Admissions advice from people who just went through it.
Get new posts in your inbox
Weekly tips from Stanford, Harvard & MIT consultants.
UChicago's 5% acceptance rate and famously strange essay prompts reward genuine intellectual curiosity — not gimmicks. Here's how to actually write the Uncommon Essay and show fit for the life of the mind.
Caltech admits around 3% and evaluates STEM ability more rigorously than almost any school in the world. Here's what real mathematical and scientific depth looks like on an application.
Vanderbilt's 6% acceptance rate, full-ride merit scholarships, and residential college system reward a specific kind of applicant. Here's what Vanderbilt actually values and how to apply strategically.
Rice's 8% acceptance rate, residential college system, and collaborative no-cutthroat culture reward a distinctive applicant. Here's what Rice values and how to write the 'Why Rice' supplement.
Notre Dame's 12% acceptance rate, restrictive early action, and strong community culture reward applicants who fit its mission. Here's what Notre Dame values and how to apply.
Georgetown has its own application (no Common App), a required alumni interview, and four distinct schools. Here's how to navigate Georgetown's unusual process and write its supplements.
UC Berkeley uses the UC application — no Common App, no letters of rec, and four Personal Insight Questions instead of an essay. Here's how Berkeley's holistic review actually works and how to stand out.
UCLA receives more applications than any university in America and admits around 9%. Here's how its holistic review and Personal Insight Questions work — and how to actually stand out.
NYU's acceptance rate has dropped to around 8%, and its school-specific admissions and strong ED advantage shape strategy. Here's how to apply to NYU effectively.
Carnegie Mellon admits by college, and its School of Computer Science is one of the hardest admits in the country. Here's how CMU's program-specific process works and how to apply.
Early Decision is binding, Early Action is not, and the difference can shape your entire application strategy. Here's how ED, EA, REA, and ED II actually work — and how to use them.
Supplemental essays — 'Why us,' 'Why this major,' community and activity prompts — are where applications are won and lost. Here's how to write specific, compelling supplements that actually work.
Who to ask, when to ask, and how to make it easy for a teacher to write you a strong letter. A complete guide to getting recommendation letters that actually help your application.
A smart college list balances reaches, targets, and safeties around real fit and affordability. Here's how to build a list that maximizes your options instead of setting you up for disappointment.
USACO is one of the strongest computer science credentials for college applications. Here's how its divisions work, how to advance from Bronze to Platinum, and how to actually prepare.
UPenn's 7% acceptance rate masks a crucial distinction: Wharton and Penn Arts & Sciences are completely different applications. Here's what each school actually values — from the 'Why Penn' essay to the M&T program.
Duke's 6% acceptance rate and research-first culture require a specific strategy. Learn what Trinity vs. Pratt means, why Bass Connections matters, and how the alumni interview can make or break your application.
Northwestern's 7% acceptance rate and notorious 'Why Northwestern' essay require genuine school knowledge. Here's what Medill, McCormick, and Weinberg each want — and why the quarter system changes everything.
Brown's 5.6% acceptance rate and Open Curriculum attract thousands of applicants who want 'freedom' — but the committee is looking for something more specific. Here's what the 'Why Brown' essay actually needs to say.
Dartmouth's 6.2% acceptance rate and unique D-Plan culture mean the admissions office is looking for something specific. Here's what actually works — from the hyper-specific 'Why Dartmouth' essay to Greek life fit and the alumni interview.
Cornell's 7.3% acceptance rate masks enormous variation by college — Hotel Administration admits ~25% while Engineering admits ~7%. Choosing the right college and writing to it specifically is the most important decision in your Cornell application.
Johns Hopkins' 7% acceptance rate rewards students who treat research as a genuine expectation. Here's what actually differentiates admitted students — from a hyper-specific 'Why Hopkins' essay to avoiding the pre-med framing trap.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?'
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Princeton Prize recognizes meaningful work in race relations. Here's what the committee values and how to position your application.
The Coolidge is one of the most prestigious full-ride scholarships in America. Two Coolidge Senators share what the committee actually looks for.
150 winners from 100,000+ applicants. Here's what the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation actually looks for, from a Class of 2025 Scholar.
The Conrad Challenge isn't about the best invention — it's about the most viable one. Here's what we learned winning it.
Design a DNA experiment for the International Space Station. Here's how to win, from a semifinalist.
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.
Three of our consultants won at the Diamond Challenge. Here's the playbook they used.
Most consultants graduated college 20 years ago. We graduated last year. Here's why that matters for your application.
Likely letters are one of the most misunderstood parts of admissions. Here's everything about them from someone who received one.
A fully-funded State Department program in Europe. Here's how to apply from a former Fellow.
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.
Regeneron STS is the most prestigious pre-college science competition in America. Here's how to apply from a Top 300 Scholar.
AIME qualification is one of the strongest math credentials for college apps. Here's how to train for it realistically.
A perfect SAT score isn't about being a genius. It's about strategy. Here's the exact approach that worked.
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.
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.
The personal statement isn't about what you did — it's about how you think. Here's the framework we use with every student.