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Understanding Princeton’s Acceptance Rate
With its commitment to academic excellence and its storied history, Princeton is one of the most sought-after universities for higher education in the U.S. Every year thousands of ambitious aspirants dream of joining this elite and intellectually vibrant community. Many are disappointed for not making it. Students and parents need to understand the acceptance trends…
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Behind the Scenes: The Journey of Your College Application
Just as the application process for students is multifaceted, so is the job of the college admissions officers. For you, it is one application, but for the AOs, it is thousands of them. Processing applications is a highly complex process involving multiple steps. If you are wondering what happens after the application has been submitted,…
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College Essay Checklist Before Submitting Your Application
It is crucial to thoroughly review your Common App and other college essays before submitting them. Since you are applying to ED or EA and you will not get another chance to apply to these colleges in any of the other rounds, this is your last chance to polish and powerfully represent yourself. This blog…
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Tips on How to Organize Your Early Application to U.S. Colleges
Early Decision deadlines for U.S. colleges are around the corner. Students who have decided to apply early are having sleepless nights regarding their application. There is a niggling feeling that perhaps some aspects of the application might not be complete. Do not worry! Ivy Central, with its years of experience in helping students with their…
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Navigating College Discussions with Friends
One of the most challenging times for graduating high schoolers is juggling their college application and maintaining a balance in their conversation with their friends who could be potential competitors. Having spent considerable time with your classmates in the growing-up years, you are confronted with a situation—the crossroads of the application process. During college discussions,…
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ACT or SAT- Which One Should You Consider
We have received many questions about which standardized test students should focus on: the SAT or the ACT. This comes with the recent news that many top-tier colleges have reversed their test-optional policies from COVID-19. Both these tests are standardized tests that are considered equally by U.S. Colleges. Neither of them tests you on subject…
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Embracing Cultural Differences: Guide for International Students
Traveling to the U.S. on a family holiday is vastly different from being a student in the U.S. There is the dizzying feeling of independence, coupled with nervousness and adventure. Many students are accompanied by their parents, while many students make their journey alone—into the world of higher education. Everything around you is new and…
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Need Blind vs Need Aware- Differences in Admission Policies
You may have come across these two terms when looking for colleges that offer financial aid and wondered what exactly they mean. These describe how universities and colleges view the financial needs of students during their admission process. Somehow colleges do not discuss the topic of financial aid explicitly, because it is a hard choice…
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The U.S. Grading System- What International Students Must Know
Transitioning to the U.S. education system may be challenging for international students unfamiliar with it. Visa bureaucracy, culture shock, time difference, new friends – you will already have a boatload to manage upon landing in the U.S. Understanding the grading system and even taking a look at different university’s grading policies when making your decision…
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2025 US News & World Report College Rankings
Choosing the right university is a pivotal decision for students. Despite some controversy, the US News & World Report’s 2025 rankings remain a valuable source. Nearly 1,500 colleges and universities across the United States were evaluated and the rankings use up to 17 measures of academic quality to help students make informed choices. The report…
