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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
Is My SAT or ACT Score Good Enough for an Ivy? A Better Way to Make the Decision
Decide whether to retake or submit an SAT or ACT score using current college policies, academic context, and opportunity cost—not arbitrary score cutoffs.
Nothing Extraordinary Happened to Me. What Should I Write My College Essay About?
Struggling to find a personal statement topic? Develop an ordinary memory into a specific, thoughtful college essay with our interactive essay darkroom.
Do I Need Research or a Nonprofit to Get Into an Ivy? Start With the Work You Already Do
Do you need research, a nonprofit, or a spike for Ivy League admissions? Turn genuine activities into clear evidence with our interactive planning worksheet.
Wellesley’s New $200,000 Tuition Promise Still Leaves a $26,000 Question
Wellesley will cover tuition for families earning $200,000 or less beginning fall 2027. Calculate the remaining housing, food, and fee gap before calling it free.
Caltech’s 2.6% Admit Rate Is the Wrong Number to Build a College List Around
New federal-data reporting puts Caltech at a 2.6% admit rate. Use the probability lens to understand denominators, fit, and how to build a resilient college list.
Princeton Is No. 1 for ROI. The Price Tag Still Needs a Decoder
Forbes ranked Princeton first for college return on investment. Use the interactive net-price and payoff decoder before turning a national rank into a family decision.
UCLA Is No. 2 Among Public Colleges—and Its Application Crowd Just Set Another Record
UCLA set another application record as Forbes ranked it the No. 2 public college. See how volume changes admit-rate math and how to build a balanced UC list.
Caltech Jumped 17 Places in Forbes. What Rankings Can—and Cannot—Tell Applicants
Caltech rose from No. 24 to No. 7 in Forbes’ new ranking. Explore the methodology and learn how applicants should use a dramatic ranking change.
Berkeley Law’s Admissions Process Is Now a Federal Test Case
Federal agencies say Berkeley Law discriminated by race; the school denies it. Here is what is alleged, what remains disputed, and what applicants should understand.
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