Chemistry is a classic science major, and a cornerstone of STEM, but high school students are often stumped as to how to stand out as chemistry-focused college applicants. There aren’t, often, chemistry clubs in the same where that there are robotics clubs. You can’t build an app like with coding, and it can be hard to stand out beyond having strong grades and matching test scores. At the same time, standing out is critically important. Relying solely on your grades and scores isn’t a good strategy.
Ross (Michigan) Undergrad Admissions Strategy
The Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan is one of the top business schools in the country at one of the top public universities in the country. That’s double-tops. Michigan is extremely popular with our clients, and Ross even more so. Michigan Ross is perfect for students who want a strong business education, a robust college culture, and an impressive alumni network. But if you’re here, you know all this, because you’ve set your eyes on Ross and want advice on how to get in.
Biology Extracurricular Activity Strategy for Juniors
Biology, or life sciences, is one of the most popular majors nation-wide across all types of colleges and universities. At many top schools, it is the single most popular major — often by far. The reason for this isn’t all that surprising, especially at top schools. Biology is the start of the road to medical school or another path into the medical sciences, but it also offers a wide array of options with strong career futures. Biology is relevant for a multitude of career paths outside of medicine, from conservation work to science writing, but the link between an undergraduate biology major and a career in the medical sciences is undoubtedly a key piece of the biology major pipeline.
Early Action Strategy for Georgetown 2025-2026
Georgetown is an internationally-leading research and academic university aimed at preparing the next generation of global citizens, with a particular focus on service, policy, and politics. The school is the oldest Catholic and Jesuit university in the United States. While it’s eminently possible to have a secular experience at Georgetown, the Jesuit ethos guides the central identity of the school, adding a layer of care for others on top of each aspect of the university. Known as “the Hoyas,” Georgetown students are proud, active, and engaged. First-year undergraduate students join a community of over 6,000 peers across 5 undergraduate colleges including Georgetown College, the McDonough School of Business, the School of Nursing, the School of Health, and the Walsh School of Foreign Service.
Public Health at UNC: Deep Dive
Hello, and welcome back to our “Deep Dive” series, where we investigate how schools got their reputations for excellence in particular fields and whether they live up to their name. Make no mistake; the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill is academically strong across the board, so we can’t call its renowned Gillings School of Global Public Health a hidden gem by any means, but, if you’re looking into a career in epidemiology, maternal and child health, health policy, nutrition, or public health leadership (just to name a few professional tracks that fall under the umbrella of global health studies), you’re probably trying to see how various programs stack up (especially given the varying cost of degrees between institutions).
Restrictive Early Action Strategy for Notre Dame 2025-2026
Notre Dame is a large private Catholic research university. The school is known for exceptional academics and enviable culture. From globally renowned professors to some of the best sports culture in the game, Notre Dame is a powerhouse. They are second in the country for student Fulbright winners, and nationally renowned for supporting their students in achieving outstanding outcomes beyond graduation. It’s also a strong religious university. 82% of students identify as Catholic. This combination of academic excellence, extracurricular achievement, and religious centering makes Notre Dame a dream school for many applicants, even many who are not Catholic.
AI and Machine Learning Extracurricular Activtiy Strategy for Juniors
Every couple of years, something surges in emerging technology to such an extent that it completely shifts the conversations happening not just in the news or in classrooms, but among students thinking about their future career path. In the 1990s it was the internet, in the 2010s it was coding mobile applications, and today, in the 2020s, it is Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Without a doubt, the most common interest we are hearing these days from tech-minded students is in joining the AI revolution. That’s awesome, but it’s also risky if you don’t pursue it right. Simply being interested in AI doesn’t make a college application stand out, and the opportunities available to young students are still catching up to the interest.
Early Decision Strategy for NYU (New York University) 2025-2026
Located right in the middle of Manhattan, New York University (NYU) isn’t your typical college campus – in fact, there isn’t really a “campus” at all. NYU is famous for their programs in everything from business and film to international relations and neuroscience, and they’re also known for their network of 13 global campuses located everywhere from Tulsa, Oklahoma to Abu Dhabi. And they’re selective: the Regular Decision acceptance rate in 2025 was 7.7%, the lowest it’s ever been, but the Early Decision acceptance rate is around 30%. Which means if you’re serious about NYU, there’s really only one move to make.
Early Action Strategy for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology 2025-2026
MIT is one of the preeminent science and technology-focused universities in the world. Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts right across the river from Boston, it attracts students from across the country, and around the world, through its STEM-centric offerings and history of being at the cutting edge of emerging technologies. MIT is also widely respected as a hotbed of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Early Action Strategy for the University of Southern California (USC) 2025-2026
The University of Southern California (USC) is a private research university in the heart of Los Angeles, just a short drive from the beach and even closer to the entertainment industry. USC is known for blending academic rigor with a dynamic student life, and they’ve made a name for themselves in everything from film to engineering to business. Over the past few years, USC has gotten extremely competitive, with their acceptance rates dropping to the single digits. They also recently introduced an early action decision plan, new for them, and we think it’s a smart choice.
Early Action Strategy for the University of Michigan 2025-2026
The University of Michigan isn’t any university — it’s one of the best schools in the nation. Mich is a massive state research university with over 34,000 undergraduate students. You may get lost in a crowd at a game in the Big House, but the Mich programs don’t fade into the background. They are home to more than a dozen programs ranked in the top 10 in the country, and top students nationally put Mich on their lists alongside Ivy League universities and private schools like Stanford and the University of Chicago. Mich is regularly ranked in the top 5 public universities in the country.
Early Decision Strategy for Carnegie Mellon University 2025-2026
Carnegie Mellon University, or CMU, is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They offer a research university experience in a manageable undergraduate environment of just over 7,700 undergraduate students and a 7:1 student-to-faculty ratio. There are a lot of options, too. CMU has 90 majors and minors across six undergraduate colleges alongside an interdisciplinary culture and philosophy that celebrates cross-pollination. Instead of “staying in your lane,” CMU encourages students to break down walls. CMU also has a strong international student community — and a big one — with 23% of undergrads qualifying as international students as of the fall of 2023.
Early Decision Strategy for Dartmouth University 2025-2026
Dartmouth is a highly-respected university in Hanover, New Hampshire, and member of the Ivy League. The college is best known for bringing together the triumvirate of college good times: exceptional academics, a fun culture that centers celebration and athleticism, and a close-knit community. Students who attend Dartmouth aren’t afraid of being hours away from an international airport, or of a good time. What they graduate with, though, is an iconic degree that kickstarts an outstanding future.
Restrictive Early Action Strategy for Stanford 2025-2026
Stanford University needs no introduction. As one of America’s most elite schools, its name precedes it. Located in the aptly named Stanford, California, the university is a NorCal favorite with exceptional academics, a sprawling suburban campus, and a reputation for innovation. Stanford is among the most competitive schools in America. Hopeful students need to have an airtight application and a great plan. If you are serious about Stanford, part of that plan will most likely include applying through their Restrictive Early Action option.
Early Decision Strategy for Brown 2025-2026
Brown is an Ivy League university in Providence, Rhode Island, and is home to what is widely considered one of the best undergraduate colleges in the country. Brown stands out among the cohort of elite schools, though, because it is distinctly different. Whereas most top schools have a liberal arts curriculum that requires breadth, Brown approaches things differently. They offer a truly unique educational experience centered around an open curriculum that encourages students to explore broadly while deepening into their passions to their heart’s content.
Early Decision Strategy for the University of Virginia 2025-2026
Early Decision Strategy for Barnard 2025-2026
Barnard is an iconic all-women’s college in New York City and part of its next-door neighbor, Columbia University. Students at Barnard benefit from the perspective of a women-first learning environment while also having access to, and often full integration with, the Columbia undergraduate experience. Clubs, classes, and athletics are nearly entirely integrated, but Barnard offers a unique learning environment — and a notably higher acceptance rate between 8 and 9%. This doesn’t mean Barnard is easy to get into, though. Nine out of a hundred applicants is not optimistic, so a Barnard application strategy is necessary if you want to get in.
Restrictive Early Action Strategy for Harvard 2025-2026
Harvard is Harvard. The university is known for producing political, business, medical, academic, and scientific leaders, and it is one of the most iconic institutions of higher education in the world. There are a little over 7,000 undergraduate students, and twice as many graduate students. Unsurprisingly, it is exceptionally hard to get into.
Early Decision Strategy for Columbia University 2025-2026
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.