Getting a good ACT score can feel a little mystifying to some students. After all, with the big numbers the SAT throws around, it feels a little more clear. But when it comes to the ACT, the gaps between the numbers feel much larger; for instance, there’s no statistically significant difference between a 1585 and a 1590, but there’s an enormous gulf between a 30 and a 35.  So what…

Why Tens of Thousands of Students Taking the SAT Right Now Should See It as an OpportunityBy Dr. Shaan Patel, CEO & Founder of Prep Expert® Across the country, tens of thousands of students are spending their Saturday taking the SAT. Not because they’re being punished with an extra day of school, but because they’re stepping into one of the most important milestones in the college admissions process. For many,…

Ever since the first university opened its doors to students (either the University of Al-Qarawiyyin in Morocco in 859 or the University of Bologna in Italy in 1088, depending on how you define it), some schools have had more prestigious name recognition than others. During the Enlightenment, it was the University of Paris. The UK has Oxford and Cambridge. In the United States, that prestige converged around eight specific schools…

Why Filing the FAFSA Early Still Matters—Even During a Government ShutdownBy Dr. Shaan Patel, CEO & Founder of Prep Expert® When the federal government shuts down, it doesn’t just halt national parks or delay agency operations. For millions of students, it directly impacts something far more personal: their ability to pay for college. With FAFSA processing stalled and families unsure whether their applications will be reviewed anytime soon, it’s understandable…

How the Government Shutdown Impacts California Students — And What Families Can DoBy Dr. Shaan Patel, CEO & Founder of Prep Expert® The government shutdown has officially tied for the longest in U.S. history, and while the headlines focus on political gridlock in Washington, its ripple effects reach much further, to students across California and the nation who are trying to afford college. As federal employees remain furloughed, questions have…

Did you know that you can’t rely on your GPA and test scores alone to secure your place at a great school? Your GPA and test scores are important, but they don’t tell your whole story. Today, college admissions offices have embraced holistic admissions, meaning that they want to see you as a whole package– not just numbers.  According to data collected by the National Association for College Admission Counseling…

File FAFSA Early — Especially During a Government ShutdownBy Dr. Shaan Patel, CEO & Founder of Prep Expert® As the government shutdown stretches into one of the longest in U.S. history, millions of families are left wondering how it will affect financial aid. The truth is that while Pell Grants and federal student loans remain funded, the people who process those applications are not all on the job. That means…

When you sit for the ACT, you join a club that has millions of members. The ACT, first launched in 1959, is a college admissions test that has the advantage of being over thirty years younger than the comparable SAT– which means that since its inception, it’s been designed around the pitfalls of the SAT, making it more advantageous for some students. But why do we need two college admissions…

The SAT turns 100 next year! While it might seem hard to believe, given the modern version of the test students get today, the SAT predates sliced bread (1928), the ballpoint pen (1931), and TV (1927). And while the name is the same, the test has changed substantially in both its purpose and content areas. In order to understand where the test is going, it’s important to know its history–…

Homeschooling gives families more freedom to design learning experiences that reflect their values and goals. It can provide an academic challenge for the kids who need it, and a more accessible learning experience for students who need a more flexible environment. Yet that flexibility sometimes raises questions about standardized testing, especially the SAT and other standardized tests. For many homeschool students, the SAT is an important bridge between home-based education…