U.S. News Acquires Sups AI
U.S. News, best known for its college rankings and education tools, just took a big step into the world of AI college counseling by acquiring Sups, a fast-growing platform built by students for students. Designed to support students in their essay-writing and application journey, Sups was launched in 2023 by college students Samir Walji, Rehan Rupawalla, and Daniel Rupawalla. But unlike AI tools that write for you, Sups acts like an intelligent mentor, offering guidance, feedback, and brainstorming help every step of the way.
As part of the U.S. News’ CollegeAdvisor.com division, Sups expands the company’s ability to offer AI-driven, personalized college counseling tools at scale. This development is consistent with Sups’ original mission: making high-quality college admissions support available to everyone, especially students who can’t afford traditional private counselors.
“Our mission is to level the playing field in college admissions,” says co-founder Walji. “With the reach and college data of U.S. News, we’re so excited to make Sups even better and help more students.”
With over 100 million students and families visiting USNews.com each year, Sups is set to expand its impact, joining helpful tools like College Advisor, TeenLife, MyFit Custom Rankings, and Scholarship Finder to make your college journey smoother, smarter, and more affordable.
Why This Matters: AI and College Admissions
The rise of AI in education, especially in college admissions, has sparked both excitement and concern. Some admissions officers worry that AI might make it harder to truly understand a student’s personality, passion, and potential, which are key factors in finding the right fit for a university.
However, this recent acquisition by U.S. News demonstrates that when AI is used responsibly, it can expand opportunities for students globally. Services like essay editing and college counseling are often expensive and out of reach for many students. With Sups, many of those benefits are now accessible 24/7, and are often free or available at a low cost.
How Students Can Use Sups for College Admissions
So, what exactly does Sups do? The platform acts as your AI-powered college counselor, assisting with essays, application organization, and activity list optimization. Here’s a breakdown of Sups’ core features:
Essay Guide
Sups supports students at every step of the college essay process, from brainstorming to final edits.
- Start by creating your profile so the platform understands your background.
- Add the colleges you’re applying to, and Sups will pull up all the relevant essay prompts (main and supplemental).
- You can choose to brainstorm ideas and ask for AI-powered suggestions before you begin, or to start writing right away.
- Once your essay draft is complete, you receive instant, 24/7 feedback, helping you polish your writing with expert-level advice.
85% of Aralia Students Place in Top Writing Competitions
Application Organization
No more juggling multiple essay files or digging through folders to find the right draft. Sups gives you an organized space to store all your essays, neatly sorted by college. This makes it easy to access, edit, and keep track of your work, helping you stay on top of deadlines and avoid common mistakes such as submitting the wrong or unedited version of an essay.
Activity List Optimization
Sups doesn’t stop at essays—it also helps with the activities section on the Common App.
- The platform provides a submission-style list similar to the Common App’s layout.
- You input your activities, and Sups offers suggestions for stronger descriptions and strategic order.
- You can even customize your activity section based on the schools you’re applying to.
As AI continues to influence how we approach education, tools like Sups demonstrate the potential way technology can support students in the college admissions process. With U.S. News backing this platform, more students worldwide can access tailored, high-quality college guidance, no matter their background.
Introducing: Aralia’s College Application Essay Program
Enjoy a 10% discount on any single class or class bundle!
🧭 Aralia’s Lead Instructors
- Guided hundreds of students to admission at top U.S. universities, including Princeton, Yale, University of Chicago, and Williams College
- Achieved a 100% acceptance rate for students to one of their first-choice schools.
- Coached students who earned scholarships and admission to prestigious global universities such as Oxford, Cornell, UCL, NYU, and Parsons School of Design
🧭 Who Should Join?
This program is perfect for students aiming for admission to top universities who want to make their personal statements stand out. It’s designed for students who are ready to strengthen their essay-writing skills through drafting, feedback, and revision.
