If college is the gateway to the real world, then high school is the long highway that precedes it. After four years of high school, you might feel as though you are totally unprepared for the challenges of higher education. Although pumped-up academic standards are a big part of the college transition, being a college student also calls for independence, maturity, and responsibility.
New York University (NYU) continues to be one of the most sought-after institutions for higher education, attracting a diverse and talented pool of applicants from around the globe. This has led to increased competition for admission and lower acceptance rates. If you wish to join the student body, understanding NYU admissions statistics is an important first step.
Summer break is a great time to relax, but it shouldn’t be spent just lounging around! In fact, summer is a perfect time to pursue your interests, and one way to do that is through reading and research. A productive summer keeps you engaged, fights summer brain drain, and gives you the opportunity to pursue activities that relate to your interests to better prepare for the college admissions process.
If you have a passion for STEM, stepping outside the classroom curriculum and diving into STEM resources can deepen your understanding in ways traditional learning sometimes can’t — not to mention, it makes you a more competitive STEM applicant. This curated list of books, periodicals, podcasts, and documentaries is designed to introduce you to new ideas and perspectives, help you develop critical thinking skills, broaden your vocabulary, and perhaps even discover the specific area of STEM that truly captivates you.
The SAT may have changed a lot in recent years, including going digital-only for international students in 2023 and for the U.S. in 2024. But one thing hasn’t changed — a good SAT score will help you gain acceptance into the schools on your college list, even if they’re test-optional. Of course, standardized test scores are just one component of a strong college application, but they help provide a more comprehensive picture of your college readiness. If you’re preparing to take the SAT, keep reading to learn more about how the score is broken down, what’s considered a good score, and what the score range is for the middle 50% of enrolled students at some of the top universities in the U.S.
As the traditional spring semester winds down, a unique academic opportunity known as Maymester emerges at many colleges and universities across the U.S. This accelerated college term, typically held in May, offers students an opportunity to engage in intense study, explore new subjects, or even embark on exciting study abroad programs — all within a focused timeframe.
While the Common Application is the most widely used college application, it’s not the only option for students who are getting ready to apply to their best-fit colleges. The Coalition Application is an alternative that now counts more than 160 institutions as member colleges, including highly selective colleges and universities like Columbia, Harvard, and UPenn.
If you’re applying to college this fall, you can (and should!) be thinking about and getting a head start on your applications — even though most don’t open until mid-summer. Let’s look at the application timeline and why starting early is crucial. We also offer some college application tips to maximize your chances of success.
Students navigating the college admissions process continue to experience unique challenges and changes, including the announcement of an entirely digital SAT, continued test-optional policies, increasing application numbers, and each student applying to more colleges on average. All of this has led to an even more competitive year at the most selective colleges in the U.S., while other schools plan to admit more students than ever before in order to manage enrollment numbers.
For nearly 25 years, I’ve made a career out of helping students navigate their road to college. From test prep to pre-college summer programs to admissions counseling, I have seen firsthand how the right support can transform uncertainty into confidence and turn dreams into acceptances.
