Students who have been strong readers and writers are sometimes surprised to find that their previous coursework has not entirely prepared them for the kinds of texts they will be expected to understand in upper-level coursework, decoding SAT, ACT, and AP passages, college-level history, literature, writing, and yes, even science courses.

It’s the end of your junior year and we know all you can think about right now are final exams and keeping your grades up, but when you pick your head up from your studies, take a moment to make sure you are on track for college admissions. Before the year ends, make sure you meet with counselor to ensure you have done what you need and understand how you will coordinate the college application process with your counselor in the fall. Next, you’ll want to request letters of recommendations from teachers in person.

How to plan for and stand out at college fairs

This blog contains my top tips for learning where your student has the best chance of gaining admission. From student interest, to academic and financial fit, this blog links to many useful resources you can revisit as you develop your college list.

Should I answer that optional writing question on Common App about COVID? Do I really need to write a resume? The Additional Information section confuses me-- is that for problems or for bragging? This blog tackles all of these common questions, and more.

How do my PSAT scores affect National Merit Scholarships? Junior year PSAT test takers are automatically considered for the National Merit Scholar competition, so the PSAT for juniors is officially known as the NMSQT/PSAT. Each scaled score out of 1520 is assigned to a national merit selection index score out of a maximum 228 points.