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IvyWise Blog

 

Focused multi national students sitting at desk studying together

Understanding QuestBridge: A Guide for Students

If you aspire to a top-flight college or university and are seeking financial aid and scholarships, you have probably come across an organization called QuestBridge. Like many others, you may wonder what it is, who it’s for, and how it works.

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Statue of college mascot Mike the Tiger on LSU campus.

From Traditional to Quirky: Exploring College Mascots

From Notre Dame’s leprechaun to Oregon’s duck, college mascots are more than just a figure on the sidelines — they are a treasured part of college life at many institutions. They embody the spirit, history, and identity of a college or university, rallying students, alumni, and fans alike under a shared banner. They evoke a sense of belonging and pride within the campus community and beyond.

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Beginner’s Guide: Starting Your MCAT Study Plan

As part of the medical school admissions process, students need to take the MCAT, which is nearly an eight-hour exam (including breaks) with four sections. The MCAT is an intensive exam, and students need to understand the content and formatting to prepare.

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College Trivia and Fun Facts

If you’re a high school junior applying to college this fall, chances are you’ve been on a college visit or two and have spent a considerable amount of time researching colleges and universities. Many students who have only a limited view of what colleges are like are sometimes shocked to find out how vastly different most institutions are from one another in terms of size, campus life, academics, athletics, and more.

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What Major Should I Choose?

You have a lot of decisions to make when it comes to choosing which colleges to apply to, and one factor that might influence your balanced college list is choosing a major. Some students already know what they want to major in, and this may influence which colleges they apply to. For other students, the choice of undergraduate major may be a bit less certain.

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Harvard Waitlist: How Hard Is It to Get Off of It?

Harvard is one of the most popular first-choice colleges for students, and it’s also one of the most competitive. Admission rates are consistently under 5% — for the class of 2028, the admission rate was 3.65%.

Given this competitive admissions rate, some very talented students are going to find themselves on Harvard’s waitlist. While most applicants have a general idea of what a waitlisted outcome means, few understand how waitlists really work and what they can do to boost their odds of admission.

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Meet Our IvyWise Scholars

As part of our IvyWise Gives Back initiative, we offer the IvyWise Scholars pro bono counseling program. Each year, we accept a select number of eligible students into the program. Through a combination of college counseling and tutoring, IvyWise Scholars are empowered to achieve their personal and academic goals. 

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USC vs. UCLA: Which College Is the Right One for You?

Students interested in attending college in Los Angeles often prioritize two schools: the University of Southern California (USC) and the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). While they are both located in the same geographic area, they differ in a few significant ways that may impact which school you choose. If you’re considering both schools, it’s helpful to take a deeper dive into their similarities and differences.

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Class of 2029 Regular Decision Notification Dates

Are you ready for Regular Decision notification dates? Admissions offices across the U.S. are working hard to get through hundreds of thousands of Regular Decision college applications for the class of 2029 in order to notify students of their decisions this spring.

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How to Get into USC: All You Need to Know

The University of Southern California — or USC, as it’s best known — is a top research university and one of the most selective schools in the country. Located in sunny Los Angeles, California, it’s been a pioneer in academic and research initiatives since its beginnings in 1880.

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