Education Library

Where Ivy Experience disentangles college admissions.

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.

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...

Webinar

Apr 9, 2026

What’s next? So you’re finishing 9th grade…

Jim Wismer and Alyssa Coltrain guide freshmen and their families through the transition from freshman to sophomore year of high school.

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Blog Posts

Apr 8, 2026

What Does Applying “OOS” Mean?

What does “OOS” mean, and why does it matter? If you’re a high-school junior starting on your college applications right...

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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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