ILUMIN Education

Join us in congratulating our ILUMIN students and families: our Class of 2026 students secured over $4.93 million in merit-based aid and scholarships this past admissions cycle! Colleges and universities alike have awarded our students in recognition of their academic prowess and the sheer potential they bring to their future college campuses and beyond.

This incredible achievement is a testament to the growth journeys, hard work, and dedication of each of our students, whom our team is proud to have supported each and every step of the way!

Interested in getting college app support for
your student, too? Sign up for a free consultation: https://www.ilumineducation.com/free-consultations

For a full list of schools that recognized our students, see our blog: https://www.ilumineducation.com/blog-posts/2026/6/8/ilumin-class-of-2026-secures-over-493m-in-merit-aid-scholarships

ILUMIN Class of 2026 Secures Over $4.93M in Merit Aid Scholarships — ILUMIN EDUCATION - College Admissions Consulting & Counseling, Palo Alto, Cupertino, Sunnyvale, San Jose, Fremont Join us in congratulating our ILUMIN students and families: our Class of 2026 students secured over $4.93 million in merit-based aid and scholarships this past admissions cycle!

The results are in, and we couldn’t be prouder!

Our seniors absolutely crushed this admissions cycle, securing spots at 154 different colleges and universities—including some of the most selective Ivy League and Top 15 schools in the nation, including:

✅ Stanford
✅ MIT
✅ Yale
✅ Brown
✅ Columbia
✅ The UCs
✅ Cornell
✅ Williams
✅ Penn
✅ UChicago
✅ Johns Hopkins
✅ Pomona
✅ Harvey Mudd
✅ Northwestern
✅ Claremont McKenna
✅ Amherst

Our students tackled the high-stakes stress of college admissions—from late-night essay edits and college major crises to rigorous coursework and time-intensive extracurriculars—and came out on top. Whether they’re headed to an Ivy League campus, a top-tier liberal arts college, or a premier research hub, our seniors found the perfect college fit for each of their unique journeys, and we’re thrilled to see them off as they launch into their next chapter.

To our dear seniors, from all of us at ILUMIN: we are incredibly proud of each and every one of you!

Check out the full list of 154 schools that accepted our students here: https://www.ilumineducation.com/blog-posts/2026/5/28/congrats-to-our-2026-admits

Congrats to Our 2026 Admits! — ILUMIN EDUCATION - College Admissions Consulting & Counseling, Palo Alto, Cupertino, Sunnyvale, San Jose, Fremont The results are in, and we couldn’t be prouder! Our seniors absolutely crushed this admissions cycle, securing spots at 154 different colleges and universities—including some of the most selective Ivy League and Top 15 schools in the nation, such as Stanford, MIT, and Yale.

One university, two experiences. Which Emory is right for your student?

Many students don’t realize that applying to Emory University offers a unique choice: the high-energy Atlanta campus or the small-community feel of the Oxford campus.

Back in October, we sat down with Senior Associate Dean Giles Eady to discuss how students should approach this choice. We also tackled the "tough" questions:
🏛️ What has Emory learned from its test-optional admissions policy?
🏛️ What is Emory's stance on AI?
🏛️ Can a dance major really get into medical school? (Spoiler: Yes!)

Whether you are a pre-med hopeful or a future business leader, Giles’ insights provide a roadmap for a successful application.

Catch the full webinar throwback here:

📖 Read the Transcript: https://www.ilumineducation.com/blog-posts/2026/4/29/webinar-transcript-live-qampa-with-emory-university-senior-associate-dean-of-admission

🎥 Watch the Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Xgr9XmXp9o&pp=0gcJCd8KAYcqIYzv

Webinar Transcript: Live Q&A with Emory University Senior Associate Dean of Admission — ILUMIN EDUCATION - College Admissions Consulting & Counseling, Palo Alto, Cupertino, Sunnyvale, San Jose, Fremont Giles, if you don't mind, before we kind of launch into questions, you know… give us an intro,  tell us about maybe how you got started, what brought you here, and what delights you in the work of admissions.

It's time for a webinar throwback Thursday! 🕰️ We’re revisiting one of our most impactful sessions: a live Q&A with Trey Moore, Northeastern University’s Director of Admissions Engagement. Even as the admissions landscape shifts, Trey’s insights into what makes a Northeastern applicant successful remain incredibly relevant for the Class of 2027.

Northeastern has become a top-tier choice for students globally, driven largely by its signature co-op program and its rapidly expanding campus network. In this webinar, we pulled back the curtain on how the university manages its global offerings and what its views are on student AI usage.

Some highlights:
- Test-optional: How Northeastern views the SAT/ACT in 2026 and what "data points" they prioritize when a score isn't submitted.
- Northeastern's global network: A breakdown of the six different freshman pathways, including London, Oakland, and New York City.
- The co-op advantage: Why experiential learning isn't just for STEM and Business, and how Humanities students find high-impact placements.

If Northeastern is on your college list, this Q&A is essential viewing to help you understand exactly what the admissions committee is searching for.

Catch the full throwback here:
📖 Read the Transcript: https://www.ilumineducation.com/blog-posts/2026/4/22/webinar-transcript-live-qampa-with-northeastern-university-director-of-admissions-engagement
🎥 Watch the Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uukuPc4ADyU

www.ilumineducation.com

Curious about what the admissions process looks like from an admissions officer's point of view, and how this perspective can help your own student prepare for college applications? Want to learn more about Carnegie Mellon University?

If so, join us as we throw back to our live Q&A webinar last year with CMU Senior (then Assistant, now Associate) Director of Admission, Andrew McMillen!

Find the transcript on our website's blog and the recording on our YouTube channel:

📝 Transcript: https://www.ilumineducation.com/blog-posts/2026/4/13/webinar-transcript-live-qampa-with-carnegie-mellon-university-senior-assistant-director-of-admissions
🎥 Recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lE6-VtQaGU

Webinar Transcript: Live Q&A with Carnegie Mellon University Senior Assistant Director of Admissions — ILUMIN EDUCATION - College Admissions Consulting & Counseling, Palo Alto, Cupertino, Sunnyvale, San Jose, Fremont Super excited to have Andrew McMillen from Carnegie Mellon University come on with us! He told me he's super honest—too honest, so we wanna test that theory and see what he might be able to share—but all in all, super excited to have him on.

We want to deliver a heartfelt congratulations to all of our ILUMIN students who received early acceptances from their dream schools! Whether through Early Decision or Early Action, our students have worked tirelessly to showcase their unique stories, and their dedication has paid off with acceptances to some of the nation’s most selective institutions. We couldn’t be more thrilled and proud.

While we celebrate every single acceptance, here are some highlights from this year's early results:

• California Institute of Technology
• Carnegie Mellon University
• Case Western Reserve University
• Claremont McKenna College
• Columbia University
• Cornell University
• Duke University
• New York University
• Northeastern University
• Princeton University
• Purdue University
• University of Chicago
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• University of Michigan
• University of Pennsylvania
• University of Southern California
• University of Texas at Austin
• Washington University in St. Louis
• Yale University

This is just a first look at where our seniors are set to take their next steps in the fall. To view the full list of acceptances and celebrate all of our students’ achievements, read the full post on our blog: https://www.ilumineducation.com/blog-posts/2026/1/16/congratulations-to-our-edea-admits-of-2025

Congratulations to Our ED/EA Admits of 2025! — ILUMIN EDUCATION - College Admissions Consulting & Counseling, Palo Alto, Cupertino, Sunnyvale, San Jose, Fremont This holiday season, we want to deliver a heartfelt congratulations to all of our ILUMIN students who received early acceptances from their dream schools!

We are delighted to share that our founder and CEO, Elton Lin, has had his op-ed, “The Return of Standardized Testing: Test-Optional No More?”, published by Education Insider Magazine!

Our article sheds light on the tumultuous role of standardized testing in college admissions over recent years. Many top schools, including the majority of the Ivy League, have reinstated SAT and ACT score requirements for this admissions cycle and beyond. Are test-optional and test-blind policies, which were increasingly adopted by colleges with the onset of the pandemic, now disappearing to make room for the old test-required standard?

We're honored to be able to share our college admissions expertise, and hope this article gives more students clarity as they navigate the daunting journey towards college and beyond!

Read the full article here: https://education-and-admission-consulting.educationinsidermagazine.com/vp/ilumineducation/the_return_of_standardized_testing:_test-optional_no_more?/

Did your student make progress on their college essays this summer?

If not (or if there's still writing to be done), this is their chance to catch up! Now is the perfect time to finalize those essays and ensure they get the critical feedback needed. To support students through this time crunch, we’re offering a limited-time deal!

Use coupon codes at checkout here: https://www.ilumineducation.com/essay-consulting-pricing
✍️ 10HOUR ($200 off our 10-hour package)
✍️ 5HOUR ($100 off our 5-hour package)

Offer valid through 9/30!