials as quickly as possible, especially when it comes to application portals. However, it is crucial that you take your time when providing your information in portals and carefully review all responses to confirm that you are ready to hit submit

Does your family have an academically-gifted middle schooler? Are you looking for a high school experience that will challenge them and provide them with the unique opportunities they need to build skills essential to college success? Texas boasts some of the nation’s most rigorous academic programs—including four high schools ranked in the top 40 nationally and the nation’s first early college entrance residential program. In today’s post, we’ll walk you through the applicat

Did you apply Early Decision I or Early Action to any colleges this year? If so, you might be feeling an inevitable mix of excitement and nerves as you wait for your first round of admissions results. While trusting in the quality of your application materials and hoping for the best, we also recommend students have a solid backup plan in place. This can include applying Regular Decision (RD) to additional schools to round out your college list, and, in certain cases, applyin

What goals have you been setting in high school and what steps have you been taking to achieve them? Colleges don’t just want strong students—they want applicants who put their skills to the test. One of the most effective ways to do this is by competing in contests or competitions. Achieving success at the local, regional, state, national, or even international level shows admissions officers that you not only took the initiative to pursue your interests, but that you’re rea

The University of California system includes nine campuses across the Golden State. Within it, you’ll find the two highest-ranked public universities in the country, UC Berkeley  and UCLA , along with UC San Diego, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Santa Barbara, UC Merced, UC Riverside, and UC Santa Cruz. From sweeping coastlines and city lights to intellectual atmospheres and beautiful study spaces, there is something for everyone at the UCs.  One key factor of the UC application is