The Common Application (Common App) is the easiest way to submit your information to colleges, but the toughest part of filling out the app? Essay. You Common App essay will be sent to every school you apply to through the application, and could the your first impression to most of the schools. Today, the Common App offers 7 essay prompts for their applicants (6 official prompts + 1 topic of your choice). We will examine all of them and help you decide what to write about, and how to write it.
Author: Ivy-Way Academy
Donate to Colleges? Legacy and Development Case
Colleges consider many different factors when they decide who to accept from thousands of potential applicants. Besides standardized tests, GPA, extracurricular activities and personal essays, one thing that is constantly overlooked is legacy. In fact, many of you have probably never heard of this term if you didn’t grow up in the U.S. or Canada. We will talk about what legacy means and how it may affect your chances of getting into colleges.
How Should International Students Choose between the ACT and SAT?
Every month, especially in summer, parents either come into my office or message me, asking the same question: “Should my son/daughter take the ACT or SAT?” Frankly, it is impossible to answer this question without knowing the student—everyone’s different, and when it comes to standardized tests, you must always take a few mock tests to know which one suits you better.
Format of the ACT and SAT
The new SAT is very different from its predecessor, but it’s changed for the better. Test-takers now know the exact order, number of questions, and amount of time given in each section.
Top 25 Best Music Schools in America
If you’re interested in either musical performance or music theory, chances are you’ve thought about applying to a music school or becoming a music major/minor. Here’s the list of Best Colleges for Music in America according to niche.com!
Top 40 Best Engineering Schools in America
Computer science, business/economics, psychology, and pre-med have been many high schoolers’ intended majors in recent years. However, the one program that remains popular throughout decades is engineering. From mechanical to nuclear, chemical to aerospace, engineering has been regarded as applied science by many who seek professional training prior to landing a job in the science and tech industry. Here’s a list of some of the best schools in the U.S. with a strong undergraduate engineering program, as well as some, though without a graduate level engineering program, remain popular because of their strong undergraduate program.
Understanding the UC (University of California) Schools System
Schools in the University of California (UC) system have always been some of the most popular college choices for high schoolers all over the world. The UC’s also include many prestigious institutions on the annual US News rankings, and are widely regarded as the best public school system in the nation. This post is an overview of the UC system and serves as a directory for those who are interested in applying to any of the UC schools.
Schools with the Most International Students
Today, more and more U.S. colleges today receive applications from high schoolers overseas. International students have become a huge part of the learning experience on campus, contributing to school diversity with their knowledge, ideas, and cultures. The following list includes national universities and liberal arts colleges with the highest percentages of international students as of 2018.
Colleges that Don’t Require the SAT
You have probably heard rumors about prestigious schools (U Chicago, Wake Forest, Brandeis, etc.) no longer requiring SAT scores from their applicants. While the content is certainly correct, the truth is, most of these news reports are misleading—not requiring SAT scores is by no means suggesting it’s easier to get into these prestigious school. In fact, the opposite may be true.
30 Most Popular Schools That Do Not Require Application Essays (US News Top 200)
One thing that keeps high schoolers from applying to multiple schools is college essay. Besides Common App or Coalition prompts, most schools will have their individual supplements where you must answer short questions or even write long essays in response to their prompts. We’ve compiled a list of schools that are popular among recent applicants. These schools do not require additional essays and generally have a good reputation and/or are ranked high in multiple published rankings.
How to Choose a College
Choosing colleges could seem like an intimidating process until you actually begin. The process is basically twofold and can be simplified into two essential questions.
4 Reasons to Take the SAT
This post is part one of the “4 Pros” series for those who are uncertain about picking the SAT or ACT. We will show you the 4 pros for taking the SAT. If this sounds like you, it is likely that you will have a better test result by taking the SAT as opposed to the ACT.
4 Reasons to Take the SAT
This post is part one of the “4 Pros” series for those who are uncertain about picking the SAT or ACT. We will show you the 4 pros for taking the SAT. If this sounds like you, it is likely that you will have a better test result by taking the SAT as opposed to the ACT.
4 Early College Planning Steps (for 9th and 10th graders)
If you’re currently an underclassman, meaning a 9th and 10th grader, it’s certainly not too early to think about college. Whether you have thought about college or not, there is nothing wrong with starting early. Essentially, everything you do now in high school is to prepare yourself for the next four years. We have a few suggestions for you and would like to get you started on college planning today.
SAT Subject Tests (SAT 2) Overview
If you were/are prepping for your SAT, chances are you also need to take the SAT II: Subject Tests. These tests are used for colleges to identify and determine a student’s strength and interest in particular subjects, such as math, literature, history, etc. SAT II is offered six times a year, and because each test is 60 minutes, students may choose to take up to three tests on the same day. Most colleges (especially prestigious schools) would specifically ask for 2 or more SAT II scores, while some are test-flexible or test-optional.
Weighted vs. Unweighted GPA
Let me say this first: when colleges consider your high school academic performance, it is never about that one number alone. Colleges look at your transcripts, which include all the classes you take and the scores you receive. They will see if you challenge yourself with higher-level (AP, IB, honors, etc.) courses to learn more about you as a student. Nevertheless, let’s talk about GPA, short for grade point average, weighted vs. unweighted GPA, and whether or not it matters.
How to Cancel Your ACT Score
Previously, we discussed the steps you can take if you’d like to cancel your SAT score, either at the test center or days after the test date. Today, we’ll look at ACT and how you can make a bad score off the record. Again, please think twice before canceling your score—once you cancel it, there is no way for you to retrieve it. Some colleges now either only require the highest test score or “superscore” all the tests (adding the highest scores in each section of different tests). More importantly, some schools don’t even ask for your ACT score. Anyway, here’s a list for you to go through:
How to Choose Your AP Courses and Tests
After tutoring high schoolers on various subjects for several years, I’ve found it hard to believe that many sophomores and sometimes even freshmen are already taking AP classes. Before I tell you about this tip, let me talk about AP subjects a little more.
2018 November SAT (US Test): All 5 Reading Passages!
2018 November SAT Test is only available in the US. However, many students are interested in seeing what the test looks like to prepare for their own future SAT tests. We’ve compiled all 6 passages in the Reading section of the 2018 November SAT Test.
All AP & IB Subjects
For those applying to college, taking AP/IB courses can significantly boost your chance because it shows that you are willing to enroll in challenging, college-level courses in high school. However, there are just way too many courses to choose from, and your high school certainly doesn’t offer all AP/IB subjects or doesn’t have enough spots for every student. We’ve compiled a list of ALL AP and IB courses, and hope this serves as a general guide for you!
