Top Tier Admissions
Every admissions cycle, families search for shorthand ways to understand prestige. One phrase appears again and again in Google queries and parent conversations alike: “the Harvard of the South.” It’s an unofficial and hotly contested title often used to describe elite Southern universities with rigorous academics, selective admissions, and national (or global) reputations. But which […]
As a young teen, I often went on family outings to the now nonexistent bookstore, Borders. While my siblings wandered off to peruse the fiction and sports sections, I usually found myself wandering in the direction of the college guidebooks and U.S. News & World Report college rankings list (perhaps I was always headed in […]
A new billboard welcomes students driving into Boston for college visits: “Bentley University – Top 1% in ROI.” In a city dominated by some of the most sought-after schools in country— Harvard, MIT, Northeastern, Tufts, and Wellesley—Bentley’s declaration reflects a national trend that prioritizes the return on investment (ROI) of college over more nebulous qualities […]
Every fall, families across the country scramble to interpret the latest college rankings, treating them as if they were gospel. But here’s the truth: rankings, including those from U.S. News & World Report, are not definitive roadmaps to educational quality. They’re built on formulas that often prioritize prestige, selectivity, and future earnings over other critical […]
It’s September, and you know what that means: the leaves are changing, the school year is beginning, and the U.S. News and World Report has released its annual Best College Rankings. While these rankings have frequently drawn criticism and complaint, students still turn to them for guidance and colleges are quick to trumpet top positions […]
Calling All Juniors!
Your August Edge Starts Here:
Application Boot Camp®
Complete your Common App and supplemental essays, build a school list aligned to your profile, and develop a clear admissions strategy—guided by the Top Tier Admissions team. In our 22 years running Boot Camp, our counselors have helped thousands of students earn admission to the country’s most selective colleges.