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Advanced Placements by college board
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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Careers
Career Counseling

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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Grade 9 students
Student Life

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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College Interviews
Admissions

U.S. Colleges Interviewing this Fall

Giving a solid college interview can help sway the decision in your favor. If you haven’t already identified those colleges on your list that are interviewing this fall, now would be a good time to do that.

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Becoming a Lawyer in UK | Essential Training Guide | Ivy Central
Career Counseling

A Guide to Becoming a Lawyer in the UK Part 2.

I will focus on the route followed by aspiring lawyers in the United Kingdom. The legal profession in both the US and the UK is regulated, meaning that you will have to meet specific professional standards to practice. Once you have met these standards, then the legal profession offers a vast array of career options to suit nearly all interests.

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Becoming a Lawyer in USA | Essential Training Guide | Ivy Central
Career Counseling

Guide To Becoming a Lawyer in The US Part 1.

Through my discussions with students working with Ivy Central, I have noticed an increase in students expressing an interest in a career in law; with that in mind, in this article and the next, I will show you how to become a lawyer. 

This guide focuses on the US…

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US Colleges & Universities with high Graduation Rates | Ivy Central
College Counseling

And the Graduation Rate is…..

Degree courses in the US are based around a four-year program of study, but across all institutions offering degrees, the average time it takes students to graduate is over five years. The reasons for this are numerous. It might be that a student changes their major, or there are personal circumstances that result in them taking time out from their studies, but it might also reflect difficulties in getting a place on popular courses or struggling to pass a graduation requirement.

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What Is an Open Curriculum? Best Open Curriculum Colleges
Majors

‘The Open Curriculum’: Should you opt for one?

When I first started understanding the US education system, I was enthralled by the unique curriculums each university offered. In particular, the Open Curriculum caught my attention as it encouraged students to dive into the subjects of their choice directly. 

Let’s understand what kind of a student is likely to make the most of an Open Curriculum –

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Exploring Journey to US College | Key Considerations for Students
College Counseling

Journey to US College-What Students Should Consider

It can be very easy to be seduced by the idea of going to college, particularly one of the great colleges and universities worldwide. The good news is that the dream is increasingly becoming a reality for those that aspire to this goal but achieving it is not always straightforward and can sometimes come as a shock.

In this article, I want to help anybody considering applying to a US college, and their families think about some of the hard questions that will need to be answered on their journey toward college and university.

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Spring Break
Admissions

Planning for College: What to do Now Spring is Here?

The road to submitting your college applications is a long one. The students with the best outcomes are those that have been working towards their applications throughout high school so in this article I’m going to look at what students from different grades should be doing during the next few months.

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Importance of Psychology degree
Career Counseling

Should I study for a Psychology Degree?

Have you ever looked up at the clouds and seen animals in the shapes, or wondered why you catch somebody else’s yawn, perhaps you have felt sudden pangs of hunger as you have walked past a fast food outlet? If that sounds like you and you are interested in why you do these things, then maybe a degree in psychology is for you!

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The Greek Life
Extra-Curricular

Greek Life: An American Tradition

For most international students the idea of fraternities and sororities is something they come across in films set on US colleges. Dating back to the early 1700’s fraternities and sororities have grown into an American tradition, with a presence on campuses across the country. In this article I will explain what they are, the benefits of ‘pledging’, and concerns that many have about them.

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SAT for college prep
College Applications

All Change for the SAT… But Not Yet.

The SAT, together with its near relation, the ACT, has been a feature of college applications for many years. As a result of the COVID pandemic most US colleges have moved to a ‘Test Optional’ application format, meaning that applicants can choose whether to submit an SAT or ACT score without it affecting their chances of acceptance. This test optional format remains in place with most colleges for the 2022/23 round of applications and some colleges, including some of the most prestigious, have already announced that this will be the case for the following two application rounds.

All of this has led to questions being asked about the future of standardised tests and if they are needed. The University of California colleges announced last year that they will no longer consider SAT or ACT scores when making application decisions and an increasing number of colleges have followed a similar route.

In an attempt to reinvigorate the SAT, the College Board, which owns the SAT, announced at the end of January that, following a trial in November 2021, they are going to make significant changes to the SAT and the way it is administered.

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