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High school can be stressful. That’s why we help you reach your full potential in a kind and supportive environment.
And we’ll work with you to suit your style and schedule as we work towards your undergraduate admission.
Respond to materials you are getting from your intended college in a timely manner. Take advantage of pre-orientation programs if offered.
Prepare well for orientation by reviewing your course options and developing a list of questions for your advisor.
Shore up skills such as time management by determining your planning strategies in college (planner, calendars). Put in place a “toolbox” of stress-busting strategies such as meditation apps for your smart phone,
Fall of senior year is here and it is time to decide if you will take advantage of test-optional policies or report your official ACT or SAT scores to colleges.
1: Decide if you are submitting scores.
Check the college’s website to determine if it is “test-optional.” Most colleges have continued their test-optional policies. If tests are required, you must report or send your best ACT or SAT score(s). Plan ahead because some colleges require the scores to be in your file by the application…
Set a goal to complete the main section of either the Common Application (available August 1) or the Coalition Application before school starts including your personal essay.
Work with your consultant on a strategy for each supplemental essay and a timeline to complete them.
If you think you will need any additional testing—SAT or ACT, register now for the September or October administrations.
Remember your senior year grades are very important. Even if
Identify which of your colleges are offering online or in-person interviews this summer and begin scheduling them.
Book a meeting with your consultant to rehearse key messages about yourself, prepare questions and do a mock interview before the first interview.
Set a goal to complete the main section of the Common Application, including the personal essay, before school starts. You should plan to complete your personal essay by the end of July unless you made
“Colleges will be test optional again this year, so I don’t have to worry about tests, right?”
In our practice, we are asked a variation on this question frequently, and the answer is complicated. First, some background: virtually every college and university in the USA, as well as many international institutions, offered test-optional policies for the 2020-2021 application year due to Covid-related test cancellations. For the 2021-2022 application, most colleges continued…
Children who have been diagnosed with a learning disability or a medical issue that affects their learning, or who currently receive accommodations such as extended time or use of a computer at school, should start thinking early in high school about applying for accommodations for the SAT or ACT. Starting early means 9th or 10th grade.
Case Study: Realizing The Need Late In High School
Consider Joey’s story. He was a hard-working, first-born student in a private school with…
This is a time of uncertainty which can be difficult. It is only human to want to know what lies ahead. Keep in mind, however, that all high school students are in the same position as you. There have been many changes impacting college admissions and higher education and we will be guiding you through all these changes. Here is a summary of recent developments with resources to help you manage it all. Be sure to contact us with any questions.
I hope you and your family are healthy and the current situation has not caused hardship for you. Try to remain calm about disruptions such as the test cancellations. As frustrating as this is, remember that colleges will be understanding about this unusual situation. It will all work out.
Here are steps to take between now and June:
Register for the June SAT, or the July ACT just to be safe. Do this ASAP as sites will fill.
Connect your College Board account with Khan Academy, which
High school juniors (and some sophomores) took the College Board’s PSAT in October. Scores of this Preliminary SAT will be released shortly: around December 3rd to educators and December 10th to students. So what do these scores mean and what should you do about them?
How to interpret your PSAT score: The PSAT is scored out of 760 points per section rather than the total 800 on the SAT. This is because the PSAT is missing a few of the toughest questions from the SAT. By using this…
When making admissions decisions, most colleges place the greatest emphasis on a student’s transcript, but the majority also require applicants to submit standardized test scores.
Plan Ahead – Early junior year is an ideal time to plan a standardized testing strategy. Look at the calendar and consider when time will be available for diagnostic testing, test preparation, and the actual test dates. Consider time commitments including sports, work, and family vacations,