Guides for students and parents
College admissions timelines, study science and straight talk about the application process, from Abugida’s mentors.
Deferred? What next?
Deferred from a dream school? Check the college’s policy, send a focused letter of continued interest and strengthen your Regular Decision list.
· 3 min readMore articles
How to Learn Better: A Neuroscience-Informed Guide for Students
The study methods with the strongest evidence: testing yourself, spaced review, daily mini-reviews, proper sleep and explaining ideas out loud.
· 3 min read Admissions strategyAI in College Admissions
Can students use ChatGPT on college essays? What the Common App’s fraud policy says, how colleges differ and how to use AI without risking your application.
· 2 min read Admissions strategyImpact of a levelled admissions landscape on admissions prospect of minorities
What the Supreme Court’s SFFA ruling and new federal admissions data rules mean for applicants, what happened to enrollment and how to tell your story.
· 2 min read Graduate schoolROI of an MBA
How to work out whether an MBA is worth it: count tuition and lost salary, estimate your payback period and check the curriculum fits the career you want.
· 2 min read Application planningCollege Admissions Checklist
A 13-step college admissions checklist for students and families, covering self-reflection, testing, recommendations, the Common App, essays and interviews.
· 3 min read Application planningMonth by month breakdown of things to do for application year students - Part II
A month-by-month plan for May to August before senior year: testing, recommenders, college research, activity lists, essays and early application strategy.
· 2 min read Application planningMonth by Month breakdown of things to do for Application year Students - Part I
A month-by-month plan for 11th graders preparing for college applications, from choosing a major and recommenders to testing and end-of-year exams.
· 5 min read Admissions strategySnapShoT of the college admissions process
How US college admissions works: what officers look for in academics, extracurriculars and test scores, and what essays and recommendations add.
· 3 min read Admissions strategyApplying to Colleges in the U.S. and Canada: Fact Vs Fiction
Four myths about applying to colleges in the US and Canada: perfect grades, cost, being well-rounded and SAT scores, and what admissions really rewards.
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