Financial Aid

Juniors: Should You Take the SAT or ACT This Year?Why Juniors Should Still Carefully Consider Their Testing StrategyIn years past, the vast majority of high school juniors planned on taking the SAT/ACT. However, with an increasing number of schools extending their test-optional admissions policies, some students may be wondering whether it is still worthwhile to study for these exams. The short answer: it depends. Despite the increase in flexible testing policies, not all schools have announced they plan to waive testing requirements for the class of 2026. Until all colleges commit to a test-optional or test-blind policy this fall, many students will still need to keep test prep top of mind.IvyWise college admissions experts Christine and Tiffany will be answering your most pressing t...

The Pandemic Will Obliterate The Traditional Academic Calendar. And It Can’t Happen Fast Enough.Everyone has been pontificating about the various temporary and lasting impacts of Covid-19 on education. It has undoubtedly accelerated the adoption of online and hybrid learning, exacerbated equity and access issues and exposed the financial fragility of many education institutions. But there’s one change that few are talking about and it very well may be the biggest and most positive change of all precipitated by Covid: the obliteration of the traditional academic calendar. Why do bachelor’s degrees take four years to complete? Why is it that we monitor and report 6-year graduation rates for these 4-year degrees? Why do we see considerable learning loss over the summer – especially for stud...

How To Kickstart Creative Problem SolvingDespite our best intentions, most of us are already back in a rut just a few weeks after the New Year, having quickly thrown in the towel on reaching our lofty resolutions and being the very best versions of ourselves. We tend to blame lack of willpower, while not realizing our full potential may have more to do with our failure to address waning creativity. If you’re able to come up with better and faster solutions to problems, this can do as much – or more – to put your desired outcome within reach than sheer grit and determination. In particular, many will find it more rewarding to achieve success by tapping into their creative side rather than burning the midnight oil desperately seeking a remedy to their business or personal dilemma.  H...

Six Big Problems With Education Savings AccountsEducation Savings Accounts are enjoying a sudden start-of-year legislative push in many states. ESAs (sometimes more accurately called education scholarship accounts) are a version of school vouchers; they are often these days teamed up with tax credit scholarships, a program that allows contributions from individuals or organizations, with donors reimbursed by the state in the form of tax credits. The ESA funds are then given to parents to spend on various education products and services. To be fully wonkily accurate, tax credit scholarships are the funding side, and ESAs are about dispersing the funds. They don’t have to be married, but these days, they commonly are. (ESAs can be funded directly by the state, but church-state considerations...

Should College Application Be Required For A High School Diploma?The Wall Street Journal last week reported legislators in a growing number of states are trying to get new laws requiring high school seniors to complete applications for college financial aid (mainly the federal FAFSA —Free Application for Student Aid— but also sometimes state forms) before receiving a high school diploma. It is already law in Louisiana. Nebraska legislation was vetoed by Governor Pete Ricketts. The argument for such legislation is: a college degree will be needed for most jobs created in coming years, and college graduates are more productive citizens, so increasing higher education participation should stimulate economic growth. Moreover, underrepresented groups in college attendance, such as minorities a...

Why We Need A National Strategy For Attracting International StudentsFor five consecutive years, the number of new international students enrolling at U.S. colleges and universities has declined. Understandably, the number of new international students dropped precipitously this year as the pandemic created new hurdles preventing international students from studying in the United States. Yet the multi-year decline is the result of other longer-term barriers that can discourage international students from studying here. Worse, these barriers come against the backdrop of several other countries’ making a concerted effort to tap into the global talent pool and recruit top talent away from us. With a new administration in Washington that understands the value of international students and emb...

What It Will Take – For Your Winning School Elections Next YearWhat if you could learn how to take responsibility, find solutions and set an example for others,  in your school life itself? You could start your success story for your future career too, by becoming one among the movers and shakers of your school. So, let us share why and how, winning school elections is absolutely essential for you. Student Leadership Even today, you may not be able to forget the envy you felt for your class prefect, who wouldn’t stop showing off! And,can you ever forget how you were in awe of your house captain who coaxed you to participate in an event. This is why the ‘house’ system is an important part of every child’s school life. The most common student positions for leadership in schools are the ...