You did it! After years of hard work — acing your classes, prepping for standardized tests, crafting unique essays, and curating your extracurriculars — colleges have finally said yes. But now, the tables have turned. It’s no longer about you convincing colleges you belong — it’s about them convincing you.

Do you enjoy video games — not just playing them, but creating immersive worlds, designing engaging gameplay mechanics, or bringing characters to life? Choosing a college major in game development can open doors to a number of career opportunities. Learn all about the different skills needed to apply for a degree in the field.

Do you have many different interests but struggle to see how they overlap? Is it hard to see the path forward? You’re not alone! Narrowing down your interests involves self-reflection. Taking the time to understand what truly excites and motivates you will help you make informed decisions that set the foundation for a fulfilling academic and career journey.

In my interactions with students, I discovered that many still thought of business school as solely for those interested in careers in venture capital, consulting firms, or product management. However, an MBA with a concentration and demonstrated expertise in a more niche area can provide highly sought-after career skills in today’s changing landscape.

For young scholars who love a trip down the rabbit hole — who see or want to develop connections between various ideas, theories, or movements — the IB can be an affirming educational path. Students earning it can take real pride in their work. 

If you want to go into a specialized field like healthcare, law, veterinary medicine, and so on, entering a preprofessional program may seem like the obvious choice. But is it the best choice?  

Students who don’t see their interests reflected in course and departmental descriptions at most schools might consider colleges and universities that offer individualized programs of study. Some colleges and universities have systems for creating custom majors — in fact, their entire educational philosophy may be built on this practice.

Getting deferred from your top-choice school can be disappointing, but don’t despair! There are a number of steps that students can take after a deferral to improve their admission chances in the regular round.

I work with a lot of STEM-oriented students, many of whom are interested in engineering. When we start discussing their college list, it’s a parade of the usual suspects: MIT, Caltech, Georgia Tech, Cornell, University of Michigan, etc. But these schools aren’t right for everyone for various reasons — including size, location, and selectivity — and I enjoy telling families about other options that they have either never heard of or that might not be top of mind for them. Let’s look at four of these schools with strong engineering programs.

Having natural leadership talents, being team-oriented, excelling in high-pressure situations, resolving interpersonal conflict, and effectively engaging diverse audiences are all examples of soft skills that are crucial for success in the workplace and academia. Hiring managers and admissions committees use your resume, cover letter, essays, and interview responses to gauge what types of soft skills you possess. Let’s examine five important soft skills you can build in college and the professional outcomes from utilizing them.