Choosing which college to attend is a massive decision for students. It makes sense, then, that after matriculating, so many students rethink that decision.
For any student looking to transfer schools, one of the first steps is building that transfer college list. Beyond all the factors high school students consider when researching colleges (e.g., location, student life, academics, size, affordability), transfer students should additionally consider whether or not their colleges of interest are “transfer-friendly” institutions.
Writing college application essays is daunting, especially for students juggling schoolwork, extracurricular activities, and personal responsibilities. More and more applicants are turning to generative AI tools, using them to brainstorm, edit, or even fully write essays. Although ChatGPT or Gemini may seem like the answer to easier writing, using AI may actually harm more than help your application essays.
When students build college lists, the prestige of a school is often less important than its ROI. College ROI, or return on investment, refers to how much money your student gains after graduation compared to what they initially pay for college. In other words, ROI takes a student's college tuition and expenses and measures it up against that student's projected earnings and career stability over the next few decades.
Today we're going to be taking a look at the University of California system, or more specifically, their college essays: the UC Personal Insight Questions. If you're a rising senior, this is going to be top of mind for you as college essays and applications come up for you. If you're a younger student, then this should be a great preview of what awaits you during your upcoming application cycle.
Hey, tonight's topic is building a college list that works for you, and invariably, as I was preparing the content for tonight, the reality is that this is a conversation that probably deserves an 8-hour ultimate guide that we can talk about in 6 parts—and perhaps we can pitch as a 6-episode series, whatever the case may be. There are so many little nuances, and I think once we get into some of what we're gonna talk about, I think, it will invariably lead to more questions.
Join us in congratulating our ILUMIN students and families: our Class of 2026 students secured over $4.93 million in merit-based aid and scholarships this past admissions cycle!
The results are in, and we couldn’t be prouder! Our seniors absolutely crushed this admissions cycle, securing spots at 154 different colleges and universities—including some of the most selective Ivy League and Top 15 schools in the nation, such as Stanford, MIT, and Yale.
Giles, if you don't mind, before we kind of launch into questions, you know… give us an intro, tell us about maybe how you got started, what brought you here, and what delights you in the work of admissions.
Good evening, everybody. Pleased to speak to you all. My name is Trey Moore, and I currently serve as the Director of Admissions Engagement at the University of Northeastern here in Boston, Massachusetts.