2025 brings us big changes in the admissions world as well as exciting updates at CTK College Coach. Catch up on all the news: 

• Michigan and USC (Marshall) offering early decision options

• Virginia Tech and UNC Chapel Hill changing their deadlines/offer timelines, 

• An update on all the colleges now requiring test scores for 2025 (class of 2026), and

• A new video introduction option (Dialogues) from select colleges like Vanderbilt and Northwestern

Learn the difference between the various college application deadlines and what the benefits are for each type.

While under-resourced students tend to undermatch– applying to less selective colleges and fewer of them than they could likely gain admission to– well-resourced kids often overmatch, applying to colleges more selective than the ones they are necessarily qualified for and to too many of them. I can’t count the number of times my under-resourced students plan to apply to only one or two colleges (the national average in 2021-2022 was approximately six colleges) when they should be aiming higher and more broadly.

Writing the college essay is one of the most daunting tasks high school students face in applying to college. It is so important, and it feels like an impossible task: write an essay that will show how amazing you are without saying, that’s right, how amazing you are.

Writing the college essay is one of the most daunting tasks high school students face in applying to college. It is so important, and it feels like an impossible task: write an essay that will show how amazing you are without saying, that’s right, how amazing you are.

High school seniors have been receiving their final admissions outcomes over the last few weeks of March. Admissions season now unofficially culminates today with Ivy Day, when colleges in the Ivy League release their decisions. Some of our students will feel like they won the lottery today; others will have their dreams shattered.

As we head toward May 1, the enrollment deadline for US colleges, our students are asking these questions, and you may be too: 

• Is there any chance to get off of a college’s waitlist? If so, what can I do to maximize my chances? 

• I can’t afford my top choice school. When and how should I negotiate for more aid?

• How do I know which college to choose when I have multiple good options? 

• What do I need to do after I accept my offer and enroll at my college?