Posts by Dave Bergman:

How Competitive Is College Admissions for Boise-Area Students?

Posted on: 19 Oct 2025

For families raising college-bound students in the Boise area, college admissions can feel deceptively straightforward. Idaho does not produce the sheer applicant volume of California, Texas, or the Northeast, yet Boise’s strongest students increasingly target selective national universities alongside regional flagships. The result is a landscape that is more competitive than many families expect—especially for […]

Public vs. Private in the Philadelphia Area: What Actually Matters for Selective College Admissions

Posted on: 17 Oct 2025

If you live in the Philadelphia suburbs, you already know that choosing the “right” high school can feel overwhelming. The region offers nationally recognized public districts such as Radnor, Lower Merion, Tredyffrin/Easttown, Unionville, and Downingtown—alongside highly selective private and independent schools including The Haverford School, Episcopal Academy, Germantown Academy, Germantown Friends School, Baldwin, and George […]

College Admissions from Bentonville, AR: What Every Family Needs to Know

Posted on: 15 Oct 2025

Bentonville, Arkansas, has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past two decades. Once known almost exclusively as the headquarters of Walmart, it has evolved into one of the most dynamic small cities in the United States. Today it is home to world-class art institutions, a thriving startup ecosystem, a nationally ranked school network, and a […]

How to Get Into San Diego State University (SDSU): Acceptance Rate and Strategies

Posted on: 15 Oct 2025

For the incoming Class of 2029, San Diego State University received a record 94,000+ total first-year undergraduate applications. Applicants to this member of the California State University system campus, which was once primarily the target of local residents, hail from all 50 states and 100+ countries.. This is a testament to how much SDSU has […]

Rochester and Its Suburbs: A Surprisingly Strong Launchpad for Selective College Admissions

Posted on: 09 Oct 2025

Rochester, New York does not always come to mind when families think about college admissions powerhouses. However, the greater Rochester area offers a combination of strong suburban high schools, world-class research institutions, and genuinely rare experiential opportunities that is difficult to match anywhere else in upstate New York. Moreover, students here compete in a regional […]

Public vs. Private in Mercer County: What Actually Matters for Selective College Admissions (2026 Guide)

Posted on: 05 Oct 2025

A clear, research-backed look at how Princeton, WW-P, Hopewell Valley, Lawrenceville, and Mercer County’s private schools compare and how families can make informed decisions. Families in Mercer County face a uniquely complicated school decision. With academically elite public districts including Princeton High School, WW-P North and South, Hopewell Valley, and Robbinsville and powerhouse independent schools […]

The Best CSU Schools Ranked – 2025

Posted on: 03 Oct 2025

Residents of the state of California are blessed with an embarrassment of public university riches. In addition to the exceptional University of California (UC) schools (see UC rankings here), there are an additional 22 universities housed within the California State University system. Our ranked list of the best CSU schools will also share data such […]

Top High Schools in Martha’s Vineyard, MA: How They Compare for College Admissions

Posted on: 02 Oct 2025

If you are raising a college-bound student on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, you are navigating one of the most distinctive and genuinely unusual secondary-school markets in the country. Unlike most communities served by this series, Martha’s Vineyard is a geographically isolated island accessible only by ferry or plane, approximately seven miles off the Cape Cod coast. […]