https://vimeo.com/1112359202 How High Schoolers Can Master the Digital SAT in 2025 By Dr. Shaan Patel, CEO & Founder of Prep Expert® The SAT has entered a new era. With its transition to a fully digital format, students now face a testing experience that’s shorter, smarter, and more adaptive than ever before. But as colleges reinstate SAT requirements and competition intensifies, success on this exam requires more than just showing up…

For years, critics predicted the death of the SAT and ACT. But the opposite is happening: America’s most elite universities are bringing back standardized testing. Harvard. Yale. Dartmouth. MIT. Caltech. Stanford. The list grows by the month. And their message is clear: merit still matters. 📉 The Test-Optional Experiment Failed During COVID, more than 1,800 colleges went test-optional, promising greater access and equity. Instead, the results showed the opposite: Applications…

Choosing between the importance of GPA and SAT scores can feel like a circus act; knowing how to juggle everyone’s expectations of you and the demands of your target colleges and your high school can be extremely challenging. Some students think that they can focus on one thing– just their GPA or just their test scores– and be ok if one of them is high enough for their colleges of…

Challenge When Keira Ching joined Prep Expert®’s 8-week SAT prep course, she was scoring around a 1300 on her initial practice test and struggling to maintain focus for more than an hour at a time. She wanted more than just a content boost, she was aiming to improve her concentration, confidence, and approach to learning. “I went from struggling to comprehend much for an hour to studying and focusing for…

https://vimeo.com/1109170810 Navigating College Admissions in a Changing Era: Digital SATs, AI Essays, and What’s Next By Dr. Shaan Patel, CEO & Founder of Prep Expert® For today’s high school students, the college admissions process looks dramatically different from what parents might remember. Between the SAT going fully digital, shifting admissions requirements after the end of affirmative action, and the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT, students are navigating one of…

Challenge Charlotte had already tried multiple SAT prep programs but felt she hadn’t yet reached her full potential. Her starting score was 1080, and despite putting in consistent effort, she felt stuck. “I have completed other test prep programs for the SAT before Prep Expert® and can confidently say that Prep Expert® is the most effective method to preparing for the SAT.” What Charlotte wanted was more than a standard…

In the past, students choosing between the SAT and the ACT had to factor in different question types, essay requirements, and even regional preferences. Now that both tests have gone digital, many of the old distinctions have shifted or disappeared entirely. But that doesn’t mean the SAT and ACT are identical. In fact, as testing organizations have embraced adaptive technology and redesigned their formats, key differences have emerged. Whether you’re…

https://vimeo.com/1108497046?share=copy How New 529 Plan Rules Can Help Families Pay for Test Prep and College Readiness By Dr. Shaan Patel, CEO & Founder of Prep Expert® For decades, 529 college savings plans have been a smart way for families to set aside money for higher education. But their use was limited, covering tuition, fees, and other traditional college expenses. That just changed. Thanks to recent legislation, 529 funds can now…

Your second-to-last year of high school is full of obligations and opportunities, including standardized testing. Preparing for the SAT during your junior year can feel like a big task, but it’s one that pays off. Whether you’re aiming for competitive college admissions or merit-based scholarships, your SAT score is more than just a number; it’s a signal to colleges that you’re ready for the challenges ahead. The good news is…

Challenge Before joining Prep Expert®, Gabriela Reyes wanted to raise her PSAT score and her confidence, but felt uncertain about whether real improvement was possible in such a short time. Some concepts felt confusing, and the pressure of performing well added to her anxiety. She didn’t just want a generic prep course, she needed a teacher who could explain things clearly, keep her engaged, and turn test stress into motivation.…