The new reality of study abroad: Higher costs, more politics, fewer Aperol spritzes

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A deflated globe with a graduation cap on in the foreground as Donald Trump walks away in the background

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I'm a high school senior applying to over 20 colleges. I'm ignoring classic advice and don't care about appearing well-rounded.

Tech Insider : Business
headshot of Ava DiNapoli
The author is a high schooler applying to colleges.

Courtesy of Ava DiNapoli

I broke a big rule of college applications by writing about my mother. My love for her got me into Yale and Stanford.

Tech Insider : Business
Brian Zhang as a baby being held by his mom
The author wrote about his mother in his college essays.

Courtesy of Brian Zhang

I helped my daughter through the chaotic college application process. But there's one aspect no one talks about: the waiting.

Tech Insider : Business
VaNessa Duplessie and her daughter taking a selfie in front of a skyline
The author (right) helped her daughter (left) get through all the stages of the college application process.

Courtesy of VaNessa Duplessie

I supported my son when he changed his college major from law to philosophy. His grandparents warned it was a huge mistake.

Tech Insider : Business, Sports
a group of college students in a classroom listening to their professor
The author's son (not pictured) decided to study philosophy.

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My daughter was too overwhelmed to focus on her college applications. I became the nagging parent.

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a selfie of Alana Sheeren and her daughter
The author, left, is frustrated because her daughter, right, doesn't want to do her college applications.

Courtesy of Alana Sheeren

I was accepted to Yale. Here's everything I included in my successful Ivy League application.

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Brian Zhang with the Yale dog mascot and a screenshot of his application
The author got into Yale with his successful college application.

Courtesy of Eric Gan & Brian Zhang

I was accepted into my dream colleges: Duke, Columbia, and Yale. I flipped a coin to decide which one was right for me.

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two yale students on yale campus
The author, not pictured, couldn't decide which college to go to.

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I'm a low-income high school student. I worry colleges reinstating the SAT requirement will ruin my admissions chances.

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a girl sitting in front of her computer
Students should be picky when applying to colleges.

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I reviewed my Yale admissions file to see what the Ivy League school really thought about my application. What I learned surprised me.

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a person riding a bike in front of a yale shuttle
The author, not pictured, got into Yale.

Yana Paskova/Getty Images

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