Tag: junior year

Some of Our Favorite Supplemental Essay Prompts: 2021-2022 Edition

Posted by: admin on June 1st, 2021

A review of essay prompts can be a great way to prepare for the writing process. If you’re anything like me, you might be asking yourself, “I’m supposed to write roughly 650 words — but on what, exactly?” You can head straight for the Common Application prompts and stress yourself out trying to choose the one “right” idea. But […]

Mental Math Tricks & Hacks

Posted by: admin on March 31st, 2021

People of a certain age (ask your parents, they’ll confirm) will remember a time when, if students complained about “no calculators allowed” math tests, the teacher would say that “you won’t always have a calculator in your pocket, you need to be able to do without.” Well, the math teachers of yore were completely wrong […]

What to Make of the Test-Optional Movement

Posted by: admin on March 11th, 2021

What to Make of the Test-Optional Movement (2022 edition) One of the biggest question marks in college admissions has become, “What does ‘test-optional’ really mean?” And the answer, like many things in the higher education landscape, seems to be rapidly evolving as we get further from the pandemic-linked rush towards test-optional pilot programs. In this […]

Five Tips for Wooing Your Colleges

Posted by: admin on February 9th, 2021

So, Valentine’s Day isn’t far off, and that prompts the eternal question: does absence make the heart grow fonder? I must respond with a wholehearted yes — at least with regard to those colleges and universities that track demonstrated interest, or DI. When separated from those we care about, we often reach out to them […]

Preparing (or Not) for the PSAT

Posted by: admin on October 8th, 2020

Summer is officially over, and the leaves have begun to fall. That means that one of the great fall traditions, the PSAT, is almost upon us. This year, the PSAT is being offered on several dates: Wednesday, October 13; Saturday, October 16; or the alternate date of Tuesday, October 26. Check with your school’s guidance […]

ACT Reading Section: What You Need To Know

Posted by: admin on October 8th, 2020

In our English classes, our teachers have frequently told us to “go deeper” or to “go farther” or to “find our own analysis.” Those are great for English class. Don’t do that on the ACT. While the ability to read and mostly understand short passages is a prerequisite for the reading portion of the ACT, […]

How To Get Great Letters of Recommendation (Even During a Pandemic)

Posted by: admin on July 23rd, 2020

As I meet with many seniors this month, I ask a series of similar questions to get a sense of where everyone is on the admissions process spectrum. July is the time when it starts to move from an abstract idea of “Applying to College” to the concrete idea of “Actually Applying To these Colleges […]

Test Prep: How Soon is Too Soon?

Posted by: admin on May 14th, 2020

We get tons of questions from sophomores about when to start preparing for the SAT or ACT. In most years, we advise students to hold off on any test prep until sophomore year is in the books. Why? Well, the number one indicator of where you get to go to college is your grades, so […]

How do I revise my paper? (And do I really have to?)

Posted by: admin on May 12th, 2020

Giving yourself time to edit your paper is the single most important step you can take to improve your grade. It’s also the step that students are the most likely to skip. I get it. Revising your paper takes time and planning. And, let’s be honest, with everything you’re juggling, you might feel lucky if […]

How do I add more detail to my paper?

Posted by: admin on May 12th, 2020

If your teacher tells you that your paper lacks detail, it likely means that you’re making big claims without supporting them through evidence from the text. The good news is that this means you’re probably making arguments in your paper. Now, you just need to make sure you have the evidence to support these arguments.  […]