Here's some admissions scoop.

From time to time, we will publish a new blog post here about some aspect of the college admissions journey. We explore broad industry trends and specifics of college admissions, including the application process, high school guidance, testing, extracurriculars, and all things admissions.

a college admissions blog

A waitlist offer from a college can be upsetting, especially if it is one of your top choices. However, being waitlisted means you will have a chance to attend the school. Staying positive and doing what you can to improve your chances of being accepted from the waitlist is essential. According to the National Association […]

5 Tips to Boost Your Chances of Getting Off a College Waitlist

Admissions, College Admissions, Rejections

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April 2, 2023

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In today’s competitive college admissions landscape, students need to stand out. One often overlooked factor is demonstrated interest—a valuable piece of the admissions puzzle. In this blog post, we will explore the concept of demonstrated interest, why it matters, and effective ways to display your enthusiasm for your dream schools.  What is Demonstrated Interest and […]

The Power of Demonstrated Interest 

Admissions, College Admissions

April 3, 2023

Are you a high school junior looking for ways to make your college application stand out? While many activities can help give you an edge, summer is often the best time to focus on building up your resume and application. From volunteer work to online courses, there are plenty of ways for high school juniors […]

Make the Most Out of Summer Break: Tips and Tricks For Boosting Your College Application

Admissions, Extracurriculars

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January 27, 2023

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A Response to the Wall Street Journal’s Revelation that “Extraordinary” Isn’t Enough for the Ivy League With apologies to the always jocular Yogi Berra, I feel his oft-quoted observation after witnessing Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris hit back-to-back home runs time after time best sums up the Wall Street Journal’s recent (04/21/22) observation: “To get […]

Deja Vu All Over Again

Admissions

April 23, 2022

As decisions from highly selective schools start rolling in, there is a good chance that you might be offered a place on an institution’s “waitlist.” Admissions officers use these lists to manage their yield. It is a hedge against a class size that comes in lower than expected. This year there has been a lot written […]

What if you end up on a Waitlist?

Admissions

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March 31, 2021

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As the leaves start turning green and the air becomes fragrant with pollen, final college admissions decisions begin to roll out. This can be both a joyous and difficult season, depending on the outcome. Students spend months crafting their college applications and, regardless of insightful essays, stellar GPAs, and high test scores, many students still […]

Dear Admissions Office, I regret to inform you…THANKS!

Admissions

April 8, 2020

A recently released survey by EAB Global, How enrollment leaders are responding to COVID-19, provides a glimpse into the disrupted world of college admissions offices around the country. We have received many calls from clients asking for any guidance or insight we might have as it relates to current seniors and juniors. While clarity and […]

A Peek at the Future of College Admissions

Trends

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March 23, 2020

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About a year ago, I wrote a blog post about the new harsh realities facing students applying to The University of Texas at Austin (UT Admissions: The New Reality (2019)). Reflective more of the interest in the topic rather than the quality of the prose, the post went viral and has nearly 100,000 views. At […]

UT Austin Admissions Demystified

UT Admissions

March 11, 2020

When you dive into the ApplyTexas application for The University of Texas at Austin this Fall, you will be asked to indicate your First Choice School and Second Choice School, as well as your First Choice Major and Second Choice Major. Make your FIRST-CHOICE school and major count. While in the past, UT Austin would […]

UT Application: Major Choice is a Major Decision

UT Admissions

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September 10, 2019

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Join me in a thought experiment. Let’s pretend you were the Director of Admissions at UT Austin last September. Pretty cool, right? While basking in the sun on the South Mall, you are suddenly interrupted by your Eyes of Texas ringtone. President Fenves’ assistant is on the other end demanding that you come to the […]

UT Admissions: The New Reality (2019)

UT Admissions

February 6, 2019