There’s something about Notre Dame University that resists quick categorization. It doesn’t court you with glossy promises or viral TikToks. It doesn’t have to. The gold dome glints in quiet defiance of trends, and the school’s reputation, which is equal parts grit, gospel, and gravitas, echoes well beyond its Midwestern coordinates. And yet, if you’re reading this in a quiet suburb outside Dallas or flipping through college options between AP classes in Austin, chances are

You’re probably staring at a list of college names, some circled, some starred, and maybe a few scratched out in red. Somewhere on that list, nestled between the heavyweights and the hopefuls, sits Washington University in St. Louis . It’s not an Ivy, but it’s often mentioned in the same breath. It’s elite, but not loud about it. And for many students, it feels like both a hidden gem and a significant leap. So, should you apply? At IvyStrides , we know this isn’t just anothe

It’s tempting to treat college decisions like checkbox math. Grades? Check.  Scores? Check. Big-name school on the Common App? Check. But applying to Rice University isn’t a checkbox move; it’s a bold one. Because Rice is not just competitive, it’s distinct, and figuring out if it’s right for you goes beyond acceptance rates or a campus tour. At IvyStrides , we’ve worked with students from Plano to Princeton who fell in love with the idea of Rice and then had to decide if th

What if the right college for you isn’t an Ivy, but something just as good, and a whole lot more you? Vanderbilt University isn’t your typical top-20 school. It’s fiercely academic but never cutthroat, famously friendly without being fluffy, and wildly underrated on most “prestige” radars, especially if you’re outside the South. Should you apply to Vanderbilt for 2026? Let’s break it down. At IvyStrides , college should be more than a brand name; it should be an academic mat

Most Ivy League conversations orbit around the usual suspects, the coast-hugging giants with postcard campuses and name-brand bravado. But just north of the noise, in a town edged by pines and ideas, stands a college that doesn’t market itself loudly because it doesn’t have to. Dartmouth College isn’t just another Ivy. It’s the one that feels entirely its own. Tucked in the heart of New Hampshire, it balances the intimacy of a liberal arts college with the horsepower of a wo

Not every Ivy League school feels the same, and that’s kind of the point. Some are rigid. Some are prestige-first, people-second. And then there’s Brown. Tucked into a walkable stretch of Providence, Rhode Island , Brown University has quietly built a reputation for shaping minds that don’t follow trends they set. The students here? Curious, candid, often unconventional. They’re not afraid to ask better questions or learn across disciplines. They’re building their own paths b

Tucked into the academic fabric of the East Coast, Johns Hopkins University isn’t just a college, but a launchpad for the intensely curious . Founded in 1876, Johns Hopkins University (JHU) was America’s first research university , and it's been rewriting the rules of academic excellence ever since.  Johns Hopkins is where lab coats meet global policy, where a senior thesis might double as published research, and where students whisper about Nobel Prizes the way others talk

At IvyStrides , one of the most common questions we hear from students is: “Should I apply to Northwestern University in 2026?” And honestly, we get why the decision feels big. Northwestern is not just another competitive school. It’s a place with a magnetic campus that stretches along Lake Michigan , where Gothic arches meet modern glass labs, and where the buzz of downtown Chicago is only a train ride away. It’s known for brilliant faculty, bold research, and a culture t

Getting into the University of Chicago is no walk in the park. With an admit rate sitting close to 5% , most students glance at the numbers and think it to be impossible to crack. However, what we have observed over the years is that any applicant with diligence, grit, curiosity, and the capacity to work hard does make it in. Located in Hyde Park , Chicago, the university is only a short ride away from downtown. The University of Chicago is considered an amalgamation of hist

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, better known as MIT, is located in Cambridge , Massachusetts, just across the river from Harvard University. For generations, MIT has been recognized as one of the world's most prestigious and influential institutions. Known for its strength in engineering, computer science, and research, MIT is more than a university. It is an ecosystem where innovation meets impact. From the invention of radar and GPS to the founding of companies like

Located in Philadelphia is the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League school with extremely high standards and equally low admit rate. It's Benjamin Franklin’s vision of combining knowledge with real-world application brought to life. Wharton School of Business is a world renowned institution, a leader in undergraduate business education alongside, engineering, nursing, arts, and science programs. With an acceptance rate of just 4.1%, understanding the UPenn SAT requirem

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Yale University, located in New Haven , Connecticut, is one of the most prestigious Ivy League institutions in the world. The Gothic...

Columbia University , located in the heart of New York City , is an Ivy League institution where ambition meets opportunity. From...

Harvard University, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts , is more than just one of the world’s #1 Ivy League institution. It is a place...

Princeton University isn’t just in New Jersey. It’s the heartbeat of the little town Princeton that shares its name. Walk across campus...

If you’re preparing for the SAT, chances are you’ve seen the quadratic formula a dozen times. It looks simple enough, just plug in the...

At IvyStrides , we spend a lot of time with students who ask thoughtful questions. One that comes up often is “Which calculators can I...

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What if the way you take your SAT practice tests is silently shaping your final score, and not in the way you think? That’s the story of...