Paying for College: Maximizing Merit Aid

Your student has worked hard all through high school, and now it’s time to apply to college. Hopefully, their grades will not only give them more options for their college list, but also unlock financial rewards in the form of...

What is Superscoring?

As you research a college and its application process, you may find a passage that defines the school’s score choice policy, like this example from Johns Hopkins University. Or, you may come across a mention of superscoring in an article...

What to Do Before the SAT or ACT

We get it: the ACT and SAT can be terrifying tests. Students spend days, weeks, and months preparing for them. They are one of the crucial five factors within your control during the college application process, and after all that...

The College List: Aiming for Appropriate Target Schools

As students build their college lists, they may have a balance of likely, target, and reach schools.  Likely schools are ones where students have an extremely high chance of being admitted; you could call them “back-up” or “insurance” options. Reach...

All About Applying Undecided

I have no idea.   That is not an uncommon answer when we ask students what they want to study in college—often with some panic in their voices. We know what they are thinking: Is it a problem if I don’t...

What Is the Experimental Section?

You made your way through four hours of standardized testing, whether the SAT or ACT. Maybe you are reviewing your strategies for the optional ACT essay or simply looking forward to going home. Either way, the sudden appearance of a...

Academics Outline: Grades 9-12

What courses should my student take? What year of high school is the most important in their college application? There’s a lot to consider with high school grades and the college application process, but don’t stress. Let’s take a look...