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Find guidance on applications, academic choices, international admissions, and planning for college.
Essays and applications
Testing and academic profile
- What are test-optional college admissions policies? And should you still take the SAT and/or ACT? (2026 Update)
- The “Hidden” Transcripts: Every Academic Record College Applicants May Need to Report (And How to Use Them to Your Advantage!)
- How to Maximize Your Extracurriculars for College Applications (Guest Post)
- AP Exams: Here’s how to study and prepare for AP Exams.
International admissions
College planning
- Juniors, it’s time to start making your college lists. Here is how to build a balanced list of reach, target, and safety colleges.
- Planning a college visit? Here is how to make the most of your time on campus.
- The Significance of Choosing the Right Major: Aligning Interests and Authenticity in College Admissions
- A Beginner's Guide to Navigating Financial Aid for College (Guest Post)
- Budget for College Now: Start Planning Your Finances Early
What the $75 Application Fee Actually Gates
Application fees are not a simple income cutoff. Explore legitimate waiver routes, avoid misleading revenue claims and calculate your actual application budget.
T20 Colleges Are Deleting Supplemental Essays. That Might Make Your Application Harder, Not Easier.
Selective colleges are cutting supplemental essays for 2026–27. Learn what fewer prompts actually change—and how to make the remaining application stronger.
The Stanford Daily Visa Ruling: What International Students Applying to T20 Colleges Should Actually Take From It
A federal judge ruled key visa/deportation provisions unconstitutional as applied to protected student speech. Here is what international applicants should—and should not—infer.
MIT Says AI Can Credibly Complete Almost Any Written Assignment. What Does That Mean for College Admissions?
MIT says generative AI can handle most written assignments. The report is about education—not admissions—but it signals how evidence of real learning may change.
International Applications Fell 10%. Will T20 Colleges Actually Become Easier to Get Into?
Common App international applicants fell 10%. See why that does not automatically mean easier Ivy/T20 admission and how international students should respond.
The New Four-Year Student Status Rule Changes More Than Visa Paperwork. It Changes How International Students Should Evaluate a Degree Plan.
A new rule caps many F-1/J-1 stays at four years before an extension. See how program length, transfers and uncertainty should affect college planning.
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