Top Tier Admissions
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 […]
When Forbes first introduced the concept of the “New Ivies,” it reframed a conversation that had long been overdue: prestige is no longer synonymous with the Ivy League. In our earlier analyses, Introducing the New Ivies and the New Ivies: 2025 Edition, we explored how employer sentiment was shifting toward schools that consistently produce graduates […]
Every year, talented students with high grades and scores, many extracurricular accomplishments, and worthy volunteer contributions begin the college application process feeling confident, only to be surprised by disappointing admissions outcomes. Understanding the most common college admissions mistakes is the first step — because all too often, it’s not a lack of achievement that holds […]
There is perhaps no deeper exhale than the one that comes at the end of junior year in high school. Students have just completed the last full year of academic classes before college; AP exams are over; summer plans are set; college visits are scheduled, and recommendation requests have been made. I use the passive […]
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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.