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Product Design/Integrated Design Programs Product design is a highly popular field today, sitting at the intersection of design and engineering. A prime example is Apple, which excels in this area, dedicating extensive effort to product design, user experience, and interaction design for its devices, such as phones and headsets. Application Information This program requires a portfolio, so applicants must have a foundation in design, drawing, sculpture, or other 2D or 3D design skills. Schools that offer this major include CMU, Georgia Tech, NYU, and Northeastern. Employment Outlook Job prospects in this field are excellent. The starting salary for product design is around $140,000. Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) HCI is an interdisciplinary field combining computer science, design, psychology, linguistics, literature, and communication. The focus of study is primarily on human-computer interaction and user experience (UX). There are numerous real-world applications, such as voice-based interactions like Siri and Alexa, as well as systems like ChatGPT, making HCI a widely applicable major. Application Information Some branches of this field require a portfolio, while other requirements are similar to those for general majors. Schools offering HCI programs include CMU, Georgia Tech, Stanford, University of Washington (Seattle), UCSD, University of Maryland, Cornell, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and Tufts. Employment Outlook Graduates in this field can pursue careers as UX Designers, Front-end Developers, Content Strategists, and Product Managers. The starting salary is typically around $60,000. Computational Biology/Bioinformatics Computational biology or bioinformatics is a branch of biology that integrates significant elements of computer science and statistics. For instance, at Carnegie Mellon, this major falls under the School of Computer Science, while at UPenn, it is part of the biology department. This major requires students to master both statistical methods and computational skills while also meeting the demands of biology, including experimental biology. The most critical aspect is the ability to bridge these two fields. Courses typically include statistics, probability, computer science fundamentals, machine learning, algorithms, data structures, matrices, advanced mathematics, chemistry, biology, biochemistry, cellular biology, and quantitative gene analysis. As you can see, students pursuing this major need strong skills across the sciences, making them versatile problem-solvers. Application Information Schools that offer this undergraduate major include CMU, UPenn, Case Western, JHU, the University of Pittsburgh, Northeastern, the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Rutgers, and others. It’s important to note that interdisciplinary programs like this aren’t limited to top-tier schools—many mid-tier universities also offer excellent programs in this field. Employment Outlook Graduates often find careers in biotech companies, pharmaceutical companies, hospitals, medical and biological research, and pharmaceutical development. Starting salaries vary depending on the industry. 

Economics Introduction Economics studies how humans make the most efficient use of scarce resources to produce and distribute goods and services to meet human needs. The discipline covers various economic activities, principles, and theories, typically divided into "Macroeconomics" and "Microeconomics." For example, economics explores phenomena like supply and demand, inflation, exchange rates, and interest rates, focusing on how these factors affect economies. The field tends to be theoretical, and students usually need a solid background in mathematics. Economics can be divided into several branches, including but not limited to macroeconomics, microeconomics, econometrics, and development economics. Each branch delves into different aspects of economic theory and application. Application Process Admissions for economics programs highly emphasize math performance and advanced economics coursework. For instance, the University of Pennsylvania's Economics Department requires students to take AP Macroeconomics and Microeconomics or their equivalent (Econ 0100 and Econ 0200). For IB students, a score of 6 or higher in Higher Level Economics is required. UC Berkeley expects applicants to have completed courses in macroeconomics, microeconomics, calculus, and statistics. If you're aiming for top-ranked universities, having a strong foundation in high school math, statistics, and economics courses is essential. Economics is also a popular major, often chosen by students who want to apply to business schools but shift to economics due to intense competition in business programs. Most economics programs do not offer a master's degree—only undergraduate and PhD options—highlighting the theoretical nature of the subject. Job Prospects Graduates in economics can pursue careers in finance, as investment analysts or market researchers, or work in consulting firms, particularly in management consulting roles. Additionally, they may find opportunities in NGOs and international organizations like the World Bank or the International Monetary Fund, as well as in government agencies. However, job prospects in economics are closely tied to the prestige of the school; graduates from top universities tend to have better job opportunities, while those from lower-ranked schools may face more challenges. Education Education as a field doesn’t equal to traditional teacher training. It has various subfields, such as Educational Statistics, Educational Policy and Management, Early Childhood Education, Special Education, Educational Psychology, and Educational Technology. These subfields vary in terms of job prospects, with some being easier to find employment in than others, which we will explore further. Application Process Generally, education is considered a relatively easy field to apply for. There are no specific or highly specialized admission requirements beyond those of the university’s general application criteria. Job Prospects For those studying teacher education (teacher training), it’s not difficult to find a job, as there is currently a significant shortage of teachers. But, we all know that salaries for teaching positions aren’t high. On the other hand, certain education subfields offer better job prospects and salaries, such as Educational Statistics and Educational Psychology. For example, the starting salary for educational psychologists is around $66,000. In summary, while teaching positions are in high demand but offer lower pay, certain specialized areas in education provide both solid employment opportunities and competitive salaries. Communication  Communication has several branches. There is journalism (in some schools, journalism is a separate major), media or mass communication, and interdisciplinary fields that intersect with advertising and public relations. Application Requirements Communication requires strong language skills, especially in writing. For instance, Northwestern’s media program has a minimum TOEFL score requirement of 100 for foreign applicants and does not accept super scoring. Employment Outlook Traditional media fields, such as newspapers, magazines, and broadcast television, are more challenging for job seekers. However, advertising and public relations offer better prospects. The entry-level salary in the advertising industry is around $60,000, which is the national average. Salaries on the East Coast tend to be higher. Political Science Subfields of Political science usually include political theory (starting with Greek philosophy and government), American politics, comparative politics, public policy, and international relations. Application Information Political Science requires extensive reading and writing. So, it can be challenging if you don’t like to read and write a lot of materials in short period of time. Admissions will pay close attention to grades in social studies courses, especially those related to American government and history. Employment Outlook Political science provides good job prospects, which might surprise some people. Many political science graduates go on to law school, as the major is a natural pathway, like how biology majors often go to medical school. In terms of employment, many graduates work in government as civil servants, while others find roles in NGOs and think tanks. There’s also a good number of graduates pursue careers in lobbying and campaign management, such as campaign managers.

Finance Finance, simply put, is the study of how individuals, organizations, and companies effectively raise, allocate, and utilize funds over a period of time. It is a discipline focused on capital management. Although economics and business studies also involve finance, a finance major delves more deeply into the field. Specific topics in finance include money, securities, banking, insurance, capital markets, derivatives, investment, and financial management. Finance is relatively math-oriented, requiring knowledge of advanced mathematics and statistics. Admission Requirements Students need a strong foundation in mathematics. For undergraduate applicants, it’s crucial to pay attention to your math grades. For master's applicants, you must have studied calculus, accounting, statistics, and basic economics during your undergraduate studies. Those with a liberal arts background can also apply for a master’s in finance, but it’s preferable to have taken courses in mathematics and business as minors. The undergraduate finance program takes four years. A master’s in finance usually takes one year and is highly practical. Career Paths Graduates can work as financial advisors, securities brokers, fund managers, or in private client services and mergers and acquisitions in investment banks, consulting firms, or commercial bank loan departments. The starting salary for a finance master's graduate from Vanderbilt University is around $86,000, while the starting salary for an undergraduate is relatively lower but still competitive. Financial Mathematics/Financial Engineering Financial Engineering is an interdisciplinary field that combines finance, mathematics, and computer science. It is also known as Mathematical Finance or Quantitative Finance. Financial Engineering involves the development of technical solutions to financial problems using engineering approaches, including financial product design, pricing, trading strategy development, and risk management. Courses are usually co-taught by the business school, mathematics department, and engineering school. Admission Requirements Due to the excellent job prospects, it is one of the most demanding majors in terms of background requirements. Students must have a strong foundation in mathematics and a solid programming background, including skills in C/C++, VBA (programming tools), MATLAB (modeling), and MAPLE. Many students majoring in financial engineering come from mathematics or computer science backgrounds. Humanities students can apply, but they must excel in mathematics and programming. If you don’t like math and coding, this major might not be a good fit for you. Career Paths Financial Engineering differs from Finance as it primarily trains technical professionals in the financial industry known as Quantitative Analysts, or Quants. Quants are primarily employed in investment banks, hedge funds, commercial banks, and financial institutions, where they work on developing and applying derivatives pricing models, programming, and risk management. Since Financial Engineering professionals are considered the gatekeepers (risk controllers) and brains (pricing and product modeling) of the finance industry, their compensation is quite high. For instance, the median starting salary for financial engineering graduates from Carnegie Mellon is approximately $136,000. Business Analytics and Data Science Although Data Science is not traditionally considered a business discipline, the rise of Business Analytics and the popularity of Big Data have somewhat pulled Data Science into the business realm, as it is seen as lucrative and prestigious. Business Analytics (BA) originated from Data Science, but there are three key differences between them: 1. Automation and Skill Requirements: Many Business Analytics tools can automatically perform functions, requiring minimal Data Science expertise from the user. For example, students studying BA are like users who can operate Microsoft Office but don’t need to know how to develop Microsoft Office. Whereas Data Science students are the ones who create Microsoft Office. 2. Problem-Solving Focus: Business Analysts focus on analyzing historical data to solve specific business problems, while Data Scientists generally do not solve specific problems. Data Scientists use advanced statistical methods to explore data, uncover patterns, and use features within the data to guide analysis and predictions. 3. Application Fields: Data Science has a broader range of applications and can be utilized in any field that requires Big Data analysis, such as healthcare, medicine, technology, and beyond. In contrast, Business Analytics is more specifically tailored to addressing business-related issues. Marketing Marketing is one of the most traditional business disciplines, but it continues to evolve with the development of technology and commerce. In English, Marketing and Sales are different concepts representing two branches. · Marketing is the first step of the process, involving market analysis, customer analysis, and the creation and dissemination of advertising and marketing messages. It focuses more on the strategic side, emphasizing the effective output of information to target audiences. · Sales, on the other hand, focuses on direct communication with people, aiming to convert potential leads into actual customers through interpersonal interaction and persuasion. While both are crucial to a business's success, Marketing and Sales work together but have different roles: Marketing sets the stage by creating awareness and interest, and Sales closes the deal by engaging directly with customers. Information Management / Management Information Systems (MIS) Management Information Systems (MIS) is a field that focuses on the study of people, technology, and organizations. In today’s world, anyone involved in business activities will use some form of information system. Examples include eCommerce, online shopping, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) for maintaining customer relations, and online banking. MIS students don’t need to master a lot of programming; being able to use these systems proficiently is usually enough. Courses often include topics like Web Development for Business, Database Applications, and Mobile Application Development. As a result, students with moderate programming and math skills may find this major appealing. Notable universities offering MIS programs: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) - Sloan School of Management Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) - Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy Georgia Institute of Technology - Scheller College of Business University of Texas at Austin - McCombs School of Business Career Prospects Graduates from MIS programs often work in roles such as Business Data Analysts, Management Consultants, Financial Analysts, Operations Analysts, and IT Consultants. For instance, graduates from Carnegie Mellon University’s MIS program have secured positions at prestigious companies like Apple, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Google, IBM, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, and Salesforce. This demonstrates strong career opportunities for those in the field. Operations and Supply Chain Management Operations and Supply Chain Management (SCM) involves the logistics management of goods and services, the inventory of in-process goods, and the transportation and storage of finished products from the point of origin to the point of consumption. It is a combination of interconnected networks, channels, and business nodes working together to deliver the products and services needed by the end customer within a supply chain. Top universities offering SCM programs: University of Michigan - Ross School of Business Purdue University - Krannert School of Management Ohio State University - Fisher College of Business Rutgers University - Rutgers Business School Career Prospects Graduates of SCM programs can pursue various roles, such as Buyer, Demand Manager, Materials Analyst, Procurement Manager, and Supply Chain Manager. According to the According to Glassdoor, the estimated total pay for an entry-level supply chain manager is $115,679 per year. Accounting The accounting major is divided into several specializations depending on students’ focus areas, such as Financial Accounting, Auditing, Financial Management, and International Accounting. Students primarily study basic theories and knowledge in accounting, auditing, finance, economics, and business management, while receiving fundamental training in accounting methods and techniques. Career Prospects Graduates with an accounting degree can pursue a wide range of career opportunities in various sectors: Government agencies and nonprofit organizations: Roles include social security accounting, tax accounting, and government accounting. Accounting firms: Opportunities in firms such as the "Big Four" accounting firms, as well as insurance companies. Corporate sector: Roles include CFO (Chief Financial Officer) or positions in corporate finance. Financial advisors and accounting consultants: Self-employed or offering financial and accounting consulting services.  Accounting is considered a relatively easy field to find work in, especially in large cities in the U.S. This is particularly true for those pursuing the CPA (Certified Public Accountant) credential, which significantly enhances job prospects. The average starting salary for recent accounting graduates is approximately $64,000 per year. Actuarial Science Actuarial Science combines economics, mathematics (particularly probability theory and statistics), and risk management. Actuaries specialize in analyzing, forecasting, and managing financial risks related to future economic activities. Actuaries typically need to pass various professional certification exams. In a sense, they are risk managers, using data analysis to manage uncertainty and develop strategies to address it. There are not many universities that offer a dedicated undergraduate actuarial science program, and those that do are not typically the highest-ranked institutions. Examples include the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and the University of Connecticut. However, many top universities offer actuarial science tracks within their mathematics or business schools. For instance, the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and the Stern School of Business at NYU both offer actuarial tracks. At the master's level, there are more programs available. When applying, it is important to check if the school offers the necessary courses for the Society of Actuaries (SOA) exams to become a certified actuary. Career Prospects Actuaries are consistently ranked among the best jobs in the U.S. due to their excellent working conditions, job security, growth opportunities, and especially salary. The profession has been ranked first in CareerCast's list of the best jobs, and is highly regarded by Business Insider, Forbes, CNN, and The Wall Street Journal. Actuaries in North America are classified into two levels of certification: FSA (Fellow of the Society of Actuaries) ASA (Associate of the Society of Actuaries) To become an ASA, candidates must pass six exams. After obtaining the ASA designation, they can take further exams to become an FSA. Actuaries are not limited to the insurance industry; consulting firms, government agencies, commercial banks, investment banks, and large corporations also seek professionals with actuarial backgrounds. The starting salary for an actuary in the U.S. is around $100,000 for recent graduates with little experience. Experienced actuaries can earn between $150,000 to $250,000 per year, and many earn more than that. This makes actuarial science a highly lucrative and stable career path.

Major: Physics Admitted to: Princeton University, University of Oxford Grades: GPA: 4.0, SAT: 1530, TOEFL: 110 Competitions: 30th International Youth Physical Tournament, China National Team, Gold Medal Other Activities: ● Started studying university-level physics in 9th grade ● Began research at a national laboratory in 11th grade ● Attended the International Summer School for Young Physicists (ISSYP) ● Piano Princeton was always the student's dream school; however, her SAT score was not impressive for Princeton. We started applying for the senior year summer programs in January and visited prospective colleges in March. Before the summer, she had already established contacts with professors, including an MIT professor who invited her to attend his class. It demonstrated her interests in the colleges. By the time the application process officially began, Chelsea had ample material to work with. What makes Chelsea's standout was her competitions, but her essays did not directly highlight her competition experiences. Instead, we showcased her independent personality, deep critical thinking, creativity, and emphasized her dedication to physics, a field often perceived as male-dominated, as a female student. Major: Mechanical Engineering Admitted to: Cornell University, University of Cambridge Grades: GPA: 4.0, SAT: 1550, TOEFL: 114 Competitions: ● Zero Robotics World Champion 2018 (MIT) ● Math Competition: AIME qualifier ● Princeton University Mathematics Competition 2018 Division B: Team Rank Overall 1 ● First Tech Challenge Team: State qualifier Other Activities: ● Research at Princeton International School Engineering Center ● ATV Chassis Design ● Student Government Vice President He had strong competition experiences, and we wrote very unique essay stories (including his experience as an apprentice in a watch repair shop). So his results were not surprising in the end; he was admitted to Cornell and Cambridge. Major: Business Admitted to: USC Marshall, UCLA, Smith, Wesleyan Competitions: ● First Prize, 2019 Model APEC Competition, Top 1% out of 300 ● Third Prize, 2020 Economics Olympiad (IEO), Top 35% out of 1500 Other Background: ● Level 9 Certificate, Piano, China Central Conservatory of Music, Highest Amateur Piano Honor ● APEC Business Advisory Council Honored Volunteer ● Columbia University Summer School ● Founded her own company to help minority women, dedicated to promoting intangible cultural heritage products We can clearly see that the level or significance of the business competition awards for this student is not as high as the previous two students. However, compared to her peers, she received very valuable admissions offers, all from business schools, which is considered more difficult to apply than Arts and Science. The key to her admission was her essays. In other words, business competitions need to be supported with strong essays. Her main essay was about her helping minority women, but it did not directly detail what she did. Instead, she wrote that her motivation was influenced by her mother, who is a successful entrepreneur. It’s a story about a mom influencing a daughter, then as the result she helps other women. This highlighted 1) the importance of being an independent woman and 2) her decision to study business and pursue a career in business. Major: Politics/Economics Admitted to: University of Oxford, University of St Andrews, Georgetown University Grades: GPA: 4.0, SAT: 1540 Competitions: ● Bebras Computational Thinking Challenge: First in NZ ● Duke of Edinburgh Award Bronze ● Runner-up for Best Delegate in Wellington Regional Model EU ● Distinctions in Australian Maths Competition ● 3rd in Mathswell in Year 11 ● New Zealand Spelling Bee – Semi-Finals Other Background: ● Lived in three countries (China, Belgium, New Zealand), speaks four languages (Chinese, English, French, Spanish) ● Economics for Leaders program ● John Locke Institute program The student's competitions were quite scattered, involving math, spelling bee, thinking challenge, and Model UN. After discussing with the student, it became clear that he was interested in politics, economics, and international relations and had no intention of applying for mathematics. I suggested he stop participating in math competitions. Instead, he continued with Model UN and secured a top-three position in a European competition before applying. This student did not rely solely on competitions for his application. His case illustrates that a successful application is a full package. Besides competitions, he had the advantage of language skills and diverse living experiences, highlighting five important qualities that admission officers look for (one of our previous articles illustrates what are the five qualities) Major: Instrument (Violin) Admitted to: Juilliard School, Columbia University (dual degree) School Background: Central Conservatory of Music Middle School, Professional Children's School, Juilliard Pre-College Competitions: ● First Place Winner in American Protégé Competition ● YoungArts National Arts Competition ● Juilliard Pre-College ● Performed at Carnegie Hall, Victoria Hall, and various festivals  For art major applicants, grades are not as important, and standardized test scores are not required. However, the professional nature of competitions, which are time-consuming and costly, plays a significant role. Among all competitions, music and sports are the most challenging. I am not here to discourage anyone. I understand that many students have musical talents and wish to showcase them during the application process. This is certainly worth doing, but I want to emphasize that college application is about presenting a whole package. If you don't have particularly high-caliber competition experience, it's crucial to find another edge to create an overall compelling application.

John Hopkins University Student Profile 1. GPA:4.0, ACT:35, Languages: English and French 2. Activities had done before hiring BosonEd · Club Leader, Anime Club · Editor and writer, MAL Rewrite club · Counselor, York Science Explorations Camp · Author of report on Alzheimer’s in news media (independent) · Wrote 10-page long research · paper under supervisor of university professor · Piano Study · Group Piano Assistant High GPA is the student's strength, but their extracurricular activities are not strong: there is no summer school experience listed here. So, the student was very anxious during the initial consultation. The student wanted to apply to the top 15 colleges but had not decided on a major. The student told me they were interested in the following majors: Psychology, Music, Management, Data Science, which are very far from each other. After the student hired BosonEd, we needed to plan his senior year activities. We talked about how to plan activities in our webinars: application theme related and major related. Since the student hadn’t determined an academic interest, we needed to focus on an application theme, which is best to base on activities the student had already participated in. Let's look at the existing activities: Anime is not usable, as the student explicitly said she will not study Computer Science. Music is a hobby not a special talent, which is hard to utilize as a theme in an application. The student's achievements in science are not very high either. Eventually, we decided on leadership as the theme. The reasons for choosing leadership are: 1) The entry threshold is relatively low, 2) It provides more room for execution during the application phase (essays, interview, etc). After we determined the theme, we help the student applied to two summer programs related to leadership: Law Summer Program University of Toronto and Yale Young Global Scholars Program. We achieved: 1) The last two summer breaks were filled. 2) A new application theme was developed. The final application theme combined leadership, science, and language strengths. New York University Student Profile 1. GPA:4.08/4, 9 honors and AP classes, No SAT 2. Activities · Model UN G10-G12 · School tour guide G10-G12 · Summer Volunteer Teacher G10, G11 · Summer program at Columbia G9 · Summer program at Wharton Global Youth Program-Future of the business world G10 · Summer program at Cornell: Science, Technology, and Politics G11 · Capstone research: Childcare distribution & Tech G 12 During the initial consultation, the student said she wanted to study economics. She had been participating in Model UN and volunteering at a school in teaching 6 th graders. Toward the senior year, the student was somewhat hesitant about her major. She worried about future employment prospects and had thoughts of changing to Computer Science. Based on these requirements, we selected Cornell's Science, Technology, and Politics summer program for her. The capstone project in 12th grade also combined social issues and technology. As the result, she was admitted by NYU and now studying computer science. Vanderbilt University Student Profile 1. GPA: 4.0, 10 honors and AP classes 2. Activities · University level research: Youth Talent Program/Biochemical interdisciplinary research/researcher · Columbia University summer program: molecular genetics Grade 10 · Summer Session at University of Chicago: Academic seminar G11 · Biology competition: iGEM co-organizer Grade 11-12 · Biological club: organizer Grade 10, 11 and 12 During the initial consultation, the student was very confused about whether to focus on competitions or research. The mother, who knew the child best, said the child was not good at competitions and had a relatively introverted personality, lacking a strong competitive spirit. We planned most activities the student participated in were research and internships, with only one competition that, by the time of the application, the student only had participated the 1 st round. The standout aspects of this student's profile were research at the university level and attending summer programs at Columbia University and the University of Chicago for two years in a row. His case tells us it's not that students in STEM fields can only rely on competitions; the key is to match the student's background. Everything needs to make sense. Some parents worry that research is hard to evaluate. This student submitted their research report as supplementary material. Georgetown University Student Profile 1. GPA: 4.0, 9 honors and AP classes, SAT: 1530 2. Activities · Tri-Head, International Student Advisory G12 · Team Member, 2022 FBLA Competition, Chicago G 11 · Brand Management Intern G9 · Summer program Pioneer Research Program –Feminism in films G 11 · Summer Intern NY State Senate Campaign Internship G 11 The student had not decided on a major. As a result, she participated in a bunch of unrelated activities, including business competitions, media internships, and business-related internships. These activities were not connected and lacked a central theme. When the student consulted me, it was already the beginning of the application year, which meant we could only plan for the last summer's activities. For someone has this “mixed type” of activities, the main approach is to extract a main theme from existing materials rather than creating a new one. I discussed with the student the activities she had already done and the majors she was interested. We finally decided that media-related fields would be easier for her to apply to, but it had to be combined with what she had already done. The student attended an all-girls school and had previously participated in business-related activities. So, for last summer's activities, we focused on media, marketing, and women's studies. She used this as her final application theme and applied for media and women's studies programs.

Liberal Arts Colleges vs. Research Universities How many colleges are out there? According to the National Center for Education Statistics, there are a total of 2,637 four-year Title IV degree-granting institutions. Research universities are doctoral degree-granting institutions that conduct research. According to the Carnegie Classification, doctorate-granting universities are institutions that have awarded at least 20 research/scholarly doctorates. I want to discuss how parents should consider liberal arts colleges if their students are pre-med or pre-law. Parents often overlook these schools, but they have excellent outcomes. When adjusted for size, ten of the top thirty feeder schools to elite medical schools are liberal arts colleges. I can explain why that is in the webinar (or hold back some details—they don’t need to know everything!), but I do want to touch on it. Ranking Lists: Why Are Different Lists So Different? Different ranking lists vary because they use different variables. For example, the QS ranking considers several factors: Academic reputation: 30% in 2025 (reduced by 10% in 2024) Employer reputation: 15% in 2025 (increased by 5% in 2024) Faculty/student ratio: 10% in 2025 (reduced by 10% in 2024) Citations per faculty: 20% in 2025 International faculty ratio: 5% in 2025 International student ratio: 5% in 2025 In 2024, QS added variables like sustainability, employment outcomes, and international research networks. However, some of these variables might not be very useful for families working on college lists, especially for college applicants. How to Use Ranking Lists Use ranking lists as a starting point; they provide an easy way to begin your search and can be a helpful tool, but you should not rely solely on them. It’s not recommended to make decisions based solely on rankings. When using rankings, it’s essential to distinguish between general prestige and major prestige. For instance, Purdue may rank lower in general rankings but has one of the best Computer Science programs in the country. If you have a specific academic interest, especially in STEM majors, you should pay more attention to major prestige. What factors should we consider? Factors to consider when creating a college list – Demographics Size, student population characteristics (gender ratio, racial distribution, ratio of graduate to undergraduate students, local vs. in-state vs. out-of-state. Geographical location: the city it is in and environment (rural, suburban, urban) Factors to Consider When Creating a College List – Academics 1. Available Majors and Strong Programs 2. Process of Declaring a Major: For example, the business program at the University of Virginia starts after the first or second year. 3. Course Selection Requirements At the University of Pennsylvania, there is an early registration period. Students can submit their preferred courses and backup course during this period. This means some very popular courses may not be available to freshmen. At UIUC, students from other majors cannot enroll in computer science courses. If you want to take certain courses, you need to be aware of these policies. 4. Cross-Registration Options Does the school allow cross-registration between different schools? Cross-registration is an advantage of studying in a college town. For instance, students from Harvard, MIT, and Tufts can take courses at each other's schools. Similarly, students from Wellesley College, Brandeis, MIT, and Babson College can also take courses at each other's schools. If such benefits are available, you should take advantage of them. Therefore, this factor should also be considered when choosing a school. 5. Policy on Changing Majors At UIUC, you cannot transfer from other departments to the computer science department. Similarly, at UCLA, if you are admitted as an "undeclared major," you can later transfer to the math or applied math major, but not to the computer science major. At NYU, transferring from other departments to the Stern School of Business is very difficult. 6. Academic Environment What is the grading system like? Is there grade deflation? How competitive are the students? How many clubs are related to your major or academics? 7. Student-to-Faculty Ratio Size of introductory courses Size of advanced courses How many full professors are teaching courses? Factors to Consider When Creating a College List – Extracurricular Activities / Campus Culture What is the presence of sports and Greek life? Is it known as a party school? Is it an artsy school? Is it preppy? Why are student organizations important? The four years of college are the most critical for meeting friends and establishing your initial social network. Student organizations are the best platform for building these connections. Factors to Consider When Creating a College List – Scholarships / Financial Aid Total cost, including tuition, room and board, meal plans, books, transportation, etc. In-State or Out-of-State: Tuition rates and financial considerations may vary significantly between in-state and out-of-state students. Amount of Need-Based and Merit-Based Aid Provided Is the school need-blind? Does it have a no-aid policy for international students (e.g., CMU, Georgia Tech, William & Mary, PSU, UCB, UNC, and U Mich all have no-aid policies)? Some schools provide 100% need-based aid but have very few scholarships. Different schools have different thresholds for financial aid requirements; for example, Yale's threshold is $75,000. Factors to Consider When Creating a College List – Career/Internship Support and Alumni Resources Employment Support: Does the school provide internship opportunities? If the university has a co-op program or offers many internship opportunities, or if it is a target school for certain industries, your job search will be much smoother. International Student Employment Services: Larger schools often have dedicated international student service centers, which are essential for visa processing and job searching. Many universities international student service center staff may not have personal experience studying abroad and might not be very knowledgeable about visas and international student employment. Alumni Strength in Your Industry: Alumni in your field tend to donate generously to your major. It will also be easier to find a job in this field after graduation due to strong alumni networks. Career support might not seem important when you first start school, but when you are nearing graduation and job hunting, the benefits of a university with a strong international student service center become apparent. How to Choose the Right School After Knowing These Factors? Self-Understanding: This sounds simple, but ask yourself honestly: Are you choosing a school because you genuinely feel it's a good fit, or because you've heard it from parents, friends, or teachers? What is your basis for feeling it’s a good fit? Is it from school introductions or from social media? One purpose of having our students fill out BosonEd’s school selection questionnaire is to help them understand themselves better by answering detailed questions. Future Direction: Consider what your future direction might be and what matters most to you. Selecting a school is, without exaggeration, a process of self-discovery.

House Keeping Recommendations I will give toward different majors are not because they are easier to find a job, or higher salaries, or less stressful to study. It’s solely about if it’s easy to get into a college. How many majors are there? There are approximately 2,000 majors available in U.S. universities. When we talk about choosing a major, the first thing to understand is the concept of colleges and schools. Each university has different colleges, such as the College of Arts and Sciences, Business School, Engineering School, Medical School, Veterinary School, Agricultural School, and some have Life Sciences Colleges, like Columbia University has an Education College. We can think of these colleges as collections of majors. When we choose a major, we are selecting from within these colleges, and course selection is mainly within the college. Some universities do not allow or allow very limited cross-college course selection. Furthermore, different colleges may offer similar majors. For example, both the Engineering School and the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor offer CS (Computer Science). Different colleges also have different acceptance rates. For instance, Penn’s Wharton School has a 9% acceptance rate, whereas its Nursing School has 25%. The 10 Most Popular Majors According to Princeton Review, the ten most popular majors are as follows: 1.Computer Science 2.Communication 3.Government/Political Science 4.Business 5.Economics 6.English Language and Literature 7.Psychology 8.Nursing 9.Chemical Engineering 10.Biology STEM majors that are easier to get in Operational Research: It's a discipline that deals with the development and application of analytical methods to improve decision-making. It's also called Management Science. Material Science: it’s a very much needed major, particularly in the field of 3D printing organs. Scientists aim to 3D print human organs, eliminating the need for people to wait for transplants. Material science plays a crucial role in achieving this goal. Colleges offer undergraduate programs in Material Science: MIT, Stanford, Berkeley, Cornell, Northwestern, GT. Statistics: Many students who are good at math apply for CS (Computer Science), so statistics has become a major that is relatively easier to apply for by students who are equally good at math. However, it is a bit difficult to find a job with a pure statistics degree. It will be much better if you take some programming courses. The same logic applies to theoretical mathematics. Nutrition: In some colleges, nutrition is a branch of Agricultural Science, while in others, it is a standalone major. It is also a major with very good employment prospects. Colleges known for their Nutrition programs include: UNC (University of North Carolina), UCD (University of California, Davis), NYU (New York University), UIUC (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign), OSU (Ohio State University), Case Western Reserve University Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences: Not many students apply for Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Sciences because those with similar interests often apply for Biology, Nursing, Biochemistry, or Psychology. However, there is a broad demand for jobs in this field. There aren't many colleges offer undergraduate programs in Pharmacy, but some schools that offer it include: UCI (University of California, Irvine), Rutgers University, University of Wisconsin-Madison, University of Michigan, University of Pittsburgh, UT Austin (University of Texas at Austin), Purdue University. For Master's and Doctoral programs, there are many more options, as nearly all schools offer advanced degrees in this field. Medical majors that are easier to get in Public Health: The curriculum includes biostatistics, health policy and management, nutrition, and environmental health science. There aren't many undergraduate programs in Public Health, but the following schools are recommended: UNC (University of North Carolina, University of Michigan, Texas A&M University, UCSD (University of California, San Diego), UT Austin (University of Texas at Austin), University of Florida Radiation Therapy: This major is typically associated with medical school but does not require a medical doctorate degree. It offers low entry requirements, a short study duration, and excellent career advancement opportunities, making it a great choice for students pursuing a career in the medical field. For instance, Rutgers requires 120 credits for a BS degree, which is standard for a four-year college. The median income for radiation technologists is $61,370. Graduates seeking to work in hospitals must register with the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT). Schools offering this undergraduate program are often less well-known due to its technical focus. Recommended schools include: University of Michigan-Flint, UNC (University of North Carolina), University of Missouri-Columbia, Rutgers University Nursing: There is a significant shortage of nursing professionals in the U.S., with a good salary. Additionally, being bilingual can be an employment advantage for international students. Hidden Gems in Business Supply Chain Management: Mostly offered at the master's level, with some well-ranked programs at the undergraduate level. Notable schools include MIT, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, and UT Austin. Graduates have many options for employment or further studies such as an MBA. Actuarial Science: Available at both undergraduate and master's levels and requires certification exams. For Actuarial Science, the definition of a "good school" depends more on geographic advantages rather than overall rankings because companies tend to prioritize local students. For instance, states like Connecticut and Ohio are significant for actuaries, making Ohio State University's advantages clear with relatively less competition. However, schools in Boston, like Boston University, face higher competition and have fewer local insurance companies compared to nearby elite schools. North American actuaries are classified into two levels: Fellow of the Society of Actuaries (FSA) and Associate of the Society of Actuaries (ASA). The ASA qualification requires passing six exams. After obtaining the ASA certification, candidates can take FSA exams to pursue the path to becoming a Fellow. Recommended schools: University of Michigan, UIUC (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign), Columbia University, Northwestern University, NYU (New York University), Penn State University, Purdue University, UCLA (University of California, Los Angeles). Accounting: Also requires certification, such as the CPA (Certified Public Accountant). Graduates with a master's degree in accounting ls are generally considered to have one of the best job prospects. Majors easier to apply in social studies The first recommended major is Educational Evaluation and Research . Most education programs have branches that focus on research and analysis methods, which use statistical methods to conduct educational research. This major is essentially STEM-focused. The curriculum includes: ● Statistics ● Elementary and Intermediate Statistics ● Interpretation and Evaluation of Research ● Evaluation Theory & Research ● Design of Qualitative Research Representative schools include: ● Teachers College, Columbia University ● New York University (NYU): Science Education and Educational Communications and Technology ● Boston College: Master of Arts in Research and Evaluation Methods The second recommended major is Psychology and Applied Psychology , including Applied Psychology, Developmental Psychology, and Psychology and Neuroscience. Although many students apply for psychology, it is not actually difficult to get accepted because nearly all schools offer psychology programs, and it is often a backup major for many students. The curriculum includes: ● Analysis and Case Design ● Statistical Methods and Research Design ● Biological Bases of Human Behavior ● Biology of Addictive Behaviors Is it easier to get accepted as Undecided? Generally speaking, it is not a good idea. Firstly, you lose the opportunity to demonstrate your academic interests to the admissions officer, making them think you lack a clear goal, which also makes writing essays more difficult. Additionally, it increases the difficulty for admissions officers to place you, especially during the waitlist stage, as each college has a fixed number of spots. For example, Purdue's overall acceptance rate is 52.7%, but engineering is only 12%. Is it easy to change majors in college? It depends on the school. In liberal arts colleges, it is generally not a problem. One characteristic of liberal arts colleges is the flexibility in course selection freedom, and ease of changing majors. However, it is not as easy in large universities. For instance, at UCLA, students who apply as math majors cannot take computer science courses. Those who enter as undecided can switch to math or computational math but cannot switch to computer science. Internal transfers to the business school at NYU are also very difficult.

March is the time when universities send out admission letters. First of all, congratulations to those who have received their desired admissions. May you enjoy your college life happily for the next four years or even longer, and may you gain fruitful experiences. For those who did not receive admission from your dream schools, getting into college is not the end of the story; it’s just the beginning of a new chapter. You never know what lies ahead. You never know if oday's disappointment will turn into tomorrow's blessing. So, how do you choose an offer after receiving admission? Today, this article will provide some directions. The first factor to consider is straightforward: Can you afford the tuition? Of course, students generally consider this question before applying. However, after receiving an offer, there are two things to consider: 1) How much financial aid have you received? After receiving financial aid, consider how difficult it may be for you to pay the remaining fees. 2) The cost-effectiveness of the university. Can you negotiate with the school for more financial aid? If you find that the cost-effectiveness of the school is not high or if it's financially challenging for you, then you need to weigh your options and consider whether it's worth it. The second factor to consider is your future planning . Does the university align with your future plans? For example, if you plan to major in biochemistry, do you intend to work after graduation or pursue further studies? Are you considering medical school, research, or working in a pharmaceutical company? Are you aiming for a master's or a doctoral degree? All of these factors influence the choice of college. For medical school, you would definitely want to attend a university with a good medical school. For research, you would prefer a university with faculties you like to work with or subfields you are interested in. If you don't plan to pursue a PhD, then you might prioritize a university with a good location or abundant internship opportunities that lead to easy employment after graduation. The third factor is rankings and reputation , which are actually related to future planning too. For example, if you're in the humanities or business, or if you plan to study law in the future, then rankings are very important. However, if you're in engineering or computer science, rankings may not be as crucial. Your internships and projects would be more important in these fields. The fourth factor is "Will you be happy at this college" . After all, you'll be spending four years or more there, it's important to consider whether you'll enjoy your time there. Some schools are highly competitive, and students may not have much leisure time for extracurricular activities. Others have a vibrant campus life with numerous clubs and social opportunities. Some schools are small, while others are large; some are located in rural areas, while others are in urban settings. These are all factors to consider, and there's no right or wrong choice—what matters is finding a school that suits you best. The fifth factor to consider is the academic aspect of the school . This includes grading policies, the ease of earning high grades, and how strict professors are. This is particularly important for students who plan to pursue graduate school after college. Attending an undergraduate program where it's easier to maintain a high GPA is crucial for those considering further academic pursuits. The last factor to consider is the availability of job resources . For example, whether the school offers co-op programs, the specifics of these programs, when you can apply, whether the school is a target school for recruiters, the scale of campus recruitment, the strength of the alumni network, and the effectiveness of the career center. While these factors may seem far for freshmen, four years pass quickly, and it's important to consider them when choosing offers to avoid discovering insufficient job resources when it's too late. Below are some questions I often received from students and parents and my suggestions. Regarding seeking more scholarships. If the student prefers School A but wants to negotiate for more money, is that possible? First, you need to speak with the financial aid office, not the admissions office. You need to convey who you are, that you've been accepted, that you're very interested in the school, and that you're genuinely willing to attend. You must make them believe that the school is your top choice, and the only obstacle is the financial aspect. If it's not possible, they will tell you right the way. If it is, they will try to find a solution. Generally, if the school has room for negotiation, you can secure more scholarship funds by advocating for yourself. Many students are conflicted about school rankings and prioritize them in their school selection process. For fields like finance, business, and social sciences, the school can indeed help you secure your first job. However, in other fields, this may not be as apparent. For example, in the engineering field, internship experiences are more critical than the school's ranking. The prestige of the school can only assist you in securing your first job, and its aura will diminish within five years. If you consider it rationally, ranking should not be your sole criterion for selecting a school. Small Pond vs. Big Pond Many studies indicate that at second-tier schools, which are typically ranked between 20th and 40th, professors tend to pay more attention to students, provide more support and guidance, and invest more time in them. The reason is simple: there are too many outstanding students at top-tier schools, and there isn't as much individual attention available. Some students may experience a cultural shock when they enter college because they were at the top of their class in high school but find themselves blending into the crowd in college. This is also a factor to consider when choosing offers: Are you willing to be a small fish in a big pond or a big fish in a small pond? This isn't just about psychological adjustments but also about how many resources and attention you can receive from professors. For instance, in a big pond, you may miss out on opportunities for research assistant positions because of the competition.

At this time of year, students are typically planning their activities for the upcoming months and considering applying for summer programs. So, let's focus on the topic of activity planning and delve into it thoroughly. In the previous article, I talked about summer programs, and in this one, let's talk about competitions. The underlying logic of participating in competitions From the perspective of students and parents, participating in competitions is, of course, to enhance competitiveness for their college applications. The higher the prestige of the competition, the more it can boost your application. Types of competitions Typical examples include various Olympiads, the AMC (American Mathematics Competitions), robotics competitions, coding competitions, and so on. Some well-known competitions include the Science Bowl, Regeneron Science Talent Search, ISEF (Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair), and the International Biology Olympiad (IBO). The most familiar business competitions for everyone may include various business contests. Some well-known ones include the Conrad Challenge and the Wharton Global High School Investment Competition. There are writing competitions as well, such as the New York Times, and John Lock essay competition. For the humanities competitions, probably the most famous one is the Model United Nations. The reasons why competitions are popular as follows: It's straightforward and easier to navigate: if I want to study CS, I go with computer related competitions. All I need to do is practice with test questions and advancing step by step. In contrast, independent research projects may leave students feeling lost about where to begin. Tangible results: Competitions provide clear outcomes, which are easily understandable compared to activities like research projects or summer programs, where the impact may be less tangible. Students and parents assume that competitions are more objective, making them more appealing to admissions officers. Competitions also simplify their work when write application essays. However, if it’s accurate? I think it might be true that students find competitions easier to start with since everything was set by the organization. Students don’t have to come up with a tangible plan. However, the second point, which is that admissions officers are more likely to accept this, is not a fact. For admissions officers, there is no distinction between good and bad activities; what matters is that your activities reflect your application theme, your activities are reasonable, logical, and coherent. Conversely, if you have engaged in a bunch of activities but admissions officers don’t know why you did them or what passion and achievements you have, then those activities are not successful. The difficulties of taking the competition route When admission officers review competitions, they categorize them into four tiers. The tier one, the highest, includes national/international sports competitions, national/international music competitions, and national/international science competitions such as IBO and USAMO. The tier two includes awards or positions that demonstrate leadership, such as being the president of Model UN or debate teams. There are a couple of main reasons why participating in competitions is difficult. Firstly, the top-tier competition winners, whom top universities favor, are mostly recipients of the tier one and tier two awards. Only a few individuals can meet such standards, so statistically, competing in these events should not be mainstream. Secondly, it's also a matter of probability. Think about how many students do Ivy League schools admit each year? However, how many students participate in competitions? If 70% of your peers are doing the same thing, you can rest assured that most people are just part of the denominator. Thirdly, participating in competitions requires a significant time investment. You have to climb up the ladder step by step, which requires early planning and practice. Compared to other types of activities, competition is not an efficient choice. Of course, I'm not here to discourage anyone. I just want to emphasize the importance of tailoring our approach to each individual. Every student is different. And competition is not for everyone. We have students who are suitable for competitions, and we encourage them to participate. For those who don't enjoy or excel in competitions, then they should do things they like or they are good at. Competitions are just one of many options for background enhancement Here, I want to broaden your horizons and introduce other alternatives besides competitions. For example, in mathematics and natural sciences, students can engage in summer schools, research projects, tutoring others, joining clubs, conducting independent studies, and internships. Whatever you choose to do, it should reflect your application theme, be logical and reasonable, and strike a balance between the depth and breadth of activities. If you choose to pursue the competition route, participating in tier one and tier two competitions will be most beneficial to your application. Finally, here are a few recommendations for tier one and tier two competitions for your reference. Business/Economics Conrad Challenge Blue Ocean High School Entrepreneur Pitch Competition Wharton Global High School Investment Competition GENIUS Olympiad Business Yale DHSRI High School Investment Competition STEM Regeneron International Science & Engineering Fair Regeneron Science Talent Search International Physics Olympiad (IPhO) FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) International Biology Olympiad (IBO) Writing New York Times Essay competition Social Science Model UN