“You don’t know what you don’t know.” Success, however we define it, is the culmination of lots of small decisions, most of which, by the time our children reach Junior year of high school, have already been made. More and more, I see parents, especially those with older children who have already been through the college process, recognize that investing the time to make wise choices earlier (like in 8th or 9th grade), can lay a strong foundation for later.

The UK is home to many outstanding universities, and studying in the UK is a great option for international students. From the heart of London, to coastal towns and more remote villages, there’s something for everyone. But there are some clear differences between the UK and US, starting with how you choose and apply to a university.

Jamie R, our UK expert, shares the 4 main differences between the US and the UK to consider before you apply.

Did you know Canada is the 3rd leading destination for international students? Though Canada is often an afterthought for students applying to study in North America, it shouldn’t be! The Great White North has a lot to offer ambitious international students. Here’s everything you need to know:

Is it bad to take the SAT or ACT lots of times? What is Score Choice and which colleges use it? When and where do I need to submit official test scores? If I submit a superscore, will colleges see my lower subscores and evaluate those too? We’re answering all those questions and more so you can submit your scores (or not submit them) with confidence!

Parents want to be helpful, and whether you’re watching your children sprint toward submitting their ED or EA apps or just embarking on this journey with your 9th graders, you probably find yourself asking: “How can I best support my child at this important time?” So what can you do?

I still remember my first semester transition to college, where it simply did not seem possible to complete all the work that was assigned to me. Luckily, I got in touch with an organizational coach who completely changed my relationship with my work and learning using strategies I still use today. Here are my top 4 tips:

While most college essay questions are relatively straightforward, some are downright bizarre. Take, for instance, Dartmouth’s question which states simply: “Celebrate your nerdy side.” So how do you answer these weird questions? Former Admissions Officer Olivia breaks it down.

At the end of June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that “colleges and universities can no longer take race into consideration as a specific basis in admissions.”

The full implications of this decision, including how it will affect students applying in the upcoming 2023-24 admissions cycle and in future cycles, are still unclear. For now, here is what we know (and what we don’t know).

When you just look at the numbers — these numbers, or any numbers really (over 120,000 applicants to NYU! Northeastern accepted 6.7% of students! Apps to Yale increased 50% since 2020!) — it’s so easy to lose sight of the individual stories, victories, and disappointments that define this process, and the fact that opportunity is always right around the corner if you’re open to it.

To get a fresh perspective on the value of choosing a major—and why the liberal arts might be an equally compelling path to a career in business as a Finance or Engineering degree—we spoke with several college grads ranging in age from 29-34, to ask them whether their choice of major had an impact on their career. We got an earful, and some of their answers were surprising.

Sometimes admission outcomes don’t seem to make sense. You may be asking yourself: How could I have been admitted to the #1 ranked university in the country but not to the #40 ranked university?

Well, first of all, rankings aren’t everything. But there’s more to it than that.

The Smith College campus is beautiful — the requisite old buildings, an exquisite library, amazing houses (dorms), a world famous greenhouse, and Paradise Pond as the backdrop to crisp fall days and lazy spring mornings. But the most compelling aspect of Smith is its student body: women who are eager to engage, challenge, grow, support, laugh, and learn. 

In a recent op-ed in the New York Times, Emi Nietfeld reflects on her initial “overshare” about her mental health challenges (and its perceived consequences, including a rejection from Yale) and the ways in which she was able to reflect upon and ultimately convey her story in a way that was more compelling for her college applications.

So what is the appropriate degree of disclosure in a college application?

Federal data illustrates the toll the pandemic has taken on students’ mental health, but the issue of parental involvement—always a source of tension between parents and students in the college process—has also intensified. As a parent, what can you do to support your child during this stressful but exciting time in their life?

So you’re waiting for mid-March when colleges will release a flood of seemingly life-defining decisions. It’s a nerve-racking time, so Sean offers some helpful tips about the dos and don’ts of waiting for college decisions!

Remember how your application was read by two different admissions officers, either individually or in a team? As a result of their evaluation, your application has now been sorted into a bin. There are many pathways to getting deferred/waitlisted or denied, but only one way to get admitted: the Selection Committee.

If you’re a high school senior, chances are you recently hit the submit button on at least a few of your college applications – congratulations! Now you’re probably wondering what’s going to happen to that application over the next 2-3 months while you await the college’s decision. Olivia dives into the nuances of application reading and review in the first post of our Inside Admissions series.