Avalon Admissions Blog

Weekly admissions intel, success stories, and mindset tips curated by Avalon mentors.

Blogs

COLLEGE ADMISSION News and Articles

Avalon Guidelines for Research Papers

All research papers, whether they are based on the literature review or direct observation, should follow a standard template that is generally accepted by readers of such research.

Neil Chyten

March 17, 2026

COLLEGE ADMISSION News and Articles

The Importance of Academic Research Conducted During High School.

How important are research related topics to college admission? The answer lies within the details surrounding that research. Research that is well chosen, well executed, and leads to a specific and tangible outcome can provide the boost that a student needs to put them over the top in the ultra-competitive world of elite college admission.

Neil Chyten

March 17, 2026

STANDARDIZED TESTING News and Articles

How Important are SAT, ACT, and Other Test Scores?

ACT, SAT and AP (as well as international tests including IB and CA) provide useful benchmarks to colleges anxious to fill their classrooms with highly capable students. Therefore, they continue to be valuable to colleges, and are strongly considered in the admissions process, especially by highly competitive colleges.

Neil Chyten

March 13, 2026

STANDARDIZED TESTING News and Articles

Structural and Scoring Changes to the ACT beginning in April, 2025

In April 2025, the ACT underwent a series of structural and score reporting changes. These changes are summarized below.

Neil Chyten

March 13, 2026

COLLEGE ADMISSION News and Articles

Will Your Academic Awards Add Value to Your College Application?

In this article, we rate categories of academic awards in terms of their potential impact on college applications

Neil Chyten

February 18, 2026

COLLEGE ADMISSION News and Articles

Best and Worst Summer Activities for College Applications

By choosing summer activities strategically, students can develop experiences that not only enrich their personal growth but also enhance their narrative for top colleges to consider.

Neil Chyten

February 13, 2026

COLLEGE ADMISSION Dates and Deadlines

Application for Columbia Summer "College Edge" Program Now Open - Priority deadline is Feb 2, 2026

Columbia's College Edge Program for students currently in, or entering, grades 11–12. These are real college classes, taken for credit alongside Columbia undergraduate students. These credits may or may not be accepted by the college you will attend. However, you will receive a transcript and a grade that can be added to your college application.

Neil Chyten

January 22, 2026

COLLEGE ADMISSION Dates and Deadlines

Harvard's Summer 2026 Course Catalog for High School Students is Now Available

Harvard's summer 2026 course catalog and application for Harvard's two-week, four-week, and seven-week programs are now available.

Neil Chyten

January 22, 2026

STANDARDIZED TESTING News and Articles

The Rise and Fall (and Rise?) of the ACT

As college admissions became increasingly competitive, students began seeking “The One” test that might best set them apart in a crowded applicant pool.

Neil Chyten

January 20, 2026

COLLEGE ADMISSION News and Articles

The Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS) Competition

Regeneron Science Talent Search (STS) is the most prestigious science competition for high school students in the country.

Neil Chyten

January 12, 2026

COLLEGE ADMISSION News and Articles

What Really Matters in Elite College Admissions in 2025-2026

As families prepare students for applications to the most selective colleges in the country, it is easy to get distracted by headlines—test-optional policies, AI essays, or shifting legal frameworks. But when you strip away the noise, the fundamentals of elite college admission in 2025 remain remarkably consistent. The difference today is that competition is fiercer, margins are thinner, and mistakes are harder to recover from.

Neil Chyten

December 27, 2025

PRIVATE SCHOOL ADMISSION News and Articles

How is Private School Admission Similar to College Admission?

Getting into top private schools is not unlike getting into top colleges. Highly valued applicants demonstrate a consistent set of values whether they are applying for college or private school. Overall, they are seeking to establish an advantageous mix of talent while also creating a well-blended campus culture.

Neil Chyten

December 23, 2025

COLLEGE ADMISSION News and Articles

In The Era of AI, What Will Replace Computer Science as The Best Major for Tech-Oriented Students

The “safe majors” of yesterday aren’t guaranteed anymore. The students who will thrive are the ones with deep, transferable skills and the ability to pivot as industries evolve. In a world changing this quickly, fundamentals such as math, science, and engineering skills beat simple computer programming in a landslide.

Neil Chyten

December 22, 2025

COLLEGE ADMISSION News and Articles

NYU Tandon Launches Center for Robotics and Embodied Intelligence

According to NYU’s release more than 70 faculty, PhD students, and post-doctoral researchers “are working in 10,000 square feet of shared experimental spaces, including a 6,800-square-foot flagship facility” in Downtown Brooklyn.

Neil Chyten

December 18, 2025

COLLEGE ADMISSION News and Articles

Trump Administration Wages War on College Essays

Since the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in a case against Harvard and University of North Carolina, colleges have been getting around the rules by asking questions related to a student’s community, background, challenges, how identity has shaped their world view, and other questions that relate to personal experiences that are likely to reveal enough about a student for colleges to fold in identity to the admission equation. Now, however, the Trump administration is fighting back.

Neil Chyten

December 18, 2025