The list of my admission strategy posts is growing by the day 🤍 Exciting but overwhelming. To keep things easy to navigate, below is a complete list of my posts so far, linked and organized by category. I’ll keep this updated as new posts are added. Categories covered in this list 👇 🇺🇸 College Applications (Checklists, Timelines & More) 🧩 Application Strategy 📌 CommonApp & Application Platforms 🏆 Extracurriculars (Activities & Honors) 📝 Essays (Personal & Supplemental) 🔎 School Research & Strategy (+ Major/Minor) ✉️ Recommendation Letters 💰 Financial Aid & Scholarships 🎤 Interviews 🔄 Transfer Options 🇬🇧 UK Universities 🩺 Medical Degrees 🎥 Q&A Videos 💫 The Ivy Wizard MasterPath Community 🇺🇸 College Applications (Checklists, Timelines & More) 👉 US Applications 101: WHAT You Need to Submit! 👉 US Applications 102: WHEN To Do What (Timeline & Milestones!) 👉 Why U.S. College Applications Are So Complex (And What It Actually Means for You) 👉 What the U.S. College Academic Year Actually Looks Like 👉 Feeling Behind in 11th Grade? Here’s What to Prioritize 👉 July College App Check-In: 5 Things You Should be Doing NOW 🧩 Application Strategy 👉 Application Strategy 101: What's Your Application Narrative? (and Why it Matters!)

Many students ask for suggestions of target and safety schools. So let's clear this up ☺️ ✅ What Are They? - A Target school is a college where your GPA, test scores, and academic profile match the middle 50% of admitted students. - A Safety school is one where your academics are well above the average admitted applicant. 👉 This applies to both U.S. and international students. 👉 The same school might be a Target for one student and a Reach or Safety for another — it all depends on your stats. 👉 To compare stats, check the Common Data Set. Here's a guiding post on how to use it. ⚠️ But What If You’re Applying for Financial Aid? This is where things change. Needing aid can affect your chances — especially at private colleges. Let’s break down the four types of financial aid policies colleges use: 1️⃣ Need-Blind + Meets Full Need - Admissions decisions don’t consider your ability to pay - If admitted, they’ll cover 100% of your demonstrated need 🎓 Examples: Harvard, MIT, Yale, Princeton, Amherst 👉 Very rare 👉 But these schools are ultra-competitive --> if acceptance rate <10%, it's always a Reach, no matter your profile 👉 Some schools are need-blind for U.S. students but need-aware for internationals — check each school’s policy! 2️⃣ Need-Aware + Meets Full Need - Your need can impact your chances - But if accepted, your full need is covered 🎓 Examples: Stanford, Columbia, UChicago, Brown 👉 This is generous — but your need might reduce your odds, especially in borderline cases 👉 For international students who need aid, these often function as Reaches 3️⃣ Need-Aware + Partial Aid or No Aid - Your need can impact your chances - If accepted, funding may still not be enough 🎓 Examples: NYU, BU, USC, many state universities 👉 If affordability is a concern, these are not true Safeties 4️⃣ Merit-Based Aid Only - No need-based aid, but scholarships available for strong academics or leadership

We’re in the heart of summer—and if you’re a rising senior, now is not the time to relax when it comes to college apps. Here’s what you should have on your radar this month to stay ahead: 1. Finalize Your School List (Strategically) Too many students build unrealistic or overly narrow lists. Your list should be balanced across Dream, Reach, Target, and Safety schools—and reflect your academic profile and personal preferences. 👉 Use the School Research Tracker to go beyond rankings. Look at major offerings, student culture, internship access, and post-grad outcomes. 👉 Don’t fall into the prestige trap—what matters most is fit. 2. Write Your Personal Statement At this point, you should be done brainstorming and deep into drafting. Focus on reflection, not just storytelling. Admissions officers care about how you think and grow, not just what happened. 👉 Not sure if your topic is working? Check this PS post to evaluate it 3. Build a Sharp Activities List Don’t just list what you did—communicate impact, leadership, and personality. 💡 Are you using action verbs? Are your descriptions concrete and comparative? Make sure each entry tells us something admissions officers wouldn’t learn from your transcript. Your activity list is your first impression—make it impressive. 4. Get Ahead on Supplements If you already know which schools you’re applying to early (ED/EA), you should start outlining those supplements. 👉 Some schools have already released their prompts, whereas others come out Aug 1. However, most prompts stay the same year to year. Look at last year’s to start early. 5. Plan Your Rec Letter Asks (if you haven't already) Make your asks ASAP when school starts and provide a thoughtful, detailed brag sheet or resume. You want your recommenders to have time and context to write something strong.

I’m so glad you’re here! This space is designed to give you access to high-quality admissions insights, tools, and structure — all for free. 🤍 Whether you’re just starting your journey or deep in the process, you’ll find valuable resources here to help you move forward. Here’s how to get started: ✅ Step 1: Introduce Yourself (to gain points & unlock level 2) 👋 Share your name and where you’re from in the “Introductions” tab! Connecting with others on the same path can make the process feel less overwhelming. ✅ Step 2: Explore the One-Stop Hub 📌 Check the pinned One-Stop Hub hub — it links to 70+ strategy posts on topics like essays, activities, transcripts, and more. ✅ Step 3: Watch the Free Module 📚 Head to the Classroom tab and start with Module 1 of the course. It covers the entire admissions process with insider tips, plus a timeline and checklist to help you stay on track. ________________________________________________ 🎓 Want Personalized Help? If you're applying soon and want 1:1 support, you're welcome to book a free strategy call to explore a potential fit with my Ivy Blueprint coaching program. It's a step-by-step system to build a standout application — with personalized feedback and coaching from me throughout the process. Thanks again for being here — and don’t be shy about posting to support one another or share progress! That’s what this space is for. 💜 / The Ivy Wizard