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Admissions Trends Insider Tips New Ivies supplemental essays

The New Ivies: Supplemental Essay Trends for 2025-26

In our recent post, “The New Ivies: 2025 Edition,” we looked at Forbes’ second annual list that uses factors such as school size, selectivity, academic profiles, and post-graduation success as part of its methodology. Now that application season is officially upon us, we took another look at this list to unpack this year’s supplemental essay […]

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early acceptance rate Early Action early admissions early admissions trends Early Decision Regular Decision

Early Decision vs. Regular: What the Data Reveals for the Class of 2029

As families gear up for another college admissions cycle, one key question continues to dominate: Should we apply Early Decision or stick with Regular Decision? With acceptance rates dropping each year—especially at selective institutions—making the right strategic choice can offer a major advantage. Our team at Top Tier Admissions analyzed the most recent data from […]

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college admissions Colleges

Does Civility Matter in College Admissions?

As someone who spent many years working in highly selective admissions at Johns Hopkins University, I’ve spent countless hours reading application essays and evaluating candidates, all while trying to find the perfect balance between intellectual curiosity, character, and potential for impact. The task of selecting students is never easy, and the challenges only seem to […]

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college admissions expert guidance medical school pre-med

Want to Be a Doctor? How to Pick a Strong Pre Med School

At Top Tier Admissions, we work with many students who are interested in pursuing medical school and careers in healthcare. With a growing, aging population and rising demand for chronic and mental health care, the job outlook for physicians and surgeons remains strong (and can’t be replaced by AI!). Despite the promising career prospects, students […]

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college admissions college planning expert guidance high school students Insider Tips mental health mindfullness teen mental health Top Tips

Helping Without Hovering: Building Emotional Resilience

As the parent of a 5- and 3-year-old, my Instagram feed is a steady stream of parenting experts, bite-sized strategies, and developmental tips. Like many millennial parents, I’ve underlined half of Dr. Becky Kennedy’s Good Inside, nodded along to Lisa Damour’s interviews on teen mental health, and bookmarked countless Reels about co-regulation, connection, and confidence-building. […]

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