Why Strong Students Get Rejected from Selective Colleges

September 16, 2026 | 8:00 pm EST

About this webinar

Join Marc Zawel, CEO and co-founder of AcceptU, for a closer look at why selective colleges reject many academically strong students and what often separates admitted applicants from the rest of the pool.

In this discussion, we’ll cover:

  • Why strong grades and test scores may not be enough
  • How institutional priorities shape admissions decisions
  • Common application mistakes made by qualified students
  • How yield protection can affect students’s admissions chances
  • When Early Decision, Early Action and Restrictive Early Action can help or hurt an application
  • Whether applying to a less competitive major can improve a student’s admission chances

Register for webinar

Presented by

Marc Zawel

Marc is the author of Untangling the Ivy League, a best-selling guidebook on the Ancient Eight. He earned a BA from Cornell University and an MBA from University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill. Marc chaired the admissions ambassadors at Cornell and the admissions advisory board at UNC.

Take the next step—schedule a complimentary consultation with a former admissions officer