Early Decision, Early Action, Early Decision II, Restrictive Early Action — believe it or not, the list goes on. There is no shortage of early application options for college admissions these days, and some hold a significant statistical advantage to students. Yes, this means that in some early processes, most students are significantly more likely to receive offers of admissions than if they applied Regular Decision. The percent advantage ranges from school to school and differs when it comes to Early Action programs. Read on for a breakdown of the numbers and for insight on why students should consider participating in early admissions programs.

The college application process is stacked with buzzwords, including the often-used “holistic review” and “hook.” Right now, more and more families are trying to decipher terms like “profile building,” “applicant profile,” and “telling your story.” What do these terms mean, and how do they differ? How do you approach your applicant profile? How do you tell your story? What can families do to prepare?

The U.S. and U.K. university systems are dramatically different, and many students struggle with determining which would be the best fit for their learning styles, goals, and interests.

As your college experience is nearing its end, you may be wondering about the next steps for your career. Should you apply to graduate school immediately following your undergraduate studies, or would it be better to seek full-time employment?

Are you still struggling to decide where you’ll apply to school? Did finding time to research or attend information sessions manage to escape you? Are you staring at a blank screen, just days away from the deadline to submit an essay to your dream school?

With the increasing number of applicants applying to independent day and boarding schools, admissions committees have started adapting additional testing tools to the application process. One tool that’s growing in popularity is the Character Skills Snapshot, which was developed by the Enrollment Management Association, makers of the SSAT standardized test.

The cost of attending a four-year college continues to grow and is already one of the largest investments a family can make, with many private colleges and universities charging upwards of $70,000 a year in tuition, room, and board.

Are you a homeschooler? A distance learner? A non-traditional student? If so, you have some key elements to consider when applying to college to make the most of your experience beyond what traditional students can offer. For colleges, a non-traditional student is someone who does not attend an in-person school.

Applying to law school has many similarities to applying to undergrad, with some key differences. So, what are those differences? And what goes into a law school application? Learning about the components of the law school application can help you manage expectations about the process and be better prepared.

“I got a B in AP Calculus,” a student recently said to me. “I guess I won’t have a shot at my dream schools, since I know colleges automatically reject students who don’t have straight A’s.” This is a conversation I often have with students this time of year. I assured my student that one B on his otherwise flawless transcript does not make it or break it. However, having worked in the admissions office at Columbia University — which has a 4.1% acceptance rate — I’m not naive about the selective review process.