Shemmassian Academic Consulting

NOVEMBER 16, 2023

On the other hand, if you are a superstar premed student, you might be wondering whether you're optimizing your time by pursuing the “best” extracurricular activities for medical school. What are some unique extracurriculars for medical school? How could you compete with them? Do you even want to? Are you missing anything critical?

Extracurricular 98

Extracurricular Internship Letters of Recommendation Out-of-State 98

Georgia Tech Admissions Blog

JANUARY 13, 2025

This week we welcome Assistant Director of Admission, Ashley Brookshire, to the blog. the gray-area that is college admission. In keeping with that theme, lets venture to a topic that some of you may find highly relevant as college admission decisions are being released: deferrals. Welcome, Ashley! What should you do?

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Admissions Waitlist Letters of Recommendation Early Decision 89

College Essay Guy

APRIL 23, 2024

A lot of students and families fundamentally misunderstand college admissions. But I want to help you understand, based on many years of experience on both sides of the admissions process, how the applicant evaluation process really works. TABLE OF CONTENTS (click to skip ahead) College admissions as identification of future potential?

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Admissions Internship Letters of Recommendation Loans 98

AdmissionSight

JANUARY 11, 2025

To boost your chances, focus on maintaining a strong GPA , engaging in extracurriculars, and showcasing what makes you unique. Keep up those grades, get involved in extracurriculars, and make your passion for what UC Davis offers stand out in your application. UC Davis accepts a solid number of applicants, so dont get discouraged.

Acceptance 96

Acceptance Waitlist Admissions Transfer 96

AdmissionSight

NOVEMBER 28, 2024

When it comes to your college applications, one big question is: how many extracurriculars should I have to stand out without overloading my plate? Think of extracurriculars like toppings on a pizza. Let’s break down how many extracurriculars you should really have, what counts, and how to make yours stand out.

Extracurricular 52

Extracurricular Ivy League Internship Out-of-State 52

Top Tier Admissions

OCTOBER 15, 2024

Dear Class of 2025, The college admissions process can feel like a whirlwind—deadlines, decisions, expectations—it’s easy to get caught up in the chaos. When Michele and I founded Top Tier Admissions over 20 years ago, our goal was to disrupt the college admissions process by creating transparency.

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Admissions Transition Transcripts Extracurricular 83

Top Tier Admissions

MAY 30, 2023

Private college admissions counselors (like our stellar team at Top Tier Admissions ) work with students to maximize their options in the increasingly complex and competitive college admissions process. Most fundamentally, private college admissions counselors are advocates that serve as part of a student’s core support team.

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Admissions PSAT SAT Internship 91

Great College Advice

AUGUST 3, 2023

A prospective client emailed me yesterday with a question that is regularly asked of me when I give presentations on college admission. Rather it is a collection of rigorous high school syllabi that are presented to students who want to challenge themselves. Do colleges find one more impressive over the other?

Admissions 98

Admissions Placement Extracurricular Ivy League 98

AdmissionSight

DECEMBER 19, 2024

Applying to Harvard might feel like a lot, but knowing what admissions officers actually want can make things much simpler. The answer includes strong academics, compelling extracurriculars, and an authentic story that showcases your unique strengths. What does Harvard look for in an applicant? What else does Harvard consider?

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University University Standardized Testing GPA 94

Georgia Tech Admissions Blog

DECEMBER 1, 2023

Re-upping this blog based on a few recent conversations with college and neighborhood friends who have kids in the admission process right now. He told me that after watching his older son go through the admission process he has been telling his current high school senior who is applying to colleges to be prepared to hear “no.”

Admissions 94

Admissions Letters of Recommendation Early Decision GPA 94

Top Tier Admissions

JANUARY 3, 2025

In todays competitive college admissions landscape, students must do more than present impressive resumes and polished essaysthey must showcase self-awareness, intellectual depth, and an authentic sense of purpose. LEARN MORE WHAT IS METACOGNITION, AND WHY DOES IT MATTER IN COLLEGE ADMISSIONS?

Applications 88

Applications Essay Writing Extracurricular Admissions 88

Ivy College Essay

OCTOBER 30, 2023

The College Admissions Activity List: Your college admissions activity list is a crucial component of your college application — especially if you’re applying for the Ivy League. In this article, I’ll guide you through the process of crafting an effective college admissions activity list.

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Ivy League National Honor Society Admissions Honor Society 70

Spark Admissions

JUNE 7, 2023

With its overall admission rate still hovering near 3%, Harvard University is one of the most selective universities in the United State and in the world. At Spark, we find that students who meet these recommended standards have a much higher success rate of admission to top-ranked schools.

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Ivy League University University Letters of Recommendation 130

Ivy College Essay

JUNE 30, 2023

The Best Extracurriculars for Your Ivy League College Application As the competitive landscape of Ivy League college admissions continues to intensify, students find themselves grappling with the question of how to stand out among a sea of high achievers. The answer lies in your extracurriculars, so choose wisely!

Extracurricular 52

Extracurricular Ivy League Applications GPA 52

Solomon Admissions

SEPTEMBER 8, 2023

A former college admissions officer weighs in on the fairness of the college admissions system. One of the things that keeps parents and students up late at night (and admissions consultants too!) is wondering whether the college admissions system is fair. A fair system?

Admissions 74

Admissions Letters of Recommendation Higher Education Policies 74

The Koppelman Group

JULY 9, 2023

A big part of that is extracurriculars. Yes, this includes grades and scores, but also essays, supplemental materials, and especially extracurriculars. That’s a lot, but we are here to tell you, the easiest way to show off your passions and curiosity is through your extracurriculars. Let’s take a look at their extracurriculars.

Extracurricular 52

Extracurricular Minor Transcripts Acceptance 52

AdmissionSight

JANUARY 10, 2025

No extracurricular activity is “bad,” but some definitely catch the eye of college admissions teams more than others. Selective colleges take a holistic approach to admissions, meaning they look at the whole picture instead of just focusing on your grades and test scores.

Extracurricular 40

Extracurricular Applications Out-of-State Policies 40

Great College Advice

JULY 25, 2023

How will you write your college extracurricular activity essay? The Common Application used to ask you to “elaborate” on one of your extracurricular activities in 150 words. Either way, this short paragraph can be an essential component of your entire presentation as an applicant. Now this essay is not quite as common.

Extracurricular 52

Extracurricular Applications Admissions Education 52

Excelsior Admissions Consulting

OCTOBER 30, 2023

Basically, college admissions officers evaluate applicants based on their qualifications (grades, extracurriculars, test scores etc.). Second, a student’s chances of admission can be affected by the historic relationship between the high school and college. The answer is generally no (with a little bit of context).

High School 83

High School Admissions Extracurricular GPA 83

Spark Admissions

APRIL 11, 2023

In March 2023, Columbia University announced that it would permanently drop the SAT/ACT requirement for undergraduate admissions. The decision by Columbia to abandon the SAT/ACT requirement represents a significant milestone in the ongoing debate around standardized testing in higher education and in the overall future of college admissions.

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ACT SAT Testing Standardized Testing 130

Spark Admissions

APRIL 11, 2023

In March 2023, Columbia University announced that it would permanently drop the SAT/ACT requirement for undergraduate admissions. The decision by Columbia to abandon the SAT/ACT requirement represents a significant milestone in the ongoing debate around standardized testing in higher education and in the overall future of college admissions.

ACT 130

ACT SAT Testing Standardized Testing 130

Tex Admissions

DECEMBER 10, 2022

ChatGPT and College Admissions For this post, I'm obviously most interested in what ChatGPT means for college essays, the admissions process, and education more generally. Here is a sample response from ChatGPT: Next, I asked what would happen to college admissions. There didn't seem to be much there "there" yet.

Applications 98

Applications Admissions Extracurricular Minor 98

HelloCollege

MAY 25, 2023

Many students struggle to decide which extracurriculars to include on their college applications and which activities to cross off. Luckily, this article provides a list of extracurriculars that are best left off college applications. Why Are Extracurricular Activities So Important For College Applications?

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Extracurricular GPA High School Admissions 52

Great College Advice

JULY 25, 2023

One of the most-oft questions I get from families is some version of this: “Which is more important — grades or extracurricular activities? Grades are more important than your extracurricular activities. And they are recorded and presented to college admissions offices on your transcript. Hands down.

Extracurricular 52

Extracurricular Transcripts GPA Standardized Testing 52

Solomon Admissions

APRIL 12, 2023

There are many moving parts to the college admissions process, yet most students and families don’t understand the integral role their high school counselor plays. High school counselors can help students with the college admissions process in a number of ways.

High School 72

High School Financial Aid Admissions Transcripts 72

AdmissionSight

NOVEMBER 17, 2024

An admission committee is a group of professionals tasked with evaluating student applications. Admission committees consist of admissions officers and sometimes faculty members, particularly at Ivy League schools, who collectively decide which students are accepted. ” How Long Do Admissions Officers Read Applications?

Ivy League 52

Ivy League Admissions Extracurricular Financial Aid 52

Top Tier Admissions

JANUARY 10, 2025

A recent study examining the educational backgrounds of top achievers in American society presented compelling evidence that elite colleges play an outsized role in shaping future leaders. The findings are both thought-provoking and sobering, especially for families navigating the competitive college admissions process.

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Ivy League Mentorships Mentorship Concentration 78

Ivy College Essay

AUGUST 1, 2024

Here’s a comprehensive guide on how to maximize your chances of being accepted into an Ivy League school, as told from a former Harvard admissions interviewer and Harvard graduate: Academic Excellence High GPA: One of the most critical components of your application is your academic record.

Ivy League 91

Ivy League Financial Aid Letters of Recommendation Placement 91

The Koppelman Group

JULY 4, 2023

Your extracurriculars are an amazing place to exhibit this, so it is really important that you bolster your application with activities outside of the classroom that make a difference. Below are four extracurriculars you should consider doing if you are contemplating a major in Political Science.

Extracurricular 52

Extracurricular Government Internship Policies 52

The Koppelman Group

JUNE 5, 2023

So when we hear this question, we usually have to respond with a question, “What do their extracurriculars look like?” Why do extracurriculars matter at MIT? This is where MIT’s holistic admissions process comes in. This means they will be looking carefully at your extracurriculars. and the regular decision rate of 2.2%.

High School 52

High School Extracurricular ACT SAT 52

Shemmassian Academic Consulting

JULY 9, 2023

You may be looking at test-optional colleges because your child’s intelligence isn’t fully reflected in standardized tests, or because you think the philosophy of a test-optional college—an emphasis on qualitative or holistic admissions—might suggest a good fit for your child. Many have adopted the policy for several future admissions cycles.

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Testing Applications Admissions Standardized Testing 98

AdmissionSight

DECEMBER 1, 2024

That tiny number highlights how selective the admissions process is and how wildly popular Yale is among top-tier students aiming for the Ivy League. Here, we’ll break down Yale’s acceptance rate, explore how it’s changed over time, and share some practical tips to help boost your chances of standing out to admissions. 2027 52,303 4.5%

Acceptance 52

Acceptance Admissions Waitlist Ivy League 52

Ivy College Essay

JANUARY 5, 2024

Columbia’s transfer admissions process is notably competitive, and success hinges on presenting a compelling case for why you belong at the school. This pivotal essay prompt serves as a litmus test for your knowledge of Columbia’s distinctive academic and extracurricular offerings.

Transfer 90

Transfer Ivy League University University 90

Spark Admissions

MARCH 31, 2023

Note of the prompts seen as better or worse in the college admissions process. Don’t recap your resume; your extracurricular activities and transcript appear elsewhere in the application, and it’s a missed opportunity to just repeat them here. Consider how your college essay will read to an admissions committee.

Applications 130

Applications Admissions Out-of-State Transcripts 130

Spark Admissions

MARCH 31, 2023

Note of the prompts seen as better or worse in the college admissions process. Don’t recap your resume; your extracurricular activities and transcript appear elsewhere in the application, and it’s a missed opportunity to just repeat them here. Consider how your college essay will read to an admissions committee.

Applications 130

Applications Admissions Out-of-State Transcripts 130

Berkeley² Academy

JULY 17, 2024

An academic resume should present everything you have been working hard on throughout high school to admissions officers in an easy-to-read format! It should highlight your academic progress, extracurricular activities (especially ones relevant to your intended major), volunteering opportunities, awards, and other skills and hobbies.

Admissions 52

Admissions Honor Society Internship Placement 52

Ivy College Essay

AUGUST 13, 2023

The Ivy League College Admissions Guidebook Buy it today on Amazon ! To aid aspiring students in this endeavor, “ The Ivy League College Admissions Guidebook ” stands as a beacon of college admissions wisdom and guidance. You need to understand what makes you stand out and look unique and interesting to admissions.

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Ivy League Admissions Standardized Testing Letters of Recommendation 52