Complete guide to US college interviews for 2026-27: InitialView, Vericant, and alumni interviews — timing, tips, and preparation for international students.
The Complete Guide to Supplemental Essays: 5 Essay Types and Strategies for 2026-27
Common App opens Aug 1. Master the 5 supplemental essay types — Why School, Why Major, extracurricular, community, short answers — with a modular writing plan.
Common App Activities List: The Complete 2026-27 Guide (Draft It Before August 1)
The Common App opens Aug 1. Learn how to order your 10 activities, write 150-character descriptions with the verb+number+impact formula, and avoid 3 common mistakes.
How to Apply to the University of California in 2026-27: PIQs, Deadlines & Campus Strategy
The UC application opens August 1. Get the full 2026-27 timeline, PIQ essay strategy, and common mistakes to avoid for all 9 UC campuses.
Teacher Recommendation Letters for 2026-27: The Complete Guide for International Applicants
How many letters you need, which teachers to ask, when and how to ask, brag sheets, FERPA waivers, and key pitfalls for international applicants in 2026-27.
How to Build a Balanced College List for 2026-27: Getting Your Reach, Match, and Safety Mix Right
Before the Common App opens Aug 1: how to mix reach, match, and safety schools, use the Common Data Set, and plan international-student finances and timelines.
Common App Essay Guide 2026-27: All 7 Prompts Explained and a Summer Writing Strategy
A complete guide to the 2026-27 Common App essay prompts, plus a 5-week summer writing timeline, what admissions officers look for, and common mistakes to avoid.
AP Exam Results 2026: How to Strategically Use Your Scores for College Credit and Placement
AP scores released July 6. Learn what 3, 4, and 5 mean, which universities award credit.
IELTS vs TOEFL: The Complete Guide for Taiwanese Students Applying to US Colleges in 2026
Choosing between IELTS and TOEFL for US college apps. Full comparison guide for Taiwanese students.
Early Decision vs Early Action: Your 2026-27 College Application Strategy Guide
Learn the critical differences between ED and EA, complete 2026-27 timeline, and strategic guidance for international students.
ACT Test Dates 2026-27: Complete Guide for International Students from Taiwan and China
Master 2026-27 ACT test dates, registration deadlines, and comprehensive preparation strategies for international students.
Financial Aid for International Students: CSS Profile, Need-Blind Admissions, and Scholarships for the 2026-27 Cycle
CSS Profile deadlines, need-blind vs. need-aware admissions, and merit scholarship strategy for international students applying to US colleges in 2026-27.
The New TOEFL iBT in 2026: New Scoring, New Format, and How to Prepare
TOEFL iBT’s 2026 redesign explained: new 1–6 scoring, adaptive sections, new task types, and what it means for your college applications this fall.
2026-27 SAT Test Dates: Registration Deadlines, Score Release, and How to Pick Your Date
Full 2026-27 SAT test date calendar with registration deadlines and score release dates, plus how to pick the right date for ED, EA, or RD.
Common App Opens August 1, 2026: The Complete Summer Sprint Timeline for Rising Seniors
Common App opens August 1, 2026. Get the week-by-week July-August plan for essays, SAT, TOEFL, and activities so rising seniors start fall ready, not scrambling
AP Exam Schedule 2026-27: Registration Deadlines, 2026 Pass Rates & Prep Timeline
AP exam schedule 2026-27: registration deadlines, expected May 2027 dates, official 2026 AP pass rates by subject, and a month-by-month prep plan.
CS College Admissions Success: How He Started Late, Skipped Research and Internships, but Got Into 8 Top CS Programs (Including UIUC)
At Ivy-Way, we often educate parents: your child doesn’t need to participate in a dozen competitions, do internships, conduct academic research, or join VEX or iGEM to get into top universities. Our student Howard, advised by Ivy-Way’s top counselor Dr. R.J., is yet another success story without these unnecessary add-ons.
2025 John Locke Essay Competition Prompts Now Available!
We’ve written about the John Locke Institute Essay Competition (JLIEC) before, discussing the basics of the competition, and how it can improve your chances of college admissions, and shared the success of Ivy-Way students shortlisted for the Junior and regular Essay Competition. In general, the goal of the JLIEC is to encourage “independent thought, depth of knowledge, clear reasoning, critical analysis and persuasive style.”
Free Online Internship and Research Program: 10 Reasons to Take Advantage of EnergyMag’s Online Internship
High school students often hope to enhance their college applications through internship experiences, but most college consulting companies take advantage of this demand to make profits by overhyping internships that don’t really help yet are extremely costly. Today, we’re introducing an internship opportunity that truly helps with college applications: EnergyMag’s Online Internship. Whether you’re in the US or anywhere else in the world, this valuable internship can boost your application—and it’s completely free!
How To Stand Out On College Applications: A Powerful Framework for Increasing Your Impact and Getting Into a Top Tier College
It’s no secret that admissions to Ivy League Plus schools are hyper-competitive. One of the most common reasons that students are denied admission from selective colleges has nothing to do with a weakness or deficiency, academic otherwise. “It’s simply that there are… thousands of other strong students applying in a given year,” says Yale Admissions […]
