Deferred from college? Learn what a deferral really means, whether you should send a Letter of Continued Interest, and what to expect as admissions decisions are released.

Last Update: March 14, 2026 As the resident UC expert, I want to share a clear update on where things currently stand in the UC and Cal State admissions process, and what families should realistically expect over the next several weeks. UC Admissions: Reading Over, Shaping Begins As of the end of January 2026, all UC campuses have now completed the application reading phase. Every application has received two full reviews, and campuses are no longer evaluating students in iso

TL/DR for Busy Parents Applying to too many highly selective colleges often hurts students rather than helping them. These schools typically require extensive, highly individualized supplemental essays that demand deep research, reflection, and multiple rounds of revision. When students try to juggle several of these applications at once, quality drops, stress increases, and essays become generic or rushed. For context, we believe a strong supplemental essay usually takes 5 t

Just how should you navigate UC admissions when it comes to first-choice and alternate majors. Learn about capped, impacted, and high-demand majors across all UC campuses.

Questions about UC Waitlists? Get the inside scoop on the data here!

Getting rejected from a UC school—especially one you were dreaming about—is tough. For years, you've worked hard to get strong grades and stellar AP score to earn a coveted spot at a school like UCLA. You may even have a 4.8 GPA that surpasses their average admitted student GPA and a strong résumé to boot. So for many students and families, the natural next question is can I appeal my rejection? Getting a rejection notice from a dream school is never easy. The answer is yes…

You open your e-mail inbox and suddenly see a message from admissions@berkeley.edu . Your pulse jumps. Then you read the subject line: "Your UC Berkeley Application" What happened? Did I miss something? Is this good news? Bad news? A glitch? You frantically click to open it. They want a letter of recommendation. Wait... They want two letters? And your mind goes into overdrive: Why me? What does this mean? What am I supposed to do now? This moment surprises almost every applic

Here’s the scene: it’s late December, college deadlines are creeping closer, and you’re this close to finally submitting your RD college applications. And then it happens. Out of nowhere, the essay you once felt confident about suddenly feels … sort of weak. Maybe you saw a TikTok titled “The Essay That Got Me Into Harvard” and your brain spiraled. Maybe a teacher or friend gave feedback that knocked the wind out of you. Or maybe you experienced something cool this fall and

You’ve probably been scrolling through random YouTube videos, TikToks, and Reddit threads trying to figure out how to prepare for the SAT...

If you’re a high-achieving student, or the parent of one, you may have received a shiny email from the College Board congratulating you...

March 8, 2025 SAT Debacle. Thousands of students were impacted by a glitch in the BlueBook app that caused premature submission.

If you're a high school student who has been pushing yourself to excel in math, you may find yourself at a crucial crossroads: AP...

A lot of students are often surprised by the fact that UCSD has different colleges on its campus. They may even wonder How Should I Rank the UCSD Colleges ? UCSD is known for its distinctive college system, modeled after Oxford and Cambridge. Each of these eight colleges offers a unique experience with its own general education (GE) requirements, dormitories, and dining halls. Choosing the right college can significantly impact your academic and social experience, so let’s di

Cal Poly SLO accepts students on a major-by-major basis. Just which majors are the most selective?

✨ Wondering what NOT to do in your UC PIQs? Avoid common pitfalls and make your essays stand out. Ready to learn the secrets? 👀 #CollegeApp

The SAT and ACT are monumental steps in a student’s educational journey. Colleges and universities look to these standardized test scores...

Unlock your path from Orange County to UC! Learn strategies to ace the SAT and craft compelling PIQs for college success.

Writing those crucial essays is one of the most challenging aspects of the college application process. For students in Orange County,...

Laguna Niguel is known for its excellent schools, including many prestigious private high schools in Laguna. As a parent, you want to...

Every year, more than a million high school students apply for admission into colleges through the Common Application. With the online...