Finding Support Systems in College
When students are looking for what they want in college, they think about academic opportunities, location, school spirit, and so...
The Vine
A blog where Ivy Experience disentangles college admissions.Why Choose Ivy Experience?
Ivy Experience works with students at every phase of their high school journey and college preparation process. We work closely...
How Do You Choose a College?
For many students, the month of April can be both exciting and scary. They have heard back from all of...
College Visit FAQs
In the coming weeks and months, high school juniors and their families will take advantage of vacations and long weekends...
Building Good Study Habits
“I have this huge test I have to study for.” This is an email or text message that we get...
Making the Most Out of Summer Activities
Making the Most Out of Summer Activities Summers are a time for students to relax and rejuvenate––and after a challenging...
Finding Balance: Thoughts on How to Select Classes for High School Students
Once upon a time… We had a student who was deciding whether or not to take AP Chemistry. To advise...
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...
The Five Things in Your Control
There are seemingly innumerable factors that go into every decision, whether it is an acceptance, deferral, waitlist, or rejection. Many...
Ivy’s Recommendation Letter Primer
We often say that there are very few things under your control in the admissions process: your grades, your activities,...
Academics Outline: Grades 9-12
What courses should my student take? What year of high school is the most important in their college application? There’s...
Activities Outline: Grades 9-12
Extracurricular activities are perhaps the most fun part of high school and college applications—they are an opportunity to unearth curiosity,...
Standardized Testing Outline: Grades 9-12
Below is a concise guide to testing for each year of high school, along with some basic advice for each...
New Year’s Resolutions for High School Students
While students might feel like they are returning to the same old grind after a fun and relaxing break, January...
Summer Activities in the Age of COVID
Summer programs, trips, camps, jobs, internships, research, and more are likely to be canceled or moved online. Some are still...
How To Create A Stellar College List
Building a college list can be daunting – and oftentimes the most intimidating part is just figuring out where to...
Making the Most of Virtual School
With most students in a virtual or hybrid school model for at least the start of this school year, we...
Test-Optional Policies: What Do They Mean?
Before COVID-19, there were already more than 1,000 colleges and universities that were test-optional. But with so many institutions changing...
How to Take Advantage of Unexpected Time Off
With many students getting time off from school due to the spread of coronavirus, we thought we should share some...
How the High School Experience Can Make Your Student a Better Person (and a Better Applicant!)
Begin with what you love. We often talk about activity advising in terms of the Japanese concept of ikigai. The...
How to Turn College Visits into Why College Essays
We all know campus visits are an important part of applying to college – they can give students and families...
Midterms Study Tips
It’s midterm season (or finals, depending on how your school structures things). The new year means that many students are...
Test Anxiety Conversation
Listen to Ivy Experience Director Jim Wismer and Academic Coach Gail Slogoff discuss test anxiety, including causes, symptoms, and strategies...
Maximizing College Visits – the “Why College” Essay
We all know campus visits are an important part of applying to college – they can give students and families...
How to Handle College Decisions
Below is an email we sent to the parents of our senior students, but its message is important for all...
What Does the UC System Value in an Applicant?
The University of California system recently published a list of 14 factors they weigh in evaluating every student’s application. While...
Acceptance Rates for Top Colleges – 2018
Every year, colleges become more competitive. The top colleges in the country are not growing as quickly as the number...
State of Admissions 2018
This is our first (of what we intend to be annual) State of Admissions – an email that recaps our...
Planning your college visits
In the coming weeks and months, high school juniors and their families will take advantage of vacations and long weekends...
The Pros and Cons of Study Groups
Is studying in groups helpful, or does it slow you down? Yes… and no… to both questions. Like anything else,...
Pre-midterm study tips
It’s midterm season. We’re about halfway through the school year, and that means students are about to be tested on...
When is the right time to start the “college” conversation?
Junior year is a tough time. Classes are harder than ever, and grades are at their most important. Students have...
5 Biggest Regrets Students Have AFTER getting into college
1. I didn’t shoot high enough. We’ve seen this play out countless times: a student gets into every school they...
End of Year Goals
With the week of Thanksgiving around the corner, the holiday season will be here before we know it. Don’t let...