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Ivy Admissions Ivy Day Ivy League Admissions

What is Ivy Day?

Ivy Day typically falls in late March or early April and is the day when Ivy League institutions and several other prestigious colleges release their regular decision admissions results. This year, Ivy Day will be on Thursday, March 28. For many applicants, it represents the final verdict on their college aspirations, as they eagerly check their email or log into admission portals to discover whether they’ve been accepted, denied, or waitlisted.

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IVY DAY: THE ULTIMATE EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER

Ivy Day can be an emotional rollercoaster for applicants and their families. The day is marked by a whirlwind of emotions – from elation upon receiving an acceptance letter to disappointment and frustration in the case of a denial.

Ensuring you’re taking care of yourself mentally, emotionally and physically will guide you through what can be a joyous or tumultuous day. As you navigate big news, keep these tips in mind:

  • Understand that admission to Ivy League schools is beyond competitive, and this outcome, whether an acceptance or a denial, does not define your worth or future success.
  • Keep yourself occupied with activities or healthy hobbies that you enjoy. Distraction can help alleviate feelings of anxiety while waiting for decisions. Zen out in your room listening to music, cook a favorite meal for your family, do some coloring or Sudoku or go out for a long hike in the woods—stay busy!
  • Don’t bottle up your emotions. On a normal day this is an unhealthy habit and even more so on Ivy Day when expectations, anxiety, nerves and stress are running high. Talk to trusted friends, family members, or counselors about your feelings.
  • Recognize that the admissions decision is ultimately out of your control. Instead of fixating on the outcome, focus on celebrating your hard-won achievements and success, like the selective Early Action schools that may have already admitted you! Take pride in the hard work you’ve put in thus far.
  • If things don’t go as expected and you aren’t in love with your college options, consider alternative plans like a gap year that align with your interests and goals.
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SOCIAL MEDIA BUZZ

In the digital age, Ivy Day has taken on a new dimension. Applicants often take to platforms like Instagram and TikTok to share their outcomes, offer support to one another, and seek solace in the company of peers experiencing similar emotions.

Social media can also exacerbate feelings of anxiety and inadequacy, especially on Ivy Day when many students share their acceptances. If you’re confident that you can roll with the punches, regardless of the outcome, then absolutely show up for your friends and celebrate their good news! But know it’s also 100% fair to simply wait to share congratulations or not reply to a text for a day or so.

And, before you post, remember that many of your peers are experiencing a range of emotions and uncertainties. Extend kindness and empathy towards others, whether they receive favorable or upsetting news. Celebrate the successes of your friends and classmates, and offer support and encouragement to those who may be struggling with disappointment.

IVY DAY: ADMISSIONS STATISTICS

While Ivy Day is synonymous with the Ivy League, many other top-ranked institutions also release their decisions on this day. Check out some historical admissions statistics and Top Tier Resources from Ivy League universities and a few other prestigious colleges:

Harvard University:

Yale University:

Princeton University:

University of Pennsylvania:

Columbia University:

Brown University:

Cornell University:

Dartmouth College: 

Stanford University:

MIT:

These single-digit acceptance rates underscore the fierce competition for coveted spots at elite institutions and highlight the exceptional achievements of those who receive acceptance letters on Ivy Day.

Wishing you all GOOD LUCK as you await decisions.

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AP Exams AP tutoring Insider Tips Standardized Testing test prep

Why APs Matter (More Than Ever) and Top AP Exam Prep Tips

As you gear up for May AP exams, now is the time to take ownership of your AP prep. While these exams may still seem distant, beginning your preparation now is the key to a strong performance and alleviating test anxiety and stress. Your AP scores are not just a way to place into advanced coursework or test out of requirements in college, they are also a pivotal asset in college admissions.

Just last month, Yale University announced that they will once again require applicants to submit standardized test scores. But, for the first time, Yale will allow applicants to report Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) exam scores in lieu of the ACT or SAT. For students at schools without AP or IB offerings, this policy places even more weight on the SAT or ACT and may encourage students to self-study for AP exams beyond their school curriculum. 

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CONFIDENCE IN YOUR AP EXAM PREP

Are you feeling less than confident about your AP prep? You’re not alone. AP courses correspond to year-long college courses, but high school teachers have less than a year to cover this material. Even the most experienced, efficient teachers often have trouble covering all of the course content, let alone reviewing or preparing students for the exam. Prepping along with your coursework and independent self-studying are key! 

As you double down on AP prep, we’ve asked out expert tutors to share their words of wisdom:

TTA’S AP EXPERTS WEIGH IN: STUDY TIPS

AP Biology

To get the “biggest bang for your buck” from your AP Biology exam review, make sure you focus more time and energy on completely mastering the concepts in Units 3, 6, and 7 than on those covered in Units 1 and 5. A higher percentage of the exam questions are on the material in those three units (12-20% each, vs. 8-11%), so in addition to memorizing definitions for Units 3, 6, and 7, mastering processes will be crucial to earning a high score.

AP Calculus AB & AP Calculus BC

Trigonometry is often an overlooked area for students as it usually does not have a dedicated course. However, it is a very important part of both Calc AB and BC, and I highly recommend students take a deep dive learning/ review and be proficient at it.

AP Chemistry

Dimensional analysis, or unit conversions, is a fundamental and recurring topic that comes up in Chemistry. They will most definitely show up on the multiple-choice section and will be required for subsections of the free response question. Getting comfortable with different conversions in mass, length, volume, etc. is crucial to score points on both sections!

AP Chinese Language & Culture

Don’t neglect the cultural aspect of the exam, and conversations with Chinese natives are the best way to improve both linguistically and culturally–competency wise. 

AP Computer Science A

Complete Free Response Questions of all four types with your tutor, and grade them using the rubric. You will set yourself up for success on the AP Exam with practice and support!

AP Computer Science Principles

Complete a practice Create Performance Task with your tutor, and be able to explain how your code works. You will then be prepared to make your own independently for the AP Exam!

AP English Language & Culture

When writing the three AP English Language essays, surface-level observations or arguments are your worst enemy. To craft an argument that’s truly compelling, consider: what inherent value systems or biases are at play beneath the surface? For the Rhetorical Analysis essay, ask yourself not only what value system the author is coming to the topic from but also what value system that author expects her audience to have (AKA, whom is she speaking to?). Your analysis of the author’s text lies somewhere within the coming together of those two value systems. For the Argumentative and Synthesis essays, similarly ask yourself what value systems may be operating beneath the surface. Write to those and acknowledge their power, and you’ll be setting yourself up for success!

AP English Literature & Culture

Many students find Question 3 of the AP English Literature essay section onerous. (This is the question that asks students to analyze a particular theme in the context of a literary work that they’ve read.) To make this question infinitely easier for yourself, start prepping early! Create a Google Doc, Word Doc, or handwritten page (just don’t lose it!) and begin to list out 6-9 literary works you’ve read in the past three years. Then, beneath each work, list out the themes that these texts tackle (cast a wide net, but don’t stretch the text too thin), and provide a few examples from the text for each theme. Study this document and you’ll find that, come test day, Question 3 won’t be quite so surprising or scary!  

AP Environmental Science

Be sure to know and review the six aspects of thorough experimental design. One of the three FRQ’s will incorporate and ask about experimental design. The acronym below will help you remember.

H – Hypothesis

R – Replication

 I – Independent variable

C – Control

C – Constants

D – Dependent variable

AP European History

AP Daily Videos is an incredible resource. In these videos, which are available on AP Classroom and the Advanced Placement YouTube account (yes, there’s a YouTube account you can follow for purely scholarly purposes), experienced AP teachers give mini-lectures on course content and walk students through sample exam questions. If your teacher is already covering the material in class, watch these videos as a painless form of content review; if your teacher isn’t (or you are self-studying), watch even more carefully, and take notes!

AP French Language and Culture

Find French materials to listen to outside the classroom. For many students, the listening component is one of the most stressful parts of the exam, because you can only listen to the audio twice. When you’re used to listening only to your teacher and classmates, a different voice can be hard to parse. To prepare for this, listen to as much French as possible in the months and weeks leading up to your exam. This can be songs, podcasts, radio stations, even films and TV shows — anything to increase exposure to spoken French at real speeds and in a variety of voices. Students should also seek out audio sources not just from France, but from other areas of la Francophonie, such as Quebec and west Africa. That way they’ll be prepared for any regional accents they might hear on the listening portion of their exam. 

AP Human Geography

Even though the material covered in AP Human Geography isn’t necessarily the most challenging to wrap your head around, there’s a good deal of it (material). Because of the sizable number of terms that must be memorized, APHuG has a relatively low percent of 4s and 5s earned. Dedication to reviewing Quizlet decks or good old-fashioned flashcards is key.

AP Latin

Plan for different essay topics in advance. Believe it or not, it is often possible to predict what the essay will ask, and even sometimes the exact passages it cites. Given how important the essay is to your total score, it is definitely worthwhile to brainstorm potential topics ahead of time and pick relevant passages from the assigned lines.

AP Micro/Macroeconomics

There is a LOT of amazing information online for AP micro/macroeconomics that you should use to your advantage! Khan Academy has each unit for micro/macroeconomics broken down into several videos, lessons, and practice problems that many students have previously benefited from. Additionally, Jacob Clifford, on YouTube, has very helpful unit review videos that can help as a supplementary preparation resource tool!  Finally, although UWorld does not have AP Microeconomics practice questions, UWorld does have AP Macroeconomics questions which can be very helpful too.

AP Physics

For a complete breakdown of each of the four AP Physics courses (AP Physics C: Electricity & Magnetism, AP Physics C: Mechanics, AP Physics 1, and AP Physics 2) as well as exam prep and course tips, check out our recent blog post, “AP Physics: Explained.”

AP Precalculus

Be religious about getting in reps. Most of Math is application-based, and it is imperative that you endure sufficient and meticulous practice prior to taking the exam.

AP Psychology

Practice, practice, practice! AP Psychology questions can feel a lot different than most other high school tests. For this reason, using resources like UWorld’s AP Psychology practice questions, Albert.io’s practice questions, and any questions provided to you by your teacher/the College Board itself can be a huge help in familiarizing yourself with the test material and question types.

AP Statistics

The little things matter: make sure that you know the assumptions for each test that you have to know and always explain things in context.

AP U.S. Government & Politics

Make sure to understand how everything relates together in government. We are a democracy for a reason, and there are a bunch of levers at play to dispel any imbalance of power. 

AP U.S. History

Don’t forget about the Course and Exam Description! The APUSH Course and Exam Description, for example, contains 17 multiple-choice questions based on five representative passages ranging from the colonial era to the late 20th century. Although these multiple-choice questions aren’t enough, on their own, to guide your content review plan, they will give you a better sense of the exam format, difficulty level, and the kinds of knowledge and reasoning required. 

The Course and Exam Description also provides a detailed list of course and exam content by “unit.” Regardless of whether or not your teacher followed these units (or you’re self-studying), skimming through the Description will give you a birds-eye view of the course material and a sense of what you understand well, feel shaky on, or haven’t covered at all.

AP World History

The free response questions from each year’s exams are available online on AP Central, along with grading rubrics, answer keys, and sample responses with commentary. You will find these sample responses most helpful for exams that include essays or oral presentations. Since the rubrics for these questions tend to be vague, seeing how AP “readers” (the college and high school faculty who grade the exams) have evaluated previous test-takers’ work, will show you what excellent, satisfactory, and weak responses look like.

Good luck this May!

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Admissions college admissions Insider Tips private school public schools public vs. private

Public School Vs. Private School: How to Decide

One of the toughest decisions we make as parents is where to educate our children. As you weigh your options, particularly between public school or private school, the decision becomes even more complicated as you factor in its potential impact on college admissions.

From grade 4 to grad school, we’ve been guiding families through this educational jungle, helping them untangle their school options in the context of their priorities and goals. To help you make an informed decision at this pivotal juncture, we’ve broken down the key pros and cons to consider from a college admissions perspective:

PUBLIC SCHOOL VS. PRIVATE SCHOOL: PROS & CONS

Private School Pros

Academic Opportunities:

Private schools may provide a more specialized and focused curriculum with smaller class sizes. Many private schools offer opportunities to undertake independent research projects, explore specialized electives, or enroll in creative, interdisciplinary programs. Roxbury Latin (MA), for example, offers the tutorial program, where students design an independent study and work closely with a faculty member in a niche area of interest. The Lawrenceville School (NJ) emphasizes experiential learning through travel and outdoor programs. Consider your child’s academic strengths, interests, and goals when evaluating the opportunities each school can offer.

Class Size:

Smaller class sizes in private schools often result in more individualized attention for students. This can be beneficial for those who thrive in a close-knit learning environment, highly-motivated students who would benefit from extra enrichment, or those who have learning differences. At the Nueva School (CA), for example, the student-to-faculty ratio is 6:1 and the average class size is 16. Large public high schools typically see ratios closer to 15:1 or higher.

Resources:

Both public and private schools offer extracurricular activities, but the range and intensity may differ. Private schools might have more resources and facilities for specialized programs such as arts, sports, or community service. At Deerfield Academy (MA), for example, the indoor athletic facilities include an eight-lane pool and diving well, a fitness center, two gymnasiums, a wrestling room, 10 international squash courts, a brand new ice rink, two rowing tanks, and an indoor elevated track.

Private School Cons

Inflexible Curriculum:

It can be hard for students to deviate from the standard curriculum, especially at small private high schools. In the spirit of equality or in an effort to reduce academic stress, private schools might place limits on how many APs a student can take. Private schools also lack affiliations with local community colleges, making it hard for students who have accelerated beyond the school’s math or language offerings. At priavate religious schools, required religion classes might also interfere with a student’s ability to take more rigorous courses or double up on core subjects (like science).

Less Preparation for Standardized Tests:

Some private schools deem their curriculum “college-level”, similar to APs, and therefore do not offer any AP classes. While the rigor of these courses is likely equivalent, it makes it more challenging for a student to sit for AP exams, which can afford them the opportunity to earn merit and even skip some pre-requisite college courses. The Chapin School’s (NY) website notes, “we have determined that Chapin-designed advanced courses provide our students challenging, college-level work that deepens their intellectual engagement while building critical skills demanded by each discipline in more enduring ways than AP courses do.” 

More Competition:

There is often a higher density of students applying to top colleges from a private school, many of whom are hooked. This can create more pressure for students and also make it more difficult for students to gain acceptance at top schools.

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Public School Pros

More Extracurriculars

Public schools typically serve a larger and more diverse population, offering a broad range of academic programs and extracurricular activities. Shrewsbury High School (MA) has clubs ranging from Astronomy Club to DECA to a Filmmaking Club, and many “National Honor” societies (Honor, Arts, English, Forensic, Latin, French, Chinese, Math, Science, Social Science and Spanish).

Diversity:

Public schools tend to be more diverse, exposing students to a broader range of backgrounds and perspectives. This can be valuable for developing cultural competency and interpersonal skills. Private schools may have a more homogeneous student body, providing a different type of social experience.

AP Offerings & Dual Enrollment:

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science & Technology (VA) is one of the top public high schools in the nation, offering 20+ AP courses and dual enrollment at nearby colleges like George Mason University and Northern Virginia Community College.

Public School Cons

Less Funding:

One of the primary challenges faced by public high schools is inadequate funding. Public schools, funded by taxpayer dollars and state allocations, often grapple with budget constraints, which can impact classroom resources, and a lack of investment in extracurricular activities. The consequence is a potential gap in the quality of education provided, as schools struggle to keep pace with evolving educational standards and technological advancements.

Staffing Issues:

The large student populations in public schools can strain available resources, leading to an insufficient number of teachers and support staff. Overcrowded classrooms may compromise the ability of teachers to provide individualized attention, impacting the overall learning environment. This also limits the bandwidth of teachers to provide students with high-quality guidance and mentorship.

College Counseling Caseloads:

High caseloads can compromise the personalized attention and support that students require when making crucial decisions about their future.

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Dr. Kristen Willmott, TTA Senior Private Counselor and former Admissions & Financial Aid Officer at Harvard University:

Nellie Brennan Hall, TTA Senior Private Counselor and former Associate Director of Admissions at Brown University:

PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL VS. PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOL: COLLEGE ADMISSIONS

According to the Dartmouth Class of 2027 Application Profile, secondary school attendance broke down as follows:

Secondary School Attendance

  • Public Schools: 55%
  • Independent Schools: 34%
  • Religious Schools: 11%
  • Total Number of Schools Represented: 971

At Dartmouth, assuming that colleges are looking at two students with equally impressive standardized test scores but one is ranked number one in a big urban public high school where they had to work outside of the school to deepen an academic interest and the other is in the top 10 percent of their class at a private school with little to set them apart, statistics show they will favor the public-school candidate. While a lot more goes into decisions than just this, data historically shows that US public school students are admitted to top universities at a higher rate than private school students. However, there are other benefits to private school that complicate the story…

TOP TIER TIP: ANALYZE THE “SCHOOL PROFILE”

College admissions officers use information provided on the “school profile,” submitted by a student’s high school college counselor, to contextualize their transcript. These profiles may include a summary of the curriculum, the courses offered, the grading scale, how GPA is calculated, and average tests scores. Many schools also publish a GPA distribution graph within the profile, which gives an admissions officer a sense of each student’s relative rank. As an example, see The Hotchkiss School (CT) profile below, which includes the range of Cumulative GPAs for the Class of 2024 as well as average test scores, and single-year averages for 11th graders:

Source: The Hotchkiss School

PUBLIC VS PRIVATE: HARD WORK PAYS OFF

We work with students from the most elite of private schools to the most public of public schools. If students have top grades and test scores, have high-impact extracurriculars, and work to deepen their academic interests—their high school’s designation of public vs. private won’t have a negative impact on their odds at top colleges.

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AP Exams AP Physics AP tutoring test prep Top Tips

AP Physics Explained

In February, the College Board announced physics course and exam revisions, which will take effect with the 2024-25 school year (May 2025 AP Exams).

As the AP program continues to expand and evolve, so do the opportunities for students to delve more deeply into the study of physics through four different AP Physics courses: AP Physics 1, AP Physics 2, AP Physics C: Mechanics and AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism. As high school students make decisions about course selection, they might be wondering how to distinguish between these classes, and which ones are most important for college admissions.

To help make sense of these options, we’ve enlisted the expertise of our seasoned physics tutor, Collin, to answer your frequently asked questions about these different physics courses, the associated exams, and how to navigate AP preparation.

AP PHYSICS ROADMAP

What are the key differences between the four Physics AP offerings? How should a student decide which course to take based on their interests and career goals?

AP Physics is divided up by mathematical proficiency and subject matter. AP Physics 1 and 2 are geared more towards students with a strong Algebra background but who have not (or choose not) to explore Calculus I and II. Physics 1 focuses mostly on Mechanics, whereas Physics 2 is a broader overview of fluids, thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, and optics. AP Physics C: Mechanics and AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism take the core concepts from Physics 1, and the E&M from Physics 2, but allow students to solve more complex problems with Calculus equations.

I recommend students take AP Physics C: Mechanics and AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism sequentially if they want to pursue a STEM field in college and beyond. Scoring a 5 on both of these exams can eliminate an entire year of Physics course requirements from a student’s college curriculum, freeing up space for other topics of interest or higher-level physics classes. If a student is unsure of what they’d like to pursue in college, or is leaning away from a STEM-intensive major, I recommend studying both AP Physics 1 and 2 to gain a broader understanding of the field.

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AP PHYSICS 1 AND 2: CONTENT FOCUS

Can you provide an overview of the major topics covered in AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2? How does the content in each course contribute to a student’s understanding of fundamental physics concepts?

AP Physics 1 focuses almost entirely on Mechanics. Topics covered include Energy and Momentum, Statics and Dynamics, Simple Harmonic Motion, and Torque and Rotational Motion. AP Physics 2, conversely, is broader and gives the student a sample of various non-mechanics topics including Circuits, Electric Fields, Optics, Molecular Physics, and Fluids. Overall, the content covered in AP Physics 1 and AP Physics 2 courses equips students with the knowledge, skills, and mindset necessary to understand and appreciate the fundamental principles of physics and their applications in the world around them. By engaging in hands-on activities, problem-solving exercises, and critical thinking tasks, students develop a robust foundation in physics that prepares them for further academic and professional pursuits.

AP PHYSICS C: MECHANICS AND ELECTRICITY/MAGNETISM

For students interested in AP Physics C, what are the distinct features of the Mechanics and Electricity/Magnetism courses? How should a student determine if they are better suited for one over the other, or is taking both is advisable?

Both Mechanics and E&M at the AP Physics C level require students to at least be enrolled in Calculus BC concurrently. The mathematics involved is a bit more complex than what would be seen in Physics I and II, so I always recommend a student to have already learned Calculus or be learning it side-by-side. Mechanics at the C-level takes the concepts from AP Physics I, but uses derivatives and integrals instead of linear slopes and areas to solve complex problems. Physics C Electricity and Magnetism does the same, but focuses only on these subsets of Physics II while eliminating any content on optics, thermodynamics, and fluids.

I always advise students to take both Physics C Mechanics and Physics C Electricity and Magnetism. Seeing as students at this level are already preparing themselves for a STEM-based field and possibly career, taking both classes sequentially will help narrow down their interest in Math and Science to a specific major or concentration. Mechanics and Electricity and Magnetism are very different concepts that require different ways of approaching problems. While it’s very possible to succeed at both, every student I’ve worked with has formed a preference for one vs. the other which can help narrow down career choices in the future.

STUDY STRATEGIES FOR AP PHYSICS

What study techniques do you recommend for mastering the content of AP Physics exams? Are there specific approaches that work well for different courses, such as problem-solving strategies or conceptual understanding emphasis?

Studying for these exams usually requires a three-pronged approach: focus on conceptual understanding, focus on problem-solving, and focus on timing. The timing piece of the equation is often overlooked when teaching this course, but it is arguably one of the most important when it comes time to take the AP Physics examination. Regardless of the AP Physics class chosen, I always recommend students start with a high-level understanding of the concepts taught. From there, a few problems should be solved that correlate with the topics previously learned. Before going any further, I advise that students go back to the conceptual topics to see if any new discoveries have been made from trying a few problems. I’ve found that most students understand the bulk of the material at first, but solving problems and going back to the concepts afterwards fully instills the remaining 10% of content that might have caused some uncertainty. Once these two pillars (understanding and problem solving) have been mastered, I lastly focus on time management to ensure that problems can be solved within the allotted window given on the exam.

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PREPARING FOR AP PHYSICS EXAMS

Given the unique nature of each AP Physics exam, what advice do you have for students preparing for the exams, especially in terms of time management, practice tests, and balancing theoretical knowledge with practical problem-solving skills?

Balancing conceptual understanding with problem solving is really the key here, as they reinforce each other when done in tandem. In my opinion, it is never enough for a student to only solve problems or only understand the concepts. Hopping back and forth from concepts to problems allows students to absorb more and more of the content with each rotation. I’ve found that many students increase their conceptual understanding during the problem-solving process, and likewise think of novel ways to solve problems while re-learning concepts. As far as the specific problems go, I always recommend students use the sample College Board AP Practice Problems as a guide. While problem sets from other sources or textbooks are part of all courses and integral to a student’s learning, AP Practice Problems really prepare students on what to expect on the exam. Once a student feels strongly that they understand the concepts, can solve complex problems, and solve the AP Sample Questions, I then recommend adding in the time management piece of the equation to ensure that the problem-solving process followed can be done in the allotted time available for the exam.

Collin grew up in Chicago, Illinois and has always had a strong passion for Math and Physics. His senior year of high school he received 5s on the BC Calculus AP Exam and both Physics C AP Exams, and was Valedictorian of his high school (rank 1/832).

Collin went on to pursue an Electrical Engineering degree at Washington University in St. Louis, but was looking for even more Math and Physics based courses so added two minors to his curriculum: Physics and Nanoscale Science and Technology. It was during his undergraduate years that Collin also developed a passion for tutoring other students. In total, Collin has tutored high-school and university students 500+ hours over 10+ years in both a 1:1 capacity and a group setting (Head Laboratory TA for Circuits I and II).

After his bachelors, Collin completed graduate courses in Electrical Engineering at UC Berkeley and now works professionally as an Electrical Engineer. He currently designs automated testing systems for Life Fitness, where his products are used 60+ hours a week to validate manufactured cardio equipment. 

Collin believes analogies are the foundation on which a strong conceptual understanding is built. He’s helped STEM and non-STEM students alike succeed in Math and Physics through his ability to explain the same problem through multiple lenses. At the end of the day, he believes it is how the problems are presented that convey understanding. It is this unique approach that allows him to assist students of all academic backgrounds and preferred methods of teaching.

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ACT Breaking News Brown digital SAT SAT SAT score Standardized Testing test optional

Breaking News: Brown Requires Standardized Test Scores

As of this morning, Brown is the third Ivy League school to reinstate standardized test scores, following Yale and Dartmouth’s lead and citing academic performance as the leading factor that influenced the decision. This announcement comes after an evaluation of the University’s undergraduate admissions policies was conducted by a committee appointed by President Christina H. Paxson and comprised of members of the Corporation of Brown University and Brown senior faculty “to ensure that the University is fully realizing its educational mission and upholding its commitments to academic excellence, equity, access and diversity.” This new policy will begin with the class of 2029.

The exception to this rule will be those who are “unable to take the test” when “the International Baccalaureate or a national exam may be substituted.”

Transfer applicants, however, can still take advantage of a test-optional policy.

According to The Brown Daily Herald, these scores will be considered in the context of an applicant’s background:

The Brown Daily Herald also reported that, during the 2020-21 applicant cycle, 40% of applicants to Brown chose not to submit test scores. However, in the 2022-2023 cycle, only 24% of students did not submit a score.

EARLY DECISION AND LEGACY PREFERENCES

For now, Brown is staying the course with its Early Decision admissions policy, stating that eliminating it may “place Brown at a slight disadvantage in enrolling very high qualified students who are subsequently admitted to other institutions through Regular Decision.”

Brown also deferred any decisions on legacy preferences until administrators can ask “members of the community—including faculty, staff, alumni and students—to provide input on Brown’s current practice of preferences for applicants with family connections.” Approximately 10% of Brown’s Class of 2027 was made up of students with “familial preferences,” including ~8 percent with legacy preference and 1-2% who are children of staff members.

Brown’s hesitation to change their binding ED policy and relationship to legacy preferences isn’t surprising given its potential impact on their yield rate (legacy students tend to enroll at higher rates once admitted). However, the committee’s executive summary also suggests that “admitting fewer legacy students could potentially increase the numbers of low-income and first-generation students, and students from underrepresented groups, by a modest amount.” 

BROWN REINSTATES STANDARDIZED TESTING: THE TOP TIER TEAM WEIGHS IN

As testing policies continue to shift at elite universities, we asked Senior Private counselors, Nellie Brennan Hall and Heidi Steinmetz Lovette, and Co-Founder Dr. Michele Hernandez to weigh in:

Nellie Brennan Hall, TTA Senior Private Counselor and former Associate Director of Admissions at Brown University

Dr. Michele Hernandez, TTA Co-Founder and CXO

Heidi Steinmetz Lovette, TTA Senior Private Counselor and former Assistant Director of Admissions at Cornell University

WHICH SCHOOL IS NEXT?

Which college or university do you think is next to require standardized testing and why? Let us know in the comments.

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