Colleges With Unique Majors: 12 Quirky Fields to Consider
Quick answer: Colleges with unique majors let you study specialized fields such as viticulture and enology at Cornell, puppet arts at the University of Connecticut, and packaging at Michigan State University. When you consider a niche major, check the program’s depth, career outcomes, and whether the college also fits your broader academic and personal goals. […]
Twins Applying to the Same College: How to Approach the Admissions Process as Siblings
Quick answer: Twins applying to the same college are evaluated as individual applicants, though admissions officers often notice twin files and may read them side by side. Neither twin is guaranteed admission because of the other, so each should build a distinct application with separate essays, recommenders, and activities, and plan together for different outcomes. […]
Poor Grades in High School: When to Explain and When You Shouldn’t
Quick answer: Explain poor grades in high school only when they resulted from circumstances outside your control, such as illness, a family emergency, or a move. Use a brief, factual note in the Additional Information section or an optional prompt. Skip explanations for grades that reflect a hard class or low effort, and let an […]
What is a Good PSAT Score?
Quick answer: A good PSAT score depends on your grade and goals. The PSAT/NMSQT is scored from 320 to 1520, and College Board’s grade 11 benchmarks are 460 in Reading and Writing and 510 in Math. Scores well above both benchmarks are good for most students, while National Merit requires a Selection Index near the […]
What is Legacy in College Admissions and How Much Does it Help?
Quick answer: Legacy in college admissions means a parent or close relative attended the college you are applying to. It can offer a modest advantage at some private colleges, especially in Early Decision, but many schools, including MIT, Johns Hopkins, Amherst, and California’s public and private nonprofit universities, no longer consider it. Legacy never replaces […]
The University of California Schools: Everything You Need to Know
Quick answer: The University of California schools include nine campuses that admit undergraduates: Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, San Diego, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz. All nine share one UC application with four Personal Insight Questions, submitted between October 1 and November 30, and UC does not consider SAT or ACT scores. The […]
USC vs. UCLA
Quick answer: In the USC vs UCLA comparison, USC is a private university near downtown Los Angeles that uses the Common App, while UCLA is a public University of California campus in Westwood that uses the UC application. Both are highly selective, so choose based on your academic program, campus culture, and preferred class size. […]
9th Grade Classes: How to Navigate the Academic Transition to High School
Quick answer: Your 9th grade classes should cover the core subjects, English, math, science, history, and a foreign language, at the most challenging level you can handle well. Freshman grades count toward your GPA, and ninth grade placement often sets your path into honors and AP courses later, so choose rigor you can sustain and […]
Should Standardized Testing Define Adversity? InGenius Prep Speaks With ABC News About the SAT Adversity Index
Quick answer: In 2019, the College Board announced an SAT adversity score to give colleges context about a student’s neighborhood and school environment. Susan Shifflett, a Former Admissions Officer from Yale at InGenius Prep, discussed it on ABC News. After criticism, the College Board replaced the single score with the Landscape tool. College Board’s announcement […]
Top Engineering Schools in the US
Quick answer: Good schools for engineering in the US include MIT, Stanford, UC Berkeley, Caltech, Georgia Tech, the University of Michigan, Carnegie Mellon, and Purdue. The right fit also depends on ABET accreditation for your major, how each school admits students into engineering, and your access to undergraduate research, co-ops, and hands-on design work. What […]