Posts by Dave Bergman:

Top High Schools in the Ann Arbor, MI Area: How They Compare for College Admissions

Posted on: 09 Sep 2025

If you are raising a college-bound student in the Ann Arbor, Michigan area, you are in one of the most academically competitive secondary-school markets in the Midwest. The shadow of the University of Michigan shapes everything here: the community’s educational expectations, the density of highly educated families, and the intensity with which Ann Arbor students […]

Case Study: How One Albuquerque Student Earned Admission to Selective Colleges

Posted on: 06 Sep 2025

Families across Albuquerque and the greater Bernalillo County area know that selective college admissions have grown more competitive every year. High-achieving students at schools like La Cueva, Eldorado, Sandia, Volcano Vista, Cibola, Albuquerque High, and Rio Rancho often carry strong GPAs and take multiple AP courses. Yet many find themselves unsure how to stand out […]

How Competitive Is College Admissions for Charlotte-Area Students in 2026

Posted on: 05 Sep 2025

If you’re raising a college-bound student in Charlotte, Union County, or Fort Mill, you may have noticed something. College admissions here feel tougher than they were even a few years ago. You’re not imagining it. The Charlotte metro area is now home to some of the strongest public, charter, and independent schools in the Carolinas, […]

University of Washington Supplemental Essays 2025-26 — Prompts and Tips

Posted on: 05 Sep 2025

The University of Washington’s main campus in Seattle isn’t the type of public school that just services local residents. Rather, UW-Seattle attracts twice as many applicants from out-of-state/country than in-state each year. Top-ranked computer science, engineering, business, and nursing programs, in particular, attract an endless stream of high-caliber applicants from around the globe. Great grades […]

How to Get Into Top Colleges from Albany, New York

Posted on: 01 Sep 2025

If you’re a college-bound student in the Albany area, you’ve probably wondered: does living here hurt or help my chances? The answer is nuanced. Albany’s location creates both real challenges and genuine advantages for top-college applicants. Understanding both sides is essential for building a smart strategy. Does Geography Affect College Admissions? Yes, but not in […]

MIT Supplemental Essays 2025-26 — Prompts and Tips

Posted on: 29 Aug 2025

When applying to MIT, a school with a 4.5% acceptance rate where a 1500 SAT would place you below the average enrolled student (seriously), teens should be aware that it takes a lot to separate yourself from the other 29,000+ applicants you are competing against. While trying to be among the 1 in 25 who […]

Johns Hopkins Supplemental Essays 2025-26 — Prompts and Advice

Posted on: 29 Aug 2025

In the most recent admissions cycle, Johns Hopkins University admitted 6.4% of applicants into the Class of 2028. As a school that rejects thousands of applicants each year with 1500+ SATs and impeccable transcripts, those hoping for a positive result at JHU need to find additional ways to shine in the eyes of the admissions […]

Columbia Supplemental Essays 2025-26 — Prompts & Advice

Posted on: 29 Aug 2025

Of the nearly 60,000 applications received by Columbia, just 4.2% were accepted, the second lowest mark in the Ivy League (Harvard was the lowest). At a school where 96 of every 100 applicants are rejected, and the vast majority of those applying have near-perfect/perfect grades and test scores, you may be asking yourself, “How do […]