One of the major academic anxieties that students are feeling today is the question of authorship– specifically, will their work be accused of being generated by AI? It’s something that plagues students, even if they aren’t using ChatGPT. After all, AI checkers are extremely inaccurate. For example, one AI content detector identified the Declaration of Independence as AI generated. It claimed that there was a 98.1% likelihood that this document,…

Why Banning International Students Would Hurt U.S. Colleges—and the Entire EconomyBy Dr. Shaan Patel, CEO & Founder of Prep Expert® In a bold and controversial move, the Trump administration recently attempted to revoke Harvard University’s certification to enroll new international students—a decision that, if enforced nationwide, would send shockwaves not just through elite universities, but across the entire American higher education system. As the founder of Prep Expert®, I work…

Challenge Suchi Mathur enrolled in Prep Expert®’s 6-week (12-lesson) SAT course expecting a fast-paced, large-group experience. What she didn’t expect was the depth of personal connection and support she’d find, especially from her instructor, Taylor Trautwein. “We had a large number of students and a fast-paced curriculum, but our instructor, Taylor Trautwein, did an outstanding job of making sure everyone felt heard and included.” Even though the format didn’t allow…

When I first took the SAT around 20 years ago, I had no idea where that test would take me. And I’ll be honest, my first attempt was not spectacular! I had to put in a lot of effort to raise that score from average to perfect, which opened doors beyond anything I imagined. My SAT score was the key to competitive college admissions, nearly a quarter of a million…

How the CSS Profile Can Unlock Extra College Aid—And Why Families Shouldn’t Overlook ItBy Dr. Shaan Patel, CEO & Founder of Prep Expert® When families think about paying for college, they usually start with one word: FAFSA. That’s smart—the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is the gateway to federal grants, loans, and work-study programs. But here’s the truth many families miss: FAFSA isn’t the whole picture. There’s another…

By Dr. Shaan Patel, CEO & Founder of Prep Expert® When I first walked into the Shark Tank in 2016 with a whiteboard, a dream, and a company I started from my dorm room, I didn’t know what to expect. I was nervous. I was pitching a test prep company in a space dominated by giants. And I was asking for a $250,000 investment in exchange for 10% equity in…

Student Loan Collections Are Coming Back—Here’s What Borrowers Need to Know Before May 5By Dr. Shaan Patel, CEO & Founder of Prep Expert® After more than four years of pause, the federal government is about to resume one of its most powerful—and intimidating—tools: student loan collections on defaulted loans. Beginning May 5, millions of Americans with federal student loans in default could face wage garnishments, tax refund seizures, and even…

Getting into medical school isn’t easy! It takes a lot of hard work and careful preparation to gain the knowledge and skills you need to build a strong application and succeed on the MCAT. But, you can accelerate your journey and establish a strong foundation for medical school by making sure you take the right courses during your undergrad years. Every year, thousands of college students say that they’re “pre-med,”…

AI in Education: The New Calculator That’s Reshaping How Students LearnBy Dr. Shaan Patel, CEO & Founder of Prep Expert® There was a time when using a calculator in class was controversial. Teachers thought it was cheating. Students weren’t trusted. And then slowly, we realized something: calculators weren’t replacing math skills—they were enhancing them. Once students understood the fundamentals, calculators became a tool for efficiency, not a shortcut. Now, we’re…

The Biggest Mistake Students Make Choosing a College—And How to Avoid ItBy Dr. Shaan Patel, CEO & Founder of Prep Expert® It’s that exciting—and overwhelming—time of year again. High school seniors across the country are opening college acceptance letters, sharing decisions with friends and family, and facing one of the biggest choices of their lives: where to go to college. If you or your child are in the middle of…