Blog

Admissions advice from people who just went through it.

Get new posts in your inbox

Weekly tips from Stanford, Harvard & MIT consultants.

May 2026Laplace College Consulting6 min read

Laplace vs. Prepory: Which College Consulting Service Is Right for You?

Prepory pairs students with recent grads on a subscription model. Laplace is more selective, founder-reviewed, and staffed by consultants who literally just went through admissions last year. Here's the honest comparison.

May 2026Laplace College Consulting6 min read

Laplace vs. IvyWise: An Honest Comparison for Families

IvyWise was founded by a former Ivy admissions officer and charges $2k–$5k+/hr for senior advisors. Laplace consultants graduated in 2025–2026 and remember the exact essays that worked. Here's what that difference means.

May 2026Laplace College Consulting6 min read

Laplace vs. Khan Academy: College Prep Tools vs. Personalized Consulting

Khan Academy is free, excellent, and built for content learning. Laplace is personalized consulting for application strategy. They're not competing — here's how to use both effectively.

May 2026Neal Karani9 min read

How to Get Into Stanford: What Actually Gets You Accepted

Stanford's acceptance rate is 3.68%. Here's what actually differentiates the students who get in — intellectual vitality, original projects, and essays that don't sound like everyone else's.

May 2026Arhan Barve9 min read

How to Get Into Harvard: An Honest Guide from Harvard Students

Harvard's acceptance rate is 3.6%. A Harvard student breaks down what the admissions office really looks for: demonstrated impact, intellectual distinction, and essays that answer 'what makes you distinctly you?'

May 2026Andrew Lin9 min read

How to Get Into MIT: Strategy from MIT Students Who Just Got In

MIT's acceptance rate is 4%. An MIT student explains what admissions actually values: maker culture, problem-solving mindset, STEM depth, and the humanistic breadth most STEM applicants ignore.

May 2026Laplace College Consulting8 min read

How to Get Into Princeton: What the Admissions Committee Actually Wants

Princeton's 4.7% acceptance rate is intimidating. But the committee has consistent priorities — the Princeton question, the senior thesis culture, and genuine academic curiosity. Here's what works.

May 2026Laplace College Consulting8 min read

How to Get Into Yale: Strategy for a School That Defies Easy Formulas

Yale's 4.6% acceptance rate and emphasis on the 'Yale face' make it one of the hardest schools to crack with a formulaic approach. Here's what actually matters in a Yale application.

May 2026Laplace College Consulting8 min read

How to Get Into Columbia: What Makes the Difference in a Hyper-Competitive Pool

Columbia's 3.9% acceptance rate is the lowest in the Ivy League. The 'Why Columbia' essay and the Core Curriculum are decisive. Here's what the admissions committee is actually looking for.

May 2026Laplace College Consulting7 min read

Laplace vs. Crimson Education: Which College Consulting Service Is Right for You?

Crimson is large, expensive, and well-known. Laplace is smaller, founder-reviewed, and staffed by people who graduated last year. Here's an honest comparison.

May 2026Laplace College Consulting6 min read

Laplace vs. CollegeVine: An Honest Comparison for College Applicants

CollegeVine is a platform with data tools and peer essay review. Laplace is a dedicated consulting relationship. Here's how to decide which one belongs in your toolkit.

May 2026Laplace College Consulting7 min read

Working with a Recent Graduate vs. a Traditional College Counselor: What's the Difference?

School counselors handle 300+ students. Traditional private counselors graduated 10–20 years ago. Laplace consultants graduated in 2025–2026. Here's what each type actually offers.

May 2026Shaunak Buche6 min read

Princeton Prize in Race Relations: How to Apply and Win

The Princeton Prize recognizes meaningful work in race relations. Here's what the committee values and how to position your application.

April 2026Neal Karani & Arhan Barve7 min read

How to Win the Coolidge Scholarship: Advice from Two Coolidge Senators

The Coolidge is one of the most prestigious full-ride scholarships in America. Two Coolidge Senators share what the committee actually looks for.

April 2026Andrew Lin7 min read

How to Become a Coca-Cola Scholar: Inside the Application Process

150 winners from 100,000+ applicants. Here's what the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation actually looks for, from a Class of 2025 Scholar.

April 2026Vishwa Rajan & Shaunak Buche7 min read

How to Win the Conrad Challenge: Strategy from Actual Winners

The Conrad Challenge isn't about the best invention — it's about the most viable one. Here's what we learned winning it.

April 2026Soneesh Kothagundla6 min read

Genes in Space Competition: How to Design a Winning Experiment

Design a DNA experiment for the International Space Station. Here's how to win, from a semifinalist.

March 2026Shaunak Buche6 min read

NSLI-Y Application Tips: How to Get Accepted

NSLI-Y is one of the most prestigious programs for high schoolers. Here's what the application actually looks for, from a former Summer Scholar.

April 2026Shaunak Buche, Vishwa Rajan & Soneesh Kothagundla7 min read

How to Win the Diamond Challenge: Strategy from Multiple Winners

Three of our consultants won at the Diamond Challenge. Here's the playbook they used.

March 2026Andrew Lin5 min read

Laplace vs. Traditional College Consultants: What's Different

Most consultants graduated college 20 years ago. We graduated last year. Here's why that matters for your application.

February 2026Arhan Barve5 min read

What Is a Stanford Likely Letter? Everything You Need to Know

Likely letters are one of the most misunderstood parts of admissions. Here's everything about them from someone who received one.

February 2026Shaunak Buche6 min read

Benjamin Franklin Transatlantic Fellowship: How to Apply and Get Selected

A fully-funded State Department program in Europe. Here's how to apply from a former Fellow.

January 2026Arhan Barve6 min read

When Should You Start College Prep? A Grade-by-Grade Guide

The best time to start was yesterday. The second best time is now. Here's what to focus on at every stage from 8th grade through senior year.

January 2026Soneesh Kothagundla8 min read

Regeneron STS Application Guide: How to Become a Scholar

Regeneron STS is the most prestigious pre-college science competition in America. Here's how to apply from a Top 300 Scholar.

November 2025Andrew Lin7 min read

How to Qualify for AIME: A Realistic Guide for High Schoolers

AIME qualification is one of the strongest math credentials for college apps. Here's how to train for it realistically.

October 2025Andrew Lin8 min read

How to Get a 1600 on the SAT: Study Strategy from a Perfect Scorer

A perfect SAT score isn't about being a genius. It's about strategy. Here's the exact approach that worked.

September 2025Arhan Barve & Soneesh Kothagundla8 min read

How to Get Research Experience in High School: A Complete Guide

Research experience is one of the strongest things you can have on a college app. Here's how to find it, do it, and write about it.

September 2025Laplace College Consulting7 min read

How to Build Extracurriculars That Actually Matter for College

It's not about how many activities you do. It's about depth, progression, and narrative. Here's how to build a list that stands out.

August 2025Neal Karani8 min read

How to Write a Common App Essay That Actually Stands Out

The personal statement isn't about what you did — it's about how you think. Here's the framework we use with every student.