--- title: "The Insider: Your Expert Guide to College Admissions | Elizabeth Heaton" description: The official blog of College Coach, a division of Bright Horizons. Our expert view on all things college admissions. --- [![College Coach - Your College Admissions Experts](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/hub/146790/file-1518948603.png "College Coach - Your College Admissions Experts")](http://www.getintocollege.com/) - [Blog](https://146790.hs-sites.com/blog) - [Contact](https://146790.hs-sites.com/contact) - [Login](http://passport.getintocollege.com/Account/Login) # The Insider: College Admissions Advice from the Experts ## Elizabeth Heaton ### Recent Posts ## [Survey Discovers Key Commonalities in Ivy League Admissions Success | College Coach Blog](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/365229/Survey-Discovers-Key-Commonalities-in-Ivy-League-Admissions-Success-College-Coach-Blog) Posted by [Elizabeth Heaton](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/elizabeth-heaton) on Fri, Apr 01, 2016 @ 03:17 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-4059322637-jpg/images/april_fools_2016.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/365229/Survey-Discovers-Key-Commonalities-in-Ivy-League-Admissions-Success-College-Coach-Blog) ### College Coach Survey Discovers Key Commonalities in Ivy League Admissions Success ****April 1, 2016****—College Coach’s [annual survey](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/362210/Students-Accepted-To-Ivy-League-Responded-to-Same-Essay-Prompt-College-Coach-Blog) of high school students turned up some surprising common themes in students accepted to Ivy League institutions. Perhaps the most surprising was that students living next door to Harvard and Princeton graduates were the most likely to have success at all eight of the Ivy institutions, with their applications accepted at more than six times the average rate. [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/365229/Survey-Discovers-Key-Commonalities-in-Ivy-League-Admissions-Success-College-Coach-Blog) Tags: [College Applications](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-applications) ## [Will Applying Early Decision Get Me Into Harvard? | College Coach Blog](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/364077/Will-Applying-Early-Decision-Get-Me-Into-Harvard-College-Coach-Blog) Posted by [Elizabeth Heaton](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/elizabeth-heaton) on Tue, Jul 28, 2015 @ 02:35 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-331685710-jpg/images/img_7867.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/364077/Will-Applying-Early-Decision-Get-Me-Into-Harvard-College-Coach-Blog) *I have heard that applying Early Decision at Georgetown and Harvard doesn’t offer an advantage. How can that be? Doesn’t ED send a strong message of interest to your schools of choice?* [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/364077/Will-Applying-Early-Decision-Get-Me-Into-Harvard-College-Coach-Blog) Tags: [College Applications](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-applications) ## [Students Accepted To Ivy League Responded to Same Essay Prompt | College Coach Blog](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/362210/Students-Accepted-To-Ivy-League-Responded-to-Same-Essay-Prompt-College-Coach-Blog) Posted by [Elizabeth Heaton](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/elizabeth-heaton) on Wed, Apr 01, 2015 @ 01:00 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-2836487115-png/images/april_fools1.png) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/362210/Students-Accepted-To-Ivy-League-Responded-to-Same-Essay-Prompt-College-Coach-Blog) ### College Coach Survey Reveals That 75 Percent of Students Accepted To Ivy League Colleges Responded to the Same Common App Prompt ****April 1, 2015****—In a startling discovery, College Coach’s nationwide survey of high school students who were accepted to Ivy League colleges almost overwhelmingly wrote their essays in response to prompt number 4, “Describe a place or environment where you are perfectly content. What do you do or experience there, and why is it meaningful to you?” [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/362210/Students-Accepted-To-Ivy-League-Responded-to-Same-Essay-Prompt-College-Coach-Blog) Tags: [College Essays](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-essays) ## [Getting In: A College Coach Conversation | College Coach Blog](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/360598/Getting-In-A-College-Coach-Conversation-College-Coach-Blog) Posted by [Elizabeth Heaton](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/elizabeth-heaton) on Mon, Feb 02, 2015 @ 06:30 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-2807082721-jpg/images/heaton-banner-6.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/360598/Getting-In-A-College-Coach-Conversation-College-Coach-Blog) Wondering which courses will look better on your child’s application? Have questions about filing the FAFSA? Curious to know what admissions officers are looking for in the college essay? [Elizabeth Heaton](http://www.getintocollege.com/our-experts/college-admissions/college-admissions-experts/elizabeth-heaton), College Coach admissions expert and former admissions officer at University of Pennsylvania, is hosting a new radio program where she will discuss these topics and so much more with college admissions and finance experts as well as top industry professionals. [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/360598/Getting-In-A-College-Coach-Conversation-College-Coach-Blog) Tags: [College Admissions Consulting](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-admissions-consulting), [College Coach Mentionables: News & Events](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-coach-mentionables-news-events) ## [Sending Test Scores to Colleges: Top 5 FAQs | College Coach](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/357977/Sending-Test-Scores-to-Colleges-Top-5-FAQs-College-Coach) Posted by [Elizabeth Heaton](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/elizabeth-heaton) on Thu, Nov 13, 2014 @ 04:45 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-1402672847-jpg/images/coco_130820_0348.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/357977/Sending-Test-Scores-to-Colleges-Top-5-FAQs-College-Coach) One of the most popular blog posts we’ve published over the years answers one of the most frequently asked questions our team of [college admissions consultants](http://www.getintocollege.com/our-experts/college-admissions) receives: “[When do I send SAT and ACT Scores to Colleges?](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/277208/When-to-Send-SAT-and-ACT-Scores-to-Colleges)” But when it comes to standardized tests, there are *many *more common questions that students and parents ponder. In an effort to ease some of the stress that families are feeling this application season, here are the answers to the top five frequently asked questions about submitting standardized test scores. [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/357977/Sending-Test-Scores-to-Colleges-Top-5-FAQs-College-Coach) Tags: [College Entrance Exams](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-entrance-exams) ## [Applying to Colleges: How Many is too Many? | College Coach Blog](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/357121/Applying-to-Colleges-How-Many-is-too-Many-College-Coach-Blog) Posted by [Elizabeth Heaton](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/elizabeth-heaton) on Sun, Oct 26, 2014 @ 04:00 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-1944442413-jpg/images/coco_130820_02291.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/357121/Applying-to-Colleges-How-Many-is-too-Many-College-Coach-Blog) Have you ever wondered why students shouldn’t apply to too many colleges? Or how many is too many? College Coach admissions expert [Elizabeth Heaton](http://www.getintocollege.com/our-experts/college-admissions/college-admissions-experts/elizabeth-heaton) recently spoke with Peter Howe of NECN’s [Money Saving Mondays](http://www.necn.com/news/business/Money-Saving-Mondays-Applying-to-College-279003741.html) to answer these questions. [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/357121/Applying-to-Colleges-How-Many-is-too-Many-College-Coach-Blog) Tags: [College Applications](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-applications) ## [Ivy League Waitlists - What you Need to Know – Part 2 ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/341613/Ivy-League-Waitlists-What-you-Need-to-Know-Part-2) Posted by [Elizabeth Heaton](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/elizabeth-heaton) on Sat, Apr 05, 2014 @ 02:15 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-634002969-jpg/images/img_8360.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/341613/Ivy-League-Waitlists-What-you-Need-to-Know-Part-2) In [part one](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/341558/Ivy-League-Waitlists-What-you-Need-to-Know-Part-1) of this blog series, I outlined the reality of the waitlist at Ivy League schools. Today I want to share some quick thoughts on acts that can help or hurt your odds of going from waitlist to admit. [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/341613/Ivy-League-Waitlists-What-you-Need-to-Know-Part-2) Tags: [College Admissions Consulting](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-admissions-consulting) ## [Ivy League Waitlists - What you Need to Know – Part 1 ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/341558/Ivy-League-Waitlists-What-you-Need-to-Know-Part-1) Posted by [Elizabeth Heaton](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/elizabeth-heaton) on Thu, Apr 03, 2014 @ 05:20 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-641157480-jpg/images/coco_130820_0505.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/341558/Ivy-League-Waitlists-What-you-Need-to-Know-Part-1) It’s that time of year again: waitlist season. If you’re currently waitlisted by an Ivy League school (i.e., a member of the most famous sports conference in the world), here are a few things to keep in mind: [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/341558/Ivy-League-Waitlists-What-you-Need-to-Know-Part-1) Tags: [College Admissions Consulting](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-admissions-consulting) ## [How Many AP Courses Should a Student Take?](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/334806/How-Many-AP-Courses-Should-a-Student-Take) Posted by [Elizabeth Heaton](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/elizabeth-heaton) on Tue, Feb 04, 2014 @ 05:18 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-507325630-jpg/images/coco_130820_0487.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/334806/How-Many-AP-Courses-Should-a-Student-Take) #### Do you have recommendations on how many AP courses a student should have at the time of applying to college? The expectations at the most selective colleges in the country are that the student will go to the highest level available in all five major subjects (math, science, history/social science, English and foreign language). This can and often does mean going to the Advanced Placement level in all five subjects by the time the student is a senior, though not all high schools will offer AP level courses in all subject areas. If they are not offered, the student will not be penalized during the [college admissions process](http://www.getintocollege.com/why-college-coach/understand-the-admissions-process) for not taking them (you can’t take what isn’t available!). Those colleges also expect to see excellent performance in those courses, ideally As in everything taken in high school. [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/334806/How-Many-AP-Courses-Should-a-Student-Take) Tags: [College Admissions Consulting](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-admissions-consulting) ## [Educational Consultant Beth Heaton’s Tips for Choosing a Major](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/331281/Educational-Consultant-Beth-Heaton-s-Tips-for-Choosing-a-Major) Posted by [Elizabeth Heaton](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/elizabeth-heaton) on Tue, Jan 07, 2014 @ 02:00 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![](https://info.getintocollege.com/hs-fs/file-439813623-jpg/images/coco_130820_0287.jpg) ](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/331281/Educational-Consultant-Beth-Heaton-s-Tips-for-Choosing-a-Major) Concerned that your child is heading off to college in the fall with no idea what he wants to study? Worried that your daughter has her sights set on a career that isn’t a good fit for her abilities? Are you struggling to select a primary focus from your three main areas of interest and anxious about wasting your parents’ and your own money on tuition as a result? You’re not alone! College Coach’s senior director of [educational consulting](http://www.getintocollege.com/for-parents/parent-faqs) Elizabeth Heaton spoke to [US News and World Report](http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/high-school-notes/2013/11/11/study-high-school-grads-choosing-wrong-college-majors) about this widespread issue, offering some tips for working through this particular challenge. [Read More](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/bid/331281/Educational-Consultant-Beth-Heaton-s-Tips-for-Choosing-a-Major) Tags: [College Admissions Consulting](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/topic/college-admissions-consulting) [All Posts](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/all) [Next Page](https://info.getintocollege.com/blog/author/elizabeth-heaton/page/2) ### Need help with the Common Application?  [![common application help](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/146790/cb1db37b-0d15-41e3-988b-213bb2724008.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/146790/cb1db37b-0d15-41e3-988b-213bb2724008) ### Get the Insider Advantage  College Coach experts, all former senior admissions and financial aid officers, are available to work privately with your student to achieve admissions success. 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