News, Updates, & Resources

Are My SAT / ACT Scores Good Enough?

Most students (and their parents) want “good” scores, but the problem comes in defining exactly what that means. Sure, most people would agree that a 1500 (out of 1600) on the SAT is good, so is a 34 (out of 36) on the ACT. But scores like 1500 and 34 reflect the top...

Why Was There An Extra Experimental Section on My SAT / ACT?

You took the SAT or ACT and instead of four sections, you had five. Why? What happened? You were ready for four timed sections and this extra caught you by surprise. Don’t Panic First, don’t panic. That extra section is a way for the test writers to try out new...

Advice for 2020 Seniors

A couple weeks ago I wrote an article advising 2020 juniors on ACT and SAT testing. Thank you to everyone who contacted me and shared the article with your friends, neighbors, and school groups. If you missed it, you can find it [here]. Since then I've had a lot of...

Why Was There An Extra Experimental Section on My SAT / ACT?

Advice for 2020 Seniors

Advice for Fall 2020 ACT / SAT Testing

I wish I wasn’t writing another article dealing with the COVID-19 impact on school, testing, and college admission. But as the situation continues to develop, we need to adjust and make plans. Today I’m going to focus on testing advice for rising juniors. Seniors are...

Why Traditional College Planning Advice Doesn’t Work in a Pandemic

I don’t need to tell you the past four months have been unusual, you have lived it. We have done very few of our normal activities— including most college planning tasks. I’m making some changes to my college planning timeline for this year. In many cases my usual...

Can I Write My College Essay About Current Events?

Can I Write My College Essay About Current Events? This is a good question. Spring 2020 has been one we won’t soon forget. Students experienced unprecedented events that have impacted their lives. But should you write about it in your college essay? It depends. Here...

UC System Drops SAT / ACT– How does this impact you?

I’ve received multiple calls, texts, and emails since the University of California announced yesterday that it was phasing out the SAT and ACT. What does this decision mean for students? What do you need to do? watch here: If you didn't see my earlier video on how...

15 Little Things to Make Students More Successful Academically and in College Admission

Having recently been through the entire admissions process with our oldest, I wanted to offer some tips. These are little things that can make a big difference. Don’t feel you need to implement all of these. Don’t feel you need to add them all at once. Add what makes...

Plan for College (Don’t Panic)

This has been the week for wild speculation in the world of college preparation. I love that my friends and clients think of me and send copies of articles and social media posts related to college planning, test prep, and the like. But I’m seeing more “scary”...

Most Colleges Recalculate GPA— what you need to know

There are a lot of rumors when it comes to college admission and GPA myths are pervasive. If you’ve heard other students or parents talking about ways you can boost your GPA and improve your chances for college admission, there are a few things you need to understand....