Bloomberg News analysis of 1,500+ nonprofit four-year colleges reveals that public universities often provide the next-best return on investment. We didn’t need Bloomberg to tell us how much value most of these schools offer, but nice to see they are getting some of the additional recognition they deserve.
Read more here!
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Colleges have continued to roll back test-optional policies. We will update this post as more updates are made.
You’ll need competitive test scores to apply to the following schools:
Auburn (testing STRONGLY preferred; required with certain GPA)
Brown
Cal Tech
Dartmouth
Georgetown
Georgia Tech
Harvard
MIT
Purdue
University of Georgia
University of Florida (state-wide)
University of Tennessee (state-wide)
UT Austin
Yale
We have also found it beneficial to send high scores to most other test-optional schools in the top tier, especially if you are applying to a selective major (engineering, comp sci, data science, business, hard sciences) or attend a high school where the majority of students test and test well:
Ivies
Stanford
Vanderbilt
Northwestern
JHU
Duke
Rice
WashU
Notre Dame
Carnegie Mellon
Tufts
Emory
USC
Boston College
Boston University (exception: General Studies)
NYU
Clemson
Case Western
Villanova
University of Chicago
University of Michigan
University of Wisconsin
University of Virginia
University of North Carolina
University of Illinois
University of Maryland
Reach out to us if you’d like help with your application strategy and deciding whether you are a good candidate to apply test-optional or not.
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For those looking to develop as a writer and work with a mentor…
Adroit is accepting applications from current high school students (including seniors!) for their online summer mentorship program through April 7th @ 11:59pm PT.
For guidance and answers to Frequently Asked Questions, please visit our Mentorship FAQ page.
For those with a polished piece of poetry or prose that’s ready for submission…the Adroit Prizes, awarded annually to two students of secondary or undergraduate status, are open for submissions.
The 2024 Adroit Prize for Poetry will be selected by Ocean Vuong; the 2024 Adroit Prize for Prose will be selected by Kaveh Akbar. The submission deadline for the 2024 Adroit Prizes is May 1st, 2024 @ 11:59pm PT.
If you would like to submit your work, please familiarize yourself with the submission guidelines.
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Congrats to all of our seniors! This post includes most of our student’s results released through April 1.
Alabama*
American
Arizona State*
Bard*
Baylor*
Boise State
Boston College*
Boston U*
Bowdoin
Brandeis
Brooklyn College
Cal Poly Pomona
Cal Poly SLO*
Claremont McKenna
Clemson + Business*
Colby*
Colgate*
College of Charleston*
Colorado College*
Cornell*
Davidson
Drexel*
Duke
Elon*
Emory
Fairfield*
Fordham*
Georgetown*
George Mason
Georgia Tech*
Iowa
Indiana University + Kelley School of Business*
James Madison*
Johns Hopkins
Kenyon*
Lafayette*
Lehigh*
Loyola MD*
LSU
Lynn
McGill*
Miami Ohio
Michigan State*
Montclair*
Northeastern*
Northwestern*
NYU*
Occidental
Ohio State*
Ole Miss*
Penn State + Business and Engineering*
Pitzer
Providence College*
Purdue + Engineering*
Roger Williams
Rowan*
Santa Clara*
Seton Hall*
SMU*
St. Andrews
St. John’s
Stanford
Stony Brook*
Stevens Institute of Technology*
SUNY Binghamton*
SUNY New Paltz
SUNY Poly
Tampa*
TCU
Tulane*
University of California, Berkeley*
University of California, Davis*
University of California, Los Angeles* + Engineering
University of California, Riverside*
University of California, San Diego* + Engineering*
University of Central Florida*
University of Colorado, Boulder + Engineering* & Business*
University of Delaware*
University of Denver
University of Georgia*
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign + Engineering*
University of Maryland + Business*
University of Massachusetts, Amherst*
University of Miami + Business*
University of Michigan*
University of Nebraska
University of Nevada
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill*
University of North Carolina, Wilmington
University of Oklahoma
University of Oregon*
University of Pittsburgh*
University of Rhode Island*
University of Richmond*
University of Rochester
University of South Carolina*
University of Southern California + Engineering*
University of Tennessee*
University of Texas, Austin + Engineering & Business*
University of Virginia*
University of Washington* + Engineering
University of Wisconsin + Engineering & Business*
Vanderbilt*
Virginia Tech*
Wake Forest*
Washington & Lee
WashU
Wesleyan*
WVU
Yale
*multiple students admitted
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Some big changes out of Austin!
UT will no longer be test-optional. All 2025 freshman applicants must submit an official SAT or ACT directly from the testing agency to be eligible for admission. Applicants do not need to submit the writing section.
Other changes include:
The official write-up is here.
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More than 75 percent of EDII admits had studied math through calculus, taken biology, chemistry, and physics, and learned a foreign language for at least four years.
Students who are well matched with MIT take the following classes in high school: math through calculus.
Four years of mathematics; calculus is strongly recommended for majors in Architecture, Business, and Engineering; science majors in Arts & Sciences; and those who intend to pursue a pre-medicine path.
The above are just a few snippets shared by selective colleges and universities regarding high school coursework.
Calculus.
It’s a hotly debated topic. Just Google “calculus and college admissions,” and you’ll find plenty of articles such as this one. Although I agree that it counts for a little too much in the college admissions process, the “math bar” is not something that appears to be changing anytime soon. Right now, it’s set at calculus. And if you can take BC over AB, do that. BC is the gold standard for selective schools, especially if you are applying for a competitive major.
So, if you plan to apply to selective colleges, plan to take BC calculus to be the most competitive applicant that you can be.
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We’d like to share a series of three virtual events from Hillel International, the world’s largest Jewish campus organization.
Session 1 (Recorded):
College Selection: Choosing the Best Fit for You. February 29, 2024 | 12 p.m. ET | 9 a.m. PT – Choosing the right school can be a little (or a lot) overwhelming — especially with so many factors to consider. And while there’s not yet a magic wand or AI to generate the perfect college match, Hillel’s tools and resources can get you pretty close. The first session of Hillel’s Virtual College Prep Series will focus on the college selection process, and provide you with the tools you need to find the best fit, featuring top college counselors, current Jewish college student leaders, and experts from Hillel as well as partners in youth and teen programming.
Session 2:
Careful Considerations: Antisemitism on Campus. April 2, 2024 | 12 p.m. ET | 9 a.m. PT – Since the attack on Israel on October 7, antisemitism has risen to historically high levels in the U.S. and around the world — and college campuses have not been immune from this surge in hate. With antisemitism on the minds of so many in the Jewish community, we want to ensure that Jewish parents and families have the information they need about what antisemitism and Jewish life on campus are truly like right now.
Session 3:
Looking Forward: Hillel’s Exciting Opportunities for Students. May 23, 2024 | 12 p.m. ET | 9 a.m. PT – This session will explore all of the exciting opportunities Hillel has for incoming first-year Jewish college students, including scholarships, graduation gifts, early move-in, travel opportunities, and leadership experiences — for all kinds of Jewish students!
You can register in advance for the webinars here. If you can’t make a session, they are recorded, and you can watch at your convenience.
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The Common App essay prompts will remain the same for 2024–2025. Get a head start by grabbing a copy of The Complete College Essay Handbook!
They will retain the optional community disruption question within the Writing section, too.
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Congrats to all of our seniors! This post includes results released at the end of January. ED 2 tends to be released in February; we will update this post or post a fresh list at that time.
Alabama*
American
Arizona State*
Bard*
Baylor
Boise State
Boston U
Bowdoin
Brooklyn College
Claremont McKenna
Clemson + Business*
College of Charleston*
Colorado College*
Cornell*
Drexel*
Duke
Elon*
Emory
Fairfield*
Fordham*
George Mason
Georgia Tech*
Iowa
Indiana University + Kelley School of Business*
James Madison
Kenyon
Lehigh
Loyola MD*
Lynn
McGill*
Miami Ohio
Michigan State*
Montclair*
Northeastern*
Northwestern*
NYU*
Ohio State*
Ole Miss*
Penn State + Business and Engineering*
Providence College*
Purdue Engineering*
Roger Williams
Rowan*
Santa Clara*
Seton Hall*
South Carolina*
SMU*
St. Andrews
St. John’s
Stevens Institute of Technology*
SUNY Binghamton*
SUNY New Paltz
SUNY Poly
TCU
Tulane*
University of Central Florida*
University of Colorado, Boulder + Engineering*
University of Delaware*
University of Denver
University of Georgia*
University of Illinois Urbana Champaign + Engineering*
University of Maryland + Business*
University of Massachusetts, Amherst*
University of Miami + Business*
University of Michigan*
University of Nevada
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill*
University of North Carolina, Wilmington
University of Oregon*
University of Pittsburgh*
University of Rhode Island*
University of Richmond*
University of South Carolina*
University of Southern California + Engineering*
University of Texas, Austin + Business*
University of Virginia*
University of Wisconsin + Engineering and Business*
Vanderbilt
Virginia Tech*
Wake Forest
WVU
*multiple students admitted
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The following programs are some of our favorites for students interested in government, politics, law and IR.
Boys State/Girls State participants learn the rights, privileges and responsibilities of franchised citizens. The training is objective and centers on the structure of city, county and state governments. Operated by students elected to various offices, Boys State activities include legislative sessions, court proceedings, law-enforcement presentations, assemblies, bands, choruses and recreational programs. Legion posts select high school juniors to attend the program. In most cases, individual expenses are paid by a sponsoring post, a local business or another community-based organization.
The Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellowship fosters relationships among the younger generation of Europeans and Americans to build strong linkages and an awareness of shared values. The Fellowship engages 45 teenagers from Europe and ten American teenagers (ages 16 – 18) in a four-week U.S.-based exchange program that aims to reinforce the transatlantic relationship. During the Fellowship, participants will explore transatlantic relations, leadership development, critical thinking, diplomacy, community activism, and the media in order to unite young adults around common goals, using the legacy of Benjamin Franklin as a framework. American youth are eligible to participate in the fellowship, but do not travel abroad. This fellowship is funded.
The United Nations Association of Greater Boston’s Summer Institute in Global Leadership offers week-long Model UN programs for students from all over the world to work together and address global issues. Learn about global issues, build skills for life and leadership, and collaborate with students from across the world during our week-long Model UN programs! In-person and virtual options.
The U.S. Department of State’s National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) program provides critical language study overseas for U.S. high school students through full scholarships to participate in intensive summer and academic year programs. Participants study one of the eight NSLI-Y languages while immersed in the culture and day-to-day life of the host country. NSLI-Y is part of the National Security Language Initiative, a multi-agency U.S. government initiative launched in 2006 to improve Americans’ ability to engage with people from around the world. NSLI-Y plays an important role in preparing U.S. students for the 21st century’s globalized workforce and contributes to national security. NSLI-Y participants serve as citizen ambassadors, representing the diversity of the United States abroad and building lasting relationships with people in their host countries. If you have a passion for learning languages and want to immerse yourself in a foreign culture, this program may be for you! No previous language skills are required. NSLI-Y languages: Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), Hindi, Indonesian, Korean, Persian (Tajiki), Russian, Turkish.
Onero Institute Virtual Teams. The Onero Institute produces high-level content on international affairs topics in new and creative ways. They develop projects specially designed for social media platforms to better engage young people on global issues and to bring credible content to an increasingly important space. Join the Virtual Engagement Team to take part in this unique area of today’s international discourse. If you would like to join but need more experience developing such projects, participate in the Virtual Engagement Program (VEP) to build up your skills in graphic design, concise writing, teamwork, and research.
The Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate is dedicated to educating the public about the important role of the Senate in our government, encouraging participatory democracy, invigorating civil discourse, and inspiring the next generation of citizens and leaders to engage in the civic life of their communities. They now offer virtual programming.
Contact your senator’s office for more information on applying to be a Senate Page.
For Rising 9th Graders
The Summer Law Institute (SLI) is a five-week, summer law program for students who have just completed their eighth grade school year. The Summer Law Institute pushes rising ninth graders to see themselves as young professionals-in-training. The program exposes them to positive and successful role models, involves them in professional activities, and places them on a path that can lead to the fulfillment of their dreams. Students who complete the SLI are eligible to apply to our 4-year College Bound program.
Volunteer/Internship Opportunities:
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