College Explorations LLC

05/28/2026

"...cramming isn’t completely useless. It’s better than nothing if you’ve never read the material at all. But for knowledge you need to retain beyond the exam, there’s no substitute for consistent sleep leading up to finals. "

Sleep is when your brain locks in what you studied. Dr. Scott Schecter explains how to protect it.

05/27/2026

"Six mistakes to avoid when you're applying to college

1. Not following instructions
2. Not considering multiple colleges
3. Not considering the costs
4. Not looking into financial aid options
5. Waiting until the last minute to start
6. Not being genuine in your essays"

Here are six college application mistakes that admissions experts want students to avoid making.

05/26/2026

"Taking college classes in high school is one of the most straightforward and financially beneficial ways to pursue accelerated education because it feels a lot like high school learning, but with the financial benefit of allowing students to complete college credits either for free or at a reduced price. These are effectively honors courses, which means that they will appeal primarily to students with a high aptitude for classroom learning. However, they are generally accessible to students who do reasonably well in school."

Most people understand college to be one particular thing: four years of instruction that prepares you for a hopefully high-paying job. This has been the traditional route. However, there are now more ways than ever to pursue higher education. As a guidance counselor, your job is to help students fi...

05/25/2026

For the 2026-2027 application cycle, WashU will:

1. Offer an Early Action application option.
2. Consider demonstrated interest.
3. No longer offer an optional writing supplement.
4. Remain test optional.
5. Offer a priority deadline for students wanting to be considered for a Signature Scholar Program or the Nemerov Writing Scholars Program.
6. Continue to offer an optional video supplement.

Important updates for fall 2027 We are updating some of our admissions processes and policies for high school students applying for first-year admission in fall 2027. Scholarship deadlines If you want to be considered for WashU’s Signature Scholar Programs—Danforth, Ervin, and Rodriguez—or fo...

05/24/2026

"As prices surge on everything from tomatoes to coffee to beef, more parents can’t dish out the $1,000 it typically costs for a storybook prom. Teens are left scouring for gowns, borrowing outfits from relatives, and embellishing old dresses with tricks from TikTok. But people like Rapo are stepping in to fill an increasing need because they believe every student deserves that fairy tale. "

Its hard to afford prom these days, but this fairy prom-mother is giving students the glow-up they deserve.

05/23/2026

Tulane elected to make a significant announcement about the 2026-27 application cycle on Instagram...
https://www.instagram.com/p/DYpMUdbA8qr/

05/23/2026

"The liberal arts encompass subjects such as literature, history, philosophy, sociology, psychology, languages, political science, and the fine arts. Rather than focusing narrowly on technical training, they aim to cultivate broad knowledge, critical thinking, communication skills, and ethical reasoning. The goal is not simply to prepare students for their first job, but to for a lifetime of learning and leadership."

In an age dominated by rapid technological change and specialization, the liberal arts are sometimes dismissed as impractical or outdated. However, they have never been more relevant. Far from being a luxury, a liberal arts education provides an intellectual foundation and the adaptive skills necess...

05/22/2026

"For those of you who have been waitlisted at one of your top choices, we analyzed waitlist statistics across dozens of institutions to uncover key admission trends, including which schools went deep into their waitlists, which didn’t use them at all, and what the multi-year trends can reveal about your chances."
Virginia applicants might find the numbers provided for interesting.

https://www.collegekickstart.com/blog/item/waitlist-admission-rates-and-stats

05/22/2026

"...ninth and tenth grade should be a time for students to explore a range of classes and activities, build strong academics, and develop genuine interests — not a sprint to pad a resume."

National College Decision Day just passed — the annual milestone when high school seniors officially commit to where they'll spend the next four years.

05/22/2026

Who remembers these? Current test takers most likely weren't even born yet!

NOTE that registration is now open for all students for the June 6, 2026, SAT test date and all fall SAT 2026 test dates. If you're hoping for the August test, you might consider registering sooner rather than later as seats for summer tests can be difficult to come by!


https://satsuite.collegeboard.org/sat/dates-deadlines

05/21/2026

"After a review of the last few years of essay responses and our review process, [the University of Georgia] will only be requiring the personal essay for 2027 and we will not have a second essay, as we believe the one essay response gives us what we need in our evaluation process."
https://admissions.uga.edu/blog/fall-2027-essay-questions/