Updated Information on All Things College Admissions

As we enter Spring, your child may be grappling with "junioritis," a term that perfectly captures the stress, overwhelm, and anxiety many 11th graders experience during this time. With the end of the school year approaching, juniors face a perfect storm of academic pressures, looming deadlines, and the ever-present stress of college planning. As a parent, your support and guidance can make a significant difference in helping your child navigate this challenging period. By focusing on academics, finalizing summer plans, and prioritizing emotional well-being, you can help your junior finish the school year strong and emerge better prepared for the exciting journey ahead.

This year's elite college admissions have hit record competitiveness, with more & more colleges becoming highly selective. The application surge, particularly to 'extreme reach' schools, has drastically lowered admit rates. Maintaining high academic standards, most successful applicants are in the top 5% of their high school class. The rise in applications to selective majors, especially in business and STEM fields, indicates shifting priorities in higher education. These five critical numbers tell the evolving story of this year's admissions season at the most selective colleges.

Warm weather, southern hospitality, and university sports teams draw a lot of students to apply to Southern colleges. And often these colleges are more affordable than their counterparts on the coasts. If your teen is targeting colleges in the South, you may be interested in this list of colleges that not only provide an excellent academic experience but are also easy on the pocketbook.

The college application process can be a stressful time for teenagers, and it's not uncommon for mental health issues to arise during this period. As a parent, it's essential to be proactive in building a support system for your teenager to help them navigate this challenging time. Here are some tips to help you build a strong support system during the college application process.

Students often wonder how colleges compare their high school to others. It’s a great question! Admissions counselors look at a high school’s profile to see what classes and extracurricular activities are available at that school. The school profile is a public document that is often located on the high school’s college counseling website. It includes information such as: School population, average test scores, AP classes offered, AP test results, grading criteria, average GPA, and most common colleges attended. The profile is typically sent to colleges along with a student’s transcript during a student’s senior year.

In today's rapidly evolving digital landscape, the fusion of business and technology has become increasingly crucial for driving innovation, efficiency, and growth across industries. Forward-thinking students seeking to unlock the immense potential at this intersection can position themselves for successful and impactful careers in fields such as fintech, data analytics, e-commerce, and more by combining a solid foundation in business principles with cutting-edge technological skills.

Music has the power to connect people, transcend boundaries, and create vibrant communities. For many, the allure of living in a city with a thriving music scene is irresistible. If you're a music lover looking for a college experience that combines strong academics with the energy and creativity of a music city, consider these hidden gem colleges located in some of the most exciting musical hotspots across the United States.

While rage-applying may seem like a way to increase one's chances of getting into a good school, it can do more harm than good. College admissions committees can detect desperation and lack of commitment. It is important to focus on a smaller number of applications and ensure that they are well-written and thought-out to increase one's chances of admission.

Too many American teenagers have experienced extreme stress and anxiety in the college admissions process. The pressure to excel in multiple areas is oppressive, and the lack of transparency in the process only makes it tougher. But now more than ever, meaningful changes must be made to de-escalate this mounting teen mental health crisis. In this post, we're exploring 5 specific modifications that would help ease teens' worries - from providing resources to increasing accessibility - so that families can look ahead with hope, rather than dreading what's ahead. It's time for positive action: let's make these changes happen!

Direct admissions is a powerful tool that is helping to make the college application process less stressful and more accessible for high school students. By removing the uncertainty from the equation and providing guaranteed admission to qualified applicants, colleges are able to reach a wider range of students and build more diverse and inclusive student bodies.

May 1st is a big day for high school seniors all across the United States. This is the deadline for them to make their final decision and choose the college they will attend. For many students, it's a time of excitement and anticipation, full of opportunities and possibilities. But what about students who are hoping for a spot off a college's waitlist? Is it worth it to wait and see? The answer to that question is not a simple one. A college waitlist is a group of students who have not yet been accepted or denied admission to a college. Colleges use waitlists for various reasons, such as ensuring a properly-sized incoming class, or to address other institutional needs and priorities. For students who have accepted a spot on the waitlist, it's important to keep in mind that the final decision won't be announced until after May 1st, and sometimes as late as June, July, or even August. Furthermore, waitlists can vary greatly from year to year, and there's no surefire way to predict whether a student will be offered a spot in the incoming class. However, if a student is genuinely interested in attending a school, it doesn't hurt to stay on the waitlist. We recommend that students carefully read their waitlist offer, as it often includes information on what steps to take next. Students on the waitlist might also consider writing a Letter of Continued Interest , summarizing any new updates or accomplishments since they applied, and highlighting the reasons they would be a good fit for the school. It's important to remember, though, that students should also accept their offer from the college they have decided to attend and stop thinking about the waitlist. We encourage students and families to approach the waitlist with a positive mindset: give it your best shot, hope for the best, and prepare to thrive at the college you do end up attending.  So, is it worth it to wait and see if you'll be offered a spot off a college's waitlist? It depends on the student's individual situation and priorities. For some students, the chance to attend their top-choice school is worth the wait and uncertainty. For others, it may be more important to have a definite plan in place and move forward with the college they have already chosen. Ultimately, the decision is up to the student and their family, but staying positive and proactive can help make the waitlist process less stressful and more manageable.

What’s missing from the conversation about college admissions?

The liberal arts are a mainstay of what the college and university systems were initially built upon. But due to a change in times and demands of the workforce, post-secondary education has had to shift to meet these needs. This shift is predominately in the business and STEM arenas, causing many to think that these are the only fields that can provide stable and well-paying jobs.

Some of us truly care about the food experience. While many places have their own unique flavors and offerings, we do not always think about college food offerings in the same way. For our students who want to make sure their palates are as satisfied as their intellectual curiosity, we’ve put together this list of 13 schools that are perfect for students who are foodies….or just plain hungry.

Business programs vary from school to school, but they do have some important common features, the most important of those being AACSB accreditation . Once you have confirmed the business school’s accreditation, take a look at their unique features to see what fits your interests. Here we’ve listed 12 hidden gem business programs in the Southeast.

Students are finishing up the school year, and this summer will be a chance to finally get back to a few “normal” activities. We hear students saying they're looking forward to hanging out with friends and getting off the computer. And it makes sense—after almost a year and half of online or hybrid school, students are weary.

In 2003, Wesleyan University was the first institution of higher education to implement and offer gender-inclusive student housing. Gender-inclusive housing is a housing option that allows for multi-gender roommate or housemate pairings at the request of the student(s) involved. In the last two decades, more colleges have been following in Wesleyan’s footsteps by offering student housing that isn’t restricted to the limits of the gender binary and offers a safe space for students regardless of their gender identity. Here we’ve rounded up 10 of our favorite colleges and universities that offer gender-inclusive housing. Rice University In addition to stellar programs in the natural sciences, architecture, and engineering, Rice University features 11 unique residential colleges , which approximately 75% of the student body calls home. Incoming students are randomly assigned a residential college upon matriculation and will continue affiliation with the college if they continue living on campus or not. Each of the colleges is gender and sex-neutral and is self-governed. Admit Rate: 10% Cost of Attendance: $69,557 Bates College A fully residential college in Lewiston, Maine, Bates College strives to cultivate diverse, collaborative, and inclusive living and learning communities. On-campus housing is guaranteed for all four years and students, and the college has offered open-gender housing since 2012. Bates students can choose among over 25 housing options from converted Victorian-style suites to more traditional dormitories. Admit Rate: 14% Cost of Attendance: $75,680 Colorado College Located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, with the Garden of the Gods in view, Colorado College is a prestigious liberal arts college that offers all incoming students a collaborative and communal residential experience. Only seniors are given the option of living off-campus, and 83% of the study body calls campus facilities home. All campus housing options, from traditional halls to renovated apartments offer students gender-inclusive housing options , and themed living and learning communities ( LLCs ) cater to a variety of interests and lifestyles. Admit Rate: 13% Cost of Attendance: $78,080 Dickinson College Located 20 miles from the Pennsylvania state capital, Dickinson College in Carlisle is a liberal arts college best known for blending the liberal arts with real-world applications. Top programs include environmental studies, international studies, and foreign languages. The college features 58 unique housing options from traditional residence halls to themed houses to living and learning communities. Admit Rate: 51% Cost of Attendance: $74,447 University of Vermont A state flagship university of a more manageable size than its peer institutions, the University of Vermont is located in the terrific college town of Burlington. At UVM, about half of all students live on campus and are required to do so for their first two years. All incoming freshmen are affiliated with one of nine residential learning communities with exciting themes like Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Sustainability , and Outdoor Experience. All learning communities provide gender-inclusive housing options and the majority make gender-neutral bathrooms available as well. Admit Rate: 71% Cost of Attendance: $60,770 (out of state) University of Wisconsin-Madison The University of Wisconsin-Madison boasts some of the l owest housing rates for freshmen compared to its peers in the Big 10. Approximately 26% of students live on campus, the majority (about 90%) of whom are first-year students. In addition to dormitories and apartments, Wisconsin also offers Learning Communities to enhance and individualize students’ campus experience . Students seeking gender-inclusive living arrangements can choose between several affinity communities or request a room in one of the gender-inclusive dormitories. Admit Rate: 57% Cost of Attendance: $55,046 (out of state) University of Massachusetts Amherst The University of Massachusetts is home to one of the nation’s largest campus housing systems , with over 14,000 students calling one of the school’s 52 residences home. First-year students are supported through the Residential First-Year Experience program that assists new students as they transition to the academic and social rigors of college. UMass also offers several residential options for students seeking gender inclusion, including double rooms, suite and apartment-style residences, and gender-inclusive bathrooms (with showers!). Admit Rate: 65% Cost of Attendance: $52,156 (out of state) Michigan State University The largest institution of higher education in the state of Michigan, Michigan State guarantees housing for all freshmen students, and a total of 39% of students stay in on-campus housing. The university organizes its housing communities into 6 distinct “ neighborhoods” that host 3-10 unique residence halls. Each neighborhood is home to many academic support resources and campus life amenities like dining halls and recreation facilities. Gender-inclusive housing resources are built into each residence facility. Admit Rate: 76% Cost of Attendance: $54,536 The University of Hawaii at Manoa Each of the University of Hawaii’s residence halls is home to various student communities and residential learning programs for students to share in academic, co-curricular, and personal interests. In addition to committing to meet the emotional and safety needs of non-gender-conforming students, UH also provides residences in the Rainbow Village, a supportive and gender-inclusive residential community that provides educational and social programming. Admit Rate: 83% Cost of Attendance: $51,893 UT Austin Our state’s flagship university, UT Austin features 14 campus residence halls that accommodate approximately 18% of undergraduate students. The University also features several Living and Learning Communities. More recently, UT Austin announced a t wo-year gender-inclusive housing pilot program , called the Family and Friend Expanded Roommate Option, that allows students the option to choose a roommate regardless of gender identity. Admit Rate: 31% Cost of Attendance: $28,928 (in-state)

The college admissions process can be tough and stressful, but it's important to remember that not getting accepted to a specific college or university is not a personal rejection. Using the term "rejected" can be hurtful and misleading, so let's explore why it's important to use more supportive language.

This year, Opening Day for Major League Baseball and Ivy Day coincided, reminding us of the importance of maintaining a healthy perspective. As a parent, it's crucial to help your teen understand that their worth and success are not defined by hitting homeruns or receiving Ivy League acceptance letters. 99.999999996% of Americans either don't play in the major leagues or don't attend an Ivy League college. Encourage your teen to embrace their unique journey, focus on their well-being, and approach their future with optimism and determination.

FAFSA delays causing stress for your college-bound student? It's frustrating, but don't let it derail those college dreams! Prioritize scholarships, estimate costs directly with colleges, and stay up-to-date on FAFSA progress. Your student can still make informed decisions about their future.

For the past three years, students applying to The University of Texas at Austin have had the option to avoid sending standardized test scores as part of their application. However, as is a growing trend among highly selective institutions, UT Austin has decided to reinstate its test score requirement starting with applications for the Fall 2025 semester. And that is just one of several changes that UT announced this week .

Visiting the learning support center should be a priority stop on any college tour, especially for students with learning differences. While services vary widely depending on the school, most offer academic assistance and disability accommodations to help students reach their potential.

When anticipating your teen's launch into college life, academic preparedness often dominates concerns about readiness. But many capable students falter not because of intellectual capacity but rather an inability to regulate and execute basic adult tasks.

We encourage all our families to visit at least 1 college (preferably more) during their decision-making journey. But for neurodiverse students, we recommend visiting at least 3 schools.

Sports fans often flock to the powerhouse Southeastern Conference (SEC) colleges like Alabama and Georgia seeking dynamic athletic traditions and school spirit. However, you don’t have to attend an SEC juggernaut to find passionate fan bases and electrifying sports environments

Are you interested in building, engineering, and business? If so, majoring in Construction Science or Construction Management might be a great fit. These fields blend the technical aspects of construction with the management and finances behind large projects.

Many students are unaware of the incredible opportunities that honors programs provide. These are selective programs for highly motivated students within a university that often offer students numerous benefits, including small classes with the best professors, priority class registration, access to mentors, funded travel and research, networking events, and more.

It's March, and that means it's time for the mad rush of college planning. For high school seniors across the country, this is a mix of both feelings of excitement and anxiety. With admissions decisions coming in during this time, it is an important month for soon to be graduates. High school juniors are eager to get their final list finalized so that they can launch into applications for next year. Even younger students like 9th and 10th graders are making plans on how to make the most out of their summer.

As the warmer weather signals the start of summertime, it can be hard to stay focused on school and keep academics as a priority. However, with college admissions becoming increasingly more competitive, keeping up good grades is essential for getting into your desired university.