Blogs & Latest News

What Is the Difference Between Public and Private Universities?
College Counseling

Public Vs Private

Attending a public university can be really affordable if you qualify as an in-state student. Even international students do not need to spend exorbitant amounts of money as opposed to what they would at a Private University. The reason again being that private unis run on student tuition and heavy endowments.

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Planning for College – Winter

Grade 9 and 10/ Freshman and Sophomore.

The winter break is a good point to take stock of what you have been doing over the last few months and make sure you are prepared for the remainder of the academic year. It is also time to make some longer-term plans.

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Guide to the Different Types of Colleges and Universities in the US
College Counseling

A Guide to the Types of Colleges and Universities in the US

Now is the time of year when those students who will be applying for college in 2023 should start to think about building their college list. While every college is unique nearly all can be categorised into a type, often offering great advantages to their students. In this article, I will list some of the most popular types of colleges you should get to know as you narrow down the colleges and universities on your college list.

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Tips on How to Improve Your GPA for College Admission Success
Admissions

Tips on How to Improve Your GPA for College Admission Success!

I discussed Grade Point Average or GPA, how it is calculated and how it makes an important contribution to the profile you present to colleges at application time. If colleges consider your GPA to be important, then you should too. In this blog, I will show you how the key to academic success is not dependent on being smart; rather, it is about being disciplined and efficient in your study habits. These nine strategies will help you raise your GPA without getting stressed and working at all hours.

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Expert Guide on How to Write a Good UCAS Personal Statement?
College Applications

Applying to the UK? How to write your UCAS Personal Statement

Your UCAS Personal Statement (PS) is the one opportunity to discuss why you want to study a particular degree. It is your chance to demonstrate your drive, ambitions, skills, and achievements, making you an excellent choice for the universities to which you have applied.

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What are AP Tests and should I do them?
College Counseling

What are AP Tests and should I take them?

Here at Ivy Central, we get many questions about AP Tests, are they needed or useful in the US college application process? How many should you do? Are some subjects more valuable than others? This article will help you answer these and other questions you may have about AP Tests.

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Expert Guide to Understanding US and UK College Rankings
College Counseling

Understanding College Rankings

September is college rankings season. Across the world, websites and newspapers publish stories about the rankings of colleges and universities; some focus on specific countries like the US and UK, while others claim to tell you which are the ‘best’ in the world.

While there are many other factors that students should use when making final admission decisions, college ranking lists are a resource that students and parents should use, so in this blog, I’m going to help you understand college rankings.

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Should you apply Early Action?

Early Action, or EA, is offered by many public universities and a few private universities in the US, whose deadline is typically in November.

It is often thought that Early Action (EA) is a ‘non-binding’ application to colleges and universities in the US. Typically, this means that you can apply to other universities simultaneously – something that the Early Decision or ED disallows you from doing.

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It’s Not All About the Money!

In the world of Careers Guidance, we are used to the idea that to help a young person prepare to make decisions about what career they want to pursue, you would explore their interests and strengths. Such considerations are essential; people tend to have more rewarding careers if they do something they enjoy and can do well. However, interests and strengths can only ever be part of the thinking. The individual’s feeling of job satisfaction is missing from such an approach. We may find ourselves working in a job that links to our interests and strengths but fails to provide the internal glow of a job well done.

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Tips on How to Write a Good Common App Essay | Ivy Central
Admissions

Still Writing Your Common App Essay? 5 Tips to Help You

With the submission deadline for applying in the early round of US college applications rapidly approaching, you will hopefully be well on the way to finishing your personal essay. If you are struggling, then hopefully, this article will help as I share five tips from college admission professionals that can help you create a winning essay.

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Five Top Tips for Making the Most of Grade 9

The move to Grade 9 can feel somewhat overwhelming, but it is also the start of a new chapter in a student’s life. Many think that learning has more of a point as thoughts start to move toward what comes after school. This makes Grade 9 a critical transition point for students; it allows them to explore options without worrying about standardized tests or researching colleges. Grade 9 is also the time to put in place good study practices, ones that will take you through the remainder of your education. In this blog, I will share five top tips to help you make Grade 9 the best yet.

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Do I need to take an English Language test?

Colleges and universities will look for an international student’s ability to study in English as part of their admissions process. All courses will be taught in English, so it makes sense that anybody they accept will need to understand what they are being taught. The two most common tests used to assess non-native students’ English language ability are the International English Language Testing System (TOEFL) and the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). TOEFL is most common in the US, while IELTS is more commonly used in the UK.

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Summer Activities for College Applications | College Planning Guide
College Counseling

Planning for College: What to do Over the Long Summer Break?

If you are finishing grades 9 and 10, then the summer is the time for you to delve into your interests and explore new ones. Good grades will only get you so far in the college application process, colleges will also want to know about activities you have been a part of, and the long break provides the perfect opportunity for you to put time into these activities.

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