IZ Insider

Creating a Unique and Compelling Theme: A Columbia Success Story

Mark Lee | February 3rd, 2016 | 0 comments

How to Create a History Theme for Your Application

Mark Lee | January 12th, 2016 | 0 comments

As you may remember from last week, I will be spending the next couple of months discussing different academic themes that will help you stand out as a specialized and dedicated student on your college application. This week, I will talk about building a History Theme. Remember the 4 areas to cover when constructing an ...read more →

How to Create an Art Theme for Your College Application

Mark Lee | January 5th, 2016 | 0 comments

Having a theme can give you a strong foundation on when working on your college applications. When the admissions committee sees that you have activities that are unified and well supported, they will know that they are dealing with a serious student and your application will be a lot more appealing. How do you build ...read more →

Why Time is Running out on Your College Applications

Alexander Loveless | January 4th, 2016 | 0 comments

It’s the middle of a cold, dead winter, and many people are looking forward to warmer, better days. The winter months sap our motivation, and the summer represents the perfect time in the future for you to finally start studying for SATs, writing college application essays, asking for recommendations, and enhancing your extracurricular resume. However, this ...read more →

Amnesty Int’l Rocks! (a Columbia University Success Story)

Mark Lee | December 27th, 2015 | 0 comments

We’re big supporters of Amnesty International at IvyZen. Our students have started over 50 student chapters across the globe over the past 10 years and have collectively gathered over 10,000 signatures for more than a hundred political action campaigns! Today’s post talks about Amnesty International and the amazing work they do. In addition, we present a ...read more →

A Realistic Look at Deliberate Practice and 5 Tips for Ivy League Success

Mark Lee | December 24th, 2015 | 0 comments

I really have some mixed feelings about discussing Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) in the context of education and the Ivy Leagues, but I think this one time it’s worth it. This past weekend we had as big a shocker in the MMA world as we’ve ever had: Holly Holm knocked out Rhonda Rousey. Holm dominated Rousey with a perfect ...read more →

How to be a Mentor to Your Star Child & a Harvard Success Story

Alexander Loveless | December 23rd, 2015 | 0 comments

We talk with hundreds of great parents of superstar students every year. One key discussion we have with all parents is the need for them to be a mentor to their son/daughter – especially during the college application process (but throughout high school) and especially to high-achieving students. That’s right, stop being a parent and ...read more →

“I got rejected from early admissions!”

Mark Lee | December 21st, 2015 | 0 comments

“I got rejected from early admissions! I’m doomed!” This is a common refrain we hear during this time of the year. Although about half our students get into their early app schools, the other half who are deferred or rejected are left confused, bewildered, shocked, upset and anxious. The worst part of not getting in ...read more →