Fuel Your Passion for Free: 4 Ways to Dive into Academic Interests
1405, 2025

Fuel Your Passion for Free: 4 Ways to Dive into Academic Interests

by Jennifer L. Exploring what you love doesn’t have to come with a price tag.  Whether you’re drawn to science, history, or an interdisciplinary field that blends both, there are fun, free, and meaningful ways to start learning today.  Here are 4 no-cost ways students can dive into academic interests: Activity 1: Join a Citizen Science Project Love science and nature? Downloading a citizen science app like iNaturalist, Zooniverse, or

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3 Tips to Improve Tech & STEM Skills
1604, 2025

3 Tips to Improve Tech & STEM Skills

by David H. N., PhD Students are often wowed by the final product of a science project that makes headlines in their community. These stories can be inspiring, but they can also be discouraging to other students. The misconception that leads to discouragement is that you don’t realize that every successful STEM practitioner started as a beginner, with challenges of a journey that must happen before the final project. What

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3 Tips for Students to Develop Leadership
1203, 2025

3 Tips for Students to Develop Leadership

by David N., PhD People gravitate towards those whom they believe are leaders, but how does one become a leader? And, more importantly, how does one stay a leader? It is possible to accidentally become a leader, but without actual leadership skills you won’t stay there long. First, it’s important to understand the difference between a manager and a leader. A manager has authority because the social structure has assigned

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How to Revise Cliches in Essays
0102, 2025

How to Revise Cliches in Essays

by Kathleen M. You have heard the advice to avoid cliches and maybe you have even tried to rid yourself of the ones you employ most often.  The reason to avoid cliches is that they are a shortcut – and when you are writing an application essay (or any important piece of writing), you don’t want the reader to think you are cutting corners. So instead of most cliches, you

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When Do Students Hear Decisions on College Waitlist?
2901, 2025

When Do Students Hear Decisions on College Waitlist?

by Jennifer L. Being placed on a college waitlist can feel like being in limbo – you’re not in, but you’re not out either.  Understanding the timeline and process for waitlist decisions can help ease the uncertainty and prepare you for the next steps.  This timing can vary depending on the institution. Most colleges begin addressing their college waitlist decisions after May 1st, which is the national enrollment deadline.  By

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High Score Tips for the SAT
2211, 2024

High Score Tips for the SAT

by Alex L. I’d like to share my experience preparing for the SAT/PSAT, in the hopes that others will take the proper actions for their test with these tips for a high score. In my freshman and sophomore year, my highest score on the school issued PSAT was 1240. I was told by prep programs that I had to take intensive courses to do well (over 1500), but over the

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9 Ways College Differs from High School
1005, 2024

9 Ways College Differs from High School

by Ziba R. Transitioning from high school to college marks a significant milestone in one’s academic journey. It’s a time of newfound independence, exploration, and personal growth that comes with a different set of experiences, responsibilities, and opportunities than high school. Let’s explore these variances in 9 ways college differs from high school: High School College 1. Academic Freedom Curriculum is structured, limited choice More flexibility in course selection and

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6 Tips to Combat Test Anxiety
0305, 2024

6 Tips to Combat Test Anxiety

by Ziba R. Test anxiety–the feeling of dread, extreme distress, rapid heartbeat and racing thoughts, affects many students before an exam. However, with the right mindset and strategies, you can overcome test anxiety and ace your exams. Here are six tips to help you navigate through those pre-exam jitters: Prepare Strategically: One of the most effective ways to combat test anxiety is through preparation. Start early, make a study schedule,

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6 Stress Relief and Self-Care Tips for High School Students
2604, 2024

6 Stress Relief and Self-Care Tips for High School Students

by Shiv G. As a high school student, juggling academics, extracurriculars, and a social life can sometimes feel like walking a tightrope. With so much on your plate, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and stressed out. However, prioritizing your mental health is essential for maintaining balance and overall well-being, even if it means dropping an extracurricular from your schedule or foregoing an AP course. Here are some of my personal

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How to Write for Common App Prompt #5 – Personal Growth
1208, 2023

How to Write for Common App Prompt #5 – Personal Growth

by Sarah M. Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. Prompt #5 is the most quintessential college essay prompt. Indeed, any prompt that you choose to answer will eventually come back to the formula asked for here: a moment or experience that led to a process of personal growth. Although you may find inspiration in other

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How to Write for Common App Prompt #4 – On Gratitude
0508, 2023

How to Write for Common App Prompt #4 – On Gratitude

by Lillie W. Two years ago, a new prompt showed up among the Common App’s standard seven personal statement options, a question that invited students to talk about an experience that made them grateful.  As several public commentators remarked at the time, Prompt #4 stood out against the other six essay options in a couple of significant ways. Its wording is, “Reflect on something that someone has done for you

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How to Write for Common App Prompt #2 – From Failures to the Future
2207, 2023

How to Write for Common App Prompt #2 – From Failures to the Future

by Michelle P. From sleeping late past an alarm clock to losing a contact lenses or misspelling a word in a hasty text message—failures and mistakes are a natural part of life. A previous post dives into Common App prompt #2 about failure and challenges for Essay Narwhals. This post will offer some additional insight for students hoping to make this Common App essay on failure into their big win

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How to Write for Common App Prompt #1- A Potential Golden Ticket
0807, 2023

How to Write for Common App Prompt #1- A Potential Golden Ticket

by Lillie W. If you’re a rising high school senior, at this point in your life your experience with job interviews is probably limited. But you’ll find out soon enough, once you hit the job market, that there’s no more paralyzing moment at the start of an interview than a company executive’s unexpectedly trumpeting “So, tell me about yourself!” across a big desk. Most of us suffer instant brain freeze

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Showing Change in a College Essay
0306, 2023

Showing Change in a College Essay

by Michelle An ugly duckling turns into a swan. An acorn becomes a beautiful oak tree.  A timid fish becomes a brave adventurer (okay, that last one is from Finding Nemo). As an Essay Narwhal, you understand that college application essays present a great opportunity to share a story about yourself. But not just any story though. Your application essays are a great chance to show to colleges how exactly

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What should a Junior do in March 2023 for Upcoming College Applications?
1803, 2023

What should a Junior do in March 2023 for Upcoming College Applications?

by Tony T. With several months to go for the 2023-2024 college application season, it is the time for high school juniors to prepare for this overwhelming experience. IvyBoost would like to advise several tips for this important process: Focus on your academic performance: Colleges will look at your grades and the ones from junior year are the most important to prove yourself. If you feel a particular subject is

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Don’t Compare Yourself to Others in Your College Essays
1103, 2023

Don’t Compare Yourself to Others in Your College Essays

by Michelle From last week’s post on emotional growth, Essay Narwhals should understand how it is important to show maturity and understanding of your own emotions. The topic for today’s post will jump off of that idea as a launching point. Many students know that they wish to show the best sides of themselves in a college essay. However, there is one simple trap that many students fall into when

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Writing Emotional Intelligence for Application Essays
0303, 2023

Writing Emotional Intelligence for Application Essays

by Sarah M. One of the most important ways to make your college application essays stand out is to convey your feelings and emotions. This is a bit of a new task for many students, because generally speaking, academic writing is NOT emotional. So, how should you include more of your own inner life within a college essay? You can’t simply insert something like “I felt sad,” or “that made

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How to Record Your Experiences for Application Essays
2502, 2023

How to Record Your Experiences for Application Essays

  by Michelle Hey Essay Narwhals! Do you remember what you had for lunch three days ago? How about what you had for lunch one month ago? Do you remember the title of that one catchy song you heard one day ago? How about the title of the catchy song you and your dance team practiced to a year ago? You can’t remember? Even for the most type-A personality, Hydro

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How to Use Quotes in your College Essay
0711, 2022

How to Use Quotes in your College Essay

by Albert L. “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” “Fortune favors the bold.” “But what I do I have are a particular set of skills…” Quotes can be powerful. The last one taken from the movie Taken is so ubiquitous, it’s spawned a whole generation of memes. Using quotes in your writing can be effective. They can summon profound ideas written by culturally and intellectually significant individuals that have

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1105, 2017

20 Hours on Khan Academy SAT Practice Could Mean 115 points Improvement

Recently, 1 year after the release of the new SAT, the College Board announced that data on students who used Khan Academy’s SAT practice for 20 hours seemed to show an average gain of 115 points. The data studied included 250,000 test takers, and 16,000 of those test takers showed gains of 200 points or more after using Khan Academy’s SAT practice. Not sure what the Khan Academy SAT Practice data

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2704, 2017

3 Free Apps for Efficient Test Prep

Whether studying for AP Calculus or studying for a Biology final, students can find it difficult to organize their study methods in a way that is most effective for them. However, there are a variety of free apps available that can make a study period more efficient and even fun: 1. Evernote : A free app that helps students store and access their notes for as many classes as they want. 2. Quizlet

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1602, 2017

Study Better With Neater Notes

If you are a student, it is likely that you and many of your classmates may have made a New Year’s resolution to be better at studying and preparing for tests. But how can a student do so? A student can prepare before class by making sure to have all the materials they need, like a notebook, black and blue pens, and pencils A student can take notes in an

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1811, 2016

3 Tips on College Apps

During this season, many students and parents worry about college applications. What are some helpful tips that students should know to send out the best application possible? Tip 1: The application essay is a chance to show your writing skills and to show your contributions to the community around you. Make sure to spend time carefully writing your essays. Tip 2: Throughout high school, it is better for students to

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1011, 2016

Tips to Ask for Recommendations

Perhaps you are a high school senior, and three of the colleges on your list require recommendations. Or you may be a high school student intent on attending a particular summer science camp or that prestigious debate program, and the applications also require a teacher recommendation. So how do you go about asking for a letter? Do you: A) Barge into a teacher’s classroom three days before your application is

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2110, 2016

Steer Clear of these College Application Mistakes

During the 12th grade, between all the college application forms, essays, and financial aid, and a student’s usual schedule with classes, sports, or music rehearsals, it is not unusual for a student to struggle with finishing everything they need to do. As the 12th grade is usually a student’s first time working on college applications, there are a few mistakes they can watch out for regarding college admissions. 1.Significant changes

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2804, 2016

Ace Tests with these Apps

No matter what type of student you are, tests and exams can bring a lot of pressure on your shoulders. While you are looking through your color-coordinated notes and debating with your friends over a textbook, see if this list of apps can help you have a more engaging and efficient study period. (Source: USA Today)

2304, 2016

Decrease Studying Stress with these Steps

You know you have three tests next week, two AP exams around the corner, and finals week right afterwards. Not sure how to structure your study time? This quick list of tips and apps can help you pen a plan and aim for test success. (Source: Huffington Post)

1711, 2015

You Know You Are Ready to Apply When…

You have finished every essay and every part of your application and are ready to send it in and relax for the rest of the year, right? However, as there is no ‘undo’ button for submitting your college application, you might think first about going through this checklist from USC.

1708, 2014

GMAT Reading: Answer Choices to Avoid

  For GMAT Reading Comprehension, students read the passages and pick the answers strategically. In this article we would like to suggest some types of answer choices that can be crossed out right away as incorrect.   a)   Answer choices that use categorical words such as “only,” “all,” “always,” “never” and “exclusively.” b)   Answer choices that make use of information that doesn’t appear in the text. c)    Answer choices in

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