Key Insights from the First Round of College Decisions As we near the end of the 2025-26 admissions cycle, it’s time to review results from the early application rounds and analyze the data that’s available so far. The Class of 2030 continued to break records with an astonishing number of applications to a wide array of schools. Similarly, we saw a continuing trend of dropping acceptance rates, with almost every school becoming more competitive. Overall, the data shows only s

Having trouble keeping up with everything you should be doing to become a competitive applicant for college admissions? Mid-year is the perfect time to assess your progress in 5 key areas to ensure you finish the second semester strong! Freshman Year:   Explore and Settle In! Academics Don’t underestimate how difficult the transition from middle school to high school is, especially if you are taking Advanced Placement courses. Set academic goals for the second semester to imp

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

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