Top Tier Admissions
The 2026 college admissions cycle has seen acceptance rates plummet to unprecedented lows, particularly among top-tier institutions. As former Dean of Admissions at Dartmouth, here’s how I read between the lines of these numbers — and what it means for your family. Is Anybody Getting In? The overall acceptance rates at a range of the […]
The University of Virginia (UVA), a flagship public research university in Charlottesville and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, admitted 10,287 students to the Class of 2030 from a record 82,118 applications, according to the Cavalier Daily. The applicant pool grew 27% in a single year—the largest increase in the university’s history—pushing UVA’s overall acceptance rate […]
If you spend any time on college admissions forums, you might come away with an incorrect conclusion: “I need an internship to get into a top college.” The truth is more nuanced and, for many students, far more encouraging. An internship isn’t a “golden ticket”; it’s just one option among many to build your extracurricular […]
With AP exams starting, families are asking the same question I often heard during my years in the admissions office at Pomona College: do AP scores actually matter? The short answer is yes, but not in the way most families think. Here’s what admissions officers are really looking for in applications, and how to make […]
After years of hard work, countless deadlines, and an emotional admissions season, you’ve committed to your college of choice. First: celebrate! This is a major milestone. Then, once the confetti settles, know that your transition to college has already begun. Too often, students treat the months between May and August as a victory lap or […]
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)