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…

If you’re planning on taking the SAT this year, it’s time to start studying. For many students, that means buying the official SAT prep book, working through it, and hoping for the best. For some of them, this works… but for many, it’s actually quite ineffective. And that’s not for you. You aren’t going to settle for an ineffective study plan! If you’re here, that shows you’re already being proactive…

How to Choose the Right College Without the Stress or RegretBy Dr. Shaan Patel, CEO & Founder of Prep Expert® If your inbox is full of college acceptance letters right now, congratulations. You’ve made it through one of the most competitive application cycles in recent history—and now it’s time for an even bigger decision: Where will you spend the next four years of your life? For many students, this question…

As someone who scored a perfect SAT score, built a national test prep company, and has helped over 100,000 students improve their standardized test scores, I’ve spent my career advocating for merit-based opportunity. So when I saw the University of Austin (UATX) unveil its new Merit-First Admissions Policy, I couldn’t help but pay attention. In an age where college admissions have become increasingly subjective, UATX is doing something few others are brave enough to…

College Decision Day Is Here—But You Still Have OptionsBy Dr. Shaan Patel, CEO & Founder of Prep Expert® May 1st is a date etched into the minds of high school seniors across the country—College Decision Day. For most students, it’s the final deadline to accept an offer of admission and lock in where they’ll be headed this fall. But what if you’re still unsure? What if you haven’t picked a…