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When we begin our search for the right college we consider all the obvious things: big, small, private, public, urban, rural, a preponderance of Greek life or very little, great food options or mediocre ones? Sometimes when it comes to choosing a school, we feel like well know the right place when we see it and we let our emotions take over. But given the enormity of the investment, there are things that we should focus on that we sometimes gloss over.
Many school leaders searching for enrollment growth and marketing success hope for a quick fixa single, magical solution that will transform their numbers overnight. Whether launching a new ad campaign, redesigning the website, or hosting a special event, its tempting to believe that one initiative alone can drive sustained success. But the truth is, there is no magic wand.
As higher education faces what experts call an “ enrollment cliff ,” with projections showing a potential 15% decline in traditional college-aged students, institutions are radically re-imagining their recruitment strategies. The latest data from RNL’s 2025 Marketing and Recruitment Practices For Undergraduate Students report reveals fascinating shifts in how different institutions connect with prospective students in this challenging landscape.
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This has been the year of weddings for me. My son got married in November down in Florida, and we will be attending four weddings in the next 3 months. I even had to go buy an additional suit so I would not be seen wearing the same outfit four times. One key for any wedding is planning things down to the smallest detail. My son’s wedding was a small one down in the Florida panhandle, and we rented a house to fit everyone invited to the wedding.
When planning for the college application process, we often focus on the parts of the application you create: your essays, your extracurricular activities, your award-winning projects, etc. The reality, though, is that your complete college applications will also include the writing, insights, and feedback of many other people: your teachers, your high school counselor, your college interviewer, and perhaps even the regional admissions officer at your target school.
As an anxious air traveler, I am frequently not the most serene person with whom to travel. Consequently, on a recent Sunday morning, traveling from Florida to New York with my husband and son, I was pleased by the ease of a process that is often so taxing. With few travelers about, flights on time, and virtually no lines, we sped through security exceptionally fast.
A recent debate has emerged among private and faith-based schools: should tuition be posted online? Recently, Andy Lynch, CEO of Tassel, and I discussed this topic during our Show & Tell Show on “Dialing in your Admissions Section of Your Website.” We both believe that schools should intentionally post tuition rates on their website within the context of affordability and accessibility.
A recent debate has emerged among private and faith-based schools: should tuition be posted online? Recently, Andy Lynch, CEO of Tassel, and I discussed this topic during our Show & Tell Show on “Dialing in your Admissions Section of Your Website.” We both believe that schools should intentionally post tuition rates on their website within the context of affordability and accessibility.
This last half decade has delivered unprecedented disruption for university leaders. The pandemic, economic uncertainty, greater need among students and families, and sweeping governmental changes have buffeted campuses of every size, type and mission. As we move through 2025 and look at the landscape beyond, it’s clear that adaptability, resilience, and innovative thinking are crucial for successful university management.
Princeton University is one of the most selective schools in the country, with an acceptance rate of only 4.6%. So how do you even hope to compete with other highly qualified applicants? Princeton requires six supplemental essays, and each of them is a chance to show the admissions team a different side of you that can prove why youre a good fit for the community.
Students aspiring to become physicians know that the path to medical school begins long before they don a white coat. A strong undergraduate foundation is critical for success. Pre-med students typically major in biology, chemistry, neuroscience, or related fields, and take rigorous coursework in subjects like organic chemistry, physics, and biochemistry.
Art is inherently subjective, and this fluidity of interpretation can make selecting top art colleges challenging for students! If you want to pursue a studio art major, then digging deeply into your individual priorities and college research are going to be necessary to find the right fit. Ask yourself: Do you want to be in a major urban environment with a thriving art scene?
Last school year, I polled a small group of college students about what made them feel the most stressed in college. Mostly juniors, their answers varied but were all explicitly related to insufficient time to do everything required. Why did these students not elaborate with reports of disparaging feelings of overwhelm, doom, or stress? Did they know what stress looked like on themselves?
We plan to make the final wave of freshman decisions available today, March 14th, at 4 PM ET. For those of you who have been admitted to UGA, here is a post for you and a chance to comment. Please remember that this is not a blog where you should post statistics or throw fellow students under the bus. These types of comments will be deleted. Congratulations to all of the freshman who were admitted and we look forward to you becoming part of the Bulldog Nation.
How different students navigate college planning Let’s talk about how students really tackle college planning. Forget the stereotypes about Gen Z being glued to their phones or allergic to human interaction. Our latest research reveals something more interesting: there isn’t just one type of college searcher anymore. In our recent research with TeenVoice we identified four distinct personalities in how students approach their college planning, especially when it comes to using AI too
Colleges, especially the top ones in the US , really value your commitment and active involvement in extracurricular activities. If you’re into performing arts, one standout option is the Thespian Society. Officially known as the International Thespian Society, this group has been shaping young actors for nearly a century. So, if you’re eager to learn more about what the International Thespian Society offers, you’re in the right place!
With the majority of college application deadlines just days away, its important to perform a thorough review of your applications to help avoid making obvious mistakes that can negatively impact your chances for admission. When youre done with that, do it again and then have a second and third set of eyes do the same.
At Top Tier Admissions, we often get asked, Can you help me choose a passion project? or Whats the best capstone for my college applications? While we understand why students and parents want guidance in this area, we believe its important to clarify why we dont assign passion projects. WHY WE DONT ASSIGN A PASSION PROJECT 1. Your Passion Project Needs to Be Your Passion A true passion project isnt something thats assigned or dictated by someone else.
As an educational consultant, I work with many high school seniors. Every year, I ask my former clients for advice to give my graduating high school seniors. I ask them to think about what would be helpful to know about college now that they have completed their first year. Hindsight is 20/20. Therefore, they had lots to say. Best advice from current college students to first years, including #2, Meet people.
What Happens If You Get Waitlisted? What happens if you get waitlisted? Ivy Day is almost here and receiving a waitlist notification from a college can be a disappointing and confusing experience. After dedicating so much time and effort to your application, finding yourself in limboneither accepted nor rejectedcan be disheartening. However, being waitlisted is not the end of the road; it indicates that the admissions committee found your application compelling but couldn’t offer immediat
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Extracurriculars are one of the most important parts of a college application. They help showcase your unique passions, talents, and your engagement with your community. But are some extracurriculars better than others? What are the best extracurriculars for college applications? In this article, were going to break down exactly what kinds of extracurriculars colleges are looking for so you can choose activities that make your application stand out.
Reading Time: 9 minutes With your experience in the education field, you likely understand the benefits of cultivating strong relationships with current members of your school community. What many school administrators and marketers forget is that alumni, though they no longer attend a school, are invaluable to educational marketing strategy and an institutions overall growth.
When it comes to choosing a college, many students (and their families) prioritize the return on investment (ROI) and career outcomes that follow a four-year degree. For years, large research universities and specialized institutions have dominated the conversation around career-focused education. However, liberal arts collegesknown for their smaller size, broad-based curriculum, and emphasis on critical thinkingoffer unique and often overlooked advantages for ROI and career success.
If you are a parent of a teenager, you know all too well the transition that happens; they go from running circles around you to sleeping until noon and napping throughout the day. Small tasks like taking out the garbage or wiping the counter after theyve destroyed the kitchen to make a sandwich feels like a huge undertaking and they arent afraid to complain about it.
The University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) premed is a track , not a major. You can be in a humanities, social sciences, or sciences program, but youll need to take prerequisite courses that medical schools ask for. Interested in going down the premed track at UPenn? Well talk about the requirements, extracurriculars, and resources you can expect at the school.
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The ACT has undergone some big changes recently, and one of the biggest is that, for many students, the Science section is now optional. With that added flexibility comes a new question: should you take the ACT Science section? In this article, we go over who the Science section is actually optional for, what to expect from the Science section, the one key factor to think about when making your decision, and other considerations that can help you make the best choice.
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Hello, my name is Jill and Im cringey. I dont think my friends think Im cringey and I hope my husband doesnt think Im cringey but my youngest son certainly does, and he likes to tell me so on a daily basis. In fact, its sometimes on an hourly basis, but whos keeping track? I recently googled cringey and here is what I found – causing feelings of acute embarrassment or awkwardness.
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Choosing the right college to attend can feel pretty monumental, so it's completely normal to feel a bit overwhelmed. This post is inspired by a session called "Commitment Issues: Helping Your Student Decide On Their College Choice", (thats the video linked above) and aims to guide you through the key factors you should consider as you make this important decision.
Function questions are some of the trickiest question types you'll see on SAT Math. They can look intimidating, require higher-level math knowledge, and often take numerous steps to solve. Not to mention, a lot of students haven't had a lot of experience solving functions. Fortunately, there's a way to make SAT function questions much less intimidating.
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Teenagers with dyslexia face unique challenges during the college application process on top of the usual stress of essays, deadlines, and standardized tests, theyre also navigating reading and writing difficulties that can make the process feel overwhelming. Applications often demand a level of written communication that doesnt reflect their true intelligence or potential, which is why having the right support makes such a difference.
Choosing which Advanced Placement (AP) courses to take is a big decision for many high school students. One of the popular options is AP Psychology, which deals with how the brain works and the reasons behind human behavior. But how hard is AP Psychology, really? Or is AP Psychology easy? In this blog, well break down the course and the exam format and give tips to help you decide if its the right fit.
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