IB vs. AP vs. A-Levels: Predictive Validity, Performance Outcomes, and Strategic Fit
IB vs. AP vs. A-Levels: which pre-university credential actually predicts college success? Evidence-based analysis of IBO longitudinal data, College Board outcomes, and HESA research — with a strategic fit framework for students and advisors.
The Class of 2030 Full Cycle: Ivy Day Results, UMich ED, Global Shifts, and the End of the ‘Soft Yes’ Deferral
The full analysis of the 2025-2026 early admissions cycle is here. Learn about the transparency retreat by schools like Harvard and Stanford, the new deferral reality, the rise of binding ED at public flagships like UMich, and how a global strategy is creating more pathways for top applicants.
The Pre-College ROI Project, Issue 3: The Signal Problem
7 million students enter ISEF-affiliated fairs each year. Only ~1,800 reach the international stage. Meanwhile, hundreds of local competitions offer participation trophies and application fodder. This issue applies a consistent framework to tell them apart—and to explain what admissions officers actually see. Issue 3 of 12.
The Pre-College ROI Project, Issue 2: What Pre-College Research Actually Looks Like—and How Admissions Reads It
Pre-college “research” ranges from RSI—with a 2–3% acceptance rate—to pay-to-publish programs charging for credentials admissions officers now scrutinize. Learn how to tell the difference—and what actually builds credibility. Issue 2 of 12.
Wall Street vs. Silicon Valley: Which Colleges Feed Finance and Big Tech
A data-driven analysis of which undergraduate institutions feed Wall Street investment banks and Big Tech firms. Explore target school dynamics, the finance vs. tech divergence, and what hiring ecosystems reveal about undergraduate strategy.
Top MBA Feeder Colleges: What the Data Shows
A data-driven analysis of which undergraduate institutions feed top MBA programs. Explore business school feeder density, the military academy surprise, the two-step funnel, and what the data reveals about MBA pipeline strategy.
Top Medical School Feeder Colleges: What the Data Shows
A data-driven analysis of which undergraduate institutions feed top medical schools. Explore feeder density, liberal arts performance, research ecosystems, and what MCAT data reveals about medical admissions strategy.
Top Law School Feeder Colleges: What the Data Shows
A data-driven analysis of which undergraduate institutions feed top law schools. Explore T14 feeder patterns, liberal arts overperformance, and what the ABA and LSAC data reveal about law school admissions strategy.
The Junior Year Bottleneck
Junior year doesn’t have to be survived. Learn why the “bottleneck” of stacked demands leads to high school burnout and “bad strategy” in college admissions. Get the strategic framework for sequencing, pruning, and designing a successful, coherent year for your student.
Why Starting in Grades 9–10 Changes Admissions Outcomes
The structural advantage of early high school planning: Discover how academic sequencing and sustained extracurriculars in Grades 9–10 make time, not just talent, the hidden key to selective college admissions.