What you do as freshmen & sophomores will influence these 5 parts of the college application… 1) High school courses (choice, level of difficulty, and grades), 2) Test prep (SAT, ACT, and AP/IB), 3) Activities in and out of school, including work and service, 4) Relationships with teachers and mentors, 5) College research

Writing the college essay is one of the most daunting tasks high school students face in applying to college. It is so important, and it feels like an impossible task: write an essay that will show how amazing you are without saying, that’s right, how amazing you are.

Received a college financial aid or merit award that still leaves the school out of financial reach? You may have options. Learn how to appeal a financial aid package, negotiate for more merit aid, use competing college offers strategically, and determine what to ask for—while approaching the conversation with colleges thoughtfully and honestly.

Should your student take the SAT or ACT—and is test prep worth the time and investment? With more colleges returning to test-required admissions while many remain test optional, the decision can be confusing. Learn when students should test, how to choose between the SAT and ACT, when to start preparing, and how a strong score can strengthen a college application.

First Dartmouth, now Yale? What does “test flexible” mean? This post will help you decide whether or not to test prep in 2026. Remember to check the score ranges as well as what % of applicants submit scores using each school’s Common Data Set. another factor is which major you’re selecting: some majors in each school require test scores for automatic (or direct) admission including popular programs like the Kelley business school at Indiana University.

There isn’t any set number of hours or type of service you need to do for your college applications. What will be most impressive to a college will be consistent, long-term service. Even better is if you are using your talents and/or fulfilling a clear need in your community.