From an admissions perspective, narrowing down a list of colleges to visit &#8211; and eventually apply to &#8211; is an essential first step of the college admissions process. From the early stages of planning, to on-campus visits and final applications, a school list will constantly evolve along with a student’s preferences and academic profile.

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College List 101

Here we compare three of the country&#8217;s most popular state university systems.

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State University Quick Facts

Learn the differences between the various universities in the University of California system.

Getting to Know the UC System

What are some ways that pre-med applicants can get involved? There are many activities that students can participate in to help their application to standout. Download our guide to learn more.

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Opportunities for Pre-Med Applicants

A comprehensive list of BS/MD programs across the United States.

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BS/MD Programs Guide

A comparison breaking down the differences between Liberal Arts Colleges and Ivy League Universities

Liberal Arts vs. Ivy League

This guide is designed to help you learn:
1. What is pre-med? 
2. What do pre-med students major in? 
3. Types of pre-med programs 
4. How should high school students prepare for pre-med programs?

Pre-Med Comprehensive Guide

Are you interested in learning about people and how they engage with the world around them? Then an education in the social sciences or humanities might be the right path for you. Read more about these majors and what career outcomes you can pursue here.

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A Guide to the Social Sciences & Humanities

High school students have the time each summer to pursue an activity, camp, competition or trip that potentially can influence what they want to do in the future. Access our guide to start planning ahead and learning about hundreds of available opportunities.

Summer Program Guide

Ivy League schools are considered among the most prestigious in the country, if not the world. Every year, tens of thousands of eager students apply to these highly selective institutions with the hope of securing a coveted spot among an illustrious group of students, scholars, innovators and researchers. But do you actually know what it takes to become a competitive applicant? Check out our guide to learn more.

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Ivy League Admissions Guide

Check out our resource guide all about the top ranked business programs across the U.S.

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Top Ranked Business Programs

Check out our resource guide all about what our students did to get admitted to business school.

Business Case Studies

Learn more about how the acceptance rates of Ivy League universities vary over the course of 10 years.

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Ivy League Acceptance Rates 2012 vs. 2022

Read more to learn about how to answer the University of California Personal Insight Questions.

UC Personal Insight Questions

Check out our primer to learn about some incredible universities &#8211; including liberal arts and sciences colleges, private research universities and public institutions &#8211; that might not be on your radar but offer a fantastic educational experience rivaling the best-known schools.

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15 Schools You Don't Know (But Should!)

Extracurricular activities play an important role in the college admissions process. Choosing the right activities and becoming a leader will stand out on a college application. Access our guide to learn more about different opportunities available for high school students.

Extracurricular Activities & Leadership Guide

Applying to universities in the US is very different as an international student. Learn how to build a successful application as well as pitfalls to avoid. Access our guide to learn the ins and outs of applying to American universities, and how you can best prepare yourself for the process.

US College Planning for International Students

Get to know the largest public university system in the country in our infographic. You’ll learn important facts and figures about each of the nine University of California campuses &#8211; spanning rural to urban locations and medium to large student populations.

Getting to Know the University of California System

Are you planning on returning to the US for university? Learn about standardized exams, extracurricular activity development, the college essay  and how to create a balanced list of universities. Access our guide to learn all the ins and outs of applying to college when you’re an American expat.

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College Planning for American Expat Families

The college experience is complemented by the town in which the university is located. It’s important to scope out the surrounding college towns to know what time off-campus might look like. Access our infographic to learn about great college towns.

College Towns to Call Home (part 1)

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College Towns to Call Home (part 2)

Writing the personal statement for your graduate school applications can be difficult and frustrating without any guidance. Download our infographic to learn some helpful tips on how to get started, what to include and what makes for a standout essay.

Guide to Writing the Personal Statement

Visiting campus is essential to getting a true feel for a university. You’ll get to take a tour, join an information session led by an admissions officer, eat in the dining hall and possibly meet current students. Access our guide to learn how you can best take advantage of your time on campus.

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College Visit Guide

Ivy League Acceptance Rates 2011 vs. 2021

Learn about the best (and worst) topics to write about in your college essay.

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What (not) to write about in your college essay

What are admissions officers really looking for in extracurricular activities? How can you guide your child to appropriately select the best types of activities? We&#8217;ve untangled four of the most common myths about extracurricular activities below:

Extracurricular myths busted

The courses that you choose throughout high school — and the grades you receive in those courses — are arguably the most important factor in admissions decisions, so choose wisely! Read on for advice on how to choose the right courses for you.

High school course selection

What are the top engineering programs in the US and what are they looking for in applicants? Download our guide to learn more.

Top Engineering Programs in the US

Resources from AcceptU's team   
of former admissions officers

Our resource guides offer the latest admissions insights and recommendations.