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Understanding scholarships and financial aid (I)

Tue, 03 Mar 2026 19:08:08 GMT

College is becoming increasingly expensive

Ever since Vanderbilt University’s total cost of attendance exceeded $100,000 two years ago, other universities such as Penn, Columbia, and USC have also seen certain programs cross the $100,000 mark.

As a result, seeking financial aid and scholarships is no longer just a concern for working-class families. Even middle- to upper-middle-income families can feel financial pressure, especially if they have two or more children attending college at the same time. Paying for college has become a real challenge for many households.

In addition, tuition has been rising at a very rapid pace. From 1983 to 2023, college tuition increased by nearly 900%, averaging about 5.7% per year. This rate is higher than inflation in housing, food, transportation, and even healthcare.

Need-aware vs. Need-blind colleges

Need-blind colleges do not consider a student’s financial situation when making admission decisions. In other words, whether a student can afford tuition does not affect their chances of being admitted. Need-aware colleges, on the other hand, do consider a family’s ability to pay when reviewing applications.

At first glance, need-blind sounds much better. But like many things, there are pros and cons. Many need-blind schools cannot fully meet every student’s financial need. For example, a student might need $50,000 in aid to afford the school, but because the available aid is spread among many students, the student might only receive $5,000. Compared to a $50,000 gap, that amount doesn’t help very much.

Need-aware schools may have a higher bar for admission, but they are sometimes able to fully meet the financial need of the students they admit. In other words, they can cover the entire gap between what a family can pay and the total cost of attendance.

You could think of it this way: need-blind spreads the aid more broadly, while need-aware targets the aid more precisely. Some people feel that need-blind is fairer to everyone, while others believe need-aware does a better job helping the students who need the most support.

Another important point is that some schools treat domestic and international students differently. For example, a university might be need-blind and meet 100% of demonstrated need for U.S. citizens and permanent residents, but be need-aware for international students. NYU is one example of a school that has this kind of policy.

Need-based v.s. Non-need-based financial aid

Need-based aid requires families to demonstrate financial need. To prove this, families must complete FAFSA or CSS Profile, and submit documents like tax returns and W-2 forms. These documents show that the family’s income is eligible for financial aid.

Need-based funding come from several sources, including federal grants, state grants, institutional grants from the college, work-study programs, and student loans.

Non-need-based aid (often called merit-based scholarships) is awarded based on a student’s academic performance, activities, or achievements. These can come from the college itself or from third-party organizations.

Usually need-based financial is much larger than merit-based financial aid. Most universities prioritize need-based aid to make sure students won’t miss college due to financial hardship. Ivy League schools and most top 20 universities typically meet 100% of demonstrated financial need, but they do not offer merit-based scholarships.

Each school sets its own income thresholds. For example, Yale considers families income below $200,000 per year eligible for need-based financial aid, and UVA’s threshold is $150,000 per year.

How much need-based aid can private universities cover?

We can look at data from Princeton as an example. In theory, need-based aid does not have a strict upper limit. That means even families with incomes above $400,000 may still receive some financial aid if their financial situation is structured in certain ways.

From Princeton’s data, you can see that around $250,000 in annual family income is an important threshold. However, even for families earning above $250,000, about 43% still qualify for need-based aid, with an average award of about $28,000 per year.

FAFSA

FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. As the name suggests, this is financial aid funded by the U.S. federal government.

FAFSA funding includes several types of aid. First are federal grants, which do not need to be repaid.
Second are scholarships, which may have certain requirements such as academic performance or intended major. Third is work-study. Students can earn money by working at approved jobs, either on campus or sometimes off campus.The fourth type is federal student loans, which usually have lower interest rates.

FAFSA application process

The federal deadline for FAFSA is June 30, but each college may have its own financial aid deadline. Families should always check the financial aid page on each college’s website.

The process starts with creating an account and filling out the form at studentaid.gov. Since deadlines vary by school, my advice is to submit the FAFSA as early as possible. Submitting early allows you to receive your financial aid information sooner. When college admission results come out, you can compare the financial aid packages and make a more informed decision.

After the FAFSA is submitted, the system automatically generates a report and calculates the Student Aid Index (SAI). FAFSA then sends this report to the colleges the student listed on the application. A student can send the report to up to 20 schools.

Who can submit FAFSA?

Eligibility depends on the student’s status, not the parents’ status. Students who are U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents (green card holders), or certain I-94 holders may qualify to submit FAFSA.

FAFSA also determines which parent is considered a contributor. This depends on several factors:

First is dependency status. The key question is whether the student is classified as a dependent on the FAFSA. Second is for married parents. If parents are married and file taxes jointly, usually only one parent needs to be listed as the contributor. Third is for divorced parents. In most cases, the parent who provided more financial support during the previous year is considered the contributor.

Families will need tax returns from two years prior. For example, students applying for college entry in 2026 will need to submit tax information starting from the 2024 tax year.

CSS Profile

CSS Profile stands for College Scholarship Service. It is a financial aid program run by the College Board. Compared to FAFSA, the CSS Profile is used by fewer schools: about 400 colleges participate.

International students may also be able to apply. However, the policies vary by school. For families that have significant financial need, I suggest focusing on colleges that participate in both FAFSA and CSS.

The CSS Profile usually opens on October 1 each year, and the deadline varies by school. Families need to check each college’s website for the exact deadline. The application is completed at cssprofile.org. You will need to prepare documents such as parents’ tax returns. Like FAFSA, the CSS Profile requires tax information from two years prior. For example, students entering college in 2026 will need to submit tax information starting from the 2024 tax year.

Understanding the award letter

A few months after you submit your applications, schools will send something called an award letter . This letter explains what kind of financial aid you received and how much. Once you receive it, you should review the package carefully and compare the offers from different schools.

Let’s look at an example from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The award letter shows the estimated cost per semester and the total cost for the academic year. Then it lists the financial aid the student received. In this case, the package includes grants and low-interest student loans. After subtracting the aid from the total cost, the remaining amount is what the student needs to pay. In this example, it comes out to a little over $5,000 per semester.

One thing I want to emphasize is that when reading the award letter, you need to understand your real cost. Some people assume the school has already calculated everything. But if you look closely, there is a section called “estimated additional expenses.” These are just estimates from the school. Tuition is fixed, but other costs can vary depending on the student, things like food, housing, and transportation. So instead of relying only on the school’s numbers, families should also estimate their own realistic expenses.

How to choose between offers

When comparing offers, it helps to follow this order: First choose money you do not need to repay (scholarships and grants). Second consider money you can earn (work-study). Last consider money you need to borrow (loans).

If you are not satisfied with the financial aid package, you can submit an appeal. The award letter will usually explain how to accept the offer. In most cases, the process is simple: log into the student portal and confirm that you accept the financial aid package.

How financial aid is distributed

When the school year begins, the financial aid will be applied to the student’s account. The school will first use the funds to pay required charges such as tuition and housing. If there is any remaining amount, it will be deposited into the student’s account for other expenses.

Finally, FAFSA must be renewed every year. To continue receiving aid, it’s important to meet the requirements. First, file taxes properly and keep your tax records. Second, maintain the academic standards required by the school and remain in good standing.

2026 Application Circle Summary

Mon, 02 Feb 2026 20:05:03 GMT

When we talk about “T20” schools, we usually refer to the most selective universities in the U.S. including Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Yale . For the Fall 2026 admissions cycle, it’s important to understand one key reality: T20 schools are reaches for every student , even those with top grades, strong test scores, and impressive extracurriculars.

At these colleges, acceptance rates typically fall between 3%–8%, and for competitive majors like computer science, engineering, and business-related fields, the effective admit rate can be even lower.

So, what matters most when applying to Top 20 universities? Based on cases from our own students, I’ll break it down today.

Choosing the right major is crucial

Hot majors include:
Computer Science
Engineering (especially Mechanical, Electrical, Aerospace)
Business / Economics
Pre-Health tracks

The choice of your major might determine your chances of admission to certain colleges. It’s important to set your goals and priorities: is your academic interest more important, or is the school itself more important? Would you be willing to attend a lower-ranked school for your preferred major, or would you prefer to aim for top colleges even if it means studying your second or third choice of academic interest?

The importance of applying early

At many private universities, 40%–60% of incoming students are admitted through early applications, and ED does offer an advantage. However, because of this, more and more students are applying early, making the competition even tougher.

Early application results are also heavily influenced by institutional priorities, such as fit, geographic diversity, and special talents, especially athletics.

The importance of academic performance

Grade inflation is very real. Even if a student has all A’s or A-’s, admission can still be difficult if they are not in the top 10% of their class. (Tip: being in the top 10% is a key.)

Top colleges expect students to take the most challenging courses available at their high school and maintain strong grades. This usually means honors or AP classes, especially in subjects related to their intended major.

Depth in extracurricular activities matters a lot

Colleges want to see more than just a long list of clubs.They want meaningful involvement focused on depth over breadth.

Strong activities or we call “flagship” activity needs to show:

1. Commitment – you’re willing to invest real time and effort.

2. Impact – you’ve achieved something or made a difference.

3. Consistency – your activities connect with your intended major.

4. Enthusiasm – you genuinely enjoy what you’re doing.

Schools care much more about long-term commitment and real impact than simple resume-stacking.

Essays

Essays play a critical role. Your essays need a strong narrative. At this level, essays are not about listing accomplishments but telling your personal story and highlighting who you are, showing traits like intellectual curiosity, personal growth, and fit with the school.

Recommendation letters

Counselor recommendation letters are especially important.

Other influencing factors

Additional factors can also play a role, such as being a first-generation college student, coming from a low-income background, and demonstrated interest (visiting campus, browsing school websites, attending info sessions). However, not all schools track demonstrated interest. The very top schools usually don’t rely much on these indicators, because they don’t worry about admitted students choosing not to enroll. Schools that care more about yield, often ranked between 20 to 40, are more likely to track this data. Examples include Tufts, Northeastern, Boston University, WashU, and many liberal arts colleges.

Summary

Top 20 universities have extremely low acceptance rates, averaging around 3%–8% (and even lower for certain majors). They are reach schools for every student. Early applications account for about 40%–60% of admitted freshmen. For top public universities, admission is especially competitive for out-of-state students.

STEM major admissions

Popular schools include CMU, MIT, Stanford, Caltech, UC Berkeley, and Princeton. Strong performance in physics and calculus is essential. Activities should show hands-on problem solving, strong math skills, and initiative. Research, competitions, or independent projects are especially helpful.

Pre-med track admissions

Popular schools include Johns Hopkins, Harvard, Penn, and Duke. Schools care a lot about academic consistency, especially in biology and chemistry. Activities should reflect a service mindset, such as hospital volunteering, clinical exposure, and a clear sense of ethical motivation.

Business major admissions

Popular schools include Penn, NYU, University of Chicago, and Cornell. Schools look closely at students’ math ability, leadership, and real-world experience. Strong activities include entrepreneurship, business competitions, nonprofit work, or independent projects.

Engineering major case

Admitted school: University of Pennsylvania School of Engineering
GPA: 99.56%
AP courses: 6
SAT: 1490

Activities:
Science Olympiad (grades 9–12), 1st place regional
School coding club president (grades 10–12)
Robotics intern (grades 10–11)
NYU research intern (grades 11–12)
Community service (grades 10–11)
School band (grades 9–12)
Junior ROTC (grades 9–12)

This student’s SAT score was not especially high, and she didn’t have flashy national-level awards. Still, she was admitted to the highly competitive Penn Engineering program. There were several key reasons:

First, her activities were closely aligned with her intended major. Second, all of her activities showed long-term commitment. Even her research experience was with the same team for two consecutive years. Third, she held real leadership roles. She was a president and captain in school clubs and competition teams. This is something I always emphasize to our students: it’s fine to explore in grades 9–10, but by grades 11–12, you should take on more responsibility and aim for organizer or leadership roles. Fourth, her Common App activities list was very well written. For example, for Science Olympiad, we revised it to: “Managed $1K budget for 30+, taught CAD, ensured 10+ builds; State Qualified (2x, Top 7 Teams); organized sessions & testing.” It includes concrete details and numbers.
Fifth, her essays were excellent. They highlighted specific experiences from her activities and, more importantly, tied everything together with a strong personal narrative and clear application theme. This helped her stand out clearly from other engineering applicants. Finally, she applied early.

Science major case

Admitted school: Yale University
GPA: 4.45 / 4.0
AP courses: 8
College courses: 2
SAT: 1500

Activities:
Environmental Science Club (grades 10–12)
Student Government (grades 9–12)
Asian Culture Club (grades 9–12)
Fundraising activities (grades 10–11)
Online research
Part-time paid work, 11–20 hours per week

This student’s SAT score was not especially high, and she didn’t have standout national awards. Still, she was admitted to Yale. There were several key reasons:

First, the activities were closely connected to the intended major. Second, the student showed long-term commitment through multi-year involvement. Third, the student held leadership roles in school clubs. Fourth, the overall profile was well balanced: strong academically but also showing personality and individuality. Fifth, the major choice mattered. We chose environmental science, which is relatively less competitive compared to some other science fields. Sixth, the essays clearly highlighted the application theme and had a strong personal narrative. Seventh, there was an in-state advantage. Finally, the student fully used available “buffs” in the application process by applying through QuestBridge. QuestBridge is designed for underprivileged students and places more emphasis on family background and personal challenges. For students who qualify, I strongly recommend using QuestBridge.

Economics major case

Admitted schools: Johns Hopkins University

GPA: 4.0
Courses: 9 Honors and AP courses
SAT: 1580

Activities:
FBLA (grades 9–12)
Student Council (grades 9–12)
Diamond Challenge (pitch round)
Online research
Independent research
Wharton Global Youth Program
Economics for Leaders
U.S. Senate PAGE Program

This student fits a profile we see fairly often: perfect GPA, great SAT score. He was admitted for several clear reasons:

First, the academic profile was very strong: high GPA and a large number of rigorous courses. Second, the activities closely matched the intended major. Third, school-based activities showed long-term commitment and real leadership. In Student Council, the student eventually became president. Fourth, there was a strong passion project: independent research, which really stood out. Fifth, the student had clear “flagship” experiences, especially the U.S. Senate PAGE Program and the independent research project.

Key takeaways from all three cases

To be admitted to top universities, students usually meet several of these conditions:

A high GPA percentage is critical. SAT scores don’t have to be perfect, but GPA must be strong and percentage matters more than just letter grades.
Long-term involvement in school activities is important, with leadership roles taken on after 11th grade.
Strong major-related activities outside of school, such as research, competitions, or independent projects. For students without special “buffs,” having a flagship project is especially important.
A clear and cohesive application theme that balances academics and personal qualities, with a strong personal narrative.
Well-written essays that clearly support the application theme and personal story.
A strong counselor recommendation letter.
In-state advantage, when applicable.
If you have application “buffs,” make sure to use them.

Beyond the Superstars: Smart Activity Planning for Everyday Students

Wed, 27 Aug 2025 11:53:14 GMT

Not every student is a “superstar” with national awards or world-class research. Most students are regular kids with solid academics and a mix of interests. The good news? Elite colleges don’t only admit “prodigies.” What really matters is how well students plan, present, and connect their extracurriculars to their academic goals and personal strengths.

In this article, we’ll look at real cases to see:

· How students with ordinary backgrounds built strong activity profiles

· How to turn scattered experiences into a clear application theme

· What lessons families can take away when planning activities

What Counts as Extracurricular Activities?

Extracurriculars include both regular activities during the school year and summer programs. They can happen on-campus (clubs, classes, competitions) or off-campus (community service, research, internships, independent projects, entrepreneurship, etc.).

Why Is Choosing Activities So Hard?

● Too much information: Some say competitions matter most, others say research, and still others say volunteering. With so many opinions, it’s confusing.

● No standard measure: Unlike colleges, which at least have rankings, activities have no clear ranking or standard, so it’s hard to know what’s “good.”

● Too many options: In the U.S. alone, there are over 10,000 summer programs, plus competitions and other activities, making it overwhelming.

● Lack of clarity: If a student doesn’t know what they want to study or their career goals, it’s hard to pick activities that truly help with college applications.

● Uncertainty: Parents often worry: “Is this program really useful for admissions? It costs money and time, what if it doesn’t help?”

How Do Admissions Officers Evaluate Activities?

● Relevance: How well does it connect to your academic interests, personal qualities, or strengths?

● Selectivity/Prestige: How competitive or recognized is the program?

● Commitment/Time: How long did you stick with it?

● Impact & Growth: What did you achieve? Did you grow personally? How did you use the experience?

● Context: Was the activity hard to get into? Did you overcome challenges to do it?

How to Choose Activities?

Based on Intended Major – e.g., if you want to study computer science, choose CS-related activities; if business, choose business-related.
Based on Personal Traits. Colleges look for qualities such as drive, intellectual curiosity, initiative, serving spirit, diversity of experiences, leadership, independence, etc.
Based on Strengths: Lean into your unique talents or skills.

A good activity plan usually covers both academics (related to your intended major) and personal qualities or special talents

Case Study 1: Interdisciplinary Focus

Background:

● GPA 4.0, ACT 35/36

● Languages: English, French, Mandarin

● Admitted to Johns Hopkins University

Activities:

● Clubs: Anime Club leader, editor/writer for an online media club

● Community/Teaching: Science camp counselor for grades 3–6; group piano assistant at a local music school

● Research: Independent paper on Alzheimer’s and media coverage (guided by a professor). Applied research to real life by better understanding her grandmother’s dementia

● Summer Programs: Law Summer Program (University of Toronto), Yale Young Global Scholars

● Personal qualities: Piano (hobby), trilingual

Challenges:
At first, her activities were scattered and based only on personal interests instead of concrete academic direction. The student also wanted top-15 schools but hadn’t chosen a major.

Application Theme:

● Academic: Cognitive science, supported by her Alzheimer’s research

● Narratives:

1. Concern for aging and social issues (inspired by her grandmother and summer law programs)

2. Connection between trilingual ability and cognitive science

By framing her activities around these themes, everything started to make sense: research and languages supported both academics and personal growth.

Case Study 2: Natural Sciences

Background:

● GPA 4.0

● SAT 1440 (not submitted)

● Admitted to Vanderbilt University

Activities:

● Research: University youth talent program, biochemical interdisciplinary research

● Summer Programs: Columbia University biology course (genetics), University of Chicago summer seminar

● Competition: iGEM biology competition (team co-organizer)

● Clubs: Biology reading club organizer

● Sports: Soccer team

Challenges:
When it comes to activities, the student was unsure whether to focus on competitions or research. I found that he wasn’t very competitive and preferred research. His standout activity was the University research project, which became the core of his application.

Application Theme:

● Academic: Biology (very clear direction). His research report was submitted as supplemental material.

● Narratives: Leadership and teamwork, reflected through both soccer and lab experiences. For example, conflicts in the lab reminded him of teamwork in soccer—sometimes compromise is necessary.

Takeaway:
A strong application isn’t just about big prizes. Even small personal stories and details (like lab teamwork) can show growth and leadership.

Case Study 3: Social Sciences / Communications

Background:

● GPA 4.0

● SAT 1530

● Admitted to Georgetown University

Activities:

● Clubs: Student Council President, K-pop club member

● Competitions: FBLA business competition

● Internships: Brand management intern (Grade 9); New York State Senate campaign internship (Grade 11)

● Research: Pioneer Research Program, studied feminism in film

Challenges:
The student’s activities were scattered: some in business, some in media, some in politics. By senior year, she still wasn’t sure whether to apply for business or communications.

Application Theme:

● Academic: Interdisciplinary study of communications, marketing, and women’s studies (more consistent with her past research and internships)

● Strategy: The student still wanted business major, so we chose schools where transferring to the business school was possible. At Georgetown, she was admitted, then successfully transferred to the business school after enrollment.

Takeaway:
Even if activities seem unrelated, you can create a clear narrative by connecting them under a theme. Flexibility in school choice (schools that allow major changes) is also key.

Key Takeaways for Choosing and Shaping Extracurricular Activities

1. Find a Central Theme

○ Activities don’t have to be perfect from the start. But when applying, you need a clear theme that connects academics, personal qualities, and special talents.

○ Example: Cognitive Science + Alzheimer’s research + trilingual background (Johns Hopkins case).

2. Play to the Student’s Strengths

○ Not every student is cut out for competitions. Some shine in research, others in leadership, creativity, or service.

○ Example: Vanderbilt student focused on research instead of contests, which fit his personality better.

3. Details Matter

○ Admissions officers care about growth and reflection, not just big awards.

○ Even small experiences (lab teamwork, helping younger students, family inspiration) can be powerful if told well.

4. Flexibility Is Key

○ If a student is undecided on major, choose schools that allow switching majors after admission.

○ Example: Georgetown student applied with a communications theme but transferred into business after enrollment.

5. Balanced Activity Plan

○ Cover at least two areas: Academic (linked to intended major) and Personal qualities/special talents (leadership, creativity, service, sports, art, music, etc.)

In short: don’t chase “what looks best” on paper. Choose activities that fit the student’s interests, strengths, and story. Then, package them into a clear theme that shows both academic direction and personal growth.

How to Enhance Your Profile: Competition Track

Fri, 20 Jun 2025 15:24:28 GMT

Types of Competitions

There are many competitions in STEM and natural sciences. Typical examples include various Olympiads, AMC, robotics competitions, and programming contests. You probably heard of Science Bowl, Regeneron Science Talent Search, ISEF Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair, and International Biology Olympiad (IBO).

For business competitions, well-known include the Conrad Challenge and the Wharton Global High School Investment Competition.

In the humanities, notable competitions include the New York Times Writing Contest and Model United Nations (MUN).

Why Are Competitions Popular?

A big reason is the strong focus on STEM. A lot of students aim for STEM majors, and that’s where the bulk of academic competitions are. So it naturally leads to more students getting involved in things like math contests, programming challenges, and science fairs.

There’s also a bit of a herd mentality at play. For many parents, college admissions can feel confusing and unpredictable. When they see other families diving into competitions, it’s easy to think, “Well, everyone else is doing it , maybe we should too.”

What’s Good About Competitions?

· They're clear and measurable.
Unlike some other extracurriculars, competitions have a built-in scoreboard. A gold medal is better than a silver. it’s easy to understand and explain. Prestigious contests like ISEF or IMO speak for themselves. When families are uncertain about activity planning, competitions often seem like an easier starting point compared to options like research or independent projects.

· They show real academic strength.
For students applying to STEM or other technical majors, competitions are a great way to demonstrate ability and potential. They help show you’re serious about your interests.

What Are the Downsides?

· They’re hard. Really hard.
Top colleges don’t just want “competition participants”, instead, they notice the winners. And winning at national or international levels is incredibly competitive: only a few students can get to the top every year. Meanwhile, thousands are doing the same contests. That’s a tough playing field.

· They take a lot of time.
To do well, you can’t just jump in last minute. Many students train and compete for years. Compared to other types of activities, competitions can be a big investment of time with no guaranteed return.

That said, if a student enjoys competitions and shows potential, great! But it’s not for everyone. Forcing it rarely works. It’s important to know your strengths and work with them.

There are plenty of other ways to stand out, especially in math and science: join a summer program, do academic research, start a club or teach others, work on an independent project, take an intern, etc. The activity itself doesn’t have to be flashy. What matters is that it fits your overall narrative, shows real effort, and helps colleges understand who you are. There’s no such thing as a "perfect activity", just one that makes sense for you.

What Do Admissions Officers Look for in Competitions?

· The prestige and difficulty level of the competition

· What kind of skills you demonstrated (academic, teamwork, communication, creativity)

· The time and effort you put in

· How you grew through the experience

So, How Should You Choose Competitions?

· Once you understand how admissions officers evaluate these things, you can work backward:

· Go for well-recognized competitions if possible

· Pick ones where you can really show your skills and commitment

· Choose experiences that help you grow

· And realistically, since we all have limited time and resources, here’s how to narrow it down:

· Start with competitions that your school supports, or ones where you have access to training or mentorship

· Pick contests that match your interests and your style. For example: If you’re applying for computer science, look at math or CS contests. Think about whether you prefer team events or individual ones, timed tests or long-term projects.

The code to Ivy League schools: what factors determine your application outcome?

Tue, 06 May 2025 15:54:50 GMT

What Kind of Students Do Ivy League Schools Want?

Each year when I attend national college counseling conferences and speak with admissions officers from top colleges, I find that the most favored students can be summarized as: "Genuinely interesting people generate genuinely interesting achievements."

Let me start with one of our students who was admitted to Princeton. She was a physics whiz who had won several major competition medals. Of course, she was very smart, did well academically, loved reading, researching, and thinking—classic traits of most top students. But what I want to emphasize is that people often think these students succeed because they’re naturally gifted, when in fact, it’s more about unparalleled effort. For example, every time we met via video call, she was always in the lab. That was how she spent nearly every single day.

The second student was admitted to UPenn. She exemplified another trait that I find in many outstanding students: a clear, unwavering sense of self-awareness and values. Truly knowing yourself doesn't mean saying, "I want to study business because I want to be an entrepreneur" or "I want to study science because I want to be a scientist." It means having seriously thought about questions like “Who am I?” and “What do I really want?” and having a concrete plan. This student came to us two years in advance to start planning, and over that time, I always noticed that she had a strong sense of self-direction and clarity about her goals.

The third student was admitted to Columbia. She had been living in a boarding school since middle school, so she was very independent. She had her own opinions and a perfectionist streak—so much so that she often finished her assignments at the very last minute, which made both me and her essay advisor quite frustrated at times.

These students had very different personalities—some were outgoing, others introverted—but they all shared a few key qualities:

Clear self-awareness
Confident and humble
Strong self-discipline and action-oriented mindset

This self-discipline and ability to act isn’t just about time management. There's a word in English—"grit"—which can be translated as the willingness to sacrifice short-term pleasure for long-term goals. These students were willing to put in the effort and give up temporary fun for something greater, whether their goals were mature or still evolving. I’ve found that these are the qualities all Ivy League schools value most. And of course, these qualities don’t develop overnight, but rather through years of intentional practice.

But of course, we can’t require students that much. Afterall they are just high school students and should enjoy their lives. Our job is to advise them from an admission’s perspective and maximize students’ chance to get into top schools. That’s said, let’s talk about what it actually takes to get into an Ivy League school. In short, quite a lot. Let’s start with a quick math problem.

Take a mid-tier Ivy League school as an example: the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn). For the Class of 2024, UPenn received 59,465 applications: 4,748 from in-state applicants, 41,407 from out-of-state applicants, and 12,210 from international students. The acceptance numbers were as follows: 419 in-state students (8.8% acceptance rate), 2,651 out-of-state students (6.4%), and 419 international students (3.1%). Additionally, 3,010 students were placed on the waitlist, and only 40 were eventually admitted — that’s a 1.3% acceptance rate from the waitlist.

From these numbers, it's clear that test scores alone don’t determine admission decisions: because most applicants have great scores. What really makes the difference are the non-academic factors. Let’s look at them one by one.

Rigor of secondary school record
This refers to both the difficulty of the courses you took and the overall academic level of your high school. First, did you take the hardest classes available, like honors or advanced courses? Second, is your school a “key school”?

Application Essays

By now after attending all the webinars and reading articles I have done, I think everyone understands how important the application essay is. If you’re still putting 70% of your effort into test prep and only 30% into your essays, it’s time to reevaluate. The story matters, but your storytelling skills matter even more. Your essay is essentially your autobiography — it should reflect your achievements, activities, personality, strengths, and standout traits.

There are a few common mistakes students make when writing their essays:

1. Weak logical flow.
We’ve worked with many students who have deep, thoughtful ideas. When talking to us, they can express themselves clearly. But once they start writing, things fall apart. Their English might be great, but the logic is unclear — they skip steps, and their evidence doesn’t actually support their main points.

2. Trying to say too much.
Some students want to cram everything they’ve ever done into one essay. The result? It reads like an extended resume, not a personal story.

3. Trying too hard.
In an attempt to stand out, some students exaggerate or present themselves in ways that feel fake or disconnected from reality, in one sentence, make themselves not like high school students.

4. Misunderstanding what’s important.
Some students highlight things that don’t matter and ignore the details that actually do.

5. Vague praise, no specifics.
Some essays sound more like self-assessments — full of compliments but lacking concrete examples or details that bring the story to life.

These mistakes aren’t about English skills. The real issue is in the logic and the misunderstanding of what colleges are actually looking for.

Recommendation Letters

You’ll need two to three recommendation letters: one from your counselor and the rest from your teachers. The most important one is the counselor’s letter because it gives an overall assessment of you as a student. When we help students prepare for recommendations, we always provide a detailed questionnaire to work through together. The answers help teachers write strong, well-rounded letters.

Personal Qualities

This refers to the key words I mentioned earlier when we discussed different students. Things like leadership, initiative, independence, curiosity, and so on. These traits should come through clearly in your application.

Extracurricular Activities

We’ve talked a lot about extracurriculars before, so I won’t repeat too much here. But I want to emphasize again: your activities should align with your application theme.

Special Talents

Again, something we’ve already covered in earlier posts.

First-Generation College Students

Since the Supreme Court struck down Affirmative Action, being a first-generation college student has become even more important in the admissions process.

In-State Residents

Even for private schools like UPenn, whether you're an in-state resident can have an impact.

Volunteering / Work Experience

These also play a role in shaping your application and showing your maturity and initiative.

How Scores and Non-Academic Materials Work Together in College Applications

Your test scores help determine which schools are within reach for you, but it’s the non-academic parts of your application that will ultimately decide if you get in.

These non-academic factors can seem unclear. There’s no one-size-fits-all formula, which leaves many students don’t know how to approach them. That’s why I want to introduce you to a key idea: your application theme. Once you grasp this concept, everything else — your essays, activities, recommendations, and interviews — will fall into place and start making sense.

What Is an Application Theme?

It’s the main message of your entire application. In simple terms, what kind of person do you want the admissions office to see? This is your “personal brand” or “main selling point” — the story you’re telling with every part of your application, like pieces coming together in a jigsaw puzzle.

Early Stage Activity Planning (Grades 7, 8, and 9)

Mon, 28 Apr 2025 12:24:54 GMT

Can a 1530 SAT Score Get You into Princeton?

Let me share a real case. One of our students scored 1530 on the SAT. Her dream school was Princeton, and she was very worried that her score might hold her back. Do you think she had a chance? In the end, she got accepted. So, test scores are not the most critical factor—your overall competitiveness is.

Today we’re talking about early-stage activity planning. If you’re already in Grade 12, this advice may not apply as you’re likely short on time. But for younger students, your biggest advantage is time.

Principle 1: The "Winner Takes All" Rule

What does "Winner Takes All" mean? Let’s take the example of the world’s three greatest tenors: Pavarotti, Domingo, and Carreras. To the average person, their singing may sound similar, but if you only had one chance to attend a concert, 90% of people would choose Pavarotti because he is the most famous. College admissions work the same way. A real example: a student we had before made to the national finalist in the Chemistry Olympiad but was not admitted to MIT. That’s the “Winner Takes All” rule—you need to be in the top 1% to 5% in your activity. Whether it's Model UN, research, or competitions, the best rule is to be the best.

Here are three takeaways from this principle:

1. If you’re in the top 1% to 5% of any field, admissions officers will take notice.

2. The difficulty of an activity matters less than your ranking. For example, winning a national Model UN might be easier than a national violin award, but they have a similar impact.

3. Choose activities that highlight your academic interests, personal qualities, and/or talents. In short, activities should connect with your application theme.

Principle 2: Time Management

Many students worry about balancing top-tier activities with heavy schoolwork. This is where time management comes in.

To save time while maintaining quality:

1. Learn effective note-taking.

2. Preview material and go to class with questions.

3. Focus for 45 minutes, then take a 10-minute break.

4. Put away your phone.

5. Don’t set unrealistic goals.

6. Sleep when you’re tired.

Following these can cut your time spent on schoolwork by 40-50%. With time freed up, you can focus on activities that boost your college application. There are three specific strategies in terms of how to allocate your time to plan activities.

1. Block out regular time each week for activities, like every Saturday morning or after school.

2. Build a reading habit. It improves focus, writing, and helps you find long-term interests. Read what you enjoy—travel, tech, history, etc. No need to force yourself to read classics.

3. Join school clubs. They’re the most accessible resources. Expand outside school only when your needs and interests grow, usually around Grade 10.

Principle 3: Focus Your Energy

To be the best in any field, you need not only time management but also focus. This means not just giving your full attention while doing something, but also narrowing your efforts to just a few things.

Why?

“Bonus Points from Admissions Officers”: If you're truly exceptional in a field, admissions officers give you extra admiration beyond your achievements. One student competed in physics from elementary school through to international competitions. These accomplishments formed a powerful narrative, earning them this admiration.

“Less is More”: Don’t fill your résumé with easily replicable activities. Focused, meaningful achievements are far more impactful. No admissions officer wants to admit a “peacock” student—someone who looks flashy but lacks depth.

Principle 4: Innovation Principle

Now, what kinds of activities should you do? Many students think being unique is the key. That logic is only partly correct--standing out matters—but it's often misunderstood.

Let me explain. First, in fields like STEM, the highest-value competitions are few and widely known. If you want to take the competition path, you can’t avoid these. If you’re doing research, the metrics for evaluating it are similar. It’s like dancing with shackles—you work within a framework. But it doesn’t mean you must do something no one else has ever done. Instead, find a way to be different within the things everyone else is also doing. That said, you can certainly innovate and create something original. For example, we had a student who applied for business started his own company, and student applied for economics conducted field research. But these efforts came after brainstorming with a clear idea and goal, and planed execution. If you're just trying to be different for the sake of it, and only then start looking for ideas or projects, you're putting the cart before the horse.

Financial Aid Friendly Colleges

Sat, 19 Apr 2025 16:58:24 GMT

I will first introduce schools that are generally generous with financial aid, followed by those that are more accessible—schools that are relatively easier to get into and also offer good financial support.

First is Yale University. The average grant or scholarship amount is $63,520, and as we discussed previously, grants and scholarships do not need to be repaid. About 52% of students receive them. The average out-of-pocket cost is $18,650. Yale promises to meet 100% of students' demonstrated financial need, and does so without requiring student loans. This includes both need-based and non-need-based aid. Yale waives all costs for families with annual incomes below $75,000. For families earning between $75,000 and $200,000, the required contribution ranges from 1% to 20% of their income.

Second is Dartmouth College. The average grant or scholarship amount is $62,290, with 45% of students receiving aid. The average out-of-pocket cost is $19,210. Dartmouth waives all tuition for families earning less than $125,000 and provides loan-free financial aid packages, meaning all aid is in the form of grants or scholarships that don’t require repayment.

Third is Harvard University. The average grant or scholarship amount is $61,800, with 56% of students receiving aid. The average out-of-pocket cost is $19,490. Harvard covers all costs for families earning less than $85,000. Families with incomes between $85,000 and $150,000 typically contribute no more than 10% of their annual income.

Fourth is Northwestern University. The average grant or scholarship amount is $61,720, with about half of students receiving aid. The average out-of-pocket cost is $22,100. At Northwestern, around 60% of undergraduates receive financial aid. Among families earning less than $120,000 annually, 97% receive assistance.

Next is Wellesley College. The average grant or scholarship amount is $61,330, with 59% of students receiving aid. The average out-of-pocket cost is $21,360. Wellesley eliminates student loans for families earning under $100,000 and caps the total family contribution at $28,000. For other students with financial need, aid packages may include loans, but the loan amount is limited to $3,000 in the first year, with a four-year total cap of $15,200.

Sixth is Columbia University. The average grant or scholarship amount is $61,060, with 52% of students receiving aid. The average out-of-pocket cost is $22,060. Columbia waives all costs for students from families earning less than $66,000.

Seventh is Stanford University. The average grant or scholarship amount is $60,620, with 53% of students receiving aid. The average out-of-pocket cost is $18,280. Stanford uses a need-based assessment model for financial aid, similar to need-aware, focusing resources on those who need it most. For the class of 2026, students receiving aid were awarded over $68,000 in scholarships on average. Families earning under $225,000—more than 95% of them—receive aid. Families earning less than $75,000 receive over $86,000 in scholarships and grants on average.

Though these schools are generous, they are also highly competitive in admissions. Are there generous schools that are less difficult to get into? The answer is Yes.

Washington University in St. Louis is a private university ranked 21st nationally, located in St. Louis, Missouri. While admission is still competitive, it's somewhat more accessible than the schools above. The average grant or scholarship is $58,190, with 43% of students receiving aid. The average out-of-pocket cost is $23,430.

Colby College is a liberal arts college in Maine, ranked 25th nationally. The average grant or scholarship is $61,720, with 41% of students receiving aid. Colby waives tuition for students from families earning less than $75,000. For families earning less than $150,000, the annual parent contribution is capped at $15,000. Colby uses a need-aware admission policy, meaning financial need is considered in admissions decisions. Still, 95% of families earning up to $200,000 qualify for aid, and nearly half of all incoming students receive some form of financial assistance.

Haverford College is a liberal arts college located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, ranked 24th nationally. The average grant or scholarship is $58,000, with 45% of students receiving aid. The average out-of-pocket cost is $23,480.

Berea College, ranked 40th nationally, is unique in several ways. Since 1892, it has not charged students any tuition. Currently, the total fee is only $726, covering both tuition and fees. Compared to the national average tuition of $51,147, Berea's cost is almost negligible.

Colgate University , which may sound like a made-up school due to its similarity to the toothpaste brand, is actually a top-ranked liberal arts college, ranked 22nd nationally. The university is indeed connected to the Colgate family—William Colgate, the founder of the Colgate company, helped establish the school. Located in Hamilton, New York, Colgate offers an average grant or scholarship of $54,650 to 41% of students. The average out-of-pocket cost is $27,070.

A few final suggestions:

Although public universities often have lower tuition, they tend to offer fewer scholarships. Don’t be intimidated by their high sticker prices. All the schools we’ve covered today are private institutions. Private colleges often provide very generous aid, and most students receive some financial support.
A high-ranking school is not necessarily more generous.
Choose between need-blind and need-aware schools based on your actual financial situation.

Types of Scholarships and Financial Aid and How to Apply

Sun, 23 Mar 2025 03:54:08 GMT

Need-Based vs. Non-Need-Based

Need-based scholarships require students to provide evidence of financial need and are awarded based on the student's financial situation. This evidence includes filling out the FAFSA, CSS Profile, and providing tax returns, W-2 forms, etc., to demonstrate that the family's income is insufficient to cover the full costs.

The need-based funding is significantly greater than non-need-based funding, because most schools prioritize need-based aid while supplementing with merit-based scholarships to ensure that students do not miss out on education due to their family’s financial situation. Different schools have different income thresholds. For example: Yale University considers families with an annual income below $75,000 eligible for need-based aid. University of Virginia (UVA) sets this threshold at $150,000 annual income.

Many schools offer 100% of demonstrated need-based aid but provide very few non-need-based scholarships. Therefore, if your family income exceeds a certain threshold, you may not qualify for need-based aid, but you also might not receive much merit-based aid either. In this case, you can consider private scholarships. These are non-repayable scholarships funded by third-party organizations, such as private foundations or NGOs. However, they often have strict eligibility criteria. You can also consider federal or bank student loans. These must be repaid and often come with interest.

Need-Aware vs. Need-Blind Colleges

Colleges can be categorized as need-blind or need-aware when considering applicants’ financial situations during the admissions process.

1. Need-Blind Colleges

Need-blind schools do not consider a student’s financial situation when making admissions decisions. This means that an applicant’s ability to pay tuition will not negatively impact their chances of being accepted. At first glance, this seems like a great option. But there are drawbacks. Many need-blind schools cannot meet 100% of students’ demonstrated financial needs. For example, a student might require $50,000 in aid but, due to limited funds and a large number of aid recipients, they might only receive $5,000.

2. Need-Aware Colleges

Need-aware schools do take a student’s ability to pay into account during the admissions process. While this may seem like a disadvantage, many need-aware colleges commit to fully meeting the demonstrated need of admitted students.

In short: Need-blind schools aim to be fair to all applicants but may not fully meet the financial needs of admitted students. Need-aware schools carefully assess financial need but ensure that admitted students receive adequate financial aid.

3. Need Policies for U.S. vs. International Students

Some colleges apply different financial aid policies based on citizenship. For example, many schools are 100% need-blind and fully meet need-based aid for U.S. citizens and Green Card holders. However, for international students, these same schools may be need-aware, meaning financial need could influence admission decisions.

Now that we’ve covered financial aid categories, let's dive into the application process, starting with the FAFSA

FAFSA

1. What is FAFSA?

FAFSA stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid, which is a financial aid program funded by the U.S. federal government. The name itself indicates that it provides government-backed financial assistance to eligible students.

2. Who Can Apply for FAFSA?

The following students are eligible to apply:

U.S. citizens

Green Card holders (permanent residents)

Certain eligible non-citizens, including specific categories of I-94 card holders

International students generally do not qualify, except in limited cases (such as refugees or asylees).

3. What Does FAFSA Cover?

FAFSA funding consists of four main components: Federal Grants. This portion is need-based and does not require repayment, such as Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)

Scholarships: Some FAFSA aid comes in the form of scholarships, which may have specific eligibility requirements, such as academic performance, major, or extracurricular achievements. Work-Study Programs: this allows students to earn money by working part-time at approved institutions, either on-campus or off-campus, to help cover educational expenses. Low-Interest Student Loans: these loans are provided by the federal government with lower interest rates compared to private loans.

FAFSA Application Process

Register an account and fill out the form ( studentaid.gov ). Each school has a different deadline, and my suggestion is to submit it as early as possible. This way, you can receive the results early and compare the financial aid packages once college admission results are released to make a comprehensive decision.

CSS Profile

The full name is College Scholarship Service, a financial aid program provided by College Board, which is a non-federal aid program. The CSS Profile is much smaller in scale compared to FAFSA, with about 400 colleges participating. Since CSS Profile uses non-federal funds, international students can also apply, but specific eligibility depends on each school (some schools allow international students to apply, while others do not). Families with high financial aid needs should consider choosing schools that accept both FAFSA and CSS Profile.

The application opens on October 1st each year. The deadline is no later than the college application deadline (varies by school), Required documents include parents’ tax returns, tax documents from two years prior (e.g., students applying for Fall 2026 need to submit 2024 tax returns).

Understanding the Award Letter

After submitting the FAFSA and CSS Profile, the next step is waiting for the results. The school will send an award letter, which details the financial aid package you have received, including the types of aid and the amount of money awarded. Once you receive the award letter, you should carefully review the financial aid package and compare offers from different schools.

Key Considerations When Reviewing the Award Letter

Understand Your Actual Costs

The school provides an estimate, but you should calculate your realistic expenses based on personal circumstances, including food, housing, transportation, etc.

How to choose an offer

Follow this order: Prioritize funds that don't need to be repaid (scholarships, grants). Next, consider earnings (job). Finally, consider borrowed funds (loans).

What if you're not satisfied with the result? You can choose to appeal. The letter you receive will tell you how to accept the offer. Typically, you can log into your student account and select to accept the offer. When the semester starts, your aid will be disbursed. First, the school will use the funds to pay for tuition, housing, and other required fees. If there’s any leftover, it will be credited to your student account. Lastly, FAFSA needs to be renewed every year, so it’s important to ensure you meet the conditions, including filing your taxes properly and keep your tax records, and maintaining your grades to meet the school’s requirements and stay in good standing.

Introducing college majors: Engineering

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 17:20:35 GMT

Computer Engineering

What is Computer Engineering?
Computer engineering focuses on the hardware aspect of computing, such as making computers smaller, faster, and more efficient.

Difference Between Computer Engineering (CE) and Computer Science (CS)

Computer Science (CS) focuses on software, including courses such as Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning, Database Management, Operating Systems, Cybersecurity. Computer Engineering (CE) focuses on hardware, with courses like Circuit Design, Microprocessors, Signal Processing, Networking Hardware

Top Schools for Computer Engineering

Renowned universities for Computer Engineering include MIT, Stanford, UC Berkeley. Other strong programs: Purdue University, University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin)

Application Requirements

To apply for Computer Engineering, students need strong high school academic performance, excellent grades in Math and Physics. Relevant Extracurricular Activities like robotics competitions, Math and physics contests, coding projects and hackathons. Participation in school clubs related to programming or engineering, pre-college summer courses, or science fairs

Career Prospects

Electronics Companies such as Apple, Intel, NVIDIA. Automotive & Aerospace such as Tesla, General Motors, Boeing. Medical Device Companies such as Siemens, specializing in imaging equipment and medical robots. Financial Services. Telecommunications. Salary Expectations: Entry-level salary range is $70,000–$90,000 per year. Mid-level salary is approximately $140,000 per year

Computer Science

What is Computer Science (CS)?

CS primarily focuses on software development and computational theories. It offers a wide range of specialized fields that address emerging technologies and real-world applications.

Popular CS specializations include Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning, Data Mining, Software Engineering, Cybersecurity, Human-Computer Interaction, Visual Design, Distributed Systems, Robotics, Natural Language Processing (NLP), Quantum Computing, Cloud Computing, Game Design, and Internet of Things (IoT). Fast-growing fields within CS include Quantum Computing, Augmented Reality (AR) & Virtual Reality (VR), and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Career Prospects

To increase employability, students should focus on mastering programming (e.g., Python, Java, C++) and developing a strong understanding of cybersecurity principles. The average starting salary for CS graduates is approximately $90,000 per year. Job opportunities are concentrated in tech hubs such as the San Francisco Bay Area, Texas (Austin, Dallas), New York, and Boston, with emerging tech cities like Denver, Raleigh, and Atlanta also offering many opportunities.

Electrical Engineering (EE)

Electrical Engineering (EE) covers areas such as circuits, electromagnetics, control systems, signal processing, power systems (strong and weak electricity), communication, and renewable energy systems.

Application Requirements

For students interested in applying to this major, strong high school performance in mathematics and physics is essential. Recommended extracurricular activities include STEM-related competitions like robotics, programming contests, or science fairs. Additionally, personal projects or portfolios—submitted through platforms like GitHub—can demonstrate technical skills. Internships or volunteer experiences related to the field also significantly enhance competitiveness in applications.

Top Schools for Electrical Engineering

In addition to well-known universities, schools with strong EE programs include USC, Wisconsin-Madison, Virginia Tech, Texas A&M, and the University of Florida.

Career Prospects

Employment prospects for Electrical Engineering (EE) graduates span multiple industries, including technology companies that develop microprocessors and memory systems, communication companies like AT&T, Verizon, and Cisco, as well as the electric vehicle and aerospace sectors. The energy industry, with companies such as the State Grid, GE, and Siemens, also employs many EE professionals. Rapidly growing fields include smart grids for improved energy efficiency, the Internet of Things (IoT), hardware-AI integration, electric vehicles and battery technology, as well as robotics and automation.

To quickly secure a desirable job in these fields, I recommend acquiring skills such as programming—not limited to computer science but also essential in engineering. Knowledge of hardware description languages, control theory, signal processing, power system analysis, project management, and effective communication is equally important. Starting salaries in the industry range from $70,000 to $85,000, with mid-level positions averaging $120,000.

Operations Research (OR)

Operations Research (OR) applies analytical tools, mathematical models, and optimization techniques to assist organizations in decision-making and improving efficiency. While it is categorized as an engineering discipline, it primarily uses engineering methods to address business challenges. As a result, many OR graduates find roles in accounting, consulting, or finance. OR offers several subfields; for example, Columbia University allows students to specialize in business analytics, technological entrepreneurship, financial engineering, logistics and supply chain, machine learning, optimization, or stochastic models.

Top Schools for Operations Research

Renowned universities for OR include Columbia (offering multiple subfields), Cornell (focused on data-driven decision analysis), Princeton (under OR and Financial Engineering), and the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor (under Industrial and Operations Engineering). Northwestern University offers OR as a subfield within industrial engineering, blending it with analytics. Other strong programs include USC and UIUC.

Career Prospects
OR graduates are well-suited for roles such as data analysts in tech companies, offering a stronger foundation in quantitative analysis than many business analytics graduates. Other opportunities include data analysis, supply chain analysis to optimize processes, financial analysis (as financial analysts or quantitative analysts in the finance sector), and management consulting, where OR backgrounds help streamline processes and inform strategic decisions. Emerging industries include AI-driven optimization, automated transportation, and logistics and supply chain advancements.

To secure ideal positions, students should strengthen their foundation in mathematics and statistics, build proficiency in optimization models and programming, and enhance communication skills, especially in data visualization. Many OR concepts are abstract, so the ability to clearly and visually present complex ideas is crucial. Average starting salaries range from $60,000 to $80,000, but mid-level incomes vary significantly by industry. Key employment hubs include the Bay Area (technology) and the East Coast (finance and consulting).

Mechanical Engineering

The main areas of study in this field include materials mechanics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, machine design, industrial processes, control systems, robotics, aerospace engineering, nanotechnology, acoustics, and vibration engineering. Mechanical engineering covers a wide range, from small nano systems to large, complex industrial equipment. It spans the study of sound, fluid flow, and air systems.

Top Schools for Mechanical Engineering

There are many schools that offer this program, as nearly all research-oriented universities have an engineering school. As long as there is an engineering school, there will be a mechanical engineering program. In addition to the well-known top schools, institutions like UT Austin, UCSD, Virginia Tech, PSU, TAMU, and UF also offer excellent mechanical engineering programs.

Job Prospects

Career Prospects
Because mechanical engineering covers such a broad range of fields, it is relatively easy to find a job. Related industries include automotive, aerospace, industrial manufacturing and design, energy and utilities, robotics and automation, medical devices, and consulting. High-growth areas include additive manufacturing (3D printing), robotics manufacturing, and renewable energy. Familiarity with technologies such as CAD and design software, programming, project management, and control systems and automation makes it easier to find a job. The starting salary is around $80,000. Key job hubs include the Bay Area, Texas, Boston, Detroit, Southern California, and Seattle.

Introducing College Majors: Natural Sciences

Mon, 06 Jan 2025 12:43:42 GMT

Mathematics-Related Majors: Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Statistics

Mathematics is called the foundation of all disciplines, and there is some truth to this statement. Undergraduate mathematics programs typically offer two degrees options: a Bachelor of Science (BS) and a Bachelor of Arts (BA).

The key difference between them is that the BS degree places more emphasis on technical and scientific aspects of mathematics. BS students take more advanced courses in both theoretical and applied mathematics, along with classes related to physics, computer science, and engineering.

On the other hand, many liberal arts colleges award a BA degree in mathematics. While BA students also take a substantial number of math courses, they have more flexibility to take classes in the humanities and social sciences. Generally, a BS degree leans more toward quantitative studies.

Types of Mathematics Majors

Common math-related majors include Mathematics, Statistics, and Applied Mathematics. Here’s a breakdown of the differences:

Mathematics focuses on theory and building new mathematical frameworks. It is less concerned with real-world applications.
Applied Mathematics combines math with other fields like engineering and physics to solve real-world problems, such as optimizing supply chains, modeling disease transmission, or designing big data algorithms.
Statistics is considered a branch of applied math that focuses on collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data. In simple terms, statistics uses data to make decisions.

The key difference between mathematics and statistics lies in their relationship to reality:

Mathematics does not necessarily require data or real-world context.
Statistics is entirely based on real-world data. If the data source is flawed, the statistical model will fail. Moreover, statistics has strong practical applications in various fields.

Application Information

· There are no additional application requirements for math majors. However, high school math courses are critical. In addition to advanced math, it’s better also to take courses in statistics and physics.

· The number of applicants for math majors is generally lower compared to fields like engineering and business. If a student excels in math in high school and does not dislike the subject, applying as a math major could be a good option to getting into a top university. In an ideal world, students can align both their preferred major and college. However, in reality—especially when applying to top schools—students may need to make trade-offs. For example, they might need to prioritize between getting into a top school or pursuing a specific but competitive major like computer science.

Top schools for Applied Mathematics :

MIT, NYU – NYU was the top-ranked applied math program for a long time.
Other strong programs include UCLA, Brown, UT Austin, University of Minnesota (Twin Cities), and UNC Chapel Hill.

Top schools for Statistics :

Yale, Duke, Northwestern. Other highly ranked schools include UVA, Emory, and UNC Chapel Hill.

Career Prospects

Many students with an undergraduate degree in math pursue master’s or Ph.D. programs in engineering or business schools. A strong math background is an advantage for careers in actuarial science, accounting, or finance.

The median salary for math and statistics jobs is around $104,000. However, pure math or statistics jobs can be harder to find. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, there were only about 30,000 job openings in math and statistics in 2023. In contrast, applied math roles like actuarial science, and big data are much more in demand. For example:

Big data jobs : In 2023, there were 200,000 job openings in the U.S., with a growth rate of 36% .
Actuarial science : This was covered in our episode on business-related majors.

Biology-Related Majors: Biology & Biochemistry

Biology covers a broad range of topics, including plants, animals, microorganisms, ecology, evolution, and genetics . Biochemistry is a specialized branch of biology that focuses on the chemical processes within living organisms . It studies proteins, acids, enzymes, DNA, RNA , and other molecules at the molecular level. Biology covers a broad range of subjects, studying all living organisms, including plants, animals, microorganisms, ecology, evolution, and genetics . In contrast, biochemical research operates at the molecular level , concentrating on proteins, acids, enzymes, DNA, RNA , and other molecular structures.

Application Information (Biology/Biochemistry)

Almost all universities offer biology programs. Top schools for biology include: Stanford , Harvard , MIT , UCLA , UC Berkeley , University of Michigan , UNC Chapel Hill , and UCSF .

Career Prospects

Biochemistry graduates often work in laboratories , pharmaceutical companies , or medical institutions .
Biology graduates may pursue careers in research, but many need to earn a Ph.D. or even postdoctoral experience.
Careers in biomedical engineering or bioinformatics tend to have better job prospects compared to traditional biology roles.
The median salary for biochemistry-related careers in 2023 was around $107,000 .

Chemistry-Related Majors: Chemistry & Materials Science

Chemistry involves the study of matter, its properties, and the changes it undergoes. It's a vast field, and organic chemistry is often considered one of the toughest subjects for students.
Materials Science is a cross-disciplinary field that combines chemistry, physics, and engineering to study materials and their applications. Applications of materials science include electronics, aerospace, and biotechnology . Examples of materials science innovations include batteries , nanomaterials , and biomaterials such as artificial organs, synthetic skin, and surgical adhesives .

Application Information

Top schools for chemistry and materials science include: MIT , Stanford , UC Berkeley , UIUC , Georgia Tech , UT Austin , Penn State (PSU) , and University of Florida (UF) .

Career Prospects (Chemistry/Materials Science)

Materials science graduates often work in industries such as:

Electronics and telecommunications
Energy
Healthcare
Aerospace
Environmental sustainability

Most materials science jobs require only a bachelor's degree , making it a field with a relatively low entry barrier .

Environmental Science

Due to growing attention to climate change and pollution and waste management, environmental science has become increasingly popular.

Key areas within environmental science include:

Ecology
Climate studies
Pollution and waste management
Conservation
Earth sciences
Environmental policy and law

Application Information

Top schools for environmental science include:

University of Florida (UF)
UC Berkeley (UCB)
University of Michigan (U Mich)
UC Santa Barbara (UCSB)
UC Davis (UCD)

Career Prospects (Environmental Science)

Environmental science graduates can work in:

Government agencies (such as the EPA )
NGOs
Research institutions
Consulting firms (as environmental consultants)
Private companies (especially in renewable energy and sustainability sectors).

Introducing college majors: Medical Related

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 15:18:33 GMT

Public Health

As the name suggests, Public Health focuses on issues related to community and population health. Core topics include epidemiology, biostatistics, health policy and management, nutrition, environmental and climate health, child psychology and family health, and public health big data.

Application Information

● Undergraduate: The application process for undergraduate programs in Public Health is similar to other majors, with no additional specific requirements.

● Master’s Degree (MPH): For graduate studies, applications are typically submitted through the SOPHAS (Schools of Public Health Application Service) system. Some schools, such as UNC, require both SOPHAS and a separate application through their university’s system.

Schools Offering Public Health Programs

● Undergraduate Programs: Public Health is not widely offered as an undergraduate major. Recommended schools include:

○ UNC-Chapel Hill

○ University of Michigan

○ Texas A&M

○ UC San Diego

○ UT Austin

○ University of Florida

● Top MPH Programs:

○ Harvard University

○ Johns Hopkins University

○ UNC-Chapel Hill

○ Columbia University

○ UC Berkeley

Job Prospects

One significant advantage of public health programs is their emphasis on practical experience. For example, UNC requires students to complete a minimum of 200 hours in a practicum, working with government agencies, NGOs, or other partnered organizations (paid or unpaid). Graduates typically work in government, NGOs, or nonprofit organizations. Salaries vary depending on the sector but generally range from $60,000 to $120,000 annually. While not exceptionally high-paying, the field offers fulfilling career paths and opportunities to make a meaningful impact on public well-being.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation Therapy programs are typically housed within medical schools. Unlike becoming a physician (which requires an MD and years of training), this field has lower barriers to entry, shorter study durations, and less demanding exams. For example, the clinical diagnostic radiation therapy program at the University of Pennsylvania takes three years of study and includes a one-year fellowship.

Schools Offering Undergraduate Radiation Therapy Programs

Because this is a technical field, there aren’t many schools offering undergraduate degrees in Radiation Therapy. Notable programs include:

● University of Michigan (Flint)

● UNC-Chapel Hill

● University of Missouri-Columbia

● Rutgers University

Graduates must obtain certification from the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT).

Job Prospects

Radiation Therapy is an attractive field due to its shorter education timeline, lower application thresholds, and significant career growth opportunities. Programs often provide internship experiences during the course of study. For instance, at the University of Pennsylvania, students complete rotations at hospitals like Penn Medicine and the world-renowned Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

It’s not difficult to find a job, with median Salary of $61,370 annually. With its combination of lower entry barriers, solid earning potential, and job demand, Radiation Therapy is an excellent choice for those interested in healthcare without the lengthy commitment of pursuing an MD.

Nursing

Nursing is a medical-related field with a significant employment gap in the U.S., offering high demand and stable career opportunities. While the job can be physically and emotionally demanding, it is not overwhelmingly so compared to physicians. Additionally, if you are fluent in a second language can be a valuable advantage in the workforce.

Schools offering nursing

Almost every university in the U.S. offers a nursing program, making it widely accessible. Graduates must obtain relevant certifications, such as Registered Nurse (RN) or Nurse Practitioner (NP) licenses, depending on their specialization.

Job Prospects

● Registered Nurse (RN): Median salary is $89,010 annually.

● Nurse Practitioner (NP): Median salary is $124,680 annually.

Pre-Med

Pre-med is not a major but a track that prepares students to apply to medical school. You can major in anything—biology, engineering, or even non-science disciplines—as long as you fulfill the medical school prerequisites. For example, Johns Hopkins University’s pre-health program explicitly states:

"Johns Hopkins University does not have one standard set of classes that will help you fulfill course requirements for medical/health professions school. We recommend students consider the following general guidelines for completing pre-medical/pre-health course requirements."

General Pre-Med Course Requirements

To meet medical school requirements, students are typically advised to complete the following courses:

● Chemistry: 2 courses in general (inorganic) chemistry with associated labs.

● Organic Chemistry: 2 courses with associated labs.

● Biology: 2 courses with associated labs.

● Biochemistry: 1 course.

● Physics: 2 courses in general physics with associated labs.

● Mathematics and Statistics: 1 course in each.

● English/Writing: 2 courses emphasizing writing or English.

● Social and Behavioral Sciences: 2 courses, such as Introduction to Psychology and Introduction to Sociology.

In summary, while technically you only need to take the required courses during your undergraduate years to apply for medical school, the pre-med track o ffers much more than just coursework.

What Majors Do Pre-Med Students Choose?

Pre-med students can choose any major as long as they fulfill medical school prerequisites. However, the following majors are particularly popular:

Biology: Over half of pre-med students major in biology or its subfields since the medical school prerequisites overlap significantly with biology courses.

Chemistry and Physics: These are the second most common choices due to their alignment with med school requirements.

Psychology, Economics, and Other Social Sciences: About 10% of medical school admits major in social sciences. These students often need to take additional coursework to meet pre-med requirements.

Mathematics and Statistics: Although these majors have minimal overlap with med school prerequisites, their students tend to achieve the highest average MCAT scores and GPAs.

What is the Value of Pre-Med? Why Is It Popular?

Think of pre-med as a one-stop support system for students planning to apply to medical school. Schools with strong pre-med programs provide resources to help students prepare and plan for med school applications effectively. For instance, Johns Hopkins University's pre-health program offers comprehensive support, including guidance on:

● Summer activities

● Study abroad opportunities

● Hospital internships

● Research projects

● Volunteer and community service

● Course selection

● Preparing for standardized tests like the MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) or DAT (Dental Admission Test).

Structure of Pre-Med Tracks

The pre-med track typically spans four years, aligning with the undergraduate timeline. However, due to the extensive time required for medical school training, many students opt for BS/MD programs, which combine a bachelor's degree and a medical degree into a single accelerated pathway. These programs allow students to complete the pre-med phase in three years.

BS/MD Programs

BS/MD programs allow students to apply for both their bachelor's and medical degrees simultaneously and complete both at the same institution.

Pros

Save time: Traditional medical education takes 8 years (4 years of undergrad + 4 years of medical school). BS/MD programs usually allow students to finish in 7 years.

Simplified Admissions: Students are admitted into both programs upfront, many programs remov the need to reapply for medical school, especially the requirement of MCAT.

Cons

Highly Competitive: Admission rates are incredibly low, usually between 1%-5% , even lower than Ivy League acceptance rates. For top programs like Brown’s PLME, Case Western Reserve’s PPSP, Pittsburgh’s GAP, or Baylor 2Baylor, acceptance rates are even smaller.

In conclusion, while pre-med is not a major, it offers a structured pathway and valuable resources for students aiming for medical school. The choice of major and whether to pursue a BS/MD program depends on individual goals, academic strengths, and long-term career plans.

Dentistry

There are fewer dental schools (approximately 70) compared to medical schools (155). Dental schools offer two degrees: DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) and DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine).

● DDS : The traditional dental degree awarded by most dental schools.

● DMD : First introduced by Harvard in 1867 to emphasize the increasing medical applications in dentistry.

Despite the different names, there is no practical distinction between DDS and DMD degrees.

Application Process

Applications are submitted through the ADEA (American Dental Education Association) system. Students must complete the Dental Admission Test (DAT) and meet all prerequisite coursework requirements before applying.

● The average acceptance rate for dental schools is 5%, slightly higher than for medical schools.

● Top programs, like Harvard’s, are highly competitive, admitting only around 35 students per year.

Top Dental Schools

Highly ranked dental schools include:

● Harvard University

● University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)

● University of Michigan

● University of North Carolina (UNC)

● New York University (NYU)

● University of Pennsylvania (Penn)

● Columbia University

● University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Job prospects

Dentists enjoy strong earning potential with starting salaries ranging from $120,000 to $160,000 annually. Specialists like orthodontists and oral surgeons typically earn even more. Dentistry offers a high-reward career path, combining strong salaries, specialized training, and the opportunity to provide impactful patient care.

Introduction college majors- Interdisciplinary

Sat, 02 Nov 2024 16:27:58 GMT

Product Design/Integrated Design Programs

Product design is a highly popular field today, sitting at the intersection of design and engineering. A prime example is Apple, which excels in this area, dedicating extensive effort to product design, user experience, and interaction design for its devices, such as phones and headsets.

Application Information

This program requires a portfolio, so applicants must have a foundation in design, drawing, sculpture, or other 2D or 3D design skills. Schools that offer this major include CMU, Georgia Tech, NYU, and Northeastern.

Employment Outlook

Job prospects in this field are excellent. The starting salary for product design is around $140,000.

Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)

HCI is an interdisciplinary field combining computer science, design, psychology, linguistics, literature, and communication. The focus of study is primarily on human-computer interaction and user experience (UX). There are numerous real-world applications, such as voice-based interactions like Siri and Alexa, as well as systems like ChatGPT, making HCI a widely applicable major.

Application Information

Some branches of this field require a portfolio, while other requirements are similar to those for general majors. Schools offering HCI programs include CMU, Georgia Tech, Stanford, University of Washington (Seattle), UCSD, University of Maryland, Cornell, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and Tufts.

Employment Outlook

Graduates in this field can pursue careers as UX Designers, Front-end Developers, Content Strategists, and Product Managers. The starting salary is typically around $60,000.

Computational Biology/Bioinformatics

Computational biology or bioinformatics is a branch of biology that integrates significant elements of computer science and statistics. For instance, at Carnegie Mellon, this major falls under the School of Computer Science, while at UPenn, it is part of the biology department. This major requires students to master both statistical methods and computational skills while also meeting the demands of biology, including experimental biology. The most critical aspect is the ability to bridge these two fields. Courses typically include statistics, probability, computer science fundamentals, machine learning, algorithms, data structures, matrices, advanced mathematics, chemistry, biology, biochemistry, cellular biology, and quantitative gene analysis. As you can see, students pursuing this major need strong skills across the sciences, making them versatile problem-solvers.

Application Information

Schools that offer this undergraduate major include CMU, UPenn, Case Western, JHU, the University of Pittsburgh, Northeastern, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Rutgers, and others. It’s important to note that interdisciplinary programs like this aren’t limited to top-tier schools—many mid-tier universities also offer excellent programs in this field.

Employment Outlook

Graduates often find careers in biotech companies, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, medical and biological research, and pharmaceutical development. Starting salaries vary depending on the industry.

Introducing college majors- Social Sciences

Mon, 14 Oct 2024 12:25:56 GMT

Economics

Introduction

Economics studies how humans make the most efficient use of scarce resources to produce and distribute goods and services to meet human needs. The discipline covers various economic activities, principles, and theories, typically divided into "Macroeconomics" and "Microeconomics." For example, economics explores phenomena like supply and demand, inflation, exchange rates, and interest rates, focusing on how these factors affect economies. The field tends to be theoretical, and students usually need a solid background in mathematics.

Economics can be divided into several branches, including but not limited to macroeconomics, microeconomics, econometrics, and development economics. Each branch delves into different aspects of economic theory and application.

Application Process

Admissions for economics programs highly emphasize math performance and advanced economics coursework. For instance, the University of Pennsylvania's Economics Department requires students to take AP Macroeconomics and Microeconomics or their equivalent (Econ 0100 and Econ 0200). For IB students, a score of 6 or higher in Higher Level Economics is required. UC Berkeley expects applicants to have completed courses in macroeconomics, microeconomics, calculus, and statistics. If you're aiming for top-ranked universities, having a strong foundation in high school math, statistics, and economics courses is essential. Economics is also a popular major, often chosen by students who want to apply to business schools but shift to economics due to intense competition in business programs. Most economics programs do not offer a master's degree—only undergraduate and PhD options—highlighting the theoretical nature of the subject.

Job Prospects

Graduates in economics can pursue careers in finance, as investment analysts or market researchers, or work in consulting firms, particularly in management consulting roles. Additionally, they may find opportunities in NGOs and international organizations like the World Bank or the International Monetary Fund, as well as in government agencies. However, job prospects in economics are closely tied to the prestige of the school; graduates from top universities tend to have better job opportunities, while those from lower-ranked schools may face more challenges.

Education

Education as a field doesn’t equal to traditional teacher training. It has various subfields, such as Educational Statistics, Educational Policy and Management, Early Childhood Education, Special Education, Educational Psychology, and Educational Technology. These subfields vary in terms of job prospects, with some being easier to find employment in than others, which we will explore further.

Application Process

Generally, education is considered a relatively easy field to apply for. There are no specific or highly specialized admission requirements beyond those of the university’s general application criteria.

Job Prospects

For those studying teacher education (teacher training), it’s not difficult to find a job, as there is currently a significant shortage of teachers. But, we all know that salaries for teaching positions aren’t high. On the other hand, certain education subfields offer better job prospects and salaries, such as Educational Statistics and Educational Psychology. For example, the starting salary for educational psychologists is around $66,000. In summary, while teaching positions are in high demand but offer lower pay, certain specialized areas in education provide both solid employment opportunities and competitive salaries.

Communication

Communication has several branches. There is journalism (in some schools, journalism is a separate major), media or mass communication, and interdisciplinary fields that intersect with advertising and public relations.

Application Requirements

Communication requires strong language skills, especially in writing. For instance, Northwestern’s media program has a minimum TOEFL score requirement of 100 for foreign applicants and does not accept super scoring.

Employment Outlook

Traditional media fields, such as newspapers, magazines, and broadcast television, are more challenging for job seekers. However, advertising and public relations offer better prospects. The entry-level salary in the advertising industry is around $60,000, which is the national average. Salaries on the East Coast tend to be higher.

Political Science

Subfields of Political science usually include political theory (starting with Greek philosophy and government), American politics, comparative politics, public policy, and international relations.

Application Information

Political Science requires extensive reading and writing. So, it can be challenging if you don’t like to read and write a lot of materials in short period of time. Admissions will pay close attention to grades in social studies courses, especially those related to American government and history.

Employment Outlook

Political science provides good job prospects, which might surprise some people. Many political science graduates go on to law school, as the major is a natural pathway, like how biology majors often go to medical school. In terms of employment, many graduates work in government as civil servants, while others find roles in NGOs and think tanks. There’s also a good number of graduates pursue careers in lobbying and campaign management, such as campaign managers.

Introduction to Business Majors

Mon, 30 Sep 2024 23:20:49 GMT

Finance

Finance, simply put, is the study of how individuals, organizations, and companies effectively raise, allocate, and utilize funds over a period of time. It is a discipline focused on capital management. Although economics and business studies also involve finance, a finance major delves more deeply into the field. Specific topics in finance include money, securities, banking, insurance, capital markets, derivatives, investment, and financial management. Finance is relatively math-oriented, requiring knowledge of advanced mathematics and statistics.

Admission Requirements

Students need a strong foundation in mathematics. For undergraduate applicants, it’s crucial to pay attention to your math grades. For master's applicants, you must have studied calculus, accounting, statistics, and basic economics during your undergraduate studies. Those with a liberal arts background can also apply for a master’s in finance, but it’s preferable to have taken courses in mathematics and business as minors. The undergraduate finance program takes four years. A master’s in finance usually takes one year and is highly practical.

Career Paths

Graduates can work as financial advisors, securities brokers, fund managers, or in private client services and mergers and acquisitions in investment banks, consulting firms, or commercial bank loan departments. The starting salary for a finance master's graduate from Vanderbilt University is around $86,000, while the starting salary for an undergraduate is relatively lower but still competitive.

Financial Mathematics/Financial Engineering

Financial Engineering is an interdisciplinary field that combines finance, mathematics, and computer science. It is also known as Mathematical Finance or Quantitative Finance. Financial Engineering involves the development of technical solutions to financial problems using engineering approaches, including financial product design, pricing, trading strategy development, and risk management. Courses are usually co-taught by the business school, mathematics department, and engineering school.

Admission Requirements

Due to the excellent job prospects, it is one of the most demanding majors in terms of background requirements. Students must have a strong foundation in mathematics and a solid programming background, including skills in C/C++, VBA (programming tools), MATLAB (modeling), and MAPLE. Many students majoring in financial engineering come from mathematics or computer science backgrounds. Humanities students can apply, but they must excel in mathematics and programming. If you don’t like math and coding, this major might not be a good fit for you.

Career Paths

Financial Engineering differs from Finance as it primarily trains technical professionals in the financial industry known as Quantitative Analysts, or Quants. Quants are primarily employed in investment banks, hedge funds, commercial banks, and financial institutions, where they work on developing and applying derivatives pricing models, programming, and risk management. Since Financial Engineering professionals are considered the gatekeepers (risk controllers) and brains (pricing and product modeling) of the finance industry, their compensation is quite high. For instance, the median starting salary for financial engineering graduates from Carnegie Mellon is approximately $136,000.

Business Analytics and Data Science

Although Data Science is not traditionally considered a business discipline, the rise of Business Analytics and the popularity of Big Data have somewhat pulled Data Science into the business realm, as it is seen as lucrative and prestigious.

Business Analytics (BA) originated from Data Science, but there are three key differences between them:

1. Automation and Skill Requirements: Many Business Analytics tools can automatically perform functions, requiring minimal Data Science expertise from the user. For example, students studying BA are like users who can operate Microsoft Office but don’t need to know how to develop Microsoft Office. Whereas Data Science students are the ones who create Microsoft Office.

2. Problem-Solving Focus: Business Analysts focus on analyzing historical data to solve specific business problems, while Data Scientists generally do not solve specific problems. Data Scientists use advanced statistical methods to explore data, uncover patterns, and use features within the data to guide analysis and predictions.

3. Application Fields: Data Science has a broader range of applications and can be utilized in any field that requires Big Data analysis, such as healthcare, medicine, technology, and beyond. In contrast, Business Analytics is more specifically tailored to addressing business-related issues.

Marketing

Marketing is one of the most traditional business disciplines, but it continues to evolve with the development of technology and commerce. In English, Marketing and Sales are different concepts representing two branches.

· Marketing is the first step of the process, involving market analysis, customer analysis, and the creation and dissemination of advertising and marketing messages. It focuses more on the strategic side, emphasizing the effective output of information to target audiences.

· Sales, on the other hand, focuses on direct communication with people, aiming to convert potential leads into actual customers through interpersonal interaction and persuasion.

While both are crucial to a business's success, Marketing and Sales work together but have different roles: Marketing sets the stage by creating awareness and interest, and Sales closes the deal by engaging directly with customers.

Information Management / Management Information Systems (MIS)

Management Information Systems (MIS) is a field that focuses on the study of people, technology, and organizations. In today’s world, anyone involved in business activities will use some form of information system. Examples include eCommerce, online shopping, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) for maintaining customer relations, and online banking.

MIS students don’t need to master a lot of programming; being able to use these systems proficiently is usually enough. Courses often include topics like Web Development for Business, Database Applications, and Mobile Application Development. As a result, students with moderate programming and math skills may find this major appealing.

Notable universities offering MIS programs:

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Sloan School of Management
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) - Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy
Georgia Institute of Technology - Scheller College of Business
University of Texas at Austin - McCombs School of Business

Career Prospects

Graduates from MIS programs often work in roles such as Business Data Analysts, Management Consultants, Financial Analysts, Operations Analysts, and IT Consultants. For instance, graduates from Carnegie Mellon University’s MIS program have secured positions at prestigious companies like Apple, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Google, IBM, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, and Salesforce. This demonstrates strong career opportunities for those in the field.

Operations and Supply Chain Management

Operations and Supply Chain Management (SCM) involves the logistics management of goods and services, the inventory of in-process goods, and the transportation and storage of finished products from the point of origin to the point of consumption. It is a combination of interconnected networks, channels, and business nodes working together to deliver the products and services needed by the end customer within a supply chain.

Top universities offering SCM programs:

University of Michigan - Ross School of Business
Purdue University - Krannert School of Management
Ohio State University - Fisher College of Business
Rutgers University - Rutgers Business School

Career Prospects

Graduates of SCM programs can pursue various roles, such as Buyer, Demand Manager, Materials Analyst, Procurement Manager, and Supply Chain Manager. According to the According to Glassdoor, the estimated total pay for an entry-level supply chain manager is $115,679 per year.

Accounting

The accounting major is divided into several specializations depending on students’ focus areas, such as Financial Accounting, Auditing, Financial Management, and International Accounting. Students primarily study basic theories and knowledge in accounting, auditing, finance, economics, and business management, while receiving fundamental training in accounting methods and techniques.

Career Prospects

Graduates with an accounting degree can pursue a wide range of career opportunities in various sectors:

Government agencies and nonprofit organizations: Roles include social security accounting, tax accounting, and government accounting.
Accounting firms: Opportunities in firms such as the "Big Four" accounting firms, as well as insurance companies.
Corporate sector: Roles include CFO (Chief Financial Officer) or positions in corporate finance.
Financial advisors and accounting consultants: Self-employed or offering financial and accounting consulting services.

Accounting is considered a relatively easy field to find work in, especially in large cities in the U.S. This is particularly true for those pursuing the CPA (Certified Public Accountant) credential, which significantly enhances job prospects. The average starting salary for recent accounting graduates is approximately $64,000 per year.

Actuarial Science

Actuarial Science combines economics, mathematics (particularly probability theory and statistics), and risk management. Actuaries specialize in analyzing, forecasting, and managing financial risks related to future economic activities. Actuaries typically need to pass various professional certification exams. In a sense, they are risk managers, using data analysis to manage uncertainty and develop strategies to address it.

There are not many universities that offer a dedicated undergraduate actuarial science program, and those that do are not typically the highest-ranked institutions. Examples include the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the University of Connecticut. However, many top universities offer actuarial science tracks within their mathematics or business schools. For instance, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and the Stern School of Business at NYU both offer actuarial tracks. At the master's level, there are more programs available. When applying, it is important to check if the school offers the necessary courses for the Society of Actuaries (SOA) exams to become a certified actuary.

Career Prospects

Actuaries are consistently ranked among the best jobs in the U.S. due to their excellent working conditions, job security, growth opportunities, and especially salary. The profession has been ranked first in CareerCast's list of the best jobs, and is highly regarded by Business Insider, Forbes, CNN, and The Wall Street Journal.

Actuaries in North America are classified into two levels of certification:

FSA (Fellow of the Society of Actuaries)
ASA (Associate of the Society of Actuaries)

To become an ASA, candidates must pass six exams. After obtaining the ASA designation, they can take further exams to become an FSA. Actuaries are not limited to the insurance industry; consulting firms, government agencies, commercial banks, investment banks, and large corporations also seek professionals with actuarial backgrounds.

The starting salary for an actuary in the U.S. is around $100,000 for recent graduates with little experience. Experienced actuaries can earn between $150,000 to $250,000 per year, and many earn more than that. This makes actuarial science a highly lucrative and stable career path.

【Case Study】How Activities in Competitions Shape Your College Application

Sun, 28 Jul 2024 16:00:22 GMT

Major: Physics

Admitted to: Princeton University, University of Oxford

Grades: GPA: 4.0, SAT: 1530, TOEFL: 110
Competitions: 30th International Youth Physical Tournament, China National Team, Gold Medal
Other Activities:

● Started studying university-level physics in 9th grade

● Began research at a national laboratory in 11th grade

● Attended the International Summer School for Young Physicists (ISSYP)

● Piano

Princeton was always the student's dream school; however, her SAT score was not impressive for Princeton. We started applying for the senior year summer programs in January and visited prospective colleges in March. Before the summer, she had already established contacts with professors, including an MIT professor who invited her to attend his class. It demonstrated her interests in the colleges. By the time the application process officially began, Chelsea had ample material to work with. What makes Chelsea's standout was her competitions, but her essays did not directly highlight her competition experiences. Instead, we showcased her independent personality, deep critical thinking, creativity, and emphasized her dedication to physics, a field often perceived as male-dominated, as a female student.

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Admitted to: Cornell University, University of Cambridge

Grades: GPA: 4.0, SAT: 1550, TOEFL: 114
Competitions:

● Zero Robotics World Champion 2018 (MIT)

● Math Competition: AIME qualifier

● Princeton University Mathematics Competition 2018 Division B: Team Rank Overall 1

● First Tech Challenge Team: State qualifier

Other Activities:

● Research at Princeton International School Engineering Center

● ATV Chassis Design

● Student Government Vice President

He had strong competition experiences, and we wrote very unique essay stories (including his experience as an apprentice in a watch repair shop). So his results were not surprising in the end; he was admitted to Cornell and Cambridge.

Major: Business

Admitted to: USC Marshall, UCLA, Smith, Wesleyan
Competitions:

● First Prize, 2019 Model APEC Competition, Top 1% out of 300

● Third Prize, 2020 Economics Olympiad (IEO), Top 35% out of 1500

Other Background:

● Level 9 Certificate, Piano, China Central Conservatory of Music, Highest Amateur Piano Honor

● APEC Business Advisory Council Honored Volunteer

● Columbia University Summer School

● Founded her own company to help minority women, dedicated to promoting intangible cultural heritage products

We can clearly see that the level or significance of the business competition awards for this student is not as high as the previous two students. However, compared to her peers, she received very valuable admissions offers, all from business schools, which is considered more difficult to apply than Arts and Science. The key to her admission was her essays. In other words, business competitions need to be supported with strong essays. Her main essay was about her helping minority women, but it did not directly detail what she did. Instead, she wrote that her motivation was influenced by her mother, who is a successful entrepreneur. It’s a story about a mom influencing a daughter, then as the result she helps other women. This highlighted 1) the importance of being an independent woman and 2) her decision to study business and pursue a career in business.

Major: Politics/Economics

Admitted to: University of Oxford, University of St Andrews, Georgetown University

Grades: GPA: 4.0, SAT: 1540
Competitions:

● Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge: First in NZ

● Duke of Edinburgh Award Bronze

● Runner-up for Best Delegate in Wellington Regional Model EU

● Distinctions in Australian Maths Competition

● 3rd in Mathswell in Year 11

● New Zealand Spelling Bee – Semi-Finals

Other Background:

● Lived in three countries (China, Belgium, New Zealand), speaks four languages (Chinese, English, French, Spanish)

● Economics for Leaders program

● John Locke Institute program

The student's competitions were quite scattered, involving math, spelling bee, thinking challenge, and Model UN. After discussing with the student, it became clear that he was interested in politics, economics, and international relations and had no intention of applying for mathematics. I suggested he stop participating in math competitions. Instead, he continued with Model UN and secured a top-three position in a European competition before applying. This student did not rely solely on competitions for his application. His case illustrates that a successful application is a full package. Besides competitions, he had the advantage of language skills and diverse living experiences, highlighting five important qualities that admission officers look for (one of our previous articles illustrates what are the five qualities)

Major: Instrument (Violin)

Admitted to: Juilliard School, Columbia University (dual degree)

School Background: Central Conservatory of Music Middle School, Professional Children's School, Juilliard Pre-College

Competitions:

● First Place Winner in American Protégé Competition

● YoungArts National Arts Competition

● Juilliard Pre-College

● Performed at Carnegie Hall, Victoria Hall, and various festivals

For art major applicants, grades are not as important, and standardized test scores are not required. However, the professional nature of competitions, which are time-consuming and costly, plays a significant role. Among all competitions, music and sports are the most challenging.

I am not here to discourage anyone. I understand that many students have musical talents and wish to showcase them during the application process. This is certainly worth doing, but I want to emphasize that college application is about presenting a whole package. If you don't have particularly high-caliber competition experience, it's crucial to find another edge to create an overall compelling application.

【Case Study】Extra-curricular activities

Mon, 22 Jul 2024 11:38:22 GMT

John Hopkins University

Student Profile

1. GPA:4.0, ACT:35, Languages: English and French

2. Activities had done before hiring BosonEd

· Club Leader, Anime Club

· Editor and writer, MAL Rewrite club

· Counselor, York Science Explorations Camp

· Author of report on Alzheimer’s in news media (independent)

· Wrote 10-page long research

· paper under supervisor of university professor

· Piano Study

· Group Piano Assistant

High GPA is the student's strength, but their extracurricular activities are not strong: there is no summer school experience listed here. So, the student was very anxious during the initial consultation. The student wanted to apply to the top 15 colleges but had not decided on a major. The student told me they were interested in the following majors: Psychology, Music, Management, Data Science, which are very far from each other.

After the student hired BosonEd, we needed to plan his senior year activities. We talked about how to plan activities in our webinars: application theme related and major related. Since the student hadn’t determined an academic interest, we needed to focus on an application theme, which is best to base on activities the student had already participated in. Let's look at the existing activities: Anime is not usable, as the student explicitly said she will not study Computer Science. Music is a hobby not a special talent, which is hard to utilize as a theme in an application. The student's achievements in science are not very high either. Eventually, we decided on leadership as the theme. The reasons for choosing leadership are: 1) The entry threshold is relatively low, 2) It provides more room for execution during the application phase (essays, interview, etc).

After we determined the theme, we help the student applied to two summer programs related to leadership: Law Summer Program University of Toronto and Yale Young Global Scholars Program. We achieved: 1) The last two summer breaks were filled. 2) A new application theme was developed. The final application theme combined leadership, science, and language strengths.

New York University

Student Profile

1. GPA:4.08/4, 9 honors and AP classes, No SAT

2. Activities

· Model UN G10-G12

· School tour guide G10-G12

· Summer Volunteer Teacher G10, G11

· Summer program at Columbia G9

· Summer program at Wharton Global Youth Program-Future of the business world G10

· Summer program at Cornell: Science, Technology, and Politics G11

· Capstone research: Childcare distribution & Tech G 12

During the initial consultation, the student said she wanted to study economics. She had been participating in Model UN and volunteering at a school in teaching 6 ^th graders. Toward the senior year, the student was somewhat hesitant about her major. She worried about future employment prospects and had thoughts of changing to Computer Science. Based on these requirements, we selected Cornell's Science, Technology, and Politics summer program for her. The capstone project in 12th grade also combined social issues and technology. As the result, she was admitted by NYU and now studying computer science.

Vanderbilt University

Student Profile

1. GPA: 4.0, 10 honors and AP classes

2. Activities

· University level research: Youth Talent Program/Biochemical interdisciplinary research/researcher

· Columbia University summer program: molecular genetics Grade 10

· Summer Session at University of Chicago: Academic seminar G11

· Biology competition: iGEM co-organizer Grade 11-12

· Biological club: organizer Grade 10, 11 and 12

During the initial consultation, the student was very confused about whether to focus on competitions or research. The mother, who knew the child best, said the child was not good at competitions and had a relatively introverted personality, lacking a strong competitive spirit. We planned most activities the student participated in were research and internships, with only one competition that, by the time of the application, the student only had participated the 1 ^st round. The standout aspects of this student's profile were research at the university level and attending summer programs at Columbia University and the University of Chicago for two years in a row. His case tells us it's not that students in STEM fields can only rely on competitions; the key is to match the student's background. Everything needs to make sense. Some parents worry that research is hard to evaluate. This student submitted their research report as supplementary material.

Georgetown University

Student Profile

1. GPA: 4.0, 9 honors and AP classes, SAT: 1530

2. Activities

· Tri-Head, International Student Advisory G12

· Team Member, 2022 FBLA Competition, Chicago G 11

· Brand Management Intern G9

· Summer program Pioneer Research Program –Feminism in films G 11

· Summer Intern NY State Senate Campaign Internship G 11

The student had not decided on a major. As a result, she participated in a bunch of unrelated activities, including business competitions, media internships, and business-related internships. These activities were not connected and lacked a central theme. When the student consulted me, it was already the beginning of the application year, which meant we could only plan for the last summer's activities. For someone has this “mixed type” of activities, the main approach is to extract a main theme from existing materials rather than creating a new one. I discussed with the student the activities she had already done and the majors she was interested. We finally decided that media-related fields would be easier for her to apply to, but it had to be combined with what she had already done. The student attended an all-girls school and had previously participated in business-related activities. So, for last summer's activities, we focused on media, marketing, and women's studies. She used this as her final application theme and applied for media and women's studies programs.

Building Your College List 101

Sat, 06 Jul 2024 18:41:21 GMT

Liberal Arts Colleges vs. Research Universities

How many colleges are out there? According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are a total of 2,637 four-year Title IV degree-granting institutions. Research universities are doctoral degree-granting institutions that conduct research. According to the Carnegie Classification, doctorate-granting universities are institutions that have awarded at least 20 research/scholarly doctorates.

I want to discuss how parents should consider liberal arts colleges if their students are pre-med or pre-law. Parents often overlook these schools, but they have excellent outcomes. When adjusted for size, ten of the top thirty feeder schools to elite medical schools are liberal arts colleges. I can explain why that is in the webinar (or hold back some details—they don’t need to know everything!), but I do want to touch on it.

Ranking Lists: Why Are Different Lists So Different?

Different ranking lists vary because they use different variables. For example, the QS ranking considers several factors:

Academic reputation: 30% in 2025 (reduced by 10% in 2024)

Employer reputation: 15% in 2025 (increased by 5% in 2024)

Faculty/student ratio: 10% in 2025 (reduced by 10% in 2024)

Citations per faculty: 20% in 2025

International faculty ratio: 5% in 2025

International student ratio: 5% in 2025

In 2024, QS added variables like sustainability, employment outcomes, and international research networks. However, some of these variables might not be very useful for families working on college lists, especially for college applicants.

How to Use Ranking Lists

Use ranking lists as a starting point; they provide an easy way to begin your search and can be a helpful tool, but you should not rely solely on them. It’s not recommended to make decisions based solely on rankings. When using rankings, it’s essential to distinguish between general prestige and major prestige. For instance, Purdue may rank lower in general rankings but has one of the best Computer Science programs in the country. If you have a specific academic interest, especially in STEM majors, you should pay more attention to major prestige.

What factors should we consider?

Factors to consider when creating a college list – Demographics

Size, student population characteristics (gender ratio, racial distribution, ratio of graduate to undergraduate students, local vs. in-state vs. out-of-state. Geographical location: the city it is in and environment (rural, suburban, urban)

Factors to Consider When Creating a College List – Academics

1. Available Majors and Strong Programs

2. Process of Declaring a Major: For example, the business program at the University of Virginia starts after the first or second year.

3. Course Selection Requirements

At the University of Pennsylvania, there is an early registration period. Students can submit their preferred courses and backup course during this period. This means some very popular courses may not be available to freshmen. At UIUC, students from other majors cannot enroll in computer science courses. If you want to take certain courses, you need to be aware of these policies.

4. Cross-Registration Options

Does the school allow cross-registration between different schools? Cross-registration is an advantage of studying in a college town. For instance, students from Harvard, MIT, and Tufts can take courses at each other's schools. Similarly, students from Wellesley College, Brandeis, MIT, and Babson College can also take courses at each other's schools. If such benefits are available, you should take advantage of them. Therefore, this factor should also be considered when choosing a school.

5. Policy on Changing Majors

At UIUC, you cannot transfer from other departments to the computer science department. Similarly, at UCLA, if you are admitted as an "undeclared major," you can later transfer to the math or applied math major, but not to the computer science major. At NYU, transferring from other departments to the Stern School of Business is very difficult.

6. Academic Environment

What is the grading system like?

Is there grade deflation?

How competitive are the students?

How many clubs are related to your major or academics?

7. Student-to-Faculty Ratio

Size of introductory courses

Size of advanced courses

How many full professors are teaching courses?

Factors to Consider When Creating a College List – Extracurricular Activities / Campus Culture

What is the presence of sports and Greek life?

Is it known as a party school?

Is it an artsy school?

Is it preppy?

Why are student organizations important? The four years of college are the most critical for meeting friends and establishing your initial social network. Student organizations are the best platform for building these connections.

Factors to Consider When Creating a College List – Scholarships / Financial Aid

Total cost, including tuition, room and board, meal plans, books, transportation, etc.

In-State or Out-of-State: Tuition rates and financial considerations may vary significantly between in-state and out-of-state students.

Amount of Need-Based and Merit-Based Aid Provided

Is the school need-blind?

Does it have a no-aid policy for international students (e.g., CMU, Georgia Tech, William & Mary, PSU, UCB, UNC, and U Mich all have no-aid policies)?

Some schools provide 100% need-based aid but have very few scholarships. Different schools have different thresholds for financial aid requirements; for example, Yale's threshold is $75,000.

Factors to Consider When Creating a College List – Career/Internship Support and Alumni Resources

Employment Support: Does the school provide internship opportunities? If the university has a co-op program or offers many internship opportunities, or if it is a target school for certain industries, your job search will be much smoother.

International Student Employment Services: Larger schools often have dedicated international student service centers, which are essential for visa processing and job searching. Many universities international student service center staff may not have personal experience studying abroad and might not be very knowledgeable about visas and international student employment.

Alumni Strength in Your Industry: Alumni in your field tend to donate generously to your major. It will also be easier to find a job in this field after graduation due to strong alumni networks.

Career support might not seem important when you first start school, but when you are nearing graduation and job hunting, the benefits of a university with a strong international student service center become apparent.

How to Choose the Right School After Knowing These Factors?

Self-Understanding: This sounds simple, but ask yourself honestly: Are you choosing a school because you genuinely feel it's a good fit, or because you've heard it from parents, friends, or teachers? What is your basis for feeling it’s a good fit? Is it from school introductions or from social media? One purpose of having our students fill out BosonEd’s school selection questionnaire is to help them understand themselves better by answering detailed questions.

Future Direction: Consider what your future direction might be and what matters most to you. Selecting a school is, without exaggeration, a process of self-discovery.

How to get in: Choose a major from an admission perspective

Sun, 16 Jun 2024 16:53:07 GMT

House Keeping

Recommendations I will give toward different majors are not because they are easier to find a job, or higher salaries, or less stressful to study. It’s solely about if it’s easy to get into a college.

How many majors are there?

There are approximately 2,000 majors available in U.S. universities. When we talk about choosing a major, the first thing to understand is the concept of colleges and schools. Each university has different colleges, such as the College of Arts and Sciences, Business School, Engineering School, Medical School, Veterinary School, Agricultural School, and some have Life Sciences Colleges, like Columbia University has an Education College. We can think of these colleges as collections of majors. When we choose a major, we are selecting from within these colleges, and course selection is mainly within the college. Some universities do not allow or allow very limited cross-college course selection. Furthermore, different colleges may offer similar majors. For example, both the Engineering School and the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor offer CS (Computer Science). Different colleges also have different acceptance rates. For instance, Penn’s Wharton School has a 9% acceptance rate, whereas its Nursing School has 25%.

The 10 Most Popular Majors

According to Princeton Review, the ten most popular majors are as follows:

1.Computer Science

2.Communication

3.Government/Political Science

4.Business

5.Economics

6.English Language and Literature

7.Psychology

8.Nursing

9.Chemical Engineering

10.Biology

STEM majors that are easier to get in

Operational Research: It's a discipline that deals with the development and application of analytical methods to improve decision-making. It's also called Management Science.

Material Science: it’s a very much needed major, particularly in the field of 3D printing organs. Scientists aim to 3D print human organs, eliminating the need for people to wait for transplants. Material science plays a crucial role in achieving this goal.

Colleges offer undergraduate programs in Material Science: MIT, Stanford, Berkeley, Cornell, Northwestern, GT.

Statistics: Many students who are good at math apply for CS (Computer Science), so statistics has become a major that is relatively easier to apply for by students who are equally good at math. However, it is a bit difficult to find a job with a pure statistics degree. It will be much better if you take some programming courses. The same logic applies to theoretical mathematics.

Nutrition: In some colleges, nutrition is a branch of Agricultural Science, while in others, it is a standalone major. It is also a major with very good employment prospects. Colleges known for their Nutrition programs include:

UNC (University of North Carolina), UCD (University of California, Davis), NYU (New York University), UIUC (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign), OSU (Ohio State University), Case Western Reserve University

Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences: Not many students apply for Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences because those with similar interests often apply for Biology, Nursing, Biochemistry, or Psychology. However, there is a broad demand for jobs in this field. There aren't many colleges offer undergraduate programs in Pharmacy, but some schools that offer it include: UCI (University of California, Irvine), Rutgers University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Michigan, University of Pittsburgh, UT Austin (University of Texas at Austin), Purdue University. For Master's and Doctoral programs, there are many more options, as nearly all schools offer advanced degrees in this field.

Medical majors that are easier to get in

Public Health: The curriculum includes biostatistics, health policy and management, nutrition, and environmental health science. There aren't many undergraduate programs in Public Health, but the following schools are recommended: UNC (University of North Carolina, University of Michigan, Texas A&M University, UCSD (University of California, San Diego), UT Austin (University of Texas at Austin), University of Florida

Radiation Therapy: This major is typically associated with medical school but does not require a medical doctorate degree. It offers low entry requirements, a short study duration, and excellent career advancement opportunities, making it a great choice for students pursuing a career in the medical field. For instance, Rutgers requires 120 credits for a BS degree, which is standard for a four-year college. The median income for radiation technologists is $61,370. Graduates seeking to work in hospitals must register with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). Schools offering this undergraduate program are often less well-known due to its technical focus. Recommended schools include: University of Michigan-Flint, UNC (University of North Carolina), University of Missouri-Columbia, Rutgers University

Nursing: There is a significant shortage of nursing professionals in the U.S., with a good salary. Additionally, being bilingual can be an employment advantage for international students.

Hidden Gems in Business

Supply Chain Management: Mostly offered at the master's level, with some well-ranked programs at the undergraduate level. Notable schools include MIT, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, and UT Austin. Graduates have many options for employment or further studies such as an MBA.

Actuarial Science: Available at both undergraduate and master's levels and requires certification exams. For Actuarial Science, the definition of a "good school" depends more on geographic advantages rather than overall rankings because companies tend to prioritize local students. For instance, states like Connecticut and Ohio are significant for actuaries, making Ohio State University's advantages clear with relatively less competition. However, schools in Boston, like Boston University, face higher competition and have fewer local insurance companies compared to nearby elite schools.

North American actuaries are classified into two levels: Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA) and Associate of the Society of Actuaries (ASA). The ASA qualification requires passing six exams. After obtaining the ASA certification, candidates can take FSA exams to pursue the path to becoming a Fellow.

Recommended schools: University of Michigan, UIUC (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign), Columbia University, Northwestern University, NYU (New York University), Penn State University, Purdue University, UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles).

Accounting: Also requires certification, such as the CPA (Certified Public Accountant). Graduates with a master's degree in accounting ls are generally considered to have one of the best job prospects.

Majors easier to apply in social studies

The first recommended major is Educational Evaluation and Research .

Most education programs have branches that focus on research and analysis methods, which use statistical methods to conduct educational research. This major is essentially STEM-focused. The curriculum includes:

● Statistics

● Elementary and Intermediate Statistics

● Interpretation and Evaluation of Research

● Evaluation Theory & Research

● Design of Qualitative Research

Representative schools include:

● Teachers College, Columbia University

● New York University (NYU): Science Education and Educational Communications and Technology

● Boston College: Master of Arts in Research and Evaluation Methods

The second recommended major is Psychology and Applied Psychology , including Applied Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and Psychology and Neuroscience. Although many students apply for psychology, it is not actually difficult to get accepted because nearly all schools offer psychology programs, and it is often a backup major for many students. The curriculum includes:

● Analysis and Case Design

● Statistical Methods and Research Design

● Biological Bases of Human Behavior

● Biology of Addictive Behaviors

Is it easier to get accepted as Undecided?

Generally speaking, it is not a good idea. Firstly, you lose the opportunity to demonstrate your academic interests to the admissions officer, making them think you lack a clear goal, which also makes writing essays more difficult. Additionally, it increases the difficulty for admissions officers to place you, especially during the waitlist stage, as each college has a fixed number of spots. For example, Purdue's overall acceptance rate is 52.7%, but engineering is only 12%.

Is it easy to change majors in college?

It depends on the school. In liberal arts colleges, it is generally not a problem. One characteristic of liberal arts colleges is the flexibility in course selection freedom, and ease of changing majors. However, it is not as easy in large universities. For instance, at UCLA, students who apply as math majors cannot take computer science courses. Those who enter as undecided can switch to math or computational math but cannot switch to computer science. Internal transfers to the business school at NYU are also very difficult.

Which college offer should you take?

Fri, 22 Mar 2024 14:56:06 GMT

March is the time when universities send out admission letters. First of all, congratulations to those who have received their desired admissions. May you enjoy your college life happily for the next four years or even longer, and may you gain fruitful experiences. For those who did not receive admission from your dream schools, getting into college is not the end of the story; it’s just the beginning of a new chapter. You never know what lies ahead. You never know if oday's disappointment will turn into tomorrow's blessing. So, how do you choose an offer after receiving admission? Today, this article will provide some directions.

The first factor to consider is straightforward: Can you afford the tuition? Of course, students generally consider this question before applying. However, after receiving an offer, there are two things to consider: 1) How much financial aid have you received? After receiving financial aid, consider how difficult it may be for you to pay the remaining fees. 2) The cost-effectiveness of the university. Can you negotiate with the school for more financial aid? If you find that the cost-effectiveness of the school is not high or if it's financially challenging for you, then you need to weigh your options and consider whether it's worth it.

The second factor to consider is your future planning . Does the university align with your future plans? For example, if you plan to major in biochemistry, do you intend to work after graduation or pursue further studies? Are you considering medical school, research, or working in a pharmaceutical company? Are you aiming for a master's or a doctoral degree? All of these factors influence the choice of college. For medical school, you would definitely want to attend a university with a good medical school. For research, you would prefer a university with faculties you like to work with or subfields you are interested in. If you don't plan to pursue a PhD, then you might prioritize a university with a good location or abundant internship opportunities that lead to easy employment after graduation.

The third factor is rankings and reputation , which are actually related to future planning too. For example, if you're in the humanities or business, or if you plan to study law in the future, then rankings are very important. However, if you're in engineering or computer science, rankings may not be as crucial. Your internships and projects would be more important in these fields.

The fourth factor is "Will you be happy at this college" . After all, you'll be spending four years or more there, it's important to consider whether you'll enjoy your time there. Some schools are highly competitive, and students may not have much leisure time for extracurricular activities. Others have a vibrant campus life with numerous clubs and social opportunities. Some schools are small, while others are large; some are located in rural areas, while others are in urban settings. These are all factors to consider, and there's no right or wrong choice—what matters is finding a school that suits you best.

The fifth factor to consider is the academic aspect of the school . This includes grading policies, the ease of earning high grades, and how strict professors are. This is particularly important for students who plan to pursue graduate school after college. Attending an undergraduate program where it's easier to maintain a high GPA is crucial for those considering further academic pursuits.

The last factor to consider is the availability of job resources . For example, whether the school offers co-op programs, the specifics of these programs, when you can apply, whether the school is a target school for recruiters, the scale of campus recruitment, the strength of the alumni network, and the effectiveness of the career center. While these factors may seem far for freshmen, four years pass quickly, and it's important to consider them when choosing offers to avoid discovering insufficient job resources when it's too late.

Below are some questions I often received from students and parents and my suggestions.

Regarding seeking more scholarships. If the student prefers School A but wants to negotiate for more money, is that possible?

First, you need to speak with the financial aid office, not the admissions office. You need to convey who you are, that you've been accepted, that you're very interested in the school, and that you're genuinely willing to attend. You must make them believe that the school is your top choice, and the only obstacle is the financial aspect. If it's not possible, they will tell you right the way. If it is, they will try to find a solution. Generally, if the school has room for negotiation, you can secure more scholarship funds by advocating for yourself.

Many students are conflicted about school rankings and prioritize them in their school selection process.

For fields like finance, business, and social sciences, the school can indeed help you secure your first job. However, in other fields, this may not be as apparent. For example, in the engineering field, internship experiences are more critical than the school's ranking. The prestige of the school can only assist you in securing your first job, and its aura will diminish within five years. If you consider it rationally, ranking should not be your sole criterion for selecting a school.

Small Pond vs. Big Pond

Many studies indicate that at second-tier schools, which are typically ranked between 20th and 40th, professors tend to pay more attention to students, provide more support and guidance, and invest more time in them. The reason is simple: there are too many outstanding students at top-tier schools, and there isn't as much individual attention available. Some students may experience a cultural shock when they enter college because they were at the top of their class in high school but find themselves blending into the crowd in college. This is also a factor to consider when choosing offers: Are you willing to be a small fish in a big pond or a big fish in a small pond? This isn't just about psychological adjustments but also about how many resources and attention you can receive from professors. For instance, in a big pond, you may miss out on opportunities for research assistant positions because of the competition.

How to Improve Your Background - Competition Edition

Mon, 04 Mar 2024 19:55:38 GMT

At this time of year, students are typically planning their activities for the upcoming months and considering applying for summer programs. So, let's focus on the topic of activity planning and delve into it thoroughly. In the previous article, I talked about summer programs, and in this one, let's talk about competitions.

The underlying logic of participating in competitions

From the perspective of students and parents, participating in competitions is, of course, to enhance competitiveness for their college applications. The higher the prestige of the competition, the more it can boost your application.

Types of competitions

Typical examples include various Olympiads, the AMC (American Mathematics Competitions), robotics competitions, coding competitions, and so on. Some well-known competitions include the Science Bowl, Regeneron Science Talent Search, ISEF (Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair), and the International Biology Olympiad (IBO). The most familiar business competitions for everyone may include various business contests. Some well-known ones include the Conrad Challenge and the Wharton Global High School Investment Competition.

There are writing competitions as well, such as the New York Times, and John Lock essay competition.

For the humanities competitions, probably the most famous one is the Model United Nations.

The reasons why competitions are popular as follows:

It's straightforward and easier to navigate: if I want to study CS, I go with computer related competitions. All I need to do is practice with test questions and advancing step by step. In contrast, independent research projects may leave students feeling lost about where to begin.

Tangible results: Competitions provide clear outcomes, which are easily understandable compared to activities like research projects or summer programs, where the impact may be less tangible. Students and parents assume that competitions are more objective, making them more appealing to admissions officers. Competitions also simplify their work when write application essays.

However, if it’s accurate?

I think it might be true that students find competitions easier to start with since everything was set by the organization. Students don’t have to come up with a tangible plan. However, the second point, which is that admissions officers are more likely to accept this, is not a fact. For admissions officers, there is no distinction between good and bad activities; what matters is that your activities reflect your application theme, your activities are reasonable, logical, and coherent. Conversely, if you have engaged in a bunch of activities but admissions officers don’t know why you did them or what passion and achievements you have, then those activities are not successful.

The difficulties of taking the competition route

When admission officers review competitions, they categorize them into four tiers. The tier one, the highest, includes national/international sports competitions, national/international music competitions, and national/international science competitions such as IBO and USAMO. The tier two includes awards or positions that demonstrate leadership, such as being the president of Model UN or debate teams.

There are a couple of main reasons why participating in competitions is difficult. Firstly, the top-tier competition winners, whom top universities favor, are mostly recipients of the tier one and tier two awards. Only a few individuals can meet such standards, so statistically, competing in these events should not be mainstream.

Secondly, it's also a matter of probability. Think about how many students do Ivy League schools admit each year? However, how many students participate in competitions? If 70% of your peers are doing the same thing, you can rest assured that most people are just part of the denominator.

Thirdly, participating in competitions requires a significant time investment. You have to climb up the ladder step by step, which requires early planning and practice. Compared to other types of activities, competition is not an efficient choice.

Of course, I'm not here to discourage anyone. I just want to emphasize the importance of tailoring our approach to each individual. Every student is different. And competition is not for everyone. We have students who are suitable for competitions, and we encourage them to participate. For those who don't enjoy or excel in competitions, then they should do things they like or they are good at.

Competitions are just one of many options for background enhancement

Here, I want to broaden your horizons and introduce other alternatives besides competitions. For example, in mathematics and natural sciences, students can engage in summer schools, research projects, tutoring others, joining clubs, conducting independent studies, and internships. Whatever you choose to do, it should reflect your application theme, be logical and reasonable, and strike a balance between the depth and breadth of activities. If you choose to pursue the competition route, participating in tier one and tier two competitions will be most beneficial to your application.

Finally, here are a few recommendations for tier one and tier two competitions for your reference.

Business/Economics

Conrad Challenge

Blue Ocean High School Entrepreneur Pitch Competition

Wharton Global High School Investment Competition

GENIUS Olympiad Business

Yale DHSRI High School Investment Competition

STEM

Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair

Regeneron Science Talent Search

International Physics Olympiad (IPhO)

FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC)

International Biology Olympiad (IBO)

Writing

New York Times Essay competition

Social Science

Model UN

How to choose a major from a career-building perspective

Wed, 14 Feb 2024 16:21:54 GMT

The first core of job hunting lies in being the subgroup one. This means becoming a unique individual in a specific niche area, making it difficult for others to replace you. Just like in the application process, where we discuss the concept of "application theme," essentially defining your “selling points”, job hunting requires identifying your unique selling points and increasing your irreplaceability. Some of you may say that we all study CS or business, can one differentiate themselves? I'll explore this through case studies shortly.

Second core principle is early planning and gathering information . It's not something you start preparing for right before graduation. Instead, it begins during the application process for college. And continually reassess your goals and challenge previous assumptions to progress throughout your college years. Additionally, don't just follow the crowd. You need to personally gather information and verify what you hear.

Based on the two core principles, I'll provide two strategies:

Strategy 1: Explore niche STEM majors

STEM majors like computer science or financial engineering are getting increasingly competitive. But, from a career perspective, other majors can also do the job that CS and DS do. Here are some lesser-known STEM majors that are less intense to apply:

● Engineering: Operational Research and Supply Chain Management. These majors aren't as demanding as computer science or financial engineering, and the employment prospects are excellent.

● Natural sciences: Nutrition. Some schools offer nutrition as a branch of agricultural science, while others have it as a standalone program. With the increasing focus on nutrition and food safety today, nutrition is a highly employable major. Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Science are also good options. It's an applied branch of biology with broad employment opportunities.

● Even in the humanities, there are STEM options. For example, under media studies, there's digital communication and media/multimedia. Under education, educational statistics and educational research are considered STEM, such as Educational Evaluation and Research.

Strategy 2: Become a versatile talent

To explain this point, let's look at a few examples from our students.

Example 1: A student majoring in Media/PR at NYU, with a passion for photography. She took elective courses in TV production at NYU and produced short films independently. Eventually, she was hired by a PR company.

Analysis:

PR and media are often considered one of the most challenging majors to find jobs. However, this student's proficiency in producing short films provided her with an additional advantage and opened doors for her in the industry.

Example 2: A student majoring in Public Policy at a top 30 university, who took an exchange program at the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po) and was involved in a research project on the European Union. She’s also fluent in French. The student was ultimately hired by an NGO.

Analysis:

Social sciences are among the most challenging majors for students to find employment. Due to the small job market and limited number of positions. Students who succeed in these areas are often outstanding in a specific niche. They successfully leverage their unique strengths, making themselves stand out in a highly competitive job market, and ultimately secure their dream jobs.

Example 3: A student with a background in linguistics (humanities) who minored in programming, and was hired by a startup company specializing in speech recognition for human-computer interaction after graduation.

Analysis:

This student sought guidance from BosonEd during the application process. I suggested that since her major in linguistics was more humanities focused, it would be a good idea to minor in computer programming because the employment prospects for pure theoretical linguistics were bleak. Human-computer interaction, particularly in the field of speech recognition, is a booming topic. A background in linguistics would undoubtedly contribute to success in this area

In summary, these successful job-seeking students are essentially versatile talents, possessing a diverse skill set. The requirements for a position are less about specific majors and more about a combination of skills. When you look at job postings, they typically list a variety of skill requirements, such as proficiency in certain software, operational skills, teamwork, and communication abilities. One of the advantages of American higher education is their emphasis on cultivating diverse skill sets. With flexible course selection and the ability to explore various disciplines, students have ample opportunities to develop their skill combinations.

The second key to finding a job is gaining internship experience. As seen in these examples, almost all of them had internship experience. It's essential to fully utilize the career centers at your university, and if your school offers a co-op program, it's highly recommended to participate.

Final advice:

• Networking Ability: Establishing connections is crucial, which are often characterized by their social networks. Especially when you're away from your parents, friends from your home country/hometown. It's essential to quickly build a new support network. With this network, you'll find many things become much easier.

• Curiosity + Proactivity: Don’t wait for professors, staff, or classmates to come to you. There are plenty of resources available in college, but you need to be proactive in seeking them out. The driving force behind this should be maintaining curiosity. Some activities may seem boring, and you might debate whether to participate in certain clubs or classes, but it's often these opportunities that allow you to seize the chance. Participating in a club, for example, might introduce you to someone who could offer you a job in the future. Curiosity is the best motivation to take initiative.

• Confidence, Resilience, and Boldness: Whether in academics or job hunting, you're bound to face setbacks. Even the most successful individuals have experiences of sending out hundreds of resumes without receiving a single interview invitation. Never lose heart. Sometimes, you need to be bold. Apart from waiting passively for interview invitations, you can also directly email or call to inquire. Employers appreciate employees who take initiative.

BosonEd 2024 ED Results

Tue, 13 Feb 2024 18:05:07 GMT

We are thrilled to share that we've achieved outstanding Early Decision results again, with acceptances to prestigious institutions like Oxford, Penn, Columbia, Cornell, Northwestern, U of Chicago, Wellesley, Claremont McKenna, Wesleyan, and more.

At BosonEd, we go beyond securing application decisions; we're committed to helping our clients build a bright future. Below are our results for the top 40 colleges

How to Choose a Pre-College Summer Program

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 18:34:24 GMT

Now, we have entered the season for summer program applications. Parents are once again becoming anxious, wondering whether they should apply for summer programs for their children and whether it will truly benefit their college applications. So today I'll discuss how to make the right choice for a summer program.

Underlying logic of summer programs

From the perspective of schools:

The fundamental logic behind not-so-good programs is to make money. Every summer break, school facilities remain unused, and the costs still need to be covered. Schools take advantage of this opportunity to organize summer programs and offset the expenses. These programs often highlight prestigious locations, such as “host on an Ivy campus”.

For top-notch programs, the underlying logic is to enhance the school or program’s brand, cultivate and select outstanding talents. Successful programs usually have a long history and an established reputation. Therefore, they have a well-developed system and operational inertia. They do not compromise on standards solely for profit. Some are operated by independent organizations, while others are hosted by colleges. Therefore, the location is not as crucial, as students apply for the program based on its reputation, not the location. For example, the Garcia program is at Stony Brook, TASS is at the University of Michigan and the University of Maryland. However, these programs are highly reputable and challenging to get accepted into.

From the perspective of parents and students:

The goal is simple: to enhance competitiveness in college applications. Overall, this logic is reasonable, as participating in summer programs is better than doing nothing. However, there is a cost and benefit issue to consider. We aim for maximum results with minimal effort, hoping that the time and energy invested will lead to significant benefits. This is a common concern for many parents. To solve such a concern, we need to know how college admissions evaluate summer programs

How college admissions evaluate summer programs

I have consistently emphasized that admissions officers analyze all materials within the context. Regarding activities, this context revolves around the effort required to achieve a particular accomplishment and whether it reflects certain qualities:

● Drive: The willingness to step out of one's comfort zone, overcome challenges, and achieve goals, even if it requires significant time and effort.

● Intellectual Curiosity: Demonstrating a passion for learning and researching a specific subject or scientific inquiry, often involving a dedicated and immersive approach to study.

● Initiative: Displaying the ability to take action without external prompting, autonomously putting plans into motion.

● Contribution: Not only referring to individual achievements but also indicating a willingness to selflessly contribute to the community and society.

● Diversity of Experiences: Having unique and diverse life and learning experiences that contribute to a well-rounded and multifaceted background.

How to Choose a Summer Program

There are two approaches to selecting summer programs:

Based on Your Application Theme:

Crafting a compelling college application begins with identifying your hook or application theme – the persona or "selling point" you wish to convey to the admissions officers. This could be your special talent, an activity, your background, or academic pursuits. Once you've identified your theme, consider the skills or qualities associated with it. For instance, if your theme is a 'social justice warrior,' think about the skills required – perhaps debate, teamwork, or a deep understanding of politics. Tailor your application by showcasing experiences and achievements that highlight these skills. Consider participating in summer programs that align with and enhance the skills relevant to your chosen theme.

Here are examples:

● International Service/Humanitarian Focus:

Youth for Understanding (YFU) – Suitable for Model United Nations participants.

Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS).

Language learning, such as Latin, Greek, Arabic, or others.

● Social/Economic/Political Focus:

National High School Institute in Debate at Northwestern University.

John Locke Institute.

● Leadership Focus:

Global Issues Seminar at Notre Dame.

Yale YYGS.

Junior States of America Summer School (JSA in Georgetown, Princeton, Stanford, and Beijing).

● Business Theme:

Wharton Leadership Business World (LBW).

FBLA.

Based on major you want to apply:

If you have a specific major in mind, choose a summer program relevant to that field. However, keep in mind the following tips:

● Not everyone is suited for competitions. You don’t have to win a gold medal. Many colleges, exceptional ones, apart from MIT and CalTech, do not place strong emphasis on competitions.

● The specifics of research content matter.

● High school internships might not be as meaningful as you think. Better to take relevant classes.

● Volunteer experiences are not necessarily more valued than other activities.

Consider your strengths, interests, and the narrative you want to present in your application when choosing a summer program. The goal is to align your experiences with your application theme or desired major.

Transfer Application: Three Case Studies

Tue, 16 Jan 2024 18:21:50 GMT

Transfer Case One: Switched Major

Transferring from: UIUC

Accepted by: Cornell, University of Michigan Ann Arbor, New York University, Emory, UNC Chapel Hill, University of Virginia

Major: Mathematics

Applying for Computer/Information Science

High School GPA: 4.0, College GPA: 4.0, SAT: 1480, TOEFL: 109

Activities: UIUC CS Course Assistant • Google internship • Speedcubing competition

Case Analysis

The student joined BosonEd in the summer before he started college. Therefore, we were able to plan two activities for him. Transfer activities should reflect the student's academic and career plans, and ideally, also show interactions with the university. The goal is for the target schools to see that the student is doing well at the current school, leaving the school is not because of difficulties but with a clear plan. This student's activity plan has a challenge because he is transferring across majors, especially to the highly competitive field of computer science. Therefore, enhancing the computer-related background is crucial. Being a CS course assistant at UIUC and having a Google internship both demonstrate a capabilities in computer science. Being a course assistant also shows the student's care and dedication to the university community.

School Selection

We've discussed in the previous article that choosing the right schools is crucial. When selecting schools for this student, we first needed to meet the requirements for prerequisite courses, planning the courses for the new semester before the start of the first year. Secondly, we contacted each school to ensure that transfer quotas for that year were reasonable to apply.

Essay

Transfer essays should first address the concerns of the target school. All admission officers, upon receiving transfer applications, will ask two questions: 1) Why do you want to transfer? 2) Why do you want to transfer to my school? Most students, when writing the "why transfer" essay, concentrate 70% of the content on why they want to transfer, neglecting "why transfer to particular school." For admission officers, what matters most is why the student chose their specific school. "How is my school different from your current one? What does your current school lack that ours can offer? How do you plan your academic life at the target school, and what can you bring to this school?" and so on.

Application Theme

A smart STEM guy with a sense of justice. Highlighting a story of catching cheating in a Rubik's Cube competition. Reason: Activities related to the major have already proven the student's learning ability and academic qualities. The trap that CS applications easily fall into is the lack of individuality and a homogeneous background. This theme vividly portrays his personality, showing that he is just, responsible, and intelligent. Combined with the relevant professional display in the "why transfer" essay, the combination gives his image warmth and depth.

Transfer Case 2: To Liberal Arts College

Transferring from: UCSD

Accepted by: Hamilton College, Wesleyan University

Major: Politics/International Relations

High School GPA: 4.16, College GPA: 3.85 (with a C), SAT: 1360

Activities: • A a pre-college internship in journalism • High school tennis team captain, won Northern California championship • School magazine editor • Author, multiple essays included in essay collections • Volunteer for international organization

Analysis

The student had a preference for the Liberal Arts colleges when applying as a freshman but was admitted only to UCSD. In the first semester at UCSD, the student contacted me to prepare for transfer. She had only one semester of courses and received a C. A decline in GPA in the first year of college is not unusual. The average grade for this particular course was actually a C-. We wrote a supplementary material explaining the situation. Grades must be analyzed in context to make sense.

Application strategy

1) Precise positioning of the application theme, 2) Strengthening strengths and compensating for weaknesses. Her standardized test scores were not a strength. Instead, her strengths are various activities and the student's personality. Activities included published works, tennis, and volunteer experience in the international organization. The student was very articulate. Therefore, we first precisely positioned the application theme to reflect the student's preferences for 1) liberal arts education, 2) an international perspective, and 3) an outgoing personality – all preferences of liberal arts colleges. For transferring, determining the application theme must align closely with the school's preferences.

The student was an editor for her high school magazine and published decent number of articles in both her high school magazine and publications outside of the school. So we submitted a portfolio of the her writing.

The student interviewed at each school. The student was articulate, making interviews an added advantage. Second, liberal arts colleges pay attention to the personal characteristics, and interviews provide an excellent platform to showcase personality.

School selection

School selection for liberal arts college transfers is particularly important because admission numbers are limited; Hamilton College, for example, admitted only one student for the spring enrollment of that year, and it happened to be this student.

Transfer Case 3: Transfer to a Ivy League

Transferring from: Wake Forest University

Accepted by: Columbia University, Emory University, Georgetown University, New York University

Major: Economics

College GPA: 4.0, SAT: 1490

Activities:

• Four research projects during college, including Research Fellowship and Research Assistant roles

• Proficiency in painting

Case Analysis

In terms of school selection, we applied to several Ivy League schools and several within top 30. Considering these goals, the student's strengths do not lie in cores. For Ivy League schools, a 1490 SAT and a 4.0 GPA are fairly standard. The student's advantages lie in her research experience, personal background (went to high school in Europe. We ensured that these aspects were prominently featured in the application theme and essays.

School Selection

These top-tier schools place significant emphasis on demonstrating interest. Why Columbia and not Penn? How well do you understand the school? (In terms of course offerings, unique features, campus culture, and atmosphere). We made sure that the student's essays reflected this understanding. For example, Columbia seeks students proficient in their major who are also willing to take Core courses, and we ensured that this was mentioned in the essay.

Portfolios and supplementary materials are effective ways to gain extra points. The student submitted research abstracts as supplementary materials, and her painting works.

Summary: How to Prepare for Transferring to Top 30 Universities

Maintain a High GPA

It's crucial to have a GPA of 3.5 or above.

Complete Prerequisite Courses

Ensure that you meet the requirements for general education courses and have a minimum number of credits in natural and social sciences. Since each school has different requirements for prerequisite courses, early and accurate school selection is crucial to avoid realizing too late that you haven't met the requirements of your target school.

Highlight Your Application Theme

Having a standout application theme is important. Admissions officers have limited time to review your application materials, and materials without a theme are forgettable, especially in fields with significant homogeneity, such as computer science, where many students transition from math or engineering backgrounds, having a distinct application theme is essential to differentiate yourself from others.

Precise School Selection

Consider factors such as admission rates, transfer admissions policies, and different prerequisite course requirements when choosing the right schools. Accurate school selection enhances your chances of successful transfer.

Excellent Essays

Craft compelling essays that tell a captivating story and emphasize your application theme. Well-written essays are key to showcasing your personality and motivation.

Demonstrate Achievements in College

Showing improvement and accomplishments in college compared to high school can enhance your competitiveness.

Transfer Application 101

Sun, 14 Jan 2024 18:20:30 GMT

Differences Between Transfer and Freshman Applications

The Importance of School Selection

It lies in admission quotas and prerequisite courses. The preference for admitting transfer students varies among schools, leading to different admission quotas. For example, among Ivy League schools, Cornell is more welcoming to transfer students, while Brown admits very few transfer students each year due to its strong emphasis on general education in the first two years. Additionally, schools have specific preferences for transfer admissions to balance the intake of new students. Furthermore, differences in school retention rates contribute to variations in admission quotas.

Prerequisites

The second distinction lies in course requirements. Different schools have varying requirements for prerequisite courses, including general education and major-specific courses. Some schools may require a certain number of credits in mathematics, as well as courses in social sciences and natural sciences. Each school's prerequisite courses differ, and students must complete these courses to be eligible for transfer. For students applying for transfer in their sophomore year, they need to complete all prerequisite courses before transferring. For first-year transfer students, while they may not need to complete all these courses, they must demonstrate progress and prove they can complete all prerequisite courses on time. These factors cannot be solely determined by rankings, so when selecting schools for transfer, rankings can be a starting point, but reliance on rankings alone is not advisable.

Demonstration of Interest

All admissions officers, upon receiving transfer applications, will ask two questions: Why do you want to transfer to our school? Therefore, it's crucial for the student to have a deep understanding of the target school. Secondly, the higher the ranking of the school, the higher the retention rate, resulting in fewer available spots. Consequently, schools allocate these limited spots to students who demonstrate significant interest in the institution.

Current School Involvement

The second question posed by admissions officers is, why do you want to transfer? Top schools, in particular, do not wish to admit students who are struggling at their current institutions. Therefore, your performance and involvement at your current school are essential. You need to convey to the admissions officer that you are not transferring due to difficulties at your current school.

Community College Transfer v.s. Lower-Ranked Research University Transfer

This is a question that requires reverse engineering based on your goals. The first step is to determine what your dream school is. If it's a public university like Berkeley, UCLA, University of Virginia, or UNC, and you didn't get admitted initially, attending a community college in the state where your dream school is located significantly increases your chances of acceptance. Many public universities have specific quotas for in-state transfer students, especially from community colleges within the state. For instance, more than 90% of the admitted students of the University of California, and University of North Carolina are in-state students.

Timing of Transfer

Freshman Year Transfer: Suitable for high-performing high school students who, despite excelling in high school, made a mistake or experienced less than ideal results in their initial college application. This is especially applicable if you find yourself in an environment that doesn't match your needs, and you want to transfer to a more suitable platform early on. Also, considering that college courses are more challenging than high school, transferring after the freshman year while your high school achievements still hold weight is advantageous.

Sophomore Year Transfer: Ideal for students with average high school performance but excelling in college. Making significant efforts in college—maintaining a high GPA, participating in internships/activities—can enhance your competitiveness for a transfer to a higher platform.

Junior Year Transfer: Generally not recommended due to several drawbacks. Many schools prefer not to admit junior transfer students, and those that do may require you to repeat your junior year, delaying your graduation. Therefore, it's advisable to consider transferring in the freshman or sophomore year for better chances of admission and maintaining the regular graduation timeline.

In the next article, I will share three students’ cases to showcase how to plan and apply for transfer

Navigating Post-Application: What to do after submitting college applications?

Wed, 03 Jan 2024 18:06:31 GMT

After Submitting the Application: Do's and Don'ts

Do: Check Email Daily after submitting your application.

The first thing to do is check your email. You will receive a confirmation email, and any requests for additional materials or notifications about any issues will also be communicated via email.

Do: Register for Student Account

After submission, you'll receive an email for activating your account. It contains your login information (usually your application email) and a temporary password, along with an account activation link. Click the link and set up your student account password. This account will display all information related to your application, and you can use it to upload any additional materials.

Do: Submit Additional Required Materials

The application deadline is just for the application form; there are still other documents to submit afterward. Some colleges may require self-reported scores, some might have a second part of the application, and you may need to submit official standardized test scores and recommendation letters. Transfer students need to submit a mid-term report.

Don't: Let Your GPA Drop

Some students may think that once the application is submitted, subsequent grades are not as important. This is a big misconception. If you are placed on a waitlist, you'll need to submit the latest transcript as additional material. You wouldn't want to submit a transcript with a declining GPA. Additionally, you'll need to submit all transcripts before enrollment, including those with grades earned after the application was submitted. If your GPA drops significantly, the school has the right to revoke the admission offer. Therefore, even after receiving an acceptance, it's essential to maintain academic performance.

Don't: Be Passive or Disengaged

Submitting your application doesn't mark the end of the process. In the subsequent stages of admission, most students have already met the academic and extracurricular requirements. When all other factors are equal or close, the school prefers to admit students who show strong demonstration of interest. The more interaction you have with the school, the more interest you will demonstrate.

Can I Submit Materials the School Doesn't Require, Such as Standardized Scores, Additional Recommendation Letters, or Research Reports?

This depends on your application goals. If you are aiming for highly selective schools, remember that "optional" is often not optional. Even if the school doesn't explicitly require standardized test scores, it's advisable to submit them if they are good; last year's data showed that more than 70% of admitted students to top 20 universities submitted standardized scores. As for recommendation letters, you can submit them, but don't overdo it. If the school asks for three, submitting four is reasonable. But, submitting too many may have a negative impact. Admission officers won’t have time to read letters from your neighbor or teacher in 4 ^th grade.

If I Want to Email an Admissions Officer, How Should I Write the Email?

If you can directly message through your account, that's the fastest and most direct method. Otherwise, email the school. Common mistakes include not including your birthdate and application number. Including these details helps the admissions officer identify you quickly. Avoid using your Common App ref#; use the reference number provided by the school in the confirmation email. When emailing an admissions officer, be polite and include a greeting such as "I hope this email finds you well." Also, avoid asking obvious questions that can easily be found on the school's website. Admissions officers are busiest during this time, so asking questions that could have been easily answered online may not receive a response.

Below is a template

Dear Admissions Officer, (list the name if you can find the name of the admission officer who cover your region)

I hope this email finds you well!

I am applying regular decision for fall ‘2024 and would like to ask you how to share an important piece of updated information. Recently, I was named as a finalist in the Regeneron International Science Fair.

Attached you will find the letter from Regeneron notifying me of my status.

Thank you for your advice on this matter.

Albert Camus

Can I Contact the School to Confirm They Received My Recommendation Letters?

Yes, it is advisable to contact the school to confirm whether they have received your recommendation letters. Some recommenders may forget the deadline, so while they may have agreed to write the letter for you, there's no guarantee it will be submitted on time. It's essential to confirm with the school. However, be aware that some schools consider this information confidential and may not disclose whether they have received the letters. It's still worth asking.

Can I Submit New Scores After Submitting the Application?

If you're referring to standardized test scores, most schools do not accept them after the deadline. However, if you mean the latest transcript with new grades, you can typically send that to the school. There is another scenario. If you were to be put on the waitlist, it’s an opportunity to update everything, including new standardized scores.

If I Have New Developments in Activities, such as a Published Article or an Award, Should I Update the School?

In theory, yes, you should update the school. However, it depends on whether the school accepts updates. For example, the University of California system does not accept new activity updates. For schools that do accept updates, make sure to provide relevant information. Also, when emailing the school, be sure to include detailed information, such as the title of the article, the journal's issue number, and your authorship position, if applicable.

From Scratch: U.S. College Application Planning Timeline

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 19:01:55 GMT

9th Grade: Exploration Phase

I call this stage the exploration phase. The primary focus is on ensuring good grades since transcripts starting from 9th grade are essential for college applications, making GPA crucial. Start familiarizing yourself with and preparing for standardized tests; for subjects that can be self-studied, do so, and for those requiring classes, enroll in them. Both SAT and ACT scores are valid for five years, so it's advisable to take them early. Some students may opt for a PSAT as a trial run. Colleges accept PSAT scores as well, and they can be advantageous for scholarships.

Regarding extracurricular activities, see this period as an opportunity to explore interests. Engage in a variety of activities to gain exposure and experience. Begin contemplating application themes, understanding yourself—your interests, what you aspire to study and pursue in the future, whether you are introverted or extroverted, and whether you prefer socializing or spending time alone. Additionally, consider creating a Common App account to familiarize yourself with the application form.

10th Grade: Direction-Setting Phase

I call this stage the direction-setting phase. Maintain a strong GPA and start taking AP courses. In terms of extracurricular activities, begin narrowing down your interests to allocate more time and focus on one or two activities to achieve notable results. Regarding academic direction, gain an understanding of subjects that interest you and start to set a general direction. I'm not suggesting that you have to decide on a major at this point, but having an academic focus is beneficial.

11th Grade: Application Prep Phase

Standardized Tests

In 11th grade, it's crucial to decide whether to take the SAT or ACT. My advice is to take practice tests for both the SAT and ACT to determine which one suits you better. Everyone has different habits and strengths, with some people finding the SAT more suitable while others may prefer the ACT. I recommend taking the first test in the spring of 11th grade, around March. If necessary, consider taking it again during the summer. I suggest limiting the total number of test attempts to three. The testing process is lengthy, and excessive retakes can be draining. Spending that time improving your essays and engaging in activities can be more beneficial. So, how many points are considered sufficient? If you plan to apply to a top 30, a score above 1500 on the SAT or a 34 on the ACT is recommended. For the top 50 schools, a score above 1400 on the SAT or a 31 on the ACT is advisable. Schools beyond the top 50 often don’t care too much about standardized test scores. Some may question the need for standardized tests, given the test-optional trend. However, for the top 30 schools, a majority of applicants (about 70% admitted students) still submit standardized scores. Without them, you may put yourself at a disadvantage in the application process.

Activity Planning

By 11th grade, it's essential to achieve notable results in your extracurricular activities. It's not necessary to win awards or have tangible outcomes, but rather to demonstrate persistence, insights gained, and the impact on yourself and others. Additionally, activities should align with your application theme, logically making sense and being relevant to your chosen field. There should be a logical progression between activities, relevance to your major, and standout features. From January to April, apply for summer activities happening in the same year. The summer before 12th grade is the last opportunity for impactful summer activities in your application. Plan this summer wisely. All top 30 colleges consider students' activities during the last two years of high school. Summer is also an excellent time for campus visits. Visiting campuses is crucial for demonstrating interest, significantly improving your chances of acceptance. The 11th grade is also the time to research your target schools. Explore the schools' websites to understand their academics, student life, resources, and more.

12th Grade: Application Execution Phase

12th grade is the stage for executing and sprinting through the application process. For students who haven't achieved satisfactory standardized test scores, a final push in standardized testing is necessary. AP exams usually take place in May. Common Application opens on August 1st, with early application deadlines around October 30th and UC application deadlines by November 30th. Scholarship applications open in October. Here are some recommendations:

Start Early:

Start planning early.
Applying early provides a competitive advantage for the same schools.

2. Recommendation Letters:

Request Early: Ask teachers for recommendation letters as early as possible, considering the potential workload.
Prepare a Resume: If you have an educational consultant, let them help you prepare a resume. This can be shared with your recommenders to enhance the quality of the letters.
Choose Wisely: Select teachers for recommendation letters from AP, IB, or honors courses, especially in STEM subjects. Ensure the letters are personalized, providing details about you.
Diversity: Each recommendation letter should cover unique aspects and complement each other. For example, if one is from a math teacher, the second one could be from a humanities teacher, followed by a recommender who can speak about your extracurricular activities.
Avoid Early-Year Teachers: It's generally not recommended to request recommendation letters from teachers in 9th or 10th grade. Focus on those who can provide more recent and relevant insights.

Standardized Exam Planning in 2024

Fri, 15 Dec 2023 16:48:29 GMT

1. About Test-Optional Policies

I believe many schools are reevaluating their test-optional policies, especially for certain majors like engineering and nursing, which may require standardized test scores starting in 2024, even the college still uses test-optional. Test-optional policies emerged as a response to Covid and were originally considered temporary measures. Recent admission data suggests that top 30 universities still tend to favor students with standardized test scores with 70% of admitted students submitted either SAT or ACT score. Additionally, with the increasing application of artificial intelligence, standardized test scores may become even more important.

2. PSAT and SAT Changes in 2024

In 2024, both the PSAT and SAT will transition to computer-based testing.

3. SAT vs. ACT:

SAT (3 hours):
Fewer geometry questions.
More time per question (reading 75s, writing 48s, math 83s).
No calculator allowed in the math section.
ACT (2 hours and 55 minutes):
More geometry questions. Less time per question (reading 53s, English 36s, math 60s).
The science section is challenging.

4. Mock Exam sources

College Board

ACT

Princeton Review

SAT Schedules

ACT Schedules

It’s about time! How should you plan your activities?

Thu, 16 Nov 2023 20:48:14 GMT

Why planning activities is important?

Firstly, college application forms—Common App, UC application, and Coalition—specifically include a section for extracurricular activities that needs to be filled out, requiring applicants to list and describe their involvement in activities outside of academics. This section provides an opportunity to showcase personal interests and talents.

Second, the approach to selective college application review is "holistic evaluation", which seeks to admit students who have developed holistically in various aspects. By participating in different types of extracurricular activities, applicants can demonstrate their well-roundedness in academic, leadership, community service, artistic, and other areas.

Hence, the content and quality of your extracurricular activities are crucial to your application theme, as are the quality of your essays, recommendation letters, and even interviews. The term "application theme" refers to the overarching theme of your entire application. This is what admissions officers often refer to as the "Hook." All students admitted to top-tier schools have a hook—something unique that captures the attention of the admissions officers. It could be exceptional artistic talent, winning competitions, distinctive life experiences, or unique personalities. Your application theme is related to your extracurricular activities. In other words, consistently participating in and achieving success in one or two extracurricular activities over the long term is much more valuable than haphazardly engaging in random activities without a clear plan.

Classification of extracurricular activities

In terms of content, they can be categorized as volunteer work, sports, internships/jobs, arts, writing, and academic-related activities, etc. In terms of their forms of expression, they can be classified as clubs, research, independent studies, community service, etc. Regarding time span, activities can be further divided into activities during breaks, activities during semesters, and gap year/semester. However, admissions officers’ understanding of extracurricular activities may differ from ours. "Extracurricular activities," "talent/ability," "character/personal qualities," "volunteer work," and "work experience" are considered separately, with varying levels of importance. "Extracurricular activities," "talent/ability," and "character/personal qualities" are important, while "volunteer work" and "work experience" are marked as considered.

What extracurricular activities do admissions officers like?

Admissions officers look for specific qualities when reviewing your application materials. Here are five qualities that universities value:

Drive: The willingness to push oneself out of the comfort zone. Someone who is willing to invest time and effort, overcome challenges, and achieve goals to become a better person.

Intellectual Curiosity: A strong desire to learn and explore. This could manifest in a deep interest in a particular subject and a commitment to research and study.

Initiative: The ability to take action without needing constant prompting. Being proactive in implementing plans and goals.

Contribution: A willingness to selflessly contribute to a community or a group.

Diversity of Experiences: Having unique or diverse life and learning experiences.

The most important aspect of extracurricular activities is that they align with the student's background, personality, and growth path. Admissions officers appreciate activities that not only showcase the student's excellence but also make logical sense in the context of their growth.

For example, consider a student with a strong interest in literature and art. If this student, who excels in literary subjects, is fluent in French, volunteers at a museum on weekends, and takes online courses in art history, attending a business summer school at Harvard for two weeks might diminish the uniqueness and interest in her profile. It could make her appear to be engaging in activities solely for the purpose of the application.

On the other hand, if this student chooses to work as a volunteer at the museum, explaining artworks to visitors, actively participates in maintaining the museum's cleanliness, organizing art pieces, and taking online courses in art restoration and art history, it creates a more cohesive and logical narrative in line with the student's path.

Why can't Ivy League summer programs guarantee admission to top schools?

Because everyone around the world is applying. Ivy League schools have admission rates below 10%, and if 75% of your friends are applying to Ivy League summer programs, these programs clearly won't help your application. This kind of activity cannot distinguish you from others.

But if you apply for arts/design majors I’d recommend you apply for summer programs in arts/design schools, especially for students who haven't attended professional art or design programs before. Because the training of provided by these programs can help you build a strong portfolio. For example, the pre-college summer program at the Rhode Island School of Design allows students to receive direct advice on their portfolios from the world’s best design professors.

Is it better to specialize in one extracurricular activity or have a well-rounded development?

Whether focusing on one activity or engaging in multiple, the key is to align with the application theme and reflect the five qualities mentioned earlier, along with passion, persistence, and achievement.

Here are two examples of our students. Both were admitted to Princeton University. The extracurricular activity of the first student was physics competitions. She has been interested in physics since elementary school, earned various awards. Her example illustrates the benefits of specializing in a particular activity. Another student’s hobby is stage lighting art. He was in charge of the stage lighting for all performances at his high school. In addition, for four consecutive years, he volunteered at an orphanage during his free time. He also served as the president of multiple clubs at school. He is an example of a student with a well-rounded development of extracurricular activities. His application theme revolves around leadership, enthusiasm, dedication, and a spirit of service. And his four years of volunteer work at the orphanage showcase his passion, persistence, and achievement.

What activities can be considered "unique"?

First of all, I don’t like the term “unique”, and you don’t have to be so-called “unique”. Everyone is different and can be “unique”. If we have to define uniqueness, I believe it's about being a "subset of one," meaning having a skillset that is among the top 5% within a specific field. For example, one of my students this year speaks English, Mandarin, Spanish, and French. I can tell that less than 5% of the people on this plant can speak the same four languages. However, it's crucial to emphasize that if you're doing the same thing as others, that's completely fine. Admissions officers are well aware of that you're a high school student. Most of your daily life revolves around studying, which is similar to 90% of high school students. Only a few high school students have truly unique life experiences. Admissions officers understand. So, even so, you still can articulate it exceptionally well and tell a unique story about yourself. In other words, the story itself doesn't need to be unique; the key is how you tell the story, which is reflected in your essay.

How to choose extracurricular activities?

Choosing extracurricular activities is a challenging question for many students and parents. The difficulty doesn't lie with the students and parents; it's the question itself that can be confusing or not framed correctly.

There are three principles for selecting extracurricular activities. The first principle is the "Skillset Rule." If I ask you whether activity A or activity B is better, or if doing activity A is good for you, it's challenging to answer. However, if I rephrase the question and ask whether improving skill A or skill B is beneficial for your application to business school, do you feel much clearer?

The point is that selecting extracurricular activities is not the end goal; the purpose is to choose activities that represent the underlying skills. Therefore, the real question to ask yourself is not what extracurricular activities to do, but what skills you need to enhance. Improving skills is related to your academic interests. For example, a student who wants to apply to a management program because they aspire to work in a consulting firm. When coaching him, we asked what skills were required for consulting jobs. We identified several:

Effective communication skills

Quick learning ability

Teamwork skills

The next step is to see what extracurricular activities can develop these three skills. Breaking it down in this way makes the choice of extracurricular activities much clearer and simpler.

The second rule is the "Five Qualities Rule," which includes 1) Driven, 2) Intellectual Curiosity, 3) Initiative, 4) Contribution, and 5) Diversity of Experiences. Choose activities that reflect these five qualities.

The third rule is the "Professional Rule." This is relatively straightforward and applies to students with clear career goals. If you have a specific major in mind, engage in activities related to that major.

At BosonEd, our extracurricular activity database is also categorized in this way, making planning much more efficient.

Explore the Top 50 Universities: Pennsylvania and the South (Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, and Texas)

Wed, 25 Oct 2023 20:10:16 GMT

Today is the final piece of our top 50 universities series, where we'll be discussing universities in the Southern states (Texas, North Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia), and finally, in my home state of Pennsylvania.

South (Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, and Texas)

During my time in college, I didn't know much about schools in the South. As a student studying in Boston, Southern schools always held a certain mysterious allure for me: traditional and conservative. It wasn't until I started working as an admissions officer that I discovered many excellent and underrated colleges in the South.

Virginia

University of Virginia

Founded by one of the Founding Fathers, Thomas Jefferson, the significance of the University of Virginia goes beyond being the best public university in Virginia. UVA has always been considered one of the best public universities in the United States. In the 2024 U.S. News rankings, UVA is ranked 24th nationwide. In my personal opinion, UVA is a highly regarded institution. I have visited UVA and Charlottesville, where it is located, multiple times, and I have a very positive impression of UVA. Not only because two of the consultants at BosonEd have graduated from UVA and worked in UVA's admissions office for many years, but I also really like Charlottesville. It is a university town with beautiful surroundings, convenient living, safety, and a high quality of residents. It is a very livable small city.

The university has a total of 17,496 undergraduate students, 8,653 master's and doctoral students, for a total of 26,149. In 2022, there were 50,926 applicants for freshmen, with 9,503 admitted, resulting in an acceptance rate of 18.66%. There were 83,368 students placed on the waitlist, of which only 7 were eventually admitted.

For admitted students at UVA, the 25th percentile SAT score is 1400, and the 75th percentile is 1540. 77.84% of students scored between 1400 and 1600 on the SAT. Additionally, 90% of students have ACT scores between 30 and 36. Furthermore, 85% of students rank in the top 10% of their high school classes.

Regarding transfer applications, in 2022, there were 3,562 transfer applicants, and 1,245 were admitted, resulting in a transfer acceptance rate of 34.95%. Although the acceptance rate is high, there is a preference for in-state students.

UVA excels in various fields, including Business, Engineering, International Relations, Sociology, Economics, and Biology.

North Carolina

Duke University

Duke University is the best university in North Carolina, often referred to as the "Harvard of the South." It is located in Durham, North Carolina, just a 20-minute drive from Chapel Hill. The university has a total of 6,883 undergraduate students, 10,737 master's and doctoral students, making a total of 17,620 students. In the latest 2024 U.S. News rankings, Duke is ranked 7th in the United States, solidifying its position as the top university in the South.

In terms of applications, the most recent data is from 2021, with 49,523 applications received. Of these, 2,911 students were admitted, resulting in an acceptance rate of 5.8%. While Duke does not disclose how many students were placed on the waiting list, they did announce that 88 students were eventually admitted from the waitlist, which is a considerable number. Regarding application materials, naturally, all components are deemed highly important: course rigor, transcripts, standardized test scores, application essays, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, talents, personal qualities/character - all should be outstanding. The only distinction from Ivy League schools is that interviews are not as crucial at Duke. Among admitted students at Duke, the SAT score range is from 1490, with the 75th percentile at 1560. In terms of SAT subject breakdown, 87.2% of students scored between 700 and 800 in Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing, while 88.8% scored between 700 and 800 in Math. For ACT scores, the 25th percentile is 33, and the 75th percentile is 35. Furthermore, 95% of students were in the top 10% of their high school class.

Regarding transfer applications, in 2012, 1,679 students applied, and only 81 were admitted, resulting in an acceptance rate of only 4.8%.

Duke is a very generous university, with an average need-based financial aid package of $56,197, and an average non-need-based scholarship of $78,610.

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC) is the flagship campus of the University of North Carolina system and is often regarded, alongside the University of Virginia, as the best public university in the South. In the latest US News rankings, UNC surpassed UVA, ranking 22nd (although I personally believe UVA is a better school). Established in 1789, UNC is one of the earliest public universities in the United States (the very first being the University of Georgia, founded in 1785). Its founding principle was "the university of the people," and to this day, UNC remains a down-to-earth, accessible institution among the top 30 universities.

As of 2021, UNC Chapel Hill had 19,897 undergraduate students, 11,836 graduate students, for a total of 31,733 students. During the fall application cycle, a total of 53,776 students applied for admission. Of those, 10,347 were admitted, resulting in an acceptance rate of 19.24%. However, only 4,677 students enrolled, indicating that for many students, North Carolina may not be their first choice. This is also related to the fact that North Carolina is the top choice for students who apply for Ivies’ REA (Restricted Early Action). In undergraduate admissions, out-of-state applicants face intense competition. Of the admitted freshmen, 82% are in-state students, and 5% are international students. A total of 8,957 students were placed on the waitlist, of which 647 were ultimately admitted.

In the application process, course rigor, standardized test scores, application essays, and letters of recommendation are considered very important. High school GPA and class rank are deemed important. Interestingly, UNC Chapel Hill is the first school I've encountered where standardized test scores are considered more important than high school grades. UNC is a somewhat test-sensitive school, requiring students to submit standardized test scores. The 25th percentile SAT score is 1330, the 75th percentile is 1500, and for the ACT, the 25th percentile is 29, and the 75th percentile is 33. 95% of admitted freshmen have a high school GPA of 4.0.

Regarding transfer applications, for the fall 2021 intake, 3,554 students applied, of which 1,666 were admitted, resulting in a transfer acceptance rate of 46.88%. However, it's important to note that being a state university, state residency is highly significant in the admission process. When looking at the 46.88% acceptance rate, this factor should be taken into consideration. UNC has both fall and summer transfer enrollments, but only one application cycle and deadline.

UNC's strengths lie in fields such as media, business, chemistry, sociology, English, biology, and international relations.

Georgia

Emory University

Emory University is the top university in Georgia, located in Atlanta. In the 2024 U.S. News rankings, Emory is ranked 24th in the United States. Emory has long competed with Duke for the title of "Harvard of the South," although it's worth noting that Duke is indeed much stronger. Additionally, in my opinion, Texas's Rice University and Tennessee's Vanderbilt University are also formidable contenders in the South. This competition may be influenced by the relatively close proximity of Georgia to North Carolina.

Compared to Northeastern universities, Emory may lack the atmosphere of a liberal arts college, but it places a strong emphasis on professional education. Established in 1836 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, the university is named after bishop, John Emory. In the application, Emory requires students to choose between two campuses: Emory College in Atlanta and the Oxford campus, which is a 45-minute drive from Atlanta. The main Emory campus follows a more typical four-year university style, while the Oxford campus, with approximately 1,000 students, offers a smaller liberal arts college atmosphere. After two years at Oxford, all students complete their final two years of study at the main campus. Emory's strengths lie in programs such as the business school, biology, chemistry, quantitative sciences, political science, nursing, and neuroscience.

As of 2022, Emory had a total of 7,101 undergraduate students and 7,751 graduate students, for a total of 14,852 students. For undergraduate admissions, there were 33,179 applications received, with 3,767 students admitted, resulting in an acceptance rate of 11.35%. Additionally, 6,448 students were placed on the waiting list, and ultimately, 107 were admitted. The acceptance rate from the waiting list was a mere 1.6%. Beyond high school grades, Emory places significant emphasis on extracurricular activities, personal qualities/character, and special talents. Of course, essays and letters of recommendation are also of utmost importance. The SAT median score was 1500, with the 75th percentile at 1530 and the 25th percentile at 1450. Among admitted students, 81% ranked in the top 10% of their high school class.

Regarding transfer applications, in 2022, there were 2,020 applications, with 386 students admitted, resulting in an acceptance rate of 18.96%. Emory, like many private universities, does not have a strong inclination towards admitting transfer students.

Texas

Rice University

Rice University was founded by the Texas cotton magnate William Marsh Rice in 1912. It is located in the heart of downtown Houston. As of 2022, the university has a total of 4,494 undergraduate students, 4,198 master's and doctoral students, totaling 8,672.

In terms of admission data, for the fall 2022 intake, there were 31,443 applicants, of which 2,730 were admitted, resulting in an acceptance rate of 8.7%. There were 4,244 students placed on the waitlist, but none were ultimately admitted. So, if you find yourself on Rice's waitlist, it's better not to wait too long. Regarding application materials, course difficulty, GPA, essays, recommendation letters, extracurricular activities, and personal qualities are all considered very important. Among the admitted students, 53% submitted SAT scores, while 23% submitted ACT scores. The median SAT score was 1530, and the median ACT score was 35.

As for transfer applications, for the fall 2022 intake, there were a total of 1,319 applicants, of which 66 were admitted. This resulted in a transfer acceptance rate of 5%. Rice is not known for being particularly transfer-friendly.

From its founding, Rice has been committed to establishing an affordable university for most families. Therefore, Rice adheres to a 100% need-based financial aid policy, and the scholarships offered to international students are quite generous, with an average value of $64,654. However, only 23% of international students receive scholarships.

Rice University excels in fields such as engineering, architecture, music, computer science, physical therapy (ranked No.1 in the U.S.), biology, and economics.

University of Texas at Austin

Regardless of who ranks as the best public university in the United States, UT Austin is sure to be on the list. Located in the capital city of Texas, Austin, it has consistently been ranked among the top few most livable cities in America by various magazines. As of 2022, the university has a total of 41,309 undergraduate students, 11,075 graduate and doctoral students, making a total of 52,384 students.

The most recent data for undergraduate admissions in 2022 indicates that a total of 60,092 students applied for freshman admission, of which 18,770 were ultimately admitted. UT Austin does not have a waitlist. Regarding transfer applications, a total of 6,961 students applied for transfer admission. Of these, 2,358 were admitted. However, it's worth noting that there is a significant preference for in-state transfer students. UT Austin accepts transfer applications for three terms: fall, spring, and summer.

Overall, the application difficulty for Austin is not very high. The university's strengths lie in fields such as business (especially accounting), communication, engineering, and computer science.

Pennsylvania

Finally, let’s move onto my home state, Pennsylvania. In the first episode, I mentioned Pennsylvania, which I believe is the state with the most diverse and abundant university resources in the United States. Here, you have the Ivy League University of Pennsylvania, the computer science powerhouse Carnegie Mellon, as well as mid-tier options like Villanova and Lehigh. There are also down-to-earth choices like Penn State and the University of Pittsburgh, along with highly-ranked liberal arts colleges such as Swarthmore. Plus, there are colleges like Haverford, Bryn Mawr, Franklin & Marshall, and Bucknell that offer less fiercely competitive environments. Pennsylvania also values professional education, with institutions like Drexel and Temple.

University of Pennsylvania

Let's begin with the flagship university of Pennsylvania, the Ivy League institution, the University of Pennsylvania, often referred to as Penn. The recent Nobel Prize in Physiology Medicine announced this month has once again put Penn in the headlines. When people think of Penn, they often associate it with the Wharton School, engineering, medicine, and nursing.

Since Penn is located in Philadelphia where I currently reside, I'm quite familiar with it. Among the Ivy League schools, Penn strikes the best balance between campus atmosphere and urban surroundings. While Columbia is in bustling Manhattan, its campus, to be honest, isn't particularly striking or comfortable. On the other hand, other Ivy League campuses can feel quite isolated. In my opinion, Penn does the best job of blending the two. Penn is also one of the few Ivy League schools with a significant "school spirit," and a place where students can achieve a balanced life between academics and other pursuits. Additionally, Penn students have a particularly strong affinity for their school, and the alumni network is very supportive.

Let's take a look at the admission data for 2022. The university had a total of 9,717 undergraduate students and 12,226 graduate students. In the application materials, course difficulty, GPA, standardized test scores, essays, recommendation letters, and personal qualities were considered very important. Class rank, interviews, extracurricular activities, and special talents were deemed important. Other factors were considered as well.

Although Penn is test-optional, standardized test scores are still reviewed and hold significant weight. Among admitted students, 48% submitted SAT scores, while 23% submitted ACT scores, totaling 71%. 25% of students had SAT scores above 1570, with the lowest SAT score being 1500. In terms of GPA, 90% of students had a GPA of 3.75 or higher. Early decision applications to Penn provide a clear advantage; over half of the incoming class is admitted through ED. Therefore, if Penn is your dream school, applying early is highly recommended. Out of 3,351 students on the waitlist, 17 were ultimately admitted.

Regarding transfer applications, there were a total of 3,513 applicants last year, of which 185 were admitted, resulting in a transfer acceptance rate of 5%. Submission of high school and undergraduate transcripts, application essays, and being in good standing at the current institution are all very important for transfer applicants. Penn's strengths lie in business, engineering, nursing, biology, and medicine.

Carnegie Mellon University

Let's move to the western city of Pennsylvania, the steel city Pittsburgh. Here, we have Carnegie Mellon University, and the University of Pittsburgh. We'll now introduce Carnegie Mellon.

Carnegie Mellon University was formed by the merger of two institutions. In 1900, the steel magnate Andrew Carnegie established a technical school in Pittsburgh, primarily to provide education for the city's blue-collar workers. In 1967, the Carnegie Institute of Technology and Mellon Institute merged to create the Carnegie Mellon University that we know today. Carnegie Mellon's campus is very quiet and beautiful, forming a university community along with the University of Pittsburgh in the picturesque and serene suburbs of Pittsburgh.

As of 2022, the university has a total of 7,509 undergraduate students, 9,270 graduate and doctoral students, making a total of 16,779, which isn't considered a particularly large institution. In terms of application data, in 2022, there were 34,261 applicants, of which 3,873 were admitted, resulting in an acceptance rate of 11%. 8,936 people were placed on the waitlist, and ultimately, 43 were admitted.

The most important factors for applying to Carnegie Mellon are high school grades, essays, recommendation letters, extracurricular activities, personal qualities, and volunteer experience. In fact, Carnegie Mellon considers even more factors than Penn, but the difference is that special talents and interviews, which are important at Penn, are not as critical at Carnegie Mellon. On the other hand, Carnegie Mellon places more importance on volunteer experience, which Penn doesn't view as heavily.

Although standardized tests are optional, over 70% of admitted students submitted either SAT or ACT scores. So, as we've always said, "optional is never optional." Unless it's a test-blind school like the University of California, if you're aiming for the top, it's still important to have standardized test scores. Among admitted students, 89.1% had GPAs of 3.75 or higher.

Regarding transfer applications, in 2022, there were 1,310 applicants, of which 93 were admitted, resulting in a transfer acceptance rate of 7%, which is lower than that of freshman applicants. So, not all schools are transfer friendly.

When it comes to Carnegie Mellon's strengths, the first and foremost is computer science. Its engineering programs are also very strong. Another outstanding program at Carnegie Mellon, with an even lower acceptance rate than computer science, is its School of Drama. Theater, music, art, and design are all strong programs at the university.

In terms of scholarships, Carnegie Mellon is not very generous. 97% of U.S. students can receive an average of $38,817 in need-based financial aid, while only 8% of students receive merit-based aid. Carnegie Mellon has a no-aid policy for international students, so all international students do not receive any financial aid.

Swarthmore

Swarthmore College, located in the town of Swarthmore in the suburbs of Philadelphia, is tied with Pomona and Wellesley for fourth place in the US News Liberal Arts College Rankings. Swarthmore students often describe themselves as "Nerdy". It ranks among the top five universities in terms of the percentage of graduates who apply for Ph.D. programs, with 22%.

As of 2023, the college has a total of 1,625 students. The freshman return rate is 96%, which holds valuable insights for transfer applicants. In terms of application data, in 2023, there were 14,707 applicants, of which 2,019 were admitted, resulting in an acceptance rate of 6.9%.

One major difference between Swarthmore and other schools in terms of evaluating application materials is that the admissions officers at Swarthmore rate personal qualities as "Very Important," while other schools categorize it as "considered." This indicates Swarthmore's emphasis on individual qualities and diversity. This reminds us to take this into full consideration when writing application essays. Other factors such as transcripts, class rank, essays, and recommendation letters are also considered the most important.

The average SAT score is 1500, and the average ACT score is 33. 87% of students scored above 700 in SAT Evidenced-Based Reading and Writing, and 91% scored above 700 in Math. 89% of students had a high school GPA within the top 10%. Overlapping schools in applications include Amherst, Bowdoin, Carleton, Pomona, Williams, Wesleyan, Yale, Brown.

Regarding transfer applications, in 2022, there were 454 transfer applicants, of which 11 were admitted, resulting in a transfer acceptance rate of a mere 2.4%.

Swarthmore's strengths lie in Economics, Computer Science, Engineering, Biology, Mathematics, Political Science, and Visual Arts. All students are required to take a minimum of two courses in the humanities, natural sciences and engineering, and social sciences, as well as meet foreign language and physical education requirements, and complete three writing-intensive courses in order to graduate.

Villanova

Villanova University, located in the suburbs of Philadelphia, is a Catholic private university that's about a 30-minute drive away. While Villanova is relatively easier to get into among the top 50 schools, it offers excellent programs. Its strengths lie in Finance, Engineering, Nursing, Economics, and Biology. Additionally, Villanova is a private university with a small student body, meaning professors can provide more attention to students, which is something that public universities can't compare to. Finally, Villanova's location is excellent, situated in the affluent Main Line region of Philadelphia with a beautiful environment and a very safe community. It's also only a half-hour to 40-minute drive from Philadelphia.

As of 2023, the university has a total of 6,989 undergraduate students and 3,394 graduate and doctoral students, making a total of 10,383 students. In 2022, there were 23,835 applicants, of which 5,576 were admitted, resulting in an acceptance rate of 23.4%. 3,355 people were placed on the waitlist, and ultimately, 36 were admitted. The average SAT score is 1440, and the ACT average is 33. 35% of admitted students had a GPA of 4.0, and 40% had a GPA between 3.75 and 3.99.

Regarding transfer applications, in the fall semester of 2022, there were 588 transfer applicants, of which 140 were admitted, resulting in a transfer acceptance rate of 23.8%, slightly higher than that of freshman applicants.

Final Note: A few predictions from me on this year's college application trends. 1) Due to recent controversies, there might be a decrease in students applying to Harvard and Penn, particularly because of recent comments regarding Israel. 2) UVA admitted too many students last year, so they might reduce the number of acceptances this year. 3) There might be an increase in students applying to UNC this year, partly due to an improvement in its rankings, and also because of the outcome of the AA lawsuit, leading more students to believe they have a chance.

Explore the Top 50 Universities with BosonEd III

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 11:46:32 GMT

Stanford University

California is a prominent state for education with numerous renowned universities. First, let me introduce the prestigious Stanford University. It has a total enrollment of 16,552 students, including 7,645 undergraduates, with a gender ratio of 49/51. In terms of admission statistics for the year 2023, there were 55,471 total applicants, of which 2,075 were admitted, resulting in an acceptance rate of 4%. There were 553 students placed on the waitlist, and ultimately, 8 of them were admitted. When admissions officers evaluate application materials, they consider high school grades, course difficulty, student rankings, standardized test scores, application essays, recommendation letters, extracurricular activities, special talents, and personal characteristics as "very important". On the other hand, volunteer work and employment are marked as "considered". I'd like to add a note about extracurricular activities. In many people’s context, extracurricular activities encompass a broad category including competitions, awards, special talents, internships, school clubs, extracurricular interest groups, and volunteering, etc. However, within the context of admissions officers, extracurricular activities have a specific definition and scope, and do not include volunteering and employment. The average standardized test score for admitted students at Stanford is 1540, with 25% of students scoring above 1570. The ACT score is 35, and the average GPA is 3.95. The Restrictive Early Action (REA) deadline for admissions is November 1st, while the Regular Decision (RD) deadline is January 5th. Admitted students can defer their enrollment for up to two years after acceptance.

Transfer Admissions: In 2022, there were a total of 3,141 transfer applications, with 47 students being admitted, resulting in an acceptance rate of 1%. This indicates that transferring is not necessarily easier than being admitted as a freshman. In the transfer application, admissions officers consider transcripts (both from high school and colleges), essays, and performance at the current college as very important factors.

Regarding tuition and fees, Stanford University charges $57,693 for tuition and $18,619 for accommodation.

Famous majors: Stanford University has strong programs in fields such as computer science, engineering, and social sciences, including disciplines like international relations and public policy.

Pomona College

Pomona College is a prestigious liberal arts college located in California and consistently ranks among the top 5 liberal arts colleges in the United States according to US News. It is a very small institution with a total enrollment of 1,747 students, similar in size to many high schools. Pomona is one of the Claremont Colleges, a consortium of seven educational institutions in California. Among these, five are undergraduate colleges collectively referred to as the "C5." All seven schools are located within a one-mile radius, allowing students to cross-register for classes.

In terms of admission statistics for the year 2022, there were 11,620 applicants, out of which 749 were admitted, resulting in an acceptance rate of 6%. The average admitted student had a GPA of 4.04, and the median SAT score was 1520. Notably, 25% of students scored 1560 or higher on the SAT. Similar to Stanford University, Pomona's admissions officers consider high school performance, course rigor, class rank, standardized test scores, application essays, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, talents, and personal characteristics as "very important," while volunteer work and employment are considered "considered."

Now, let's take a look at transfer admission data. In 2022, a total of 487 students applied to transfer to Pomona, and 36 were ultimately admitted, resulting in a transfer acceptance rate of 7%. Admissions officers place significant importance on transcripts (both high school and college), application essays, and performance at the previous college.

Pomona College's tuition is $61,906, and room and board costs $20,374.

As a liberal arts college, Pomona's strengths lie in foundational disciplines. Therefore, its standout majors include:

Economics

Computer Science

Political Science and Government

Mathematics

Research and Experimental Psychology

Chemistry

Communications

Neuroscience and Neurobiology

Additionally, Pomona, along with Columbia University, Dartmouth College, California Institute of Technology (Caltech), Swarthmore College, and Colby College, offers a 3+2 dual-degree program. Interested students can reach out to BosonEd for more information.

Claremont McKenna College

Claremont McKenna College is another top-tier liberal arts college within the Claremont Colleges Consortium (C5), is ranked 11th in the U.S. News ranking. It has a total population of 1,414 students. In terms of admissions data for 2022, there were 5,632 applicants, of which 591 were admitted, resulting in a 10% acceptance rate. There were 850 students on the waitlist, and ultimately, 538 were admitted. CMC tends to have a relatively high waitlist admission rate due to a lower yield rate. The average GPA of admitted students is 4.0, with a median SAT score of 1500 and an ACT score of 35. The admissions officers at CMC consider high school grades, course rigor, class rank, application essays, letters of recommendation, extracurricular activities, and personal characteristics as "very important" factors. Interviews and special talents are deemed important, while standardized test scores, volunteer work, and employment history are considered "considered." Therefore, the admission standards at CMC are slightly lower compared to Pomona.

Looking at transfer data, there were 388 transfer applicants in 2022, and 24 were admitted, resulting in a 6% acceptance rate, which is lower than the acceptance rate for incoming freshmen. The tuition at CMC is $63,800, and the housing cost is $19,650.

CMC's strengths lie in the following majors:

Econometrics and Quantitative Economics

Political Science and Government

Experimental Psychology

International Relations

Mathematics

Computer Science

Harvey Mudd College

It’s also a member of the Claremont Colleges Consortium (C5), is renowned for its emphasis on STEM fields and is considered on par with institutions like Caltech and MIT. The college has a total enrollment of 902 students and is ranked 16th by US News. In 2022, there were 4,437 applicants, of which 593 were admitted, resulting in a 13% acceptance rate. The median SAT score for admitted students is 1530, and the ACT score is 36. Harvey Mudd's admissions officers consider high school grades, course rigor, application essays, and letters of recommendation as "very important" factors. Extracurricular activities and personal characteristics are deemed “important”, while interviews, special talents, standardized test scores, volunteer work, and employment history are considered "considered." It's noticeable that the admission standards gradually decrease from Pomona to CMC and then to Harvey Mudd.

Regarding transfer data, there were 80 transfer applicants in 2022, and 7 were admitted, resulting in an 8.75% acceptance rate for transfers. The tuition at Harvey Mudd is $62,516, and the housing cost is $19,879.

Harvey Mudd's strengths lie in the following majors:

Engineering

Computer Science

Physics

Mathematics

The University of Southern California (USC)

USC is one of the most popular schools among on the West Coast, and has a total student population of 42,631, with 20,206 undergraduates. In 2022, USC received 69,062 applications and admitted 8,304 students, resulting in a 13% acceptance rate. The median SAT score for admitted students is 1510, and the ACT score is 34. USC's admissions officers consider high school grades, course rigor, standardized test scores, application essays, and letters of recommendation as "very important" factors. Extracurricular activities, special talents, and personal characteristics are deemed “important”, while volunteer work and employment history are considered "considered."

Regarding transfer data, there were 9,100 transfer applicants in 2022, and 2,141 were admitted, resulting in a 23.5% acceptance rate for transfers. This makes USC a favorable destination for transfer applicants. The tuition at USC is $63,468, and the housing cost is $17,432.

USC's strengths lie in the following majors:

Film

Visual Arts

Media Studies

Business

Architecture

Engineering is also notable

Explore the Top 50 Universities with BosonEd II

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 19:07:38 GMT

In the previous article, we went over colleges in Massachusetts. In this article, let's take a look at Connecticut and New York. We will go over ale, Wesleyan, Columbia, Cornell, Barnard, NYU, and Rochester. This article will showcase their first year and transfer admission data, student body, academics, tuition and fees, and overlap schools.

Yale University

Yale University's campus size ranks second among the big Ivies (Harvard, Yale and Princeton). It's larger than Princeton but smaller than Harvard. Located in New Haven, Connecticut, Yale has a graduation requirement of 36 courses, equivalent to 9 courses per year. This is more than the typical university requirement of 32 courses, so students experience relatively high academic pressure. Yale consists of 12 colleges and 1 graduate school, but its most renowned aspect is its exceptional emphasis on undergraduate education. Yale College, the undergraduate arts and science college, is the core of Yale. All professors at Yale are required to teach undergraduate courses, which means your introductory macroeconomics class might be taught by a Nobel laureate in economics. Additionally, undergraduate students have the opportunity to engage in research in laboratories. Yale has a total undergraduate enrollment of 9,275 students, with a gender ratio of 48/52 and an international student population of 10%.

Yale's strong majors include architecture, arts, drama, music, economics, English, engineering, and biology. Unlike other elite universities, Yale does not have a core curriculum, meaning there are no specific courses required for graduation. Many consider Yale's campus culture to be more conservative compared to Harvard and Princeton, but in reality, Yale leans more towards liberalism than both Harvard and Princeton.

Regarding costs and scholarships, Yale's annual cost is $82,170 USD. It’s 100% need based for domestic students and 88% of international students receive financial aid, with an average award of $70,728 USD. Families with an annual income below $75,000 USD do not need to pay any fees. Additionally, these students receive a $2,000 USD grant in their first year.

Many people are concerned about the safety of New Haven. Within Yale's campus, safety is not a problem, as Yale has its own police department.

Overlap Schools: Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Columbia, Duke, MIT, University of Pennsylvania, Brown. (Basically all other Ivies and top colleges)

Wesleyan University

Many people compare it to Amherst or Williams, but Wesleyan is more akin to Swarthmore. The main difference is that Wesleyan is about twice the size. Situated in central Connecticut, it's a 2-hour drive from both New York and Boston. The campus hosts 3,364 students with a gender ratio of 44% male to 56% female. Despite being a liberal arts college, Wesleyan describes itself as a "liberal arts college with research university resources".

Strengths at Wesleyan University lie in the fields of Economics, Psychology, Government, English, Neuroscience and Behavior, Music, Astronomy, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, and East Asian Studies. One of the hallmarks of liberal arts colleges is their small class sizes, and at Wesleyan, 73% of courses have fewer than 20 students.

Regarding costs and scholarships, Wesleyan's total cost is $82,245 USD. 27% of international students receive financial aid, with an average award of $75,536 USD.

Overlap Schools: Brown, Yale, Tufts, Cornell, Williams, Vassar, Swarthmore, Haverford.

Columbia University

Columbia University is currently the most popular Ivy League college among students. In the past decade, the number of applicants has doubled. The primary reason for this is its location. Manhattan prevails any other Ivy, even compared to Harvard in Boston.

Columbia has a total enrollment of 27,457 students, with 6,696 undergraduates. The gender ratio is 49% male to 51% female. In the most recent statistics, there were 60,551 applicants, resulting in an acceptance rate of 4%, which is now lower than Yale's. Columbia undergraduates are required to take the renowned Core Curriculum, which constitutes one-third of their course load in the first two years. Despite the rigorous nature of these courses, most students find them highly valuable. Additionally, the Core Curriculum provides an opportunity for students from different majors to get to know each other and become friends.

Columbia's strengths lie in the fields of Engineering, English, History, Political Science, Economics, Neuroscience, Computer Science, and Chemistry. The coursework at Columbia is known to be very demanding, and the university is often rated as one of the schools with the highest academic pressure.

Overlap Schools: Harvard, Yale, Stanford, MIT, Princeton, University of Pennsylvania (Penn), Brown, University of California, Berkeley.

Cornell University

Cornell University is known for two main characteristics: being the easiest Ivy League school to get into and being the most rural Ivy League school. However, Ithaca, where Cornell is located, is a picturesque college town.

The total student population at Cornell is 25,008, with 15,450 undergraduates. In the most recent statistics, there were 67,380 undergraduate applicants. Cornell always stands out among Ivy League schools, as can be seen from its unique college structure, which sets it apart from the other Ivies. Competition among students at Cornell is highly intense, and after several student suicides were publicized in 2009, the university strengthened its mental health counseling programs. Cornell's College of Engineering offers a co-op program, allowing students to intern at various companies during their semesters.

One interesting characteristic of Cornell students is that most of them did not receive acceptances from other Ivy League schools. Students who apply to other Ivy League schools sometimes find themselves holding multiple offers.

The total cost of attending Cornell University is $80,278 USD. Among international students, 13% receive financial aid, with an average award of $69,338 USD.

Overlap Schools: Harvard, University of Pennsylvania (Penn), Stanford, Dartmouth.

Barnard College

Barnard College is one of the most renowned women's colleges in the United States. It is located across from Columbia University. Established in 1889, at a time when Columbia University did not admit female students, American writer Annie Nathan Meyer founded a women's college to counter this unfair treatment. She even used the last name of Columbia's former president, which carries a touch of irony.

Barnard's core curriculum, known as the Foundation Curriculum, aims to cultivate students' general knowledge accumulation, critical thinking, and communication skills. Freshmen are required to take a writing course, a discussion seminar, and a physical education course. They also need to fulfill the requirements in six areas of thinking modes, such as technological thinking, local thinking, and global thinking.

Barnard excels in programs such as Architecture, Computer Science, Visual and Performing Arts, English, Women's Studies, Economics, Psychology, and History.

The total cost of attending Barnard College is $80,693 USD. Among international students, 9% receive financial aid, with an average award of $70,735 USD.

New York University

Similar to Columbia University, New York University (NYU) is located in Manhattan, New York. While Columbia is situated on the Upper West Side, NYU's main campus is in Greenwich Village. Additionally, NYU has an engineering school located in Brooklyn.

Regarding NYU's campus environment, opinions vary. Some people like it, while others may not. This is mainly because, apart from the area around Washington Square Park, NYU doesn't have a traditional enclosed campus. Instead, its campus is integrated into the fabric of Manhattan. However, NYU's location is incredibly advantageous, and some may argue that it is even better than Columbia's. The surrounding neighborhoods include SoHo, Chinatown, and Little Italy, with a plethora of shops and restaurants. Food enthusiasts would undoubtedly love NYU.

The total student population at NYU is 49,397, with 27,645 undergraduates. NYU also has a core curriculum, with freshmen and sophomores required to take courses including foreign languages, writing, contemporary culture, and basic science.

NYU's standout programs include Film and Television, Visual Arts, Business, Economics, Journalism, Political Science, and Nursing. The university's prime location makes it easy for students to find internships.

The total cost of attending NYU is $70,746 USD.

Overlap Schools: University of Southern California (USC), Cornell University, Boston University, Northeastern University, University of California, Berkeley, Carnegie Mellon University, Columbia University.

University of Rochester

Located in upstate New York, the University of Rochester is known for its impressive amount of snow during the cold winter months. The total student population at Rochester is 10,139, with 6,238 undergraduates. The university does not have general education course requirements, but students are required to take courses in three out of six designated disciplinary areas.

Notable strengths at Rochester include Music, Engineering (Rochester is the headquarters for Kodak, Xerox, and Bausch & Lomb), and 80% of classes have fewer than 20 students.

The total cost of attending the University of Rochester is $79,456 USD.

Overlap Schools: Cornell University, New York University (NYU), Tufts University, Carnegie Mellon University, Boston University, Case Western Reserve University, Johns Hopkins University, Washington University in St. Louis.

What 11th graders should do right now to prepare for college application?

Tue, 19 Sep 2023 16:23:38 GMT

Standardized Testing

In 11th grade, you need to decide whether to take the SAT or ACT. My advice is not to rely too much on “success stories” on social media. Instead, take a practice test for both SAT and ACT to see which one suits you better. Everyone has different habits and strengths; some may be better suited for SAT, while others for ACT. I recommend taking the first official test in March of the second semester in 11th grade, and if needed, take it again in the summer. I suggest not taking the test more than three times. The testing time is long and exhausting. Also, preparing for the test consumes a lot of time. It's not necessary to invest that time just to improve by a few points. That time could be better spent on essays and activities. So, what's considered a good score? If you're planning to apply to a top 30 school, you'll need a score of 1500 or above on the SAT, or an equivalent of 34 on the ACT. For top 50 schools, a score of 1400 or above on the SAT, or 31 on the ACT. Beyond the top 50, many schools offer a test-optional policy. Some might ask, since many schools have gone test-optional, why bother taking standardized tests? The fact is, for applicants aiming for the top 30 schools, most of them still submit standardized test scores. If you don't have them, you'll naturally put yourself at a disadvantage.

Course Selection

In the final year, take 4-5 AP courses. The first semester (the last semester before applying) is crucial, so try to choose challenging courses. However, make sure to maintain your GPA. You wouldn't want it to drop from an A to a C. As for the competitiveness between AP and IB courses, it's important to note that both are the most challenging courses high school students can take, which holds significant weight for admissions officers. Regarding taking college-level courses, different consultants have different views. Some believe that, for admissions officers, there's actually no significant preference for AP. The reason being, AP courses are standardized, and admissions officers can easily gauge the specific course's difficulty. On the other hand, college courses aren't as standardized, making it less clear for admissions officers to determine the difficulty level of a particular course at a local community college. However, some consultants argue that college courses are standardized as well. Whether you're taking macroeconomics at one place or another, the content is the same. As for specific grading, similar to AP, some professors grade leniently while others are strict. I tend to agree with the latter viewpoint. When I worked in college admissions, I also placed more emphasis on college courses. But this only applies to dual enrollment and formal college courses, not the summer programs for high school students. Additionally, if you plan to apply to a state university, taking classes at a local university or community college during high school in your home state can also save you future tuition costs.

Activity Planning

During the summer of 11th grade, which is around this time, you should be engaging in summer activities. All top 30 schools consider students' activities in the last two years of high school. Activities showcase your achievements and tie into your application theme. Achievements include direct accomplishments, such as awards. However, awards will also be analyzed in context, considering the uniqueness of the activity and your level of commitment and dedication to it. There are three key words to keep in mind: passion, persistence, and achievement. Additionally, activities should reflect your application theme in a logical and reasonable manner. There should be a logical thread connecting your activities, they should be related to your field of interest, and have standout qualities.

Special Talent

Students with talents in music, art, or sports should continue practicing consistently. When it comes to college applications, it’s important to highlight these talents. However, unless you are truly exceptional, I don’t recommend directly applying to majors in music or art. Sports, on the other hand, can be an avenue for athletic recruitment, which would require submitting an additional NCAA application.

When preparing a portfolio, here are some key points to keep in mind:

For art, don’t overlook the importance of detailed descriptions of your work.
Ensure that the images of your work are clear and avoid submitting group performances or projects.

Campus Visits

Take advantage of summer break, fall break, and spring break in your junior year to visit colleges. There are several ways to do this:

On-Campus Visits: Visit the campus directly.
High School Visits by Admissions Officers: Attend when a college admissions officer visits your high school.
College Fairs: Participate in college fairs where multiple universities present information.

When visiting a campus, go with prepared questions. The biggest mistake is to treat the visit as a mere tour. Start by registering at the college’s campus visit office. Participate in an information session, and then take a campus tour. Engage not only with admissions officers but also with tour guides, as they can provide different perspectives.

Recommendation Letters

Recommendation letters should be requested from teachers who taught you in 11th or 12th grade, particularly those in subjects like English, Math, or Science, as well as from your counselor. Start considering which teachers to ask for recommendations in your junior year. Recommendations from teachers of AP, IB, or honors courses are usually stronger than those from regular courses, especially in STEM subjects. However, avoid asking a teacher from a course where you didn’t perform well.

Ensure that the recommendation letters are personalized and provide detailed insights about you, rather than generic comments. Each letter should offer something unique and complementary. For example, if one letter is from a math teacher, the second could be from a humanities teacher, and the third from someone who can highlight your extracurricular activities. It’s generally not a good idea to use recommendation letters from 9 ^th or 10 ^th grade teachers.

How the 2024 Common App adapts to the post-Affirmative Action era?

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 19:52:00 GMT

August 1st marks the opening day for the Common Application, the system used by undergraduate applicants and transfer students in the United States. This date signals the final stages of the application season. However, this year's Common App has undergone significant changes due to the overturning of affirmative action, prompting various schools to urgently make adjustments, particularly in their supplemental essays. Additionally, many schools have revised their application requirements to adapt to the new landscape. Today, let's discuss the changes that various schools have implemented.

Harvard University

Harvard University, situated at the heart of this storm, has taken the lead in action. It has replaced the previously optional supplemental essay prompts with five mandatory short-answer questions (each answer limited to 200 words). One of these prompts is:

"Harvard has long recognized the importance of enrolling a diverse student body. How will the life experiences that shape who you are today enable you to contribute to Harvard?"

While the Supreme Court ruled that universities cannot consider an applicant's race, it opened the door to considering an applicant's racial characteristics or experiences. Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. wrote in the majority opinion: "Nothing in this opinion is intended to preclude an educational institution's consideration of the ways in which race might play a role in an applicant's life, whether through discrimination, inspiration, or any other means."

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Another school that is on the defendant's list is the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Their two short-answer questions include one that asks students to describe an academic topic of interest to them. The other prompt is:

"Discuss one of your personal qualities and share a story, anecdote, or memory of how it helped you make a positive impact on a community."

This question encourages applicants to reflect on a personal attribute and narrate an experience, anecdote, or memory that illustrates how this quality contributed to a positive impact on a community. This emphasis on personal qualities and their real-world effects underscores the university's interest in understanding how applicants can contribute positively to their campus and broader communities.

Columbia University

Columbia University has introduced a new essay prompt, requiring applicants to describe an adversity within 150 words:

"In college/university, students are often challenged in ways that they could not predict or anticipate. It is important to us, therefore, to understand an applicant’s ability to navigate through adversity. Please describe a barrier or obstacle you have faced and discuss the personal qualities, skills, or insights you have developed as a result."

This prompt highlights the university's interest in evaluating an applicant's capacity to handle unforeseen challenges and setbacks during their college experience. By sharing a specific barrier or obstacle they have encountered, applicants are expected to elaborate on the personal qualities, skills, or insights they have cultivated as a direct outcome of facing such adversity. This question provides applicants with an opportunity to demonstrate resilience, adaptability, and personal growth, which are qualities Columbia values in potential students.

University of Virginia

The University of Virginia has recently released a new essay prompt, allowing applicants to showcase different aspects of themselves.

"What about your background, perspective, or experience will serve as a source of strength for you or for those around you at UVA?"

This prompt encourages applicants to reflect on their unique background, perspective, or experiences and consider how these aspects can contribute as sources of strength. The university is interested in understanding how applicants' individual qualities can positively impact not only themselves but also the broader UVA community. By addressing this question, applicants have the opportunity to share personal stories and insights that demonstrate their potential to enrich the university environment and support those around them.

Amherst College

We seek an Amherst made stronger because it includes those whose experiences can enhance our understanding of our nation and our world, We do so in the faith that our humanity is an identity forged from diversity, and that our different perspectives enrich our inquiry, deepen our knowledge, strengthen our community, and prepare students to engage with an ever-changing world.

Question：In what ways could your unique experiences enhance our understanding of our nation and our world?

Brandeis University

Brandeis was established 75 years ago to address antisemitism, racism, and gender discrimination in higher education, and today, the university remains dedicated to its founding values of inclusivity and justice. How has your educational experience shaped your perspective on these values?

In our previous webinar, we discussed this university. In fact, long before Asian Americans faced admissions discrimination, Jewish individuals experienced similar challenges. The recent and highly debated topic of affirmative action originally emerged as a response to the admissions practices affecting Jewish applicants. In order to address the perceived unfairness in admissions, Jewish individuals took matters into their own hands and established a university – this institution being Brandeis University.

Emory University

There are total 6 prompts, and two of them are related to diversity.

· Reflect on a personal experience where you intentionally expanded your cultural awareness

· Emory University has a strong commitment to building community. Tell us about a community that you have been part of where your participation helped to change or shape the community for the better.

Sarah Lawrence College

In a 2023 majority decision of the Supreme Court of the United States, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote, "Nothing prohibits universities from considering an applicant’s discussion of how race affected the applicant’s life, so long as that discussion is concretely tied to a quality of character or unique ability that the applicant can contribute to the university."

Drawing upon examples from your life, a quality of your character, and/or a unique ability you possess, describe how you believe your goals for a college education might be impacted, influenced or affected by the Court’s decision.

Babson College

A defining element of the Babson experience is learning and thriving in an equitable and inclusive community with a wide range of perspectives and interests. Please share something about your background, lived experiences, or viewpoint(s) that speaks to how you will contribute to and learn from Babson’s collaborative community.

University of Massachusetts at Amherst

At UMass Amherst, no two students are alike. Our communities and groups often define us and shape our individual worlds. Community can refer to various aspects, including shared geography, religion, race/ethnicity, income, ideology, and more. Please choose one of your communities or groups and describe its significance. Explain how, as a product of this community or group, you would enrich our campus.

Summary

The changes in college application essays are notably influenced by the recent Supreme Court rulings related to affirmative action. Schools aim to maintain their diversity through these essays. Therefore, it's crucial for applicants to pay special attention to this aspect during the application process.

Some students lack confidence in writing diverse essays, believing they don't possess unique qualities. However, this isn't necessarily the case.

Diversity is a broad topic, encompassing both macro-level discussions on ethnicity and micro-level stories about personal experiences. The essence of a diverse essay lies in narrating personal experiences and explaining how they've shaped the present version of oneself. An example from one of our previous students can illustrate this concept.

Suggestions:

Don't limit diversity solely to ethnicity.
Use your imagination to identify any aspect that sets you apart from others.
Avoid showcasing a narrative of privileged experiences. For instance, refrain from writing about providing food or money to impoverished individuals, or participating in one-day charity events in rural areas.
Emphasize the impact that your unique experiences of diversity have had on you.

Other Changes

· Hiding Race/Ethnicity Information: Another significant change is that, given the prohibition on considering an applicant's race or ethnicity, Common App now allows member institutions to hide this information. In an email sent to college counselors by Harvard University's admissions office, it was stated that while applicants to Harvard can still disclose their race/ethnicity through checkboxes on the Common App, all race/ethnicity information on the PDF application received by the admissions office will be redacted.

· Reducing Extracurricular Activity Count: Some schools, like Lafayette College, are reducing the number of extracurricular activities considered in the admissions process. Common App allows for listing up to 10 extracurricular activities, but Lafayette College's president, Nicole Hurd, stated that the school will stop reviewing after the 6th activity. For students applying in the Early Decision round, only 6 slots will be available for extracurricular activities.

Common App's data shows significant disparities in the number of submitted activities across almost all racial and income groups. Therefore, reducing the number of activities is a measure taken to enhance fairness. The extracurricular section on Common App serves as an opportunity for students to demonstrate their contributions to their families, schools, and communities. The focus should be on the substance of the activities rather than the quantity.

· Cancellation of Early Decision and Legacy Admissions: Virginia Tech announced the cancellation of Early Decision admissions and legacy admissions policies. Additionally, institutions like Carnegie Mellon University, University of Pittsburgh, and top liberal arts college Wesleyan University have also terminated legacy admissions policies.

All of these changes, in addition to being proactive adaptations to the Supreme Court's rulings, aim to guide applicants in deeply reflecting upon and expressing how their backgrounds and experiences have shaped them. This allows institutions to gain a more comprehensive understanding of applicants while ensuring fairness. Are you ready for these changes?

Admission Season is Here: Exploring Top 50 Universities with BosonEd I

Tue, 22 Aug 2023 20:30:58 GMT

Starting this week, BosonEd will be delving into the selection process for some of the top 50 prestigious universities. We will provide insights into their admission statistics, merit-based financial aid, unique features, prominent majors, and student experiences. This will offer you a chance to understand each school's distinctive characteristics and gain insights that rankings might not reveal, all without the need for campus visits.

How I Choose Universities?

In this series, I'll begin with universities in the New England, following the geographical distribution in the U.S. When selecting schools, I take into consideration factors such as the level of recognition. Ranking is another variable I consider. The third variable I incorporate is the satisfaction level of students, also known as the student experience, at these universities. Lastly, I factor in my own judgment based on my years of experience as an admissions officer and educational consultant.

Leading the pack is Harvard University. Harvard's name resonates widely, being the oldest and most renowned university in American history. Situated within the city of Boston, Harvard's location is convenient and safe. However, living costs are notably high, particularly for housing around the campus – a scarce and pricey resource. With 7,095 undergraduate students, Harvard isn't overly large, and it hosts 833 international students. The freshman retention rate is 96%, an indicator of how many students return for their second year – a significant figure for transfer students.

Harvard boasts strengths in economics, government studies, computer science, applied mathematics, history, biology, and East Asian studies. Its business and law schools are also prominent, though they are predominantly geared towards graduate programs. Approximately 71% of classes have fewer than 20 students, but some students express concerns about math and language courses being taught by teaching assistants. However, some students find this may not be too bad as TAs often offer insights from a student perspective and eliminate the intimidation of asking "silly" questions.

A commonly shared sentiment is that courses at Harvard are challenging, particularly the introductory ones. Nonetheless, Harvard's grading is relatively lenient, making it rather difficult to fail a course. So, the joke goes: "The hardest thing about Harvard is getting in." The average acceptance rate stands at 4%. It's important to clarify that this isn't the acceptance rate among casual applicants; it's the rate among those who have already undergone an initial self-selection process, which means if you're applying to Harvard, you believe you have a chance.

Now, let's discuss finances. Harvard's annual cost is $78,028. Since Harvard offers 100% need-based financial aid, the average merit-based award to non-need students is fairly low, which is $7347, and parentage is 1%.

While students admitted to Harvard come from diverse backgrounds, there are some common threads. Strong academic performance is fundamental, and a flawless GPA can be considered a stepping stone. In terms of geographical distribution, although students hail from all 50 states in the U.S. and various parts of the world, the highest number of admitted students tend to originate from the Northeastern region of the United States.

Overlap schools: MIT, Princeton, Stanford, Yale

Tufts University

Next, let's discuss my alma mater, Tufts University. It's not far from Harvard and MIT, making it part of Boston's "brainpower triangle." Tufts might have a relatively lower profile in Boston's academic landscape compared to Harvard and MIT. However, Tufts is an excellent institution.

Situated north of Harvard and MIT on a small hill within Boston, Tufts' campus offers a beautiful environment and is considered safe. Similar to Harvard, living costs are high, housing is scarce, and rent is expensive. With 6,509 undergraduate students, Tufts is smaller than Harvard, with 757 international students. The freshman retention rate is 97%.

Tufts excels in majors like international relations, biology, economics, and engineering. For a long time, many students have considered Tufts as a "backup Ivy." The school that most resembles Tufts' style is Brown University. Making this comparison might help you perceive Tufts' character more vividly. Both Tufts and Brown are like liberal arts colleges that highly value free thinking and general education. Like Brown's Core Curriculum, Tufts also features two distinctive undergraduate programs.

First is the Experimental College, offering over 100 credit courses ranging from pharmacology to medical treatment to ethics. Students have complete freedom in course selection, and instructors include both Tufts professors and external experts. The second distinctive program is the Freshman Explorations Seminars, small discussion classes taught by two seniors and a professor. Class sizes range from 10 to 15 students, covering a wide array of topics from media and politics to performing arts. This course serves as a way for freshmen to get to know each other, facilitating their integration into university life.

Another Tufts hallmark is cross-registration, allowing students to take classes at Harvard, MIT, Swarthmore, and Spelman. In terms of admissions, Tufts' acceptance rate is 11%, with the top states of student origin being Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and California.

Tufts's annual cost is $81,232. Tufts also offers 100% need-based financial aid. The average merit-based award to non-need students is $1379, and parentage is 2%.

Overlap schools: Brown, Dartmouth, Wesleyan, Georgetown, U of Chicago, Northwestern, Washington St. Louis

Boston University v.s. Northeastern University

I've grouped these two schools together because they do indeed share many similarities:

They are both private universities.
They are located in the heart of Boston.
Both have substantial student populations.
Their rankings are similar, with BU at 41 and Northeastern at 44.
They have similar acceptance rates.

Boston University currently has a total student population of 28,699, including 17,197 undergraduates, with 3,909 international students. The acceptance rate is 22%, and the freshman retention rate is 94%. BU’s annual cost is $79,606. 88% of students who are qualified need-based received the financial aid. The average merit-based award to non-need students is $23,912, and parentage is 7%.

Northeastern University's total enrollment is 32,403, with 20,235 undergraduates and 2,929 international students. The acceptance rate stands at 18%, and the freshman retention rate is 91%. The tuition fee is $52,420, slightly more affordable than BU. NEU’s annual cost is $78,202. 84% of students who are qualified need-based received the financial aid. The average merit-based award to non-need students is $14,800, and parentage is 41%.

From a data perspective, these two schools are quite similar. Now, let's delve into their strengths and distinctive programs.

Boston University excels in business-related fields, particularly marketing and management. Another strength lies in media studies and arts programs.

Northeastern University's strengths lie in natural sciences and engineering, with a notable business program as well.

Lastly, let's discuss the unique characteristics of each of these schools. Boston University is part of the Boston Consortium, which includes Boston College, Brandeis University, Tufts University, MIT, and Hebrew College. Students within this consortium can cross-register for one course at other member institutions for per semester.

Northeastern University's standout feature is its co-op education. The university has partnerships with companies in 131 countries, and students can participate in full-time, semester-long co-op positions with these companies, earning credits while gaining real-world experience. This approach is similar to several other institutions, such as Drexel University in Philadelphia.

Overlap schools of Boston University: UCLA, USC, Northeastern, New York University, Tufts, Cornell

Overlap schools of Northeastern: USC, New York University, Boston University, Boston College, Cornell

Brandies University

Lastly, let's discuss Brandeis University, a relatively niche institution. This is a Jewish university. Interestingly, well before Asian Americans faced admissions discrimination, the Jewish community went through a similar experience. The affirmative action policies that are currently under heated discussion were originally introduced to address admission practices affecting Jewish applicants. In response to this, the Jewish community established its own university, which is Brandeis University.

The university has a total of 5,120 students, including 3,568 undergraduates and 723 international students. Located in Waltham, a suburb of Boston, it's about a 30-minute drive to downtown Boston. The acceptance rate stands at 39%, and the freshman retention rate is 91%. Brandeis excels in fields such as neuroscience, biochemistry, chemistry, physics, Middle Eastern and Islamic studies, drama, and music.

Brandeis’s annual cost is $78,956. 95% of students who are qualified need-based received the financial aid. The average merit-based award to non-need students is $14,911, and parentage is 30%.

Overlap schools: Tufts University, University of Rochester, Case Western Reserve University, Northeastern University, Boston University, and New York University.

What admission officers really look for when they read your application?

Fri, 18 Aug 2023 16:09:08 GMT

First of all, I want to let you know the overlooked truth in college applications: schools want you to graduate! Whether you can graduate not only affects your future but also impacts the school you apply to. This includes their rankings, accreditations, donations, and more. Therefore, when admissions officers evaluate your application they need to determine if you can enjoy the college and successfully graduate.

The top 50 schools use a method called holistic evaluation when reviewing materials. There are three main aspects to consider: academics, personal attributes, and other factors.

Academics refer to your academic record (your GPA, your courses, and trends). Your school's prestige also matters. Admission officers want to know whether graduates from your school have attended the school you're applying to, and their performance.

The second aspect is personal attributes, which encompass activities (both inside and outside of classroom), essays, recommendation letters, interviews, and more. The most important among these is the essay, as it's the primary way to showcase your personal attributes. The essay essentially functions as your autobiography. Other factors include your family background, whether you have alumni connections, special talents, and so on. All these factors combined address the following questions: 1) Do you meet this school's requirements? 2) Can you graduate successfully? 3) Are you a good match?

What Admission Officers Look for in Your Application Materials: Highlighting 5 Valued Qualities by Universities

When admissions officers review your application materials, they are examining several key aspects. Below are five qualities that universities hold in high regard:

1. Drive: The willingness to push oneself beyond comfort zones. Even if it requires significant time and effort, individuals with this quality are willing to overcome challenges, achieve goals, and become better versions of themselves.

2. Intellectual Curiosity: A strong desire for learning and knowledge. This is evident when someone delves deeply into a subject or research area, investing time and energy without reservation.

3. Initiative: The ability to take action independently without the need for constant prompting. Individuals with initiative proactively put their plans into motion.

4. Contribution: It signifies a willingness to selflessly contribute to one's community and groups.

5. Diversity Experiences: Unique and varied life and learning experiences. This includes having a well-rounded background and different perspectives.

We will illustrate these qualities by analyzing sample essays from our students.

Intellectual Curiosity

My humble opinion is that nucleotides, carefully assembled and held in shape by a number of bonds to form the structurally beautiful double helix, is nature’s greatest innovation. The music and the beauty, the physics and mathematics of nature, from a molecular level, is a world I enter each day. As a scientist, I am driven to leverage the awesome power of human knowledge, to find order in chaos on a molecular level. Science is a serious business, but I cannot do it alone, and teamwork is where I find responsibility and community. I am as fascinated by the many shapes team efforts can take, as I am by the elegant organization of simple cell structure.

· Advice: Make sure highlight your intellectual curiosity and thirst for knowledge that's related to your discipline.

Drive

As a girl fascinated with physics, I’m frequently asked: “Why would you like to study that?” I hear the unspoken words: physics is something too difficult and unsuitable for women. At age 11, I entered a program for gifted STEM students, less than 20% were girls. In advanced physics classes, I am always a minority of one. Judgmental eyes are always staring at me --unspoken words of “you don’t belong here”. The sad truth is that although gender stereotyping has lessened in our society, women still suffer from the expectation that they are better suited for housework, not academic and professional development

This student writes about the unfair treatment she faced as a female conducting research in the field of physics. Despite the challenges, she persisted in her pursuit of physics research and ultimately achieved exceptional results.

· Advice: Ensure that your drive reflects rational considerations and is aligned with the right direction. If your actions are contrary to your aspirations, even the strongest motivation will only showcase stubbornness and a lack of wisdom.

Diversity of Experiences

Growing up, I frequently felt bewildered when my classmates sneered about “Beijing drifters” (first-generation migrants, like me) jamming up their academic opportunities. Everyone enjoyed identical compulsory education, after all. Curiously, years later in the U.S., I witnessed similar incidents involving Mexican-American friends, whom some 9th graders accused of “stealing jobs.” A quick look at the logic is sufficient to refute these flawed assertions. Yet, logic doesn’t matter to 14-year-olds who don’t fully understand their own viewpoints. For them, speaking condescendingly is simply a means to feel superior.

This student came to Beijing from another city to pursue his education, which qualifies as being part of the so-called "northern drifter" phenomenon. During his time in Beijing, he embarked on a year-long exchange program to the United States. Witnessing the discrimination faced by a Mexican classmate from the local students there prompted the student to reflect on their own experience as a "northern drifter." This allowed him to demonstrate their empathy and diverse background.

Suggestions:

·Don't Limit Diversity to Just Ethnicity: Remember that diversity extends beyond racial differences.

·Think Creatively About Uniqueness: Consider any aspects that set you apart from others.

·Avoid a Narrative of Privilege: Refrain from showcasing activities where you appeared to be enjoying special treatment, like giving money to the less fortunate or participating in a one-day poverty alleviation project in rural areas.

·Highlight the Impact of Diversity: Discuss how your diverse experiences have influenced you.

2023 Admission Data Summary

Sun, 13 Aug 2023 16:37:59 GMT

A few months ago, I attended a HECA webinar that provided a comprehensive overview of the admission data for various schools for the 2023 application cycle. Today, I will share some of this data to provide everyone with a more informed perspective on the current application landscape.

If you are applying for 2024, I hope you can use it as an indicator to assist in formulating your college list. Remember, while acceptance rates and financial aid are crucial factors, there are numerous other considerations to bear in mind. In the weeks ahead, we'll delve into these aspects further to ensure you make well-informed decisions.

First, let's begin with a comparison between early admissions (comprising both Early Decision and Early Action) and regular admissions data. Pay particular attention to the proportion of Early Decision admissions relative to the total number of admissions. As we can observe, there are several schools where applying Early Decision remains a strategic option, given the following insights:

Barnard College ED

Bates College ED

Brown University ED

Vanderbilt University ED

These schools admit more than 50% of incoming class students from ED, but some schools are lower, such as

Rice 39% ED

University of Virginia 24.7% EA

Georgetown 10% EA

Summary:

Early Decision (ED) acceptance rates tend to be higher than Early Action (EA) acceptance rates. This is due to the binding nature of ED, where admitted students are committed to attending the school. This gives schools more confidence to admit ED applicants.
Colleges of Arts and Sciences witness a greater proportion of freshmen applying early. Universities ranked beyond the top 30 do not seem to have a significant early application advantage.

So, does applying early really increase your chances of acceptance? Let's revisit the data to make a comparison:

Barnard College: ED acceptance rate 33.4%, Regular Decision (RD) 8.4%
Brown University: ED acceptance rate 16%, RD 4%
Boston University: ED acceptance rate 33.2%, RD 17.5%

From these examples, it's evident that highly ranked and more competitive schools tend to have an advantage for early applicants. However, schools with lower rankings do not exhibit a clear advantage in early application.

Another topic that everyone will care about is the distribution of scholarships. This is the second picture I show, which is the distribution of scholarships for domestic students.

Scholarships encompass both Merit-based and Need-based categories. Ultimately, the scholarship amount awarded to students is a composite of these two components, forming what can be termed as a comprehensive scholarship package.

As we can see from the image, the richer the colleges, the higher the percentage of needs met. But if we look at the average merit aid award, Liberal Arts colleges are usually more generous.

The Impact of Overturned Affirmative Action on U.S. College Applications

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 12:09:10 GMT

The long-awaited verdict on the affirmative action case has finally concluded today, with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling the policy unconstitutional. The admissions programs of Harvard University and the University of North Carolina, two of the oldest private and public universities in the United States, respectively, have been overturned, putting an end to 58 years of affirmative action history.

For decades, colleges and universities have been using affirmative action to address inequality and promote diversity on their campuses. Since 1978, the Supreme Court has ruled multiple times that schools can consider an applicant's race as one factor among many in admissions, as long as it is not used as a quota system. This case originated from a lawsuit filed by Students for Fair Admissions, a non-governmental organization primarily composed of Asian Americans, against Harvard University and the University of North Carolina, alleging intentional discrimination against Asian American applicants through their race-conscious admissions programs.

In the opinion Chief Justice John Roberts wrote, he argued that the admissions programs of Harvard University and the University of North Carolina violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

However, Justice Roberts also wrote, "At the same time, as all parties agree, it remains an enduring challenge to our Nation's education system to reconcile the pursuit of diversity with the constitutional promise of equal treatment and dignity."

The court's ruling is a significant blow to the universities, that believe it is necessary to consider race to ensure a diverse student body. But the most affected will be those with highly competitive admissions processes, including Yale University, Brown University, Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Chicago, Dartmouth College, and others. I anticipate a significant decrease in the number of African American and Latino students admitted to these schools. Additionally, I believe that universities will propose alternative solutions in the short term. In fact, many universities started researching alternative strategies last year. For example, they may consider factors such as first-generation college students, family income, and geographical location to ensure fairness and student diversity. Colleges may also consider getting rid of legacy admission as well.

In summary, as an Asian student, if you plan to apply to a top 30 school, today's ruling is good news. However, for admissions to non-elite schools, the applicant pool may not be greatly affected as they primarily consider test scores for admission. For international students, the ability to pay full tuition is often a more important consideration. However, the prohibition of affirmative action is also good news for Asian international students, particularly if you plan to apply to Harvard University.

【Case study】What kind of student got into Princeton?

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 17:28:41 GMT

Since BosonEd was founded, we have received all Ivy League schools’ admissions except for Harvard (we can try this year; wish us luck!) and Oxford and Cambridge in the UK. First of all, BosonEd will continue to work hard to guide more students to enter top schools in the US and UK. Applying to prestigious schools is not an easy road. There is no standardized formula that can be applied to all students. I think every student is different. The application plan we made for student A may not be applicable to student B. However, applications to elite schools can be analyzed. Why are these students able to win the favor of Ivy League schools? How good do you have to be to get admitted to a prestigious school? So, it can be summarized a little bit.

We can divide American undergraduate admissions materials into two categories: quantitative and qualitative. Quantitative materials are numbers: high school transcripts, grades in advanced courses (AP/IB/A-level), SAT/ACT, TOEFL scores. Qualitative materials are essays, resumes, letters of recommendation, interviews, and portfolios (if required by the school).

Scores are the basis. Your score can't be too unrealistic. For example, a 1430 SAT for applying to Princeton. However, the score does not determine your admission, nor is the higher the more guaranteed. Some of our students who were admitted to the Ivy League schools did not have super high scores, and some didn’t even hand in the SAT/ACT. Among the students who scored much higher than them, there were many who were rejected. Among these scores, high school grades are more important than standardized exams. Even if your SAT score is not particularly high, you must have a very good high school GPA.

With regard to qualitative factors, one concept that I particularly want to emphasize is the theme of the application . This is not the theme of an essay, but the theme of your entire application. To put it bluntly, what kind of person do you want the admissions officer to see you as? All students admitted to prestigious schools have themes. Either you are outstanding in art, or sports, or have won awards in competitions, or you have had a unique life experience, or your character and way of thinking make you unique. In short, you need to have something that makes admissions officers want to know more about who you are.

But in the process of advising students, I found that the difficulty for students and parents was not not knowing these things, but how to determine the application theme. To put it bluntly, for those who have won gold medals in the Mathematics Olympiad and have musical talents, everyone knows where their "selling points" are. And it's easy for them to get into top schools. Whereas most students are good in all aspects, but there is no particular part that stands out. What should these students do?

Every year, when I go to the NACAC conference, I will chat with the admissions officers of these prestigious schools. I find that the students most favored by these schools have two characteristics. The first one is called "genuinely interesting people generated genuinely interesting achievements." When the admissions officers read their essays, they can feel their sincerity, they really like what they do and enjoy the whole process. It seems easy to say this, but in practice, students applying to Ivy League schools tend to be more or less arrogant when writing essays.

The second characteristics is intellectual curiosity. Ivy League schools like students who are curious about everything, not just their majors. Those who study computers are also interested in philosophy, those who study economics are interested in art, and those who study mathematics are also concerned about social justice issues. But I added the word "intellectual,", which is very important. What you are interested in has to be intellectually challenging.

Knowing what kind of students the prestigious schools like, you would know what to do when determining your theme. Then it would be more straightforward for you to come up with materials such as essays, and interviews. In fact, the most critical is the implementation process. The story is important, but the ability to tell a good story is actually more important. We will talk about it in our next article.

Do "liberal arts" majors have no future?

Thu, 08 Dec 2022 19:49:40 GMT

How do you define "liberal arts" majors?

The liberal arts majors in British and American universities generally refer to the social sciences and humanities. Majors in social sciences generally include economics, sociology, political science, education, communication, journalism, and public management. The main humanities disciplines include various languages and literatures, linguistics, classics, Roman studies, religious studies, philosophy, history, art, etc.

Are liberal arts majors difficult? What do classes look like in college?

The answer is very difficult to read. The American liberal arts training method is to arrange a lot of reading materials before class. You need to read these materials before class and make some notes yourself. During the seminar, you will discuss the materials you read and present your opinions. Then you will need to write weekly papers. It requires a lot of reading and writing. Another difficulty is the research method. American liberal arts majors have very rigorous research methodologies. Generally speaking, there are two types of methodologies. One is quantitative analysis, which is to collect data and use statistical methods for analysis. There is also the establishment of mathematical models, and then use the data to verify. Another research method is qualitative analysis, which is mainly historical literature review and field research.

How do I apply?

First of all, when choosing a school, pay attention to the subfields. Even if it is the same major, there are many different sub-branches. It is best for students to have an initial school list first. You can refer to the ranking, the geographical location you are interested in, and whether it is a big city or a small city to make this list. Then go to the websites of these schools to see which major you want to apply for, which branches, and professors are listed, and which institutions the department has a cooperative relationship with. If you can’t find information on the website, you can directly send an email to the department. The application essay plays a decisive role in applying for liberal arts majors. First of all, liberal arts majors lack quantitative measurements to review applications, compared to STEM majors. There aren’t many competitions, or certificates to prove your capabilities. So, you will need to show your strength through the details of what you do. Some majors can submit a portfolio, but in general, essays are basically the only platform to show your strength. In addition, liberal arts applicants have different backgrounds, so you need to show your uniqueness, and, at the same time, show that you are suitable for this major and that you can bring value to this school.

Is it true that liberal arts graduates can’t find a job?

First of all, of course, it’s a false statement. In fact, such a statement is a kind of inertial thinking. Choosing a major is not a decision that is particularly important to your life. It may be important in the first few years after graduation, but your major cannot determine the success of your career, especially the undergraduate major. Rather than saying that majoring is important, it is more important to say that mastering a skillset is vital. CS is considered a "good major" because it teaches students a useful set of foundational skills, such as programming, statistics, which are useful for recent graduates looking for entry-level jobs. Therefore, for liberal arts students, it is especially important to master a set of skills that allow you to survive, such as foreign languages, writing, public speaking, etc.

How do liberal arts graduates find a job?

This depends on the major. For example, anthropology, which is very unpopular, is actually very easy to get a job, and curation is also very good for employment. Economics and public management are not so much, and communication is a pit. But generally speaking, the employment of liberal arts students is not as good as that of STEM. The key to the employment of liberal arts students is to "be the sub-group one". That is to say, to become a unique person who has skills in a certain subfield and is difficult for others to replace.

How to write “Why” essay

katiah@bosoned.org (Katia Hua) — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 22:35:50 GMT

1.Describe how you intend to explore your academic and intellectual interests at the University of Pennsylvania. (150-200 words)

2. Which aspects of the Tufts undergraduate experience prompt your application? In short, ‘Why Tufts?’ (150 words)

3. In 300 words or less, help us understand how you might engage specific resources, opportunities, and/or communities here. We are curious about what these specifics are, as well as how they may enrich your time at Northwestern and beyond.

4. In no more than 250 words, please tell us why BU is a good fit for you and what specifically has led you to apply for admission.

The first key to writing the why essay is detail. You can’t say you choose NYU because it is in New York.

Bad Example：I’m applying to Tufts because of its low student to faculty ratio, the strong math department, and its prime location in Medford, just a hop away from Boston. When I visited campus, the school already felt like home.

This is a bad example because many universities have low student-faculty ratios, Boston has a bunch of schools, Harvard, MIT, BC, Northeastern, and Boston University. So being close to Boston can be a reason to apply to any of these schools, not just Tufts. Then the key to writing a Why essay is the details. Let the school know that you really know the school very well.

Another very easy mistake to make when writing why school is that you only write about why you applied to this school, but do not write about your plans and goals after entering this school, that is, how the school will help you grow.

Good Example: CAS’s undergraduate research program would allow me to work with a mentor, such as Dr. Alice Cronin-Golomb or Dr. Robert M.G. Reinhart related to their research on neurological disorders. With them, I can advance the work I have already completed related to Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). .. Successfully analyzing these fMRI and PET studies and learning to code drives me to pursue more research opportunities, and this desire motivates me to study at a university that offers research opportunities to undergraduates. BU’s interdisciplinary approach to psychology and support for independent undergraduate research will optimally prepare me for a career as a neurological researcher.

This essay lists the applicant’s professional goals in great detail, and lists specific study plans, such as the research of several professors, and the specific resources of BU. The applicant also talked about his research background and explaindc why these BU resources fit their background and learning goals. Throughout the article, you will feel that this student has really considered the fit with the school and studied the school seriously. The only downside to this essay is the absence of extracurricular activities and social aspects. Why school also write about the extracurricular activities and student clubs you liked about the school.

Summary

· Make a list of the reasons you decided to apply.

· Research unique opportunities related to your academic and extracurricular interests.

· Pick your top academic reasons for applying, and your top extracurricular/social reasons for applying.

【Student’s story】Getting admission from Columbia is not just self-affirmation, but also self-discovery

katiah@bosoned.org (Katia Hua) — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 22:30:22 GMT

Q: Hello Tesia, please briefly introduce yourself first, so that readers can understand your background

Hello everyone. First of all, thank you for your time. I am Tesia. I just finished my sophomore year at Wake Forest University. I applied for a transfer as a sophomore. I was considering three majors when applying: economics, psychology, and philosophy. Depending on the school, I might choose different majors, minors, or double majors. My high school is an IB school, and my score is 42. My college GPA is 4.0. I took the SAT and received a 1490, so I didn’t use it, since all of these schools are highly selective.

Q: Wake Forest is a very good school. Why did you choose to transfer? What are your requirements for target schools?

The main reason for transferring is to seek more challenges. Personally, I especially like the transfer options offered by American undergraduate programs, which give students a second chance. In fact, the reason for me is more because I think transferring is an opportunity to seek self-growth and challenges; secondly, Wake Forest is a very good school. It feels like paradise, but I am a person who likes challenges and thinks that I should jump out of my comfort zone, so I chose to transfer. I have two main expectations for target schools, one is to have more abundant resources, and the other is the location. I also applied to New York University, which may not be higher than Wake Forest in terms of rankings, but it does have abundant resources and a great location. They were selected by discussing with my BosonEd counselor, with a series of very detailed screening, including participating in the school's info session, looking at their curriculum and some research opportunities.

Q: In the process of creating essays, what are the differences from your previous imagination?

I think one of the most important aspects for me may be that I have a resume first, and then I want to write essays based on my resume, so what I thought at the beginning was to put all my activities into essays, as much as possible. But after talking with BosonEd counselor, they also showed me a lot of sample essays, and I realized that a good essay should not be framed by a resume, nor a simple list of personal experience, but an internal logic that be found from my experience, then find my hook, or a theme. And then use relevant experiences or stories to prove and support this application theme. At the same time, when writing my story, I should show as much detail as possible. During this process, I repeatedly revised and deleted some unnecessary contents. This is also the part that I find particularly difficult, namely, making trade-offs when writing an essay, especially when there is a limit on the word count.

Be as sincere as possible, especially in the "why school" essay, which requires a thorough understanding of the school, and use details to show why this school is particularly suitable for me. So it's not just to praise the school, but to find out which aspects of the school are good and especially suitable for me.

Q: Give some advice to the students who are applying right now?

I think the most important thing is to plan in advance, including when to get the standardized test, when to have the first draft of the essay, and to revise and improve it as much as possible. I tend to pursue perfection. There will always be room for revision, so if there is no good planning, toward the end, the exam, essay, and application deadlines will be squeezed all together, and I will feel very anxious, so it is very important to plan in advance and overcome procrastination.

Secondly, I think multitasking is also very important in the application process. It is almost unavoidable that several important things need to be done at the same time. You may need to study hard to ensure your GPA, write essays, and communicate with professors at the same time. Recommendation letters, transcripts, and portfolios need to be prepared. My previous style of doing things may have been more linear. I need to complete one thing before moving on to the next one. This application process actually trained me to multitask. On this point, BosonEd’s counselors helped me a lot. They really understand the application. Especially when the deadline is approaching, some decisions need to be made quickly, and the overall quality of the application needs to be looked at, rather than getting obsessed with or entangled in certain minor aspects.

How to reach out the professors when you apply for graduate school

katiah@bosoned.org (Katia Hua) — Mon, 28 Nov 2022 22:25:29 GMT

You need to figure out what not to do first: don't let the email turn into something created by template, which means mass-produced and then mass-sent the same email to 1,000 professors. Second not to do is that the email doesn’t mention the professor's research and projects. Such an email, even if you express in the letter how much you want to work with the professor, how much you want to learn from him/her, how hard you can work, and how much you can stay up late, the professor will not like such a set of letters.

Here's what to do. First check the professor's research field: what research he/she has done and what research he/she is currently doing. The more details the better. Read journal papers of the professor and other related papers. Then think about what you can do in this field, what you can do for this professor, and what you can gain from it. Once you've done all the preparatory work, you can start writing letters to your professor.

Be careful when writing letters, keep it short and sweet. But if you write something like "I'm a student in my X year of Y university. I'm interested in your work on X (be specific) and would like to learn more about it. Can you suggest the best way to do that?" The professor will throw it in the trash. Because there are too many similar emails, and no specifics. You should ask at least one or two specific questions. In doing so, first of all, it will appear that you have done your homework, and secondly, the professor can answer your question without writing a long essay. Otherwise, this kind of "I hope you can give me some advice" question is too broad, and the professor has no idea where to start.

As for whether to attach a resume and cover letter, it depends on the situation. Because some school mailbox systems will automatically mark emails from unknown senders with attachments as spam, your emails may never be seen by the professor.

Whether the professor responds depends on several things: how busy the professor is, how good you are, your writing skills, and how much the professor needs someone. Regarding the timeline, I recommend starting as early as possible. In this way, you will have more time to get acquainted with the professor, and the professor will have a deeper impression on you. If the peak application season starts and everyone starts to set up porcelain, you will disappear in the vast army of porcelain sets. Last but not least: Overlaying does not guarantee admission. The main role of ceramics is to eliminate information inequality, collect more information, learn about schools and projects, and help you determine whether the school still has paperwork and interviews.

Traps to avoid when write application essay

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 16:46:48 GMT

A good college essay not only requires you to make your hook stand out, but also to avoid the following traps.

Extended resume

Admissions staff know what's on your application form. So, don't write an extended resume and don't repeat what other materials have already said.

Tell, not show

What you have to do is show, not tell. It is the admissions officer's responsibility to evaluate, not yours. Write a story in a descriptive way, not a self-assessment in a critique.

Try too hard to be sophisticated

Don't use big words, don't pretend to be deep or philosophical, even Harvard knows you're just a teenager.

Ignore the subject of the essay

Write your own story, not your parents', not your friend's, not your teacher's.

Ignore the most basic spelling and grammar rules

In English class, you have to follow a bunch of rules, and the teacher says that's the only way to build a good habit. The best writers certainly don't care about these rules, but before entering the realm of freedom, we still have to follow these most basic rules. At least admissions officers know that you are a good student who is sincere, serious, and has a solid English writing foundation.

How to write personality/quirky essay

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 16:46:46 GMT

Personality essay usually starts with prompts like these:

Describe a person you admire.

What is a book you love?

Write a note to your future roommate that reveals something about you or that will help your roommate – and us – get to know you better

The purpose of such an essay is to reflect personal characteristics, such as your personality, values, your ideology and mindset. Colleges want to admit a perfect class, not a perfect individual. This is not only reflected in the diversity of backgrounds, but also in their desire to admit students with different hobbies, values and personalities.

Sample Essay

Pick one woman in history or fiction to converse with for an hour and explain your choice. What would you talk about.

Curled up in a coffee house, watching the “Orange is the New Black” season finale, I’m rendered drowsy from warm air mingled with cocoa aroma. Onscreen, inmates rush through a hole in the prison bars, marching to temporary freedom. It bethinks me of Virginia Woolf’s words in Three Guineas, “Now we must fix our eyes upon the procession—the procession of the sons of educated men.” In contrast, I’m witnessing the procession of deprived women. In a trance, I glance up, elated to see Ms. Woolf seated opposite me!

Now, I could’ve grasped every second to spiel about how her intellect acted on the milestones in my life journey—or perhaps expressed my love for The Wave, which initiated my curiosity for modernism--or shared how I practiced her utterance after I quit school, in order “to find the relation between things that seem incompatible yet have a mysterious affinity...” I could’ve articulated my admiration for her as a solitary female fighter, insightful and creative--never stirred by indignation or identification.

Instead, I invite her to join me in the gaze of “the procession of deprived women”. I can’t wait to comment how I’ve found unprecedented brilliance in this show, in which female characters are freed from the typical onscreen stereotype. I crave for her approval on the practical significance of it--a transition from sexual appeal to inner power on the public conscience of females. The confidence in Ms. Woolf’s eyes ensures me of a promising future of feminism.