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It’s no secret: college admissions have always been fiercely competitive.

But as demand for higher education swells, applicant pools jumped 5% in just the past year, turning an already ruthless competition into what must feel like an outright brawl. The introduction of the Common App in 1975 further fueled this trend, making it easier for students to apply to many schools at once — and driving application numbers ever higher.

Add in the rising global interest in top-tier universities as well as some new test-optional policies , and standing out in such a competitive pool of candidates can feel nearly impossible.

For many students and their fami

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