At this point, junior year is in full swing, and you now understand what all your upperclassmen friends have been warning you about. You’ve likely got a test or paper under your belt in each of your classes and are in the process of finding the balance of managing a heavier workload and more responsibility in your extracurriculars. And now you realize that the PSAT is next week. Oh, great. Here comes the College Board to put its big, fat, number two pencil-stained thumb on the scale and throw everything out of whack again. Well, it doesn’t have to be that way if you keep the PSAT in perspective. Here are a few things to think about as you prepare to run the first of the gauntlet of standardized tests coming at you this year.

We encourage students to find the test – SSAT or ISEE – that works for them and to prepare for that test. However, sometimes students will perform about the same on both tests or will simply want to give both the SSAT and ISEE a try.

This year’s PSAT tests are on October 10 and October 13. The PSAT contains the same sections and types of questions as does the SAT, but it’s just a little shorter. Some junior-year students and parents wonder if it is wise to prepare for the test as fully as they likely will later on for the SAT or ACT.

Interested in a world-class engineering education? Check out these Boston-area neighbors: MIT and Olin College of Engineering.

The Universities of Michigan and Wisconsin are two big schools with big spirit, and two of the most popular public institutions in the U.S. Each has long, proud traditions and exemplify the big university experience. Both are big academically too and provide opportunities for students to participate in exciting research while developing their skill set.

I know how bad it is to rush - I tell my students all the time that these tests are sneaky and full of traps - but it's hard not to be dominated by the sense that TIME IS RUNNING OUT.

Thinking of taking AP US Government – or AP NSL, as it’s known to MoCo students? Or are you already deep in the course and looking ahead to the AP exam? Either way, you probably have heard about the recent course redesign, and here’s what you need to know.

As you look ahead at the jump from sophomore to junior year, how soon should you start test prep? Director of Instruction Aaron Golumbfskie offers his perspective on how best to determine when to test and when to begin test prep.

In breaking with the curricular structure of traditional academia, these three venerable institutions exemplify what they teach their students, which is to pursue excellence in the path they choose to follow. Each has outstanding programs that work well for independent-minded and well-motivated student.

Practice testing is a key part of the process of preparing for any standardized test. John Jones offers his guidance for steps to avoid when taking a practice test in order to get the most out of your diagnostic experience.