Top Tier Admissions
In this ever-changing college admissions landscape, the role of standardized testing remains a hot topic (and source of confusion). Understanding how these tests fit into the broader admissions process can help demystify their purpose and highlight strategies you can use to enhance your applications. THE PURPOSE OF STANDARDIZED TESTING Standardized tests were originally designed to […]
Test-optional? Test-flexible? Test-blind? Test-neutral? Test-recommended? Test-aware? While many universities have announced post-pandemic admissions policies that re-instate mandatory standardized test scores, there is still no consensus. Even within the Ivy League there is division: Brown University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Harvard University, and Yale University have all returned to requiring test scores while Columbia University, University […]
Over the past two decades, Top Tier Admissions has helped hundreds of students achieve their college dreams through our intensive 4-day program. Whether you’re a high school junior gearing up for the application process or a sophomore seeking that competitive edge, here are 20 essential things to know about the original Application Boot Camp®. APPLICATION […]
Cornell will reintroduce standardized testing requirements for undergraduate admissions starting in fall 2026, based on findings from a university Task Force on Standardized Testing in Admissions and pressure from peer institutions. Most recently, Harvard reversed course in an April 11 announcement that it would require students applying for fall 2025 admission to submit either an […]
Recent reports from elite institutions like Tufts University, Yale University, and Vanderbilt University paint a stark picture of the financial burden facing students and families seeking to attend college. With tuition costs soaring to nearly six figures, concerns about affordability and the value of a college education have come to the forefront. According to a […]
The Senior Year Roadmap
Every deadline from August to May – test dates, applications. decisions – in one place. Signup to download the full 9-page Senior Year Roadmap (PDF)