Rona Aydin is the founder of Oriel Admissions, a Princeton-based college admissions consulting firm advising families nationwide on elite university admissions strategy. An Oxford University graduate, Rona leads a deeply experienced team whose distinctive 360 approach treats every part of the application - academics, testing, activities, essays, and interviews - as one connected strategy.
Harvard requires the SAT or ACT for all first-year applicants, a policy reinstated in April 2024 starting with the Class of 2029. Learn what the requirement covers, the narrow exceptions for students without test access, score timing for early and regular decision, and how to plan testing for Harvard.
The University of Virginia is one of the nation's top public universities, known for its founding by Thomas Jefferson, strong programs in business, law, and the liberal arts, a distinctive honor system and tradition of student self-governance, and exceptional value.
Pomona College is one of the nation's premier liberal arts colleges, known for its top-ranked undergraduate education, membership in the Claremont Colleges consortium, strengths across the sciences, economics, and arts, and a close-knit community in sunny Claremont, California.
UC Berkeley is the flagship of the University of California and one of the top public research universities in the world, known for its engineering and computer science, the Haas School of Business, world-leading sciences and Nobel-laureate faculty, and a legacy of research and activism.
The University of Southern California is a major private research university in Los Angeles, known for its world-leading School of Cinematic Arts, strong business and communications programs, engineering, deep ties to LA industries, and the famously connected Trojan alumni network.
UCLA is a top public research university in Los Angeles, known for broad academic excellence, its acclaimed film and theater programs, the David Geffen School of Medicine, strong management and engineering, world-class research, and one of the most storied athletic traditions in the country.
Washington University in St. Louis is a leading private research university, known for its top-ranked medical school, exceptional programs in the biological sciences, the Olin Business School, respected architecture and art programs, and a collaborative, research-rich campus.
Georgetown University is a leading Jesuit research university in Washington, D.C., known for its School of Foreign Service and international relations, its government and political science programs, strong law and business schools, and unmatched access to national policy and diplomacy.
Vanderbilt University, founded in 1873, is known for its blend of top-ranked academics and a warm, collaborative culture, generous merit scholarships, and standout programs in education, music, engineering, and the pre-professional tracks in the heart of Nashville.
New York University is a major private research university at the heart of New York City, known for its Tisch School of the Arts, the Stern School of Business, its urban campus and global network, and strong programs in film, law, and the humanities.
Northwestern University, founded in 1851, is known for its top-ranked journalism and communication programs, a strong pre-professional and interdisciplinary culture, the quarter system, and a balance of rigorous academics with Big Ten athletics near Chicago.
Duke University, founded in 1838, is known for combining elite academics with top-tier athletics, especially basketball, alongside strong programs in medicine, public policy, engineering, and the sciences, and a collaborative campus culture.
Stanford University, founded in 1885, is known for its deep ties to Silicon Valley and entrepreneurship, elite engineering and computer science, world-class programs across nearly every field, and a culture of innovation on its sprawling California campus.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, founded in 1861, is known for its world-leading strength in science, engineering, technology, and mathematics, a rigorous hands-on approach, and a culture of innovation and problem-solving.
Cornell University, founded in 1865, is known for its size and breadth, a distinctive land-grant mission that blends private and public colleges, and top-ranked programs in engineering, hotel administration, agriculture and life sciences, and architecture.
Dartmouth College, founded in 1769, is known for its strong focus on undergraduate teaching, a close-knit community in rural New Hampshire, the distinctive D-Plan academic calendar, and a powerful, loyal alumni network.