March, 2025

article thumbnail

17 Questions You’re Forgetting to Ask Prospective Colleges

Grown & Flown

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.

Retention 180
article thumbnail

UPenn Premed Track: What to Expect

AdmissionSight

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.

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

10 Key Strategies to Improve Student Retention in Higher Education

HEM (Higher Education Marketing)

Reading Time: 11 minutes Student retention is one of the most critical challenges faced by colleges and universities. While recruitment is essential to maintaining a thriving institution, keeping students engaged and enrolled until they complete their programs is just as vital. Why is that? High dropout rates can impact institutional reputation, funding, and overall student satisfaction.

article thumbnail

Enrollment Management, Space and Weddings

UGA Undergraduate Admissions Q & A

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.

article thumbnail

The Elks Scholarship Guide

College Essay Guy

So college in America is kinda pricey, yeah? As a prospective college student, youre probably always looking out for different ways to cover the high (and getting higher) costs of higher education. Unfortunately, because paying for college can be fairly confusing, a lot of students dont know about all the different forms of aid that are available and miss out on some major opportunities.

article thumbnail

The Reintroduction of Test-Required Policies

Discovery College Consulting

Test-optional policies took off during the Covid 19 pandemic, though some institutions, mostly small liberal arts colleges, had adopted these policies in the early 2000s. Now, according to FairTest.org, there are more than 2,100 colleges and universities that either dont require test scores or wont even consider them for purposes of admission. Recently, some of the most selective colleges in the nation have been reverting to test-required policies.

article thumbnail

This Is Why You Should Let Teens Have Lots of Down Time

Grown & Flown

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.

More Trending

article thumbnail

The Value of Attending a Liberal Arts College

Top Tier Admissions

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.

article thumbnail

2025 Wait List Decisions

UGA Undergraduate Admissions Q & A

We plan to make the final wave of freshman decisions available today, March 14th, at 4 pm ET. For some students, you will be offered a place on our wait list. Every year our office has to predict approximately how many students we can admit in order to enroll our freshman class, but we can never be sure how many students will enroll until after the May 1 commitment deposit deadline has passed.

GPA 40
article thumbnail

How to choose which college to attend: Key factors to consider

College Essay Guy

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.

Loans 69
article thumbnail

College Advisor for High Schools Students with Dyslexia

The Koppelman Group

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.

article thumbnail

Why I Was So Wrong About the Teen in 29B

Grown & Flown

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.

article thumbnail

How to Study for AP Exams: Prep + Test Tips

AdmissionSight

Scoring well on Advanced Placement (AP) Exams can strengthen your college application, demonstrate your readiness for rigorous coursework, and even earn you college credit. But AP Exams takes a solid study plan, smart test-taking strategies, and the right resources to succeed. So, if you’re looking for how to study for AP Exams effectively, you’re in the right place.

Testing 52
article thumbnail

Inside the AP Classroom: Setting Students Up for Earning College Credit

Peterson's Blog

With my heart beating and fingers trying to grip my pencil, I remember the experience of taking my first AP test. I loved the subject matter of AP Language and Compositionalways learning new vocabulary words and analyzing texts to find themes and the so, what? of the passage. When it came time to show my understanding in test format, I was nervous and didnt get an adequate score to present to colleges for credit.

article thumbnail

What is the Common Data Set: A Quick Guide

The College Pod

When students start looking at colleges, one of the first questions parents ask is, “How much is this going to cost?” Right behind that comes another big one: “What exactly are colleges looking for—and does my kind even have a shot?” It can all feel overwhelming—but there’s a tool that can help: the Common Data Set. But what is the Common Data Set, you ask?

article thumbnail

A Guide to Growth Mindset: What it is, how to develop one, and why it’s so valuable

College Essay Guy

Does talent exist? Probably. After all, there are people like Michael Kearney, who started reading at 8 months old, entered college at 6, and graduated at 10 thats not a typo. Crazy impressive. (Also probably not someone its useful or healthy to compare your own trajectory to, if youre prone to attaching sense of self-worth to such comparisons prodigies exist , you highly likely arent one, and thats totally fine.

ACT 52
article thumbnail

The Evolution of College Recruitment: What’s Working in 2025

Ruffaloni

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.

article thumbnail

Is Your College Student Stressed Out? 20 Things They Can Do

Grown & Flown

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?

article thumbnail

IB vs AP: Which One Should You Take?

AdmissionSight

If you’re looking to challenge yourself academically in high school, two standout programs are the International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP). Both offer college-level coursework, boost your transcript, and strengthen your college applicationsbut which one is right for you? Caught between IB vs AP? This guide breaks down what they are, their key differences, pros and cons, and how they impact college admissionshelping you decide which is the best fit to strengthen your ap

article thumbnail

No Magic Wand: The Key to Enrollment Marketing Success

Enrollment Catalyst

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.

article thumbnail

Beyond the Offer Letter: How to Build a Brand That Admitted Students Want to Join

Niche

What makes a good story that students will actually care about? How do you find these stories, choose the right channels to share them, and know if they’re working? Michelle Kowalsky Goodfellow, Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management at Western New England University , joined Niche to share her perspective on effective storytelling and how her institution is doing to help better connect with and influence today’s students.

article thumbnail

2025 College Admissions Trends

Berkeley² Academy

What to know to set yourself up for success! The 2024-2025 college admissions season is coming to a close. As colleges and application portals begin releasing data, we can use this information to better prepare future applicants. Today, well identify some of the most relevant trends for rising seniors and other high school students. UT Austin continues to smash admissions records It was a huge year for UT Austin and other Texas schools.

article thumbnail

College Advisor for High School Students with ADHD

The Koppelman Group

For a lot of kids, ADHD can feel like a blessing and a curse. Many ADHD students are great with big-picture ideas, can problem-solve at a moments notice, are incredibly creative, and can hyper-focus on the things theyre really, truly passionate about. On the other hand, ADHD can make it hard for kids to focus on topics they find boring, lead to impulsive behavior that impacts them in and outside of the classroom, cause issues with time management, organization, and attention to detail, and even

article thumbnail

Navigating Turbulent Waters: Leading Your Institution in Times of Disruption and Uncertainty

Ruffaloni

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.

article thumbnail

Is AP Psychology Easy? Here’s What You Need to Know

AdmissionSight

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.

article thumbnail

2025 Freshman Admits

UGA Undergraduate Admissions Q & A

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.

article thumbnail

USC Marshall Introduces Early Decision: What It Means for Applicants

Top Tier Admissions

The University of Southern Californias Marshall School of Business has announced an Early Decision (ED) option for first-year applicants to its undergraduate business and accounting programs. This two-year pilot program, launching in Fall 2025, offers students who are certain about attending USC Marshall an opportunity to secure admission earlier in the process.

article thumbnail

Counting Up & Counting Down Exercise

College Essay Guy

Most students are used to being evaluated by tests: Like, you start with 100 points, and get docked points for any mistakes you make. Many mistakenly see the college application with this same framework and worry about a series of mistakes jeopardizing their chances. Avoiding mistakes is generally a great idea but mistake collecting isnt how admissions really works.

article thumbnail

How to Get into MIT as an International Student: Strategy

The Koppelman Group

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT, is one of the most respected engineering, science, and technology universities in the world. It is also one of the hardest to get into. For international students considering MIT, we highly recommend pursuing a proven strategy early. Every year we help international students get into outstanding schools, including MIT.

article thumbnail

The College Planning Personality Test You Didn’t Know You Needed

Ruffaloni

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

Testing 130
article thumbnail

AP Biology Exam 2025: Study + Test Tips

AdmissionSight

In 2024, 260,062 students took the AP Biology Exam. The average score landed at 3.15, with 68.3% of test-takers earning a 3 or higher, which colleges usually see as a passing score. Basically, plenty of students do well, but you wont get through this one without a solid study plan. This blog will walk you through everything you need to know about the AP Biology Exam: whats on it, how its structured, and how to study smart.

Testing 52
article thumbnail

30 Best Education Conferences in 2025

College Transitions

Attending professional conferences is a great way for educators, administrators, and education professionals to stay informed about the latest strategies and innovations in the field. If you’re looking to enhance your teaching practices, explore new technologies, or network with like-minded professionals, the best education conferences offer invaluable opportunities for growth.

article thumbnail

Navigating Ethics

The Thoughtful College Search

I am always looking for variety in the issues and topics I write about for ECA. Recently I have felt like I spent far too much time digging into admission-related court cases. I am not a lawyer, nor have I stayed at a Holiday Inn Express in recent memory, so trying to plough through arcane legalese gets trickyand old. The Potomac and Chesapeake Association for College Admission Counseling (or PCACAC, pronounced pack-ack) produces a monthly educational offering called Ethical Navigation.

article thumbnail

Posse Scholarship Guide

College Essay Guy

The Posse Scholarship is a pretty amazing opportunity for college-bound students: a prestigious, full-tuition merit scholarship awarded to high school students with strong leadership potential. Posse Scholars also receive intensive pre-college training during their senior year of high school, four years of mentorship from Posse staff, and career advising to help them succeed after college.

article thumbnail

How to Get into Duke as an International Student: Strategy

The Koppelman Group

Duke is a top American research university with amazing academics, stellar resources, and a fabulous campus life and community. They received over 54,000 first-year applications in the 2023-2024 cycle, for a class of 1,739. The acceptance rate was only 5.4%. Getting into Duke is hard for anyone, and every year we support international students in doing just that.

article thumbnail

Grade Inflation and the Changing Landscape of College Admissions

Top Tier Admissions

In college admissions, the term “grade inflation” is frequently used. It refers to the trend of teachers awarding higher grades for the same level of work over time. As a result, grades become less meaningful, making it harder for colleges to determine what truly constitutes A-level work. THE RISE OF THE HIGH SCHOOL GPA Colleges can easily notice school-specific grade inflation by looking at the schools yearly college profile.

article thumbnail

Why College Students Need Brain Breaks

AdmissionSight

Are you still forcing yourself to study, finish a project, or address other responsibilities but your brain just doesnt want to work anymore? Try scheduling brain breaks to give your mind a chance to rest. Several reports (including those from Gallup and the American Psychological Association) show that many college students are stressed. In fact, 51% of Gallups respondents reported feeling worried most of the day.