Expert coach Shelly Horwitz Highlights & Achievements 10+ years in Education and College Application Guidance Member of Award-Winning Broadway Theater Writing Teams as Dramaturg BA with Honors in English and Performance Studies, University of Chicago Shelly Horwitz brings a unique expertise in narrative storytelling to Fortuna. With a background in theatrical dramaturgy, she previously worked
We are often asked by students and families how much extracurricular activities really matter in the college admissions process – and the question is often wrapped up in a great deal of anxiety. Is the student doing enough activities? The right kinds and with the right amount of engagement? Is something missing? It’s an understandable
How Much Do Extracurricular Activities Matter in College Admissions? Read More »
Your high school transcript is the most important academic document in the college admissions process. Admissions officers evaluate far more than a single GPA number on a transcript. They analyze the rigor of the courses you chose, how your grades evolved over four years, and how your performance compares to other students at your school.
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There is a moment in many parent’s lives when ambition creeps in disguised as love. It might start with a conversation at the school gates, or a college ranking glimpsed online. A university name spoken with a faint, involuntary reverence. And before we quite notice what is happening, our hopes for our children begin to
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Freshman year is about building a strong foundation for the entire high school experience. It’s a big step up from middle school: the classes move faster, grades carry more weight, and independence is real. For the first time, performance begins shaping a student’s cumulative GPA, high school transcript, and the long-term arc of their college
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As the college admissions landscape continues to evolve, a common question students are asking is “which colleges are test-optional?” Should you submit SAT or ACT scores, or allow the rest of your application to speak for you? Since 2020, over 2,000 colleges and universities across the United States have adopted test-optional admissions, a major shift accelerated
Which Colleges Are Test-Optional in 2026? Read More »
Director Jonathan Masland Highlights & Achievements Former Executive Director of Career Services at Dartmouth Tuck 14+ Years of MBA Career Coaching & Admissions Collaboration Dual MBA & MA Graduate, Wharton-Lauder Institute Former Investment Banker and Fintech Startup Founder Harvard Graduate & National Champion Collegiate Squash Player and coach Jonathan Masland brings over a decade of
If you’re the kind of student who can’t walk past a broken scooter without thinking, “I could fix that,” or who reads about rockets, chips, clean energy, robotics, biotech, or bridges and feels your brain light up, engineering might be the most natural language you’ve ever tried to learn. But here’s the part people don’t
Engineering at MIT vs Stanford vs Georgia Tech: Three Takes on Building the Future Read More »
If you’re researching elite colleges in the US, you’ve likely come across the term “Little Ivies.” It’s a term often used as a shorthand for small, prestigious and highly selective schools that are among the best liberal arts colleges in the US. In fact the Little Ivies represent a distinct academic experience: one that rivals
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When many people picture a US college, they imagine ivy-clad buildings, historic libraries, and a prestigious college name proudly emblazoned on a sweatshirt. The ‘Ivy League’ has become a symbol of academic prestige and aspiration. However, the official Ivy League schools also come with hefty price tags and single-digit admit rates. The good news: you
What Are the Public Ivies? Your Guide To Public Ivy Schools In The US Read More »
