If you’ve ever waited in a painfully long line at the DMV or spent hours on hold with a government agency, you already know something’s wrong. You’re not alone—most Americans have felt the sting of endless red tape, outdated technology, and sluggish customer service from the agencies that are supposed to help us. It’s not just frustrating; it’s disheartening. And here’s the real kicker: all these inefficiencies waste tens of…

When it comes to standardized test scoring, it can be hard to tell what a good score really is. With the SAT, the numbers are big– the lowest you can get is a 400, after all. But with the ACT, it often feels like you have less wiggle room, since the highest possible score is a 36. Does that mean there’s a bigger difference between the numbers? Is a 36…

If you’re preparing for the SAT, part of setting yourself up for success is understanding why you’re taking the test, and what you need the test to do for you. It’s not like you’re taking the SAT for fun, after all– you need a high score to help highlight how competitive of a student you are. If you put in the work to merit a place at a competitive institution,…

When you take a test at school, the scoring is typically pretty straightforward. Usually it’s just expressed as a simple percentage of the questions you got right. But SAT scoring is a little more complicated. After all, nobody ever says “I got an A on the SAT!” or “I got a 95% on my SAT!”  Most students know that the maximum score you can get on the SAT is a…

A piece of advice that high-achieving students often hear is that they should take AP classes. And that’s completely correct– you should be taking AP classes if your school offers them! AP, short for Advanced Placement, is an international program administered by the College Board, the same organization that administers the SAT. AP classes are more demanding than typical high school courses, but the benefits are immense.  One of the…

What do you need to prepare for college? You might think you need things for your dorm, your textbooks, your class materials. And you do need those things, but before any of that– before you take any tests, before you submit a single application, you need to have goals. And what’s more, these goals need to be specific. You need to know your why. On its own, getting into a…

With January 20, 2025 fast approaching, all eyes are on former President Donald Trump’s second inauguration and the policies he plans to implement over the next four years. In Meritocracy, my monthly newsletter focused on revitalizing a culture where hard work, talent, and achievement are rightly rewarded, I’ve often discussed how the ideals of meritocratic governance can help us recalibrate our educational systems, labor markets, and immigration framework. Now, with…

Are you considering a career in healthcare? If so, did you know there are ways to kickstart your career path and start building the skills you need while you’re still in high school? It’s true! We’ve put together a list of 4 extracurricular activities that high school students can use to learn what it’s like to work in healthcare, gain hands-on experience, and lay the groundwork for crafting competitive applications…

When you take the ACT, there are two language arts sections: Reading and English. While the Reading section tests your ability to synthesize new information, make inferences about the text and the author’s intent, and interpret statements, the English section is more about the mechanics of grammar and writing. It requires you to have a good understanding of the rules of written English, and the questions can be challenging and…

It really seems like everything is important for today’s students, doesn’t it? From extracurriculars to the ever-increasing challenge of schoolwork, you’re told from the first day of your first year that everything you do counts. And that includes your test scores! Not just your academic exams, but your standardized test scores. While it is true that many schools dropped SAT and ACT requirements during the COVID-19 pandemic, it is also…