Columbia is an iconic Ivy League university in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Manhattan. The school has some of the most renowned academic programs in the world, paired with astonishing opportunities. Students often pick Columbia College or Columbia Engineering for their undergraduate education because of exactly this combination. They know that they can earn a valuable degree in a vibrant setting with outstanding resources.
Early Decision Strategy for UChicago 2025-2026
The University of Chicago (UChicago) is a private research university located in, you guessed it, Chicago, Illinois. UChicago is one of the most popular colleges amongst our clients, and it’s one of the best places to study things like econ, public policy, business, and math. UChicago is considered an “Ivy+” school, which means we categorize it along with other highly selective non-Ivies like Stanford, MIT, and Duke because of their rigor and exclusivity. If you’re serious about UChicago, we implore you to apply early, and we’re going to make the case for why.
Early Decision Strategy for UPenn 2025-2026
The University of Pennsylvania, often called UPenn or Penn, is one of the eight schools of The Ivy League. It is one of the oldest colleges in America. It boasts a historic campus, a world-renowned business school, the only undergrad nursing program in the Ivy League, and a spirited undergraduate community. Located in Philadelphia, PA, Penn offers a great mix of city and campus living. While it isn’t the most competitive of the Ivies, make no mistake, it is still an extremely hard-to-get-into and elite institution. Applicants who are serious about getting into Penn need to consider applying early decision.
Early Decision Strategy for Cornell 2025-2026
Early Decision Strategy for Duke 2025-2026
Located in Durham, North Carolina, Duke University is a private research institution known for academic excellence, strong school spirit, and sports teams with a serious following (hello, Cameron Crazies). The university has built a reputation as one of the most prestigious schools in the country. Duke is especially well-regarded for its programs in public policy, biomedical engineering, and pre-law, and with acceptance rates dropping each year, it’s only getting more competitive. In 2025, their regular decision acceptance rate was under 5%, while ED acceptance sat at 12.8%. These stats put Duke fully in competition with Ivies, with schools like Yale having almost identical numbers.
Single Choice Early Action Strategy for Princeton 2025-2026
Princeton University is an elite college in, where else, Princeton, New Jersey. If you are looking for an Ivy League school that prioritizes research and critical thinking, Princeton is likely already on your list. It almost feels silly to introduce Princeton; it is one of the most famous universities in the world. However, we specifically love them for their robust financial aid program, leading programs in subjects like public affairs and computer science, and great residential programs. It's no secret that Princeton is an excellent school, which also makes it highly competitive to get into. You need a solid strategy, and likely part of that plan will be applying through their Single-Choice Early Action option.
Early Action Strategy for the University of Texas at Austin 2024-2025
Located in the heart of Austin, the University of Texas at Austin is a top-tier public research university known for academic excellence, school spirit, and a culture that blends innovation with tradition. Founded in 1883, UT has grown into a national powerhouse, especially renowned for its business, communications, engineering, and computer science programs. With its rising prestige and increasingly competitive admissions, UT Austin isn’t just a Texas favorite, it’s quickly become one of the most popular colleges among our clients.
Early Decision Strategy for Vanderbilt 2025-2026
Located right next to Music Row in Nashville, TN, Vanderbilt University is a private research university known for excellent academics, strong culture, and powerhouse sports teams. It was founded just after the Civil War thanks to a hefty donation from railroad magnate and Anderson Cooper ancestor Cornelius Vanderbilt. Today, Vandy is especially well-known for their programs in business and law, and they’ve gotten very selective in recent years. In 2024, the regular decision acceptance rate dropped to just 3.7%, while early decision sat at 15.2%
Best Strategy for High School Freshman Interested in Humanities
There is so much to love about the humanities. Whether you hope to study psychology or Russian literature, art history or sociology, if you are looking at elite schools, you need a great strategy. It’s never too early to start planning your path to college admissions, and if you don’t know where to start, we can help! Even by reading this blog, you are ahead of the curve when it comes to most first-year students.
Stanford Legacy Policies and Guide
Stanford is the most famous and well-respected university on the west coast, and one of the top schools in all of the United States. Getting into Stanford is comparable with gaining admission to the Ivy League, and getting an acceptance is actually harder than getting into most of the Ivy League schools. In recent years, Stanford has from releasing the most recent admissions data. However, based on what data they have released for both the Class of 2028 and the Class of 2027, the acceptance rate is less 4%.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) Legacy Policies and Guide
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) is a top-ranked public university with a long-standing tradition of academic excellence, school spirit, and a strong sense of community. Known for its strengths in fields like journalism, public health, business, and the sciences, UNC is incredibly popular with our clients, especially those out of state. And if you’re reading this, chances are you already know that, because one (or both) of your parents were Tarheels, and now you’re hoping to follow in their footsteps (pun very much intended).
Early Decision Strategy for Yale 2025-2026
Best Strategy for High School Freshman Interested in STEM
STEM majors are among the most popular and competitive majors at most colleges. Whether you are trying to be the next Steve Jobs, Marie Curie or C. V. Raman (or even just trying to go to an excellent college for STEM), you need a good strategy. It is never too early to start! Just by reading this blog, you are taking an essential first step to setting yourself up correctly. Now, you just need to take the proper steps and follow through. But how? We are glad you asked; let’s break it down.
University of Chicago Legacy Policies and Guide
The University of Chicago, located in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago, is one of the most intellectually rigorous and academically respected universities in the country. It’s one of the most popular colleges amongst our clients, and if you’re a UChicago kid, you know it’s the only place for you. Known for its Core Curriculum, culture of inquiry, and a student body that loves to debate just about anything, UChicago isn’t for the faint of heart. And with an acceptance rate hovering around 5%, it’s also one of the most selective schools in the nation. But if you’re here, you probably already know that, because one (or both!) of your parents went to UChicago, and now you’re hoping to follow their path.
Best Strategy for High School Freshman Interested in Business
“I’m just a freshman! I don’t need to think about this!” WRONG. We have heard this before, but if you are hoping to study business at a top school, this kind of thinking won’t work. Thankfully, just by clicking on this blog, you are doing more than most. Business programs are extremely popular and, thus, often among the most competitive to get into. By crafting a strategy early, you can set yourself up for success down the line, and we want to help!
Notre Dame Legacy Policies and Guide
Notre Dame is a top private research university with an outstanding track record of launching students into successful careers. The university, located in Notre Dame, Indiana, is rooted in its Catholic origins. This faith is central to the identity and culture of the university, and students of all faiths are drawn to Notre Dame from around the world thanks to the combination of academic rigor and high expectations for personal development. Students at Notre Dame make a difference, whether in the classroom, volunteering in the community on the weekends, or creating opportunities for others to find success and growth. The acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 was a record low of
University of Texas at Austin (UT) Legacy Policies and Guide
The University of Texas at Austin (UT) is a public research university in Austin, TX. It’s got one of the best undergrad business schools, and because of its proximity to a growing tech scene, a pretty good comp sci program, too. UT is highly ranked in tons of majors, and students who are drawn to UT love the culture, the vibe, and the location. If you’re here, we bet your parents went to UT, and you want to head to Austin too.
Princeton University Legacy Policies and Guide
Princeton is an exceptional Ivy League university located in Princeton, New Jersey. The university is especially known for economics, computer science, and psychology, and is one of the world’s leading research universities. The university has been home to dozens of Nobel laureates, over a dozen winners of the National Medal of Science, among other prestigious awards. Undergraduate students benefit from living, growing, and learning within this outstanding community. The acceptance rate for the Class of 2028 was .
New York University (NYU) Legacy Policies and Guide
NYU is a highly-respected university in the heart of an iconic city. Located in downtown Manhattan, NYU is truly in the middle of the action. This has led to the university gaining a reputation as a place where people go to make things happen now. Students at NYU, whether studying music production, economics, art, or entrepreneurship, are doing what they are passionate about. NYU students are not waiting for graduation day to start a career, they begin alongside their academic studies. NYU students regularly build careers, start companies, and break through as artists while at the university.
Best Extracurriculars for High School Freshman Interested in STEM
Having excellent grades isn’t enough to get into an elite schools as a STEM major. Majors in the science, technology, engineering, and math fields are often among the most competitive. If you dream of attending a top college, great grades and scores are just the first steps. You also need to have amazing extracurriculars. It’s never too early to start building a stand-out extracurricular resume. But how? Don’t worry; we are here to break it down for you.