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…
How to be a Mentor to Your Star Child & a Harvard Success Story
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…
A Realistic Look at Deliberate Practice and 5 Tips for Ivy League Success
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…
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….
The importance of picking a theme
If you haven’t read our Theme article on the main page, then you might be headed down the dreaded path of the “well-rounded” student application. You are probably aware of how this looks: high grades, high test scores, varied extra-curricular activities both academic and physical, and perhaps some community service for good measure. But did…
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…