Month: November 2019

Cracking the Private School Admissions Code

Posted by: admin on November 21st, 2019

Even in a typical year, the private school admissions process is a daunting one. And like with everything else in 2020, it feels even more confusing this year. As you look forward to the spring of 2021 and think about how to get started on this journey, here is a quick round-up of what we […]

ACT Science Section: What You Need to Know

Posted by: admin on November 8th, 2019

ACT Science Overview Before discussing how to tackle science strategy, I want to note a few things about what skills the ACT science section tests. I’ll often introduce the science section as a “science” section, with a tongue-in-cheek eye roll and obvious air quotes. On the whole, it does not test whether we remember topics […]

Selective High School Summer Programs

Posted by: admin on November 7th, 2019

The temperature is cooling down and leaves are changing colors. School is well underway and the calendar is speeding toward Thanksgiving holiday festivities. Why is summer planning suddenly up for discussion now? There is a practical answer to this question: selective summer programs for high school students may have surprisingly early deadlines in the late […]

What Role Do Scores Play in High School Admissions?

Posted by: admin on November 7th, 2019

As fall takes a firm position in our lives and the winter holidays loom on the horizon, our students are visiting schools (in person or remotely) and preparing for the next round of standardized tests. Clearly, we want our students to maximize their scores and to give themselves as many options as possible. We want […]

The PSAT is Done – Now it’s Time to Check Out the ACT

Posted by: admin on November 7th, 2019

Originally published November 7, 2019 Congratulations on making it through the PSAT! I’m hoping you feel really good about it – and not just because it’s over! If you don’t, however, you certainly don’t need to stress, because colleges will never see those scores. But good, bad, or otherwise, you’ll be waiting until December for […]

Why Do Test Scores Go Up and Down? (Consistency is Hard)

Posted by: admin on November 4th, 2019

I often deemphasize the score from individual practice tests, and I worry that this makes parents suspicious. “Like jazz, it’s about all the mistakes they didn’t make!”  Here are some actual reasons your child’s score could vary from test-to-test — all of which address the challenges to being consistent: First, students will leave practice one […]