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Find the latest college admissions news, tips, resources and more.

UC Application Tips: How to Prepare for When the Portal Opens

UC application tips to stay ahead: Learn key steps, tasks, and timelines to prepare before the UC portal opens on August 1. Don’t wait!

What are the Best Engineering Colleges in the U.S.?

If you are debating which engineering college to go to, consider these tips to help you pick the best one for you.

25 Best Business Schools For Undergraduates (2025 Edition)

Looking to major in business for your undergraduate degree? Here are the top business schools for undergrads in the United States!

Carnegie Mellon Acceptance Rate: How Hard Is It to Get In?

What is driving Carnegie Mellon’s shrinking acceptance rate — and more importantly, what does this mean for today’s high school students?

How to Pick a College: Part 6 The Best College Decision

At Empowerly, our students use a detailed approach that leads to an informed decision. And an informed decision is your best college decision in the end.

How Many SAT II Subject Tests Are Recommended?

Many parents and students come to us at Empowerly and ask us a few questions about SAT II subject tests, from how many to which ones.

What Does a Private College Counselor Do?

But, what does a private college counselor do? For those of you just starting out, we're here to give you the basics.

How Many SAT II Subject Tests Should You Take?

Some students have never heard of the SATÂ Subject Tests and others take five or six in an effort to impress college admissions officers. In reality, most students need to take two to three SAT Subject Tests. Having helped thousands of students get into college, we find this is one of the top 5 questions students ask, especially high school juniors and seniors.

Top Arts Summer Programs

To give you ideas on where to start, we'll review the top 9 arts summer programs out there.

The Four Types of Activities for College Admissions

We've developed a mental model we call the Activity Matrix to think about the four main types of activities to boost your college profile.

How to Pick a College: Part 5 Special Collections

Academic life changes greatly from high school to college. Think back to the difference after transitioning from middle school. Topics and assignments grew more refined and specialized. The same jump will occur because of the vast intellectual offerings and facilities that can support academic inquiry. At Empowerly we encourage in-depth research to uncover all of the unique collegiate opportunities. College decisions should weigh academic potential between universities.

How to Pick a College: Part 4 Research Support

Original research, the hallmark of academic study and a staple of graduating with honors, serves as the cornerstone of the academic world. Universities pride themselves in the groundbreaking discoveries their professors and other researchers contribute to the zeitgeist. The U.S. government itself invests in the research and development at these institutions. Sometimes high school students even try their hand by competing in science competitions like Intel and Siemans. Mentorship is key and often accessible by emailing professors who are experts in the field. Your college decision should weigh institutional support as a factor.

How Important Is Standardized Testing For College?

One of the most frequent questions we get at Empowerly is how important standardized testing is for college admissions.

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