STEM Summer Camps: A Look at the Top Programs
Quick answer: Top STEM summer camps for high school students include the Research Science Institute at MIT, MITES Summer, the Garcia Summer Research Program at Stony Brook, Stanford’s SUMaC, and the Ross Mathematics Program. Selective programs like these offer hands-on research and advanced coursework, and they help your application most when you continue the work […]
Colleges That Use ZeeMee: A Guide to the App
Quick answer: Colleges that use ZeeMee rely on the app to host online communities where prospective and admitted students connect with classmates and admissions staff. Some, including Washington University in St. Louis, Carnegie Mellon, and Bucknell, have invited applicants to add a ZeeMee link as an optional application component. Share yours only if it adds […]
A Guide to Combined BS/MD Programs
Quick answer: Combined BS/MD programs admit high school seniors to both college and a partner medical school at once, reserving a medical school seat for students who meet continuation requirements. Programs typically take six to eight years, and some waive the MCAT. They are highly selective, and Brown’s eight-year PLME is one well-known example. A […]
Junior Year Checklist: Staying on Track for College Application Season
Quick answer: A junior year checklist should cover a planner and master resume, a clear sense of your intended major, your most rigorous realistic course load, an SAT or ACT plan matched to each college’s testing policy, a balanced college list, campus visits, and closer relationships with the teachers and counselor who will write your […]
Privilege in College Admissions: Framing Your Background on Applications
Quick answer: To handle privilege in college admissions, frame your application with self-awareness: acknowledge the opportunities you have had, show what you did with those resources, center your essays on growth rather than exclusive experiences, and highlight genuine initiative and service. Admissions officers read every application in the context of your circumstances. Privilege in College […]
How to Write an Email to a Professor
Quick answer: Here is how to write an email to a professor: use a specific subject line, greet them as Professor or Dr. plus their last name, say which course and section you are in, make one clear request, thank them, and sign with your full name. Send it from your school account and check […]
Final College Application Tips Before You Hit Submit
Quick answer: The most important college application tips before you submit: proofread every section, confirm each essay answers its prompt, list your activities in order of impact, verify test scores and profile details, skip materials colleges did not request, and preview the final PDF. Careful presentation shows the same attention to detail as your content. […]
Athletic Recruiting and Admissions
Quick answer: Athletic recruiting lets college coaches support applicants who can contribute to their teams, often giving recruited athletes a significant admissions advantage. Student-athletes should research programs at the right competitive level, register with the NCAA Eligibility Center, contact coaches early with video and stats, and keep their grades high. Athletic Recruiting and Admissions Athletics […]
College Application Deadlines at Top Universities: Key Dates to Know
Quick answer: College application deadlines at most selective colleges fall on November 1 or November 15 for early action and early decision, with decisions in December. Early decision II and regular decision deadlines usually land in early January, with decisions from February through early April. Each college sets its own dates, so confirm them school […]
Science Competitions for High School Students That Colleges Notice
Quick answer: The top science competitions for high school students include Regeneron ISEF, the Regeneron Science Talent Search, the USA Biology, Chemistry, and Physics Olympiads, the AMC and AIME math competitions, and Science Olympiad. Top placements show exceptional ability, but sustained participation and growth also add value in college admissions. Science Competitions for High School […]