Education Library

Where Ivy Experience disentangles college admissions.

Mar 6, 2026

Your Questions About Recommendation Letters, Answered

We often say that there are very few things under your control in the admissions process: your grades, your activities,...

Webinar

Feb 25, 2026

College Research Webinar

Alyssa Coltrain and Jordan Holmes advise students and parents on the process of researching colleges. Topics include: how to make the most of college visits; how to separate colleges into tiers (target, reach, and likely); the critical importance of "likely" schools; and tips for navigating college websites and making connections on campus.

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Blog Posts

Feb 18, 2026

Where Have Ivy Clients Been Accepted So Far? Take a Look!

At Ivy Experience, we support students applying to a wide spectrum of colleges and universities all across the country—and even...

Webinar

Feb 12, 2026

The State of Early Admissions

Join Eric Karlan, Alyssa Coltrain, and Jim Wismer for a candid, data-backed conversation on what stood out in this year’s early admissions rounds, spotlighting the shifts and strategies every applicant should be paying attention to. The conversation covers admissions data related to enrollment, test-optional policies, and historical trends, as well as commentary on breaking news, such as UCSD students struggling in math and Virginia Tech using AI for application reviews.

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Blog Posts

Feb 12, 2026

What to Consider When Selecting Ninth-Grade Courses

It’s not uncommon for families to start thinking seriously about course selection—and how it could impact the college admissions process—only...

Blog Posts

Feb 4, 2026

Visiting Colleges? Here’s Everything You Need to Know

In the coming weeks and months, many high schoolers and their families will take advantage of long weekends and vacations...

SAT/ACT Testing

Jan 21, 2026

How ACT Scoring Works

People are often confused by the ACT’s scoring system. Out of 36? How the heck does that work? Sometimes the scoring...

Webinar

Jan 21, 2026

2026 Sophomore Summit

Jim Wismer and Alyssa Coltrain provide the ultimate guide to taking advantage of your remaining time in 10th grade and preparing for the critical junior and senior years ahead. Topics include: advice for course selection, finals, and AP exam preparation; deciding between the SAT and ACT (and forming a prep plan); how sophomores should set goals for extracurricular success and how colleges view activities; letters of recommendation (who to ask, when to ask, and how they contribute to a college application); building a college list for fit; and a timeline for starting college essays.

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Webinar

Jan 20, 2026

2026 Junior Summit

Jim Wismer, Alyssa Coltrain, and Kevin Trudel guide juniors and their families through the spring of junior year and into peak college application season. Topics include: how junior (and senior!) year grades factor into applications; asking teachers for recommendation letters; making final plans to retake the SAT or ACT and understanding the current test-optional landscape; finalizing a college list; and navigating the essay-writing and application process.

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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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