Education Library

Where Ivy Experience disentangles college admissions.

Blog Posts

Jun 4, 2026

What Counts as a Likely School?

While it is common to hear a student rhapsodize about a reach school, it is unusual to hear the same...

Blog Posts

May 20, 2026

An Honest Conversation About Grades

Let’s be honest. There’s a lot that goes into college applications: grades, test scores, recommendations, activities, and essays. It can...

Webinar

May 20, 2026

What Admissions Officers Want From a College Essay

Join Eric Karlan, Jordan Holmes, and Kevin Trudel as they offer a holistic picture of the college essay from an admissions perspective. Topics will include: how admissions officers view essays in relation to other elements of a student's application; why these essays provide students with an invaluable opportunity to become fully "human" to admissions officers; advice on brainstorming topics, avoiding common pitfalls, and drafting and revising essays; and how to make your essay work for you.

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Webinar

May 7, 2026

The Roadmap to College

Join Jim Wismer, Alyssa Coltrain, Jordan Holmes, and Kevin Trudel of Ivy Experience as we lay out a roadmap to college admissions for students to follow.

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Blog Posts

May 6, 2026

Your Complete Guide to High School Testing, from APs to the SAT

‘Tis the season for testing: whether it’s the SAT, AP exams, or finals. So it felt like a good time...

Blog Posts

Apr 29, 2026

College Essays That Make An Impact

Writing your personal statement (aka the Common App essay) is ultimately… well, personal. Your college essay should be a distinctive...

Blog Posts

Apr 23, 2026

The Pros and Cons of Study Groups

AP exams and finals are officially upon us! As you prepare to cram for upcoming tests, it’s worth reflecting: is...

Webinar

Apr 15, 2026

State of Admissions Webinar 2026

Join Eric Karlan and Jim Wismer for our annual flagship webinar, "The State of Admissions," where we analyze trends and share observations from our students and colleagues throughout the industry. Topics include: how colleges—and students—are using AI in the admissions process; what schools are hottest right now; the importance of college essays, and what prompts are on the rise (and fall); trends in standardized test score policies, waitlists and deferrals, application numbers, and more!

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Blog Posts

Apr 10, 2026

Your Guide to Virtual College Tours

Where to start If visiting a given college in person isn’t an option for you, a virtual tour can give...

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With college admissions more competitive than ever, students must excel in each of these realms in order to optimize their applications.

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