Combating COVID Learning Loss
Everyone is aware of the health crisis facing the United States in 2020. As of this article, almost 250,000 Americans have died of COVID while over ten million have fallen ill this year. Thousands of businesses have been shuttered and millions of Americans have lost their jobs. There is another […]
The Power of Public Speaking
Over the past few decades educators, politicians, and the titans of business in the United States have put an ever increasing focus on the STEM skills: science, technology, engineering, and math. These skills are incredibly important in a world in which technology plays a larger and larger role in […]
SAT Subject Tests
For students applying to the most prestigious and competitive colleges and universities, an additional step in the testing and application process is taking the SAT Subject Tests. Since only a small minority of the two million students who take the SAT each year take even one SAT Subject Test, many student and parents are […]
What are SAT/ACT Accommodations and Why You Won’t Qualify For Them
With the school year in full swing, and both the final big SAT and ACT testings approaching in December and the major spring testings looming on the horizon, the stress levels of high school students and their parents are once again on the rise. Not only are the SAT and the ACT stressful experiences […]
SAT Controversies
In the last several months, the SAT was rocked by two separate controversies that have students, parents, college counselors, and teachers all doubting the value and fairness of the SAT. Shortly after the administration of the August 25th, 2018, test date, rumors began circulating that some of the questions that appeared on the test had previously […]
Should I Take the SAT or ACT?
Considering that most colleges and universities in the United States currently accept either the SAT or the ACT as part of the application process, a common question parents and students will ask their college counselors, teachers, and test prep tutors is which one should I take? SAT or ACT? This question used to be purely […]
Questions and Answers about the Value of Advanced Placement
With all of the changes to standardized tests such as the SAT and ACT coupled with the introduction of and backlash against Common Core curriculum over the last few years, many parents and students have questions about the Advanced Placement (AP) classes and exams. Some wonder if the exams and classes still hold any […]
ISEE, SSAT, and HSPT: Independent School Testing
Do Private Schools Have Entrance Exams? Just like colleges, top private schools have entrance exam requirements: the ISEE, the SSAT, or the HSPT. Every summer, families around the country begin the private high school application process. Families must decide between parochial schools or secular independent schools, boarding schools or day schools, or a combination of […]
Is College Still Valuable?
Over the last few years, more and more pundits have asked the question: is college still valuable? Interestingly, many of these pundits have looked to the titans of technology such as Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook or Bill Gates of Microsoft as examples of successful business executives who did not graduate from college. What these questioners forget […]
Junior Year Stress
It’s long been accepted conventional wisdom that students’ junior year of high school is the most stressful. Many adults can recount their own tales of junior year stress: maintaining their grade point average, preparing for college-entrance exams and thinking about college, perhaps participating in a sport or working a part-time job. And while high school […]
How to Navigate the May SAT Date
While the March SAT date is the most popular among students, with some reports claiming that as much as fifty percent of all high school juniors who take the SAT do so in March each year, another popular test date is the May SAT date. Many students take the SAT for the first time in […]
Guessing Strategies for the SAT & ACT
With so many changes in the standardized test landscape over the last three years, many students, parents, and educators are confused about many of the topics and concepts surrounding the college admissions tests: SAT and ACT. One area of confusion relates to scoring and guessing. Students, parents, and even educators are not sure if it […]