Sign In

Login

our BLOG

Stay informed and inspired with Empowerly news.

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

Counselor Spotlight: How Students Can Unlock Superpowers

Meet the Empowerly team in a whole new way. Join us for our counselor interview series to highlight the personal side of our experts!

Deferred from a College: Now What?

In other words, you will receive a final admissions decision in April. So if you were deferred from a college, what can you do about it? If you are deferred, this means that your application will be reevaluated during the regular admissions cycle, and you will receive a final admissions decision in April.

Ultimate Waitlist Strategies to Secure Your Spot (2026)

Waitlisted? Don’t panic! Learn key waitlist strategies to boost your chances of admission and secure your spot at your dream college in 2025.

Help: I Missed Most College Deadlines!

For many, life goes back to normal for a while. However, if you missed college deadlines for whatever reason, you're likely feeling the exact opposite.

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.

How to Email Professors for Research Opportunities

The first step, however, is incredibly important: learning how to email professors for research opportunities. Don't worry, we will explain!

Sign up for our newsletter

Stay updated on college admissions trends with Empowerly’s blog for tips on improving test scores, GPA, and acing applications.