College Admissions – FITree Learning

Summer 2026 Elite Colleges Tour

Jeffrey Chen — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 01:13:39 +0000

The California Institute of Technology recently dropped calculus as an admissions requirement

FITree Learning — Mon, 06 Nov 2023 21:58:59 +0000

Though the prestigious California Institute of Technology announced in August it would drop calculus as an admissions requirement, many other elite colleges have stayed the course.

CalTech recently announced a list of acceptable substitutes for its requirement of one-year’s academic course in calculus, chemistry and physics for first-year applicants:

If a student is unable to take a calculus, chemistry, and/or physics course in high school because it is not available to them or they experience unresolvable course conflicts, Caltech will accept examination scores or certification showing evidence of knowledge in the subject in lieu of an academic course requirement, provided both the student and their counselor document the underlying unresolvable issue(s).

But... calculus is still expected at many Top 20 colleges

Princeton looks for some applicants to complete the class if they have access to it. Likewise, MIT, Carnegie Mellon and Purdue strongly recommend or encourage at least some applicants to take the course in high school.

Cornell was alone among the 20 in still mandating calculus. In fact, the Ivy League school tells incoming freshmen that at least one of their two letters of recommendation must be from a math teacher and they are “strongly encouraged” to make that person their precalculus or calculus teacher.

MIT follows a similar model as CalTech; it wants incoming freshmen to have two semesters of calculus but allows them to place out of the requirement either through outside credits or by taking an Advanced Standing Examination.

Calculus is not required for admission to any University of Michigan school or college, including the College of Engineering and the Ross School of Business.

And the same holds true at Harvard, Columbia, Northwestern, Rice and Johns Hopkins.

The University of Minnesota doesn’t demand calculus for entry to any of its undergraduate programs. However, the school does prefer that students study the topic at some stage: It’s mandatory for some majors, though it can be taken at the college level.

Neither calculus nor precalculus is a requirement for first-year admissions at the University of California. However, those interested in STEM, data science and the social sciences are “strongly encouraged” to consider a math course sequence that prepares them for calculus — either during high school or in their first year at the university.

Stanford recommends four years of rigorous mathematics — including algebra, geometry and trigonometry.

“We also welcome additional mathematical preparation, including calculus and statistics,” its website advises.

In-Person Session w/ Admissions Deans from Brown, Columbia, UChicago, Vanderbilt

FITree Learning — Thu, 05 Oct 2023 21:08:40 +0000

Admissions representatives from Brown, Columbia, UChicago, and Vanderbilt will hold a joint session for students about their respective universities and the highly selective college admissions process. Topics will include: academic programs, campus activities, student life, admissions policies and financial aid.

Fall 2023 College Prep Program

FITree Learning — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 00:52:02 +0000

FITree Learning’s Fall 2023 College Prep Program for High School and Middle School students (two separate groups). Small classes focused on essential college preparatory skills such as critical reading, writing, and thinking. Additional preparation includes communication skills, grammar, leadership development, community service, internships, college readiness and exploration, and competitive college/national programs that will stand out during the college application process. Weekday after-school and Saturday schedules available.

Harvard expands essay requirement for admission

FITree Learning — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 16:55:54 +0000

Harvard’s 2023 College Application now contains five required short-answer supplemental questions, instead of the previous single optional essay.

When the Common Application portal opened on Aug. 1, high school students found a significant change in the Harvard College application: the Harvard supplement optional essay has been replaced with five required 200-word limit short answer questions.

“As part of the undergraduate admissions process, an optional essay is being replaced by five required short essays to provide every student the opportunity to reflect on and share how their life experiences and academic and extracurricular activities shaped them, how they will engage with others at Harvard, and their aspirations for the future,” Harvard College spokesperson Jonathan Palumbo wrote in an email.

The questions ask about applicants’ life experience, intellectual interests, extracurricular activities, how they hope to use their Harvard education in the future, and the top three things that they want their roommate to know about them. The new short essays draw directly from prompts in the old Harvard College application.

1. Harvard has long recognized the importance of enrolling a diverse student body. How will the life experiences that shape who you are today enable you to contribute to Harvard?

2. Briefly describe an intellectual experience that was important to you.

3. Briefly describe any of your extracurricular activities, employment experience, travel, or family responsibilities that have shaped who you are.

4. How do you hope to use your Harvard education in the future?

5. Top 3 things your roommates might like to know about you.

FITREE LEARNING students admitted into top colleges during the 2022-23 application cycle

FITree Learning — Wed, 31 May 2023 03:51:05 +0000

FITREE LEARNING students were admitted into top US colleges, including: Harvard, MIT, Brown, Duke, Vanderbilt, Rice, Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, USC, Georgia Tech, UC San Diego, UC Irvine, UT Austin.

CONGRATS 2022-23 FITREE LEARNING STUDENTS!

FITREE LEARNING students will be attending top colleges like Harvard in Fall 2023 after having benefited from expert guidance in producing college applications designed to align with the latest (and increasingly challenging) U.S. college admissions landscape:

With SATs and ACTs being widely optional, other factors carry greater weight in the College Admissions process, including: Application Essays, Recommendations, Evidence of Personal Character, Extracurriculars, and Interviews.
Aligning college applications with assessment procedures at top colleges: using the FITREE LEARNING college counseling system, students are positioned for a top rating in key admission considerations such as Academics, Extracurriculars, and Personal Characteristics.
Supplemental materials and Portfolios have become increasingly important: submitting advanced science or engineering research, creative writing samples, art portfolio, music recordings, and even extra recommendations can make a big difference if done right.

Top colleges like Harvard have a specific rating system with detailed assessment for each application being reviewed. By expertly incorporating these factors into its College Counseling and Preparatory system, FITREE LEARNING is well-positioned to help prepare students for the college admission process.

CLICK HERE to learn more about how FITREE LEARNING can help your college application by signing up for a complimentary consultation.

Columbia Announces Indefinite Test-Optional Admissions Policy

FITree Learning — Fri, 10 Mar 2023 20:55:18 +0000

In March 2023, Columbia became the first Ivy League college to become Test-Optional without an attached end-date for all undergraduate applicants.

In announcing its indefinite Test-Optional policy, Columbia cited its consideration of “varied backgrounds, voices and experiences in order to best determine an applicant’s suitability for admission”. Columbia thus becomes the first Ivy League college to make such a declaration of an indefinite Test-Optional policy.

Along with the majority of other colleges, Columbia has not required standardized test scores since the 2020-2021 academic year following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. U.S. News listed Columbia No. 18 in its 2022-23 Top College rankings, a drop from No. 2 in the previous year due to submission of inaccurate data.

Test-optional timeline announced by Ivy League colleges (as of March 10, 2023):

Columbia: Indefinite
Harvard: through 2025-26 admissions cycle (Class of 2030)
Princeton: through 2025-26 cycle (Class of 2030)
Cornell: through 2024-25 cycle (Class of 2029)
UPenn: through 2024-25 cycle (Class of 2029)
Dartmouth: through 2024-25 cycle (Class of 2029)
Yale: through 2023-24 cycle (Class of 2028)
Brown: through 2023-24 cycle (Class of 2028)

Columbia Acceptance Rates (by Category of Applicants), Class of 2026

Applicant Category	Total Applicants	Total Admits	Percentage Admitted

Early Decision	6,305	650	10.3%
Regular Action	54,072	1,603	2.9%
Total	60,377	2,253	3.7%

Source: Columbia Admissions

Insight #1: The number of Early Decision applicants has dropped nearly 10% in the current application cycle (2022-23) compared to the previous year’s.

This suggests that Columbia’s drop from #2 to #18 in the most recent U.S. News Rankings has had a significant impact on student decisions (not) to apply early.

Insight #2: But it still pays to apply early to Columbia. The 10% lower number of Early Decision applicants to Columbia (compared to previous year) suggests even more favorable conditions for those who applied early to Columbia in the current 2022-23 admissions.

If Columbia is your top choice, all other things being equal, there is a 3.5X greater chance to be admitted when applying under Early Decision, compared to Regular Decision.

Insight #3: Columbia categorizes the Application Essay as “Very Important”, on the same level as Rigor of Academic Record and GPA. Columbia, like other top colleges, look to the Application Essay for critical context about the applicant’s academic achievements, and particularly intellectual curiosity.

In the age of Test Optional policies, the Application Essay has become, more than ever, a critical element of the college admissions process.

Learn more about FITREE LEARNING’s College Consulting Services

Insight into College Admissions: Extracurricular Activities and Summer Programs

FITree Learning — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 18:41:54 +0000

As competition to get into elite colleges such as MIT and Harvard becomes stiffer year after year, the most successful students strategically plan their Extracurricular Activities starting early in their high school years. Learn how elite colleges judge Extracurricular Activities.

Six Key Factors in Extracurricular Activities

#1 Selectivity More selective activities are more impressive than less selective ones: a summer program that has a competitive application process would be more impressive than one that is open to everyone.

#2 Uniqueness Unique activities stand out from the pack of common clubs and activities. Alternatively, the student can stand out by infusing a new mission or cause within a traditional club setting. Also high on the scale of uniqueness are research positions with college faculty and selective internships.

#3 Prestige Prestigious competitions or prestigious summer programs that are impressive to admissions officers require planning (as early as sophomore year) and an application process that can be nearly as demanding as an elite college application.

#4 Time Commitment This is one area where quantity does matter: the longer you have participated in an activity and the more time you spend on it, the better.

#5 Leadership Positions Leadership positions are valued, particularly at the highest level of a club which has a sizable membership and is recognized at the state or national level. Starting a club or activity is also particularly impressive.

#6 Awards and Impacts Beyond an award from a prestigious activity that is difficult to achieve, college admissions officers look for tangible accomplishments and impacts, particularly those with quantifiable metrics which add weight and context (i.e. raised $9,000, served 200 patients).

If approached with the proper strategy and execution, Extracurricular Activities can be a key element that unlocks admission into a first-choice college. But this process needs proper planning and preparation: the most recognized summer programs, such as MIT’s Research Science Institute, involve a lengthy process requiring multiple essays that need to be answered in the same manner as with an actual college application.

Some application deadlines have already passed, but select others are still open until early spring.

Whether the student is currently in 9^th, 10^th or 11^th grade, FITREE LEARNING will bring its extensive knowledge base in matching academic interests with prestigious opportunities that can stand out.

Sign up for a free consultation with FITREE LEARNING to start connecting with the right summer programs, research positions and internships which will provide a real edge in the college admissions process.

Insight into College Admissions: Preparing for the Interview

FITree Learning — Thu, 26 Jan 2023 22:13:22 +0000

Interviews are more important than ever in college admissions. Learn insights into how to master the college interview process from FITree Learning.

What Top Colleges Look For In Interviews

With test optional policies adopted by the Ivy League and a majority of colleges (Harvard will remain test optional through the Class of 2030), interviews are more important than ever to gain admission into top colleges.

Insight #1: Academic Interests and Intellectual Strengths

What this means: With record number of applicants – and many presenting similar academic and extracurricular profiles – admissions officers at top colleges rely on interviews to confirm the personal and intellectual qualities that may make some high-achieving students stand out among others.

Sample points of deliberation among college admissions committee members:

“What is your impression of the applicant’s general thinking?”
“Does s/he seem comfortable with complex ideas?”
“Can you envision him taking an active part in classroom discussions or in lively conversations over meals in the dining hall?”

Insight #2: Nonacademic interests

What this means: Interviews can lend important context for the applicant’s grades and test scores. Top colleges use a holistic and whole-person manner to reviewing applications and value the interview for its deeper perspective on students’ interests and inspirations, beyond just raw academic data.

Sample points of deliberation among college admissions committee members:

“Did he reveal any strongly held beliefs or attitudes that could be considered strengths in the context of a university community?”
“Did the applicant show signs that he can entertain different points of view and can offer opinions with grace?”
“Does s/he seem to be striking a healthy balance between extracurricular activity and school work?”

Insight #3: Character and Personal Qualities

What this means: Character and personal qualities are more important than ever in the college admission process, on the same level of importance as extracurricular activities. At top colleges like Harvard, Princeton and Yale, the interview report remains one of the few documents that provides a window into a spontaneous interaction with the applicant.

Sample points of deliberation among college admissions committee members:

“What about the applicant’s demeanor stood out for you?”
“What character traits are you able to detect?”
“Do her personal traits set her apart in a positive way? In a less than positive way?”

The FITree Learning Difference

Building on its considerable experience in college admission counseling, the FITree Learning team has developed a proven approach to prepare applicants using the following 3-Step Methodology to mastering the college interview process:

Step 1: Understanding the categories and sub-categories of interview questions that all colleges use.

Step 2: Identify and apply each applicant’s unique academic and non-academic interests to each interview question category.

Step 3: In-depth and individualized feedback based on interview practices using real interview questions used by top colleges.

To find out more about how to prepare for the college application and interviewing process, contact FITree Learning for a complimentary 30-minute consultation.

Rice University President inaugurated on Oct. 22, 2022

FITree Learning — Fri, 04 Nov 2022 17:53:20 +0000

FITree Learning CEO Jeffrey Chen was pleased to celebrate, alongside members of the international academic community, the inauguration of Rice University’s eighth president, Reginald DesRoches.

It was a thrilling October day for both Rice University as a whole and for DesRoches himself, the Haiti-born and Queens, New York-raised civil engineer who previously served as chair of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology before being named Rice’s William and Stephanie Sick Dean of Engineering and, later, university provost.

President DesRoches’ speech at his investiture laid out the following top priorities for Rice University:

Reach a new level of distinction nationally and internationally for impactful research, award-winning scholarship and insightful creative work.
Build graduate programs that are of the same distinction as Rice’s top rated undergraduate programs.
Maintaining Rice’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Rice University Ranking Highlights (2022-2023)

#15 of Best U.S. Universities (U.S. News)

Insight: Rice moved up from No. 17 in last year’s U.S. News rankings. Rice has routinely rated among the nation’s top 20 universities since first appearing on the list in 1988. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy.

#6 of Best Value Schools (U.S. News)

Insight: Rice (#6) ranks right behind Harvard (#1), Princeton (#2), Yale (#3), Stanford (#4) and MIT (#5). The ranking takes into account a school’s academic quality and the net cost of attendance. The higher the quality of the college and the lower the cost, the better the overall value.

#3 of Best Undergraduate Teaching (U.S. News)

Insight: Rice is known within college circles for its commitment to teaching undergraduate students in a high-quality manner. With 4,240 undergraduates, Rice’s undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is just under 6-to-1. Not surprisingly, U.S. college presidents, provosts and admissions deans who participated in the 2022 U.S. News peer assessment survey ranked Rice (#3) for Best Undergraduate Teaching, right behind Brown and Princeton.

Niche’s ratings recently ranked Rice #6 in the nation overall and #1 for students majoring in several subjects, including architecture. Rice also ranked #7 in the nation for best value and is #9 on the list of colleges with the best professors and #10 on the list of best campuses.

Rice is ranked #1 for lots of race/class interaction and #1 for quality of life by the Princeton Review.

Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.