September, 2024

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The Alarming Truth About High Schoolers’ College Outlook: Confusion, Doubt, and a Surprising Indifference

Ruffaloni

The college recruitment landscape is shifting, and the latest data from the 2024 RNL High School Student College Planning Report (co-sponsored by Halda) paints a concerning picture for higher education institutions. High school students are feeling overwhelmed, under-informed, and surprisingly skeptical about the value of a college degree. If you’re in admissions or financial aid, these trends can’t be ignored – they threaten the very way you attract and enroll students.

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Tips for Prompt #3 of the Common App Essay: Questioning or Challenging a Belief or Idea

Great College Advice

How will you write your Common App essay about a belief or idea? The Common Application prompts give you a chance to answer an interesting question, tell an important or revealing anecdote, and reflect on the ways in which the anecdote reveals something about your character, your beliefs, your values, or your personal priorities. Prompt #3, especially, focuses on the beliefs that are fundamental to who you are.

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Six Standout Engineering Schools

Top Tier Admissions

On a recent list of college majors that pay the most right out of college , engineering fields fill eight of the top ten slots. It’s no surprise, then, that engineering is among the top six most popular college majors. While not everyone has the technical, quantitative, and computer skills necessary to successfully pursue an engineering degree, for those who do, competition for spaces at universities with top engineering programs is fierce.

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Students for Fair Admissions Threatens Princeton, Yale, Duke With Legal Action

BestColleges

Students for Fair Admissions sent letters to Yale, Princeton, and Duke demanding they explain why the percentages of Asian American students in their incoming classes declined. Several other elite institutions have reported increases in Asian American students and drops in underrepresented minority enrollments. SFFA contends these three universities aren't abiding by the Supreme Court's ban on race-conscious admissions.

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How to Get Into the U.S. Air Force Academy: Acceptance Rate & Strategies

College Transitions

Guided by the values of “Integrity First. Service Before Self. Excellence in All We Do,” the United States Air Force Academy (USAFA) is presently home to 4,307 undergraduate students who receive four years of education valued at an estimated $416,000 completely free of charge.

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Intersectionality and Identity in the College Application Process

College Wise

Explore how intersectionality and identity shape the college application process. By understanding their identities, students can find colleges that offer the right academic and emotional support.

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Why Higher Ed Ad Costs Spike During Election Season (and What You Can Do About It)

Ruffaloni

When election season rolls around, the world of digital advertising can feel like a wild stormespecially for higher education institutions. If you’ve ever noticed that your ads cost more during an election cycle, you’re not alone. But why is that happening? Lets break it down. Whats driving up ad costs? Increased competition Political campaigns flood platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and other social channels with massive amounts of advertising.

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Dear Roadie: My Daughter Wants a Pricey College and Told Us to Butt Out. Should We?

road2college

Dear Roadie: Our daughter is steadfast in her belief that she can do anything, including going through the college application. The post Dear Roadie: My Daughter Wants a Pricey College and Told Us to Butt Out. Should We? appeared first on Road2College.

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Pac-12 Adds Four Teams, Staves Off Extinction

BestColleges

The Pac-12, currently with only two schools, will add four members beginning in 2026. Those four schools come from the Mountain West Conference, whose own future is in doubt. The move doesn't return the Pac-12's status as a Power 5 conference. Facing a requirement of eight members for legitimacy, the Pac-12 still needs two additional schools to join.

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How to Get Into West Point: Acceptance Rate & Strategies

College Transitions

During the Revolutionary War, George Washington identified a plateau on the west bank of the Hudson River, about 40 miles north of New York City, as the single most important strategic position in all of nascent America.

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Life After the PSAT: Making the Most of Your PSAT Results | Scoir

Scoir

For many high schoolers, the release of PSAT results will start to give more definition to potential college options. As momentous as the unveiling of your scores might seem, you need to keep it in perspective.

PSAT 96
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Why Higher Ed Ad Costs Spike During Election Season (and What You Can Do About It)

Ruffaloni

When election season rolls around, the world of digital advertising can feel like a wild storm—especially for higher education institutions. If you’ve ever noticed that your ads cost more during an election cycle, you’re not alone. But why is that happening? Let’s break it down. What’s driving up ad costs? Increased competition Political campaigns flood platforms like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and other social channels with massive amounts of advertising.

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Coming Soon: Major Changes to the ACT

Discovery College Consulting

Not only are today’s high school students being affected by frequent changes in colleges’ testing policies (as described in a recent blog post ), they also have another upcoming change to contend with: next year, the ACT will switch to a digital format, in addition to undergoing other alterations. However, in comparison to the calculated, years-long transition of the SAT from a paper to a computer-based test, the ACT’s digital rollout seems far more rushed and haphazard.

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The Best MCAT Prep Books in 2024 (and Other Resources)

Shemmassian Academic Consulting

Learn which MCAT prep books are the best so you can maximize your score in the least amount of time Choosing the best MCAT prep books is important, and it’s even more critical to pair the right resources with a great study schedule. (Note: This resource also appears in our MCAT Ultimate Guide.) - The MCAT is a notoriously difficult and time-consuming exam , one that requires at least two months of focused study.

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College Enrollment Rates Rebound Slightly

BestColleges

A new report reveals that college-going rates have increased over the past two years. Higher education has experienced a considerable decline in attendance since 2010. Matriculation, persistence, and graduation rates vary widely by income and race. Income and race significantly determine completion rates in STEM fields. New data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center paints a classic good news/bad news picture for higher education.

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Highest Paid NFL Coaches 2024

College Transitions

I walked into Publix yesterday (needed almond milk) and couldn’t help but notice the gigantic installment of aqua-and-orange cakes by the entrance. Weird. But then it clicked: it was an early September Sunday. Football season had started. Helmeted Miami Dolphins, fashioned out of frosting and food dye, decorated the cake tops.

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NYU: 2024-25 Supplemental Essays

Top Tier Admissions

New York University , a private school founded in 1831, currently enrolls over 28,000 undergraduate students, including the largest number of international students at any American university. In addition to its flagship campus in New York City, NYU has degree-granting campuses in Abu Dhabi and Shanghai and encourages global education and engagement.

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Building Recruitment Success: Strengthening Strategic Foundations Before Revamping Communications

Ruffaloni

In the face of two demograpic cliffs , institutions are seeking innovative communication strategies to better engage with prospective students. Consulting engagements like deep audits of current communications and implementation of newly designed message flow architectures can seem like a “sure thing” for improving enrollment numbers, but enhancing more foundational strategic elements is likely necessary before these moves can be completely effective.

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The Role of Leadership in College Admissions

Solomon Admissions

When putting together an incoming first-year class, college admissions officers spend a significant amount of time evaluating hundreds of factors to determine an applicant’s competitiveness for their institution. While many of these factors are important, it’s hard to overstate the value of leadership in college admissions. Their holistic evaluation process can be quite hard to… The post The Role of Leadership in College Admissions appeared first on Solomon Admissions Consulting.

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How to Get a Computer Science Degree

College Wise

If you're interested in getting a degree in Computer Science, read on to find out how you can become more competitive.

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California Passes Bill Banning Legacy Admissions at Private Colleges

BestColleges

The California State Assembly passed a bill to eliminate legacy admissions at private colleges. California's public colleges already are prohibited from giving preferences to legacy applicants. Only a handful of private colleges in California have policies favoring legacies. Scrutiny of legacy policies has intensified since the Supreme Court's ban on affirmative action.

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What Students Really Want to Hear from Colleges [Event Recap] | Scoir

Scoir

Discover key insights from our recent event on effectively reaching Gen Z students. Learn what to keep and what to yeet from your 2024-2025 enrollment marketing strategy.

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Optimizing for Ai-Driven Google Search: A Guide for Educational Institutions

HEM (Higher Education Marketing)

Reading Time: 12 minutes Digital marketing is quickly taking on a new shape, and the way we search and find information on the internet is proof of this. Google Search as you know it, and its native search algorithm, is shifting gears to accommodate these sweeping changes. With the growing complexity of search engine algorithms and the introduction of features like rich results and AI-driven content, it can be challenging for institutions to keep up.

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Preparing Admissions for the Future: RNL’s Admissions Counselor Leadership Certificate Programs

Ruffaloni

Co-written by Dr. Reena Lichtenfeld , Vice President for Consulting Services As higher education institutions grapple with fluctuating prospective student markets, another retooling of test-optional policies, and increased scrutiny following the Supreme Court’s ruling against race-conscious admissions, many institutions are also facing a serious internal issue: burnout and turnover among admissions staff.

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Harvard: Supplemental Essays

Top Tier Admissions

Harvard University , located in Cambridge, MA, was founded in 1636 and is currently ranked #3 in National Universities by the 2024 U.S. News & World Report. Harvard accepted 3.59% of regular decision applicants and 8.74% of early action applicants to the Class of 2028. Despite Harvard’s previous commitment to remaining test-optional through the Class of 2030, the college announced on April 11 it would require students applying for fall 2025 admission to submit either an SAT or ACT score.

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Dear Roadie: I’m Struggling With An Unmotivated Senior

road2college

Dear Roadie, I just took a second job to pay for my daughter’s dream school. This will have me out. The post Dear Roadie: I’m Struggling With An Unmotivated Senior appeared first on Road2College.

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Ace the Supplemental Essays: “Why Us?”

North Star Admissions Consulting

Ace the Supplemental Essays: “Why Us?” On November 1st, the majority of early action and early decision college applications are due. For the next six weeks I will share college application tips to help the whole process run smoothly. (Read previous advice about logistics , the common application form , the honors and activities sections and the core essay.

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Reconsidering Standardized Testing | Scoir

Scoir

In the past few years, colleges and universities across the United States have reconsidered their testing policies, with most going test-optional. So, what does this mean for students applying to college? Should students not take standardized tests at all? What are test scores used for anyway?

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Don’t Be Afraid of (The Failure) Prompt #2 of the Common App Essay

Great College Advice

This week, Great College Advice’s Jamie Berger discusses Prompt 2 of the Common App essay, which he (affectionately) calls “the failure prompt”. Here’s the prompt : The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

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How To Run Baidu PPC Advertising Campaigns for Schools

HEM (Higher Education Marketing)

Reading Time: 10 minutes Globalization and the increasing popularity of distance learning means educational institutions must cast their nets wide to attract students from diverse geographical and cultural backgrounds. For schools and universities looking to expand their reach in China, mastering the art of Baidu Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising is a major asset.

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10 Takeaways from the 2025 WSJ Best Colleges Ranking

Top Tier Admissions

The latest Wall Street Journal/College Pulse 2025 Best Colleges in the U.S. ranking offers fresh insights into the evolving landscape of higher education. While Princeton University retains the top spot, the list features significant shifts, with 25 new institutions joining the top 50. This ranking focuses on how well colleges set students up for financial success, career preparation, and overall student satisfaction, providing a comprehensive look at the schools excelling in these areas and res

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Dear Roadie: Should We Tap Our Twins’ College Savings To Pay Unexpected Medical Bills?

road2college

Dear Roadie, Due to health issues, our family’s income has been dramatically cut, but we already told our twins we’d. The post Dear Roadie: Should We Tap Our Twins’ College Savings To Pay Unexpected Medical Bills? appeared first on Road2College.

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Depth and Admissions

UGA Undergraduate Admissions Q & A

My wife and my daughter are big fans of the Bachelor/Bachelorette shows, so much so that even though my daughter has moved to Arizona, there is a pact between them to not communicate about the show until they are sure the other one has watched it, and that they will reach out on Tuesday evenings to talk about the participants, a day after the show is on.

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Coalition's Fall Events | Scoir

Scoir

Working on your college applications? Have questions about financial aid? Connect with the Coalition at panel discussions in the coming weeks for insight and advice, and to ask your questions. See the schedule and sign up!

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How to Use AI in Your College Applications

North Star Admissions Consulting

College Application Tips: How to Use AI in Your College Applications On November 1st, the majority of early action and early decision college applications are due. For the next five weeks I will share college application tips to help the whole process run smoothly. (Read previous advice about logistics , the common application form , the honors and activities sections , supplements , and the core essay.

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Marketing Prep for a Successful Academic Year: Strategies that Work

HEM (Higher Education Marketing)

Reading Time: 10 minutes As the new academic year approaches, schools and educational institutions must gear up for their back-to-school marketing campaigns. Ensuring a strong marketing push can help schools attract, engage, and enroll students more efficiently. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through essential strategies for planning a successful back-to-school marketing campaign.

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Caltech: 2024-25 Supplemental Essays

Top Tier Admissions

California Institute of Technology, also known as Caltech, is a private research university in Pasadena, California known for its strong engineering program. Considered an Ivy Plus school, Caltech is one of the most selective “test-blind” colleges in the nation with a sub-3% acceptance rate for the Class of 2028. Caltech changes its supplemental essay questions every year and offers insight for applicants on its website : “Remember, Caltech is an unapologetic STEM institution.