If you’re interested in current events from a human rights perspective, the history behind major human societal challenges, or are considering going into the legal field, you may be thinking about studying social justice or a related subject in college. A major, minor, concentration, or program in social justice sets you up to better understand the challenges the world is facing — and how to address them — whether from a nonprofit, advocacy group, governmental agency, or private practice.
Best Colleges if you Want to Start a Business
If you already know you want to start a business, where you go to college really matters — especially if you want to build a big business with investors, dozens or even hundreds of employees, and a big fancy office with a big fancy chair. Even if you aren’t eyeing that comfy chair behind a big desk, if you want to start a business in the next few years you should plan to build up your entrepreneurial credentials while pursuing your undergrad.
Cornell Legacy Strategy
All schools are at least a little secretive about legacy admissions. They don’t give exact facts or figures, but you might get some hints at information. Cornell is more secretive than most. They publish almost nothing about legacy admissions or their policies around it. This is why we get a little cautious when alumni parents start saying things like “oh course my kid will get into Cornell, they are a legacy!” We understand why parents think this, but especially at a super secretive school like Cornell, it isn’t backed up by data. So we wanted to break down everything Cornell has said about admissions and what in, our professional opinion, is your student’s best shot at getting in.
Best Colleges for Asian History
If you’re thinking of studying Asia in college, you’re going to need to narrow it down a little. Saying that Asia is a big place is an understatement. Picking a geographic or thematic concentration helps to narrow it down, directing your attention and bringing passions into focus. You’re probably also going to need to study a language associated with your area of focus, so you should keep that in mind when making your decision.
The Best Colleges for your Astrological Sign: Leo
Lions and tigers and bears, oh my? Have no fear, another astrology post is here! This time featuring our most ferocious sun sign: the leo. If you haven’t been following along on our astrological dive, we’ve been conducting an experiment of sorts in college lists. A common consideration in constructing a college list, other than academic viability, is social fit. We think astrology provides excellent categories for different types of social preferences and instincts. So, we’ve been going through each sun sign and establishing which colleges might feel like home for them. This process is strictly experimental and we by no means believe that astrology should be a serious or legitimate factor when you are deciding which schools to apply to. Consider this a fun break from your more serious considerations.
Best Colleges for African History
Africa is a continent full of thousands of cultures and languages, which is a lot to cover in one major. If you’re considering studying Africa in college, you’ll want to look for programs that offer opportunities to niche down and zoom in, whether it be through a geographic focus, an issues-based focus, or another lens. We also recommend looking for programs that prioritize language studies and study abroad, and both of those are game changers when it comes to studying a place from afar — especially one you may have never visited!
Princeton Legacy Strategy
"Well, I went to Princeton, so of course…" This is a sentence we hate to hear from parents because it usually ends with something to the effect of "my child will get in." We work with a lot of legacies. And many legacy parents believe that their kid getting into a top school like Princeton is a shoo-in. But that simply isn't the case. Legacy admissions are a lot more complicated and a lot more competitive. So let's break it down.
Best Colleges for Foreign Languages
Some people are simply really good at languages. They immerse themselves and gain proficiency rapidly, and some even collect languages like they’re arcade prizes. If you are one of those people, you may be considering majoring in a foreign language (or two!) in college. College language programs aim towards a high level of proficiency or even fluency in reading, writing, speaking, and cultural awareness.
Best Colleges for African American Studies
African American studies, often a subset of an Africana Studies program, is the study of the African diaspora with a focus on the Americas, especially the United States. As a major, it is interdisciplinary by nature, pulling from history, contemporary studies, cultural studies, political studies, and more. Students interested in majoring in African American Studies should look for programs led by contemporary thought leaders and with research centers connected to the department.
UPenn Legacy Strategy
“Hurrah, Hurrah! He’s going to be a quaker just like his mother!” is something we hear from parents all the time. It always gives us pause. Mainly because most alumni parents don’t really understand legacy admissions at top schools like Penn. They assume their kids will automatically get in, or that it’ll be significantly easier, which just isn’t the case. So if you are a legacy parent (or a student thinking of applying to your dear old parent’s alma mater), let’s break down legacy admissions at Penn.
Best Colleges for Public Relations
Public Relations, sometimes called Strategic Communications, is a strong major for students interested in communications, marketing, brand representation and building, crisis management, or anything else related to the building, maintaining, and marketing of a brand. It is also, however, a fairly rare major at the undergraduate level. Most colleges only offer Public Relations, or a differently-named equivalent, at the graduate level. If you don’t want to wait, you’ll have to do some digging.
Best Undergraduate Colleges for Investment Banking Jobs
Investment Banking is a great path for those who want one thing: intellectually stimulating work money. It’s not the right industry for everyone, but those that want to pursue it tend to be hungry and ready to do what it takes. We conducted a Linkedin search of current employees at the top banks in the country and searched by school to see which ones were top feeders to each. (*Disclaimer: employees appeared in our search if they had the school name on their profile. It’s possible some attended graduate school or even received certifications.)
Best Colleges for European History
Europe is big. That may be an absurd sentence, but it’s worth stating twice: Europe is big. If you are looking to study Europe in college, there’s a lot of literal ground to cover. As you look into major programs, you’ll see that some programs focus on a particular geographic area, others gravitate around particular social issues, while still others are rooted firmly in language.
Yale Legacy Strategy
“Of course, my kid is going to get into Yale. I went there, so they are a legacy!” We hear this way too much. And we hate to hear this because it is really not true, and we don’t like breaking bad news! Most legacies don’t get into Yale. It is the cold hard truth. But, if you are a legacy and you’re interested in your child getting in, read on. Let’s break down what legacy admissions really look like at Yale and how you can best support your legacy as they apply.
Best Colleges for Oceanography
Oceanography — as is apt for the name — is the study of all things ocean. If you pursue oceanography, often also called Marine Science or Marine Biology, as a major, you’ll be studying animals, plants, geology, water composition, how water moves, and how water changes. Lots of colleges offer it as a major, minor, or concentration, but we think the best place to study oceanography is close to the ocean. You don’t have to, of course. People study outer space from earth, after all, but since you can live out your Finding Nemo dreams, why not do so?
Best Colleges for American History
College Athletic Recruiting at Middlebury College
You’ve spent the last four years toiling away, both on and off the court/field/mountain/course, and you’re looking for a college that will allow you to play your sport and get a good education. There’s a reason it’s student-athlete and not athlete-student, after all. You’ve settled on somewhere like Middlebury. You’ve been following their stats and know that their acceptance rate has been steadily dropping for years, settling at a competitive 15% for 2022. You may think to yourself, “hey I’m really good at soccer. Maybe that will push me over the edge.” It might, but keep reading.
Best Colleges for Zoology
If you love animals and your favorite weekend activity is birdwatching, visiting a zoo, or strolling along the reptiles section of your local pet store, you may be considering turning your love of animals into a professional career path with a degree in zoology, or a related field. With a degree in zoology, animal biology, or animal sciences, you’ll be able to go into research, work in a high-level role at a zoo, or participate in wildlife conservation. You’ll also be well-positioned if you’re hoping to continue on to a veterinarian school.
UPenn Legacy Guide
We work with legacy students all the time and the most common question we hear is from parents: “Will my legacy kid get in?” The answer can be slightly more complicated than you might think. At top schools like Penn, not every legacy gets in. Actually, most legacies do not get in. It’s just too competitive. So we wanted to break down all the ins and outs of legacy admission at Penn and answer some of the most common questions we get from alumni parents.
Best Summer Ideas for 9th Grade
School’s out, you’re ready to lounge around the house and do nothing. But, if you’re here reading this blog, you’re probably an ambitious student with dreams of top-tier colleges. And students who want to go to top-tier colleges know they need to start preparing for the college admissions process now. We know summer is the time you don’t want to think about school, but thems the breaks, kid.