Posts by Andrew Belasco:

UGA Supplemental Essay 2025-26 – Prompt and Advice

Posted on: 03 Jun 2025

Nearly 48,000 students from around the world applied for a place in the UGA Class of 2029. Further, the EA round in the 2024-25 cycle attracted 15% more applicants than the previous year’s all-time high, meaning that the UGA supplemental essay may be even more important in 2025-26 than in previous years. Last year, the […]

How Competitive Is College Admissions for Tampa Bay Students in 2026?

Posted on: 01 Jun 2025

If you’re raising a high schooler in the Tampa Bay area, you’ve probably noticed that college admissions feels more complicated and more competitive than it used to. Part of that is national trends. But a significant part is regional. Tampa Bay’s high schools, public, private, IB, magnet, early-college, and independent, produce large numbers of ambitious, […]

Case Study: How One Monmouth County Student Used Strategic Planning to Earn Acceptances to Top Colleges

Posted on: 31 May 2025

A look inside how a motivated New Jersey student translated focus, intention, and smart decision-making into computer science offers at three of the most competitive engineering schools in the country. Meet Alex, a Monmouth County student with a passion for computer science and a realistic understanding of how difficult CS admissions have become, especially for […]

Milwaukee’s Top High Schools: What Families Should Know for College Admissions

Posted on: 29 May 2025

Families in and around Milwaukee often hear that the region is home to some of the best high schools in Wisconsin, rigorous academics, expansive extracurriculars, strong college-going cultures, and nationally recognized outcomes. But a strong school does not always translate into the best strategic fit for a student, especially when viewed through the lens of […]

How Competitive Is College Admissions for Montgomery County, MD Students in 2026?

Posted on: 29 May 2025

If you’re raising a student in Montgomery County, you’re already familiar with the region’s academic culture: rigorous schools, motivated students, and high expectations. It’s an extraordinary environment for learning, but also one of the toughest college admissions landscapes in the nation. MCPS alone includes national standouts like Walt Whitman, Winston Churchill, Wootton, Walter Johnson, Bethesda-Chevy […]

The Most Common College Admissions Mistakes Mercer NJ County Families Make: And How to Avoid Them

Posted on: 27 May 2025

A strategic breakdown of the pitfalls we see among students from Princeton, West Windsor–Plainsboro, Hopewell Valley, Lawrenceville, Robbinsville, and the area’s top private schools. Mercer County families benefit from some of the strongest public and independent high schools in the Mid-Atlantic. Students here attend academically intense environments—including Princeton High School, WW-P North and South, Hopewell […]

Strategies for Applying Early Decision

Posted on: 27 May 2025

In the early 1990s, the University of Pennsylvania was struggling to keep up with its fellow Ivy League universities and found itself frequently relegated to “backup plan” status among the nation’s top students. Their institution’s location in less-than-idyllic West Philadelphia and the “sounds like a state school” name contributed to their relative woes. In an […]

Future College Applicants: How to Make the Most Use of Your Summer

Posted on: 23 May 2025

For many teens, the summer is a time to work extra hours at your job, attend a summer program, vacation with family, or simply enjoy a respite from the hectic pace of the academic year.  While starting college applications over the summer may not be at the top of your list, we encourage rising seniors […]