A Caltech Success Story: How to Create a Number Theory Theme
I met Matthew through a referral from a previous student’s mother, and from the first time I met him, I knew that he was a math guy. In my initial consultation with him, I noticed how each of his answers were calculated and rational, and judging by his appearance, he definitely wasn’t the artistic type….
How to Create a Political Activism Theme: A Columbia, UPenn, Brown, UChicago Success Story
Brian is a student that is hard not to love. He’s very well spoken, confident, and knowledgeable about many political issues.When he told me that he was both Model United Nations and student council president at his school, I wasn’t surprised; he had a polish to him that was rare at his age. For those…
A Columbia Success Story: How to Create a Creative Writing Theme for Your College Application
Charles came to us a gifted student who was doing well at school. Starting his 10th grade at an academically rigorous boarding school, Charles was a good student with a 3.7 GPA (unweighted) and working towards strong SAT scores. Activity-wise he was spread out among lots of different activities. When asked which one he liked…
Dead Weight: 7 Extracurricular Activities that aren’t as Great as They Tell You
If you’re serious about Ivy League admissions, you must take a strategic approach to your student’s extracurricular involvement. With over 40,000 high schools around the world and over 3.5 million students applying to US colleges every year, you can bet the “outstanding,” “coveted,” “prestigious” club at your school is being replicated 40,000 times over at…
What is progressivism? Why should I be progressive?
What is progressivism? Why should I be progressive? What is progressivism? What is progress? To some, this notion is appealing. “Yes, this world is full of wrongs and I must right them! Let us march onward in pursuit of social justice for all!” To others, progressivism is a dirty word. “Why can’t we go back…
IvyZen is returning to the Bay Area!
Is your child a high-achieving student but you’re still worried about the increasingly competitive college admissions process? Do you want a second opinion on the advice that your son/daughter’s college counselors are providing? Or maybe you’re just generally lost in the flood of online information claiming to know how to gain admittance to top schools….
Calling All High School Seniors!
With early college application deadlines quickly approaching, can you confidently say that you or your high school senior son/daughter has a game plan? We invite you to join us for one of our free college applications information seminars on Thursday, September 6th, 2018 at 7:30PM in the Mitchell Park Community Center Matadero Room in Palo Alto or on Friday, September 7th, 2018 at 7:30PM at the Almaden…
College Applications: Why top students fail
College Applications: Why Top Students Fail The college application process is undoubtedly a daunting one. Students spend all their pre-college years preparing themselves to go through unpredictable admissions processes with the hopes of getting into a top college. Indeed, it is likely the first time a student confronts uncertainty. It can be stressful, time-consuming and…
The Importance of a College Application Strategy
College Applications Strategy: Why It is Important to Have One The first thing that needs to be discussed before starting the college applications process is strategy. Much of what goes into the hard choices college admissions officers have to make—such as whether institutions are prioritizing matters like diversity, legacy applicants, or athletic recruiting in a…