college counseling

Advising 101: Tips from the UC Counselor Conference

As many of us know, admissions to the University of California system has become increasingly selective over the years, particularly in the past decade. For instance, freshman applications at UC Berkeley have doubled in that time, and all UC campuses have now crossed the threshold of 100,000 for freshman and transfer applications each cycle. Given this … Read more

The Summer Before Senior Year: A Fantastic Time to Work on College Applications

When putting together our college counseling services at Green Ivy, we made sure to build in four-day intensive college application “bootcamps” for all of our students to complete the summer before senior year. This workshop allows them to jump start the application process in a structured and supportive environment, while giving them a foundation of … Read more

Advising 101: How Best to Spend the Summer Before College—Great Ideas for High School Graduates

The summer before college can be a pivotal time for students, in part because finishing high school means they are one step closer to adulthood. While we at Green Ivy believe graduates should take time in these months to relax, see friends, and pursue the activities they enjoy, this can also be an optimal time … Read more

Advising 101: How Building a Positive Online Presence Can Impact College Admissions

Recent studies show that between 35 and 50 percent of admissions officers are viewing students’ social media profiles. This doesn’t mean they are looking for anything embarrassing or inappropriate, but it does mean they are using it as one way of gathering more information about applicants. When we talk about a student’s online presence, much … Read more

Academic Advising 101: Creative Ways to Spend Your Summer

At Green Ivy, we like to periodically spotlight on some of our favorite summer programs at colleges and other venues, featuring everything from STEM research and creative writing courses to outdoor adventure trips. Those featured programs are great ways to spend part of your summer, but they may not be the right fit for students … Read more

Advising 101: How to Start Generating Ideas for Your College Essays

Depending on the time of year, it might seem too early to start writing your college application essays, but the present moment is always a great time to start generating ideas for those essays by, for example, jotting down experiences that have resonated with you or that you found meaningful. At Green Ivy, we’ve seen … Read more