

How the Free School Day SAT Can Derail Your Application Plans
What You Need to Know Before Finalizing Your Testing Schedule Standardized test scores from the SAT, ACT, or AP/IB exams provide a metric that colleges use to more easily compare academic preparedness across all students. Additionally, test scores are a helpful supplement to a student's GPA and academic history, and can either back up strong grades or demonstrate that students may not be prepared for the rigor of college-level classes. Don't rely solely on a strong rank or G


Mid-Year Momentum: College Admissions Checklists for High Schoolers
Having trouble keeping up with everything you should be doing to become a competitive applicant for college admissions? Mid-year is the perfect time to assess your progress in 5 key areas to ensure you finish the second semester strong! Freshman Year: Explore and Settle In! Academics Don’t underestimate how difficult the transition from middle school to high school is, especially if you are taking Advanced Placement courses. Set academic goals for the second semester to imp


Avoid These 5 Mistakes Students Make in Application Portals
Winter Break is here and the final round of college application deadlines are less than a month away! When the pressure is on and Regular Decision deadlines seem imminent, it might feel like you need to complete your application materials as quickly as possible, especially when it comes to application portals. However, it is crucial that you take your time when providing your information in portals and carefully review all responses to confirm that you are ready to hit submit


How to Get Accepted to Texas’s Top High Schools
Does your family have an academically-gifted middle schooler? Are you looking for a high school experience that will challenge them and provide them with the unique opportunities they need to build skills essential to college success? Texas boasts some of the nation’s most rigorous academic programs—including four high schools ranked in the top 40 nationally and the nation’s first early college entrance residential program. In today’s post, we’ll walk you through the applicat


Understanding Early Decision II: A Smart Strategy After Early Results
Did you apply Early Decision I or Early Action to any colleges this year? If so, you might be feeling an inevitable mix of excitement and nerves as you wait for your first round of admissions results. While trusting in the quality of your application materials and hoping for the best, we also recommend students have a solid backup plan in place. This can include applying Regular Decision (RD) to additional schools to round out your college list, and, in certain cases, applyin





