Advantage College Planning

"Best college" lists are built for the one-size-fits-all masses. Your student is an individual.

Families often start the college search with rankings, and it’s one of the biggest mindset shifts families need to make during the college search process.

Truly researching colleges means looking beyond the numbers. A school’s ranking cannot tell you:
✅ Whether your student will feel supported
✅ Whether the campus culture is the right match
✅ Whether the academic environment fits how they learn
✅ Whether the college is financially realistic for your family

Join us LIVE on Sunday as we break down how to research colleges in a smarter, more intentional way.

📅 June 7 | 7 PM ET
📍 Streaming on Facebook, Instagram & YouTube

College admissions moves quickly. Staying informed matters.

If you weren’t able to join our recent live presentations, you can access the recordings on demand at advcp.com/webinars.

Topics include:
✅ Key trends from the 2026 admissions cycle
✅ What colleges are actually looking for
✅ How students can use summer strategically
✅ What to do after receiving ACT scores

Each session is packed with action steps for families who want clear, realistic guidance as they plan ahead.

🎥 View all webinar recordings at advcp.com/webinars

Junior year is winding down, which means now is exactly the right time to ask for letters of recommendation.

The earlier your student asks, the better the letter. Here's how to make the ask feel natural (and respectful of your teacher's time).

For a more detailed Guide to Teacher Recommendations, head over to the blog!
🔗: advcp.com/blogeditor/guide-to-recommendations

Back from IECA... and bringing back lots of notes! ✅

Over the last few days, our team attended the IECA Conference, where we connected with college admissions representatives and educational consultants from across the country.

Staying engaged in professional organizations and ongoing training helps us continue giving families informed, up-to-date guidance in a rapidly changing admissions landscape.

We also visited colleges in Virginia and Maryland to experience campuses firsthand. We'll be sharing details about those college tours soon! 🎓

Hey Juniors! Summer will be here before you know it! 😎

Students who finish the school year with a clear plan often feel far more confident heading into summer and application season.

Right now is the time to tie up loose ends, think ahead, and prepare intentionally.

Swipe through for 5 things we recommend juniors prioritize before the school year ends. ✅

A student can have strong grades, rigorous classes, great activities, and still receive unexpected admissions decisions.

Why?

Because college admissions today is about much more than numbers alone.

In our newest blog post, we explore what's changed in college admissions, including:
✅ The rise in college application numbers
✅ Holistic admissions and institutional priorities
✅ Why selective admissions can feel unpredictable
✅ What students should actually focus on during the process

Understanding the landscape early can help families build smarter college lists and reduce stress later on.

Read the full post on our blog.
🔗: advcp.com/blogeditor/changes

One of the most important parts of our work is continuing to learn. So for the next few days, our team will be in Baltimore for the annual IECA Conference! 🦀

Conferences allow us to stay ahead of changing admissions trends and connect directly with professionals from colleges across the country.

🎓 Did you know? 🎓

Advantage College Planning's founder, Brooke Daly, currently serves as the Vice President for Education and Training for IECA.

We’re excited for a few days of learning, collaboration, and conversations that will ultimately help us better support our students! ✅

College admissions advice is everywhere right now. 🎓

Some of it is helpful. Some of it is outdated. And some of it is simply wrong.

We created 10 Myths of College Admissions to help families separate fact from fiction.

Inside the guide, we tackle common myths about:
✅ College Selectivity
✅ The Best Extracurriculars
✅ Rankings
✅ Test Optional Admissions
✅ Application strategy
✅ And more!

Download the free guide at: advcp.com/guides