College Explorations LLC

06/17/2026

"Admissions officers are not trying to admit the most polished writer. They are trying to admit interesting people. That distinction matters."

ESM Prep College MatchPoint helps students stand out in college admissions with personalized guidance, test prep, and academic support tailored to their needs.

06/16/2026

"Harvard faculty have overwhelmingly passed a controversial plan to overhaul the college’s grading system and limit how many A’s they can give out. The stated goal? Make A’s meaningful again."

Grade inflation has been rising for decades at colleges across the country

06/15/2026

"The launch event took place at the site of the school’s future campus, an 82,000-square-foot facility under construction five miles from Santa Clara University’s historic mission campus and adjacent to the Sutter East Santa Clara Campus in Silicon Valley. Down the road, on Sutter’s West Santa Clara Campus, the health system plans to open a major new 272-bed, eight-story medical center by 2031."

Funded in part by a $175 million gift from Mark and Mary Stevens, it will be the first new medical school in the San Francisco Bay Area in more than a century.

06/14/2026

University of San Diego mandatory first-year essay prompt for 2026-27: How did you first learn about the University of San Diego, and what inspired you to apply?
Plus one of the following three prompts:
1. USD is committed to fostering a community where everyone feels a sense of belonging and purpose. What does community mean to you and how have you helped create a welcoming environment for others?
2. As a Changemaker Campus, USD challenges students to utilize their learning to actively pursue a more just, sustainable and equitable world. What is a challenge facing humanity today and why does it matter to you?
3. As a contemporary Catholic university, students from all backgrounds and faith traditions are welcomed and celebrated. Share an experience that highlights the ways faith or spirituality–either your own or someone else’s–have influenced your life.

06/13/2026

RPI's essay 2026-27 supplements for applicants to the following programs:
1. Accelerated Physician-Scientist (B.S./M.D.) Program: State your reasons for aspiring to a career in medicine.
2. Architecture (ARCH): State your reasons for choosing architecture as your profession.
3. Electronic Arts (EART): Discuss your interests in the field of electronic arts, and state how this is reflected in your portfolio, if one has been submitted.
4. Games and Simulation Arts and Sciences (GSAS): State your reasons for choosing the field of games and simulation arts and sciences, making reference to your portfolio if one has been submitted.
5. Music (MUSC): Describe your interest in the music major and your goals. Please include completed course work in music, private music instruction, musical performance and production experience, or completed independent projects.
https://undergrad.admissions.rpi.edu/apply

06/13/2026

"Columbia will once again require standardized test scores for undergraduate applicants, beginning in August 2027, the University announced Friday. With the change, Columbia is the final Ivy League school to reinstate test score requirements, which most universities made optional in 2020."

Columbia will once again require standardized test scores for undergraduate applicants, beginning in August 2027, the University announced Friday. With the change, Colum...

06/13/2026

"Many college leaders are concerned about the amount of time students spend on screens and social media, worried that it is increasing isolation, loneliness and anxiety, shattering attention spans, and preventing social connections."

College leaders and students are organizing phone-free spaces to foster real-life connections and address the negative impacts of technology.

06/12/2026

Students interested in applying to Georgetown University for the Class of 2031 may begin the application NOW! It's a two-step process. The first step requires completion of the "Georgetown Application," which initiates the alumni interview and asks the applicant to indicate application timing--either restricted early action or regular decision (this can be changed before submission of additional required application forms). Step Two requires completion of the "Application Supplement," which includes chosen school and major, activities, standardized testing updates, and essays.
https://uadmissions.georgetown.edu/applying/first-year-application/
For extreme early birds, the Georgetown Application is now available online. Note that Georgetown will also be accepting the Common App, which opens on August 1.

06/11/2026

The Providence College prompts for the Class of 2031 are:

1. Providence College values each student’s willingness to embrace and learn from those with different viewpoints. How will your unique background positively impact others at Providence College?
OR
2. Providence College thrives on the energy of those who seek. How will you contribute to our vibrant campus life and intellectual culture in the years ahead?
AND for nursing students: Please share more about the experiences, skills, or talents that have led you to want to become a nurse, and how these will contribute to the community at Providence College and to your career as a nurse.

Learn more about how the Providence College Committee on Admission utilizes a holistic approach when reviewing each applicant's Common Application.