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.

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!

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.

Mental Health and College Admissions

Join Eric Karlan for a webinar about mental health in the college admissions process. Many of our webinars highlight the five admissions factors in a student's control: grades and rigor, standardized test scores, extracurricular activities, recommendation letters, and application essays. In this webinar, we want to examine how to minimize stress (while maximizing happiness and success) in tackling each of these elements.

AP Webinar

Join Jim Wismer and Evan Petrie as they walk students and families through everything they need to know about AP Exams.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Is 2026 the End of Test Optional?

Join Jim Wismer as he lays out the current state of test-optional admissions policies. Topics include: trends in colleges returning to requiring scores; grade inflation and its impacts on admissions; and the rise of AP scores as a factor in admissions decisions.

What Admissions Officers Want from a College Essay

The State of Admissions

Watch Eric Karlan, Jim Wismer, and a USC admissions officer for our annual flagship webinar analyzing trends and sharing observations from our students and colleagues throughout the industry.

Junior Summit

Join Jim Wismer, Alyssa Coltrain, and Jordan Holmes as we guide juniors and their families through the transition into senior year and peak college application season.